My name is Diana Balcázar and I'm the owner and main tour leader of Birding Bogotá & Colombia (www.birdingbogotaandcolombia.com).

I think I´ve loved birds before I was born! But in 1998 I became a serious birder at the same time that got involved in the conservation of birds and of the wonderful marshes in my city, Bogotá. As a result, soon I started doing environmental education and, finally, I became a birding guide (English/Spanish), since 2008.

I'm am trained as a journalist, but now I don´t practice my career because my love and my passion for birds has absorbed almost all of my time. However, I will always want to write about nature and birds so I have published four educational booklets for children and a book of nonfiction stories, The Birds of My City (Bogotá).

I was born and I live in the world’s richest country in birds, Colombia, with around 1900 species including about 73 endemics and 116 near-endemics. A wealth produced by reasons such as to have and incredible variety of ecosystems and geographical regions, including the mountains of the Andes and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (producing many endemic species and subspecies), and to be located in the corner of South America (in the way of dozens of migratory birds).

Bogotá and the plateau that surrounds it are located in the Eastern Andes, at 2,600 m.a.s.l. From here, in one hour and a half we can be watching the birds of the “paramo” and of the subparamo, as in the Chingaza Natural Park, at 3,300 m.a.s.l. or more; or, at lower altitudes and closer to Bogotá, enjoying the birds of our high montane forests. These species include the endemics Brown-breasted Parakeet (Flame-winged Parakeet) and Matorral Tapaculo, and near- endemics as Bearded Helmetcrest, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, and Golden-fronted Whitestart.

And just inside the city we can find the species of its marshes and of its surrounding trees, as the endemics Bogota Rail, Apolinar's Marsh-Wren and Silvery-throated Spinetail, and the near-endemic Rufous-browed Conebill. Or, in just 1.5 hours, going down to 1,200 m.a.s.l., and be able to enjoy the birds of the forests along the temperate lands in the route to the Magdalena River Valley, as the near-endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird.

I can organize for you trips to all these wonderful places. And to complete your visit, I can offer you tours through Bogotá, a vibrant city of eight million people that has much to show to its visitors such us the world famous Gold Museum (with its wonderful pre-Hispanic figurines representing birds among many other subjets!), the ascent to Monserrate Sanctuary by cable-car or by funicular (from where one can enjoy a marvellous sight of the Sabana de Bogotá and have a wonderful birding), a trip through the friendly historic center of the city, good shopping, a great food, the wonderful hospitality of our people and, of course, a cup of delicious Colombian coffee!

I've been birding by Colombia for over eighteen years and have many good connections along it, so besides the Bogotá area I guide in many other regions of the country including the Santa Marta Mountains, the “Llanos” (Eastern plains), many places in the Central and Western Andes, the Pacific Coast and the Serranía del Perijá.

We are waiting here to organize tailored-made trips for you, for half day, full day or several days, in Bogotá surroundings and in all the country. You are welcome to travel with us at Birding Bogotá & Colombia!