Bird Banding Data for Shipstern Conservation and Management Area, Belize 2017-2018

Study Extent

Data was collected at Shipstern Conservation & Management Area on November 2017 and January 2018.

Sampling

The data was collected following the MoSI protocol in which 16 mist-nets are set up at a station covering approximately 9 hectares. The station is operated for three days per month from November to March. Mist-nets are opened at sunrise and checked every half hour for a total of six hours per day. Birds caught are safely extracted and taken back to a processing station where they are identified to the species level and data is collected on fat, age, sex, weight etc. All resident and migrant songbirds captured in the nets are banded except for hummingbirds.

Quality Control

The station is operated by experienced and certified bird banders and assistants. Ageing and sexing resources and materials are used to properly age and sex birds and photos are taken for references.

Method steps

1. This data set was collected using the MoSI protocol.

Shipstern Conservation & Management Area (SCMA) is a protected area owned and managed by the Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative. It is located in the north-east part of Belize in the Corozal District. SCMA protects approximately 21, 500 acres and includes a variety of habitats centered around the Shipstern lagoon. These habitats include various seasonal forest types and the semi-deciduous Yucatan Forest.