Bird Banding Data for Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve, Belize 2018

Study Extent

Data was collected at Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve from February to March 2018.

Sampling

The data was collected following the MoSI protocol. Since Freshwater Creek Forest reserve is a rather small area, 12 mist-nets were set up covering approximately 7 hectares. The station is operated for three days per month from November to March. Mist-nets are opened at sunrise and are checked every half hour for a total of six. Birds caught in the nets are safely extracted and taken back to a processing station where they are identified to species level and data on fat, age, sex, weight etc. are collected. 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.

Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve (FCFR) is a protected area in the north-eastern part of the Corozal District with a small portion in the Orange Walk District and is co-managed by the Belize Forest Department and non-governmental organization, Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative. FCFR is comprised of seasonal broadleaf tropical forest and calcareous soils and the study area is particularly characterized by secondary growth forest and overgrown agricultural lands. Since much of the forest in FCFR has been degraded, CSFI has planted hardwood trees such as Mahogany.