37 New Species of birds found in Costa Rica

by crv.staff
11.08.09
10:24 AM UTC

Filed in Costa Rica

According to data gathered by the Audubon Society, there are 37 new species of birds on the Costa Rican Pacific. This new information was revealed thanks to the Bird Count that took place in December 2008. Additionally, 7 new species of birds were discovered on the Atlantic side, a sector which hasn’t been studied for years.

This study, which took place in the Atlantic and Pacific Rainforest Sky Trams, brought together more than 100 individuals comprising ornithologists, tour guides, and bird watchers in general, to monitor the status and distribution of the populations and to learn more about the behavior of migrating species.

According to results of the bird count made on the Atlantic, the most sighted bird was the golondrón by 354 individuals, while the poll on the Pacific side revealed that the most numerous species was the Alcatraz or Brown Pelican with 265 sightings.

Likewise, the Atlantic Rainforest Sky Tram registered a total of 397 species and 9,211 birds overall, while the Pacific side counted 310 species and 5,130 individual birds.

The Bird Count is one of the most important events worldwide in the educational and scientific world in the Americas, since it brings together animal lovers who share the same value in conserving the various habitats used by these birds, especially in the rainforests.

This event, which is organized annually by the Audubon Society, brings together around 50,000 bird watchers at 2,000 sites around the American Continent. This tradition dates back to 1900 when it was founded by Frank Chapman, who called for the end of the massacre of birds that took place during the Christmas holidays.

He suggested that instead of gathering together and killing the birds, they should count them instead. Thus began the Christmas count.

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