Monteverde : Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest

large insectivores such as motmots, puffbirds, and
small hawks, all of which are less common at higher
elevations.

6.8. Conservation Issues

Birds are soft, fuzzy, and photogenic vertebrates. In
many parts of the world, birds are the "poster children"
of conservation efforts. Spotted Owls (Strix occiden-
talis), cranes, Bald Eagles (Haliaeetusleucocephalus),
and parrots are the best-known examples. Monteverde
is no exception, with its ubiquitous pictures, draw-
ings, and designs of quetzals. As in the case of the
Spotted Owl in the Pacific Northwest of the United
States, detailed knowledge of quetzal natural history
has directed conservation efforts. Radio-tracking data
pinpointed areas on the Caribbean slope where Monte-
verde's quetzals forage from September to December,
and the MCL acted quickly to protect those forests
(Powell and Bjork 1995). Many of the major conser-
vation issues in Monteverde affect birds (see Chap. 12,
Conservation Biology).

6.8.1. Species at Risk

Through strong leadership in conservation efforts, ca.

20,000 ha of forest have been protected in private

reserves in Monteverde, concentrated in Zones 3-6.

Species that spend their entire life cycle within these

life zones and for which ecologically viable popula-

tions remain will most likely persist. Species that

require forest habitat in Zones 1 and 2 or below Zone

6 for parts of their life cycle are at risk. These life

zones have the least remaining forest, and this habi-

tat is fragmented (Guindon 1996; see Guindon, "The

Importance of Pacific Slope Forest," pp. 435-437).

Both the MCL (working on the Caribbean slope) and the

MCFP (on the Pacific slope) have made laudable efforts

to protect relict forest, but these are small patches. Large

frugivores forage seasonally in these fragments, espe-

cially the larger bird species such as quetzals, bellbirds,

guans, and toucans (Guindon 1996). Conservation bi-

ology theory and research have demonstrated that many

species, even competitively dominant ones, inevita-

bly disappear from forest patches after fragmentation

(Tilman et al. 1994, Robinson et al. 1995).

On a global scale, the cloud forests (Zones 3-5) of

Monteverde are home to 10 species of birds that are

considered by Birdlife International as being at risk

of extinction due to their restricted worldwide ranges

(Collar et al. 1994; Table 6.8). All occur exclusively

in the cloud forests of the Cordilleras de Tilaran, Cen-

tral, and Talamanca. This mountain range is isolated

from other mountain ranges in Central America by the

lowlands of Nicaragua and central Panama, and these

species are endemic to the region.

6.8.2. Effects of Human Activity

Except for one study in progress (A. Pereira, unpubl.

data), no quantitative data exist on the effects of current

human activity on bird populations in Monteverde. The

clearing of forest for agricultural land earlier in the cen-

tury destroyed habitat for some species and created

habitat for others. From the perspective of bird habitat,

patterns of land use have changed little in recent de-

cades, and the recent ecotourism boom may be bene-

ficial to bird conservation (see Young, "How Have

Humans Affected Bird Populations?," pp. 433-434).

6.8.3. Management

The greatest management challenge in Monteverde is

protecting mobile species. Buying a piece of forest and

protecting it against squatters and hunters will not

guarantee preservation of species that leave during

part of the year. In recognition of this management

need, Monteverde researchers have championed the

need for regionwide conservation efforts. The migra-

tion of many species of hummingbirds into and out

of Monteverde, for example, signals that habitat

alteration elsewhere could affect population levels

in Monteverde (Feinsinger 1980). Researchers also

pointed out that the protected area in Monteverde

during the early 1980s was inadequate to protect

quetzals (Wheelwright 1983).

One approach to designing a reserve system is to

identify and protect areas used by target species

(Powell and Bjork 1995). This strategy was used by

Table 6.8. Monteverde bird species listed by

BirdLife International as being vulnerable or nearly

threatened with extinction due to their restricted

ranges in cloud forests.

Scientific name Common name

Harpyhaliaetus solitarius

Chamaepetes unicolor

Odontophorus leucolaemus

Touit costaricensis

Calliphlox bryantae

Pharomachrus mocinno

Electron carinatum

Micromonacha lanceolate.

Cephalopterus glabricollis

Procnias tricarunculata

Bangsia arcaei

Acanthidops bairdii

Solitary Eagle

Black Guan

Black-breasted Wood-Quail

Red-fronted Parrotlet

Magenta-throated Woodstar

Resplendent Quetzal

Keel-billed Motmot

Lanceolated Monklet

Bare-necked Umbrellabird

Three-wattled Bellbird

Blue-and gold Tanager

Peg-billed Finch

Data are from (Collar et al. 1994). All species occur near the Conti-

nental Divide in Zones 3-5.

202 Birds