The first Shorebird Festivals, held on June 17 and 28 in Nueva Concepción and Tiquisate, in the department of Escuintla on Guatemala’s Pacific coast, brought together over 500 students for educational activities including drawing contests, spelling bees, nature-themed crafts, and beach birdwatching outings. These events marked the culmination of a broader awareness-raising process about the importance of shorebirds and their habitats, during which students also took leadership roles by organizing activities through student committees at their schools.
Birds that can be seen on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Left: Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus). Right: Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). Photos by John Cahill/WCS
Left: Students from the Basic Education Institute in Tiquisate. Photo by FLAAR. Right: Students from Nueva Concepción (Tejocate). Photo by the Municipality of Nueva Concepción.
This region of the Guatemalan Pacific is especially important because its beaches, estuaries, and mangroves provide vital habitat for numerous bird species. Each year, migratory birds such as the Red Knot (Calidris canutus) and Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) use these wetlands to rest and feed during their long journeys. In addition, resident species like the Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) find permanent refuge and food in these ecosystems.
Crafts and drawings by students from Tiquisate. Photo: Municipality of Tiquisate. Drawing and text by Mayolet Esmeralda García de la Cruz, from Nueva Concepción, who wrote: “Dear shorebirds, thank you for beautifying our beaches with your presence. May the wind guide you and may you always find refuge in your flight".
The festivals were carried out under the leadership of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), with financial support from Point Blue MSP+ and in partnership with various institutions that contributed with informational booths, educational activities, and prizes. The events took place at the National Basic Education Institutes (INEB) of Tecojate and Ticanlú, as well as in Nueva Concepción, where international visitors also participated, drawn by an interest in local biodiversity and sustainable tourism. Among them were Matt Reiter and Diana Eusse, from Point Blue and Ciencia para la Acción MSP+, who visited Guatemala from June 16 to 20. As part of their visit, they attended the Shorebird Festivals to experience these environmental education activities with students firsthand.
Left: Diana Eusse and Matt Reiter with a group of volunteers at the school in Nueva Concepción. Right: Birdwatching group from Tiquisate.
The events were supported by the Municipal Environmental Management Units (UGAM) of Tiquisate and Nueva Concepción, local authorities, teachers, and organizations including Magdalena, Grupo HAME, National Forestry Institute (INAB), Foundation for Ecodevelopment and Conservation (FUNDAECO), Foundation for Latin American Anthropological Research (FLAAR), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), and the Mangrove Local and Technical Working Group.