John Gallego
Ornithology Specialist
There is a specific aroma that defines the Colombian morning. It’s not just the damp earth, though that's the base note. It's the high, sweet smell of 'panela' melting and fresh coffee brewing on a wood stove. It smells like possibility.
Fuel for the Obsessed
In the Coffee Axis, we don't just drink coffee; we rely on it as a precision instrument. You see, the birds wake up before the sun. The Andean Motmot starts calling when it's still pitch black. To match their energy at 4,000 meters elevation, you need 'tinto'—black, sugary, and hot enough to wake the dead.
But it's more than just caffeine. It's about the ritual. The pre-dawn silence where you check your gear—binoculars clean? Memory card empty? Battery full? This preparation is a meditation in itself.
A Shared Moment
I remember sitting on a veranda in Manizales, cup in one hand, binoculars in the other. The mist was lifting off the plantation below. A Green Jay landed on the railing, eyeing my toast. We shared a moment. He wanted crumbs; I wanted a look at his magnificent plumage. Fair trade.
It’s these quiet rituals, before the passionate birding begins, that often yield the best sightings. You aren't hunting for them; you're just existing with them. And doing it with the world's best coffee in hand? That's just an unfair advantage.
