Rediscovering Wonder Through Bird Photography in Colombia

By: Shannon Hobbs

Facebook and Instagram: @Shannonhobbsphotography

When Familiar Becomes Predictable

At some point, without realizing it at first, the thrill began to fade. I was still photographing birds close to home in Virginia, just outside Washington, DC—still grateful for the diversity, still lifting my camera—but the sense of discovery that once drove me into the field at dawn was quietly slipping away. The birds were familiar now. Predictable. And I found myself longing not just for better light or better angles, but for that rare feeling of seeing something entirely new.

A Lesson from the Savannah

This feeling reminded me of an experience I had many years ago while on safari in Africa. Everything I encountered on that trip was endlessly fascinating to me, but one night on a game drive, I noticed something about our guide. He had clearly seen many of the animals so often that they no longer sparked much excitement. As we drove past them, he would calmly call out what they were. Most of the time they were impala, and he would say the word slowly and without enthusiasm, drawing out each syllable: im-paa-la.

But when something truly exciting appeared, his voice would suddenly jump several octaves as he joyfully exclaimed, “Bush baby!” or named whatever rare or unusual animal had crossed our path.

Looking Beyond the Known World

Over time, that safari memory began to mirror my own experience with bird photography at home. It felt like too many impalas and not enough bush babies. So I started looking farther afield.

Reigniting the Flame in Ecuador and Colombia

Last year, I traveled to Ecuador, and I was completely enthralled by the country’s biodiversity and the sheer abundance of stunning birds on display. With so many well-established lodges geared specifically toward photographers, capturing thousands of incredible images each day was almost effortless. The experience reignited my sense of wonder and reminded me why I fell in love with bird photography in the first place.

Several months later, I visited Colombia for the first time. Much like Ecuador, I traveled to Cali and explored well-established reserves where photographing an abundance of birds was virtually guaranteed each day. Once again, I returned home with thousands of remarkable images—and with a strong desire to return to Colombia as soon as possible.

Choosing a Different Kind of Journey

This time, however, I wanted something different. I wanted to seek out more elusive species. And having gained a deeper appreciation for the fragile ecosystems throughout Colombia that support its extraordinary biodiversity, I knew I wanted to travel with a company whose philosophy aligned with those values.

That’s when I discovered Retorno Photo Tours.

Designing a Purpose-Driven Expedition with Retorno Photo Tours

Retorno offers specialized bird photography tours designed to enhance the quality of life for local communities while promoting ecosystem conservation. By providing these experiences, photographers help support the economic development of the regions we visit, while fostering the regeneration and long-term sustainability of the territories that make Colombia such a remarkable place.

What truly set Retorno Photo Tours apart was their willingness—and enthusiasm—to tailor the itinerary specifically around my goals. In addition to offering a fixed schedule, they worked closely with me to design a custom journey focused on finding and photographing species that had long been at the top of my wish list: the elusive Andean bear, the rarely seen Bogotá Rail, and the remarkable suite of endemic birds found in the Bogotá region.

Face to Face with the Andean Bear

The Andean bear, South America’s only bear species, is famously difficult to encounter, let alone photograph. Knowing this, Retorno carefully selected Chingaza National Park—one of Colombia’s most tightly protected landscapes—where habitat, timing, and local knowledge offered the best possible chance of an encounter, always with the animal’s welfare as the priority.

After nearly six hours of slow driving through vast páramo and cloud forest, we had seen only a distant bear far beyond photographic range, and I was certain the day would end without a single image. Then, while stopping briefly to photograph a Masked Trogon, everything changed.

A soft rustling in the roadside bushes drew our attention. We stepped back, hearts racing, and waited in silence as a female bear emerged from the dense vegetation, glanced calmly in our direction, and crossed the road just yards away. She paused, turned back, and trilled—a gentle signal—before her cub appeared and followed her across.

The encounter lasted only moments, but its intimacy was unforgettable, a quiet reminder that in places like Chingaza, patience is often rewarded in ways far more profound than a photograph.

The Trophy of the Wetlands: Photographing the Bogotá Rail

Equally challenging was the Bogotá Rail, a secretive species confined to a shrinking network of high-altitude wetlands. Simply finding this bird—let alone photographing it—is considered a major achievement, and for many photographers it remains a true “trophy” species.

Photographing it demands patience, precise timing, and an intimate understanding of both its behavior and its fragile habitat. During my time in the Bogotá region, Retorno’s knowledgeable local guide made all the difference, positioning us quietly and reading subtle movements that ultimately allowed me to photograph the rail clearly, out in the open—an opportunity few ever experience.

The experience underscored how precarious the rail’s world has become. These marshes are small, isolated, and easily overlooked, yet they support a web of life far beyond a single elusive bird. Standing there, camera in hand, it was impossible not to feel that every sighting was as much a privilege as it was a photograph, and that protecting these places is essential not only for the Bogotá Rail but for countless other species that depend on them.

Endemics of the Highlands

Beyond these headline species, the itinerary was designed to showcase the endemic birds of the Bogotá region—species found nowhere else on Earth. Each day brought new opportunities and new discoveries, reinforcing just how unique and biologically rich these highland ecosystems are.

The experience struck a careful balance between ambition and realism: pursuing difficult species while remaining deeply connected to the landscapes and communities that make their survival possible.

Beyond the Checklist

In the end, the trip felt less like a checklist of targets and more like an immersion into a living, breathing ecosystem—one carefully crafted to align with my curiosity, my photographic goals, and my belief that meaningful wildlife encounters should always come with a sense of responsibility.

Finding Wonder Just Beyond the Obvious

And while Colombia certainly has its share of photographic “impalas”—the ubiquitous Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) quickly comes to mind—the depth and breadth of biodiversity waiting to be discovered is genuinely thrilling. It is a reminder that even in the most familiar landscapes, wonder often lies just beyond the obvious. 

Rediscover the Wild Beyond the Familiar

If your photography has begun to feel predictable—if the subjects are beautiful but the sense of discovery has faded—it may be time to look beyond what you know and step into landscapes where patience, humility, and curiosity are rewarded in extraordinary ways.

Colombia offers that possibility. Not as a guarantee of rare sightings, but as an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to engage with ecosystems where every encounter feels earned and deeply meaningful. Traveling with a team that values conservation, local knowledge, and ethical wildlife practices makes all the difference.

👉 Explore Retorno Photo Tours’ purpose-driven wildlife and bird photography expeditions and discover journeys designed not just to capture images, but to reignite wonder—while supporting the landscapes and communities that make those moments possible.

Because the most unforgettable photographs often come when familiar paths no longer satisfy, and you choose to seek the wild with intention, respect, and responsibility.