J. Raptor Res. 26(3):184-188 ¸ 1992 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc.

RAPTOR CONSERVATION IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO

JUAN ESTEBANMARTiNEZ-GOMEZ Av. 16 de Septiembre1758, Veracruz,Veracruz, 91700 Mdxico

ABSTRaCT.--Thisarticle presents aspects of raptorconservation, including training of localstudents, developingnetworks to monitorbird trade and to protectnatural areas, establishing banding stations in Veracruz,ecotourism, and cooperativeefforts among raptor biologists in North Americaand Veracruz. Because67 raptorspecies are foundin Veracruz,Mexico, and because the most northern high evergreen rainforestof thecontinent is locatedin thisMexican State, a majorconservation effort in thisregion is certainly warranted.

Conservaci6nde avesrapaces en Veracruz, M•xico EXTRACTO.--Esteart•culo discute aspectos relacionados con la conservaciOnde avesde presa;tales como el entrenamientode estudianteslocales, el desarrollode redesde vigilanciapara el mercadeode avesy la protecciOnde fireasnaturales, el establecimientode estacionesde anillamiento,ecoturismo, asl como la cooperaci0nentre estudiosos delas aves de presa en Norteam•rica y Veracruz. La necesidaddemayores esfuerzosconservacionistas en esta region se hace patente, si seconsidera queen esteestado mexicano se encuentrala selvaalta perennifoliamils nortefia del continentey tiene registradas sesenta y sieteespecies de aves de presa.

On 23 April 1990 I becamea Hamerstrom '•ab- HISTORICAL VIEW boon."During my four-monthstay in Plainfield, Wis- consinI learnedmuch aboutraptors from Frederick The roleof raptorswas notable in the pre-hispanic and Frances Hamerstrom. I especiallyenjoyed those cultures that flourished in Veracruz. The Olmecas tzmeswhen we talkedabout their experienceswith neo- and Totonacaserected sculptures representing sev- tropicalraptors in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz,Mexico, and eral speciesof birds of prey (De la Fuente 1975, their interestin tropicalforest conservation. The Ha- Medellin 1983). The agriculturaland sylvicultural merstromsbelieve that it is very important to support practicesof the ancientresidents of Veracruz ap- Latin Americanstudents in order to establisha group parently were compatible with their environment of individualswith an adequatelevel of expertiseto (Siemens 1981, 1982, Alcorn 1983). developeffective conservation schemes in the Neotrop- An epidemic in the mid-15th century causeda zcs.Here, I return thefavor of their training by writing decreasein the Indian population,thus permitting aboutareas in the Neotropicalforest of Veracruz,Mex- the Spaniardsto take over Indian lands, at which zco,where the Hamerstroms worked in the late sixties. time cattle ranchingwas promoted.Some Indians movedto the mountains,while others were assimi- STUDY AREA lated. This situation,together with a massiveim- The State of Veracruz, Mexico, extends from 17ø10'N to 22ø15'N, between the Gulf of Mexico to the East and migrationfrom Spain,imposed an incompatiblere- the Mexican states of the Central Plateau to the West sourcemanagement system that hadbeen developed (Sotoand Garcia 1986). F•levationin the stateranges from in the temperateregions of the Old World (Gunder sealevel to 4300 m abovesea level (Marchal 1984). Twen- ty vegetative types, including high evergreenrainforest, 1982, G6mez-Pompa1985). tropicaldeciduous forest, cloud forest, evergreen oak forest, As a result,the traditionalknowledge of resource marshes, mangrove swamps, brackish estuaries, beach managementin the area has been forgottenor lost. communitiesand various forms of agricultural and grazing lands occurin the region. Eighty-five of 8000 plant species Consequently,for example,courses offered by the in the regionare listedas endangeredspecies (Dirzo 1987, UniversidadVeracruzana, colleges of Biology,Vet- Flores and Gerez 1988). Of the approximately 685 bird erinary Scienceand Agronomy,today focus mainly speciesrecorded for the state (Loetscher 1941, 1955, Pe- terson and Chalif 1989, Schaldachpers. comm.), 137 are on studiesof exotic,rather than native,species, and listed as endangered(Aguilar-Ortiz 1970, Ramos 1985, cattleranching is currentlythe predominantagri- Vega 1988). cultural activity in Veracruz.

184 SEPTEMBER 1992 RAPTOR CONSERVATION IN VERACRUZ 185

CURRENT PROBLEMS ciety, could play a major role in raptor conservation (Appendix 1). Forest destructionpromoted by agricultureand Consider,for example,the UniversidadVeracru- human colonization of tropical areas is the major zana. Every university in Mexico has a required threat to Neotropical raptors in Veracruz. Forest- undergraduateprogram called Servicio Social (So- dwelling birds have been greatly affectedand their populationsizes have decreased(Ramos 1985) by cial Service),consisting of communityservice for one year. Much research,both basicand applied, could this factor. The extirpationsof Harpy Eaglesfrom be accomplishedby usingthis programto fostercon- Central Veracruz and Los Tuxtlas, King Vultures servationefforts. Although studentsmust work in a and Bicolored Hawks from Los Tuxtlas (Coates- Mexican institution, researchers in North America Estrada and Estrada 1985, Ifiigo et al. 1987, Aguilar can direct students and contribute to the establish- in pressa), as well as the proliferationin thoseareas of raptor speciesthat favor disturbedhabitats (G6- ment of successfulconservation programs in Vera- cruz. mez 1991), constitutean exampleof habitat lossand The Instituto Veracruzano de Cultura works alterationthat appliesalso to other tropical areasin Mexico. mainly to maintain cultural traditions within the State of Veracruz. Several of its programsare con- Raptors are often shot by farmers and hunters cerned with the restoration of traditional methods of evenwhen it is not permittedby law. Most of the natural resourcemanagement. It is now realizedthat huntersin Veracruz are not able to identify native speciesor to recognizescientific names in hunting the conservationof natural diversityand socialdi- calendarsso that hunting regulationsare rarely fol- versitygo together.This institutionhas 57 Casasde lowed.Raptors are especiallyvulnerable to hunting Cultura (Culture Houses)throughout the Statethat offer logisticsupport for studentsworking on their during fall migration,when huntersseeking White- "Social Service." wingedDoves (Zenaida asiatica) kill large numbers of birdsof preyat E1Viej6n, Veracruz (R.S. Aguilar Training of local peopleis important becausethe peps.comm.). successof tropical forest conservationdepends on Pesticidepollution constitutes another threat. Al- localenthusiasm and participation.A major problem bert et al. (1989) found organochlorinecompounds in this area is language.Few studentsin Veracruz in brain, liver and adiposetissue samples of an Or- speakEnglish, and few American raptor biologists speakSpanish. One solutionto thisconundrum would nate Hawk-Eagle from Santa Marta, in Los Tux- tlas, Veracruz. Additional researchis neededto de- be to have Latin American studentsspend several months interning in North America to allow them termine the impact of pesticidesin raptor populations to learn English and to prepare them for future in this region. Aguilar (in pressb) found that in Xalapa, Ve- interactionswith their northern colleagues.They racruz, the Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Kite, would alsothen be availableto teach Spanishto the Crested Caracara and the American Kestrel are fre- North American counterparts. quentlytraded in local markets;during fall migra- Other, more advanced,students could begin grad- tion other speciesare trapped and sold in Mexico uate studiesin North America if financial support were available. Upon their return to Latin America City (R.S. Aguilar peps.comm.). they wold form the nucleusof a local raptor group. Raptor biologistsvisiting Latin America should COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND offer to give talks or workshopsto interestedlocal MANAGEMENT SCHEMES inhabitants. Also, when North American scientists Despitethese problems Veracruz, Mexico, has 67 plan researchprojects in Latin America,they should speciesof raptors (Table 1), and recentchanges in hire local field assistants.Furthermore, many Mex- the roles of local universities,together with a grow- ican universities allow foreign advisers, enabling ing concernamong the civilianpopulation, offer hope. North American scientiststo direct graduate stu- Several institutions,including the Universidad dents in Mexico. Veracruzana (U.V.), the Universidad Nacional Au- Although protectedareas in Veracruz cover 1% t6noma de M6xico (U.N.A.M.), the Instituto de of the state (Flores and Gerez 1988), only at the EcologiaA.C., the InstitutoVeracruzano de Cultura Estaci6n de Biologla Tropical de Los Tuxtlas (IVEC), and an emerging local ornithologicalso- (U.N.A.M.) is there appreciablevigilance. For ex- 186 JUANESTEBAN MARTiNEZ-GOMEZ VOL. 26, NO. 3

Table 1. Raptorspecies reported for Veracruz,Mexico. 1

ENGLISH NAME SPANISH NAME 2 SCIENTIFIC NAME BlackVulture b3 Carrofierocom6n Coragypsatratus Turkey Vulture b Aura com6n Cathartesaura Lesser Yellow Vulture Aura sabanera Cathartes burrovianus King Vulture Carrofiero rey Sarcoramphuspapa Ospreym Aguila pescadora Pandionhaliaetus Gray-headedKite Milano cabecigris Leptodoncayanensis Hook-billed Kite Milano piquiganchudo Chondrohieraxuncinatus Swallow-tailed Kite m Milano tijereta Elanoidesforficatus White-tailed Kite Milano coliblanco Elanus caeruleus Snail Kite Milano caracolero Rostrhamus sociabilis Double-toothedKite Milano bidentado Harpagusbidentatus MississippiKite m Milano migratorio Ictinia mississippiensis PlumbeousKite Milano plomizo Ictinia plumbea BaldEagle r .•guilacabeciblanca Haliaeetusleucocephalus Northern Harrier m Aguililla rastrera Circuscyaneus Sharp-shinnedHawk m Gavilfin pechirrufomenor Accipiterstriatus BicoloredHawk Gavilfin pechigris Accipiterbicolor Cooper'sHawk m Gavilfin pechirrufomayor Accipitercooperii Crane Hawk Aguililla zancona Geranospizacaerulescens White Hawk Aguililla bianca Leucopternisalbicollis Common Black Hawk Aguililla negra menor Buteogallusanthracinus Great Black Hawk Aguililla negra mayor Buteogallusurubitinga Harris' Hawk Aguililla rojinegra Parabuteounicinctus Black-collaredHawk Aguililla canela Busarellusnigricollis SolitaryEagle .•guilasolitaria Harpyhaliaetussolitarius Gray Hawk Aguililla gris Buteonitidus RoadsideHawk Aguililla caminera Buteomagnirostris Red-shoulderedHawk b Aguililla pechirrojiza Buteolineatus Broad-wingedHawk m Aguililla migratoriamenor Buteoplatypterus Short-tailedHawk Aguililla braquiura Buteobrachyurus Swainson'sHawk m Aguililla migratoria mayor Buteoswainsoni White-tailed Hawk Aguililla coliblanca Buteoalbicaudatus Zone-tailed Hawk Aguililla aura Buteoalbonotatus Red-tailed Hawk Aguililla colirrufa Buteojamaicensis Harpy Eagle Aguililla Harpia Harpia harpyja Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle Aguililla vientriblanca Spizasturmelanoleucus BlackHawk-Eagle .•guilatirana Spizaetustyrannus OrnateHawk-Eagle .•guilaelegante Spizaetusornatus Red-throated Caracara u Caracara comecacao Daptriusamericanus CrestedCaracara Caracara com6n Polyborusplancus LaughingFalcon Halc6n guaco Herpetotherescachinnans Barred Forest-Falcon Halc6n selv•ticomenor Micrasturruficollis Collared Forest-Falcon Halc6n selv•ticomayor Micrastursemitorquatus AmericanKestrel b Halc6n cernicalo Falcosparverius Merlin m Halc6n esmerej6n Falcocolumbarius AplomadoFalcon Halc6n fajado Falcofemoralis Bat Falcon Halc6n enano Falcorufigularis Orange-breastedFalcon Halc6n pechicaneloselvfitico Falcodeiroleucus PeregrineFalcon m Halc6n peregrino Falcoperegrinus Prairie Falcon m Halc6n pfilido Falcomexicanus Barn Owl Lechuza de campanario Tyto alba SEPTEMBER 1992 RAPTOR CONSERVATION IN VERACRUZ 187

Table 1. Continued.

ENGLISH NAME SPANISHNAME 2 SCIENTIFIC NAME

Flammulated Owl Tecoloteojioscuro serrano Otusflarnrneolus Whiskered Screech-Owl Tecolote r•tmico Otustrichopsis Vermiculated Screech-Owl Tecolote crescendo Otusguatemalae Crested Owl Bfiho corniblanco Lophostrixcristata SpectacledOwl Bfiho gorjiblanco Pulsatrixperspicillata Great Horned Owl Bfiho cornado americano Bubo virginianus Least Pygmy-Owl Tecolotito menor Glaucidiurn rninutissirnurn FerruginousPgymy-Owl Tecolotito bajefio Glaucidium brasilianurn Burrowing Owl Tecolote zanc6n Athene cunicularia Mottled Owl Bfiho tropical Ciccabavirgata Black-and-White Owl Bfihoblanquinegro Ciccabanigrolineata Barred Owl Bfiho serrano ventriblanco Strix varia Stygian Owl Bfiho cornado oscuro Asiostygius Striped Owl Bfiho cornado cariblanco Asio clamator Short-eared Owl m Bfiho cornicorto 11anero Asio.flamrneus Northern Saw-Whet Owl Tecolote abetero nortefio Aegoliusacadicus I FromPeterson and Chalif (1989), Schaldach (pers. comm.), Sada et al. (1987),Loetscher (1941, 1955), and Lowery and Dalquest (1951). 2 Spanishnames vary within the State. The namesused here should be consideredas a reference. 3Letters refer to populationstatus: b = migratoryand resident populations; m = migratory;r = rarewinter visitor; u = uncertain numbers,unlettered species are residents. ample, the rainforestin the San Martin and Santa lar and William Schaldach for their authorization to cite Marta volcanoes,and the Uxpanapa region, are in unpublishedmaterial; and Miriam Ramos for her help urgent needof protectionsince their fragmentation typing the manuscript. is affectingforest dwelling raptors. A localcommittee LITERATURE CITED should develop a network to alert northern col- AGUILAR,R.S. In pressa. Las avesde Los Tuxtlas. In leaguesabout the situationof theseareas, and other Historia Natural de Los Tuxtlas. Editorial Univer- issues,including the bird trade, such a committee sidadVeracruzana. Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. should inform local authorities and decisionmakers. In pressb. E1 comerciode aves silvestresvivas During springmigration more than 250 000 rap- en Xalapa. La Cienciay el Hombre. Editorial Univer- tors have been recordedpassing through Veracruz sidadVeracruzana. Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. (Thiollay 1980, Tilly et al. 1990). Hawk Mountain AGUILAR-ORTIZ,F. 1970. Aves en peligro de extincion SanctuaryAssociation, Hawk Watch International, en Mgxico. INIREB, Cuadernosde Divulgaci6nNo. 6, Xalapa, Mexico. and the Mexican group Ecosfera are currently ALBERT,L., C. BARCENAS,A. MARTINEZ AND E. Ii•IGO. studying migration in Veracruz. Funding for re- 1989. Determinaci6nde plaguididasorganoclorados search,monitoring, and educationremains a major en Aguila Elegante(Spizaetus ornatus) de la Sierra de problem,and today there are few opportunitiesto Santa Marta, Veracruz. Joint Meeting of the Raptor work as a biologistin Veracruz. ResearchFoundation and ICBP World Working Group Ecotourismin Veracruz is an exciting prospect of Birds of Prey. Veracruz, Mexico. becauseof the multitude of bird speciesand the ALCORN,J.B. 1983. E1 Te'lom Huasteco:Presente, Pa- varied vegetativetypes. These attributes,together sadoy Futuro de un Sistemade SilviculturaIndigena. with more than 40 archaeologicalsites (Winfield Bidtica 8:315-325. 1991), make Veracruz a natural site for the devel- COATES-ESTRADA,R. AND A. ESTRADA. 1985. Lista de las aves de la Estaci6n de Biologia de Los Tuxtlas opment of this type of conservationeffort. Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mgxico, D.F. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Mexico. I thank Thomas Laura for sponsoringme as a member DE LA FUENTE, B. 1975. Las cabezascolosales olmecas. of RRF; Laurie Goodrich,Eduardo Ifiigo, Ricardo Rod- Testimonios del Fondo de Cultura Econ6mica. Mgx- riguez,Frances Hamerstrom, and Keith Bildsteinfor their ico, D.F. Mgxico. commentsand suggestionson the manuscript;Sergio Agui- DIRZO, R. 1987. Estaci6n de Biologla de Los Tuxtlas. 188 JUAN ESTEBANMAP, TiNEZ-GOMEZ VOL. 26, NO. 3

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