© Juan Camilo Ruíz
Short films
Mingoya: Tierra de Ornitólogos.
An animated short film that uses birds as a narrative bridge to present the worldview of a community in the Colombian Pacific (Mingoya, Barbacoas), told through the voice of one of its inhabitants. It highlights how traditional ecological knowledge both dialogues with and complements scientific perspectives. Additionally, the story highlights opportunities for research, tourism, and the development of new, sustainable economies in the region.
Entre pájaros y gentes.
A short film about the social component of the Colombia Re-survey project. The project aims for a dialogue of knowledge approach for working with local communities in which the project is took part. We ran community-based workshops to return to the communities the knowledge acquired during ornithological surveys. At the project, we are convinced that sustainable and long-term conservation projects are only possible when the community itself appropriates the scientific knowledge.
Press
April 2025, Audubon Magazine
How an indigenous community in the Amazon created a bird guide of their own.
March 2024, CBC Interview
Colombian biologist bridging songbird research gap in Canada's southernmost region.
September 2023, Cornell University Article
Two Expeditions Highlight the Work of Women Ornithologists in Colombia and Brazil.
January 2022, Nature Article
Landmark Colombian bird study repeated to right colonial-era wrongs.
August 2021, The New York Times Article
Public talks
May 2025
Online - Canada
October 2020
Online - Colombia
December 2024
Bogotá, Colombia
June 2020
Online - Colombia
March 2022
Risaralda, Colombia
August 2018
Bogotá, Colombia
Colombian Female Ornithologist Network
As a woman in STEM, I am interested in supporting women in science. I co-authored two papers on women ornithologists with Colombian colleagues and co-founded the “Colombian Female Ornithologist Network” in 2022, which now includes over 100 members.
Our goal is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in ornithology and strengthen the roles and participation of female scientists, ornithologists, and those passionate about birds in Colombia. I continue to work with Colombian colleagues and mentor undergraduate students at the University of Windsor who are interested in studying bird songs in Canada. I aim to support and create safe, encouraging spaces for women in the field.
First public meeting of the Colombian Female Ornithologist Network at the VII Colombian Congress of Ornithology, August 2022. Popayán, Colombia.
Pacific Birdwatchers Group
Since 2023, I have been part of the GOAP – Pacific Birdwatchers Group and plan to continue supporting local communities. In 2022, two colleagues, Diego Cueva and Valentina Nieto, began working with several communities in one of Colombia's most biodiverse regions. In 2023, they invited me to join the team, and we have held talks and workshops for adults on bird biology and ecology, as well as best practices for birdwatching. Now, some of the people involved in the workshops are tourism guides in the region.
With the children, we have conducted educational workshops, including painting, coloring, and bird watching, among others, to teach them about the biology and ecology of the birds they see and hear daily, as well as other uncommon birds from the forest or water bodies.
Diego Cueva and David Mosquera recording birds at the Triana, Buenaventura.
Kids birding at Termales, Nuquí.
Paint workshop with kids at Triana, Buenaventura.