BIRD OBSERVATION AS A SUPPORT ACTIVITY TO IMPROVE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND THE ECONOMY OF PEOPLE IN VULNERABLE SECTORS DURING AND AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC 2019 IN FIVE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF THE BAHIA DE BANDERAS MUNICIPALITY.

Thanks to the support of the Punta de Mita Foundation and the collaboration of families with children and adults belonging to support programs of sister organizations such as La Casa de los Niños in Lo de Marcos, Entreamigos in San Pancho, La Casa Clü De San Ignacio, to MITA Bonita and the @COMPAS Higuera Blanca project.

With this project we seek to contribute to improving the health and quality of life of 30 children, youth and adults in vulnerable conditions in rural and urban communities in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas.

We seek to help develop and strengthen local capacities that allow them to improve opportunities for economic recovery during and after the pandemic; improving the participants' knowledge about birds and local nature as well as their appreciation and appreciation of biodiversity, reinforcing their sense of identity.

We know from our own experience that having binoculars, a field guide for local birds and the accompaniment of experts who can guide us and answer questions as well as becoming part of a global community of bird watchers in addition to making a big difference is a great initiation on a path of life, which is bird watching.

Although due to the current pandemic it is not possible to make group outings, it is possible to do a virtual accompaniment once the beneficiaries have their binoculars.

We use participatory dynamics that allow us to increase the viability and impact of the activities to be carried out by applying methodologies such as the "Action Guide Celebrates Urban Birds in Mexico" developed jointly by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Nabci Mexico.

In addition, with this project we seek to make contributions in the field of environmental psychology in Mexico with the design and documentation of this innovative methodology through which we are quantifying the effects of the pandemic, both the impact on an emotional, physical and mental level, as well as the positive impacts. of birding in the mental and emotional state of the beneficiaries when participating in this program.

Our premise is that they will be happier!
​
We hope to have a significant positive impact when using this methodology so that it can be replicated and adapted to other communities in our region or in some other corner of this global village.