On January 5, 2025, 37 participants spent over 18 hours counting and recording 152 unique species and 1,365 total birds along several routes in Puerto Lara, Panama.
The Puerto Lara birders were joined by Wounaan bird guides from Rio Hondo and Rio Platanares as well as birders from across Panama and the United States. This multi-community and multi-national crew was again organized and led by Wounaan Christmas Bird Count (CBC) coordinator and compiler, Jairo Cheucarama.
While this was the 7th year the count was held in Puerto Lara, this was actually the 125th Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Every year between December 14 and January 5, tens of thousands of volunteer birders participate in these counts across the Western Hemisphere. This 125 years worth of data helps make up the largest existing pool of information on bird populations and migrations in the world.
For the actual count, each team takes a route within a 15-mile-wide circle. A compiler is responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations directly to Audubon. Along each route, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day—not just the species but total numbers to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population.
The Christmas Bird Count provides a comprehensive picture of how bird populations have changed over the past hundred years. This data has been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles over the years. This data is also used to measure how birds are already responding to climate change. With over 1,000 species of birds - one- third of which are migratory species - Panama is an excellent location to gather data on bird populations in the Western Hemisphere
One participant from Colon told us that several participants were trying a CBC in each province of Panama in the same year. The Puerto Lara count in the only count in the province of Darien.
18-year old birder Moises Puchicama, from Rio Platenares, loves bird-watching and guiding others to catch a glimpse of the amazing wildlife diversity in his homeland. “The bird count and learning to be a guide is a way for me to continue my education," Moises says.
Wounaan offer regular birding opportunities that help support economic development and ecosystem conservation in Wounaan communities. Birds are important to Wounaan because they are part of their culture and way of life. Read more about it in An Adventure of Wounaan Children and Many Birds.
Interested in joining next year’s CBC tour? Drop us an email.
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