Creation of the Cerulean Warbler Reserve for the Protection of Wintering Cerulean Warblers and Gorgeted Wood-Quail

Region:	Serranía de las Yariguies, Municipality of San Vicente, Santander department, Colombia
Partner:	Fundación ProAves
Initiation:	January 2005

Photo: Fundacion ProAves

These habitats are disappearing because of conversion of forest to pastures and the conversion from shade coffee to sun coffee. (Coffee is usually grown in the shade of other trees, which produces a diverse bird-friendly habitat, but some is also grown on its own directly in the sun in a single-species orchard that is less useful for wildlife.)

Biodiversity surveys in the inter-montane Andean valleys across Colombia by our partners have identified an area many Cerulean Warblers and other Neotropical migrants occur in winter (such as the WatchList species Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus borealis), Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis), and Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), that is home as well to range-restricted and threatened resident bird species such as the Critically Endangered Gorgeted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus strophium), a species which qualifies the area as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site. The Critically Endangered Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia castaneiventris) occurs there as well, along with other Endangered species such as the White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus), Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei), and Mountain Grackle (Macroagelaius subalaris). In 2005 a new subspecies of Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch (Atlapetes latinuchus yariguierum) was discovered at the reserve.

Objective: Acquire and establish a reserve to protect Cerulean Warblers on their wintering grounds as well as other migratory and resident species.

Photo: Fundacion ProAves

Actions:
1. Protect natural forest in valleys establishment of private reserves and ecological easements.
2. Prevent conversion of shade coffee farms to sun coffee farms.
3. Develop a plan to promote shade grown coffee to benefit the Cerulean Warbler.
4. Develop and improve the Cerulean Warbler Reserve plan.
5. Raise funds to support Cerulean Warbler protection strategies.
6. Learn more about distribution, survivorship, and habitat quality of the Cerulean Warbler.

Accomplishments:
1. Establishment of the Cerulean Warbler Reserve by acquiring 220 hectares (545 acres) for the protection of the wintering warblers and the wood-quail.
2. Construction of a four-bedroom lodge in January 2007.
3. Established an environmental program for the local community.
4. Reforestation of portions of the Reserve that were previously pasture began in May 2008.
5. Workshop on conservation planning for the Cerulean Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler on their wintering grounds was held at the Reserve and in the nearby town of San Vicente de Chucurí, October 2008.

Click here to learn how you can support bird conservation by purchasing shade-grown coffee.

For more information on how to visit the lodge at the Cerulean Warbler Bird Reserve.

Birds occurring at the Reserve.

Other ABC projects on Cerulean Warbler conservation:
• Cerulean Warbler Wintering Conservation Plan
• Protecting Cerulean Warbler in eastern Ecuador
• Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird

For more information about this project or ABC’s work with Neotropical migrant birds on their wintering grounds, contact