{"id":1233,"date":"2020-01-25T10:02:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-25T10:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/intern\/sportsoptics\/birding\/en\/?p=1233"},"modified":"2020-11-23T07:21:04","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T07:21:04","slug":"guyana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.zeiss.com\/sports-optics\/birding\/en\/guyana\/","title":{"rendered":"Birding Destination: Guyana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From the grandeur of Kaieteur Falls to the vast interior and savannas, Guyana has something to offer all sorts of birders, from photographers to keen listers. <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Guyana is a country at the north end of South America, situated on an endemic-rich geological feature known as the Guiana Shield. Most of its population is centered in the capital, Georgetown, and much of the rest of the country is untouched primary rainforest.  This combination makes Guyana a birding and wildlife-watching paradise, with 40+ Guiana Shield endemics, and large mammals such as Giant Anteater and Jaguar being sighted with some regularity. Guyana is a fairly new destination for birding, but already there is a network of fine lodges and local birding guides that are ready for your venture into this deepest jungle, with many amazing records being registered with every trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coastal forest and mangroves provide the perfect habitat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the first of the habitats usually visited on a tour and contains the most localized endemics \u2013 such as Rufous Crab Hawk and the gorgeous Blood-coloured Woodpecker, as well as an important site for wading birds and shorebirds. Millions of shorebirds spend the winter on the extensive mudflats, and it is one of the most important wintering sites for North American breeding shorebirds in the world. One of the gaudiest denizens of this coastal habitat is the remarkable Scarlet Ibis. While not an endemic, the spectacle of hundreds of these birds milling about the mudflats or flying overhead is an incredible sight. Boat trips through this mangrove forest often produce a dizzying array of herons and kingfishers in addition to the more specific targets as well as the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin, which often allows a very close approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n