THE SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA AND ITS FOOTHILLS REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WILDERNESS STRONGHOLDS ON THE PLANET, WHERE WE DEVELOP OUR WORK TO PRESERVE ITS UNIQUE WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the highest coastal mountain chain in the world. Located in the northeast of Colombia, Righ at the side of the caribbean sea
It contains 631 bird species, 35 % of the Colombian avifauna, 7% of the whole world and the single highest concentration of 36 endemic bird species and subspecies found on the planet. The Sierra also harbors more resident bird species than continental USA, and 18 species which are facing a risk of extinction globally. Additionally, this mountain chain also serves as a vital stopover for declining neotropical migratory birds (51 species) that breed in the United States and Canada. As a result of hosting critical concentration of threatened wildlife on Earth, it has been categorized as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site, IBA (Important Bird Area) and EBA (Endemic Bird Area). Another reason why we believe a Bird Club was a good idea!
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is not special just in terms of its biodiversity, due to its impressive cultural richness, since it is home to 4 different indigenous tribes with more than 50.000 people. Their knowledge and cosmovision of nature, and particularly around birds, is another factor that adds more richness to the avian world of this unique place on Earth.
LA TAGUA
Fly High Bird Club is operated in collaboration with the rural school of La Tagua, where 100 kids and teenagers from distant locations, including several indigenous children of the Kogis and Wiwa ethnic groups, come to learn. Located at 1.600 meters above sea level, it is an important region for dozens of migratory species that come here every winter to feed and rest, before continuing their journey. Around La Tagua several endemic species of birds and also frogs can be found, which are the main target of the nature trail that we are building with the teenagers from the school, and that will display key information from La Tagua to the San Lorenzo Ridge and to the community of Los Moros.
If you want some extra information about the species that we are focusing our efforts in. Check below
GUACHACA
We ran our first Bird Club in the community of Guachaca, right in the Caribbean coast within the foothills of the Sierra, in alliance with the local NGO Costeño Social. Due to the pandemic, these workshops were the only educational processes that these teenagers were carrying on . All students expressed great interest in learning about their local birds, and showed avid curiosity to identify the species they see off-classes, and individual initiative and engagement in related activities, such as art making, independent learning, and pursuit of professional skills development (such as bird guiding or photography).