José Castaño

José Castaño is a Colombian biologist and specialised Birding Guide and Tour Leader with more than 20 years of experience in ornithology and bird conservation. Jose was born in Jardín, Antioquia —a beautiful town surrounded by the cloud forests of the Western Colombian Andes— he grew up immersed in one of the richest bird regions on the planet.

He played a key role in the Yellow-eared Parrot conservation programme and was a co-founder and board member of ProAves (2001–2009), helping to shape one of Colombia’s leading conservation organisations.

Over two decades in the field have taken José across most of Colombia’s major ecosystems. Calm, attentive and deeply knowledgeable, he combines scientific rigour with practical field intuition to guide birders and photographers through the country’s extraordinary landscapes and birdlife.