Citizen Science: Christmas Bird Counts in Guatemala

CBC Atitlan Volcano 2008

The second edition of the Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 14 December 2008. A total of 48 observers counted birds in the private nature reserves Los Andes, Los Tarrales, San Jerónimo Miramar, Santo Tomás Perdido, Santa Teresa, and Pachuj, and in the Santiago and Tolimán bays of lake Atitlán. In this count several local guides, children and teenagers participated, improving their birding skills. Weather conditions were favorable; the night was clear and the day was sunny. Heavy rain holded back until the late afternoon allowing the groups to count until sunset.

A total of 3590 birds of 229 species was recorded. In addition, five more species were recorded during the count week. Only three species were recorded by each of the nine birding groups: Black Vulture, Yellow-winged Tanager, and Baltimore Oriole. A total of 116 species was recorded by only one or two of the nine birding groups, indicating a high percentage of "rare" species in the bird communities within  the count circle.

The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count were American Coot (449 individuals), Pacific Parakeet (189), Tennessee Warbler (151), Great-tailed Grackle (132), Red-legged Honeycreeper (117), White-collared Swift (112), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (77), Wilson's Warbler (74), White-throated Swift (70), Vaux's Swift (69), Orange-chinned Parakeet (64), and Yellow-winged Tanager (51). The most abundant Nearctic-Neotropical migratory species was Tennessee Warbler, followed by Wilson's and Townsend's Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, and Black-and-White Warbler.

Illustrated report and list of recorded bird species - CBC Atitlan Volcano 2008

CBC Tikal 2008

The third edition of the Christmas Bird Count in the Tikal National Park took place on 19 December 2008. Among the 42 participants were several birdwatching novices, showing that Christmas Bird Counts help the Guatemalan birding community to grow. Some participants were local guides who improved their knowledge on the avifauna in the Mayan World with the help of the more experienced observers. Weather conditions were favorable. Three species of owls could be recorded in the rainless night. At dawn the rain caused a pretty low activity, but later the weather improved considerably.

A total of 2700 birds of 193 species was recorded (22 species more than in 2007). In addition, 17 species more were recorded during the count week. Each group recorded between 87 and 97 species. Thirteen species were recorded by each of the eight birding groups: Keel-billed Toucan, Black-headed Trogon, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Bright-rumped Attila, Brown Jay, Spot-breasted Wren, Wood Thrush, Black-and-White Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Summer Tanager, Montezuma Oropendula, and Black-cowled Oriole. A total of 75 species was recorded by only one or two of the eight birding groups, indicating a high percentage of "rare" species in the bird community of the Tikal forest. An increasing number of observers during the Christmas Bird Counts will lead to an increased number of detected species. Over 400 bird species have been recorded in the northern Petén.

The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count were Montezuma Oropendula (358 birds), Wood Thrush (78), Magnolia Warbler (78), Brown Jay (73), Vaux's Swift (66), Ocellated Turkey (63), Collared Aracari (56), Lesser Greenlet (56), Gray Catbird (52), and Keel-billed Toucan (50).

Illustrated report and list of recorded bird species - CBC Tikal 2008