Bird Banding Data for Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize 2017-2018

Study Extent

Data was collected at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize from November 2017 to March 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 are checked every half hour for six hours. Birds caught in the nets 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. The data set was collected using the MoSI protocol.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) is a protected area in the south-central part of Belize co-managed by the Belize Forest Department and a Non-Governmental Organization, Belize Audubon Society. CBWS is comprised of a tropical moist forest with warm temperatures and high rainfall. Elevation extremes are 50 m (160 ft) above sea level in the lower reaches to 1,160 m (3,810 ft) atop Victoria Peak, the second highest elevation in Belize. CBWS is also recognized internationally as the world’s first Jaguar reserve.