The aquatic avifauna of Tortuguero:

the findings of GVI Costa Rica, 2007-2009

Richard Bull1, Stephanny Arroyo Arce1, David Jones1 and Rebeca Chaverri1
1Global Vision International Costa Rica, Apartado Postal 78-7209, Cariari de Pococí, Limón, Costa Rica.

Email: costarica@gvi.co.uk

Costa Rican Birds and Wetland Ecology

Mesoamerica is an important hotspot for biological diversity (Myers et. al., 2000). With over 800 species of avifauna alone, Costa Results &
Rica is immensely rich in nature; one of the reasons being the varied landscapes and habitats formed by the vast geographical
diversity over an area little more than 51,000km2 (Stiles & Skutch, 1989). However, growing concerns about the status of birds in Discussion
the rainforests of Costa Rica have lead to the establishment of long-term monitoring programmes.
• Between January 2007 and August 2009, 697 hours
Tortuguero National Park is situated on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, 80km north of Limon, the capital of the province.
and 3 minutes or 29 days 1 hour and 3 minutes of
It was created in 1975 and spans 261 km2 on land and 501 km2 of the Caribbean Sea. The aquatic environment is of major
surveying have been conducted over three canals.
importance to tourism in this area. However, relatively little consistent work has been conducted on the avifauna species that
utilise the area. GVI Costa Rica’s Aquatic Avifauna Monitoring Program (AAMP) is the first long-term study of its kind, • Of the study species, only the least bittern, neotropical
completing almost 700 hours of canal based surveys between 2007 and August 2009 to quantify information about the aquatic cormorant and reddish egret have not been recorded
bird species that live and breed around Tortuguero National Park. on any survey.
• The average number of species recorded per month
is 17, with a range of between 11 and 22 (Fig 1).
Program Overview • The information presented by month (Fig. 1.) illustrates
that fewer studies species are recorded between June
Why use birds? investigation to understand the pressures Surveys are led by an experienced and September – which reflects the expected migratory
both locally and internationally. researcher together with volunteers who pattern of many of the North American species.
Birds are:
The 30 studies species were selected for receive extensive training and testing prior • Figure 2 shows a large abundance of a wide range of
• highly mobile; to participation. Investigations commence study species across family groups, habitat and dietary
interest in the species themselves, but also
• relatively conspicuous and easily at dawn, with four to six people, with only preference.
as indicators for the habitat and species
surveyed; diversity of the area. These include shal- the survey leader paddling the canoe at • Figure 2 also shows an abundance of both migratory
approximately 2km per hour. This leaves and resident bird species.
• adapted to and dependant upon a low fresh or salt water; puddles and pools;
marshes, aquatic border areas, waterborne the other participants free to search for • With the information now collected it is possible to
range of habitats;
birds. All records are verified by the survey begin to analyse the basic seasonal trends for the aquatic
• sensitive to nutrient and sediment loads, flora, such as lilies and hyacinths, sedges,
leader, with only positive identifications avifauna utilising the Tortuguero area and examine pre-
wetland quality and connectivity, water tall grasses and emergent vegetation; fast liminary indications of those trends over time.
flowing or sluggish streams and woodland counted. Data on the species, number of
depth, pollution and productivity. • This information should be investigated further for
areas. Diets range from crustaceans and fish, individuals, method of identification (seen,
early indications of annual changes in migration patterns,
to amphibian and reptile species; fruits, heard or both), together with canal transect
Birds have long been used as biodi- which could be an early indication of changes locally or
berries and seeds to insects and even small section are recorded for each encounter. internationally.
versity, environmental and ecological
indicators. Presence/absence data over mammals. • With over 7000 records to date it will be now
time can reflect the cumulative impact of 22
possible to supply case study information on spatial and
temporal distribution of the study species and begin
multiple stresses to the environment scales 20

18 to investigate, by proxy, preliminary indications of the

(Noson, 2004). 16 health and management of the wider area.
The GVI Costa Rica AAMP began in July 14
• Variations in abundance of both species and individu-
2005 as a study of all avifauna in the area. 12
als should be investigated further for changes through
Number of
time and compared with known stressors present in the
10
Modifications from the original protocol species
8

created by Steven Furino of Waterloo Uni- 6

area – particularly in relation to tourism activities and
the management of the area.
versity, Canada now enable data collectors 4

with minimal field experience to collect 2 • Boat and visitor numbers for the National Park canals
0 collected and managed by the Costa Rican Ministry
high quality data. The protocol has worked Jan
in its present form since January 2007.
The program targets resident and
migratory aquatic avifauna, surveyed along 0 200 400 600 800
three canal transects, and aims to deter- Egretta caerulea
mine presence/absence, abundance and Tigrisoma mexicanum
Butorides virescens
temporal distribution of the study species. Mesembrinibis cayennensis
Chloroceryle americana
Incidental data are also collected for Foretta thula
breeding plumage and nesting activity. Jacana spinosa
Anhinga anhinga
These baseline data increases knowledge Nyctanassa violacea
of the study species utilization of the area Ceryle torquatus
Rubulcus ibis
and highlights data gaps requiring further Ardea alba
Chloroceryle amazona
Chloroceryle inda
Heliornis fulica
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
month of Environment (MINAET) should be analysed in
Figure 1. Number of species seen per month in the study area 2007 2008 2009 conjunction with these data.
Results only available to the end of August 2009
• It would be expected that differences in tourist
Number of individuals
1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
activity between the study sites would be reflected in
the species distribution and abundance. Results from
these observations can then be used to help inform Tor-
tuguero National Park and Barra del Colorado Wildlife
Refuge on the management of tourism in these areas.
• Information will be compiled and analysed after
the completion of the third year of data collection to
these ends. Information into the tourism of the area is
Figure 2. Total number of birds seen in the study area*
between January 2007 and August 2009 presented in Ecotourism overflow: local implications of
restrictive conservation management by Durose, Jones
and Chaverri. All GVI Costa Rica data is available to
parties interested in further exploring these or other
areas of interest.
* Count of species seen fewer than 100 times.

Author Contacts: Chloroceryle aenea

Cochlearius cochlearius
92
90
Ardea herodias
Egretta tricolor
13
10
Aramus guarauna
Eurypyga helias
2
2

GVI Costa Rica

Aramides cajanea 45 Agamia agami 5 Phalacrocorax brasilianus 0
Ceryle alcyon 27 Porphyrio martinica 5 Ixobrychus exilis 0 References
Tigrisoma lineatum 18 Laterallus albigularis 5 Egretta rufescens 0
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A.B. &
costarica@gvi.co.uk Kent, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature,
The GVI Costa Rica Aquatic Avifauna Monitoring Programme is carried 403: 853-858
out in partnership with Steven Furino of Waterloo University and the Noson, A. (2004) Assessing wetland bird Communities. University of
Costa Rican Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET). Montana. Retrieved October 22, 2009 from http://www.deq.state.mt.us/
wqinfo/Wetlands/Birds_%202004.pdf
Stiles, F.G. & Skutch, A.F. (1989). A guide to the birds of Costa Rica.
GVI Costa Rica wish to thank all the staff and volunteers who have contributed in the collection of data. Comstock Publishing Associates.
Poster design: Theropod Design www.theropoddesign.co.uk
MINAET