Living in a city can be stressful. But some people in Bogota, Colombia have found a place to help ease stress and get a peaceful break from busy life. The place is a protected park, or sanctuary, for hummingbirds.
The park sits at the top of Monserrate Hill, east of the city, in a place known as the Paramuno corridor. The area contains a forest that has turned into a peaceful place for both people and birds.
As the hummingbirds fly from flower to flower, some people study the animals through binoculars. Others capture pictures with cameras or phones.
“Sometimes it doesn’t seem real because we are close to a city of eight million inhabitants who generate noise every day,” said Camilo Cantor, a caretaker in the park. His job is to mix water and sugar that is put in bird feeders along a 300-meter path.
Cantor explains, “You can hear noise from the city, the generation of pollution and aggressiveness.” But, he adds, the park is a special place, like an oasis. It is a place where people can go to release stress and forget about the pressures of city life.
Visitors to the park can see between 25 to 35 different species of birds, Cantor said.
Ten years ago, the hill was completely deforested, meaning there were not any trees left on it. But workers began to replant local trees and flowers to bring the forest back to life. Presently, there are 115 species of birds, including 18 kinds of hummingbirds and some migratory species.
Hummingbirds are only found on the American continent and Colombia is home to many different kinds.
I'm Armen Kassabian.
Reuters reported on this story. Armen Kassabian adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.
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Words in This Story
stressful – adj. causing mental or emotional stress
binoculars – n. a handheld device that helps see far away
inhabitant – n. one that occupies a particular place regularly
generate – v. to bring into existence
oasis – n. a place that provides relief or water
species – n. a kind or sort
migratory – adj. relating to animals moving from one place to another
