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This is the story of a University of Cauca student who devotes his life to birds:...

This is the story of a University of Cauca student who devotes his life to birds: ornithology, memory, and pure conservation from the Natural History Museum

9 March, 2026

This May 10, during the Global Big Day, thousands of people around the world will come together to record birds. On the occasion of this date and World Migratory Bird Day, we introduce Luis Germán Gómez Bernal, full professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Cauca, a biologist passionate about ornithology who has dedicated his life to observing, studying, and conserving birds, as well as to strengthening the scientific legacy of our Alma Mater’s Natural History Museum. This is one of those #StoriesThatInspire!

The Global Big Day is an annual birdwatching event promoted by the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology (based in the United States), which brings together observers from around the world, also known as “birders”, on the second Saturday of May. Its goal? To record the largest possible number of species in a single day and to raise awareness about the importance of conserving these species.

For this reason, within the framework of this celebration, and also as we begin the month of honoring our professors by highlighting those #StoriesThatInspire, we invite you to learn a bit more about the work of a teacher deeply committed to birds: Luis Germán Gómez Bernal.

This biologist from the National University of Colombia, with a master’s degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management from the National University of Costa Rica and a PhD in Biological Sciences (Biodiversity and Conservation), is currently a full professor in our Faculty of Natural, Exact, and Education Sciences, director of our University’s Natural History Museum, and curator of its Ornithology Collection. In addition, he is an active member of several associations, including the Colombian Ornithological Association, the Cauca Ornithological Association, and the Cauca Association of Birdwatchers.

“I graduated as a biologist in 1991, but I began birdwatching in 1985. After completing my master’s degree in Costa Rica, I joined the University of Cauca in 1999 in the areas of zoology, ecology, and biodiversity conservation,” says Professor Germán, who has carried out research focused on the avifauna of regions such as Amazonas, Cauca, Valle, Caquetá, Putumayo, Huila, and Nariño.

And when it comes to birds, we must undoubtedly talk about the Bird Collection of the Natural History Museum, a collection that dates back to 1936, when the museum was founded. Over nearly 90 years of existence, this space has faced various challenges, the most difficult being the 1983 earthquake. During that very complex period for our city, the museum also lost part of its preserved material, which is why this passionate Unicauca professor shares his contribution.

“The objective of the research work I am currently developing is to assess the representativeness of the birds preserved in the collection in relation to the estimated number of bird species recorded for Cauca.”

In addition, “it can be concluded that the collection has a representativeness of 55%, which makes it the most complete in the world in relation to the birds of this region. Most records come from Popayán and its surrounding areas, which highlights the need to strengthen research in other zones of the department,” the professor explains.

Beyond science, Professor Germán has emphasized the importance of reconnecting with nature. “Today, the world is facing an acute environmental crisis, evidenced by the accelerated loss of species. We are facing the sixth mass extinction,” he warns, adding, “Species are fundamental to maintaining the ecological structure that sustains our survival. If we care for and conserve birds and their habitats, forests, páramos, rivers, savannas, mangroves, seas, we will be contributing to the common good and to the well-being of the biotic environment.”

The invitation, on this Global Big Day 2025, is clear: observe attentively, learn with humility, and act with commitment! For this reason, from this house of thought located in the department of Cauca, an area that enjoys unparalleled richness and biodiversity, we encourage not only our Unicaucana community, but also the people of the region, to get to know this invaluable heritage, not only through birdwatching, but also through the Natural History Museum, a museum that safeguards fascinating natural treasures that speak to who we are. It is time to become aware of the care and respect we must have for all living beings and their environment.