Global Big Day isn’t just about seeing birds; it’s about contributing valuable data to conservation efforts. On May 10th, Pajareros Birding Tours proudly joined birdwatchers worldwide in this important initiative. We spent the day exploring National Road, in Salento, meticulously recording our sightings. Here’s a glimpse into our contribution to this global count, check out our Global Big Day Report and our experience during this day.
Fueling up for Birding
Like always, we started our Global Big Day with a traditional breakfast: those yummy huevos pericos, a good arepita with cheese, and a comforting chocolate. Ready, cameras and binoculars in hand, we jumped right into the Jeep, listos to see what birds the day would bring.
Hitting the Road and the First Mountain Birds
The day dawned beautiful, no rain at all, but the sun was hitting hard as we started going up the mountains. We didn’t stop much in those first kilometers of the carretera, but focus with the ears and eyes, recording every bird for the eBird list. Our first truly exciting moment came with the Golden-headed Quetzal. At first, the call we heard sounded remarkably like the Masked Trogon. However, it turned out to be the magnificent Quetzal! For a few hopeful minutes, we tried to coax it into the open. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, puf, down it flew into the canyon. Nevertheless, we were super happy to have heard it, despite the slight feeling of disappointment at not getting a good, clear look.
Morning Ascent and Cloud Forest Delights
Continuing our drive towards the mountain’s summit, another delightful sighting awaited: a male Collar Trogon, a first for me along this national road. Moments later, a stunning Green-and-black Fruiteater perched silently behind us, a truly captivating presence. I really enjoy of watching this kind of birds.
As the morning progressed, the intense sun and increasing winds seemed to reduce the general bird activity. The absence of the usually reliable mixed-species flocks was a bit unfortunate. However, as we neared the top, where the Andean foothills meet the cloud forest, the distinctive calls of Ocellated Tapaculos reached our ears. We quickly moved closer, and tried a bit of playback to try them to come out.
Two individuals responded, coming incredibly close, almost within a meter inside the dense chusque bamboo thickets. Despite their proximity, they remained hidden, and we eventually had to continue our journey to the top. Our efforts were rewarded there with another target species: the Golden-crowned Tanager. Two brilliant individuals perched near the roadside, offering us wonderful views – a personal highlight of the day.
Midday Birds Encounters
By midday, our count had surpassed 50 species, yet many common birds remained elusive, and the continued absence of mixed flocks was unusual for this route. On our return journey, our luck finally turned with the appearance of a vibrant mixed-species flock, allowing us to photograph a stunning Grass-green Tanager.
Concluding our exploration of the national road with a respectable 62 species, our birding day wasn’t over. We decided to try our luck by the river, and almost immediately upon arrival, a Torrent Duck made a dramatic appearance. Our final attempt of the day was dedicated to finding a Wattled Guan, but the persistent, strong sun continued to suppress activity, leaving us slightly frustrated by the challenging conditions.
The outcome of the day: Our results and the GBD data
Wow, what a day it was! Seeing the entire world unite to count birds and witnessing such fantastic results truly fills us with awe. Our Global Big Day team’s report? A wonderful total of 70 bird species spotted throughout the day, and we even managed to capture some of their beauty with our cameras! We feel incredibly proud to have played a part in bird conservation by providing valuable population data as we joyfully counted along the national road in Salento.
Click here to see our bird report for the GBD!
Zooming out from our local efforts in Salento, the global results of the Global Big Day are simply breathtaking! Bird enthusiasts around the world came together in an unprecedented effort, recording a phenomenal total of 7,931 species! It’s a powerful reminder of the passion and dedication of the 68,696 citizen scientists worldwide who made this incredible count possible.
And speaking of impressive numbers, our very own Colombia once again shone brightly, achieving the number 1 spot globally with an astounding 1,560 species! Furthermore, Colombia secured the third place in the number of checklists submitted, with a remarkable 12,110. It’s truly inspiring and a testament to our country’s incredible biodiversity. Let’s remember that this isn’t about competition, but rather a united global effort to gather crucial data for bird conservation.
A huge thank you to every birder who raised their binoculars and contributed to this vital initiative!
Let us know in the comments how you did personally on this Global Big Day, we are happy to learn from your experience!
