New Content-wide Assessment of Raptor Population Trends
(Posted 2012-02-01)
A new report by the Raptor Population Index (RPI) Project shows that the majority of the 26 species of migratory raptors across North America are either recovering or in stable condition.
HMANA Research Award
(Posted 2011-12-01)
The HMANA Research Award supports field studies relating to raptor migration ecology and behavior, population monitoring, and conservation.
Hawkwatcher's Exchange forum
(Posted 2011-03-15)
A place where hawkwatch sites can post job notices for counters or volunteers or where counters can offer their services. It is also a forum for general raptor-related announcements and regional discussions
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Hawk Migration Association of North America
2010 COSTA RICA Birding and Raptor Migration Tour
OCTOBER 15-24, 2010
HAWK MIGRATION ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA
RAPTOR MIGRATION IN COSTA RICA
Guides: Julie Tilden and Daniel Martínez
Join us for an exciting tour through Costa Rica as we explore a wide diversity of habitat types and the large-scale migration of Neo-tropical raptors!
10 day tour: 15-24 October 2010.
Cost: HMANA members $2,250; Non-members $2,450. Price does not include airfare to San José, Costa Rica.
Initial deposit: $500 to reserve space (first come, first serve). Refundable until 1 July 2010.
Single supplement: $250
Maximum participants: 12 (if under six participants, trip will be subject to small group tier pricing of $250)
The above net prices include all lodging and transportation within Costa Rica, one tour leader, entrance fees to all parks and reserves, most meals, and the services of one local bilingual naturalist/guide. Not included are 2-3 meals, any alcoholic beverages, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service, etc.), gratuities, and airport departure tax (currently US$26).
Costa Rica is one of
the world’s most popular birding destinations. It has a stable
government, warm and friendly people, a low crime rate, good
infrastructure, and a well-developed eco-tourism model. It has the
largest national park system in the world in relation to its size
which protects stunning scenery and includes a wide diversity of
habitats such as cloud forest, volcanoes, tropical rainforest,
mangroves, and beaches. This small country hosts approximately 890
species of birds – about as many as occur within the United States
and Canada combined – and among the greatest levels of biodiversity
in the world for its size.
HMANA’s 10-day trip
to Costa Rica will explore a variety of the country’s diverse
ecosystems including the Caribbean coastal & Pacific lowland rain
forests, the Central highlands and a volcano, mangrove swamps, and
the dry forest. A central part of the trip will be two full days
visiting the Kèköldi Hawk Watch, one of the greatest raptor
migration hotspots in the world. Other highlights of this trip
include observing up to 300 species of birds, numerous reptiles,
including crocodiles, and diverse plant life. This tour includes
eight full and active days of birding and sightseeing with moderate
drives between locations. Several days in each eco-region will allow
us a relaxed pace to absorb some of the rich culture and easy-going
Costa Rican lifestyle that typifies this country’s unique charm.
For more tour information, contact Julie Tilden at tilden@hmana.org, (781) 264-0778.
The Guides:
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Julie Tilden is the Monitoring Site Coordinator for HMANA and will be the tour leader for the trip. She has worked as a raptor biologist for many years and studied raptor migration at the Kèköldi hawkwatch during two fall seasons. In addition to working at the hawkwatch as a counter, she helped manage the Migratory Raptor Conservation Project there and researched Peregrine Falcon migration for her Masters Thesis. |
 Julie Tilden scans for peregrines at the Kèköldi hawkwatch. |
 Daniel Martinez catches a Spectacled Owl in one of his mist nets at the Kèköldi Banding Station.
| Daniel Martínez is our birding guide for the trip. He is the Coordinator for the Kèköldi Hawk Watch and Bird Monitoring and Conservation Program within the Kèköldi Indigenous Reserve. He is an avid birder, bander and leads tours regularly throughout Costa Rica. |
| As a special bonus, Richard Garrigues, naturalist, videographer and author of the field guide: Birds of Costa Rica, will be joining us as our primary guide for the last two days of the tour. Richard’s extensive birding knowledge of the Carara area will be a great resource to the group as we explore this area. |
 Richard Garrigues (left) leads a group of birders at La Selva.
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More information:
Trip Overview