1st Regional Meeting on Waterfowl Surveys and Conservation in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America

Managua, 31 January-4 February 2003

MEETING REPORT

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) and the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) co-organized the “1st Regional Meeting on Waterfowl Surveys and in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America.” The meeting took place in , Nicaragua, from 31 January - 4 February, 2003. Over 35 participants from 15 countries in the region shared the information, experience and vision for the Waterfowl Surveys Initiative (the Initiative) in their respective countries.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service provided generous support through the Neotropical Migratory Act. Additionally, USFWS flyway biologists and Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) professionals participated in the meeting and shared their flying and surveying experience with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) colleagues.

The meeting was opened by the Honorable Vice-Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Eduardo Marín Castillo. During his speech, Mr. Marín Castillo mentioned the importance of the collaboration between biologists gathering the raw data, and the authorities responsible for the management and protection of the natural resources. He particularly mentioned the usefulness of the waterfowl surveys for wetland conservation and regulation.

Structure of the meeting The meeting had three major components:

• National presentations • Aerial surveys over Nicaraguan • Round table discussions

The meeting started with a summary presented by DU. The Waterfowl Surveys Initiative is a regional effort including 13 countries and covering numerous wetlands between the equator and the tropic of Cancer.

Objectives To ensure that the results this project will provide a useful conservation tool, all countries must share a basic common objective: Identify major wetlands being used by waterfowl species during mid-“winter”, and during their migration to and from the breeding grounds.

Managua 2003 pg. 1 It is important to reach this objective in order to use the surveys as a tool to:

− Identify important wetlands; − Identify wetlands in need of management or restoration; − Establish a baseline for conservation of waterfowl populations; and − Provide the basis for the 1% Ramsar Criteria.

The surveys also help to:

− Stimulate interest in waterfowl and wetlands; − Promote a Hemisphere perspective for conservation and research work; − Train and establish core groups of collaborators in each country; and − Build a regional network to exchange ideas and information.

National Presentations With these ideas in mind and in order to set a regional framework for the round-table discussions, representatives from each country provided national presentations. These included information of progress to date and how the surveys information is being applied for wetland conservation.

Most countries mentioned the number of persons involved in the fieldwork is not enough to survey all the wetlands adequately. However, training workshops organized since the surveys begun have helped increase participation. Some reported good results in relation to using aircraft, while for others it was a problem. For example, in the case of Dominican Republic the problem was the lack of adequate aircraft available at airports near the wetlands, while others reported pilots unwilling to fly the way the surveys must be flown.

In some cases colleagues indicated they had not seen yet all waterfowl species reported for their respective countries, while others such as El Salvador and Nicaragua have added new species to their national lists (Chen caerulescens and Aythya collaris in the first case and Aythya marila in the latter). However, the fact that some species have gone undetected could be because these are uncommon, or because of lack of sufficient “eyes” and experience to spot them, especially from the air.

The first three years of surveys are beginning to shed some light about wetlands previously not considered important for waterfowl. While some countries are able to surveys all their wetlands, e.g. El Salvador and , most countries have concentrated in a few areas for these first 3-4 years and are slowly adding new areas as time and money become available. Others, such as the Dominican Republic and Suriname, have flown over several wetlands for three consecutive years and found them of little relevance to waterfowl so have shifted their efforts to exploring new sites or have expanded the number of surveys at those with considerable consistent numbers.

The most numerous migratory species in every country was blue-winged teal, with annual concentrations of almost 250,000 in a small area of the Ciénaga Grande de Sta. Marta in Colombia. Wetlands in the tropical dry forest zone of Central America fluctuate more than those in Colombia, but high numbers have included 21,000 in Palo Verde (Costa Rica), 25,000 in Charco Tisma (Nicaragua), 60,000 in Cerrón Grande (El Salvador), 150,000 in Jíbaro (Cuba) and over 20,000 in Cabral (Dominican Republic), and 11,000 in Suriname. For lesser scaup, the second

Managua 2003 pg. 2 most numerous migratory species reported, figures included over 1,600 in Laguna Limón (Dominican Republic), and 23,000 in Guatuzos (Nicaragua). Other interesting results were 20,000 northern shoveler counted in Cerrón Grande (El Salvador), 8,000 ruddy duck in Cabral (Dominican Republic)

On non-migratory species, black-bellied whistling duck was the most numerous, with 7,500 in Palo Verde (Costa Rica) and 33,000 in Cerrón Grande (El Salvador). More locally observed was fulvous whistling duck, and sightings of muscovy duck and masked duck were few.

This data collected over 3-4 years still does not help us understand how the different species use the wetland habitats throughout the region. But, as information accumulates, some patterns are beginning to show and the relative importance of wetlands in dry or wet years is becoming clearer. For example in Nicaragua, dry years mean Charco Tisma is not suitable for waterfowl since only the deepest parts of the wetland remain with water. The shallow and highly productive surrounding shores disappear and without this habitat no blue-winged teal and other species are attracted to this habitat.

All countries reported loss or modification of wetland habitat suitable for waterfowl, as the main problem faced by waterfowl, followed by pollution and uncontrolled hunting. Some indicated active management, or restoration/rehabilitation was necessary, and that they would be willing to initiate this kind of work at small scale in an experimental fashion.

Conservation programs such as the restoration of the Palo Verde wetlands in Costa Rica, and La Herrera in Colombia, are already using the surveys data to monitor progress made. In Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua several new Ramsar sites were designated or are being prepared for designation using the surveys information.

Most countries have provided the surveys information to the authorities to assist them with designation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and drawing of hunting regulations. In all countries the Waterfowl Surveys Initiative has helped with capacity building and institutional strengthening, providing agencies with more and better information on the of the wetlands and the use of these habitats by waterfowl. In addition, Cuba for example, uses waterfowl information to develop environmental education materials and activities, and has presented their research results at a rice congress that opened the dialog between conservationists and rice farmers.

In some countries, such as Dominican Republic, the involvement of the local communities is essential to the advancement and success of the surveys program. While several other countries, e.g. Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica and Suriname, carry out the surveys in close collaboration with both NGOs and the government authorities.

Round table discussions Issues discussed during the round table discussions included problems identifying species from the air and estimating size of bird flocks, as well as issues related to survey dates, analysis and processing of data, field forms and reporting forms, future assistance and use of the data for wetland conservation. Because of the experience already accumulated by most participants the round table discussions produced very important conclusions to help guide the future planning of the surveys. The participation of colleagues from Canada and the USA revealed that what

Managua 2003 pg. 3 countries are experiencing now, was experienced in 50-60 years ago. However, communications, technology and the fact that we can have meetings like this one to discuss problems, look for solutions and come up with new ideas, puts LAC conservationists at a certain relative advantage over the North American pioneers.

Aerial Surveys Training Thanks to the USFWS support, all participants had the opportunity to spend some hours with the flyway biologists flying over the wetlands near Managua searching for waterfowl, identifying species and estimating their numbers. Unfortunately this year these wetlands were almost dry and very few waterfowl could be found in them. Nevertheless, the purpose of the flying exercise was mainly to understand how to handle the aircraft in order to be most efficient in the few seconds the observers have to identify and count the birds on a wetland. And this was accomplished. Two USFWS aircraft were used, both Cessna 206 -one of them amphibian. The wetlands flown included Charco Tisma –a shallow wetland to the NW of Lago Cocibolca, and Estero Pacora –on the northern shore of the lago Managua. Flocks of over 25,000 blue-winged teal (Anas discors), and several hundred of each shoveler (Anas clypeata), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) and muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) can be seen in Charco Tisma in years when water levels are high. During the meeting only a few blue-winged teal, several hundred black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), three masked duck (Nomonyx dominica) and one jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) were observed. At Estero Pacora numbers observed were similar to those observed by our Nicaraguan colleagues in previous surveys, 5,000-6,000 blue-winged teal and 1,000-1,500 black-bellied whistling duck.

While most participants considered the flying with USFWS biologists the highlight of the meeting, for a few it was –no doubt- the Miss Nicaragua contest taking place at the same venue!

Conclusions The Initiative has been motivated by DU’s interest in learning more about where all North American migratory waterfowl occur during the northern winter and where wetland landscape conservation programs should be directed. However, this alone would not have been sufficient in order to get started. What made it possible is the interest that exists in the LAC countries to designate new wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), establish protected areas and identify habitat management needs.

When DU’s Waterfowl Surveys Initiative started in 2000 there were six countries involved. Adding more countries and encouraging more people was a challenge. But after only three years the program has grown to include 13 countries and almost 100 highly motivated “duck counters”. The Initiative is still very young, but progress made to date is a clear sign of the value of working on regional efforts and sharing all information.

While the Initiative has already made great progress we have also encountered difficulties. These include high prices for aircraft rental, lack of sufficient personnel and therefore the need for further training. As we complete the surveys for the fourth consecutive “winter” in some countries and new countries join in the effort this year, it is imperative that we continue to improve methodologies, standardize information gathering and reporting forms, and synchronize dates throughout the countries.

Managua 2003 pg. 4 Finally, the information gathered for just a few years is already resulting in important management and conservation decisions at several sites. This is the ultimate goal of the surveys, and it is very encouraging that researchers and governments are using already the data for wetland and waterfowl conservation planning.

Managua 2003 pg. 5

- Needs and Suggestions for the Future -

The following table and comments are the result of discussions during the meeting and further discussion on the internet. Needs for the future include both assistance required from outside the LAC countries as well as from within each LAC country in order to improve results obtained to date through the waterfowl surveys program.

Countries

Issues Belice Costa Rica El Salvador Nicaragua Honduras Cuba Rep. Dominicana Surinam Colombia Haití Jamaica Venezuela 1. Financial Support X X X X X X X X X X X X 2. Equipment X X X X X X X X X X X X 3. Training X X X X X X X X X 4. Technical Support X X X X X 5. Lobby Governments X X X X X 6. Assist Regional Reporting X X X X X

1. Financial Support Funding is by far the most urgent need for all countries, especially long-term and uninterrupted. In some cases, national governments (Jamaica, Dominican Rep., El Salvador) have contributed to the surveys either financially and/or by facilitating vehicles. In most countries local support for the project is limited to salaries and computers. In general, vehicles, binoculars, cameras and scopes used in the field are personally owned.

In the case of Cuba and Venezuela, where waterfowl surveys have been carried out for over ten years, the corresponding governments have provided transportation and/or financial support. Nevertheless, external funds would allow for an expansion of the surveys in areas up to now not covered.

2. Equipment This item varies considerably from country to the next. In some cases the need for equipment refers to basic equipment, such as binoculars (Dominican Rep., Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Venezuela) and GPS units. In other cases, and regardless of this, colleagues felt that some of the technology used by the USFWS and CWS biologists could improve survey efficiency. Software enabling to record voice and GPS position directly to a computer was particularly interesting.

3. Training This aspect included the need for regular regional meetings to exchange information, standardize methods and synchronize efforts, in order to ensure a similar level of knowledge throughout the

Managua 2003 pg. 6 region. It also included the need for national and local training workshops/meetings to encourage new participants to join the surveys and to spread the results of the work being done. Some countries lack enough well trained personnel and would welcome basic species field identification, survey methods and wetland conservation training.

Lack of trained pilots for waterfowl surveys was a problem for all those countries using aircraft. Training of the most keen and motivated pilots in the region would provide a core group that could in turn become trainers for other LAC pilots.

Some countries suggested exploring the possibility of internships or exchange programs to attend USFWS/CWS biological stations or participate directly in the waterfowl surveys carried out in North America.

Public awareness of the work being done needs more attention in some countries that in others. But all would benefit from specially designed reports and education materials for workshops and general public distribution. Presentation of results at national and international fora was considered a good way to let others know of the work being done.

4. Technical Support The need for technical support was discussed both from the surveys point of view as well as the management and restoration of wetlands work. Technical support in terms of having a surveys database, georeferenced maps, updating the Directory of Neotropical Wetlands, and assistance to analyze the data collected, was mentioned.

Several countries are considering pilot projects on wetland management and restoration (El Salvador, Jamaica, Nicaragua), others (Costa Rica) are already trying to recover the wetland habitat lost due to inadequate management practices in the past. In all cases technical advise was perceived as very necessary because of the limited technical restoration expertise in the region.

5. Lobby Governments All countries mentioned the need to lobby in order to ensure the government agencies understand and become interested in the waterfowl surveys as a tool for wetland conservation. It is very important to help develop the political will necessary to ensure the waterfowl surveys program become a conservation priority at the government level. All countries involved in the waterfowl surveys have lobbied within their governments. And in several cases the agencies responsible for the conservation of wetlands and hunting regulation are active participants in the surveys.

Some countries considered working closer with hunters and local communities as a positive way to influence governments and gain support for the surveys.

6. Assist Regional Reporting Some countries considered the need to receive assistance from DU/USFWS to develop national or sub-regional reports to submit to national and sub-regional governments (e.g. Central American Committee for the Environment and Development). Other countries suggested the need to strengthen the regional network through more frequent use of the discussion list already available, and the need to develop regional wetland conservation planning and strategy reports.

Managua 2003 pg. 7

- Agenda -

Introduction and Objectives Since January 2000 waterfowl surveys have been carried out is different countries of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. This initiative has been supported by Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), as well as by numerous conservation organizations, universities, government agencies and individuals in the countries.

In the 1950’s and 60’s the USFWS did some preliminary flights in the Caribbean and Central America but these were discontinued, did not involve local people and the reports cannot be found. Through DU’s initiative to monitor waterfowl populations, we pretend to gather information that will help identify wetlands of international importance and determine priorities for wetland conservation and/or habitat management. This information would also provide government agencies with a very useful tool for hunting regulation.

Lack of experience and trained professionals, extent and difficult access to wetlands, and the availability and cost of adequate aircraft are some of the major problems that need to be solved. The surveys team, which already has some considerable experience accumulated, includes some 20 colleagues in Central America, 10 in the Caribbean and 5 in northern South America. Through several national training workshops the waterfowl surveys “core group” has trained new potential participants. We are planning new training workshops for the near future in order to increase the number of collaborators in the surveys. While data is not yet standardized for all countries there has been some considerable advances made in the gathering and analysis, as well as in the presentation of results, but we need to improve further. To this aim, DU is working with the USFWS in several fronts: - Continue to support training and capacity building; - Produce more training and education materials; and - Develop a database for the recording and the search of data related to the monitoring of waterfowl populations.

Therefore, the objectives of the 1st Regional Meeting on Waterfowl Surveys in Central America, The Caribbean and northern South America will included:

- Discussion of results to date and their application to wetland conservation planning; - Presentation of National Reports; - Training of the “core group” in more advanced survey techniques, especially using aircraft; - Improve the ability for species identification and estimates of size of bird groups; and - Review the dates agreed for synchronization of surveys dates and the standardizing of the different forms (field sheet, national report, tables, financial report form).

National Coordinators

Caribbean − Bahamas: vacant

Managua 2003 pg. 8 − Cuba: Martín Acosta, [email protected] − Dominican Rep.: Eduardo Vasquez, [email protected] − Haití: Paul Judex Edouarzin, [email protected] − Jamaica: Ann Haynes-Sutton, [email protected] Central America − Belice: Omar Figueroa, [email protected] − Costa Rica: Jorge Jiménez, [email protected] − El Salvador: Wilfredo Rodríguez, [email protected] − Honduras: Sherry Thorn, [email protected] − Nicaragua: Martín Lezama, [email protected] South America − Colombia: María Rivera, [email protected] − Suriname: Otte Ottema, [email protected] − Venezuela: Magaly Ojeda, [email protected]

Agenda

Thursday, 30th January 2003 Arrival of participants in Managua

Friday, 31st January 2003 Welcome words Meeting functioning Introduction to the Waterfowl Surveys in and the Caribbean, a tool to identify wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites) – M Carbonell National reports from: − Belice – Omar Figueroa − Colombia – María Rivera − Costa Rica – Mauricio Solís − Cuba – Dennis Denis Avila − El Salvador – Wilfredo Rodríguez − Haiti – Paul Judex Edouarzin − Honduras – Sherry Thorn − Jamaica – Ann Haynes-Sutton − Nicaragua – Martín Lezama − República Dominicana – Eduardo Vásquez − Suriname – Otte Ottema − Venezuela – Magaly Ojeda Additional presentations from Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, USA and DU (see below)

Saturday, 1st February 2003 - Tuesday, 4th February 2003 Morning activities will include surveys from aircraft Afternoon activities will include presentations and round table discussions

Managua 2003 pg. 9 Wednesday, 5 February 2003 Participants return to their countries.

Presentaciones adicionales - Additional Presentations

1 de febrero de 2003 - 1st February 2003 • El programa de monitoreo de patos de PROFAUNA en Venezuela - PROFAUNA’s waterfowl monitoring program in Venezuela -Betzabey Motta

• ¿Qué hace un piloto/biólogo? - What does a Flyway biologist do? - Fred Roetker

• Los conteos de anátidas en América del Norte: Un esfuerzo común entre Canada y los EUA - Waterfowl surveys in North America: An effort between Canada and the USA - Jim Wortham

• Los conteos de anátidas y su aplicación a la conservación de humedales en Canadá - Waterfowl surveys and their use for wetland conservation in Canada - Dale Caswell & Dan Nieman

2 de febrero de 2003 - 2nd February 2003 • Los conteos de anátidas por el USFWS en México - USFWS waterfowl surveys in México - Phil Torpe

• El trabajo del USFWS-Alaska en Alaska, Mexico y más allá - USFWS-Alaska work in Alaska, Mexico and beyond - Bill Eldridge

3 de febrero de 2003 - 3rd February 2003 • Resultados de los Conteos de Anátidas en ALC, la base de datos y planificando la conservación de humedales - Results of the waterfowl surveys in LAC, the database and planing wetland conservation - D. Denis y M. Carbonell

4 de febrero de 2003 - 4th February 2003 • Una perspectiva regional de los conteos de anátidas, conclusiones e ideas para el futuro - The waterfowl surveys from a regional perspective, conclusions and further ideas - Jim Voelzer

Managua 2003 pg. 10

Lista de Participantes / Participants List Managua, 2003

País / Country Nombre / Name e-mail

Belize Omar Figueroa [email protected] Canada Dale Caswell [email protected] Dan Nieman + Sra Nieman [email protected] Colombia Fernando Castillo [email protected] María Rivera [email protected] Francisco Troncoso [email protected] Costa Rica Mauricio Solís [email protected] Cuba Dennis Denis [email protected] El Salvador Néstor Herrera [email protected] Ricardo Ibarra [email protected] Roberto Rivera [email protected] Wilfredo Rodríguez [email protected] Jorge Montenegro Haiti Edouarzin Paul Judex [email protected] Honduras David Medina [email protected] Sherry Thorn [email protected] Jamaica Brandon Hay [email protected] Nicaragua Ing. Eduardo Marín, Vice Ministro MARENA Liliana Díaz - MARENA Liza González - MARENA [email protected] Milton Camacho - MARENA [email protected] Osmar Arróliga [email protected] José Bonilla [email protected] Heydi Herrera [email protected] Martín Lezama [email protected] Leopoldo Navarro [email protected] Eduardo Valdés [email protected] Rep. Dominicana Greival García Eduardo Vásquez [email protected] Suriname Otte Ottema [email protected] U.S.A. Montserrat Carbonell [email protected] Bill Eldridge [email protected] Beatriz López [email protected] Fred Roetker [email protected] Phil Thorpe [email protected] Jim Voelzer [email protected] Jim Wortham [email protected] Venezuela Betzabey Motta [email protected] Magaly Ojeda [email protected]

Managua 2003 pg. 11

Managua 2003 pg. 12