The Birds of the Hacienda La Victoria, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

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, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 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 900 m and 1800 m above sea level. During twelve months of fieldwork between 2009 and 2013, 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: 263 species of birds recorded 9 species endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 9 species at risk of extinction 49 species of Neotropical migrants 168 species of birds recorded in shade coffee plantations At least 4 migratory species store enough energy in the Victoria to fuel a direct flight to North America, crossing the Caribbean Sea and flying approximately 2500 km 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 & 2010 and March to May 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 Methods: Captures with mist nets (>10,000 mist net hours) and systematic observations on transects (>200 Km) Habitats surveyed: Pre-montane tropical forest and shade coffee plantations Birds captured: 9268 captures (up to 2012) Birds observed: 8331 individuals (up to 2012)

2 Discussion: putting the results in context The 263 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 9 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 is just one endemic species. Further, given that the Victoria also hosts 9 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. The Victoria forms part of a larger area of forested habitats and the survival of these species is dependent on land-use strategies compatible with conservation being practiced throughout the San Lorenzo region. A similar number of species were recorded within forested habitats (169 species) as in shade-grown coffee plantations (168 species) and it is clear that the shade coffee plantations play an important role for birds. However, five 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 49 species of migratory birds, including three priority species which have shown 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 Box 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 Aburria aburri Wattled Guan 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* Drymophila helmayri Santa Marta Antibird 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* Arremon basilicus Sierra Nevada 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.

3 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. Box 2: Gray-cheeked Thrush Preparations to cross the Caribbean One of the most striking examples of how a migratory bird uses La Victoria is the example of the Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) during spring migration. From the second week of April thousands of Gray-cheeked Thrushes begin arriving from their wintering grounds in the Amazon to feast on fruits in the forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Individuals marked with uniquely numbered rings and subsequently recaptured show large increase in body mass that equate to the storage of large deposits of fat. Indeed, the energy stored as fat in the Victoria is sufficient to fly over 2500 km across the Caribbean to North America. In the graph below it is possible to see how individual birds increase their body mass above 41 g: the body mass required to complete the flight across the Caribbean. Unlike other species, these thrushes appear to only use forested habitats and highlight the importance of the forest in the Victoria as being one of the sites that make these incredible migratory journeys possible. Increase in body mass in individual Gray-cheeked Thrushes during spring migration in the La Victoria.

4 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*) including species that produce fruit consumed by birds. * 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, Jeyson Sanabria and Valentina Gomez for their considerable efforts and dedication. To cite this report Bayly, N.J. & Gomez, C. (2013) Birds of la Hacienda La Victoria, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. SELVA: Research for conservation in the Neotropics, Bogota. Technical report No. CEC01 Edition 4.

5 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 and the number of individuals observed to give an idea of the relative abundance of each species (includes up to 2012). Migratory (M) and endemic species are indicated in the status column. Common Name Scientific Name Observed Ringed Status Gray Tinamou Tinamus tao 2 Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui 16 Fasciated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum 3 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 21 Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 23 King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 5 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 1 M Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus 1 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus 17 Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea 8 1 Plain-breasted Hawk Accipiter striatus 2 4 Solitary Eagle Harpyhaliaetus solitarius 1 NT Gray-lined Hawk Asturina nitida 5 Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 2 White-rumped Hawk Buteo leucorrhous 1 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 13 1 M Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 2 Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus 2 Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2 Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1 Black-and-chestnut Eagle Oroaetus isidori 2 Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 1 Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 4 Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 3 Merlin Falco columbarius 3 M Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 2 Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis 1 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 M Band-tailed Guan Penelope argyrotis 39 Wattled Guan Aburria aburri 4 Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii 2 Black-fronted Wood-Quail Odontophorus atrifrons 26 Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 23 Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa 22 1 Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis 4 Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa 4 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 11 5 Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 3 Lined Quail-Dove Geotrygon linearis 28 4 Military Macaw Ara militaris 16 Scarlet-fronted Parakeet Aratinga wagleri 276 Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 25 1

6 Common Name Scientific Name Observed Ringed Status Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 24 1 Lilac-tailed Parrotlet Touit batavicus 38 Red-billed Parrot Pionus sordidus 145 Scaly-naped Parrot Amazona mercenaria 16 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus 6 3 M Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 6 6 Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani 16 2 Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia 2 Tropical Screech-Owl Megascops choliba 2 Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 2 Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 41 M Rufous Nightjar Caprimulgus rufus 2 White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 17 Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 64 Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris 1 Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis 2 Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsutus 4 Western Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis 13 2 Lazuline Sabrewing Campylopterus falcatus 6 White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora 6 Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae 3 Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans 3 Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus 2 Coppery Emerald Chlorostilbon russatus 5 19 Purple-crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica White-chinned Sapphire Hylocharis cyanus 3 Steely-vented Hummingbird Amazilia saucerrottei Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl 3 4 White-vented Plumeleteer Chalybura buffonii 4 41 Blossomcrown Anthocephala floriceps 12 White-tailed Starfrontlet Coeligena phalerata 1 EN Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 4 Santa Marta Woodstar Chaetocercus astreans 2 10 EN White-tipped Quetzal Pharomachrus fulgidus 1 Masked Trogon Trogon personatus 2 1 Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 6 3 Whooping Motmot Momotus sulphurescens 7 Moustached Puffbird Malacoptila mystacalis 4 7 Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 4 Yellow-billed Toucanet Aulacorhynchus calorhynchus 22 Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 3 4 Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus 84 2 Scaled Piculet Picumnus squamulatus 3 47 Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus 24 9 Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 13 2 Red-crowned Woodpecker Melanerpes rubricapillus 16 6 Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos 7 1 Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa 7 80 Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 2 27 Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes 3 promeropirhynchus Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii 4 6 Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger 9 Pale-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albescens 35 66

7 Common Name Scientific Name Observed Ringed Status Rusty-headed Spinetail Synallaxis fuscorufa 3 EN Streak-capped Spinetail Cranioleuca hellmayri 5 5 Montane Foliage-Gleaner Anabacerthia striaticollis Santa Marta Foliage-Gleaner Automolus rufipectus EN Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans 1 Plain Xenops Xenops minutus 7 21 Gray-throated Leafscraper Sclerurus albigularis 4 2 Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 2 Western Slaty Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha 1 1 Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor 9 6 Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis 1 Rusty-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula ferrugineipectus Santa Marta Tapaculo Scytalopus sanctaemartae 57 EN Santa Marta Antbird Drymophila helmayri 14 4 EN Golden-headed Manakin Pipra erythrocephala White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus Thrush-like Schiffornis Schiffornis turdina 12 Golden-breasted Fruiteater Pipreola aureopectus 15 1 Cinnamon Becard Pachyramphus cinnamomeus 10 One-colored Becard Pachyramphus homochrous 2 Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor 1 Sooty-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias griseiceps 2 Venezuelan Tyrannulet Zimmerius improbus Golden-faced Tyrannulet Zimmerius chrysops Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum 2 Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 5 19 Small-billed Elaenia Elaenia parvirostris 2 Lesser Elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis 3 Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii 26 8 Olive-striped Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus 5 Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant Atalotriccus pilaris 7 2 Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer 1 Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 8 Yellow-breasted Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris 1 White-throated Spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus 2 1 Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus mexicanus 1 4 Bran-colored Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus 11 Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus 34 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 36 M Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens M Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 1 5 Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens 2 2 M Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 3 M Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 4 2 Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus 13 7 Great-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 2 M Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis 1 Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 8 2 Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Myiodynastes luteiventris 3 4 M Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus 15 8 Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus 29 9 Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius 9

8 Common Name Scientific Name Observed Ringed Status Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana 1 Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus 6 M Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 18 7 Pygochelidon cyanoleuca Blue-and-white Swallow Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis 1 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1 M Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 10 M Black-chested Jay Cyanocorax affinis White-capped Dipper Cinclus leucocephalus 2 Bicolored Wren Campylorhynchus griseus 17 1 Rufous-breasted Wren Thryothorus rutilus Rufous-and-white Wren Thryothorus rufalbus Southern House Wren Troglodytes aedon Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys Southern Nightingale-Wren Microcerculus marginatus Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 1 M Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus fuscater 1 Veery Catharus fuscescens 7 81 M Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus M Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus M Yellow-legged Thrush Turdus flavipes Pale-eyed Thrush Turdus leucops 4 Black-hooded Thrush Turdus olivater Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 4 White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 9 20 Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 1 M Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus 1 M Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus 1 Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus M Yellow-green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis M Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 41 2 Golden-fronted Greenlet Hylophilus aurantiifrons 4 Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis 2 Giant Cowbird Molothrus oryzivorus 11 Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 4 M Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia M Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera 8 1 M Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina M Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi 28 Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia aestiva 7 1 M Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica 1 1 M Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea 2 1 M Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens 1 M Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 2 M Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca M Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 1 M Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata 4 M Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea 2 7 M American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla M Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 25 8 M Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla M Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea 4 M

9 Common Name Scientific Name Observed Ringed Status Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 1 M Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus 1 6 M Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia M Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis 5 M Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus White-lored Warbler Basileuterus conspicillatus EN Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons Bananaquit Coereba flaveola 2 White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera 3 Rusty Flowerpiercer Diglossa sittoides 9 23 Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus 7 26 Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 1 Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis Blue-naped Chlorophonia Chlorophonia cyanea Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia cyanocephala 2 Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola Black-capped Tanager Tangara heinei 62 1 Black-headed Tanager Tangara cyanoptera Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum 1 Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala 2 Crimson-backed Tanager Ramphocelus dimidiatus Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava 5 11 Summer Tanager Piranga rubra M Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea M White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus White-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus luctuosus 1 5 Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata 9 78 Rosy Thrush-Tanager Rhodinocichla rosea 5 5 Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 3 7 M Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanocompsa cyanoides 2 2 Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea 1 M Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 2 Streaked Saltator Saltator striatipectus Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus M Santa Marta Brush-Finch Atlapetes melanocephalus EN Sierra Nevada Brush-finch Arremon basilicus EN Black-striped Sparrow Arremonops conirostris 10 7 Golden-winged Sparrow Arremon schlegeli Sooty Grassquit Tiaris fuliginosus 5 Dull-colored Grassquit Tiaris obscurus Thick-billed Seed-finch Oryzoborus funereus 3 41 Oryzoborus crassirostris Large-billed Seed-finch 2 Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 3 47 Slaty Finch Haplospiza rustica 1 Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 4 1 Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria 29 54

10 Images Key: NT = near-threatened Ornate Hawk-Eagle - Resident Blackburnian Warbler - Migrant Golden-winged Warbler - Migrant NT Mourning Warbler - Migrant Bay-headed Tanager - Resident Santa Marta Woodstar - Endemic Long-billed Starthroat - Resident Santa Marta Antbird - Endemic