Bird Monitoring

More than 100 bird species, with combined populations of more than a billion individuals, migrate through Panama during their travels between North and South America every year.

Unfortunately, many of these species have declined dramatically in recent years due to habitat loss and degradation. This is worrying both because these birds provide important ecosystem services (such as pest control and seed dispersal) and because their declines may also mirror declines of other, less visible groups such as insects or amphibians.

Migratory birds are well-studied where they breed but we know little about their lives during migration – even though this is when the majority of their deaths occur. Through bird counts, catch-and-release programs, and strategic partnerships, we are working to improve our understanding of how these birds use habitats in Panama while traveling through or overwintering.

Our monitoring efforts are closely tied with many of our other projects, which aim to improve the quality of habitats and health of ecosystems throughout Panama. Explore this page for more information or contact us if you are interested in getting involved.

Migration

Some birds fly thousands of miles between North and South America every year, but why do they fly so far and how do they avoid getting lost?

Migration

Some birds fly thousands of miles between North and South America every year – but why do they make such a long journey, and how do they avoid getting lost?

Citizen Science Events

Get involved by helping count birds for these projects!

Global Big Day

Join this annual celebration of birds worldwide by observing as many species as possible in a single day!

National Bird Count

An excellent opportunity for everyone to participate in science by observing as many birds as possible throughout Panama.

Panama Biodiversa

A citizen science event which aims to observe and identify as much of Panama's incredible diversity as possible.

Global Big Day

Join this annual celebration of birds worldwide by observing as many species as possible in a single day!

National Bird Count

An excellent opportunity for everyone to participate in science by observing as many birds as possible throughout Panama.

Panama Biodiversa

A citizen science event which aims to observe and identify as much of Panama's incredible diversity as possible.

You can help!

Neotropical migratory birds are exposed to many dangers as they travel, but their movement also provides a unique opportunity for every community in the Americas to help them survive!

You can help!

Neotropical migratory birds are exposed to many dangers as they travel, but their movement also provides a unique opportunity for every community in the Americas to help them survive!

Neotropical Flyways Project

We are proud to partner with SELVA and other organizations in Central and South America to fill critical gaps in our knowledge by identifying migration routes, key stopover sites, and the relative quality of different habitats.

Neotropical Flyways Project

We are proud to partner with SELVA and other organizations in Central and South America to fill critical gaps in our knowledge by identifying migration routes, key stopover sites, and the relative quality of different habitats.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the kind support of Ing. César Romero of BocasRidge Hotel & Residences, who are the sponsors of the new HawkWatch site in Bocas del Toro, and specialist Karl Bardon, who started the monitoring there.

Additionally, we have to recognize the hard work of every staff member, volunteer, student, and intern who have worked on these projects to improve our understanding of the amazing species that migrate through Panama.

¡Muchísimas Gracias!

¡Muchísimas Gracias!