Global Big Day: Celebrating Biodiversity
12 June 2025 | Wildlife, Peruvian Amazon, Sustainability
At the break of dawn in some of the world’s most remote and vibrant landscapes, nature begins its quiet overture—unseen wings stir the cool morning air, and the canopy awakens with a symphony of birdsong. These fleeting melodies, echoing across the Amazon, the Mekong, and faraway isles, are more than mere sound—they are signs of life, balance, and thriving ecosystems. At Aqua Expeditions, every journey begins with reverence for these rhythms: the calls of hornbills overhead, the shimmer of a kingfisher at the water’s edge, the sudden hush that envelopes the forest. They remind us not only of the fragile beauty we are privileged to witness, but also of our deep bond with the wild—and the shared responsibility to preserve it.
A Global Celebration of Wings
On 11 May, Aqua Expeditions joined a worldwide chorus of birdwatchers, scientists, and nature lovers for Global Big Day—an annual event led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that united people across continents in a shared mission: to observe and record as many bird species as possible within 24 hours. From seasoned ornithologists to curious travelers, participants contributed to eBird, a citizen science platform that maps avian life across the planet. Yet beyond the data lies a quiet power: a celebration of life in all its diversity, and a renewed call to safeguard the wild places birds call home. It is a global moment of connection—between people and place, purpose and planet.
Shared Purpose in the Peruvian Amazon
Led by Aqua’s expert naturalists—George Davila, Julio Mozombite, Billy Chujutalli, and Juan Díaz—and joined by conservation partners from SERNANP at the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve—Maria Isabel Torres, Roger Alvarado, and Etzy Rodriguez—the team spent the day immersed in the forest’s rhythms and vibrant song.
By midnight, they had collectively recorded an impressive 104 bird species—a testament to the region’s extraordinary biodiversity, the keen eyes and attuned ears of those who know it intimately, and the spirit of collaboration that fuels meaningful conservation.
From the piercing call of the Screaming Piha to the shimmering flight of a hummingbird, each encounter offered more than awe—it deepened our connection to the wild and renewed our resolve to protect it.
Biodiversity Beyond Borders
While this year’s Big Day took place in the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua’s journeys span the globe’s most biodiverse frontiers. On the Mekong, birds accompany life at every turn—from kingfishers darting along rice paddies to herons wading through mist-covered wetlands. In the Coral Triangle, forested isles echo with the calls of hornbills and the display dances of birds-of-paradise.
And in the Galapagos, evolutionary marvels like Darwin’s finches and the waved albatross thrive in singular harmony. Though each region holds distinct species and stories, they share a deeper truth: biodiversity is not merely a wonder to behold, but a shared legacy to cherish. Birds traverse borders, bridging ecosystems and seasons, reminding us that the protection of nature transcends all boundaries.
Conservation in Every Journey
At Aqua Expeditions, we believe that meaningful travel plays a vital role in safeguarding the rivers and seas we explore. Across our voyages, we work in close partnership with local conservation authorities, indigenous communities, and scientific organizations to ensure our presence contributes purposefully to sustainability efforts. Global Big Day is one expression of this enduring commitment—to foster understanding, cultivate reverence, and inspire action, one sighting, one story, one step at a time. It affirms our role not only as explorers of the natural world, but as its stewards. As guests journey deep into enchanting forests and along remote riverbanks aboard Aqua Nera, Aria Amazon, Aqua Mekong, Aqua Blu, and Aqua Mare, they are guided by naturalist experts whose dedication runs as deep as the waters they navigate.
Each expedition becomes an opportunity to experience nature’s marvels up close—and to nurture a lasting appreciation for the wild and wondrous places that still remain.
A Quiet Legacy of Listening
Events like Global Big Day galvanize communities and ignite awareness. They remind us that honoring biodiversity begins with presence—with the act of noticing, of listening. The true legacy of Global Big Day lies not only in the data recorded, but in the collective stillness of those who pause to witness. To observe a bird in its natural rhythm is to feel, however briefly, part of a vast, interconnected world. In a world of constant change, these quiet moments aren’t just beautiful—they are vital.
As Aqua continues its explorations across the Amazon, Mekong, Galapagos, and beyond, we remain attuned to the rhythms of nature and the stories carried on the wind. The wild whispers. And we are listening.
