The Third Cardinal: El Rey de la Guajira

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and set up by a partnership of groups, including the National Audubon Society, Patrimonio Natural, Calidris, and Colombia's National Natural Parks, the project's goals are to protect bird habitat and provide stable economic opportunities to local communities. The trail is situated in the northernmost department of Colombia, Guajira, which is the birthplace of Vallenato folk music and home to the Wayuu and other indigenous tribes. The most striking geological feature of the department is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated, ancient mountain range that is referred to by some authorities as the most biodiverse place on the planet. The Northern Colombia Birding Trail is home to a remarkable array of endemic birds, including the White-tailed Starfrontlet and the Blue-billed Curassow. The trail is also a habitat for the critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow, which has a population perhaps as low as 250 individuals. The species is endemic to Colombia and can be seen along the Northern Colombia Birding Trail. The Vermilion Cardinal, also known as "El Rey de la Guajira," is a bird that is heavily pursued as a caged bird due to its striking appearance and sweet song. The bird's restricted dry forest habitat is under threat due to increasing losses, which could spell trouble for the species. According to John Myers at the National Audubon Society, the dry forest in Guajira is the largest enclave of remaining xeric scrub along Colombia's Caribbean Sea, and it is truly unique to the Neotropics. The Northern Colombia Birding Trail has seen an influx of birders in recent years, with around 400 people gathering in Cali for the 2nd Annual Colombia Bird Fair in 2016. The event was attended by Colombians and international birders, and it highlighted the country's rich birdlife. Colombia hosts around 160 species of hummingbirds, more than any other country, and the White-tailed Starfrontlet is endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains. The country's protracted conflict has come to an end, and this has allowed for the development of remote ecosystems. Today, Colombia enjoys a staggering list of around 2000 bird species, the highest total of any country worldwide. The country has beckoned and tantalized birders for decades, and now it is all there for the taking. Since around 2011, birders have heeded the call to Colombia, and the country has become a popular destination for birdwatching.