Campus Directory

Pronouns she, her, ella

Division Social Sciences Division

Department/ College/ Unit Environmental Studies Department
Latin American & Latino Studies

Title Assistant Professor

Affiliation Faculty

Faculty Type Research Professor

Areas of Expertise Conservation
Ornithology
Tropical Forest
Ecology

Web Site

Primary Office Location Interdisciplinary Sciences Building
459

Office Hours for Students/ Office Hours Monday 10-11:30am

Mail Stop Environmental Studies

Biography, Education and Training

Conservation ecologist who uses spatial ecology tools to understand anthropogenic impacts on birds and their habitats with a strong focus on tropical regions.

B.S. Ecology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogota, Colombia)

Ph.D. Environmental Science and Policy, Duke University (Durham, United States)

Summary of Expertise

Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela is a Colombian Conservation Ecologist, ornithologist, and birder. Since 2021 she has been an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she leads the Conservation Ecology Lab. Her research blends insights from field observations, community science data, and geospatial techniques to quantify the impact of anthropogenic activities on bird populations and habitats. She uses these research insights to identify and map bird conservation priorities at local to global scales, often in partnership with conservation practitioners. Most of her research focuses on species of conservation concern—those endemic and/or threatened—in the world’s tropics, with a special focus on Latin America. Some of her current research themes include mapping habitat connectivity for the world’s birds, using bird resurveys to quantify impacts of landcover and climate change on bird populations, and understanding the role of birdwatching tourism in bird conservation and sustainable rural development in tropical countries. Her approach to ornithology and conservation centers diversity and inclusion, highlights the importance of authentic partnerships, and elevates the voices of those historically underrepresented in our field. 

Research Interests

Conservation ecology, bird distributions, landscape ecology and connectivity, tropical ecology, bird movement, multifunctional landscapes, bird-window collisions

Teaching Interests

ENVS 120 - Conservation Biology (Upper division) - Spring

Awards, Honors and Grants

2026               Fellow - California Academy of Sciences

2026               Elective Member - American Ornithological Society

2020-2021      Colciencias Postdoctoral Fellowship 

2016-2018      ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship

2011-2016      Fulbright-Colciencias PhD scholarship 

Reseacrh grants not listed

Selected Performances

TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVBDf0rYYbQ

Selected Presentations

Keynotes/Plenaries

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2025. American Ornithological Society. St. Louis, MI, USA.

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2023. South American BirdFair. Mindo, Ecuador.

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2020. Colombia BirdFair. Cali, Colombia (virtual)

Selected Publications

Peer-reviewed publications since 2021 (a complete list is in my personal website)

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Niño-Rodríguez, N.,Gomez, C., Soto-Patiño, J., Cuervo, A. M.,Sierra-Ricaurte, A., Pérez-Amaya, N., Del Cairo, C.,Cadena, C. D., Díaz-Cardenas, J., Ocampo, D.,Soto-Vargas, C., Mennill, D. J., & Ocampo-Peñuela,N. 2026. Key practices for ethical research duringscientific expeditions. Conservation Science andPractice, e70379. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.7037912.

Gonzalez, A. M., Soto-Patiño, J., Muñoz-Z, J., Echeverri, A., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2026. Soaring higher together: collaborative and inclusive science improves Neotropical bird conservation. Avian Conservation and Ecology, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-03092-210129. 

Neate-Clegg, M. H. C., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2026. The link between colorfulness and extinction risk across the world's passerine birds. Conservation Biology, e70332. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70332. 

Kowalski, M. B., Wilkinson, C. E., Wilmers, C. C., & Ocampo‐Peñuela, N. 2026. A review of participatory mapping in conservation science and practice. Conservation Science and Practice, e70300. http://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70300. 

Constantz, B.M., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., & K.D. Holl. 2026. Recovery of habitat heterogeneity in restored and remnant riparian forests along the Sacramento River, California, United States. Restoration Ecology https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70394. 

Suárez-Castro, A.F., Hajian-Forooshani, Z., Barbosa, M.P.B., Damasceno, G., Grenié, M., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Oh, R.R., Carvajal-Quintero, J., Prado-Monteiro, B. and Chase, J.M., 2025. Trait-explicit approaches cast new light on fragmentation effects on biodiversity. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 41 (2): 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.11.009. 

Cadena, C.D., Pabón, L., Díaz-Salazar, A.F., Mendiwelso, M.E., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Niño-Rodríguez, N., Soto-Patiño, J., Seeholzer, G.F., Flantua, S.G., Abueg, L., Balacco, J., Brajuka, N., Formenti, G., Tilley, T., Whelan, C., Jarvis, E.D., Smith, B.T., & A.M. Cuervo. 2026. New genomic resources and the historical demography of the Tourmaline Sunangel (Trochilidae, Heliangelus exortis) in the Colombian Andes. 2026. Journal of Heredity, p.esag016. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esag016. 

Şekercioğlu Ç.H, Neate-Clegg M.H.C., Ocampo-Peñuela N, Jankowski J.E, Peres C.A and Terborgh J. 2025. Editorial: Long-term research on avian conservation ecology in the age of global change and citizen science. Front. Conserv. Sci. 6:1740942.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1740942.

Eberhard, S. & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. Functional Diversity Of Avian Mixed-Species Foraging Flocks On The Tilarán Cordillera, Costa Rica. Ornitologia Neotropical, 36: 40-48.  https://doi.org/10.58843/ornneo.v36i1.1283. 

Ocampo-Peñuela, N., de Alfaro, S.,Neate-Clegg, M. H. C., de Alfaro, L., Bjegovic, K., & Winton,R. S. (2025). Human development, societal stability and bird capital predict global tourist eBirding activity. People andNature, 00, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70105

​Neate-Clegg, M. H. C.,Eberhard, S., Gomez, C., Siddens, S., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2025. Range-restricted species are poor proxies for functional diversity in the world's largest avifauna. Conservation Science and Practice, e70136. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70136.

Callaghan, C. T., Mason, B. M., Echeverri, A., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. (2025). Birdwatchers’ attitudes and preferences that influence their decisions to engage in local, national, and international birdwatching trips. Journal of Ecotourism, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2025.2543081. 

Velázquez-Tabares, L. D., García-Opina, S.Y., Chaparro-Herrera, S., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Osorio-Olveda, L.A. & Parra, J.L. 2025. Potential distribution and landscape connectivity of a Critically Endangered species, Atlapetes blancae (Antioquia Brushfinch): Implications for its conservation. Ornithological Applications: duaf041. https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duaf041.

Pérez-Amaya, N., Neate-Clegg, M. H., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Cadena, C. D., Soto-Patiño, J., & Cuervo, A. M. 2025. Century-long shifts in body size and proportions of lowland rainforest birds. Evolutionary Ecology, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-025-10343-6

Piratelli, A.j., (...), Ocampo-Peñuela, N. (...), I. MacGregor-Fors. 2025. Bird–window collisions: A comprehensive dataset forthe Neotropical region. Ecology 106: 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70126.

Mateus-Aguilar, B., et al. 2025. Assessing Biocultural Diversity Across Scales Using Ecological Indicators. Ecological Indicators 176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113616. 

Rosin, C., Schulfer, N., Zedler, P.H., Froese, G., Jenkins, C., Mbamy, W. and Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2025 Global Priorities for Developing Higher Education Capacity in Biodiversity Conservation. Biological Conservation 308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111221.

Echeverri, A., Batista, N. M., Wolny,S., Herrera-R, G. A., Andrade-Rivas, F., Bailey, A., Cardenas-Navarrete, A., Dávila Arenas, A., Díaz-Salazar, A. F.,Hernandez, K. V., Langhans, K. E., Mateus-Aguilar, B. E.,Levey, D., Neill, A., Nguyen, O., Suárez-Castro, A. F., Zapata,F., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2024. Toward SustainableBiocultural Ecotourism: An Integrated Spatial Analysis ofCultural and Biodiversity Richness in Colombia. People and Nature, 00, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10755

Hernandez, K.V., Andrade-Rivas, F., Zapata, F., Batista, N., Cárdenas-Navarrete, A., Dávila Arenas, A., A. Herrera-R, G., Langhans, K.E., Levey, D., Neill, A., Nguyen, O., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Sánchez-López, S., & A., Echeverri.  2024. Nearly half of Colombian artisan craft plant species lack national and international vulnerability assessments. Ecosystems and People, 20(1), p.2420080. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2024.2420080.

Suárez-Castro, A.F., Acevedo-Charry, O., Romero Jiménez, L.H., Noguera-Urbano, E. A., Ayerbe-Quiñones, F. & N. Ocampo-Peñuela. 2024. Integrating multiple data sources to develop range and Area of Habitat maps tailored for local contexts. Diversity and Distributions. http://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13917.

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2024. Context-dependent bird body mass responses to climate change. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2024.02.010 

Soto-Patiño, J., Pérez-Amaya, N. ., Niño-Rodríguez, N. ., Muñoz-Quintana, G. ., & N. Ocampo-Peñuela. 2023. Mujeres en la ornitología colombiana: Perspectivas históricas y tendencias de participación en dos contextos académicos. Ornitología Colombiana, (24), 59–74. https://doi.org/10.59517/oc.e574

Fernández-Gómez, R. A., Ku-Peralta, W., Botero-Restrepo, D., Niño Rodríguez, N., Laverde-R, O., Pantoja-Sánchez, H. E., Bravo, G. A., Álvarez-Rebolledo, M., Marín-Gómez, O. H., Duque, F. G., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. (2023). La voz de nuestras aves: contribuciones de la bioacústica a la ornitología colombiana. Ornitología Colombiana, (23), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.59517/oc.e555

Şekercioğlu,  Ç. H., Sutherland,  W.J., Buechley, E.R.., Li, B.V., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., & Mahamued,  B. A. 2023. Editorial: Avian biodiversity collapse in the Anthropocene: drivers and consequences. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11, https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1202621. 

Soto-Patiño,J., Certuche-Cubillos, K., Díaz-Cárdenas, J., Garzón-Lozano, D., Guzmán-Moreno,  E., Niño-Rodríguez, N.,, Pérez-Amaya,  N. & N. Ocampo-Peñuela. 2023. The once-invisible legacy of Elizabeth L. Kerr, a naturalist in the early 20th century, and her contributions to Colombian ornithology, Ornithological Applications, 2023;, duad006, https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duad006 (Please email for PDF) 

Soares, L., Cockle, K.L., Ruelas Inzunza, E., (...), Ocampo-Peñuela, N, (...). 2023. Neotropical ornithology: Reckoning with historical assumptions, removing systemic barriers, and reimagining the future. Ornithological Applications, 2023;, duac046, https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duac046 (Please email for PDF).

Echeverri, A*., Guzman, L. M.*, Heredia, S.*, Ocampo-Peñuela, N.*, & Umaña, M. N.* 2022. Renegotiating identities in international academic careers. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 6(12), 1796-1798. *Equally contributing authors.(PDF)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N*., Suárez-Castro, A. F.*, Díaz-Timoté, J. J., Gómez-Valencia, B., Olaya-Rodríguez, M. H., Sánchez-Clavijo, L. M., & Correa-Ayram, C. A. 2022. Increased exposure of Colombian birds to rapidly expanding human footprint. Environmental Research Letters, 17(11), 114050. *Equally contributing authors. (PDF)

Múnera-Roldán C & Ocampo-Peñuela N. 2022. The value of standing forests for birds and people in a biodiversity hotspot. PLOS Climate 1(11): e0000093. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000093 (PDF)

Buřivalová, Z., Rosin, C., Buchner, J., Radeloff, V.C.,& Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2022. Conservation responsibility for bird species in tropical logged forests. Conservation Letters, e12903. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12903. (PDF).

Huang R.M., Medina W, Brooks T.M., Butchart S.H.M., Fitzpatrick J.W., Hermes C., Jenkins, C.N., Johnston, A., Lebbin, D.J., Li, B.V., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Parr, M., Wheatley, H., Wiedenfield, D.A., Wood, C., & Pimm, S. 2021. Batch-produced, GIS-informed range maps for birds based on provenanced, crowd-sourced data inform conservation assessments. PLoS ONE 16(11): e0259299. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259299. (PDF)

Gómez, C., Cadena, C. D., Cuervo, A. M. ., Díaz-Cárdenas, J. ., García-Cardona, F. ., Niño-Rodríguez, N. ., Ocampo-Peñuela, N. ., Ocampo, D. ., Seeholzer, G. ., Sierra-Ricaurte, A. ., & Soto-Patiño, J. Reexpedición Colombia: Entender el pasado para empoderar acciones que fortalezcan el conocimiento y conservación de las aves. Biota Colombiana, 23(1), e984. https://doi.org/10.21068/2539200X.984. (PDF) 

Brown BB, Santos S, Ocampo-Peñuela N. 2021. Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years. PeerJ 9:e11867. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11867. (PDF)

Sánchez-Clavijo, L.M., Martínez-Callejas, S.J., Acevedo-Charry, O., Diaz-Pulido, A., Gómez-Valencia, B., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Ocampo, D., Olaya-Rodríguez, M.H., Rey-Velasco, J.C., Soto-Vargas, C. and Ochoa-Quintero, J.M., 2021. Differential reporting of biodiversity in two citizen science platforms during COVID-19 lockdown in Colombia. Biological Conservation, 256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109077. (Please email for PDF).

Bates, A., R. Primack (...), Ocampo-Peñuela, N. (...), C. Duarte. 2021. Global COVID-19 lockdown highlights humans as both threats and custodians of the environment. Biological Conservation 263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109175. (Please email for PDF).

Other publications (a complete list is in my personal website)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Lahiri, S. & Montaño-Centellas, F.A. 2026. Reimagining tropical resurveys to be equitable and inclusive. Nat. Rev. Biodivers. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-026-00185-7.  

Prieto, J., Ocampo-Peñuela, N., Zapata, F. & M. Medina. 2025. Scientific diasporas can accelerate the implementation of global biodiversity goals. Nat. Rev. Biodivers. (PDF). 

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2025. Worldview: The balancing act of being an academic and a mother. Nature Human Behaviour. (PDF).

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. & C. Callaghan. 2023. Blogpost: Why birdwatchers' choices matter. Birding Ecotours (Link)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2022. Colombia, el destino de aviturismo más grande en el mundo. Revista Digital Quarks - Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Colombia 2 (No. 2), 27-34. (PDF)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2021. Investigar en Colombia: Re-expedición Colombia - Un sueño compartido. Boletín Colombiano de Biología Evolutiva 9(No. 1), 19-23. (PDF)

Pardo, L. E., & Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2019. Contexto actual del impacto ambiental de la palma de aceite en Colombia. Revista Palmas, 40(No. 3), 79-88. (PDF)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2017. Conservación de aves en los bosques andinos de Colombia. Voices for Biodiversity. (Link).

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2017. Agua, aves y prevención de derrumbes: tres servicios ecosistémicos, una estrategia. Decision Point en Español Edición 3, University of Queensland. (PDF)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2016. Cuáles aves conservamos primero?. Decision Point en Español Edición 2, University of Queensland. (PDF)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2016. Bird conservation along Colombia's Andean forests. Voices of Biodiversity. (Link)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. 2015. Book review: A walk in the forest. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 30 (9): 512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2015.07.004.

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. & S. Winton. 2015. Open Mic: Bird-window collisions and "green" buildings on Duke's campus. American Birding Association Blog. (Blog)

Ocampo-Peñuela, N. & S. Winton. 2015. Bird-window collisions: A crash course for Duke University. North Carolina Wildlifer. p 15-17. (PDF)

Advisees, Grad Students & Researchers Llano, Julián (jllano)
Garfield, Ezra (ecgarfie)
Ali, Mushtaaq (mali19)

Courses ENV 120: Conservation Biology (Upper division)