RTPIOC Meeting – Long-tailed Manakin
Roger Tory Peterson Institute Ornithological Club – November 18, 2015 Birds on break, and other tropical discoveries… The weather is changing and many of our backyard birds have left. We all know that they ‘fly south’ and come back next spring, but have you ever wondered what they’re up to in the mean time? Join RTPI President Twan Leenders as he takes you on a journey to some of RTPI’s projects in Central America that focus on ‘our’ migratory birds and their wintering habitats. A few weeks ago, Twan was in Costa Rica to continue his research on critically endangered amphibians and to gather...
Read MoreLong-tailed Manakin Aging
Sean was at the end of his trip in Costa Rica and wanted to do a series of the maturation of the Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) as they take over four years to reach full mature plumage. The full set will have to wait until next year when he captures more stages of the age maturation, but until then we can enjoy this second year male. It has a red cap, black face mask, and long tail feathers. It will soon get more of its adult body plumage, including the blue back patch. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Costa...
Read MoreLong-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) Pair
We have showed you the exquisite male previously but here we have both the Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) male and a lovely female by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. He notes that you can see the interesting sexual dimorphism Manakins have. Most species congregate in a lek, where the males perform a dance for the female, after which she makes the nest and raises the chicks. Photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Costa Rica.
Read MoreLong-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis)
This adult male Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) felt like hanging out with RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser a little longer after he completed putting it through the banding process, sitting in his hand being friendly. You can see the band on its leg in the lower left and a calm, inquisitive look in its eyes.
Read MoreNicoya Peninsula Avian Research Station seeking volunteers
The Nicoya Peninsula Avian Research Station is seeking volunteer banding technicians for a winter project in northwestern Costa Rica. The research is aimed toward the study of molt and aging criteria in Costa Rican resident bird species, and collection of data from wintering Nearctic-Neotropical migrants for the Institute for Bird Populations’ MoSI Program. Winter participants will aid in the operation of four bird banding sites on the Nicoya Peninsula. These positions are opportunities for students, educators, amateur or professional ornithologists, and nature enthusiasts to visit one of...
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