Migratory Birds

According to BirdLife International, State of the World’s Birds Report, at least 40% of the world’s bird population is in decline. The alarming drop in bird populations can be linked to industrialization, commercial agriculture, air pollution, and other detrimental factors. In Central America, more than half of the bird species are declining rapidly. Through our Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Initiative, we have made a commitment to 40 years of migratory bird research and conservation in the Paso del Istmo Wildlife Corridor.

Through this initiative and by partnering with the MoSI program, which is an international network of bird monitoring systems, we have been able to map habitats, reforestation with native trees and provide youth education in the Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor. This has helped guide our efforts on migratory species that are in decline, such as the western yellow-billed cuckoo and southwestern willow flycatcher, as well as, developing and implementing strategies to conserve and restore their habitats. By partnering with Red de Reservas Silvestres Privadas, we have been able to develop management plans for two of its private reserves that will help landowners protect their birds and habitats better. Support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the United States Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) has been the primary funding of this work. There are also numerous individuals and organizations that keep our efforts going.

Our conservation endeavors start with the community. Through our bird education curriculum, we are able to help children discover and observe bird’s behaviors and their migratory patterns. Since January 2, 2015, Paso Pacifico has held an annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in the Paso del Istmo Wildlife Corridor. This event is coordinated by the National Audubon Society and it is conducted by volunteer birdwatchers across the Western Hemisphere. The volunteers have been able to count hundreds of birds and this data is submitted for use in science.

Cover photo by Dan Pancamo.