On January 8th, 2011, the Rainforest Biodiversity Group coordinated the 3rd annual Maquenque Christmas Bird Count. This year a total of 18 people counted at 5 sites within the Maquenque Bird Count Circle. The weather that day was mostly sunny with some clouds. The participants found a total of 3,662 individual birds of 241 species. This represents a decrease from last year, with 252 less individuals and 20 less species. Laguna del Lagarto Lodge just barely edged out Finca Paniagua for the site with the most species with 140, Finca Paniagua reporting 139. However, Finca Paniagua was the clear winner with individuals seen, with a total of 1,236!
The species with the single most individuals observed was the Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) with a total of 200 individuals. Also, there were 24 Great Green Macaws noted in total!
Click here to view the entire bird list for the Christmas Bird Count.
As the count takes place in the winter, species known as neo-tropical migrants are of course taking advantage of the available food sources in the tropics at this time of year. During this year’s count 9 species of migratory warblers were observed including Chestnut-sided, Yellow, and mourning warbler.
Rainforest Biodiversity Group would like to personally thank all of the participants for making the 2010 Maquenque Bird Count possible: David Segura, Alberto Segura, Patrick O’Donnell, Paul Murgatroyd, Didier Ortega, Ana V. Wo Ching, Antonio Cortes, Jose Salazar, Magda Araya, Priscilla Hurtado, Rose Marie Menacho, Gustavo Flores Yzaguirre, Guido Quesada, Adilio Antonio Zeledon, Paul Pickering, Jose Fallas, Esteban Biamonte, and Tomas. Also, thank you to all the sites and to the Costa Rican Ornithological Society for helping enter the data gathered.
