Researchers are hailing the recent discovery of a new bird in a former Colombian guerrilla hideout, calling it a sign that security is returning to the war-torn nation. Ornithologists say the announcement in October of the discovery of the new Yariguíes Brush-Finch (Atlapetes latinuchus yariguierum) in an area of the Yariguíes mountain range formerly controlled by Marxist guerrillas gave them hope they might eventually resume working throughout the nation. “This is a momentous discovery,” says Paul Salaman, the director of international programs at the American Bird Conservancy, a nonprofit group based in The Plains, Virginia. “It’s also part of a new environment in which security for researchers in Colombia is better than it has been for at least 15 years.” Colombia is an... [Log in to read more]