Aug 27th , 2009 Page 2

Female%20Rufus%20Hummingbird-t[1].jpg Hummingbirds of the Riviera Nayarit

By Tara Spears

When I lived in the northern US, the window of time for sharing the garden with these gorgeous, diminutive birds was very short. And like most career people with a family and a packed schedule, I�d have to plan time to sit and watch the hummingbirds� I could �smell the roses� on the run but without putting �sit in garden/ 30 minutes� on m how to ID.gif y �to do� list, I�d often miss these transient birds� visit. But since living in tropical western Mexico, which is the natural habitat for hundreds of hummingbird species, seeing them year round is a daily joy if you have the right flowers in your yard.

While not a serious bird watcher, over time I have learned the name of several species of hummingbirds that I frequently see. Even the casual observer will note the differences in head and wing colors, size and flight behavior although you may never learn its name. I rarely look at the belly or try to assess the tail distinctions, but the head, throat (gorget) and wings are often enough of a marker for me to recognize the species. The following pictures are some of the hummingbirds that can be seen in the Riviera Nayarit area.

Allen�s Anna�s

allensm[1].jpg anna (2).jpg

blk chin3.jpg

Berylline Black chin

BuffBellied_Hummingbird[1].jpg Bumblebee (smallest bird)

calliope hummingbird kd[1].jpg

Caliope Coppery-headed emerald

Magnificent[1].jpg

Lucifer Magnificent

male rufous.jpg male Rufous Purple throated mountain-gem

Ruby-throatedHummingbird-3[1].jpg violet-crowned[1].jpg

Ruby throat Violet crowned

white ear2.jpg xantus-hummingbird[1].jpg

Violet sabrewing White-eared Xantus

Interesting facts about the exotic hummingbird:

� Hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern Alaska to southern Chile, although most live in the tropics. There are 339 species of hummingbirds, 17 of which summer in North America and winter in tropical areas, especially Mexico.

Hummingbird migration is triggered by temperature and length of daylight, and there are gender differences in departure and arrival time. The mating males head north earlier in spring, probably to be able to establish a territory before the females arrive. By the females starting north later in the spring, she is assured of more flowers to feed on and build up her strength for bearing young. Conversely, the early fall departure of the males may leave a richer diet available for the developing young of the year.

� Hummingbirds are promiscuous breeders: they do not form pairs so there is a lot of courtship behavior. (Very entertaining to watch!)

� According to the World of Hummingbird researchers, females don't like to build nests in a male's feeding territory, and a home feeder is probably part of one. Visits to distant feeders take too much time away from the eggs. When the chicks hatch, they need protein to grow, not sugar, so their mother spends most of her time catching small insects and spiders for them.

� These smallest birds in the world consume half their body weight in sugar each day.

One of the year round Mexican hummers is quite interesting. Lucifer means �light-bearing� in Latin, so the name probably refers to the iridescent plumage of the Lucifer Hummingbird. Males perch atop plants and launch into aerial displays lasting up to 45 seconds in an attempt to attract a mate. In the past this species of hummer was captured to be stuffed and mounted or even sold alive. A group of Lucifer hummingbirds are collectively known as an inferno of hummingbirds.

� The Ruby throat and Rufous The Rufus Hummingbird are the most widely distributed hummingbirds in North America and have been observed in every state and province except Hawaii.

Hummingbirds are able to fly up, down, forward, backward and sideways, besides stop in midair- they were the inspiration for modern helicopters. They can beat their wings 60 to 200 times per second-so fast that the human eye cannot detect it- and reach a flying speed of up to 60 mph! Unlike most birds, the hummingbird�s wing is joined to its body only from the shoulder joint, allowing it supple movement and an180 degree axial rotation.

There are so many reasons to appreciate the dazzling hummingbirds that are so prevalent in the tropics. Seeing the iridescent hummingbird is just another perk when visiting or living in the beautiful Riviera Nayarit area.

Contact the author: tara.sprs@yahoo.com

Chiapas Mexico by Bill Bell

Understanding Regularized or Legalized Land
Mike Hansen - PVNN
August 17, 2009

Riviera Property Group is one of a few companies that specialize in sourcing development, investment, and ejido land opportunities. Visit the website at EjidoLand.com.

It is quite common in Mexico to hear people speaking of regularized or legalized property, however it's also quite common for most people to have a misunderstanding of what this actually means.

Generally these terms are used to describe an ejido community that has completed the PROCEDE process, however the terms themselves have absolutely no legal significance. They are more or less just terms that have been invented by sales people hoping to paint ejido land with a different brush.

Although many real estate professionals, and even the US consulate are promoting the belief that all regularized or legalized land can be can be purchased and transferred to foreigners, it CAN NOT. Please note that this is a very dangerous assumption and it can create major problems for foreign investors.

It is very important to understand that regularized or legalized parcels (parcelas) are still EJIDO LAND, and they can only legally be purchased, sold, or transferred to ejido members (ejidatarios) or residents of the ejido community (avecindados) who have been officially recognized by RAN (National Agrarian Registry.)

If you have read any of my previous articles you already understand that ejido land parcels can be converted into private property and sold to foreigners, however PROCEDE is just the first step, and by no means does it mean the property is free and clear of potential problems. As a matter of fact, many foreigners that have experienced problems relating to ejido land have had problems with regularized or legalized land.

How to Obtain Full Non-Ejido Title

After ejido parcel titles have been issued by RAN through PROCEDE it is required of each individual ejido member to apply for full domain (Dominio Pleno.) The full title application requires the support of 2/3 of the entire ejido assembly, and is a process that is subject to problems. For more information about Dominio Pleno please visit ejidoland.com.

In the event that a full title application receives the support of the ejido community, and a full title is issued by RAN the next step is the Dercho de Tanto, which provides the spouse and children of the ejido member the first right to purchase the property at the offered price.

The second right to purchase the property is then offered to all members of the ejido community, and the third rights are then given to residents (avecindados) of the community. For more information about the Derecho de Tanto, click HERE.

Note that in the event that any of the people mentioned above decide to act upon their rights non-ejido members or foreigners have no legal right to the land, despite contracts made or monies paid to the seller.

The next step, which is usually referred to as the Derecho de Preferencia, provides the government the option of purchasing the property before an outside sale can occur. Although it is very unlikely, the government may choose to purchase properties suitable for infrastructure development, this could include railway lines, communication hubs, or property with a special government interest.

After the full title application, the Derecho de Tanto and the Derecho de Preferencia, the ejido member can cancel the registry of the land title with RAN. After the title has been canceled it must be re-registered in the public register of properties.

Only after the land is registered in the public register of properties can it be legal purchased or transferred to non-ejido members, including foreigners. Note that the transfer of title to a non-ejido member before all of the above has been completed is illegal, and any deal or contract made is null and void.

ADVISORY: The Full Title and Rights of First Refusal process is exact, the smallest error, omission, or failure to complete any step of the process correctly could risk your entire investment. It is never recommended for any investor to oversee this process without qualified legal assistance, nor is it advised to assume that any ejido member, or the local ejido assembly fully understands the process. All investors need an attorney that is very experienced with Agrarian Law.

With Riviera Property Group you can invest with confidence. Our full service legal firm has specialized in ejido land for close to a decade, and we have successfully secured, converted, and developed hundreds of ejido land parcels. For more information about Riviera Property Group click HERE or visit the website at EjidoLand.com.

Mexico Fights Rise in Dengue Fever
Mary Cuddehe - The Lancet
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August 24, 2009

(Related: Dengue Quick Facts from Directors of Health Promotion and Education)

Dengue transmission - Click HERE to play presentation. (The Wellcome Trust/WHO)

With an outbreak of H1N1 scarcely behind it, the Mexican Government is also fighting the spread of another viral illness: dengue fever. Mary Cuddehe reports from Mexico City.

The incidence of dengue fever in Mexico has been climbing steadily for a decade. In 2000, there were 1781 reported cases. Last year, the number totalled 33 000, according to Mexico's Public Health Department. And confirmed cases this year have already surpassed 2008 figures by 15%.

In many ways Mexico is an ideal place for dengue fever. It is a heavily populated country with 9300 km of coastline, vast tropical regions, and an economy based largely on foreign trade and tourism. Dengue fever most frequently occurs in urban and tropical areas, and the rise in global commerce and tourism is one of the main factors, along with climate change, that experts identify as a root cause of the disease's expansion.

Experts also point to the carrier mosquito itself, Aedes aegypti, to explain the growing incidence. Recently, A aegypti has appeared in more Mexican states and at higher altitudes than previously seen. It has been detected in 21 of Mexico's 31 states this year, and while entomologists once believed that it was not able to fly above 1500 m, they have discovered it buzzing around at 1700 m. What is more, the earliest cases of dengue fever were reported in January this year. That was months before the start of the summer rains that traditionally kick off peak breeding season, suggesting that A aegypti has begun to reproduce year-round. �Normally we start the year with zero cases�, said Juan Miguel Torre, the head of epidemiology for the Public Health Department in Colima, the central state on the Pacific Coast that leads Mexico in confirmed cases this year. �This year, we started with 80 cases.�

Worldwide, tens of millions of cases occur every year, and the disease has spread consistently throughout the western hemisphere for a quarter century, bursting on 3�5 year epidemic cycles. In 2002, a major outbreak swept the region, striking more than 1 million people, according to the Pan American Health Organization. 5 years later, the second worst outbreak on record left nearly another 1 million people ill in 11 countries, including Mexico.

The disease's widespread and increasing presence has incited world health organisations to develop novel approaches to mosquito eradication. In the 1950s, a programme to combat yellow fever, which A aegypti also carries, all but vanquished the mosquito from the Americas. (It returned in the late 1970s.) In those days eradication was synonymous with insecticide spraying. Today it means getting individuals involved. Health organisations reach out to community leaders who in turn mobilise citizens to clear out havens for larvae by dumping waste and covering standing water. �A crumpled-up cigarette pack thrown on the ground, even on a roadside, with rain will form enough of a little pool of water to give mosquitoes a breeding spot�, said Epstein. �Education is more important than spraying. Spraying is a one-time thing.�

Mexico is applying these measures aggressively. States like Colima have launched large-scale eradication and public-education programmes. A recent operation had 500 health workers in yellow vests sweep through a small town in a single day, knocking on the doors of nearly 9000 homes. They inspected, sprayed, and lectured residents on techniques for keeping their homes mosquito free. �The key to no dengue is no mosquitoes�, said Miguel Angel Lezana, the head of epidemiology for Mexico's Public Health Department. �We put insecticide around the house and inside, and work with people to eliminate standing water or at least guard it properly.�

This year Mexico has reported 5052 cases. Classic dengue, or serotype 1, the least severe of the four dengue viruses, has made up the majority of those, with haemorrhagic cases totalling 901. Experts remain especially wary of an outbreak this year, though, because the recent H1N1 epidemic devastated the country's US$13 billion tourism industry and the same beach towns that draw tourists are also breeding grounds for the disease vectors. But so far they say that this year's numbers square with the Public Health Department's predictions for 2009. �The serotype that's circulating is serotype 1�, said Torre. �That gives us, not cause for calm exactly, but it tells us that the resources we have may be sufficient.�

New with travel guide information added!

Pacific Coast Road, Driving and Travel Guide Log 2010

We are confident that our road logs and driving guides will make your highway experiences just that much better and easier. Regardless of whether you are driving an RV or a suburban, a bike or a pick-up, our road logs will assist your journey. Even 20 year veterans of the route have benefited from the information.

We decided to present the road from a driving perspective going SOUTH. When your are looking at the Log, you read from the bottom of the page and read up. The Pacific Ocean, for example, would always be on your right, just as you would view it from your driver's seat.

The KM markings are the markings that you will see as you drive. It doesn't matter if your vehicle reads in miles or kilometers. You just read the signs on the road to get your bearings. Sometimes one highway combines with another and old kilometer signs are left up. Not to worry, just continue to read the guide.

Some of the best navigation points are the Pemex Station numbers clearly marked on all gas station signs. Topes (Mexican speed bumps) are marked in the guide just to remind you to go slow. We included Military and Agriculture check points even though we know these can change frequently. (Generally they are on one side of the state border or another between the Mexican states.)

How to download and buy the Road Log

Click on the buy now button and you will be directed to a merchants page. Once you pay for the road log you will redirected to an easy to use download page where you will be able to receive your product immediately. Now only $9.99

(Please submit your birthday amigos dates and pictures to Tara Spears tara.sprs@hotmail.com)

Turtle Time: Participate in Rare Turtle Hatching in Mexico�s Riviera Nayarit this Fall
RivieraNayarit.com
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August 05, 2009

When hatching time comes, participants in the program can watch as the newborn turtles begin their journey through the ocean to their new life.

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - Experience the magic of life first-hand by taking part in turtle hatching season in Riviera Nayarit. The turtle hatching process is but one of the many wildlife and outdoor adventure opportunities in the destination. Ecologically friendly, Riviera Nayarit recognizes the importance of all its living inhabitants and takes great strides to ensure their survival and preservation of the natural habitat.

Help newborn turtles through the first steps of their lives at the Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde marine turtle nursery and Platanitos Turtle Camp. During the summer and fall months, travelers can volunteer or go on tours of nurseries and nesting sites to learn about the fascinating life cycle of sea turtles for just one night or participate in a two month volunteer project, subject to availability.

At the Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde marine turtle nursery, visitors and volunteers can help release turtle hatchlings into their natural habitat. Just after sundown, the baby turtles are let out into the ocean to become independent. Also, every Wednesday night, the organization presents a slideshow at the Costa Azul Hotel for travelers and participants to learn about sea turtles. Interested visitors who want to volunteer in depth with the organization must stay for a minimum of two months and will have the chance to join in almost every step of helping the turtles survive their delicate first days. Volunteers pay for their own expenses. Short-term visitors can take tours of the nursery and release the hatchlings or help with whatever is needed that night at the nursery. For information on the organization, visit www.project-tortuga.org. For information on packages at the Costa Azul Hotel, visit www.costaazul.com.

Located at Playa Las Tortugas, the Platanitos Turtle Camp is focused on protecting and increasing the Olive Ridley sea turtle population. A joint effort between the Mexican government environmental agencies CONAP and SEMARNAT and the Home Owners Association of Playa Las Tortugas and its developer Robert Hancock, the camp promises to give travelers an unforgettable, exciting turtle experience. Visitors can help the staff patrol the beach and collect eggs from nesting turtles, and then learn how to incubate eggs in order to achieve a higher survival rate. When hatching time comes, participants in the program can watch as the newborn turtles begin their journey through the ocean to their new life. Options for participation include one-time visits or long-term volunteering. Cost is based on suggested donations depending on the number of participants and the extent of the visit. For more information, visit the organization�s new website, www.seaturtlecamp.org.

The official mascot of Riviera Nayarit, four protected species of sea turtles are native to the area. The leatherback turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, hawksbill turtles, and green turtles all use the 192 mile coastline of Nayarit as a nesting site every year. Each generation of female sea turtles returns to the beach where they were born to create nests of their own, resulting in a wonderful tradition in which visitors now have the opportunity to participate.

About Riviera Nayarit

Mexico�s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, all pleasantly affordable, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, record deep sea fishing, bird watching, international cuisine, and shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns.

For more information, visit www.RivieraNayarit.com

Mexico's economy taking hits from all directions

By Arthur Brice
CNN

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(CNN) -- The Mexican economy went off a cliff in the second three months of 2009, with the gross domestic product dropping 10.3 percent from the same period last year, according to government figures.

The GDP for the second quarter also declined 1.1 percent from the first three months of the year, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography said Thursday.

The GDP, which is the market value of all goods and services in a country, is used to measure a nation's economic performance.

Analysts say the main cause of Mexico's nosedive is that the nation's economy is tied strongly to that of the United States, which is mired in the deepest economic downturn since the 1930s.

About 80 percent of Mexican exports go to the United States, said Allyson Benton, an analyst with the Eurasia Group consulting firm.

"If the United States isn't importing, Mexico isn't exporting," Benton said.

Susan Kaufman Purcell, director of the Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami, said Mexico can take some measures but "until the U.S. economy really starts recovering, Mexico is going to have a hard time moving up."

Other factors dragging the Mexican economy down include a tourism decline caused by the H1N1 flu outbreak, fears over continuing violence, declining oil and tax revenues, and fewer Mexicans abroad sending money back home.

"They're getting a blow from almost every corner," Purcell said.

Oil revenues, long Mexico's main source of money, are being hurt by lower global prices and declining production. Purcell and other analysts point to the rapid decline of the Cantarell oil field, at one time the world's second-largest. Production at Cantarell peaked in 2004 and has been falling by more than 10 percent every year since then.

"Oil production has been in decline since 2004 but it has declined significantly over the past couple of years," Benton said.

Mexico, which relies on oil revenues for roughly 40 percent of its budget, also is hurt by falling prices for crude oil. According to some estimates, Mexico needs oil to be at $70 a barrel to sustain revenue levels. Prices on Friday hovered around $70, but earlier this year they had dipped to close to $30 a barrel.

Remittances from Mexicans working abroad, most of them in the United States, also have fallen victim to the economic downturn. Fewer jobs in the United States means fewer opportunities for Mexicans to find work and send money home. Remittances rank after oil in terms of revenue for the country.

That revenue fell from $26 billion in 2007 to $25 billion in 2008, Mexico's Central Bank said, and is expected to decrease even more this year.

Tourism, Mexico's third-largest source of revenue, has declined steadily since an outbreak of the H1N1 flu was first discovered in Mexico in April.

In addition to a global recession that has affected travel everywhere, tourists had already been wary of going to Mexico because of violence that has seen more than 11,000 people killed since President Felipe Calderon came into office in December 2006.

The Mexican government said earlier this month that the tourism downfall has already cost the nation up to $300 million and some analysts say that figure is sure to climb.

The H1N1 outbreak also caused revenue shortfalls because the government closed bars, restaurants and many other public places at the height of the epidemic this spring.

As a result of all these circumstances, tax revenues have taken a hit.

"The big problem in economic decline in both Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 has been much lower tax revenues," Benton said. "When you are not producing or you are firing people, you don't have taxes."

For example, Purcell said, the taxes that Mexico's state-owned Pemex oil company pays to the government have fallen by up to 40 percent.

Mexican officials see hope on the horizon, however.

"In June of this year, the economy probably stabilized or touched bottom, and ... we'll start to see a recovery in the next quarter," Deputy Finance Minister Alejandro Werner told the Wall Street Journal.

Purcell said Mexico could help itself by adopting labor and tax reforms and modernizing its energy policy. For example, she said, Mexico's labor laws make it difficult to fire unproductive employees and Pemex has not been aggressively pursuing other oil fields to replace Cantarell.

She doesn't see that happening, particularly since Calderon's PAN political party suffered a drubbing in last month's midterm elections and no longer controls Congress.

Mexico's economic problems, she said, are "a combination of bad luck, bad planning and a stalemated political system."

Rhodes by Bill and Dot Bell

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