This voluntary certification aims to generate trust among travelers and consumers to choose tourism services that comply with the mandatory protocols issued by the national government. In addition, it recognizes businesses efforts to comply with these standards.
Last year, friends and I traveled to Colombia, South America, for some tropical birding. But with over 1900 species, or nearly 20% of the world’s birds, one visit wasn’t enough, so we traveled there again last month, this time to the country’s northern districts.
By Ron Morris
Rufous-capped Warblers prefer tropical venues or brushy habitats. They make their homes in regions with foothills and the lowermost parts of mountains. In the United States they have only been spotted in canyon bottoms surrounded by scrubland.
The tourism sector, like no other economic activity with social impact, is based on interaction amongst people. UNWTO has been guiding the tourism sector’s response on several levels:
· By cooperating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the lead UN agency for the management of this outbreak;
· by ensuring with WHO that health measures are implemented in ways that minimize unnecessary impact on international travel and trade;
· by standing in solidarity with affected countries; and · by emphasizing tourism’s proven resilience and by standing ready to support recovery.
The coffee belt, in fact, is one of the areas with a great diversity and richness of bird species in Colombia. The temperate regions, between 1200 and 1800 meters above sea level, with temperatures between 17 and 23° C and average annual rainfall of around 2000 mm, offer optimal conditions for coffee cultivation, and are also regions that constitute a crucial habitat for many species of birds.
Birding, the act of seeking out bird species, is considered by some to be a hobby. To me, birding is a lifestyle and an obsession. If I miss a day getting outside, or at least parked by a window for a few minutes to observe visitors to my bird feeders, I feel the void. I never leave home without my binoculars and, much to the annoyance of loved ones, am likely to interrupt just about any conversation to point out a neat bird. (To me, most birds are neat.)
Colombia has a bit of an image problem. Much of this perception is indeed based on an ugly reality which the nation is trying to leave in the past; much of that is perpetuated in mass media.
But I’d like to present another Colombia to you in this article: a marvelous birding destination and a country full of natural wonder.
The Grallaria rufula complex is currently considered to consist of 2 species, G. rufula (Rufous Antpitta) and G. blakei (Chestnut Antpitta). However, it has been suggested that the complex, populations of which occur in humid montane forests from Venezuela to Bolivia, comprises a suite of vocally distinct yet morphologically cryptic (Twins) species.
With more bird species than any country in the world, Colombia is a birdwatching paradise. Chris Bell takes a look at some of the best places to go to catch a glimpse of some spectacular feathered friends. There are many things that spring to people’s minds when they think of Colombia – some positive, some negative, some fair and some unfair. What non-birders may not know is that the country is deservedly world famous for its remarkable diversity of birds.
We get an absolute thrill birding in our backyard, at local parks, and on trips anywhere in the world. Sometimes we just leave our discoveries to chance by winging it — forgive the pun. But when you’re planning a real birding trip, where one of the main goals of the journey is to spot some feathered friends, there are plenty of things that you can do to make sure you get the most out of your vacation.
