El Dorado Bird Reserve - Colombia Travel

Gallaria Kaestneri
(Cundinamarca Antpitta)
Andean region
The Andes of Colombia are considered an important biological
hotspot and are a priority area for conservation at a global level.
Unfortunately it is also one of the most degraded areas of the
country and the most populated. However, it is still possible to
nd several areas where conservation is succeeding, recovering
a space for wildlife. Now several IBAs have been established as
well as many protected areas, both from the private and
government sectors.
The Andes in Colombia are subdivided in three mountain
systems known locally as Eastern Andes (Cordillera Oriental),
Central Andes (Cordillera Central) and Western Andes (Cordillera
Occidental). Altitudes in the
Andes of Colombia can reach
more than 16400 feet above
sea level.
Eastern Andes
Jardín (José Castaño)
Central Andes
PNN Nevados
Pereira
Armenia
Popayán
Cali
Medellín
Manizales
Bogotá D.C.
Neiva
Ibagué
Bucaramanga
Tunja
Western Andes
PNN Chingaza (Natalia Ocampo)
Golden-headed Quetzal
(Juan David Ramírez)
Sunrise view from Chicaque (Natalia Ocampo) Coee crops (José Castaño)
The Eastern Andes, where Bogotá is located, is the longest and widest of
the mountain ranges, where paramos, highland and montane forests,
as well as wetlands are the main ecosystems. The precipitation is on
average 2000mm annually. You will nd several interesting places to
bird watch around Bogotá and further north in Boyacá and Santander.
The Central Andes is the most ancient and highest of the three mountain
ranges. Humid mountain forest and paramos are the main
ecosystems, with an average precipitation of 2000-3000 annually. Here
you will nd the famous Coee triangle. At least 120 species of birds may
be found in its mountains including several endemics.
Finally, the Western Andes, are the lowest of the three cordilleras. Here the
main ecosystems are Andean forests, paramos, cloud forests on the
pacic slope and dry forests on its eastern slope; the average annual
precipitation can reach 4500mm. This is one of the richest and most
biodiverse areas in the world.