The Sao Paulo Birdfair, Avistar, held at the Butantã Gardens has to be one of the greatest venues to attend in South America, if not the Americas. It is just teeming with bird guides, exciting news, conservation projects and photographers. The date is always mid-May and the event is run by Gustavo “Guto” Carvalho and his wonderful team, he brings together the best of the birding world in Brazil.

Butantã is world famous for producing snake serum and the Gardens holds the marquis full of stands. REGUA has one small stand that is shared with other Rio birders and this makes for one of the most popular venues. We get to meet up with the birders, guides and tour companies to share news and comment on recent activities. Everyone is a member of a big extended family and we leave feeling fully revived and firing on all cylinders. The photograph shows Nicholas and Raquel with just a few of the people they met this year. Already looking forward to next year’s venue.

If you want to meet up with Guto, he will be at the UK Birdfair this August – our UK Team look forward to seeing him there.