Christmas Bird Count Event
Rainforest Adventures, both in Costa Rica Pacific and Atlantic coast, celebrate the holidays with the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. More than a hundred ornithologists, tour guides and bird enthusiasts explore the rainforest by foot and aerial tram to monitor populations, while also identifying species new to the area. The data helps illustrate the behavior of migrating species.
Bird Species Counting Tradition
The Christmas Bird Count is considered to be within the most important educational and scientific events of the Americas. It brings together bird watching aficionados to study habitats and stress the importance of preservation.
This event, organized by the Audubon Society, brings together about 50,000 birders in 2,000 spots in the Americas. This tradition dates back to 1900, when ornithologist Frank Chapman, called to end the shooting of birds that took place during the holidays. Mr. Chapman suggested that instead, the people should meet to count them. Thus began the Christmas Bird Count. Recognition goes to the circle with the most species of birds.
At Rainforest Adventures, bird populations find a sustainable habitat in which to stay, thanks to the species of plants that serve as food and shelter for the birds.
For 2008, 37 new species were reported at Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Pacific. The Brown Pelican was the most numerous species with more than 265 individuals. The park counted 310 overall bird species and 5,130 individuals.
The 111th Christmas Bird Count (Dec. 14, 2010 to Jan. 5, 2011) in Latin America, including Costa Rica, was an exceptional one, with the total number of counts submitted topping out at 51. In this season, there were counts in the Latin American region that had tallied over 300 species (where we got the 3rd place!); needless to say these were the highest species tallies of all counts during the 111th CBC:
Also in the 111th Christmas Bird Count, the most numerous species found at our park in the Pacific side is the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica): 1,689 barn swallows were counted by the bird watchers that participated in the event.
In the 113th (Dec. 2012 - Jan. 2013) CBC, our Pacific and Atlantic parks got the 3rd and 4th place (respectively) in the most species of birds counted south of the United States-Mexican border during these seasons. The 113th CBC top 10 tally of the bird counts in the said area are as follows:
- Yanayacu, Ecuador, surpassed Mindo-Tandayapa at the top of the list with 493 species
- Mindo-Tandayapa, Ecuador at 455
- Pacific Rainforest Aerial Tram, Costa Rica (our Pacific Park) at 387
- Rain Forest Aerial Tram, Costa Rica (our Atlantic Park) at 374
- Western Cloud Forest, Balsa, Costa Rica at 351
- La Selva, Lower Braulio Carillo N.P., Costa Rica at 348
- Los Bancos-Milpe, Ecuador at 332
- Chiles-Chical, Ecuador at 318
- Pacific Canal Area, Panama at 308
- Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica at 256
Bird Count Data at Costa Rica Pacific starting from 2007 (Year 108 of CBC)
Year 113 (2012)
Species Counted: 387
Individuals Counted: 9,210
Year 112 (2011)
Species Counted: 382
Individuals Counted: 11,103
Year 111 (2010)
Species Counted: 377
Individuals Counted: 12,835
Year 110 (2009)
Species Counted: 314
Individuals Counted: 5,002
New Species Counted: 18
Year 109 (2008)
Species Counted: 310
Individuals Counted: 5,130
New Species Counted: 37
Year 108 (2007)
Species Counted: 350
Individuals Counted: 7,953