Watch over a migrating bird in Central America!

Dear Friends,

The wintering months in Central America are a magical time of year for birds. With your help, our bird monitoring efforts are in full swing. Here are some updates:

• Each month we set up nets and process birds by measuring their weight, observing their feathers and banding them. This bird-banding process helps us to determine survival of birds as they travel between North America and Southern destinations. We have seen that these two small nature reserves receive the some of the same birds year after year and thus the forest habitat is vital for their survival. The two bird-banding stations in Nicaragua are located at the Reserva Mono Bayo and Reserva Quelatero. 

• We are preparing to celebrate the tenth annual Christmas Bird Count in southwestern Nicaragua. This annual citizen science event started by the Audubon Society over one hundred years ago and enables us to observe trends in bird populations. Each winter more than fifty volunteers comb a 15 mile diameter circular area that includes marine areas, freshwater habitats, and tropical dry forests and agricultural areas. 

• Willow flycatchers have arrived to their wintering spots in Nicaragua and we are visiting them monthly, looking for previously banded birds and counting them along with other birds that depend on the same habitat. In El Salvador, we are preparing to set up permanent monitoring of willow flycatchers at wetlands in the eastern portion of the country.

• Jr. Rangers have been busy learning about birds and parrots and celebrated the Mesoamerica Parrot Festival by creating artworks that promote respect for birds.

Thank you for supporting the birds as they winter in Central America and we wish you a happy holiday season. 

Warm regards,