Our Support
Confirmed:
- Wetlands International
- Aves Argentinas
- Temaiken Foundation
- Nature Conservancy's Foundation
- Tintica
- Tito Narosky
- Tim Appleton
- Villa La Angostura Municipality
- Villa La Angostura Secretary of Tourism
- Villa La Angostura Environmental Directory
- Province
To Confirm:
- National Parks
- Nation
- Bird Life International
- WWF (World Wildlife Foundation)
about us
Location and Importance:
Patagonia Bird Sanctuary is located inside a 550 acre private nature reserve next to Villa La Angostura, a mountain village in Patagonia, Argentina. What makes this nature reserve so unique is its immense biodiversity, old growth temperate rain forests, 150 acres of protected wetlands, all surrounded by two National parks inside the Unesco World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). The Andino Norpatagonica region is the natural habitat for nearly 200 bird species including the famous Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus), only found along the Andes mountain range (longest in the world) of Chile and Argentina.
Both the Municipality as well as the Province have recognized the conservation values of our natural area and have officially declared the Patagonia Bird Sanctuary as a protected area and of public interest. We also have the endorsement of Tim Appleton, our international consultant, who is the Co-Founder of the British Birdfair (the largest bird fair in the world).
History:
In 2011, Nicolas Winegardner was inspired to dedicate a large part of this private nature reserve to the public and created Patagonia Bird Sanctuary in order to attract birdwatchers from all over the world and help contribute to the global sustainability movement through conservation, ecotourism, and birdwatching. Later that same year, however, the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex in Chile erupted and massive amounts of ash were spewed into the atmosphere. This ash would eventually reach as far as Australia, but Villa La Angostura and its surrounding regions were some of the most heavily affected areas. Our birdwatching project was put on hold as we waited for nature to heal and restore. While the first few years after the eruption were difficult, Villa La Angostura has since rebounded and is now more beautiful than ever due to the incredible fertilization qualities of the volcanic ash. Vegetation now grows stronger, lusher, and vibrantly; the lakes have taken new spectacular colors and are incredibly clear.
Today, Patagonia Bird Sanctuary is open by appointments – please see our contact page to get in touch and book one of our activities!
What We Offer:
- Half-day or full-day guided tours of the sanctuary with professional (english speaking) birdwatching guides. The half-day experience is four hours long and can be taken either in the morning or in the afternoon. The full day experience is eight hours long with a lunch break in between. Visitors can choose to organize their experience across multiple days as well.
- Educational training and workshops on wetlands, conservation, sustainability, birds, and the environment.
- Conferences, exhibitions, and seminars in the fields of Ornithology.