The second Christmas Bird Count organized by MLR Forestal will be held on December 14th

MLR Forestry’s first participation in the Christmas Bird Count in 2022 was a success: 59 species were listed . In addition, it was possible to collect useful information to propose new conservation strategies such as the use of habitats of these species, their feeding habits and activity. Now the company is getting ready to participate again in the event, this December 14. These efforts have contributed to an increase in the number of species, which now stands at 299. This is the first bird research program in the entire Northern Caribbean, and generates valuable information.

The Christmas Bird Count focuses on citizen science, is conducted throughout the Western Hemisphere and involves tens of thousands of volunteers. This year at MLR Forestal it will be held at the Mutiwás, Danlí, Waspado and Las Delicias farms.

According to the website of Audubon , a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to nature conservation and promoting the count, this is one of the oldest wildlife censuses in the world. Each individual count takes place on a 24-kilometer-wide (15-mile) perimeter and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and sending observations directly to Audubon.

Within each perimeter, participants count all the birds they see or hear that day, not just the species, but also the total number to get a clear picture of the health of that particular population. Audubon officially recognized in 2022 the perimeter or circle Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, RACCN, Nicaragua as the site coordinated by MLR Forestal and the first in the region.

MLR Forestal and its determined focus on birds

MLR Forestal is not only a home and refuge for birds, but it is also a company committed to their protection and environmental education. The greatest example of this commitment is that in June 2021 it launched a catalog with high-quality photos of 141 of the 250 birds identified so far on its farms and plantations. This material is available digitally free of charge .

Likewise, MLR Forestal has participated in birding events such as the Global Big Day and the October Big Day organized by Cornell University. In the same way, this year the first Winter Survival Monitoring Station (MoSI) in the North Caribbean was inaugurated .

Origin of the Christmas Bird Count

The CBC was born as an alternative to the existing tradition in the United States and Canada. In these countries, before the beginning of the 20th century, hunters participated in a Christmas activity known as “side hunting.” This consisted of them choosing a side and going out into the field with their weapons: the one who hunted the most prey won.

According to Audubon’s website, conservation was in its infancy at the time, and many observers and scientists were beginning to worry about declining bird populations.

At Christmas 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, one of the first members of the nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new tradition: the “Christmas Bird Census.” This consisted of counting the birds during the festivities instead of hunting them.