The Belize Audubon Society held an "Introduction to Bird Banding" training from October 8-11 at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. This training is part of ongoing efforts to enhance bird monitoring skills and capacity building across the country. As bird populations face growing challenges from habitat loss and climate change, such initiatives are crucial for understanding and protecting Belize’s rich biodiversity.
The workshop was led by UB-ERI’s Avian Biologist, a certified trainer with the North American Banding Council (NABC), and supported by two NABC-certified assistant banders from the Belize Audubon Society, Miguel Sho and Salustino Peck. Together, they guided thirteen participants from various conservation organizations, including the Belize Audubon Society, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, and UB-ERI, through the fundamentals of bird banding and monitoring.
Over the four days, participants received practical, hands-on experience, learning key techniques such as setting up mist-nets, safely extracting birds from nets, banding, processing data, and managing bird monitoring operations. Importantly, all bird banding activities were conducted under the appropriate permits and in compliance with strict protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of the birds involved.
This training represents important step to support Belize’s bird monitoring capacity, contributing to broader conservation goals aimed at preserving the country's diverse avian species for future generations.
