Wildlife Conservation Nicaragua Project #50745

Save an endangered southwest willow flycatcher

by Paso Pacifico

Project Report | Dec 2, 2024
You helped us find more willow flycatcher habitat!

By Sarah Otterstrom | Executive Director

Willow flycatcher ID training workshop

Your support for our willow flycatcher project made a big difference this year. We conducted monitoring at three locations in Nicaragua and three locations in El Salvador. Below we describe some details about our discoveries this season.

In February, a Willow Flycatcher Identification Training Workshop took place at the "Caserío Los Riitos, Cantón La Estrechura" School Center. Paso Pacífico instructors, Oswaldo and Jairo, along with biologist Néstor Herrera, led the session. Members of the East Bird Observers Club, including Bany Alvarenga, Ignacio Molina, and Jorge Portillo, as well as Paso Pacífico park rangers, participated. During the field surveys, 12 WIFL individuals were recorded, and at least 25 bird species were identified. The workshop, conducted in a theoretical-practical manner, aimed to explain the characteristics of the species and its identification, as well as to elucidate the methodologies used in monitoring this species. It began with field observations followed by a knowledge exchange session. This training aimed to create a network of community monitors for the monitoring of important species such as the Willow Flycatcher and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Based on previous monitoring data from 2023, we established nine transects for long-term monitoring of the Willow Flycatcher at three locations in El Salvadro: Embalse 15 de Septiembre, Laguna El Jocotal, and Laguna de Olomega.

The Willow Flycatcher was recorded at Embalse 15 de Septiembre and Laguna de Olomega, with a total of 23 individuals recorded (this does not include the 12 willow flycatchers recorded during the separate training workshop). In total, 137 species were recorded, most of which are predominantly associated with wetlands. Nineteen bird species of Conservation Concern were recorded during these surveys (refer to Table 2). Threats, including land use change, were observed, particularly in Olomega and Embalse 15 de Septiembre in the Department of Usulutan.

Western Birds of Concern: American RedstartBarn, SwallowBell's, VireoBrown-crested Flycatcher, DickcisselDusky-capped, FlycatcherHarris' Hawk,Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Rose-throated Becard, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Vaux's Swift, Willow Flycatcher

Other Species of Concern: Mangrove Cuckoo, American White Pelican, Wood Thrush, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Painted Bunting

Our focus over the coming months will be to continue monitoring and to engage farmers in farmland management to minimize vegetation removal until after spring migration has begun.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to study and protect the willow flycatcher, and for being a part of Paso Pacifico's conservation efforts in the dry forests of Central America.

Warm Regards,

Sweet little willow flycatcher at wintering ground

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Apr 10, 2024
Expanding protection and monitoring for flycatcher

By Sarah Otterstrom | Executive Director

Wintering willow flycatcher in Nicaragua

Here is a quick update regarding willow flycatcher monitoring this season.

As you know, southwestern willow flycatcher, a small migratory bird that lives in wetlands, is federally endangered and hard to identify. Fewer than 1,000 breeding pairs remain. Genetic evidence shows that many of them winter in Nicaragua and eastern El Salvador. With your help, our team has been monitoring and protecting them in western Nicaragua. Now, we are working to expand these efforts to Eastern El Salvador.

Oswaldo Saballos is a skilled ornithologist who has participated in our willow flycatcher surveys since they started in 2016. In early March he traveled to the Olomega Lagoon in El Salvador to impart a willow flycatcher identification workshop. Workshop participants included birders from the citizen science group Observadores de Aves del Oriente and community rangers working with Paso Pacifico.

We know this event would be valuable, but we were astounded when the group encountered twelve willow flycatchers in just one morning! Now more people are skilled at identifying the bird and we know at least one important wintering wetland, the Olomega Lagoon, for the species.

We just completed another season of monitoring willow flycatchers ( 5 months) and habitat at three locations in Nicaragua. It was a good season for observations, though we did not refind any of the banded birds. I look forward to sharing more about the data in the next update.

Thank you again for your support for these precious birds. This week when you make a gift to this project, your donation will be matched 50% on up to $50 donation.

Identifying willow flycatchers in El Salvador

Flycatcher workshop in El Salvador

Links:

Short video from ID workshop in El Salvador

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Dec 27, 2023
Photos from the field

By Sarah Otterstrom | Executive Director

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