Birdwatching tourism in Fuerteventura

The tourism that has been developing in Fuerteventura since the 1960s is mainly focused on a single product, “sun and beach”, around which other activities are developed in parallel.

Active tourism and nature tourism have been on the rise for a few decades now. There are many people who travel to the Maxorata in search of new experiences, and develop their hobbies in different and unique environments. The practice of water sports, hiking or cycling routes are the most demanded activities in this regard, but there are also others that are part of nature tourism such as geological tourism, ornithological tourism, and even astrophotographic tourism , which is attracting more and more visitors to Fuerteventura.

What is birdwatching tourism? 

Birdwatching is a type of nature tourism, in which the offer is focused on watching  birds in their natural environment. This hobby involves a significant financial investment, in the form of bird guides, binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, cameras or specific lenses. Birdwatchers are visitors who are responsible with the environment and respectful of the environment, far from the “all inclusive”. They suppose a tourism with high purchasing power, which values the destinations they visit, if they are cared for and protected, of course.

Ornithological tourism in Fuerteventura. 

The fact that Fuerteventura is located near the migratory routes of many birds, makes this island a privileged enclave for ornithological observation. Among the species that cross the Majorero skies, in search of their wintering places, there are cinnamon jars, archibebes, stilts, gannets, spatulas, herons, bee-eaters, and a long etcetera.

Among the largest birdlife that you can observe on the island, throughout the year, is the guirre majorero, a species of Egyptian vulture that only inhabits Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. There are attempts to reintroduce this scavenger bird on the other islands, but this has not yet been achieved. 

There is no doubt that steppe birds such as the Houbara bustard (a fauna symbol of Fuerteventura), the Ortega ganga, the Saharan corridor, or the stone curlew, are species that capture the attention of bird watchers. However, every good birdwatcher knows that he will have to travel to Fuerteventura at least once in his life to have the privilege of seeing and photographing an endemic species unique to the island: the Canarian Tarabilla.

Where to watch birds in Fuerteventura? 

For people who have decided to enter the exciting world of birdwatching, it is important to know that Fuerteventura has several booths and terrestrial binoculars installed a few years ago by public institutions. These structures facilitate bird watching in a discreet and comfortable way.

The huts are made of wood and are usually located in ponds and reservoirs, in which important colonies of cinnamon jars and common coots congregate, and where other wading birds always appear. 

Currently you can enjoy these huts in the Los Molinos dam and in the Islote de Lobos. One was also installed in the Rosa de Catalina García, but this wetland has been dry for a few years. In addition, Fuerteventura has several ZEPA zones (Special Bird Protection Zone) in the Rural Park of Betancuria, Vallebrón, valleys of Fimampaire, Fenimoy, Lajares, Esquinzo and Costa de Jarugo. These spaces are ideal for bird watching.

Strategic points to practice birdwatching in Fuerteventura.

• El Jarde Ornithological Reserve: near Lajares, here you can see and photograph steppe birds. 
• Presa de los Molinos, Barranco de la Torre: these are areas with wetlands where jars of cinnamon, coots, gray herons and bitters nest. 
• Cuchillos de Vigán, Herradura ravine, Cofete arch: In its escarpments you can see the Barbary Falcon.
• Barranco de la Torre, Vallebrón, Valles de Fimapeire and Fenimoy, near Escanfraga mountain: these are areas with a high concentration of guirres and hawks.

What type of accommodation is the ornithological tourist looking for? 

Because the equipment that the advanced bird watcher brings with him is bulky, heavy and expensive, his housing needs are also specific. Among the conditions most demanded by this type of guest is that the accommodation has several units, good Wi-Fi coverage, easy parking, 24-hour privacy, security, etc. That is, a place where upon arrival, after an observation, you feel at home, where you can leave the material with complete peace of mind, make notes of the day and prepare the “briefing” for the next.

At FuerteventurActiva we have several accommodations of this type. Both Casa La Vera, Casa Susana as well as Casa Mina and Seña Catalina are located near optimal places for observing bustards and majorero guirres. They are all near a dump, where the guirres feed. 

From the privileged location of the Corralejo Beachfront villa, on the very first line of the sea, you can photograph a wide variety of waders and waders approaching the shore. Spoonbills, egrets, gray herons, whistling curlews, restless turnstones and sandpipers, are some of the species that you can observe without leaving this accommodation.

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