Conservation of the Honduran Emerald and Neotropical migrant
birds, Honduras
Region: |
Pico Bonito
National Park and Very Dry Tropical Forest in valleys
to the south of the park in the upper Río Aguan
Valley, Honduras |
Partner: |
Fundación
Parque Nacional Pico Bonito (FUPNAPIB) |
Initiation: |
2004 |
 |
|
 |
| Photo: Robert E. Hyman |
Introduction: The
arid thorn forest of the upper Río Aguan near Olanchito,
Honduras, is home to the Honduran Emerald (Amazilia
luciae), the most endangered bird in Central America.
Most of the hummingbird's habitat has been cleared for cattle
grazing and other agricultural purposes, and what is left
is fragmented. Little of the lowland scrub that is capable
of supporting the species is protected, and privately owned
sites that at one time supported the Honduran Emerald have
been destroyed. It is thought that only a few hundred Honduran
Emeralds remain. In addition, Pico Bonito National Park,
which forms the northern edge of the Aguan Valley, is winter
home to large numbers of Neotropical migrant birds, such
as Magnolia and Black-throated Green warblers (Dendroica
magnolia and D. virens), Baltimore Orioles
(Icterus galbula), and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
(Pheucticus ludovicianus).
Objectives:
To create a 3, 000 hectare (7,500 acre) thorn forest reserve
to protect habitat of the Critically Endangered Honduran
Emerald, and to establish a corridor connecting the new
Honduran Emerald Reserve with Pico Bonito National Park,
for the benefit of Neotropical migrant birds.
Actions:
1. Acquire and protect 2,600 hectares (6,400 acres) of key
migratory bird habitat and establish Migratory Bird Corridor
connecting the National Park to the Honduran Emerald Reserve,
an 1,180 hectare (2,964 acre) former Air Force bombing range
with about 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of dry forest habitat
essential for the conservation of the Honduran Emerald.
2. Restore additional degraded habitat within the Honduran
Emerald Reserve for the hummingbird.
2. Safeguard protection of the park and corridor through
improved management, staffing, and infrastructure.
3. Train park staff in bird surveys and protected area management.
4. Expand FUPNAPIB outreach to communities surrounding the
park with an education officer and visitor interpretation
center for reserve and migratory bird corridor.
Accomplishments
so far:
1. Identification of corridor sites connecting the national
park with the Honduran Emerald Reserve.
2. Week-long training session for park staff in bird identification
and monitoring.
3. Draft conservation plan for the Honduran Emerald, May
2008.
For more information about
this project or ABC’s work with Neotropical migrant
birds on their wintering grounds, contact
More
on the Honduran Emerald Reserve and the Very Dry Tropical
Forest.
Mission and Vision 
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