113th CBC Central and South America Regional Summary

Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad

By Geoffrey S. LeBaron and the Latin American CBC Review Team

The 113^th Christmas Bird Count in Latin America was another banner season.  While the CBCs in Chile and Peru were again unable to be conducted, the Manaus area circles in Brazil were submitted after a few seasons’ hiatus.  And eight new regional counts are welcomed to the database; six in Colombia and two in Ecuador.  Please see the list of new counts in the overall 113^th CBC summary page for the names of these new additions.  All told, south of Mexico and Belize in Latin America there were 53 counts submitted; 26 in Colombia, eight in Costa Rica, seven in Ecuador, four in Panama, three in Brazil, two in Guatemala, two in Nicaragua, and the long-standing count on Trinidad.

Good participation is the key to the success of the Christmas Bird Count, country-by-country in Latin America there were 472 observers in Ecuador, 435 in Costa Rica, 257 in Colombia, 123 in Panama, 48 in Guatemala, 39 in Trinidad, and 26 counters in Nicaragua.

Given the amazing species diversity in the Neotropics, whenever there are new counts included in a season there can be a myriad of new species to the CBC database included as well.  And even long-running counts regularly tally new, low-density or “skulker” species to their lists.  Please take a look at the individual results for counts, and peruse the amazing array of species tallied on CBCs throughout the Americas.  And species totals as always can get quite lofty, especially in the amazing diversity of the Andes and give the level of participation that counts like Monteverde, Yanayacu, and the venerable Mindo attract.  This season (perhaps temporarily?) we crown a new count for highest species total on a CBC—Yanayacu, Ecuador at 493, with neighboring Mindo (attended by many of the same observers) hot their heels at 455.  Who knows what future seasons will bring?

Compilers themselves often give the best perspective on their respective counts, and included here are sage remarks from the people who “make it all happen” in Latin America:

From Knut Eisermann at Antigua, Guatemala:

“Notable was a Golden-cheeked Warbler, a photograph of a male furnishes a winter record for Antigua and the first record for the Antigua CBC. Several range-restricted bird species of the north Central American highlands were recorded during the CBC, including Fulvous Owl, Pink-headed Warbler, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Blue-throated Motmot, Bushy-crested and Black-throated jays, Black-capped Swallow, Rufous-browed Wren, Rufous-collared Robin, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, and Black-capped Siskin.”

…and at Atitlan Volcano, Guatemala:

“Overall, bird activity was low, probably due to strong wind in the days before the count day. Notable was the first record of American Wigeon during CBC Atitlán, 22 birds were seen at Lake Atitlán. Most of the endemics of northern Central American highlands were recorded on the count day, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Pink-headed Warbler, Black-capped Siskin, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-throated Jay, and Rufous-collared Thrush.”

From Liliana Chavarria Duriaux at Reserva El Jaguar, Nicaragua:

“The weather was terrible. It was rainy, windy and cold. In the pine-oak forest we just counted 2 White-eared Hummingbirds. The Golden-cheeked Warbler was counted the next day that was also rainy and cold but not windy. It was the worst weather we ever had during the CBC.

In Apanas Lake there were more than 3000 ducks that remained unindentified because of the distance and bad light.”

From Jim Zook at La Selva, Costa Rica:

“The two new species reported for the count are local and resident in the Tempisque basin and sporadic elsewhere in lowlands. The Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) has records in La Selva. The Harris´s Hawk (Parabuteo unicintus) does not have official records in the area, surprisingly both species happened to be in the same area for the count day.”

From Lani Miller at Mindo, Ecuador:

“Mindo has come of age!  They are increasingly more independent and self-sufficient, they have organized themselves beautifully, have planned their 33 routes meticulously so they do not overlap, and they police themselves.  Because they are very proud of being No. 1 in the world of bird counting, they are hoping to stay there and are planning to start a route into the Southern part of the circle which has never been counted.

 This is a beautiful example of people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps!  Many of our best birders and group leaders (and guides) have little formal education, but they have learned the names in English so they can report them at the Countdown.  Hunters have always known a great deal about the creatures they hunt, so they know how to spot the birds, but they too, have learned the English names, and for the same reason.  After that, it's easier to learn a little bit of social English and become a guide for the tourists.  And because chopping down trees and shooting everything in sight isn't good for the birds, they have all become ardent conservationists!  And the effect keeps snowballing.  You at Audubon are aware of the count circles that Mindo has inspired. I keep hearing about plans for new circles and hope that some of them actually do get started and CONTINUE.  The key here is that "if the guys at Mindo can do it, so can we!"  And the spirit of competition is definitely there.  Yes, citizen science works. And I thank you all at Audubon for making it possible and for all your years of support and encouragement.

And on this last, I think you should know how important your role is in the minds of everyone involved.  You are the arbiter and judge of all things birdy!   They know of and respect Audubon and truly delight in the knowledge that they are mentioned frequently in the pages of American Birds.  Their standing as No. 1 in the number of birds counted in one day for so many years has really added to their self-esteem and when a bird watching tourist shows them the magazine . . . well, that really makes their day.  As I mentioned before, they're really working to stay as No. 1, and from the comments I've overheard, they'll do it honestly. 

I am delighted to say that there are now a few qualified and willing people to help with the countdown and compiling, but despite my threat that the year the Andean Condor was spotted would be my last (and there were 3 of them!!!), I think I'll hang in there for awhile yet and see what happens with the Southern part of the circle.  Besides, they have need of this compiler because she speaks good English and she loves the job!

Thanks again to all of you, Geoff, Kathy, Greg and all those I don't know for all your work and for all of your support throughout the years. ”