Ecotourism

Rare Black Hawk-Eagle Discovered in Medellin Forest Reserve

Medellin Herald July 7, 2020

The Medellin Mayor’s Office revealed July 6 that forest rangers in one of the city’s protected reserves confirmed the presence of Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus) — the largest eagle in the city proper and second-largest in Valle de Aburrá. The 68-centimeters-long raptor —

Ecotourism

Proposed Eco-Park in Southwest Antioquia Dropped over Quebradona Mining Concerns

Medellin Herald June 9, 2020

Medellin-based family-welfare organization Comfama announced June 8 that it has decided to suspend its proposed ecotourism park in southwest Antioquia because of feared potential contamination from the proposed Quebradona copper-gold mine near Jericó. According to the Comfama press bulletin, the suspension of the proposed eco-park near the La Guamo gorge means that the

Ecotourism

Medellin Leads Colombia as World Champion in ‘Global Big Day’ Bird-Survey Competition

Medellin Herald May 14, 2020

The Medellin Mayor’s Office on May 13 hailed Medellin’s national leadership in the annual “Global Big Day” survey of bird species in Colombia and world-wide on May 9. For the fourth straight year, Colombia won the global competition for the 24-hours survey, with 1,440 species recorded nationally. Colombia has by far the world’s greatest bird […]

Ecotourism

Medellin’s 6th Annual Bird Festival October 10-14: Great Chances to See, Hear & Learn About Our Amazing Wild Birds, Nature

Medellin Herald October 4, 2019

The 6th annual Medellin Bird Festival (organized by Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitologia, SAO) kicks off October 10-14 with a colorful variety of birdwatching opportunities, expert conferences, special workshops and film festivals. The annual event (see: https://festivaldelasavesmedellin.com) is officially sponsored by the city of Medellin and taps dozens of allies including

Ecotourism

World Wildlife Fund to Medellin Bird Festival: Tremendous Birding-Tour Growth Potential Seen Here

Medellin Herald October 17, 2017

In a keynote speech to the fourth annual Medellin Bird Festival (Festival de las Aves Medellin 2017), World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Colombia) strategic alliances director John Myers revealed that Colombia generally and Medellin/Antioquia specifically have tremendous potential for expanding profitable, socially beneficial birdwatching tours.  Citing two recent scientific

Ecotourism

Antioquia’s Private Nature Reserves Growing: Colombians, Expats Teaming-up

Medellin Herald August 5, 2017

Among the encouraging signs of Colombia’s and Antioquia’s recuperating economy, environment and security situation is a growing network of private nature reserves – overwhelmingly founded by native Colombians, but now including a few “rare-bird” expats. One such rare-bird migrant is North American-born biologist and construction contractor Doug Knapp, who two years ago

Ecotourism

Medellin Bird Festival 2016 includes Birding Trip Packages to Jardin, Rio Claro

Medellin Herald September 21, 2016

The 2016 edition of the annual Festival de Aves de Medellin organized by the Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitologia (SAO) this year includes three birding-trip packages to spectacular sites – two in Jardin, and one in Rio Claro, all in Antioquia. The five-day festival — October 26 to October 31 – includes two-days/two-nights weekend trips including transport,

Ecotourism

Medellin Ecotourism: Birding in Alto de San Miguel

Medellin Herald September 18, 2015

Unless you’re accompanied by a local, expert birder — such as someone from the Medellin-based Sociedad Antioqueño de Ornitologia (SAO), or a guide specially trained by the SAO – then birding in and around Medellin can be frustrating, especially for recent newcomers. Noise, traffic, uncertain public transport, occasional security problems (such as at El Volador […]

Ecotourism

4th Annual Medellin Bird Festival: October 11-16, 2017

Medellin Herald September 9, 2015

 Medellin-based Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología (SAO) announced July 28 that it will host its fourth annual Medellin Bird Festival on October 11-16, 2017, featuring guided birding walks around the city, expert lectures by Colombian and international ornithology researchers and birding excursions to world-famous sites such as Jardin (Antioquia) and Manizales