What Kind of Birder You Think You Are – Birding Colombia
Yes, we have been watching you. We want you to come and make a birding trip in Colombia, and that’s why we are interested in knowing what kind of bird watcher you are.
Since we can’t give you a direct diagnosis, here I will tell you what the most common types of birders are, according to recent studies. This will help you identify with one of them.
If you know what kind of bird watcher you are, it will be easier for you, and for us, to plan the birding trip of your dreams in Colombia.
We will give you some of our suggestions on what you could do and where you could go if you come to Colombia to watch birds. To start, I recommend you visit our entry The Complete Colombia Birdwatching Guide: Tourism & Conservation.
Without further ado, here are the most common bird watchers’ types: Hard Core Birders, Enthusiastic Birders, and Casual Birders (Ecotourists). Each segment differs in objectives and means to achieve satisfaction.
Hard Birding
Hard birding corresponds to extremely specialized tours to find difficult bird species targets.
The Hard Core Birders
You are the difficult to influence birdwatcher. If your interest is to identify the greatest number of birds from a given location, and increase your life list, you can consider yourself as a hardcore birder.
In general, hardcore birdwatching is associated with competitions among birders, whether it be on a lifetime/region basis, or during a specified period. Examples of this are the Global Big Day, the Big Year, or to get into the top ten world listers.
If you are a lister, Colombia is a must to visit since we have more than 70 endemic bird species in our country. There is no way to avoid your visit.
What kind of birding trip you can do in Colombia?
For a hardcore like you, Colombia can be expensive because of transportation. Many of the endemic species are found in places far form big cities, where the road infrastructure, and even hotel infrastructure, is not very good. Additionally, add the costs of the flights you must take to arrive there.
Once in the place, you will need specialized transportation, as for example 4×4 trucks that can enter these sites, or horses. It is also necessary your willingness to endure long journeys to get to some places.
Examples of places where you need specialized transportation are Bahía Solano, in Chocó, Montezuma, in Risaralda, the Ukuku Lodge, in Tolima, or Mitú, in Vaupés.
Getting up very early in the morning is almost unavoidable. This is because some birds appear at specific times early in the morning, so if you arrive late, you will miss it.
Examples of such morning birds are the Fuertes’s Parrot in Risaralda, the Santa Marta Parakeet in the Sierra Nevada, or some antpittas in Caldas.
Finally, the guide will be expensive. Local birding guides in Colombia with a high level of expertise in birds, and who also speaks your language are few.
There are some specialized birding companies who can offer you these services, many of them from outside Colombia. In Sula, we want local companies to grow, and that is why we support and promote local operators and guides.
Characteristics of a Hardcore Birder
- Extremely dedicated birders
- Impatient with less-skilled birders and crowds
- Pursue to increase “life list”
- Competitive
- Bring their own equipment
- Not interested in other activities
- Satisfaction comes from nature observations
- Predominantly men
- Will travel long distances to see new or rare birds
- You guys are the smaller segment, less than 20%
Soft Birding
If you like birds, but also socializing, living other experiences. Or if you are not interested in filling lists, or competing, or do not want to be “suffering” so much in your birding trip, this is your group of birders!
The Enthusiastic Birders
I consider myself into this kind of birder, I am a broad-based nature lover. Yes, I am under suspicion for being a biologist, but I know competing of life lists are not in my preferences.
However, I have the desire to watch a large and diverse number of birds. And this does not imply going through discomfort.
Enthusiastic birders still need specialized attention related to birds, with good and fast transport services, easy to walk trails, and satisfaction. Satisfaction comes from being able to watch, as much as possible, all the available birds.
What kind of birding trip you can do in Colombia?
Places that will make you happy are the civil society nature reserves. Among them, we recommend you Tinamu Birding Nature Reserve in Caldas, El Dorado Bird Reserve in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Mururito and Lagos de Menegua in Meta, El Encanto in Palestina – Huila, El Descanso in the Old Way to Buenaventura, and La Minga Ecolodge in Valle del Cauca.
If you want to know more about nature reserves in Colombia visit our entry Responsible Travelers and Nature Reserves in Colombia.
The above-mentioned places still retain some of the privacy and direct contact with nature that we always try to find. There, everything is ready for you to watch the birds, and take with you the best experience.
Characteristics of an Enthusiastic Birder
- Broad-based and knowledgeable nature lovers
- Slower, more relaxed travelers
- Tolerate birders of all skill levels
- Satisfied as long as birds are seen
- Confortable in larger groups
- Interested in other nature and cultural activities
- Satisfaction comes partly from socializing with others
- Slightly more women than men
- You represent about 50% of birding tourists.
The Casual Birders
The family guys! If you like to watch birds with less effort and more comfort, and/or travel with your spouse and kids, this is your group!
For these groups, birds are not the main goal of the trip. Birdwatching may be an add-on to other activities such as cultural experiences, safari, trekking, bicycling, glamping, etc.
What kind of birding trip you can do in Colombia?
There are plenty of option in Colombia for you to find. The coffee destinations and the coffee triangle are the most recommended for this kind of experiences. You can mix your love for coffee with your interest in nature and watch some birds, I recommend you read our entry Coffee and Birding Top 5 Destinations in Colombia.
So, if you like birds, but also to do trekking or bicycling I recommend you visit Minca, in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Or if you prefer to experience the local culture and observe other animals, I recommend you El Encanto de Guanapalo, Hato La Aurora or Altagracia in Casanare for a safari and eastern plains cowboy activities.
For more information about safari in Colombia read our entry Booking a Safari in Colombia? Find here the Best Options!
But, what if you like is coffee and rum, and walk around, a swimming pool?, visit Hacienda Venecia in Caldas, or La Palma y El Tucán near to Bogotá.
In general, these tours do not need an expert birding guide. You can venture out just to look for the birds, as there will always be easy routes designed for this within the places you lodge or in the surroundings.
You would be paying for the comfort, convenience, and variety of activities.
Characteristics of a Casual Birder
- Non specialist birder
- Combine birding with other nature-based activities
- Interested in seeking something different from home
- Prefer nature destinations accessible by road
- Satisfaction comes from superficial interaction with nature
- Your group represents about 30% of birding tourists
I hope you found your answer about what kind of bird watcher you are. Now you are ready to plan your trip!
If you want to know more about the most incredible natural destinations in Colombia, plan your trip with us!
References
- Market Anlysis of Bird-Based Tourism by ResponsibleTravel.Org
- World Bird Species Life List by Surfbirds.com
About the author
Sara Colmenares
Current director of Sula. Doctor in Biological Sciences. Her main interests are to explore and understand the organism – environment interactions, taking advantage of emerging knowledge for the management and conservation of species and ecosystem services. She is currently working as a consultant in functional ecology, ecosystem services and conservation projects in Colombia related to ecotourism and birdwatching.
