Avian Monitoring

Osa Birds monitors bird population tendencies to detect possible species declines over time.  We collaborate with public agencies,  non-governmental organizations working to achieve similar objectives, and interested parties to develop conservation management strategies for species protection over the long term.

Our Avian Monitoring program takes us around the Osa Peninsula to over 13 distinct ecosystems to include primary and secondary tropical and premontane wet forests (Holdridge Life Zones for the Osa), tidal mangroves, middle elevation and sea level riparian watersheds, lagoons, ephemeral swamps and more.

Our primary objectives are to establish a baseline of bird presence within each ecosystem and vegetation type and continue long-term monitoring of resident and migratory bird populations.  Longer term objectives are to determine 1) species abundance, density or occupancy for target species, 2) changes in abundance, density or occupancy of target species over time, and 3) changes in species composition in managed areas.  We work with land owners to develop adaptive management strategies for target birds and/or birds of conservation concern and collaborate with local and international partners to mitigate species declines.

Tennessee Warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina, Osa Birds, Research, Osa Research, Osa Conservation, Avian Conservation, bird conservation, Osa, Osa Peninsula, Osa Education, education, avian monitoring

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)

Neotropical Migratory Birds

Migratory birds are of considerable concern in our monitoring efforts.  Several species are considered to be in decline throughout their range, and it is one of Osa Birds primary goals to bring attention to those species that over-winter in Costa Rica, and specifically in and around the Osa Peninsula by looking at factors that may be limiting migratory bird populations through our monitoring efforts and applied research program.


Angie Acevedo

Angie Acevedo

Finca Ajo Negro: SINAC-ACOSA’s Finca Ajo Negro located within the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve just north or Rincón de Osa works with Osa Birds to develop long term avian monitoring and capacity building.  As part of an overall project to develop an Arboretum and establish a trail system within the diverse primary and secondary property, we developed a baseline database of migratory and resident birds located throughout 3 distinct habitat types.  SINAC-ACOSA and the Universidad Técnica Nacional student Angie Acevedo set this project into motion to develop line transects along developed trails for avian monitoring which will also be used for various monitoring efforts of mammals, plants and invertebrates, and used as access areas for visitors to the property.

Angie Acevedo Loría, is a forestry and wildlife management student at the Universidad Técnica Nacional, sede Atenas, Alajuela. Though her main interests are mammals and plants, Angie worked hard to design trails for avian monitoring and visitor access within Finca Ajo Negro of the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve.  We want to thank Angie and her co-workers at SINAC and the Universidad Técnica for all their hard work fantastic results!

 

*We report bird observations for the peninsula to eBird (Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology), and Audubon Society websites.