Birdwatching in Manizales

Birds play essential roles in maintaining the ecological balance and long-term continuity of natural ecosystems. Among their main functions are seed dispersal, pollination, and the control of animals and insects that could become pests. Did you know that when you go birdwatching and learn to identify birds, you not only protect birds and the environment, but you also gain physical and mental benefits (you walk, you relax, you train your patience, and you stimulate your knowledge)?

For this and many other reasons, we invite you to experience Pajareando Manizales, a dynamic and fun workshop where you do not need any previous birdwatching experience. All you need is the desire to learn and the willingness to enjoy an occasion that will sharpen your senses and give you calm and great enjoyment. It is time for you to see for yourself the immense number of species that Colombia has, which live only in our territory.

Pajareando Manizales consists of 3 modules, which can be taken in full over 2 consecutive days, or separately (by module) to spread across different sessions. You have a first module, an introductory workshop on birdwatching; a second module, an introduction to field practice; and a third module, field practice.

Our first module, the introductory workshop on birdwatching (4 academic hours), will take place at the facilities of Golden Frog Hotel Experiencia Manizales. Here we will learn about the global importance of bird knowledge and conservation, anatomy applied to identification, taxonomy and the practical use of field guides as identification and recording tools, biogeography and migrations, evolutionary ecology, endemism, and more.

We continue with the second module, the introduction to field practice (4 hours), where we will go out to visit La Reserva Kairi and learn directly from our winged teachers. You will learn techniques for locating and identifying species, environmental interpretation applied to ornithology, efficient use of binoculars, telescopes and cameras, and the creation and recording of lists using online platforms (Ebird, Merlin).

Finally, you will take the third and last module, which consists of a field practice (8 hours), where we will take a full-day birding excursion around the Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados. We will dedicate ourselves to searching for species in three different climatic zones: humid forest, dwarf forest, and páramo at more than 4000 meters above sea level. Between explanatory talks, coffee and mecato (snacks) (don't worry, we will also have lunch on the mountain), we will try to find the endemic and emblematic species of each zone, and thus increase our list with sightings of new species.

At the end of Pajareando Manizales, you will have fundamental tools and knowledge that will allow you to continue developing, at your own pace, in the wonderful and fascinating world of birdwatching.