72 Bird Species observed at MLR Forestal on October Big Day

MLR Forestal celebrated World Migratory Bird Day in the best possible way: by observing and counting the bird species during October Big Day. This activity, along with the Global Big Day, which takes place in May each year, are an initiative of Cornell University. Birding takes place at a certain point, where information is collected to help monitor bird populations globally. This year it was held on October 14.

“At MLR Forestal we started the work by doing outreach in the schools in the area. We worked with 30 high school students from the ecological brigade of the Flor de Pino School in Empalme La Bú and with 16 elementary school students from the San Francisco de Asís School in the San Miguel community. People already know that in the company we are dedicated to conservation, but it is important to continue promoting it, mainly in schools,” explained Róger Mendieta, head of Biodiversity at MLR Forestal.

On Saturday, October 14, starting at six o’clock in the morning, Mendieta toured the Mutiwas, Danlí, Waspado and Las Delicias farms. These tours were carried out in both cultivated areas and conservation areas as well. “The mission is to write down everything you see and hear that has to do with birds. We generate four lists, one for each farm toured,” the biologist explained.

The 72 species of birds observed are a sign of the diversity of MLR Forest’s ecosystems

In the course of the day, Mendieta was surprised by a scene he saw in an internal wetland on the Waspado property. It was a white heron feeding on the chick of a jacana, another waterfowl. The specialist pointed out that this is normal and is called “ecological balance”, that is, when one species feeds on another, “however I had never seen it in this type of bird.”

At four o’clock in the afternoon, the observation period on the farms ended. The result was 72 species listed, a number, according to Mendieta, “very good” because “on the farms there are several ecosystems: forests, cultivation areas, wetlands and that is why the diversity is greater.”

The next task was to enter the data into the eBird platform. This is a website and biological database of observations used by scientists, researchers, and amateur naturalists globally.

From November, MLR Forestal will be part of the MoSI program

Following the line of the study of birds, this year MLR Forestal will be part of the Winter Survival Monitoring (MoSI) program of The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP). The Institute for Bird Populations is a non-profit organization located in Petaluma, California. This organization is dedicated to studying and monitoring migratory bird populations.

Collaborating with MoSI means that there will be a migratory bird monitoring station on the grounds of MLR Forest. Mendieta affirms that the fact that the company has such a station implies the projection of the company internationally as a cooperator of the initiative.