The Birds of the Hacienda La Victoria

Transcription

1 Crossing The Caribbean: Identifying critical stopover sties for Neotropical migratory birds in northern Colombia A project by SELVA: Research for conservation in the Neotropics Technical report: The Birds of the Hacienda La Victoria La Victoria is located on the San Lorenzo ridge in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia, a region famed among the ornithological community for its high rate of endemism (the presence of species whose range is restricted to just one site or country). The hacienda supports a matrix of shade coffee plantations, secondary forest and mature forest between 1000 m and 1600 m above sea level. During four months of fieldwork in 2009 and 2010, researchers from SELVA carried out extensive surveys of the avifauna of the Victoria. The results of this study demonstrate that the hacienda is home to a community of birds of global importance. The most important findings were as follows: 210 species of birds recorded 7 species endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 8 species at risk of extinction 37 species of Neotropical migrants 141 species of birds recorded in shade coffee plantations Overview of Study Where: Hacienda La Victoria, Minca, Magdalena, Colombia (11 7'19.84"N, 74 5'34.14"W) When: September to November 2009 and March to May 2010 Methods: Captures with mist nets (4112 net hours) and systematic observations on transects (110 Km) Habitats surveyed: Pre-montane tropical forest and shade coffee plantations Birds captured: 3111 captures of 2426 individuals Birds observed: 3325 individuals Discussion: putting the results in context The 210 species of birds registered during this study represent a very high diversity given the size of La Victoria and the range of habitats present. Meanwhile, the presence of 7 species that can only be found in (or are endemic to) the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, make La Victoria globally significant for the conservation of bird diversity. To put these findings in context, it is worth considering that in the entirety of the United Kingdom there

2 Table 1: Species present in the Hacienda La Victoria of global importance either for being endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta or in danger of extinction. Conservation status is designated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) based on an analysis of the possibility of extinction of each species at a global level. Scientific name Common name Status Conservation status Oroaetus isidori Black-and-chestnut Eagle Resident NT Near-threatened Odontophorus atrifrons Black-fronted Wood-Quail Resident VU Vulnerable Anthocephala floriceps Blossomcrown Resident VU Vulnerable Coeligena phalerata White-tailed Starfrontlet Endemic* Chaetocercus astreans Santa Marta Woodstar Endemic* Synallaxis fuscorufa Rusty-headed Spinetail Endemic* VU Vulnerable Automolus rufipectus Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner Endemic* Scytalopus sanctaemartae Santa Marta Tapaculo Endemic* Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher Migrant NT Near-threatened Vermivora chrysoptera Golden-winged Warbler Migrant NT Near-threatened Dendroica cerulea Cerulean Warbler Migrant VU Vulnerable Basileuterus conspicillatus White-lored Warbler Endemic* NT Near-threatened Atlapetes melanocephalus Santa Marta Brush-Finch Endemic* * The term endemic in this case signifies that the species only occurs in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and no other region in the World. is just one endemic species. Further, given that the Victoria also hosts 8 species in danger of extinction (see Table 1), it is clear that the hacienda has great potential to make an important contribution towards conservation. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the presence of these priority species alone is not sufficient to guarantee that their populations are in a healthy state. Studies determining the abundance, distribution and population dynamics of each species are required to understand the true state of these species in the region. Although the majority of species were recorded within forested habitats (163 species), it is clear that the shade coffee plantations also play an important role for birds (141 species recorded). However, four species in danger of extinction were not found to use coffee plantations and therefore it is important to continue protecting the remaining forest cover in La Victoria. The results also show the importance of the Victoria to Neotropical migratory birds. These birds breed in North America, often in the boreal forests of Canada, and migrate to Central and South America during the northern winter. We recorded 37 species of migratory birds, including three priority species based on worrying declines in their populations. During the migration periods, the number of migratory birds using the hacienda increased significantly, allowing us to collect key data showing how various species use resources in the Victoria to prepare for the long flight across the Caribbean sea to North America. To cross the Caribbean is one of the greatest challenges these birds face during their annual cycle and the food resources present in sites like the Victoria are crucial if they are to fly over 1500 km across the Caribbean successfully. Finally we should mention that the results of this study are applicable to other similar zones in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The conditions in the Victoria are representative of those in other areas of the San Lorenzo ridge and therefore it is possible to extrapolate the importance of its forest and shade coffee plantations to other parts of the region with similar characteristics.

3 Land management recommendations to benefit birds La Victoria is an important site for bird conservation both at a regional and global level. There are very few sites in the World where one can find so many endemic and threatened species and this should be a source of pride. We present some recommendations for maintaining and improving the region for birds: Maintain and protect the existing forest cover Increase the number of shade trees in the most open coffee plantations (minimum recommended shade cover = 40%*) Maintain and protect natural vegetation bordering streams and rivers to promote connectivity in the landscape (recommended width, 5 meters either side of streams, 10 m either side of rivers*) Use a variety of native tree species to provide shade in coffee plantations (10 species or more recommended*) * Exact recommendations are based on the evaluation criteria set out by the Smithsonian Institute in order for a coffee to be certified as bird friendly (see Contact To obtain more information about this research Project by Selva please visit and or write to Nick Bayly nick.bayly@selva.org.co or Camila Gómez camila.gomez@selva.org.co Acknowledgements Mickey and Claudia Weber opened the doors of the Victoria to us making this study possible, we cannot thank them enough. We also thank all those in the Victoria who gave us their friendship and assistance. Our research team did a tremendous job and for this we thank Laura Cárdenas, Hernán Arias and Jeyson Sanabria for their considerable efforts and dedication. To cite this report Bayly, N.J. & Gomez, C. (2010) Birds of la Hacienda La Victoria. SELVA: Research for conservation in the Neotropics, Bogota. Technical report No. CEC01

4 Table 2: Complete list of the birds recorded in the Victoria during this study. In addition to the scientific and common names of each species, the table includes the number of individuals that were marked with uniquely numbered metal rings prior to being released. Scientific name Common name Ringed Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou Tigrisoma fasciatum Fasciated Tiger-Heron Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Coragyps atratus Black Vulture Sarcoramphus papa King Vulture Elanoides forficatus Swallow-tailed Kite Ictinia plumbea Plumbeous Kite Asturina nitida Gray-lined Hawk Buteo magnirostris Roadside Hawk Buteo leucorrhous White-rumped Hawk Buteo platypterus Broad-winged Hawk Buteo brachyurus Short-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus Zone-tailed Hawk Spizaetus ornatus Ornate Hawk-Eagle Oroaetus isidori Black-and-chestnut Eagle Micrastur ruficollis Barred Forest-Falcon 1 Micrastur semitorquatus Collared Forest-Falcon Falco columbarius Merlin Falco rufigularis Bat Falcon Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon Penelope argyrotis Band-tailed Guan Chamaepetes goudotii Sickle-winged Guan Odontophorus atrifrons Black-fronted Wood-Quail Patagioenas fasciata Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis Pale-vented Pigeon Claravis pretiosa Blue Ground-Dove 1 Leptotila verreauxi White-tipped Dove Geotrygon montana Ruddy Quail-Dove 1 Geotrygon linearis Lined Quail-Dove 2 Aratinga wagleri Scarlet-fronted Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis Orange-chinned Parakeet Touit batavicus Lilac-tailed Parrotlet Pionus sordidus Red-billed Parrot Coccyzus americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo Piaya cayana Squirrel Cuckoo 3 Crotophaga ani Smooth-billed Ani Tapera naevia Striped Cuckoo Streptoprocne zonaris White-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila Chestnut-collared Swift Panyptila cayennensis Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Glaucis hirsutus Rufous-breasted Hermit Phaethornis longirostris Western Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis striigularis Stripe-throated Hermit

5 Scientific name Common name Ringed Campylopterus falcatus Lazuline Sabrewing Florisuga mellivora White-necked Jacobin Colibri delphinae Brown Violetear Colibri thalassinus Green Violetear Colibri coruscans Sparkling Violetear Chlorostilbon russatus Coppery Emerald Thalurania colombica Purple-crowned Woodnymph Amazilia saucerrottei Steely-vented Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Chalybura buffonii White-vented Plumeleteer Anthocephala floriceps Blossomcrown Coeligena phalerata White-tailed Starfrontlet Heliomaster longirostris Long-billed Starthroat Chaetocercus astreans Santa Marta Woodstar Trogon personatus Masked Trogon 1 Trogon violaceus Violaceous Trogon 1 Malacoptila mystacalis Moustached Puffbird 1 Aulacorhynchus prasinus Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus calorhynchus Yellow-billed Toucanet Pteroglossus torquatus Collared Aracari Ramphastos sulfuratus Keel-billed Toucan 1 Picumnus squamulatus Scaled Piculet 16 Piculus rubiginosus Golden-olive Woodpecker 4 Dryocopus lineatus Lineated Woodpecker 2 Melanerpes rubricapillus Red-crowned Woodpecker 2 Campephilus melanoleucos Crimson-crested Woodpecker Dendrocincla fuliginosa Plain-brown Woodcreeper 6 Dendrocincla homochroa Ruddy Woodcreeper 3 Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans Cocoa Woodcreeper 6 Lepidocolaptes souleyetii Streak-headed Woodcreeper 1 Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger Montane Woodcreeper Synallaxis albescens Pale-breasted Spinetail 15 Synallaxis fuscorufa Rusty-headed Spinetail Cranioleuca hellmayri Streak-capped Spinetail 1 Anabacerthia striaticollis Montane Foliage-gleaner 5 Automolus rufipectus Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner 3 Xenops minutus Plain Xenops 3 Sclerurus albigularis Gray-throated Leaftosser Myrmotherula schisticolor Slaty Antwren Drymophila caudata Long-tailed Antbird 1 Grallaricula ferrugineipectus Rusty-breasted Antpitta 2 Scytalopus sanctaemartae Santa Marta Tapaculo Pipra erythrocephala Golden-headed Manakin 74 Manacus manacus White-bearded Manakin 38 Schiffornis turdina Thrush-like Schiffornis 4 Pipreola aureopectus Golden-breasted Fruiteater 1 Pachyramphus cinnamomeus Cinnamon Becard 3 Pachyramphus homochrous One-colored Becard 1 Tityra semifasciata Masked Tityra 2 Phyllomyias nigrocapillus Black-capped Tyrannulet 1 Zimmerius improbus Venezuelan Tyrannulet Zimmerius chrysops Golden-faced Tyrannulet 17 Elaenia flavogaster Yellow-bellied Elaenia 8 Elaenia chiriquensis Lesser Elaenia 1 Elaenia frantzii Mountain Elaenia 5 Mionectes olivaceus Olive-striped Flycatcher 82

6 Scientific name Common name Ringed Mionectes oleagineus Ochre-bellied Flycatcher 50 Leptopogon amaurocephalus Slaty-capped Flycatcher 1 Tolmomyias sulphurescens Yellow-olive Flycatcher 2 Tolmomyias flaviventris Yellow-breasted Flycatcher 1 Platyrinchus mystaceus White-throated Spadebill Onychorhynchus mexicanus Royal Flycatcher 1 Myiophobus fasciatus Bran-colored Flycatcher 4 Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus Cinnamon Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee 14 Contopus cinereus Tropical Pewee 2 Empidonax traillii Willow Flycatcher 1 Attila spadiceus Bright-rumped Attila 3 Myiarchus tuberculifer Dusky-capped Flycatcher 17 Megarynchus pitangua Boat-billed Flycatcher 5 Myiozetetes similis Social Flycatcher 1 Myiodynastes luteiventris Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher 1 Myiodynastes maculatus Streaked Flycatcher 3 Myiodynastes chrysocephalus Golden-crowned Flycatcher 4 Tyrannus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus Tropical Kingbird 5 Stelgidopteryx ruficollis Southern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Cyanocorax affinis Black-chested Jay 2 Campylorhynchus griseus Bicolored Wren Thryothorus rutilus Rufous-breasted Wren 10 Thryothorus rufalbus Rufous-and-white Wren 2 Thryothorus leucotis Buff-breasted Wren 1 Troglodytes aedon Southern House Wren 19 Henicorhina leucophrys Gray-breasted Wood-Wren 1 Microcerculus marginatus Southern Nightingale-Wren 4 Catharus aurantiirostris Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush 8 Catharus fuscescens Veery 54 Catharus minimus Gray-cheeked Thrush 309 Catharus ustulatus Swainson's Thrush 23 Turdus flavipes Yellow-legged Thrush 101 Turdus leucops Pale-eyed Thrush 1 Turdus olivater Black-hooded Thrush 9 Turdus leucomelas Pale-breasted Thrush 26 Turdus grayi Clay-colored Thrush 4 Turdus albicollis White-necked Thrush 60 Ramphocaenus melanurus Long-billed Gnatwren 8 Vireo flavifrons Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo 119 Vireo flavoviridis Yellow-green Vireo 251 Vireo leucophrys Brown-capped Vireo Molothrus bonariensis Shiny Cowbird 1 Molothrus oryzivorus Giant Cowbird Psarocolius decumanus Crested Oropendola 1 Icterus galbula Baltimore Oriole Icterus chrysater Yellow-backed Oriole 6 Mniotilta varia Black-and-white Warbler 4 Vermivora chrysoptera Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora peregrina Tennessee Warbler 128 Parula pitiayumi Tropical Parula Dendroica petechia aestiva Yellow Warbler Dendroica cerulea Cerulean Warbler

7 Scientific name Common name Ringed Dendroica fusca Blackburnian Warbler 91 Dendroica magnolia Magnolia Warbler Dendroica striata Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica castanea Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart 15 Seiurus noveboracensis Northern Waterthrush 5 Seiurus motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush 5 Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler Oporornis formosus Kentucky Warbler 3 Oporornis philadelphia Mourning Warbler 26 Wilsonia canadensis Canada Warbler 1 Myioborus miniatus Slate-throated Redstart 15 Basileuterus culicivorus Golden-crowned Warbler 10 Basileuterus conspicillatus White-lored Warbler 32 Basileuterus rufifrons Rufous-capped Warbler 33 Diglossa sittoides Rusty Flower-piercer 2 Cyanerpes caeruleus Purple Honeycreeper 9 Tersina viridis Swallow Tanager 32 Chlorophonia cyanea Blue-naped Chlorophonia 5 Euphonia laniirostris Thick-billed Euphonia 39 Tangara gyrola Bay-headed Tanager 83 Tangara heinei Black-capped Tanager 1 Tangara cyanoptera Black-headed Tanager 24 Thraupis episcopus Blue-gray Tanager 16 Thraupis palmarum Palm Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala Blue-capped Tanager Ramphocelus dimidiatus Crimson-backed Tanager 28 Piranga flava Hepatic Tanager 4 Piranga rubra Summer Tanager 12 Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager 14 Tachyphonus rufus White-lined Tanager 20 Tachyphonus luctuosus White-shouldered Tanager 4 Eucometis penicillata Gray-headed Tanager 16 Rhodinocichla rosea Rosy Thrush-Tanager 3 Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting 1 Saltator maximus Buff-throated Saltator 35 Saltator coerulescens Grayish Saltator Saltator striatipectus Streaked Saltator 20 Pheucticus ludovicianus Rose-breasted Grosbeak 53 Atlapetes melanocephalus Santa Marta Brush-Finch 11 Buarremon torquatus Stripe-headed Brush-finch 2 Arremonops conirostris Black-striped Sparrow 3 Arremon schlegeli Golden-winged Sparrow 12 Tiaris fuliginosus Sooty Grassquit 2 Tiaris obscurus Dull-colored Grassquit 76 Oryzoborus angolensis Lesser Seed-Finch 13 Oryzoborus funereus Thick-billed Seed-Finch 1 Sporophila nigricollis Yellow-bellied Seedeater 25 Volatinia jacarina Blue-black Grassquit 17 Haplospiza rustica Slaty Finch 1 Zonotrichia capensis Rufous-collared Sparrow 1 Carduelis psaltria Lesser Goldfinch 17 Total species 210 Total ringed 2426

8 Images Key: NT = near-threatened, M = migrant, R = resident Spizaetus ornatus R Dendroica fusca M Vermivora chrysoptera M NT Oporornis philadelphia M Heliomaster longirostris R Chaetocercus astreans Endemic Tangara gyrola R Oroaetus isidori R NT