Cocobolo Nature Reserve Education
Our tropical field season is coming to an end and, even though it is snowing outside in Jamestown right now, we are gearing up for field work here. The latest findings from our work in Panama and Costa Rica will be revealed soon as we work through data. but I can tell you already that there is all sorts of exciting news to report on. In the mean time, I wanted to share this picture, taken by Laurie Doss, during a February trip to Cocobolo Nature Reserve with students and staff of the Marvelwood School in Connecticut. Not only were the students actively involved in monitoring and banding...
Read MoreAcadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
Similar to the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) seen here is another species on the rise in terms of banding captures, possibly because it prefers young secondary forest as wintering habitat. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Panama while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreSnowy-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia edward)
This is an appropriately named tropical hummingbird for what we have seen in the Northeast in the past several weeks: the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia edward). This species was captured infrequently during the early years of banding at the Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama. The Rufous Hummingbird, another Amazilia species, was the most commonly caught hummingbird. Things have changed in the past few seasons, and the Snowy-bellied is the most commonly captured Amazilia at Cocobolo. Sean suspects the main reason for this shift is the maturation of the forest where banding takes place....
Read MoreWestern Slaty-Antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha)
According to Sean, the Western Slaty-Antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha) is one of the most well studied birds in Panama, due to their inquisitive nature and temperamental attitudes. A male and female usually form a tight bond and forage together. Sometimes they will join up with other antbirds in feeding flocks. They can be found in a wide variety of secondary and primary forest habitat types. They also have one of the most dynamic breeding seasons as it can last the entire year with small clutch sizes, extended post-fledging parental care, and delayed dispersal. Photographed by RTPI...
Read MoreCrimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus)
The Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus), or as the Panamanians call it “sangre de toro” (blood of the bull), is a beautiful species found in a wide variety of habitat through out Central America. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Panama while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
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