Children in Cumaral Discover their Magical Backyards

Deep in the Piedemonte Llanero region of Colombia, where the lush landscapes of Cumaral, Meta unfold, a group of children embarked on an extraordinary journey that took them beyond the everyday routines of their neighborhoods and into the enchanting world of birds. Guided by Casa Raizal facilitators, they set out to learn, explore, and connect with the winged inhabitants of their community. Casa Raizal is a socio-environmental collective aimed at creating spaces that foster the reconstruction and weaving of alternative ways of relating to life. Their work is organized around developing sustainable territories through agroecological and permacultural perspectives, environmental education, creating community spaces for cultural exchange, and commercializing local products.

Casa Raizal members gather outdoors, smiling and raising their hands during a community activity. A man holds a shovel, and a composting structure made of sticks and leaves sits in the foreground. The setting includes greenery, a bright blue house, and a partly cloudy sky

A Flight into Nature

For many years, Casa Raizal has been weaving environmental education into the fabric of the community. They see birds not just as creatures of beauty but as messengers of ecological balance, carrying with them lessons of conservation and coexistence. With this vision, they launched the workshop “Conociendo las Aves de Mi Barrio” (Getting to Know the Birds of My Neighborhood), a hands-on learning experience designed to open the eyes of young participants to the avian diversity around them.

The workshops took place in Barrio La Playa, along the banks of the Guacavía River, and Barrio El Prado, an urban area in the heart of Cumaral. Over several sessions, children between the ages of 8 and 16 learned to identify birds, understand their relationship with their habitats, and appreciate their role in the ecosystem.

Learning to See

Each session was structured to balance theory and practice, ensuring that students not only absorbed knowledge but also experienced it firsthand.

Several hands point at different birds in a field guide as a group studies bird species together on a brown paper surface.

Two children wearing hats and vests sit in a classroom, holding bird field guides and attentively listening to a lesson.

They learned about bird morphology, studying how beak shapes influence diet and survival. Discussions on migration, endemism, and conservation deepened their understanding of avian life.

Three children wearing hats and vests are using binoculars to observe birds in a suburban area with trees, houses, and parked vehicles.

Children practiced using binoculars and field guides to identify local species. The activities were incredibly exciting for them! Observations were logged in eBird, one of the Lab’s international participatory science platforms, allowing their findings to contribute to global bird population research.

Participants of Global Big Day, including young birders and mentors, pose in a lush green field with mountains in the background. Dressed in matching camouflage shirts, they are equipped with binoculars and cameras, ready to observe and document bird species in their local environment.

One of the most exciting parts of the program was the opportunity to participate in the Global Big Day, an annual worldwide birdwatching event. Equipped with binoculars and guides, the young birders went out into the field to observe and document species in their local environment.

Community Support

The children’s boundless enthusiasm united the community, fostering a shared sense of purpose. Local businesses—Rústica, Cerro Bendito, and Café Cerrero—generously provided snacks and support, while friends and family of the children opened their homes as learning spaces. This spirit of collaboration and collective commitment made the project possible.

A woman holds up a poster of a bird while teaching a group of children and teenagers in an indoor classroom setting. Some students are sitting on the floor working on projects, while others listen attentively.

A group of children is observing nature with binoculars. One girl looks surprised, covering her mouth with her hands. They are standing near a pond, surrounded by trees and greenery.

A Lasting Impact

By the end of the activities, the children were no longer just casual observers of the birds around them, they had become curious explorers, budding conservationists, and young participatory scientists.

The success of “Conociendo las Aves de Mi Barrio” is a testament to the power of environmental education when rooted in hands-on experience and community collaboration. Casa Raizal continues cultivating these connections, ensuring that future generations in Cumaral grow up with a deeper respect for nature and diverse bird species, calling them “our allies in the sky.”

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Casa Raizal sincerely thanks everyone who made the ‘Conociendo las Aves de Mi Barrio’ activities possible. A special thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for the mini-grant that allowed for the purchase of binoculars. Thanks are also extended to the local businesses, Rústica, Cerro Bendito, and Café Cerrero, for generously providing refreshments. Recognition is given to the friends and families who offered spaces, transportation, and support for the activities. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cumaral Biodiversa (Cumaral Biodiverse) and El Silencio, Resguardo de Vida Silvestre (El Silencio, Wildlife Reserve) for their invaluable support throughout the process. The enthusiasm and commitment of the Cumaral community are deeply valued. And, of course, appreciation is directed to the children who participated with curiosity and joy, making this experience truly special.

Photos courtesy of Casa Raizal

Webpage developed by Daniela Caisaguano