Monitoring and mapping broadleaf mountain forests of southern Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic

Abstract

One of the most important wintering regions for Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in the Dominican Republic is Bahoruco National Park, which is also a core area within the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve. Bahoruco’s humid, broadleaf mountain forests are one of the most critically endangered habitats on Hispaniola, not just for Bicknell’s Thrush, but for overall biodiversity. Between 2007 and 2008, Grupo Jaragua, with support from American Bird Conservancy, conducted studies on migratory birds in the broadleaf forests of the southern slopes of Sierra de Bahoruco (Dominican Republic), and identified and established a bird watching trail near the community of Los Arroyos, in the southwest corner of the Park. Because of this, we decided to explore a larger area of forest there to establish its importance for Bicknell’s Thrush and other birds, as well as to map its extent, road access and document existing threats.