Bosque de Niebla Birding & Nature is a business owned by a family of birdwatchers, made up of Luis Eduardo (father), Ángela (mother), and Juan David (son).
The story of this family of birdwatchers (aviary) began in 2015, when Luis Eduardo attended the first Colombia Birdfair. After that, he became a birdwatcher, going on birdwatching outings with birdwatching friends every two weeks.
The following year, Juan David, then 8 years old, began to worry about his father's constant outings on weekends after 5 a.m. Faced with this concern, Angela explained the reason. Upon hearing this, Luis Eduardo decided to invite him on one of his outings.
That's how Juan David began accompanying his father on birdwatching trips, but his real interest in birds was sparked when he visited El Bajo Anchicaya for the first time and met, among many other birds, the Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii). From there, his passion for birds began, leading him to become one of the youngest child birdwatchers in the country, to the point of being a speaker at several versions of the Colombia Birdfair.
After two years of birdwatching with Luis Eduardo and Juan David, Angela joined the birdwatching group, discovering that this activity was already a family activity and seeing it as an opportunity to do one of the things she loves most: being in contact with nature, appreciating the flora and fauna, but, above all, the birds.
And so, birdwatching became a constant activity for this family, leading them to visit different sites around the country. Cali's Km 18 area is one of their favorites, considered one of the most important in the country, home to 360 bird species.
On one of their many visits to this area, they discovered the "Bosque de Niebla" farm, a name that alludes to the beautiful surroundings. This captivated them, and they began to dream of having a place for birdwatching and photography, taking advantage of the experience they had already gained through the activity and the different sites they had visited. This wonderful dream led them to make a complete change in their lives, leaving their home in Cali to move to Km 18.
It's worth noting that the Km 18 area is located at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level in an Andean forest ecosystem that is home to approximately 360 birds, including tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucans.
Between 2018 and 2019, they began renovating the gardens, planting plants and shrubs to attract birds. This activity was carried out entirely by the three of them, and to date, they have planted approximately 3,000 birds. Additionally, they began installing bird feeders and drinking fountains.
And it was in 2020, as part of the Colombia Birdfair, that they opened their doors to birdwatchers, photographers, and the general public as "Bosque de Niebla Birding & Nature."
The pandemic hit, but this didn't stop them from continuing to realize their family dream. During 2020 and 2021, they built more than 150 meters of trails with handrails, both in the garden areas and within the forest, the first hide in the upper part of the garden, and a second hide in the forest with capacity for 12 people. They also adapted several areas for birdwatching and photography.
Since Bosque de Niebla Birding & Nature opened its doors to bird and nature lovers, this aviary family's purpose and vision has been to position it as one of the best places for birdwatching and photography in southwestern Colombia.
For this reason, this family constantly strives to innovate its birdwatching and photography facilities and heed the suggestions of its visitors, who have appreciated the fact that their opinions have been heeded on subsequent visits.
Additionally, and with the aim of offering its visitors sustainable and regenerative tourism, in 2021 they adapted several rainwater collection systems for use during the summer season to maintain and clean the green areas, reserving only the water from its source for human consumption.
Additionally, as a social responsibility initiative for the community, Bosque de Niebla Birding has developed basic birdwatching workshops for children and adolescents residing in the La Elvira area. This has helped them discover that the area where they live is a bird paradise and the importance of conserving and safeguarding their habitat.
Likewise, and with the aim of generating a collaborative economy in the community, almost 90% of Bosque de Niebla Birding's suppliers are entrepreneurs residing in the area, who provide various supplies for the services provided to visitors on a weekly basis. Likewise, Bosque de Niebla Birding's staff also reside in the same area.
To date, more than 260 bird species have been registered on the e-bird platform, including four endemic species: the Colombian Guacharaca (Ortalis columbiana), the Red-legged Partridge (Odontophorus hyperythrus), the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picummnus granadensis), and the Multicolored Chlorochrysa (Chlorochrysa nitidissima).
Today, Luis Eduardo and Juan David, who are bilingual, are the specialized guides for Bosque de Niebla Birding & Nature, while Angela manages the administrative and commercial aspects of the family business.
Upon arrival, visitors can enjoy:
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