José Castaño

 

José Castaño is a biologist from Jardin, Antioquia – a picturesque colonial-style village nestled in Colombia's western Andes. It was here, in the bird-rich cloud forests of the region, that José first found his passion for birds. This led him to start work in conservation, perhaps most notably with the now-famous (and highly successful) project for 'The study and conservation of the Yellow-eared Parrot' in the capacity of Field Assistant and, later, assessing nature reserves and implementing conservation practices. Simultaneously he was also a co-founder and member of the board of Proaves, a Colombian conservation NGO, between 2001 and 2009.

José has been a certified bird watching guide for the last 15 years, and there are few people who have travelled so widely in search of Colombia's incredible avian diversity. During his travels he has also learnt about all aspects of the country's rich cultural tapestry, although his main passion remains birding and imparting his knowledge to visiting birders! Not only is he one of Colombia's finest guides, but he is also great fun and a wonderful travelling companion.