Migration Partners: Visiting Uyuca Biological Reserve with AvesHonduras Leaders

Migration Partners committee chair Wilmer Fernandez in the Uyuca Biological Reserve Photo credit: Wilmer Fernandez

While traveling in Honduras to visit family at the end of October, I had a chance to take a quick detour and head toward the Zamorano region. I met AvesHonduras President Dr Oliver Komar, and Zamorano's Center for Biodiversity researchers Roselvy Juarez and Jonh van Dort at the Uyuca Biological Reserve, the site of the MoSI (Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal/Monitoring Overwinter Survival) station that ACM supports through your donations.

Roselvy, Oliver, and van Dort form the core team leading the banding/reporting activities (called "pulse") that are starting the week of November 22nd. MoSI protocols require at least 5 month period of monitoring , but AvesHonduras conducts continuous monitoring throughout the year. Monitoring efforts will provide important data needed to better understand the status of several migratory and regional bird species at the site. These data will also guide future habitat conservation efforts in the important Uyuca mountain. The Uyucan Biological Reserve provides great habitat for a number of migratory bird species; Minnesota and the region shared more than 50 bird species. The Uyuca site also is a key source of water for many communities that live in the area.

The MoSI station activities will provide new opportunities to increase local capacity for future certified banders/researchers and to engage community members in birding and conservation efforts. Our Minneapolis chapter support will allow the team to hire an intern to work along certified banders Roservy and John.

The main cabin site at Uyuca Biological Reserve Photo credit: Wilmer Fernandez

We appreciate the support from all ACM members to the Migratory Partners program. If you know of anyone that is interested in joining our Migration Partners Committee please refer them to our website or contact Migration Partners committee chair Wilmer Fernandez (wilmerfer@hotmail.com). ACM is looking to partner with other organizations to maintain and grow support for AvesHonduras; we will be presenting the Migration Partners committee’s efforts to the Minnesota Ornithology Union (MOU) members this coming December during the MOU Paper Sessions.

Wilmer Fernandez is an Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis board member and chairs the Migration Partners committee.