Partners In Flight--La Tangara: December 2000

On April 15, 2001, Luis German Naranjo will leave his position as Director of International Programs to take a

new position with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as Coordinator of the Ecoregional Program for the Northern

Andes, based in Cali, Colombia. Luis will continue helping ABC to coordinate the ReCovering Paradise

Program and provide advice for the development of the programs that he was involved with during the last two

years. All of us involved in bird conservation in the Americas congratulate Luis on his work developing new

bird conservation programs at ABC and wish him all the best in his new position. For information on ABC's

international programs contact: George Fenwick, President, American Bird Conservancy, PO Box 249, The

Plains, VA 20198, USA, Tel: (540) 253-5780, Email: gfenwick@abcbirds.org

SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

ABC announces the latest recipients of funding for bird conservation, with support from the US Fish and

Wildlife Service and the World Parrot Trust. The "Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecologicas de las Yungas"

will examine the role of wild birds as indicators of the conservation value of piedmont forests in Bolivia and

Argentina. "Project Ognorhynchus" will initiate a research and conservation project in the Central Andes of

Colombia to protect the Rufous-fronted Parakeet (Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons). "ProAves Peru" will carry

out work conducive to strengthening the Zona Reservada de Laquipampa as a way to protect the globally

threatened White-winged Guan. In Ecuador, CECIA will start a conservation project to protect and restore the

high Andean native forests of Yanacocha in the northwest Pichincha, in order to increase the chances of

survival of the endangered Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis). In Nicaragua, Fundacion Cocibolca

will develop mechanisms for facilitating the participation of landowners and local governments in the

conservation of important bird areas. Finally, "Guyra Paraguay" will continue the identification of priority sites

for conservation action in the Paraguayan Atlantic Forest. For further information contact: George Fenwick,

President, American Bird Conservancy, PO Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198, USA, Tel: (540) 253-5780, Email:

RED MACAW UNDER GREAT DANGER OF EXTINCTION

There are less than 1000 Red Macaws (Ara macao) in populations of Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. In the last

50 years, more than 90% of this species has been lost from its natural environment in Mexico, surviving only

two small populations in the Oaxaca and Chiapas ecosystems. In Guatemala, the remaining birds are found in a

few places in the Peten forest. Chiquipul and Red Bank are the only regions in Belize where the macaws are

found; their nesting sites are endangered because of the construction of a limited -profit hydroelectric dam.

Different threats cause the disappearance of this species: the criminal looting of chicks and adults for ornament

purposes, the massive destruction of their habitat, and the expansion of agriculture and livestock. On account of

these threats, a group of researchers, NGO's, and governmental agencies from Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

met from February 6-9 in the "Chajul" Tropical Biological Station, Chiapas, Mexico, to define an action plan to

protect the species. The meeting was attended by representatives of Belize Zoo (Belize); Defensores de la

Naturaleza (Guatemala); Conservation International (Guatemala and Mexico), the Guatemalan National

Committee of Protected Areas (CONAP as initialed in Spanish); the Institute of Natural History of Chiapas; the

"Montes Azules" Biosphere Reserve (Mexico); and the Institute of Ecology of UNAM (Universidad Nacional

Autonoma de Mexico). The participants of Mexico and Belize were incorporated into a Guatemalan initiative

that seeks to integrate the conservation efforts in the program "Guacamaya Sin Fronteras". For further

information contact; in Mexico: Gerardo Carreon Arroyo, Instituto de Ecologia, UNAM, Tel: (52-5) 622 9004,

Email: gca@hp.fciencias.unam.mx, or Eduardo Iñigo, Email: einigo-elias@worldnet.att.net ; in Belize: Sharon

Matola, Belize Zoo, Tel: (501) 81 3004 / 81 3010, Email: belizezoo@btl.net; in Guatemala: Marie Claire Paiz,

Defensores de la Naturaleza, Tel: (502) 926-3095, Email: mcpaiz@defensores.org.gt

NEW NFWF-NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION AGREEMENT

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recently signed an agreement with the National Park

Service and National Park Foundation to implement the "Park Flight" program. Its main goal is bird

conservation through conservation projects in North and Central America, personnel exchange, and technical

training workshops in areas of environmental interpretation and field techniques for ornithological studies.

NFWF will be managing the program in Central America, and the National Park Foundation will do so in the

United States. Both foundations will have the support of the National Park Service and the program

coordinator, Ms. Carol Beidleman. The information for the application process and the selection of projects

will soon be sent out, along with any possible technical assistance. As part of the program, NFWF has hired

Ingrid Arias as coordinator of the Partners in Flight Group - Mesoamerica. Her main activities will be to assist

with the development of the projects, organize workshops, and provide technical assistance. Ms. Arias can be

contacted at avesnfwf@guate.net, or at: (502) 363-5014 / 15. For further information on the program contact:

Megan Hill, Regional Director, NFWF, 5 Avenida 20-17, Zona 14, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Tel: (502) 363-

5014, Fax: (502) 363-5015, Email: megan@guate.net.

NFWF ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE RECENT BIRD CONSERVATION GRANTS

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announces its latest recipients of funding for bird

conservation, made possible by the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation program, a partnership between

NFWF and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In Mexico, Pronatura Veracruz will

compile and exchange Mexico's environmental education resources to promote the conservation of neotropical

migratory birds and their habitats. Pronatura Chiapas will establish a tri-national monitoring system to track the

presence of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) in its wintering grounds in

Chiapas, eastern Guatemala, and western Honduras. Amigos de Sian Ka'an will work to instill a culture of bird

appreciation in key communities associated with five coastal reserves on the Yucatan Peninsula that are

important to migratory and local endemic bird species. They will conduct training, educational workshops and

work to promote bird-based tourism. The Island Conservation and Ecology Group, working in northwestern

Mexico islands of Baja California, will collaborate with Mexican government agencies and local partners to

save migratory seabirds and endemic species, including the two most endangered birds in Mexico, by removing

the introduced mammals from these islands. Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda will integrate bird themes into the

environmental education curriculum of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve schools and create a bird habitat by

planting 120,000 trees on school grounds. In Jamaica, Birdlife Jamaica plans to establish the Jamaican

Important Bird Areas program through research, training, and monitoring, to ensure the long-term conservation

of a network of critically important sites for birds that collectively encompass all Jamaican ecosystems. For

additional information contact: Megan Hill, Regional Director, NFWF, 5 Avenida 20-17, Zona 14, Guatemala

City, Guatemala, Tel: (502) 363-5014, Fax: (502) 5015, Email: megan@guate.net; or Emily Hayes,

International Program Coordinator, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite

900, Washington, DC 20036, USA, Tel: (202) 857-0166, Fax: (202) 857-0162, Email: hayes@nfwf.org. To

check for application instructions visit: www.nfwf.org and look for the Neotropical Migratory Bird

Conservation Program.

NEW WEB SITE ON CONSERVATION INITIATIVES

The Rainforest Alliance's Conservation Media Center announces Eco-Index, a bilingual web site that provides

information on conservation initiatives underway in Mexico and Central America. The site's main feature is a

database that can be searched by project category, country, organization, and/or project donor. When the site

was activated on January 30, 2001, the database included information, in English and Spanish, about more than

70 projects of some 60 conservation groups, individual researchers, and government agencies. The information

used in the Index is provided by project directors, who completed a 20-question survey that asks for brief

descriptions of objectives, accomplishments, anticipated accomplishments for the coming year, methods of

monitoring and evaluation, and lessons learned. Organizations that wish to share reports or studies can make

them available for downloading directly on the site, and can post links to their own homepages or other relevant

web sites. For further information, or to request a questionnaire, contact: Diane Jukofsky, Director,

Conservation Media Center, Rainforest Alliance, Apdo. 138-2150, Moravia, Costa Rica, Email: eco-

THE SALVADORAN BIOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION

The Salvadoran Biologist Association (ABES as initialed in Spanish), founded in 1999, is a non-profit

organization with a scientific and conservationist approach. The association embraces all Salvadoran biologists,

and seeks to promote scientific growth of its members through the development of research in the fields of

nature conservation, environmental education and biotechnology; as well as the exchange of experiences,

inquiries and knowledge with biologists from the region and the rest of the world. The two main offices of the

association are located at the School of Biology of the University of El Salvador, and at the Ministry of

Agriculture. The organization welcomes feedback from conservationists and biologists in the region in order to

start as soon as possible joint projects, training, exchange of voluntary consultants and other resources. For

further information contact: Oscar Wilfredo Paz, Apartado 2490, San Salvador, El Salvador, Tel: (503) 272-

PROJECT ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF ROUTES USED BY MIGRATORY BIRDS OF PREY

The project is being carried out since 1995 by FUNDAECO, with the collaboration of Hawk Mountain

Sanctuary, Hawkwatch International, Idea Wild, Guatemalan Conservation Trust (FCG as initialed in Spanish),

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Pronatura Veracruz, and biology students. The main purpose of the

research is the identification and documentation of the migratory routes used by diurnal migratory birds of prey

in Guatemala, applying the methodology of counting and direct identification. Two routes have been identified,

the main one is located in the Pacific plain, counting more than 250,000 birds a day. The second route was

found to be in the Atlantic coast of Guatemala, with approximately 85,000 birds counted a day during peak

times. The reported species that use Guatemala as a migration point are: Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura),

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus), Swainson's Hawk (B. swaisoni), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus),

Merlin (F. columbarius), American Kestrel (F. sparverius), Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus), Cooper's

Hawk (A. cooperii), Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis), and the Swallowed-tailed Kite (Elanoides

forficatus). One of the specific objectives of the research is the use of this natural phenomenon as a tool for the

environmental education of communities that reside near these routes. For further information contact: Jorge O.

Aguilar, Coordinador del Proyecto, FUNDAECO, 7 calle "A" 20-53 Zona 11, Colonia Mirador, Ciudad

Guatemala, Guatemala, Tel: (502) 440-4609 / 440-4615 / 474-3660 / 514-2878, Email: fundaeco@quetzal.net

MONITORING BIRDS IN "LOS GUATUZOS" WILDLIFE REFUGE-NICARAGUA

Monitoring of seabirds and landbirds was carried out at the "Los Guatuzos" Wildlife Refuge, the only wetland

system of international value in Nicaragua between February 1999 and May 2000. The purpose of the research

was to increase the scientific knowledge of birds by detecting important bird areas for resident and migratory

bird conservation. 284 bird species, migratory and resident, were identified in the Refuge. From these, 34

species are found to be in an indefinite national closed hunting, and 18 species have a partial national closed

hunting, according to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA, as initialed in

Spanish). 45 additional species were incorporated to the Refuge's bird list, and 10 species are new records for

Nicaragua. The project had the financial support of the organization "Amigos de la Tierra / España" (ATENIC)

and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) with the participation of local communities. For further

information contact: Osmar Arroliga or Heidi Herrera-Rosales, Fundacion Amigos del Rio San Juan, Tel: 505-

GUATEMALA

The project had the support of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Conservation Trust of

Guatemala (FCG as initialed in Spanish) during its initial stage. The authors are now requesting funds for the

final stage of the design and distribution of the product. The guide includes listings of birds, descriptions of the

sites, and tourist accessibility to the fourteen sites in Guatemala, which were each briefly described. The sites

were chosen according to the abundance and/or scarcity of birds, infrastructure accessibility, and protection

status. The field guide comprises a series of drawings of the most important birds and their habitats; as well as

maps showing the access ways to each of the sites. A chapter on the history of Ornithology in Guatemala was

also included. For further information, or if you are interested in supporting the project, contact: Raul Palma,

USFWS NATIONAL SHOREBIRD COORDINATOR

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the addition of Brad Andres to the Division of Migratory Bird

Management, branch of Bird Conservation, as the National Shorebird Coordinator. Since 1993, Brad has been

the landbird and shorebird coordinator for Alaska. In that role he undertook field projects, provided technical

assistance, coordinated statewide programs, and represented Alaska's interests on national and international

working groups. He has authored and co-authored over 45 technical papers and reports about birds, and has

been involved in over a dozen conservation plans and working group reports. As the National Shorebird

Coordinator, Brad is responsible for program activities such as: integrating shorebird activities into FWS

programs an d initiatives; providing technical support to FWS field offices on shorebird ecology and

management; monitoring and evaluating significant environmental and human induced factors impacting

shorebird populations; facilitating information exchange within and among regions and technical working

groups; among other responsibilities. Brad will begin with the Division in early March 2001, and will be

located at the USFWS Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. For further information contact: Brad Andres, Tel:

GUATEMALA

The purpose of the project is to educate local kids on bird conservation in the United Nations National Park of

Guatemala (PNNU as initialed in Spanish). The project is being sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation (NFWF) and the Guatemalan Conservation Trust (FCG as initialed in Spanish). This idea was

started as a response to the concern for the observed lack of knowledge and awareness of school-age kids that

frequently hurt animals for fun. The park was selected as a target site for conservation education because it is

located in a green area assigned for education and environmental recreation. The schools that are participating

in this bird project are from the municipalities of Amatitlan, Villa Nueva and Villa Canales; the project is

primarily aimed at children in elementary school, from first to sixth grade. The activity is carried out with

groups of 100 children, accompanied by the professors. These activities include lectures, evaluations of current

knowledge of bird status and conservation issues, and observation activities at the United Nations Park so that

the kids learn to identify the main bird species observed on this site. The groups are led by a guide, generally a

teacher or a volunteer of the group "Jovenes por la Naturaleza" that work in the activities organized at the Park.

Up to this point, the project has had a positive impact on the schools it has been adopted in. The children show

interest in learning about birds and how to identify them, and the recent evaluations display an increase in the

knowledge and awareness for the protection of birds. For further information contact: Ana Luisa Arias,

Fundacion Defensores de la Naturaleza, Tel: (502) 379-9999, Email: vvfan@yahoo.com

NEW IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROJECT IN MEXICO

The project is being sponsored by the Mexican Nature Conservation Fund. Its main goal is the implementation

of conservation actions in four prioritized Important Bird Areas in Mexico, selected based on varied

environments (terrestrial and aquatic) and number of species. The four areas are Marismas Nacionales, in the

Nothwest; Sierra de Arteaga, in the Northeast, Cuitzeo, in the Center; and El Triunfo, in the South. A

condensed conservation initiative will be developed with the communities, landowners, and NGO's, whose

main focus are birds, so that the activities brought up can be carried out in the project's second year. For further

information contact: Maria del Coro Arizmendi, Coordinadora del proyecto AICAS, Tel: (52) 5-6231130, Fax:

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GREEN VOLUNTEERS, the World Guide and Information Network that maintains an information network on

conservation volunteering, internships and work opportunities. The guide contains about 200 projects and

organizations worldwide where people can volunteer for short or long term positions. To submit your project

LISTSERV FOR THE SOCIETY OF CARIBBEAN ORNITHOLOGY. To subscribe send an email to:

RAPTOR INFORMATION SYSTEM (RIS) WEB SITE, at: http://ris.wr.usgs.gov. This database uses a

collection of about thirty thousand books, journals and other published accounts housed at the Olendorff Library

at Boise, Idaho. Anyone visiting the on-line address may do literature searches of raptor literature based on

keywords, authors, management topics, species, dates and other criteria in order to get citations from the

THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S PANEL ON EUTHANASIA, has released

THE "CONDOR" ON LINE: As of March 1, The Condor, was made available to libraries as part of the BioOne

database. You can check it out during the month of March by going to their website: http://www.bioone.org

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S NEW WEB SITE, at: http://science.nature.nps.gov/research, created for

its Research and Collecting Permits. The site covers all National Park Units in the United States.

Camera systems for photographing birds at: http://www.peeperpeople.com

Information on the recent Galapagos Oil Spill at: www.galapagos.org

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FORD FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

The Ford Foundation has launched an international graduate fellowships program and a complementary

undergraduate initiative to help prepare a new generation of future leaders for the environmental, social,

economic, and resource challenges of the 21st century. The $330 million commitment features a new Ford

Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) that will provide $280 million over the next 10 years to

support post-baccalaureate study for Fellows from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Russia.

The first stage of the program will begin with Vietnam, Russia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Chile and Peru. The

IFP will award 350 new graduate fellowships annually, assisting a total of 3,500 Fellows over the next decade.

An additional $50 million will support programs that seek to broaden opportunities for undergraduate education

in these regions. The graduate fellowships will support up to three years of master's or doctoral study at

universities anywhere in the world. The applicants must be citizens or residents of the country they are

applying from. Fellows will be selected on the basis of their leadership potential, academic excellence and

commitment to community or national development. For further information, or to obtain an application,

contact: In Chile; Fundacion Nacional para la Superacion de la Pobreza, Londres 33, Santiago, Chile, Tel/Fax:

(56-2) 638 09 03, Email: bpostgrado@funasupo.cl; or in Peru: Instituto de Estudio Peruanos, Horacio Urteaga

694 - Lima 11, Peru, Fax: (51-1) 332 61 73, Email: bpostgrado@iep.org.pe, or visit: http://www.fordfound.org/

SMALL GRANTS FOR WETLANDS PROGRAMME

The Netherlands Committee for IUCN (The World Conservation Union) administers a small grants programme

for projects aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands. Funds managed by this Small

Grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP) are provided by the Government of the Netherlands. SWP funds are

especially meant to support projects in the field of conservation and sustainable management of wetlands, set up

and implemented by non-governmental, local organizations (NGO's). SWP has drafted criteria for the selection

of projects to be funded, and a format for project proposals. Project proposals must be prepared according to

this format and projects must comply with these criteria. Furthermore, the programme will strive for a balanced

allocation of funds between regions and priority themes. Latin American countries in which NGO projects may

be funded by SWP are Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru. Deadlines for submission

of project proposals to SWP are of March 1st, July 1st and November 1st. For further information, or to obtain a

copy of the selection criteria and the application format, contact: Mr. Henri Roggeri and Ms. Esther Blom,

Netherlands Committee for IUCN, Small Grants for Wetlands Programme, Plantage Middenlaan 2B, 1018 DD

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: +31-20-6261732, Fax: +31-20-6279349, Email: henri.roggeri@nciucn.nl /

SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM ON HUMMINGBIRD RESEARCH

The Hummingbird Society announces its Small Grants Program for scientific research involving

hummingbirds, initially consisting of two grants for US$1,000 each. The aim of these awards is to expand the

research of hummingbird-related topics by providing an additional source of funding. Projects that focus on

fieldwork will be given preference, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, although laboratory

research will also be considered. The proposal must contain a one page project with the following

information: project title; name of the implementing organization and contact address; one paragraph

describing the project that the group is carrying out or is about to initiate, explaining why the project should be

considered; a clear account of responsibilities of the person using the funds within the project; what is the total

budget of the project, and how is it being funded. Deadline for receipt of proposals is May 1, 2001. For more

information, or to send a proposal, contact: Dr. H. Ross Hawkins, Small Grants Program, The Hummingbird

Society, PO Box 394, Newark, Delaware 19715, USA, Email: info@hummingbird.org

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COURSE ON ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION IN PANAMA

The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) in Panama will be offering a course on Ecology

and Conservation, July 8-31, 2001. The objective of the course will be to use nearby island resources to

identify environmental problems. Using ecology as a scientific base, the causes and effects of these problems

will be studied, with the idea of offering solutions to these problems. The course targets undergraduate and

graduate-level students who can read English and attend Latin American universities, and has a cost of $900

USD for Central and South American students. The cost for North American students is $1500 USD. Brazilian

students who would like to attend the course may do so if they can understand Spanish and can read in English.

For additional information contact: Jim Roper, Dep. Botanica, Setor de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad de

Federal do Parana, Centro Politecnico, Caixa Postal 19031, 81531-970 Curitiba, PR, Brazil, Tel: 55-41-366-

3144, ext. 112, Fax: 55-41-266-2042, Email: jjr@bio.ufpr.br, or visit: http://www.itec-edu.org/spanish.html

TRAINING PROGRAM IN CANADA FOR LATIN AMERICAN FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS

Bird Studies Canada/Long Point Bird Observatory is offering a 1-month course in advanced field techniques

pertaining to songbirds (mist netting, bird banding, aging and sexing, point counts, migration monitoring,

database management etc.). All training will occur at Long Point, located on the north shore of Lake Erie. This

course will be offered to Latin American field biologists/technicians who have a background in field

ornithology and who are seriously interested in upgrading their skills. A good working ability in English is

essential. Institutions and agencies in Latin America are encouraged to recommend potential candidates. This

month-long training course is being offered to a maximum of 3 qualified applicants during September 2001.

Bird Studies Canada provides air travel, field accommodation, food and instruction. Applications must be

received by April 30, 2001. For further information and applications contact: Latin American Program

Coordinator, Bird Studies Canada, P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada N0E 1M0, Tel: (519) 586-3531,

Fax: (519) 586-3532, Email: lpbo@bsc-eoc.org; or visit: www.bsc-eoc.org

TRAINING ON ECONOMIC TOOLS FOR ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION

The Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF), in partnership with Conservation International, is offering this training

from July 1-15, 2001, aimed at conservationists from the tropics. In this course participants study the principles

of natural resource and environmental economics, and get hands-on experience doing benefit-cost analysis, a

widely used tool for analyzing the economic benefits for projects and policies. The course is designed for

managers of conservation programs, directors of non-governmental organizations, and representatives of public

environmental agencies. Thanks to the support from the MacArthur Foundation, Mott Foundation and

Conservation International, the training is free for qualified representatives from developing country non-

governmental and governmental institutions. The cost for all others is $2,500 USD per participant. Interested

participants should send application by email, fax, or mail. The application deadline is April 15, 2001. For

further information, or to obtain an application, contact: Attn. Training, Conservation Strategy Fund, P.O. Box

153, Philo, CA 95466, USA, Tel: (707) 895-2999, Fax: (707) 895-2997, Email: training@conservation-

STUDENT NEEDED TO WORK IN PROJECT WITH CASSIN'S KINGBIRD IN MEXICO

The position required is to study the Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans) distribution pattern in Mexico

during the winter season. The species has resident populations (Pacific coast of Mexico), Nearctic migratory

(migration between North America and the Neotropical region), and intratropical migratory (migration between

the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn). During the winter, the three mentioned groups can be found

in the same sites. The student would analyze the behavior and ecology of the species during this season. To do

this, the work may be done in either the Biosphere Reserve Sierra de Huautla (UNAM) or the Scientific Station

Las Joyas (University of Guadalajara). The person in charge of the project would prefer that the selected

applicant first worked with her from April-July to learn more about the species, if available. Interested

applicants will need to send their CV and references. For further information, or to apply, contact: Isabelle-

Anne Bisson, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Biology, York University, Toronto (North York), ON M3J 1P3,

Canada, Tel: (416) 736-2100, ext. 66637, Email: ibisson@sympatico.ca

FELLOWSHIP FOR CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS FROM LATIN AMERICA AND THE

CARIBBEAN

The Quebec Labrador Foundation (QLF), Atlantic Center for the Environment, announces its 2001 Fellowship

program, which will consist of a four-week program that will focus on coastal conservation and marine

protected areas. The program will be open to individuals working as leaders, staff or volunteers with a Latin

American or Caribbean institution (NGO or a government agency) active in the areas of biodiversity

conservation, marine/coastal protected areas, landscape conservation, or rural community development.

Application deadline is April 2, 2001. For further information, or for full program details and additional

eligibility requirements contact: Brent Mitchell, Director, Stewardship Quebec-Labrador Foundation, Atlantic

Center for the Environment, 55 South Main Street, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA, Tel: +978-356-0038 x

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT NEEDED

An avian Biology Postdoctoral Research Associate is needed to assess landscape patterns of avian abundance

and distribution in limestone forests in north central Puerto Rico. The position would also entail assessing

spatial patterns of resource use (e.g., neighborhood, composition and spatial arrangement) by selected avian

species (e.g., tanagers), and offers possibilities for studies of demography and dispersal. Position will begin

between May 1-15, 2001. Interested candidates should send (via email) a letter of interest, CV, and email

addresses of three references. For further information, or to apply, contact: Dr. Jaime A. Collazo and Dr.

Jeffrey R. Walters, North Carolina State University, Box 7617, Dept. Zoology, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA,

INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE AT DUCKS UNLIMITED

The position will be as Conservation Intern for the Latin American and Caribbean Program, to be located in

Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The assignment's length is of 12 months, and the primary responsibilities will be to

assist the Latin American and Caribbean Program with projects, agreements, fund-raising and other related

program issues. Ideal candidate will have strong communication skills in English and Spanish; knowledge of

Portuguese language is a plus. Master of Science is preferred. To apply, send resume (maximum 2 pages) and

cover letter in either English or Spanish. For further information, or to apply, contact: Montserrat Carbonell,

Director, Latin American and Caribbean Program, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN

ORNITHOLOGIST NEEDED FOR PROJECT IN MEXICO

The Institute for Sustainable Development in Mesoamerica (IDSMAC as initialed in Spanish) is requesting an

ornithologist. The position will be carried out in a system of wetlands, which includes the municipalities of

Catazaja, Chiapas and other areas that surround the State of Tabasco. The main activities will be to give

continuity to the monitoring of birds, using the most advanced methodology. This includes social participation

with rural communities in the area. For further information contact: Luz Maria Rodriguez Saenz, Directora

General de IDSMAC; and/or Rosario Sanchez, Coordinador de Proyecto, Instituto para el Desarrollo

Sustentable en Mesoamerica A.C., Av. Cristobal Colon #35-B, Barrio El Cerrillo, San Cristobal de las Casas,

Chiapas, Mexico, Tel: 01-967-8-21-63 / 01-967-8-44-63, Email: idsmac@sancristobal.podernet.com.mx

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71st ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, April 18-20, 2001. The

meeting will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Potential topics for workshops include methods in

statistics, monitoring, grant writing, or Internet resources. Four symposia are planned: Wintering Grassland

Birds, Litigation in Ornithology, Conservation of Borderland Birds, and Techniques for Preserving Avian

Specimens. For further information contact: Scott Stoleson, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research

Station, 2205 Columbia SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, Email: sstoleson@fs.fed.us; or visit:

WADER STUDY GROUP SPECIAL SPRING 2001 MEETING, May 11-13, 2001, at the Marine Science

Consortium, Wallops Island, Virginia, USA. The central theme of this meeting is “Red Knots (Calidris

canutus)"in the Western Atlantic Flyway”, where speakers will present papers on Red Knot research in

Argentina, Brazil, Florida, the Arctic, and nearby Delaware Bay. Allan Baker of the Royal Ontario Museum

and Patricia Gonzalez of Fundacion Inalafquen will present the keynote address on Saturday evening that

summarizes their five years of research on Red Knots in the Western Atlantic Flyway. The deadline for

submitting abstracts is April 15, 2001. For further information contact: Barry Truitt, WSG Special Spring 2001

Meeting, The Nature Conservancy, Virginia Coast Reserve, P.O. Box 158, Nassawadox, VA 23413, USA, Tel:

(757) 442-3049, Fax: (757) 442-5418, Email: btruitt@tnc.org

2001 MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF CARIBBEAN ORNITHOLOGY, July 15-22, 2001. The meeting will

be held in Topes de Collante, Cuba. The planned workshops are: Neotropical Migratory Birds, GIS, Methods

for Studying Breeding Bird Biology, Fundraising for Projects, Waterfowl Monitoring and, Colonial Waterbirds,

Wetlands Education. The deadline for receipt of abstracts is March 30, 2001. Abstracts received after that date

will be accepted, but their publication in the meeting program is not guaranteed. For further information, or to

send an abstract, contact: Ellen Paul, Executive Director, The Ornithological Council, 3713 Chevy Chase Lake

Dr., Apt. 3, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA, Tel: (301) 986-8568, Email: epaul@concentric.net; in Cuba

contact: Lourdes Mujica, Facultad de Biologia, UH, 25 eJeI, Vedado, Ciudad Habana, Cuba, Email:

8th INTERNATIONAL WATERFOWL AND WETLANDS SYMPOSIUM, July 20-22, 2001. The symposium

will be held in Washington D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, sponsored by Ducks

Unlimited. Session topics include Watershed Health and Waterfowl, North American Waterfowl Management

Plan Checkup, The Future of Waterfowl, and Beyond North America. For more information contact: Brenda

Carlson, Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, USA, Tel: (901) 758-3707,

V INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN THE AMAZONIA AND LATIN

AMERICA, September 10-14, 2001, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The preliminary academic program

includes 15-minute short presentations and poster cycles, magisterial conferences, workshops, simposia, and

three short courses based on the event's central theme: definition and application of sustainable criteria. For

further information contact: Fundacion Natura, Apartado Aereo 55402, Calle 61 No. 4-26, Bogota, Colombia,

Tel: (571) 248-5820, Fax: (571) 346-1382, Email: quintocongreso@internodos.com; or visit:

V CONGRESS OF THE MESOAMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, October

15-19, 2001. The Congress will be held in San Salvador, El Salvador. For those interested in presenting a

paper or report, and/or organizing a symposium, please submit to: Eunice Echeverria, Email:

eeecheverria@hotmail.com, or Roberto Rivera, Email: rrbiosis@es.com.sv, with an attached copy to

mesoamerica2001@yahoo.com.mx. The deadline for submitting papers is May 31, 2001. For further

information contact: Juan Pablo Dominguez, Coordinador, Tel: (503) 270-0320, Email: simbios@es.com.sv; or

23rd INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS, August 11-17, 2002. The meeting is to be held in

Beijing, under the auspices of International Ornithological Committee. The Congress features ten plenary

lectures, 40 symposia, round-table discussions, oral presentations, and poster presentations. The deadline for

submission of abstracts is July 1, 2001. For further information, or to obtain a copy of the brochure, contact:

Liu Feng, Assistant Secretary General, 23rd. International Ornithological Congress, Email:

"PUERTO RICO'S BIRDS IN PHOTOGRAPHS", by Mark Oberle, 2000. Second Edition, Editorial

Humanitas, Washington, USA. Color photo book and computer CD-ROM with Audio Clips and 1250 photos,

softcover, 132 pages. Price: $29.95 USD. The book illustrates all of Puerto Rico's breeding birds and common

migrants. Most common birds of the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles are also illustrated. The accompanying

CD-ROM contains detailed Spanish and English life history accounts and bibliographies of 350 species. The

book is available from: Sociedad Ornitologica Puertorriqueña, PO Box 1112, Ciales, PR 00638-1112, Email:

**********************

NOTE: For thorough searches of the ornithological literature consult ROL in the web at:

Donegan, T. M. 2000. Is specimen taking of birds in the neotropics really "essential"? Ethical and practical

objections to further collection. Orn. Neo. 11: 263-267.

Mauricio, G. N. and R. A. Dias. 2000. New distributional information for birds in southern Rio Grande do Sul,

Brazil, and the first record of the Rufous Gnateater Conopophaga lineata for Uruguay. Bulletin British

Peterson A. T., & A. G. Navarro-Siguenza. 2000. A new taxon in the Amazilia viridifrons complex of southern

Mexico. Proceedings Biological Society Washington 113: 864-870.

Ribon, R. 2000. Lista preliminar da avifauna do municipio de Ijaci, Minas Gerais. Revista Ceres 47 (274): 1-

Simon, J. E.; Ribon, R, Mattos, G. T. e Abreu, C. R. M. 1999. A Avifauna do Parque Estadual da Serra do

Brigadeiro, Sudeste de Minas Gerais. Revista Arvore, 23 (1): 33-48.

Solorzaso, S; Castillo, C; Valverde, T; Avila, L. 2000. Quetzal abundance in relation to fruit availability in a

cloud forest in southern Mexico. Biotropica 32(3):523-532

Vuilleumier, F. 2000. Response: further collecting of birds in the neotropics is still needed. Orn. Neo. 11:

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LA TANGARA is the bimonthly newsletter of the International Working Group of Partners in Flight.

Contributions to the next issue are welcome (preferably by e-mail or diskette). Send materials and comments

to: Jose Manuel Zolotoff, Editor, Fundacion Cocibolca, Apartado C-212, Managua, Nicaragua. Email:

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LA TANGARA is edited by: Jose Manuel Zolotoff, Fundacion Cocibolca: P.O Box C-212, Managua,

Nicaragua, Tel: (505) 277-1681, Fax: (505) 270-0578, Email: zolotoff@ibw.com.ni. Reviewed by Luis German

Naranjo, American Bird Conservancy, P.O.Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198, USA, Tel: (540) 253-5780, Fax:

(540) 253-5782, Email: lnaranjo@abcbirds.org; Megan Hill, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 5

Avenida, 20-17, Zona 14, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, Tel: (502) 363-5014, Fax: (502) 363-5015, Email:

hill@nfwf.org; Borja Mila, Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California - Los

Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Dr. South, P.O. Box 951606, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA, Tel: (310)

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THIS ELECTRONIC EDITION OF LA TANGARA WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: IBW

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