For more information, contact:

Leticia Andino, bird-monitoring Coordinator,

letyandino@salvanatura.org, tel (503) 2279-1515, ext. 33

SalvaNATURA’S 3rd Bird-a-thon records 266 species in El Salvador

                                                          San Salvador, October 2005.—During 15-16 October 2005, 22 observers distributed in 7 teams identified 266 bird species in El Salvador, almost 50% of the 540 species reported for the country. They had hoped to reach 300 species, but are convinced that next year they will break that mark. The activity was carried out as part of the World Bird Festival organized by BirdLife International (of which SalvaNATURA is part).

The event was called locally the “Maratón de Aves.” The largest species list for any one team was 110 species, recorded completely within the boundaries of the Montecristo National Park, in the department of Santa Ana, on the borders with Guatemala and Honduras. Montecristo is considered one of the most species rich areas of El Salvador, with 259 species of birds recorded within the 20-square-kilometer park. The park includes important patches of cloud forest and pine-oak forest. The birding team, led by Oliver Komar, encountered 6 Barred Parakeets in the cloud forest, only the second record for El Salvador. They also found two migratory species not previously reported at Montecristo: Olive-sided Flycatcher and Cooper’s Hawk, bringing the park list to 261 species. Other highlights for the team included sightings of Golden-winged, Golden-cheeked, and Red-faced Warblers.

Another team at El Imposible National Park, led by Jesse Fagan, who came from South Carolina to participate in the bird-a-thon, found such rare birds as Blue Seedeater, Black Hawk-Eagle and King Vulture. A highlight was also large numbers of Red-legged Honeycreepers and Long-tailed Manakins. A team led by Alvaro Moisés to Cerro El Pital, El Salvador’s highest peak, found a group of 6 of the rare and local lazuli race of the Steller’s Jay. Only one team visited El Salvador’s coast, led by Tom Jenner. The highlights for that team were Wandering Tattler, Long-billed Curlew, and Rufous-breasted Spinetail.

Meanwhile, at least 30 donors have pledged more than $4,000 for the bird-a-thon, in support of SalvaNATURA’s permanent bird monitoring program. This support is very important for the success of the long-term monitoring effort, although the project still needs funds to purchase new mist nets and bird bands, cover expenses for student interns, and salaries for staff biologists. The monitoring project is also supported by the Institute for Bird Populations and by a small grant from the Dutch Government through BirdLife International. The monitoring stations are located in three national parks and one shaded coffee plantation. Nearly 6,000 birds have been banded at these stations, generating valuable information about annual survivorship for a range of migratory and resident birds.

For a complete list of the 266 species recorded on the 2005 bird-a-thon, or if you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the project, contact SalvaNATURA’s bird-monitoring coordinator at the email address mentioned above.