Birding Colombia Special Presentation by Santiago M. Escruceria, Eastern Sierra Audubon Society Chapter President

Does December have you dreaming of a tropical birding trip, or better yet, planning one in the near future? Join us on Monday for a colorful international birding experience right at home in Heron Hall with special guest Santiago Escruceria. Colombia has 20% of the bird species in the world or some 1957 known bird species. Despite widespread loss of birds being a prevalent news topic, there are still new bird species being discovered as recently as October of this year, such as Tororoi Bailador, a new species of Antpitta. Santiago will share with the group a collection of photos of birds that can be seen in the areas of the Western and Central Cordilleras of Colombia, as well as discuss bird conservation and politics of conservation in Colombia.

Cost: $14 (not refundable)

Santiago M. Escruceria is a Colombian-born American citizen residing in California for the past 40 years. He graduated with a BA in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Environmental Studies from Sonoma State University. He has taught environmental education, in Spanish and English, for the past 27 years, 20 of which he has spent with the Mono Lake Committee. At Mono Lake he manages the Committee’s Outdoor Education Center program for Los Angeles youth and California youth. Santiago is an avid birder and bird photographer, leading birding adventures in the Eastern Sierra, and Colombia during the winter and walks for school groups in the Mono Basin during the rest of the year. Santiago has been working with Eastern Sierra Audubon Society as a Board Member and currently as President of the Chapter. For more information on his trips to Colombia, please visit: guadualitobirdingtours.com