Luis Bernardo Cano

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA – NOVEMBER 16, 2020. Critically endangered microendemic bird from Colombia (Atlapetes blancae) was thought to be extinct for more than 40 years until it was re-discovered in 2018 in Yarumal, Antioquia. It’s ecosystem has been affected due to deforestation to allocate land for potato cultivation and dairy farming.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - MARCH 16, 2023. Carlos Arturo Salgado, birder, looks through his binoculars while searching for the Antioquia bruschfinch in a locality of Llanos de Cuiva where a participatory science exercise is being carried out to help generate decision-making tools for the conservation of this critically endangered species.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA – FEBRUARY 10. Montañerito paisa (Atlapetes blancae) a microendemic bird in critical danger of extinction. The Antioquia brushfinch was believed to be extinct for more than 40 years until it was registered again in 2018. Antioquia brushfinch conservation initiative carries out actions in this area to ensure the survival of this bird and its territory.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 15, 2020. A peasant looks at a poster showing the differences between the Antioquia brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae) and other similar species. The data have yielded an estimated population of approximately 110 individuals, part of the conservation exercise of this species is that the inhabitants of this territory can easily identify it and take care of ecosystems that can be in coexistence with their productive systems.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 14, 2020. Cattle pastures and potato crops are intertwined among the native forest. The Antioquia brushfinch inhabits a system called low stubble, which is considered of no importance for the productive systems of livestock and potato crops, so it is the first thing they eliminate to allocate this space to their productive system. The low stubble is not only important because it is the habitat of this species, it also protects water sources and important native plants that produce neotropical fruits.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA – FEBRUARY 9, 2023. Soldiers from the Llanos de Cuiva battalion and a person from the conservation initiative of the Antioquia brushfinch do sighting of the Antioquia brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae) located within the battalion. An alliance between the Antioquia brushfinch conservation initiative and the Llanos de Cuiva battalion works in a nursery of ericaceae, native plants found in the natural habitat of this critically endangered bird to regenerate its territory.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - APRIL 15, 2023. The Paisa Mountain Flycatcher (Atlapetes blancae) is a critically endangered microendemic bird. Among the main causes of its vulnerability are the loss of its habitat to make way for livestock and potato crops. The paisa mountaineer was thought to be extinct for more than 40 years until it was recorded again in 2018. The paisa mountaineer conservation initiative carries out actions in this area to ensure the survival of this bird and its territory.

Luis Bernardo Cano YARUMAL, COLOMBIA – FEBRUARY 9. A soldier waters plants in the Ericaceae propagation nursery in the Llanos de Cuivá battalion. An alliance between the Antioquia brushfinch conservation initiative and the Llanos de Cuivá battalion works in a nursery of ericaceae, native plants found in the natural habitat of this critically endangered bird to regenerate its territory.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 15, 2020. Potato crops in the llanos de cuivá mountains. In recent years, potato growers have arrived in the region and have changed the ecosystem of the Antioquia brushfinch for this crop in which large quantities of agrochemicals are used, putting this species at greater risk.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 15, 2020. Two individuals of the Antioquia brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae) sighted at a locality in Llanos de Cuivá. It is estimated that there are only about 110 individuals of this species.

YARUMAL, COLOMBIA - NOVEMBER 15, 2020. Two children, sons of farmers in the region, participate in one of the participatory science exercises that seek to determine the number of individuals and localities they inhabit in order to make decisions for the conservation of the species. Community participation is of vital importance for the care of the Antioquia brushfinch (Atlapetes Blancae).