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Tag: birdwatching

  • MatataXplore Announces Solvia ED 8×32 AI Binoculars: A Smarter Way to Explore Nature

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    Recently, Matatalab announced the launch of a new smart optical imaging brand – MatataXplore – and revealed that the Solvia ED 8×32 AI Binoculars will soon be available on Kickstarter. Designed for birdwatchers, nature explorers, hikers, and creators, these binoculars combine advanced optics with AI-supported species recognition and effortless sharing-delivering a truly connected outdoor experience. More details here.

    For decades, traditional binoculars have been limited to passive observation. Users had no simple way to capture what they saw – let alone identify species or share their findings in real time. External cameras and printed field guides often added bulk and friction to what should be a seamless outdoor experience.

    Solvia ED changes that by integrating high-definition imaging, real-time AI species recognition, and instant sharing tools into a single device. It offers a more intelligent and intuitive way to explore. The built-in AI, trained on over 100GB of avian data, can identify more than 10,000 bird species with up to 98% accuracy in just one second. The companion app extends this capability to plants and other wildlife, transforming each outing into a moment of discovery and learning.

    At the core of Solvia ED’s innovation lies its patented TrueFrame™ coaxial imaging system. Unlike traditional digital adapters that suffer from misalignment and optical loss, this system ensures that what the eye sees is exactly what the camera captures. Combined with ED glass and WDR technology, users can record crisp 2k photos and videos and share them instantly via the app or social platforms.

    Built for real-world conditions, the binoculars weigh just 560g and are rated IP64 for dust and water resistance. Optional modular accessories – including GPS, a digital compass, a polarizing filter, and an extended battery pack – further enhance its performance for a wide range of field environments. Whether observing birds at dawn, leading nature walks, or creating outdoor content, Solvia ED delivers professional-grade performance with consumer-level ease of use.

    Solvia ED transforms how we connect with the natural world. It’s about learning, sharing, and inspiring others-making every moment outside richer and more memorable. The Solvia ED 8×32 AI Binoculars will soon be available on Kickstarter, with special offers for early supporters. Discover more here.

    Source: Matatalab

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  • Honduras Committed to Tourism Development With Addition of New Airlines, Cruises and Hotels

    Honduras Committed to Tourism Development With Addition of New Airlines, Cruises and Hotels

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    Press Release



    updated: Mar 22, 2018

    While notably one of Central America’s most under the radar destinations, Honduras is making strides in its tourism sector. The country has enjoyed a steady increase in tourism arrivals over the past few years, having welcomed more than two million visitors in 2017, which represent more than U.S. $700 million in tourist spending. The country’s cruise offering is a main driver for its tourism industry, with several new cruise ships arriving in 2017. Honduras has also generated growth in its connectivity and announced new hotel developments. Below are the most recent achievements for the Honduras Institute of Tourism:

    Connectivity

    The International Airport of Juan Manuel Galvez in Roatan will soon undergo multiple upgrades including an extension of the runway and a new building for passengers. These upgrades will allow the airport to receive more planes, as well as better attend to passengers. Another important milestone for Honduras was the addition of Air Europa offering weekly direct flights from Madrid, Spain, to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This new route has allowed greater connectivity for the country to more than 20 European destinations and more than one thousand sales channels for the marketing of airline tickets. The weekly Air Europa flight began in April 2017 when flight occupancy exceeded 85 percent. Since then, Air Europa expanded the capacity of the aircraft on that route with an Airbus 330-300 able to accommodate 388 passengers, adding 89 more seats. The possibility of increasing the frequency to two flights per week is currently under consideration.

    Cruise

    The cruise sector is an instrumental contributor to Honduras’ tourism industry, as the country welcomed more than a million cruise passengers in 2017 representing a nearly 5 percent increase over 2016. Most recently, Roatan has welcomed new cruise ships including Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection, Viking Ocean’s Viking Sky and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff from Germany.

    New Tourism Experiences

    While Honduras is well known for its impressive archeological sites such as Copan, and its unmatched diving on the Caribbean coast, the Honduras Tourism Board is now making an emphasis to showcase its exquisite Birdwatching experience. Honduras is one of the countries in Central America featuring the most protected land with 121 areas and is home to more than 770 species of birds. Most recently, efforts have focused on the promotion and development of services offered for Birdwatching, for which there are excellent guides and tour operators specialized in this area. The varied ecosystems in Honduras allow visitors to see many species of birds including the Ocellated Quail, Keel-billed Motmot, Lovely Cotinga, Agami Heron and the Honduran Emerald Hummingbird.

    The Touristic Coffee Route, which allows visitors to visit coffee farms and have a complete tour of the process from seed to cup, is another experience being further developed. For years, Honduras has been acclaimed for its coffee and last year, the coffee beans grown by Honduras’ José Abelardo Díaz Enamorado were designated as the “Best of the Best” in the 2017 Ernesto Illy International Coffee Awards. There are six areas to experience the Coffee Route in Honduras: Copan, Opalaca, Montecillos, Comayagua, El Paraíso and Agalta.

    Accolades

    Some of Honduras’ attractions have also been recognized among the best by top media outlets. Mary’s Place, located in Roatan, was recently listed among USA Today 10Best Reader’ Choice 2018 as one of the Caribbean’s best dive sites. Mary’s Place provides a habitat for marine critters including coral, sponge and seahorses. Additionally, the Island of Utila, located in Honduras’ northern coast along the second largest barrier reef in the world, was listed the No. 1 Best Caribbean Dive Site by USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2017.

    About Honduras

    Set in the heart of Central America is Honduras, one of the region’s less discovered gems that is ready to be explored. Boasting a variety of ecosystems and a vast amount of protected land, Honduras is home to a wealth of nature and wildlife both above land and under the ocean. The country presents numerous unparalleled experiences: nature, including the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, designated a Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO; several archeological sites such as Copan, declared a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO; adventure with river rafting and rappelling through the protected jungles; diving in pristine reefs on the Caribbean coast and connecting with authentic culture including several indigenous groups who have preserved their customs and tradition. Honduras, love outright. For more information, visit https://honduras.travel.

    Press Contact

    Diana Arellano
    Newlink Group
    305-702-2776
    diana.arellano@newlink-group.com

    Source: Honduras Institute of Tourism

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  • Raptors Along the Rails

    Raptors Along the Rails

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    Press Release



    updated: Oct 23, 2017

    When traveling aboard Verde Canyon Railroad, passengers peer up at the red rock pinnacles towering over the precious Verde River, awe-struck by the canyon walls reaching ever higher into the clear blue skies above. Changing their gaze downward and across the expanse of the canyon, everyone marvels at the wild Verde River as it meanders along the tracks. What humans don’t realize is the enormous importance this Canyon area holds for the American Bald Eagle. The Verde Valley is ideal eagle habitat in Arizona’s wild backcountry. Year-round resident raptors are joined every year from November through March by migratory feathered visitors for a wild winter respite along the cliffs of the Verde River. Where train passengers see scenic vistas and a bold medley of greens, blues, reds and golds, these magnificent flying creatures see a river teeming with food, ancient trees and dramatic canyon clefts in which to secure nests, and a big sky for their aerial adventures.

    Arizona’s riparian areas are crucial habitat for raptors that depend on the river for sustenance. With their keen eyes, they fish the waters of the Verde and build legacies along its remote and protected banks. Winter is the best time to catch a glimpse of our nation’s symbol in all its glory, soaring along the train. Nests are built in preparation for the eggs that generally arrive in late January. Eaglets appear in late February or early March, watched over by ever-vigilant parents who demonstrate the meaning of the phrase “eagle-eyed.”

    Longtime supporters of Arizona Game and Fish’s “Eagle Watch” program, Verde Canyon Railroad contributes toward the sustainability of the dedicated men and women who camp out near active nests, monitoring the eaglets and watching for dangers. In fact, it was AZGF Eagle Watchers who saved the life of Sonora, an educational eagle now a popular resident of Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix. Sonora was spotted as she fell from her nest along the Lower Verde River near Phoenix a dozen years ago. She was nearly killed when Africanized Bees attacked her and a sibling who unfortunately did not survive. Sonora sustained permanent injuries to an eye and a wing that made her unable to be returned to the wild, though through Liberty’s educational programs she has been able to ride the rails along the Verde River for almost 10 years now. Just as much as the train passengers enjoy seeing a bald eagle close up, it seems Sonora is also enriched by her visits to this raptor paradise. Since 2010 Liberty Wildlife has had a fruitful partnership with Verde Canyon Railroad, regularly sharing educational raptors and reptiles with guests aboard the train and at the depot.

    With open-air cars accessible to the full sights, sounds and scents of the wilderness, Verde Canyon Railroad provides an ideal platform for wildlife viewing year-round. Real rails, real people and a real adventure make Verde Canyon Railroad a feast for each of the senses. The historic rail line was once a treasured connection between the booming copper mines of Jerome and distant civilization. Today, two million passengers later, the train continues to rumble into this same, untouched terrain where resident raptors soar from the edges of deep red cliffs, and the perennially-flowing water of the Verde River weaves its wondrous path through the high desert.

    Advance reservations for Verde Canyon Railroad are always recommended. A stone’s throw from the hillside mining town of Jerome, Verde Canyon Railroad’s Clarkdale depot is in the heart of the Verde Valley, a diverse crossroads featuring amazing adventures in every direction. Only two hours from Phoenix and 25 minutes from Sedona, Verde Canyon Railroad is the perfect Arizona day trip. Reservations may be made at http://www.verdecanyonrr.com or at 800.293.7245.

    It’s Always a Great Day When You Are on A Train!

    # # #

    Contact: Teresa Propeck

    Phone: 623-374-3185
    www.VerdeCanyonRR.com
    ​tpropeck@verdecanyonrr.net​
    ​Reservations: 800-293-7245

    Source: Verde Canyon Railroad

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