BEX News

History

Meet the Recipients

Couriers Needed

Equipment Drive

Apply Now!

En Español

Supporters

Home

BIRDERS' EXCHANGE RECIPIENTS

Manuel Grosselet, Mexico 

Pictured below is Manuel Grosselet, a researcher in Mexico, with a Red Warbler. This bird is endemic to the highlands of Mexico, North of Panama, and is found only in mountain forests from southern Chihuahua and Durango to Oaxaca. Manuel is yet another example of a BE recipient involved in important research for bird conservation.

All photos by Manuel Grosselet.

Oaxaca Bird News, September - November 2002.

For more information, please contact Manuel Grosselet at birdinnet@yahoo.com.mx (for bird activities).

A particular thanks at Birder's Exchange for help with material.

BACKGROUND

So far there have been two reports on Birders Activities in Oaxaca.

The first was a quick explanation on the history of the Birders team and this being the second report speaks on the continuation of these activities in Oaxaca. First, we would like to refer to three articles by John Forcey on Birds of the Central Valley of Oaxaca, which describe the history of birding in Oaxaca, as a reference on this subject, since John has been promoting birding with great enthusiasm, for which birders are grateful. You can visit these three articles in www.huitzil.com.

BIRDER CLUB

The birder continue to be active the second saturday of each month. John Forcey and Ramiro Aragon have taken on the responsibility of guiding the groups in the field trips these last few months. So far nothing new has come up, observations include the expected normal species, however it is has been exciting to discover the appearance of some first migrants, such as Audubon's Warbler, Black and White Warbler or the first American Kestrel.

Arrangements are being made for the Christmas Count on December 22nd. Eugene Hunn enhunn@attbi.com is in charge of the organization, and we will have 4 or 5 teams to undertake a complete birds census around the Central Valley of Oaxaca. One of the teams could begin at midnight to undertake an Owl census. It should be a great Chrismast Count. If you want join us, please feel free to contact Eugene Hunn.

In November, we took part in a national census including evaluation on habitat destruction and pet market for Yellow-headed Parrot, a highly threatened specie in Mexico. For this work, Ramiro Aragon con Ruth Guzman Sanchez began in the northern part of the State of Oaxaca in Tuxtepec, while another group headed by Manuel Grosselet, finishing the work in the Istmus of Tehuantepec in the area of Chimalapas. The situation of this parrot is of great concern.

STUDENTS TRAINING

I, Manuel Grosselet, was in two training sessions this year. First in Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, Canada, to undertake a complete training on banding skills and data analysis, during the month of October where there were a lot of migrant birds crossing through Long Point. (Except for the cold weather, I have a good impression of the Teacher Keith Larsson and the birds. One night we caught 72 Saw-whet-Owl). This training is open to all Latin American birders who have a strong interest in banding. This offered me the opportunity of establishing contact with Canadian people, interested in creating a Banding Training Station in Oaxaca, with the objective of training Latin American and North American biologists and others interested specifically in tropical species.

The segond was a one week training session to be receive an "Official Diploma" from the Mexican Government as a Birder Guide for birding tours. During this training, 5 guides from Huatulco were present to received and offered a good bird watching guide service on the coast.

Currently, I continue to train people. I invite biology students or to join in on the Yellow-headed Parrot study, and on my Oaxacan banding station activities. In my banding station on the coast, almost all new graduate bird guides join me to continue their training on birds knowledge. In particular Laura Gonzalez, Huatulco Birder guide, shows a very strong interest in this activity.

BANDING NEWS

This year has been a good year since I managed to band 211 species, handling over 4000 birds, in 5 different countries (Canada, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and France), which sums up to 45,000 birds handled in my banding activity. And there is still one month to go before the end of 2002.

Late November, I continue my banding stations in Oaxaca. I have two good banding stations, and some interesting results, including the recapture of 5 migrant birds, banded during the last winter in the same station. They flew back to their summer habitat and then returned to the same spot after almost one year. As far as I know, they are the first recaptures recorded for this specie in wintering grounds. On the banding station of the coast, (where I hope to open more sites next month), I recaptured 2 migrant birds of 3 that I had banded the last winter. Amazing! Although, in general, the coast it was fairly deserted, very few birds.

I caught some interesting species for Oaxaca in the Botanical Garden of Oaxaca, such as Bell's Vireo or Willow Flycatcher, fairly rare in fall.

Another banding site in Etla, close to Oaxaca City, I caught the same Berylline Hummingbird after 4 months.

Now all migrant are present, though Virginia's Warbler seem to have a very low population.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

In the first report, I mentioned a drawing contest for children. It took place successfully after 13 conferences to school children during September and October. I train personnel from the State Institute on Ecology (Instituto Estatal de Ecologia, IEEO) to deliver these conferences while I was in Canada. More than 1500 children had the opportunity to hear these talks, and, for the contest, we received more than 900 drawings. It was a very good event. The children were enthusiastic, and some of the drawings were very good. For this event we are grateful for the help we received from the IEEO, Partners in Flight, Paxutent, and specially the children of Oaxaca. Please make a note in your agenda, for next year's event.. Environmental education is important, and though these efforts are done for free, a special budget is necessary to continue and expand the work, so we need all the help we can get.

So these few lines are the latest information of Oaxacan birder. If you are interested in further details on observation during these three months, we publish in North American Birds, all interesting sighting of Oaxaca. Writing these lines, I am in Chiapas in a coffee plantation, where this morning we caught a Rufous and white Wren, and surely tomorrow morning the Blue-headed Motmot will wake us up.

If you need information about bird and birding in Oaxaca you can write to: Manuel Grosselet at birdinnet@yahoo.com.mx. We hope that you enjoy your time in this fabulous Mexican state.

Have a good birding. And a happy Christmas
Cheers,
Manuel

RED WARBLER TRAINING

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: ADVANCED PASSERINE BANDING WORKSHOP offered by specialist in Mexican and migratory species is planned in the State of OAXACA, MEXICO. From February 22 through March 1 (or March 4) 2003.

The Workshop will focus on aging and sexing birds, specifically on discerning molt patterns. Work will take place in pine-oak forest, 10 hours per day. Optional, additional two extra days to continue banding in arid scrub habitat. Housing will be in rustic cabin (includes electricity and hot water) in a Zapotec mountain community. We could expect to capture up to 20 species in the pine-oak forest (additional species in arid scrub), students may want to take advantage of the excellent birding and ecotourism opportunities in Oaxaca, the most biodiverse state in Mexico (751 species of birds alone). Spanish, English and French spoken. Modest expense (promotional price) includes all food and lodging during training and transportation from Oaxaca City:

$400.00 USD (8 days), $500.00 USD (10 days). Limited space available. Please advise if you need hotel reservations prior to the Workshop. For more information, please email your resume A.S.A.P. to MANUEL GROSSELET birdinnet@yahoo.com.mx

PRE-REQUISITES: Basic mist netting and banding skills, good physical condition to withstand long hours in the field, including a recent medical certificate of good health.

recipients list

Birders' Exchange
Sharing Tools, Saving Birds
A Program Across the Americas