Birds in Venice

For four days and four nights, Ricardo Puentes Sánchez, a zootechnician graduated from UCundinamarca, along with a team of three other people, spotted birds in Venecia – Cundinamarca, in order to document them and make known to the world each of the species found there.

The result of this work was captured in the digital book "Birds in Venecia Cundinamarca", published by the municipal Mayor's Office of Venecia - Cundinamarca, in which they captured 141 birds observed and photographed in this municipality between March 20 and 23, 2021.

The team of experts made up of Ricardo Puentes Sánchez, Antonio Cordero, Clara Jiménez Hernández and Nicolás Roldan Arias, focused on distinguishing each of the species they identified there, making an inventory of each species.

“We know there are more than 141 birds, however, only that number were sighted during the fieldwork. Venice has emblematic and diverse species,” explained Puentes, who affirms that more species could be included in the publication throughout the year.

The Mayor's Office of Venice coordinated this work with the objective of generating a list of birds for investigative, academic and tourist use that stimulates interest and understanding of birds, thus strengthening and diversifying the sustainable tourism offer of the municipality, through bird watching or avitourism, giving the opportunity to project this resource as a family economy.

Birdwatching is possible in most municipalities of the Cundinamarca department, and some are already developing it as a tourist attraction. In Fusagasugá, more than 320 different bird species have been identified.

“I am currently working, on my own, on the book “Birds in Fusagasugá”, the idea is that when I have the support to make this publication, more species in the municipality will be known,” the graduate explained.

Passion for what he does

Ricardo graduated in 2011, and since then he has worked with what he loved throughout his studies: species with zootechnical potential. He says that some of his professors supported this choice and contributed to his training in this field.

“After graduating, I had the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and other entities dedicated to the research of different species. I also worked with the Mayor's Office of Fusagasugá and even started a tourism business,” Ricardo recalled, adding that his passion for birds began when he and a friend started birdwatching. This is how he learned to distinguish each species, and although he had some foundational knowledge from university, experience gave him the skills to carry out this type of work.

The animal scientist explained that continuing along the path of wildlife sightings in the region is what currently excites him most, and he hopes to receive support to continue with the publications. “Little by little, the guide for each municipality is being built. However, we still don't have the resources to do this, and the idea is for it to function as a business venture,” he explained.

Where to purchase the publication

The digital book or booklet belongs to the Municipality of Venice; however, it is freely available and free of charge. Those interested in acquiring it can write to the following email address:[email protected] , There, they can request the document from Ricardo Puentes.

More news about graduates at the News Agency