Colombian students from Caldas take action for the birds

Institución Educativa Cañaveral is a rural public school located in the heart of the Colombian Andes surrounded by stunning nature. This unique setting allows students  to use hands-on experiences to learn about natural sciences and environmental education. The setting allows the students to discover that nature is a shared home for many bird species and that the protection of these species is vital for the region’s biodiversity and the quality of life for all the inhabitants. Thanks to the dedication and creativity of its educators and students the Institución Educativa Cañaveral received a mini-grant from the Ornithology Lab at Cornell University to support educational activities for students and the community.

Professor Sergio Adrián Murillo Montoya has spent his career inspiring his students to be curious about the flora and fauna around them. He takes students of all ages on field trips to observe birds with the aim of helping them learn how to identify birds and appreciate biodiversity. On their first birdwatching trip the youngest students spotted ten different bird species often seen on the school’s sports field,  including the Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) and the Beautiful Woodpecker (Melanerpes pulcher). In another field trip with eleventh graders the students witnessed the migration of hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks (Buteo platyperus) and Swainson’s Hawks (Buteo swainsoni). They also made a significant discovery by recording the first sighting of the Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) in that area. This left the students fascinated by this magnificent bird.

 Students from the school’s Club Tángaras (Tanager Club) were invited to participate in the IV Encuentro de Observadores de Aves (IV Birdwatchers Meeting) in Marulanda, Caldas. The event featured engaging talks and fun hands-on activities and allowed the participants to connect with other birdwatching clubs. With excitement and curiosity the young members identified nearly 100 bird species, many of which were new records for the region! The club also attended the III Encuentro de Clubes de Observación de Aves del Departamento de Caldas (III Meeting of Birdwatching Clubs in Caldas) where they eagerly participated in various educational and cultural activities. During this meeting they spotted the Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea), or “robamiel” (honey-thief in English), Thiago, a 10-year-old boy from the Club Tángaras, described watching. the bird darted among the flowers to sip nectar with its beak. Click here for more details about the event (in Spanish).

The Institución Educativa Cañaveral is dedicated to conserving birds and their ecosystems by using creative strategies that blend art, culture, and community involvement. They use art as a powerful tool to raise awareness, creating murals that celebrate the beauty of birds and educate both  students and the local community. These murals are a wonderful way for students to share what they’ve learned and introduce the community to different bird species from the region  while fostering pride in the students’ accomplishments.

 The Institución Educativa Cañaveral has developed community gardens and orchards to improve habitats for various species. They grow plants to reforest important areas in their school nursery. These plants help clean rainwater. They also grow vegetables and herbs for medicine and decoration. These initiatives have helped reforest the green areas surrounding the school, making the environment more beautiful while attracting local birds and boosting the biodiversity of the area.

 The school also creates educational guides designed to enhance the students’ learning. These guides connect birdwatching to topics such as culture, sustainability, healthy habits and even finance! The guides aim to raise awareness not just among the children but also the community about the importance of protecting ecosystems.

The school’s children and teachers have also participated in planetary outreach events like Global Big Day, an annual birding festival where people of all ages and from all over the world come together to share their bird observations. During this event participants use the eBird app to report the bird species they see and how many birds of each species they spot within 24 hours. The information gathered is crucial for understanding bird populations worldwide.

This year the school participants recorded 111 species for Global Big Day! These included unique Colombian birds like the Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), the White-backed Woodpecker (Capito hypoleucus) and the Beautiful Woodpecker (Melanerpes pulcher). Thanks to their hard work and dedication, they placed second for the highest number of species identified. It was an amazing achievement, based on all they had learned!

 Because of their dedication and hard work the children and educators of the Institución Educativa Cañaveral  have been noticed by various regional media. This recognition has positioned the school as a leader in environmental education and conservation of bird species in the region. By creatively integrating birdwatching with innovative community strategies, they have set a great example in education. They effectively promote understanding and appreciation for biodiversity, encouraging the community to take real steps to conserve and protect the rich area’s natural resources in a responsible and balanced way.

Photos are courtesy of Institución Educativa Cañaveral.

Webpage developed by Elisa España.