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Flora and Fauna
The Cerulean Warbler
By Gunnar Engblom, Asociación INCASPIZA

The Cerulean Warbler is suffering. Formerly one of the most abundant breeding warblers in Ohio and the Mississippi River Valleys, its population plummeted in the 1900's due to habitat destruction. In North America it needs mature forest with large trees which is becoming rarer. It lives in the canopy, nesting and foraging higher in the trees than any other North American Warbler. In South America it winters in tropical foothill forest usually between 800-1500m - a habitat zone that is increasingly destroyed for timber extraction, agriculture and pastures. It has become very rare in recent years, and in Peru there are very few confirmed records. But since it lives in the canopy of the large trees here as well it could very well be overlooked.

So little is known about the exact whereabouts of the Cerulean Warbler and the threats on its wintering grounds that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy have begun to fund expeditions into the foothill areas throughout the Andean countries. The Asociación Incaspiza has recently been granted funding to conduct surveys in central Peru.

One of the big problems when it comes to habitat conservation in Peru is that there are very few “ordinary people” who care to conserve the habitat. In the countryside pristine nature is seen as a resource that is only worth something if it is converted into something else - firewood, charcoal, a coffee plantation or a cattle farm. Very few people give it value in its natural state.

I feel that if more people got involved in nature watching there would be more people who would care about conservation. Eco-tourism and especially avi-tourism (birdwatching) are activities that give value to forest patches where threatened species exists. But in Peru there are very few native bird and nature watchers. Part of the problem is that Peru is so vast that it is difficult to get started. The other is that there are few possibilities to learn about birdwatching at a reasonable cost.

Cerulian Warbler - Photo by Allen Chartier

The Asociación Incaspiza will use a novel approach in our surveys, in that we will invite the public to participate in the project and make this a way to popularize birdwatching in Peru. The studies will be conducted when Peruvian students have summer holidays (January-March). The project will also be open to foreign volunteers - if they want to particpate as students or leaders. The cost for Peruvians and resident expatriates will be around $ 25 per day. We will charge foreign visitors double price for the course - in order to allow for a Peruvian with little means to go free.

The 10-day courses will be held for the following groups at the following geographical areas.

• Cerro de Sira in early January for people who already know about birds. During this course, people who will act as leaders during the following courses will be trained.
• Serrania San Mateo (between Villa Rica and Puerto Bermúdez) will ne open to the general public, graduate biologists and tour guides.
• Villa Rica for univiersity students of biology, agronomy, veterinary medicine, tour guides, etc.
• Oxapampa and Pozuso for secondary school students.
• Pampa Hermosa for younger students 12-15 years of age.

Please feel free to contact me at gunnar@kolibriexpeditions.com if you are interested in participating in this project in any way.

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