A feathered concierge in Colombia’s Andean forest

Abstract

In the spring of 2020, during the most severe weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Colombia, a female bronzy inca (Coeligena coeligena) built a nest and successfully raised two chicks, outside the front door of a country house adjacent to a humid forest in the Western Andes near the city of Cali This hummingbird's nest was found in a hanging pot of asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus), a cultivated decorative houseplant native to Africa From mid-March to early May, the presence and behavior of the homeowners apparently did not disturb the hummingbird's nesting activities Evidence of species taking advantage of conditions during the so-called "anthropause" (or pandemic-inspired reduction in human activities) has already been documented, especially in urban habitats Might similar positive outcomes for biodiversity be occurring in rural areas, which are often characterized by a less intense human footprint?