By Zephyr Castel | Intern
Dear Friend,
Each year, more than three hundred bird species undertake a perilous journey from North America to Central America, arriving at the end of the rainy season when fruits and insects around. Unfortunately, storms and habitat loss along their route mean that half, or more, of these birds may perish before they reach their wintering grounds. Thanks to your support, Paso Pacifico is hard at work protecting these critical habitats and giving migratory birds a fighting chance!
Habitat Protection
This spring, we stewarded over 250 acres of dry tropical forest at the Reserva Mono Bayo and Reserva Quelantero. These forests provide essential shelter and foraging grounds for wintering migrants, helping them refuel and rest after their long flights. Your generosity made the continued protection and restoration of these reserves possible, creating safe havens where birds can thrive.
Scientific Monitoring
We just wrapped up our tenth season of monitoring birds' survival using MoSI bird-banding stations. At Reserva Mono Bayo and Reserva Quelantero, our teams set mist nets, carefully band each bird, then release and recapture them. The resulting data are analyzed by statisticians at the Institute for Bird Populations to estimate overwinter survival rates. It's particularly rewarding to see individual birds, like the ovenbird featured above, return year after year, a testament to the life-saving impact of habitat protection you help us provide.
Citizen Science & Community Engagement
This spring's Global Big Day was a tremendous success in Nicaragua. Across the country, 91 participants, including 30 Paso Pacifico staff and student volunteers, documented 402 species. These observations feed directly into the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's databases, informing population estimates and confirming the presence of rare species. By participating, our local birders generate data that shapes conservation strategies region-wide.
Your partnership makes all of this possible. Because of you, migratory birds find refuge here in Central America, and communities learn to value and protect their feathered visitors. Thank you for standing with Paso Pacifico and for helping these remarkable travelers survive another season in our care.
Warm Regards,
Sarah Otterstrom
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