Migration Partners Update from Honduras

Hooded warbler Photo: Wilmer Fernandez

Oliver Komar, President of Honduran Ornithology Association (ASHO) reports a challenging situation in Honduras due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Honduras health system has been tested to the limit and there are currently mobility restrictions in several important regions of the country. However, birding club members in Honduras have managed to do some field trips with limited group sizes, less than 5–10 in some cases.

Zamorano University, where Oliver teaches, has suffered a severe outbreak in mid-January 2021—currently all outdoor activities on campus for large groups are cancelled. At this time, the launch of activities for the monitoring overwinter survival (MoSi) station at the Uyuca Biological Reserve is delayed until later in the year. 

Despite pandemic-related limitations, some activities planned by the 13 ASHO-sponsored birding clubs in the country have gone forward with a very small number of participants. The Chlorophonia Birding Club was able to conduct their annual count of Snail kites around Yojoa Lake. During the count, club members observed a number of migratory waterfowl, such as Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, and American Coot. The Lake Yojoa basin provides important habitat for the survival of Snail Kites.

Another highlight from our Honduran partner is the recent recognition of Roselvy Juarez, a biologist/researcher at the Zamorano Biodiversity Center and one of the collaborators to our MoSi station efforts. Her recent publication “House Wrens Troglodytes aedon reduce repertoire size and change song element frequencies in response to anthropogenic noise” in the International Journal of Avian Science (IBIS) was nominated for the British Ornithological Union Science Communications Award.  

We are grateful to our members for their support to this important partnership.

If you want to learn more about ACM Migration Partners program please reach out to Wilmer Fernandez (wilmerfer@hotmail.com )

Wilmer Fernandez is an Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis board member.