The recording of this program from 4 February 2025 is now available online.

Colombia: Home of rare and fancy birds, with John Sterling.

John will discuss some of the factors for the high number of rare and endemic birds illustrating the talk with his photos of some of the rarest and fanciest species found in Colombia. The Central and Western Andes of Colombia stand as a compelling destination for birders. With their extensive biodiversity, abundance of endemic species, and thoughtfully crafted birding lodges and feeders, the region has become an unforgettable birding experience. John’s visits included exploring both cloud forest and rainforest, vibrant tanagers everywhere and aquatic birds in the marshes of the Cauca River valley.

Link to John Sterling’ Website, upcoming tours:
https://sterlingbirds.com/index.php/tours/

John Sterling has been a hard core birder in California since he was shown a Pileated Woodpecker in 5th grade camp in 1971.  He is a professional ornithologist and has worked for the Smithsonian Institution, US Forest Service research stations, HT Harvey & Associates, Arizona and Oregon state universities among other organizations since 1981.  John has traveled extensively throughout California learning about local bird distribution and is an authority on that state’s avifauna. In 2015 he set the California’s new big year record with 501 species and has many big day records as well. He has traveled internationally as a guide and ornithologist for many institutions including projects as a Smithsonian ornithologist to Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, The Philippines, Sumatra, Canada and Russia. John currently has his own company, Sterling Wildlife Biology (www.sterlingbirds.com),  specializing in tours, birding classes, research and environmental consulting for The Nature Conservancy, the Kern Water Bank, the California Rice Commission, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Audubon’s International Alliance Program, CA Dept. of Water Resources among other organizations.

Link to all SMBAS Zoom Recordings.