help birds far away
Many birders and ecologists are aware of a program called MAPS -- Monitoring Avian Survivorship and Productivity. Initiated in 1989 and administered by the Institute of Bird Populations (IBP), over 500 hundred banding stations across North America use standardized procedures to gather data on breeding birds. The information is used to create indices of reproductive productivity, examine how habitat and weather variables effect nesting success, and determine survivorship of adults and young.
Fewer people are aware that in 2002, IBP started up a sister program, MoSI (the acronym comes from the Spanish "Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal" or Monitoring Overwintering Survival). These stations (around 150 right now) are located across the American tropics, and the goal is to learn more about physical condition, habitat use and survivorship over the winter, and how various factors impact subsequent breeding activity. Remember that most of "our" breeding birds spend more time on the ground in the tropics in winter than they do here in the breeding season. Yet very little is know about winter ecology, or its link to overall population health.
As you might imagine, there isn't a lot of money floating around Latin America to run banding stations. IBP actively seeks memberships and donations, and for only $300, you can sponsor an individual MoSI station. Awhile back, both my husband and I sent in our sponsorship funds. We have now received information on the stations, including the location and description, a list of the birds banded (and how many) for each year, and photos from the station if available and other stations, too.
"My" station is located in southern Mexico, in Cuernavaca, Morelos state. It is located in pine-oak forest, and has operated since the 2003-2004 season. The top five species there so far are:
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Nashville Warbler
- Warbling Vireo
- Dusky Flycatcher
- Virginia's Warbler
The Kingfisher's station is also in Mexico, further northeast, in secondary and primary forest near Xalapa in Veracruz state. That station began in 2204-2005, and the top five species there are:
- Gray Catbird
- Yellow-breasted Chat and Buff-bellied Hummingbird
- White-collared Seedeater
- White-eyed Vireo and Orange-crowned Warbler
- Common Ground-Dove
This is a terrific and extremely worthy program, very deserving of support. If you are considering some year-end donations, or looking for a great charitable gift for a bird-loving friend, sponsor a MoSI station! Read more in an article in Living Bird magazine.
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