THE BIRDERS | A Melodic Journey through Northern Colombia

The Birders, a documentary film on Colombian bird diversity and birdwatching presented by ProColombia, with support of FONTUR and directed by Gregg Bleakney.

The film highlights Colombian local birdwatching guide, Diego Calderon-Franco and National Geographic photographer / videographer Keith Ladzinski as they travel through one of the most diverse bird regions in the world to capture new and rare birds that have never been filmed before.

The Birders, also takes people through the Colombian landscape, highlighting several of its’ top locations, culture, birds and music. As well as; Los Flamencos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, in the Guajira Peninsula. El Dorado Bird Reserve, in the Santa Marta Mountains. Minca and surroundings, in the Santa Marta Mountains. Tayrona National Natural Park and El Chamicero del Perija Bird Reserve, in the Perija Mountains.

The films aims to change the perception of Colombia through showcasing the diversity of birds who live there.

“Birdwatching in Colombia is a real adventure. These guides and biologists are always finding new things”, says director Gregg Bleakney. Diego Calderón agrees, “Being a bird guide in Colombia is absolutely crazy, we are basically living the Victorian times of exploration.

You can choose a remote corner of the country and almost for sure you are going to find surprises: new species, new subspecies, new range extensions. Colombia is a box of surprises!”

Along with the unique birds and exquisite landscape, The Birders incorporates an original score from local musicians inspired by the bird songs found in the film.

Mucho Indio - Teto Ocampo

Teto Ocampo has spent the past 10 years learning to play the Arhuaco people’s ancestral songs. Though his band, Mucho Indio, Teto takes listeners on a cosmic journey through space and time by translating Colombia’s most ancestral melody, the song of the hummingbird, to a modern format. He composed the melody with a rare charu flute, an instrument that only a handful of people on planet have the knowledge to play.

Song name: Kumuchikayu

Sidestepper English musician Richard Blair is most well known as the founding member of Sidestepper, a pioneering Colombian band that has paved the way for a modern generation of Colombian artists who have successfully gone global through mixing local and foreign musical concepts.

Richard’s meditative song was inspired by “mixed migrant flocks", a phenomenon where foreign birds migrate to Colombia’s Caribbean region to live, travel and sing with local groups of birds.

Song name: To Close Your Eyes

Ghetto Kumbé Together with the team of the documentary, Edgardo Garcés travelled to his birthplace of La Guajira to record the song of the Vermilion Cardinal. Edgardo tattooed the bird on his arm to ground himself after the death of his parents. He had never seen the bird in the wild before. The story of this eye-catching bird’s connection to indigenous Wayúu culture is the inspiration for this modern Afro-Colombian electronic song.

Song name: Soy Guajira

Frente Cumbiero Using Colombian Cumbia as its base, Mario Galeano and his band Frente Cumbiero composed a modern take on the classic USA surf songs of the 1960s, but with a birder’s soul. The song draws inspiration from the endemic Santa Marta Parakeet. These social birds
live in flocks on a massive ridgeline overlooking the Caribbean Sea and Magdalena River Valley, the birthplace of Cumbia music.

Song name: Parakeet Ridge

El Leopardo With his band El Leopardo, Daniel Broderick (aka Dani Boom) composed a thumping electronic club song that mirrors the Manakin bird’s slow build-up to a frenetic courtship display. The mechanical clapping sound of the White-bearded Manakin’s wings, recorded by the documentary team in Tayrona National Park, is the foundation of Dani’s composition. The courtship call of the Lance-tailed Manakin provided a secondary melody.

Song name: Manakin Boom

Visit:

THE BIRDERS DIRECTOR'S STORY

THE BIRDERS IN THE AMAZON

THE BIRDERS IN THE ANDES

THE BIRDERS IN THE CARIBBEAN

THE BIRDERS IN THE ORINOQUIA

THE BIRDERS IN THE PACIFIC

Book your trip to Colombia with the birdwatching tour operators that helped in the production of the film:

Colombia Birdwatch

Manakin Nature Tours Colombia

Nature Colombia

Quetzal Birdwatch

The Colombian Project

Tayrona Birding

#birds #ornithology #birdwatching

[julianacardonacorrea]

This is the kind of documentaries that should show the channels tv in Colombia, not just series of narcos and violence, because it is a country with amazing biodiversity and many fantastic places to visit for nature lovers and those who want to know the wonders of our country.

[spiral-m]

This reminded me of 2 fantastic ornithological expeditions I did in Ecuador to help preserve endemics in the south-west of the country. What a great documentary: full of passion, beauty and art and I hope it reminds people to take care of the planet. We desperately need to help the Earth breathe again and create huge natural carbon sinks and biodiversity again and the best way to do that is to re-gain land back from animal agriculture with shift towards a much more plant-based system. Go vegan is on average the best thing we can do in our system as an individual.

Compassion for ALL animals and nature.

[julioclince]

i know is a old video but i can not understand how beatiful is our country thank you diego to show the rest of the world how we are all the birds we have fron de north to the south all beatiful lands we have and when you conected with colture like the wayuu indians is the right place to look for help is the territory they know the best video i ever ever whatch in my life thank you

[SYMO_D]

What a beautiful film. The cinematography, the scenery, the animals, the music, the people. Just stunning. Brought tears to my eyes at the thought that we're destroying it all.

[johnzabala]

Beautiful film. I hope we preserve all these natural scenarios and stop deforestation.

[johnanthonysantucci]

Outstanding film; the slow-motion take-off of the birds was thrilling. Perfection.

[baileythebirder]

While watching this awesome documentary these were my thoughts: I want to go there. I have to get there. I will go there!

[marlynlopez]

Que previlejio tengo que decir que soy COLOMBIANA. Mi COLOMBIA querida es hermosa y tiene macho mas para descubrir

[JACAMARCLUBBirdingInAction]

One of the most beautiful bird production made in Latin America. Key habitats and its key species. This movie represents just the little of the magnificent treasures and jewelrys found in the nature of Colombia. And is just what most Latin American countries has to offer in terms of nature travels.

[carolshannon]

This was the best documentary I have seen. LOVED it. So much fun to watch.

[dianaholvik]

This is one of the most amazing documentaries I've seen. The birds, the beauty of the environments. mountains, coastal areas, semi-desert, etc. But It was not only about the birds...and so many gorgeous birds and bird sounds, but the people. and culminating with Diego's story. Wow. Beautiful in every way. I'm 70 and I've watched a lot of documentaries in my time and I read a lot of books. This was one of the best. Thank you.

[carlybatts]

I cannot say enough good things about this film!!! I could've watched another hour of footage easy! Thanks to the obviously dedicated team who put this together. Life goal = bird in Colombia!

[lex.alzate]

This is one of the things I love about watching about Colombia, it makes me pretty happy, what a wonderful film

[gloriainespintotorres]

Bello documental, gracias por dejarme vivir, ver, oir, respirar la hermosura de mi país .❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[thisisme]

Incredible documentary not only of amazing locations and incredible birds but the story that was told was completely unlike other birding type documentary. Most travel documentaries follow the same standard type of set up, but this one was from a perspective of an expert passion filled birder and his newbie cameraman friend. I almost never watch documentaries this long on my computer but well worth it!

[darioalejandroforerorojas]

Fantastico documental! Gracias a todos quienes nos lo han permitido... Espero que ese futuro que augura el fotoreporter, sea posible para mi COLOMBIA!

[RyanLopezCrypto]

Awesome video, I spent two years living in Colombia and had the pleasure of visiting La Guajira and the other departments. Truly a beautiful place

[timomulder]

Amazing documentary. Estos documentales muestran la belleza que tiene Colombia 🇨🇴❤

[margaret]

What an amazing journey! Love the Lance-tailed Manakin. WTG!!!

[kknudsenv]

Amazing Film about the variety of birds in Colombia. Congratulations to Diego Calderon and Keith Ladzinsk, to the director, editors and to all who work in this film to bring to us the gifts of nature, and the beauty of Colombia. Thank you!