Zoom Event: South America’s Birding Mecca
Join us for October’s presentation with Benny Jacobs-Schwartz, founder of Birds by BIJS (pronounced “Bee-Jus”). Originally started to meet the demand for urban bird walks, Birds by BIJS has expanded into both local and international excursions centered on low-impact ecotourism, natural history, and conservation.
Benny will explore Colombia’s remarkable avian diversity, highlighting regions that support nearly 2,000 species including 80 endemics found nowhere else on Earth. The talk will focus on the Western and Central Andes, home to rich ecosystems like the Andean Cloud Forest and Pacific Dry Forest, as well as the Santa Marta and La Guajira regions. Santa Marta boasts South America’s highest concentration of endemic birds, offering chances to spot specialties such as the Santa Marta Parakeet and the Black-cheeked Mountain Tanager.
Born and raised in California, Benny Jacobs-Schwartz has been drawn to nature for as long as he can remember. His passion for birds took flight during a 2011 study abroad program in Costa Rica. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2013, Benny built a multifaceted career as an avian field biologist, international bird guide, land steward, and wildlife photographer. In his spare time, he enjoys surfing, mountain biking, yoga, leading youth outdoor excursions, and running photography clinics.