Corvo, which only has around 400 inhabitants, has seen an increase of birdwatching lovers coming to the island between October and November in search of rare bird species. This search, which began “more than a decade ago”, as José Manuel Silva, the Mayor of Corvo has mentioned has contributed to the rejuvenation of the island and helped its economy to grow.

There are visitors from all over the world, but a large number are from Europe, especially from Belgium, France, and England. "It doesn't mean that there aren't migratory birds on other islands, but on Corvo, it ends up being special, because it's easier for them to get together and follow in a group, and in the end, they record everything in their logbooks”, the mayor said adding that they don't return to the village until the end of the day even if they leave at first light.

As José Manuel Silva announced, the birdwatchers visiting the region contribute massively to the improvement of the island’s touristic rates. “Some stay in private homes because in the beginning, the island did not have the accommodation response capacity it currently has. These are people who have been going to Corvo for 10, 12 and 13 years and who continue to stay in these private homes”, he stated.


Besides birdwatching, there are dozens of licensed operators which offer whale sightseeing tours and diving experiences, a type of tourism which started around 30 years ago, by a French yachtsman Serge Vialelle, as he established a base for whale and dolphin watching in the village of Lajes do Pico. This action marked the beginning of whale and dolphin watching in the archipelago.