If there is a single bird strongly associated with shade coffee right now, it’s the Cerulean Warbler. I’ve written about the connection between coffee and Cerulean Warblers in the past. I’ve also discussed the Save the Cerulean Warbler Campaign by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). That post mentioned the Cerulean Warbler Bird Reserve in the Rio ChucurÁ basin of Santander department, Colombia.
The latest news is the ABC and their Colombian partner ProAves have acquired another 3300 acres (1335 ha) of forest and shade coffee plantations just 8 miles (13 km) across the valley from the original reserve. The new preserve will be called Pauxi Pauxi, which is the scientific name for the Northern Helmeted Curassow, one of the threatened species that occurs there. Of course, the preserve is significant wintering habitat for the Cerulean Warbler, as well as other North American migrants.
Earlier this year, ABC was working with Thanksgiving Coffee Company who roasted and sold Cerulean Warbler Conservation Coffee, which I wrote about here. The plans were to begin using coffee that came from in and around the original reserve, with plans to acquire more land and farms and utilize that coffee as well. Right now, I don’t see any mention of the coffee on either web site. Perhaps they are working on the logistics. I look forward to trying some coffee that comes from land that supports these beautiful birds.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Revised on January 7, 2022