By Brit McCandless Farmer
May 3, 2026 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News
This week on 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper reports from the misty, rain-soaked mountains of western Colombia, where birdwatching is taking off in areas once marked by conflict. Low clouds and steady drizzle animate the forest, and sought-after species like the gold-ringed tanager draw naturalists from around the globe. What might sound tame at first quickly becomes a revelation of color and motion hidden in the canopy.
New to the hobby, Cooper admits he was skeptical at first. Guided by an expert who could pick out rapid, elusive birds, he found himself swept up in what he described as a “drama” unfolding in the trees. Sudden moments — vultures cruising overhead, brief streaks of bright plumage — turned casual curiosity into genuine excitement.
Birding fans say the pastime’s charm is its simplicity and unpredictability: you don’t need elaborate equipment, you can do it nearby, and birds turn up everywhere. By the end of his outing, Cooper had a clearer sense of why so many people are captivated by watching birds.
Video edited by Scott Rosann. Footage by Julián Manrique for 60 Minutes.