|
Post by gallito on Apr 13, 2016 19:57:14 GMT -5
Colombia, with its diverse landscapes, is home to more bird species than any other country in the world. With almost two thousand species, be prepared to be in awe of the spectacular avifauna as we explore Colombia’s lush cloud forests, wetlands, coasts,valleys, and high mountain plains.on this 13-day birding adventure. Ok you're probably thinking this is some schmaltzy ad aimed at octogenarian bird watchers! Well your close,this is the introduction to Join The Portland Audubon Society annual bird spotting trip to some far away,exotic location.Yes,it's Colombia,some of you could care less about birds and the only bird you're interested in has her beak plastered on a dating site. Sure some of you get it;you get your nature fix while on one of your treks,bashing about the Andes,in a remote reserve.For the less enthusiastic bird lover you have discovered a plate of bananas,fruit,bird feeder conveniently placed near your patio or veranda will attract a gaggle of birds. Don't discount those hummingbirds;Colombia is home to nearly half of the world's 300-plus species of hummingbirds.Next time you're stateside and near a Dollar store grab a dozen cheap hummingbird feeders.Those things are good as gold;cheap mix of 1 cup white sugar - 4 cups boiled water,cool and bang you got the fixins for an audubon of your own. Those without a finca or a residence near a green zone;maybe you're on a holiday,not to worry there are Coffee Fincas,haciendas,finca - hotels setup for bird watching.Grab an early morning tinto,head out side to the veranda,maybe you prefer the gentle sway of the hammock...you're in for a treat even if you're not a bird aficionado. Feel free to add pictures of your favorite bird;copy and paste or DIY shots. audubonportland.org/trips-classes-camps/adult/international-trips/colombia-pdfwww.facebook.com/FincaAlejandria/?fref=ts
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 13, 2016 19:57:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 13, 2016 20:24:20 GMT -5
Dandl,wives and I did a roadtrip - lunch to San Francisco;a little town,2 hours from Bogota or in our case over a couple of mountain ranges 1.5 hrs. scenic drive from Pacho.The highlight of the trip was a visit to Jardin Encantado;little garden residence come hummy reserve.A Rola mother and daughter team have set up thirty some hummingbird feeders.This 20 year plus labour of love;Nigel Marven shot his infamous hummingbird kiss here,bit of a payaso he is,National Geographic and even Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado a bird lover and accomplished photographer has honed her skills here. www.birdlife.org/asia/news/hummingbirds-colombiawww.jardinencantado.net/
|
|
|
Post by elexpatriado on Apr 14, 2016 12:43:32 GMT -5
I went a few weeks ago to the Reserva Del Rio Blanco near Manizales a few weeks ago. Birdwatchers from all over the world there
Also I have been many times to the recinto del pensamiento
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 14, 2016 13:21:04 GMT -5
Jardin,S.W. Antioquia;a cool little pueblo, about four hours south of Medellin, is an increasingly popular tourist destination, but it’s a wonderful place for birding as well.The mountains around the town are home to the ProAves Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve, which shelters a strong population of 300 or so of these recently rediscovered, macaw-like endemic parrots. One of my favorite pastimes is sitting around the town's plaza drinking a brew or sipping a superb cup of café from a friend's coffee shop.The highlight of my last visit was viewing the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.Just outside of the town is an easily accessible lek (a lek is a communal courtship site) where at dusk and dawn large groups of these strange, bright red birds come to display for females.
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on Apr 16, 2016 8:19:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 16, 2016 12:34:12 GMT -5
That's a discoteca not a lek.
|
|
|
Post by billforce on Apr 26, 2016 16:42:50 GMT -5
I live on the side of a very large canyon above the Rio Medellin. I have a large family of GUACHARACAS that wake me up most mornings, they have a very shrill rasping call to each other.
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on Apr 26, 2016 17:10:53 GMT -5
I had to google Guacharachas. What a strange bird!
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 26, 2016 23:28:18 GMT -5
Do they taste like chicken...because they sure sound like them
|
|
|
Post by billforce on Apr 27, 2016 1:06:47 GMT -5
According to Wiki they taste lake Pavo (Turkey).
|
|
|
Post by makopp5 on Apr 27, 2016 21:10:41 GMT -5
I live in Poblado and can see also lots of different bird from my balcony. Guacamayos, hummingbirds, black ibis, gallenazos, gavilan, bracers and lots of small ones blue, red orange etc.
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on Apr 28, 2016 8:07:55 GMT -5
When I bought the land to build my house it was just a grassy cow paddock but I planted lots of shrubs and trees and the birds now come in their hundreds.
It helps that I also give them free food.
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 28, 2016 12:22:41 GMT -5
When I bought the land to build my house it was just a grassy cow paddock but I planted lots of shrubs and trees and the birds now come in their hundreds. It helps that I also give them free food. Yes,I noticed Dan's place doesn't attract as many birds...well unless you count roosters
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on Apr 28, 2016 16:22:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by gallito on Apr 28, 2016 21:02:53 GMT -5
Proaves is like the cartel of the bird reserves,everything flows through their Bogota head office. Proaves offers a free membership;members with a Colombian cedula are entitled to discounts. pdf signup and membership information available on Proaves' link: www.proaves.org/join-for-free/?lang=en
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on Apr 30, 2016 8:56:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by suba on Apr 30, 2016 21:17:47 GMT -5
I moan more than most on here, but sometimes you have to take a step back and admit that Colombia really is a beautiful country.
|
|
|
Post by gallito on May 9, 2016 12:51:47 GMT -5
Birding 101: Unidentified Flying Organisms A few weeks ago, if someone had asked me what I thought of Tanagers, my mind would have honed in on the obvious typo in a term that obviously describes the most obnoxious phase of any human’s life cycle. Oh, how the past ten days in Colombia have changed me, for now I know Tanagers refers to the second largest family of birds. That’s right my brain has now allocated prime real estate for such facts as: Tanagers constitute around 4 percent of all avian species, nearly the value we assign to our collective understanding of what constitutes the universe we inhabit. 12 percent of all Neotropical species are Tanagers, they largely sport an unapologetic, bright palette of plumes, opt to co-parent their young (some species go as far as securing nannies) and show their offspring the nest’s ledge when they start mouthing off two weeks after hatching. They are the aquarium fish of the skies, and are seen outside of their natural context as often as you see reef fish incarcerated at dentist clinics. This is why I love birders and divers, people who value immersive moments with wild things, where the wild things are. A Multicolored Tanager, essentially an impressionist painting on the move Blue-mountain Tanager, eating fruit on a feeder in someone’s private backyard. Many Colombians have begun to opt out of profiting myopically from the trade in live birds, instead they put up feeders and lure eager birders and ecotourists, who would rather take photographs than cage a wild bird. www.huffingtonpost.com/asher-jay/birding-101-unidentified-_b_9507212.html
|
|
|
Post by buenopues on May 9, 2016 14:22:26 GMT -5
Here are a couple of shots of a Multicolored Tanager in my yard. It's a Colombian endemic and for that reason and it's great coloring it's very popular with foreign birdwatchers/photographers.
|
|
|
Post by buenopues on May 9, 2016 15:13:32 GMT -5
Antpittas at Reserva Rio Blanco. One of the main reasons birders/bird photographers go to this reserva is to see the Antpittas two of which are endemic i.e. can only be found in Colombia. I photographed five species in the reserva and the sixth at Nevado de Ruiz. Bicolored Antpitta, endemic Brown-banded Antpitta, endemic Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Chestnut-napped Antpitta Slate-crowned Antpitta Tawny Antpitta, this one isn't at the reserva but you can find it near the entrance to Nevado de Ruiz, páramo habitat.
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on May 9, 2016 16:55:01 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by buenopues on May 9, 2016 18:54:33 GMT -5
Thanks glad you enjoy them. I like to take photos of hummingbirds too. This is a Booted Racket-tail: And here's a White-necked Jacobin A Sparkling Violetear And a Purple-throated Woodstar
|
|
|
Post by gallito on May 9, 2016 19:26:00 GMT -5
buenopues...that dresses up the thread nicely,gracias!
|
|
|
Post by makopp5 on May 9, 2016 19:29:40 GMT -5
buenopues thanks, great shots.
|
|
|
Post by gallito on May 9, 2016 20:16:19 GMT -5
Pair of Guacamayo frolicking in the garden
|
|
|
Post by wildstubby on May 10, 2016 7:16:51 GMT -5
I have always had a thing for birds, (maybe from my mother calling me a 'bird brain'!) I am particularly fond of hummingbirds. We only have the Ruby-throated that migrates here. Although I spotted a Rufus once,(which is mostly indigenous west of the Mississippi river)
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on May 10, 2016 8:45:53 GMT -5
wildstubby I have a pet sparrow called 'Rufus'. He comes to clean up after the other birds have had breakfast. buenopues you have an open invitation; If you are ever in my neck of the woods call by and we can sit on the patio and enjoy some Chilean red while you take some photos of the birds in my garden. I have quite a few humming birds but they all seem to be pretty much the same variety - 'green ones'
|
|
|
Post by buenopues on May 10, 2016 14:20:15 GMT -5
Barrumundi thanks for the invite. Hope I can take you up on it sometime. I have had twenty five species of hummingbird visit my place, the most unusual being the Shining Sunbeam since it's a páramo bird. For anyone who wants to attract birds, even in the city mount a board outside with a couple of long screws driven through, peal the skin off half of a ripe banana and stick it on the screws. Mount the board near some cover (shrub, tree) as the birds will feel more secure coming to it. This will attract all the Tanagers in your area, Euphoneas, Red-headed Barbets, Honeycreeper etc. etc. even large birds like Motmot and Toucanet...if they're around. Cuchuco (cracked corn) on the ground will attract the doves, sparrows and different finch species. Also if the banana is pretty rotten i.e. almost liquefied it will attract mariposas/butterflies as well.
|
|
|
Post by barrumundi on May 10, 2016 15:37:41 GMT -5
What sort of camera do you use buenopues? Telephoto lense? What about the lighting .......do you use a flash even in the daylight?
|
|