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Final Report: Pre-construction Study of Bats and Birds at Cerro Izopo, Honduras
Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus ), 20 September 2013 (Photo Roselvy Juárez)
30 September 2013
Oliver Komar, Ph.D., Principal Investigator José Mora, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator John van Dort, M.A., Field Coordinator
Centro Zamorano de Biodiversidad
Departamento de Ambiente y Desarrollo
Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (Zamorano)
San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Contacts: [email protected], [email protected]
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1
SUMMARY 2
INTRODUCTION 2
DESCRIPTION OF AREA 2
METHODS 3
BATS 4 BIRDS 5
RESULTS 6
BATS 6 BIRDS 8
DISCUSSION 14
BATS 14 BIRDS 14
REFERENCES 16
ANNEXES 17
ANNEX 1: BAT SPECIES DETECTED IN CERRO IZOPO, AREA 14, DURING SEPTEMBER 2013 17 ANNEX 2: BIRD SPECIES DETECTED IN CERRO IZOPO, AREA 14, DURING SEPTEMBER 2013 19 ANNEX 3: BAT CAPTURES WITH MIST-NETS PER POINT 23 ANNEX 4: BAT CAPTURES WITH HARP TRAP PER POINT 23 ANNEX 5: NUMBER OF RECORDINGS (ANABAT) PER SPECIES PER POINT 23 ANNEX 6: BIRDS RECORDED AT POINT COUNTS PER POINT (HIGH COUNT OF THREE SAMPLING
SESSIONS) PER SPECIES DURING SEPTEMBER 2013 24 ANNEX 7: PHOTO COLLAGE OF BAT SPECIES SAMPLED WITH MIST-NETS 26 ANNEX 8: EXAMPLES OF SONOGRAMS OF BAT VOCALIZATIONS OBTAINED DURING THE PRESENT
STUDY 28
Acknowledgements EEHSA provided the funding for this study. We wish to thank Scarleth Núñez of EEHSA for logistics support, as well as the following EEHSA Security Staff for their valuable assistance in the field: Héctor Ávila, Melvin Flores, Melvin García, Victor García, Alfredo Gómez, Rolando Mejía, Luis Rivera, José Ernesto Ruíz, and Keni Salazar. We also thank ICF for granting research permission, and Roselvy Juárez and Carlos Funes for collecting bat data in the field.
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Summary Preconstruction field work sampling bat and bird communities in Area 14 took place in September 2013. The presence of 18 bat species and 85 bird species was detected. All bat and bird species had been recorded in the Cerro de Hula wind facility previously. An average of 4.8 bat species and 13.9 bird species was found per sampling point. None of the bat species encountered has an IUCN conservation status other than Least Concern. Three of the bird species encountered have an IUCN status other than Least Concern: Olive-sided Flycatcher (Near-Threatened), Cerulean Warbler (Vulnerable) and Golden-cheeked Warbler (Endangered). All three species are Neotropical migrants that are either transient in Honduras (Cerulean Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher) or winter visitors (Golden-cheeked Warbler). As nocturnal migrants, all three species may be considered potential turbine strike victims. However, none of these species was detected as a strike victim during the first year of mortality monitoring in the Cerro de Hula wind facility.
Introduction The Cerro de Hula wind facility began operations in October 2011, with an initial set of 51 turbines. In 2013, Energía Eólica de Honduras SA (EEHSA) planned an expansion of the park with six additional turbines, the majority to be located near the El Tablón community on Cerro Izopo (Area 14). In August 2013, EEHSA commissioned the Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (Zamorano University) to evaluate species’ richness and relative abundance of bat and bird communities in the area selected for second phase construction of wind turbines within the municipality of San Buenaventura, Francisco Morazán.
Here we present the results of a field evaluation of bat and bird populations in Area 14. The area is located in close proximity (approximately 1 km) to first phase turbines erected in 2011. Thus, while this report reflects pre-construction inventory work carried out in this additional area, we caution against interpreting the results as purely “preconstruction”, as it seems reasonable to assume that bat and avian communities in the current study area utilize these nearby postconstruction areas as well.
Description of area Field work took place near the El Tablón community on Cerro Izopo, in an area designated by EEHSA as “Area 14”, where the construction of a total of five turbines is scheduled. One additional turbine is planned for Area 4, on Cerro de Hula, in the municipality of Santa Ana. Since the bird and bat communities of Area 4 have already been sampled both preconstruction (Pandion 2010) and postconstruction (Zamorano 2013), and the extension of that area is limited to one turbine only in close proximity to existing turbines, we did not consider it appropriate to collect additional field data from that area.
3
Figure 1: Area 14, Cerro Izopo. The top yellow pins show the 10 sampling points, while the blue dots show the planned locations of the new turbines; lower yellow pins show existing first phase turbines on Cerro Izopo of Areas 9 and 10.
Area 14 is located on the north slope of Cerro Izopo (N13°55’48”, W87°09’18”), approximately 13 km south-southeast of Tegucigalpa, 1 km north from the nearest existing turbines of Area 10, and 1.5 km northeast from the nearest existing turbines of Area 9 (Figure 1). The designated construction area is situated on a level ridge at approximately 1670 masl, surrounded by steep forested hillsides that drop 100–300 m. Habitats present in the study area consist of highly fragmented humid pine-oak and second-growth cloud forest patches (estimated at approximately 30%), and scattered agricultural plots (estimated at approximately 70%). Most agricultural plots were used for corn, and to a much lesser degree cabbage and coffee.
Methods Field work took place in September 2013. Field data for bats and birds was collected at 10 points, each spaced at least 200 m from one another, distributed in an area roughly corresponding to the planned constructions of the five turbines (Figure 1). Location of the points was generally chosen within the small level ridge at sites with transitional habitat, i.e. edges of fields bordering on forest, to account for the dominance of these edge habitats in the area, while also avoiding the necessity to clear corn cultivation for mist-netting, or the possibility to inadvertently locate
4
points at substantially lower elevations, where bat and bird communities may be different (Table 1). Table 1: Sampling locations
Point Coordinates
1 13°55’57.3”N 87°09’33.7”W 2 13°55’51.4”N 87°09’29.6”W
3 13°55’51.8”N 87°09’22.7”W
4 13°55’49.8”N 87°09’16.3”W 5 13°55’55.9”N 87°09’09.1”W
6 13°55’49.2”N 87°09’08.0”W 7 13°55’42.2”N 87°09’12.7”W
8 13°55’43.1”N 87°09’05.3”W 9 13°55’36.4”N 87°09’15.2”W
10 13°55’36.4”N 87°09’07.1”W
Bats Sampling of the bat community was stratified to three complementary methods, to account for inherent detection differences between these methods. Thus, low-flying species (many of which include nectarivores and frugivores) were primarily sampled with 4 mist-nets, each 12 m long and 2.5 m high, low-flying insectivores were targeted with a harp trap (Figure 2), while higher-flying species (many of which include insectivores) were primarily sampled with acoustic equipment (Anabat), to be identified based on species’ unique vocal signatures. Bat sampling took place between 6 PM and midnight, during good weather. The mist-nets and harp trap were checked at least once every hour (once every half hour or more frequently in case of light, intermittent rain), and bats thus encountered were removed, measured, sexed, identified to species, and released. The sampling effort was 248 net hours for mist-netting and 53 hours for the harp trap. Acoustic sampling was carried out simultaneously and at the same location for one hour each night, broken up into smaller segments of 10–15 minutes at a time. Calls emitted by overflying bats were recorded with Anabat equipment, and these recordings were later converted to sonograms. The sonograms were then compared to a reference library of vocal signatures of known species, and thus identified to species (O’Farrell 1997, O’Farrell & Miller 1997, O’Farrell & Miller 1999, Ochoa et al. 2000). To measure relative abundance in bats, we combined the mist-netting and harp trap results, leaving out the acoustic monitoring. The first two methods allow a quantitative analysis, while acoustic monitoring of free-flying bats is better suited for a qualitative approach (O’Farrell et al. 1999). We present species richness per point as a sum of all species recorded at the point using all three sampling methods. We present relative abundance of bats per point as a sum of all individuals of all species present at each individual point using only mist-netting and harp trap methods.
5
Figure 2: Setting up the harp trap. EEHSA Security staff not only provided security assistance but often also field assistance. Photo: Roselvy Juárez.
Birds Sampling of the bird community consisted of fixed-radius point counts (Hutto et al. 1986) carried out by one skilled observer familiar with the identification of all species, resident and migrant, expected to occur in the area. Bird point counts were carried out at the same 10 points as used for bat sampling. Each point was visited 3 times for a duration of 10 minutes per visit, i.e. 30 minutes sampling effort per point. All birds detected within a circumference of 50 m of the point were recorded as present at the point. To avoid double counts, the highest number of individuals for each species present at the point during one of those three counts was selected for analysis. Birds observed outside these point counts (e.g. birds observed between points, or birds flying over the points) were also noted, but were excluded from relative abundance calculations. Presence of nocturnal birds was detected during bat field work; no relative abundance data was collected for nocturnally active species. We present species richness per point as a sum of all species observed per point. We present relative abundance data per point as a sum of all individuals of all species observed per point, using only the highest number of individuals present per species during any of the three sampling times, to avoid pseudo-replication.
6
Results
Bats During 10 nights of sampling in Area 14, El Tablón community, Cerro Izopo, in September 2013, 18 bat species representing 4 families were recorded as present (Annex 1). Mist-netting efforts sampled 11 species of two families; an additional 2 species were caught in the harp trap only. Ninety percent of the points had one or more bat species present; the average number of individuals caught in the mist-nets and harp trap was 5.6 bats per point (Table 2). Only two species were present at half the points or more: Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat (Sturnira hondurensis) and Salvin’s Big-eyed Bat) Chiroderma salvini. Table 2: Mist-netting and harp trap results for bats (See Annex 1 for scientific names.)
Species % of points present
Average # individuals per point
Capture rate (individuals/net hour)*
Phyllostomidae
Toltec Fruit-eating Bat 20 0.6 0.020 Aztec Fruit-eating Bat 20 0.3 0.012
Intermediate Fruit-eating Bat
10 0.1 0.004
Little Yellow-shouldered Bat
40 1.0 0.040
Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat
60 1.1 0.044
Salvin’s Big-eyed Bat 50 0.7 0.028
Common Long-tongued Bat 10 0.2 0.008 Godman’s Whiskered Bat 30 0.3 0.012
Geoffroy’s Hairy-legged Bat 10 0.1 0.004
Hairy-legged Vampire Bat 30 0.4 0.016 Common Vampire Bat 30 0.4 0.016
Vespertilionidae
Big Brown Bat 20 0.2 0.008 Black Myotis** 10 0.1 -
Western Red Bat** 10 0.1 -
All species 90 5.6 0.214
*Capture rates are for mist-netting only, excluding harp trap. ** Only caught in harp trap.
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The average number of bat species present at the point (results from all three methods) was 4.8 species. Two points had more than 10 individuals of representing several species present; these were also the points with the highest species richness (Table 3). Table 3: Bat species’ richness and relative abundance per point
Point Species richness* Relative abundance of all species combined**
1 2 1
2 4 3 3 0 0
4 5 2
5 6 3 6 5 8
7 5 7 8 6 3
9 7 18 10 8 11
Average 4.8 5.6 * Qualitative data from all three sampling methods (mist-netting, harp trap and acoustic sampling); ** quantitative data from mist-netting and harp trap only. Higher flying species, such as vespertilionid bats, were identified using acoustic sampling equipment (Anabat). A total of five species representing three families was thus recorded (Annex 1). While it is possible to quantify the number of bat passes registered with the Anabat equipment, there is no way to determine whether the calls recorded were produced by a single individual or more. For this reason, we include the results of the acoustic sampling in the species richness calculations, but leave it out of the relative abundance calculations. An example of a sonogram from a recording obtained during the present study is given in Figure 3.
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Figure 3: Recording of Lasiurus blossevillii, 14 September 2013
Birds During 300 minutes of point count observation time in September 2013, a total of 59 species was observed to be present at one point or more (i.e. within a 50m circumference of the point). The average species richness per point was of 13.9 species (Table 4). Only seven species (Wilson’s Warbler, White-eared Hummingbird, House Wren, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Rusty Sparrow, Plain Wren, and Bushy-crested Jay) were present at more than half the points. Nine species showed an average number of individuals present at the points higher than 1: Black Vulture, White-eared Hummingbird, Bushy-crested Jay, House Wren, Plain Wren, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow-faced Grassquit, White-naped Brush-Finch, and Rusty Sparrow (Table 5). These are all common birds of disturbed, half-open habitats. Wilson’s Warbler is the only non-resident in this group. Nearly half the species was detected at one point only (29 species, or 49%), and can thus be considered uncommon to rare in the area (Figure 5).
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Table 4: Bird species richness and relative abundance per point
Point Species richness Relative abundance of all species combined
1 12 15
2 11 22
3 17 20 4 23 39
5 12 14 6 10 12
7 23 35 8 11 13
9 19 26
10 11 12
Average 13.9 20.8
Figure 4: White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis). This small hummingbird is a common species in the area, and was encountered at 80% of the points, with an average number of 1.8 individuals per point. Photo: John van Dort.
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A total of 85 bird species was observed in “Area 14” during field work in September of 2013, including birds observed between but not at the points, and nocturnal species recorded during bat field work (Annex 2: Bird species detected in Cerro Izopo, Area 14, during September 2013). Species notable from a conservation standpoint include Olive-sided Flycatcher (IUCN: Near-Threatened), Cerulean Warbler (IUCN: Vulnerable), and Golden-cheeked Warbler (IUCN: Endangered).
Figure 5: Bird species frequency at the point counts (n=59)
Table 5: Frequency and abundance of bird species recorded at the point counts (see Annex 2 for scientific names)
Species % of points present
Average # individuals per point
Cathartidae Black Vulture 50 1.1
Turkey Vulture 20 0.4 Columbidae
Red-billed Pigeon 10 0.2 Apodidae
Great Swallow-tailed Swift 10 0.2
Trochilidae Green Violetear 10 0.3
Magnificent Hummingbird 40 0.8 Azure-crowned Hummingbird 40 0.9
White-eared Hummingbird 80 1.8 Green-breasted Mountain-gem 10 0.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Nu
mb
er
of
spe
cie
s
Number of points
11
Species % of points present
Average # individuals per point
Trogonidae
Mountain Trogon 10 0.2 Momotidae
Blue-crowned Motmot 10 0.2 Picidae
Acorn Woodpecker 10 0.3 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 10 0.2
Hairy Woodpecker 20 0.5
Golden-olive Woodpecker 10 0.2
Northern Flicker 30 0.6
Tyrannidae Mountain Elaenia 10 0.2
Olive-sided Flycatcher 10 0.2 Western Wood-Pewee 10 0.2
Buff-breasted Flycatcher 10 0.2
Dusky-capped Flycatcher 20 0.4 Boat-billed Flycatcher 10 0.2
Vireonidae Plumbeous Vireo 10 0.2
Rufous-browed Peppershrike 20 0.4 Corvidae
Bushy-crested Jay 60 3.4
Steller’s Jay 20 0.4 Troglodytidae
House Wren 80 1.9 Band-backed Wren 10 0.3
Plain Wren 70 1.7 Turdidae
Eastern Bluebird 20 0.8
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush 10 0.3 Rufous-collared Robin 10 0.2
Clay-colored Thrush 20 0.4
Mimidae
Blue-and-white Mockingbird 20 0.4 Peucedramidae
Olive Warbler 20 0.4
Parulidae Black-and-white Warbler 10 0.3
Crescent-chested Warbler 20 0.4 Gray-crowned Yellowthroat 10 0.2
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Species % of points present
Average # individuals per point
Canada Warbler 10 0.2
Blackburnian Warbler 30 0.6 Grace’s Warbler 10 0.2
Townsend’s Warbler 40 0.8 Golden-cheeked Warbler 10 0.2
Hermit Warbler 20 0.5 Wilson’s Warbler 90 2.1
Painted Redstart 40 0.8
Slate-throated Redstart 40 0.8
Emberizidae
White-naped Brush-Finch 40 1.1 Rusty Sparrow 80 2
Rufous-collared Sparrow 10 0.2 Thraupidae
Yellow-faced Grassquit 80 1.8
Common Chlorospingus 30 0.7 Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer 10 0.2
Flame-colored Tanager 10 0.2 Icteridae
Melodious Blackbird 30 0.8 Great-tailed Grackle 10 0.2
Yellow-backed Oriole 30 0.7
Fringillidae Black-headed Siskin 10 0.2
Cardinalidae Dickcissel 10 0.2
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Figure 6: Whiskered Screech-Owl (Megascops trichopsis). This individual was caught when mist-netting for bats on 17 September 2013; others were heard vocalizing. It is probably a common species in the area. Photo: John van Dort.
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Discussion Because of the proximity of Area 14 to the Cerro Izopo wind turbines at Areas 9 and 10 (approximately 1 km), the populations of bats and birds in the Study Area may have already been modified to some degree as a response to the first phase of construction in 2011. For that reason, the original preconstruction studies carried out by Pandion Systems (Pandion Systems 2010) in the entire Cerro de Hula wind facility, may represent more accurately the pre-construction bat and bird populations in this area.
Bats None of the 18 species detected in Area 14 during field work in September 2013 has a special conservation status. All species had been detected before in the wider area of the Cerro de Hula / Montaña de Izopo wind facility (Zamorano 2013). While 10 nights of bat sampling may provide a fair idea of the species richness found in the area, it is worth pointing out that sampling during one month of the year will not detect potential seasonal patterns in the local bat fauna. The inventory may not be complete, and additional species may be found in the area at other times of the year. Likewise, some species recorded in September 2013 may not be present in the area year-round. The only bat species detected in the Cerro de Hula wind facility during pre-construction studies in 2010 (Pandion 2010) and post-construction studies in 2012 (Zamorano 2013) with an IUCN conservation status other than Least Concern is Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae). This species was not detected in September 2013 in Area 14 (Cerro Izopo). However, the species may be present during other times of the year, or may have been present in numbers too low to record with the sampling effort used.
Birds Of all bird species commonly observed at the point counts (i.e. present at 50% or more of the points), Wilson’s Warbler is the only migrant / winter visitor; the other 6 species are permanent residents. Sampling took place during the peak of Wilson’s Warbler migration, and the high frequency recorded (i.e. present at 90% of the points) likely reflects a situation that occurs only a few weeks during the year, i.e. during the peak of spring and fall migration. Area 14 with its mix of small-scale subsistence agriculture and forest fragments appears to provide excellent stopover habitat for migrant passerines, such as the Wilson’s Warbler. Between September and April, the species is expected to be present in the area, but likely in lower densities. During its winter residency, it is unlikely to become a turbine strike victim, due to its foraging habits, which generally keep it in within 15 m of the ground. During migration, however, individuals of this species have been recorded as strike victims in the Cerro de Hula wind facility (Zamorano 2013). Bird families that appear to be relatively well-represented in the area include hummingbirds (Trochilidae, at least 5 resident species); woodpeckers (Picidae, at least 5 resident species); and warblers (Parulidae, at least 9 migrant species and at
15
least 6 resident species). Additional sampling is likely to augment this list, as the timing of sampling was such that some expected winter visitors (like Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Black-throated Green Warbler) had not yet arrived in the area. The three bird species with a special conservation status that were recorded in Areas 14 in September (i.e. Olive-sided Flycatcher, Cerulean Warbler, and Golden-cheeked Warbler) had all been recorded as present in the Cerro de Hula wind facility in 2012 (Zamorano 2013). During the first year of mortality monitoring, none of these three species was encountered as strike victims. However, all three are nocturnal migrants and thus potentially at risk of striking the turbines during migration. During the present study, we did not attempt to quantify either raptor reproduction or raptor migration in Area 14. This is because raptor reproduction has already been evaluated in the Cerro Izopo area (see Zamorano 2013). Raptor breeding season generally begins around December and finishes around June, so a field study in September is not appropriate for evaluating additional raptor reproduction activity. Raptor migration, on the other hand, does take place in September (Bildstein 2004), however, the raptor migration in the Cerro de Hula area was studied previously (Zamorano 2013). Furthermore, the raptor migration season is longer than the period that was scheduled for field work, and thus was not considered for the present study.
16
References Bildstein, K.L. 2004. “Raptor migration in the Neotropics: patterns, processes and consequences.” Ornitología Neotropical 15 (suppl): 83–99. Hutto, R.L., S.M. Pletschet and P. Hendricks. 1986. “A fixed-radius point count method for non-breeding and breeding season use”. The Auk 103: 593–602. Ochoa, J.G., M.J. O’Farrell & B.W. Miller. 2000. “Contribution of acoustic methods to the study of insectivorous bat diversity of protected areas from northern Venezuela”. Acta Chiropterologica 2(2): 171–183. O’Farrell, M.J. 1997. “Use of echolocation calls for the identification of free-flying bats”. Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society 33: 1–8. O’Farrell, M.J. and B.W. Miller. 1997. “A new examination of echolocation calls of some Neotropical bats (Emballonuridae and Mormoopidae)”. Journal of Mammalogy 78 (3): 954–963. O’Farrell, M.J. and B.W. Miller. 1999. “Use of Vocal Signatures for the Inventory of Free-flying Neotropical Bats”. Biotropica 31 (3): 507–516. O’Farrell, M.J., B.W. Miller & W.L. Gannon. 1999. “Qualitative identification of free-flying bats using the Anabat detector.” Journal of Mammalogy 80 (1): 11–23. Pandion Systems, 2010. Preconstruction Ecological Risk Characterization for the Cerro de Hula Wind Energy Project, Francisco Morazán, Honduras. Internal report Pandion Systems, 168 p. Reid, F.A. 1997. A field guide to the mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Oxford University, 346 p. Strickland, M.D., E.B. Arnett, W.P. Erickson, D.H. Johnson, G.D. Johnson, M.L., Morrison, J.A. Shaffer, and W. Warren-Hicks. 2011. Comprehensive Guide to Studying Wind Energy/Wildlife Interactions. Prepared for the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, Washington, D.C., USA. 289 p. Zamorano. 2013. Bird and bat monitoring at the Cerro de Hula wind farm 2012: Final Report. Escuela Agricola Panamericana (Zamorano University). 81 p.
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ANNEXES
Annex 1: Bat species detected in Cerro Izopo, Area 14, during September 2013 Common name* Scientific name Mist-
net Harp trap
Acoustic
Phyllostomidae Toltec Fruit-eating Bat Artibeus toltecus x x Aztec Fruit-eating Bat Artibeus aztecus x Intermediate Fruit-eating Bat
Artibeus intermedius x
Little Yellow-shouldered Bat
Sturnira lilium x
Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat
Sturnira hondurensis
x
Salvin’s Big-eyed Bat Chiroderma salvini x Common Long-tongued Bat Glossophaga
soricina x
Godman’s Whiskered Bat Choeronyscus godmani
x
Geoffroy’s Hairy-legged Bat Anoura geoffroyi x Hairy-legged Vampire Bat Diphylla ecaudata x Common Vampire Bat Desmodus rotundus x Vespertilionidae
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus x Black Myotis Myotis nigricans x Western Red Bat Lasiurus blossevillii x x Northern Yellow Bat Lasiurus intermedius x Southern Yellow Bat Lasiurus ega x Molossidae Sinaloan Mastiff Bat Molossus sinaloae x Mormoopidae Davy’s Naked-backed Bat Pteronotus davyi x Total 12 3 5
18
* Common names from Reid (1997); note that Reid treats Sturnira hondurensis as a ssp. of ludovici. Common name given here is that of Sturnira ludovici.
19
Annex 2: Bird species detected in Cerro Izopo, Area 14, during September 2013
Common name Scientific name Status in Honduras IUCN status Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus resident Least Concern
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus resident Least Concern
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura resident & migrant Least Concern Upland Sandpiper Bartramia
longicauda migrant Least Concern
Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris
resident Least Concern
Inca Dove Columbina inca resident Least Concern Common Ground-Dove
Columbina passerina
resident Least Concern
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi resident Least Concern
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Megascops trichopsis
resident Least Concern
Great Horned Owl Bubo virgianus resident Least Concern
Mottled Owl Cicaba virgata resident Least Concern
Mexican Whip-poor-will
Antrostomus arizonae
resident Least Concern
White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis
resident Least Concern
Great Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila sanctihieronymi
resident Least Concern
Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus resident Least Concern
Magnificent Hummingbird
Eugenes fulgens resident Least Concern
Green-breasted Mountain-gem
Lampornis sybillae resident Least Concern
Azure-crowned Hummingbird
Amazilia cyanocephala
resident Least Concern
White-eared Hummingbird
Hylocharis leucotis resident Least Concern
Elegant Trogon Trogon elegans resident Least Concern Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus resident Least Concern
Blue-crowned Motmot
Momotus coeruliceps
resident Least Concern
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
resident Least Concern
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Melanerpes aurifrons
resident Least Concern
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus resident Least Concern
Golden-olive Colaptes resident Least Concern
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Common name Scientific name Status in Honduras IUCN status Woodpecker rubiginosus Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus resident Least Concern
Strong-billed Woodcreeper
Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus
resident Least Concern
White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons resident Least Concern Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii resident Least Concern
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi migrant / winter visitor
Near-Threatened
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus migrant Least Concern
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens migrant Least Concern
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Empidonax fulvifrons
resident Least Concern
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Myiarchus tuberculifer
resident Least Concern
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Megarhynchus pitangua
resident Least Concern
Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus resident Least Concern
Rufous-browed Peppershrike
Cyclarhis gujanensis resident Least Concern
Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
resident Least Concern
Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri resident Least Concern Bank Swallow Riparia riparia migrant Least Concern
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica migrant Least Concern Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon
pyrrhonota migrant Least Concern
House Wren Troglodytes aedon resident Least Concern
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis
resident Least Concern
Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus
resident Least Concern
Plain Wren Cantorchilus modestus
resident Least Concern
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis resident Least Concern
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Catharus aurantiirostris
resident Least Concern
Rufous-collared Robin
Turdus rufitorques resident Least Concern
Tropical Mockingbird
Mimus gilvus resident Least Concern
Blue-and-white Melanotis resident Least Concern
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Common name Scientific name Status in Honduras IUCN status Mockingbird hypoleucus Olive Warbler Peucedramus
taeniatus resident Least Concern
Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia migrant / winter visitor
Least Concern
Crescent-chested Warbler
Oreothlypis superciliosa
resident Least Concern
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
migrant / winter visitor
Least Concern
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat
Geothlypis poliocephala
resident Least Concern
Cerulean Warbler Setophaga cerulea migrant Vulnerable
Blackburnian Warbler
Setophaga fusca migrant Least Concern
Yellow-throated Warbler
Setophaga dominica migrant / winter visitor
Least Concern
Grace’s Warbler Setophaga graciae resident Least Concern
Townsend’s Warbler Setophaga townsendi
migrant / winter visitor
Least Concern
Golden-cheeked Warbler
Setophaga chrysoparia
migrant / winter visitor
Endangered
Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis
migrant / winter visitor
Least Concern
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
migrant Least Concern
Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla migrant / winter visitor
Least Concern
Painted Redstart Myioborus pictus resident Least Concern
Slate-throated Redstart
Myioborus miniatus resident Least Concern
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer
Diglossa baritula resident Least Concern
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina resident Least Concern
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Tiaris olivaceus resident Least Concern
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Arremon brunneinucha
resident Least Concern
White-naped Brush-Finch
Atlapetes albinucha resident Least Concern
Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens resident Least Concern
Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow
Melozone biarcuatum
resident Least Concern
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina resident Least Concern
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Common name Scientific name Status in Honduras IUCN status
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis resident Least Concern
Common Chlorospingus
Chlorospingus flavopectus
resident Least Concern
Flame-colored Tanager
Piranga bidentata resident Least Concern
Dickcissel Spiza americana migrant Least Concern
Melodious Blackbird Dives dives resident Least Concern Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus resident Least Concern
Yellow-backed Oriole
Icterus chrysater resident Least Concern
Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus resident Least Concern Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria resident Least Concern
23
Annex 3: Bat captures with mist-nets per point
Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Artibeus aztecus 2 1 3
Artibeus toltecus 4 1 5
Chiroderma salvini 2 2 1 1 1 7
Sturnira lilium 2 1 2 5 10
Sturnira hondurensis 1 1 2 1 2 4 11
Glossophaga soricina 2 2
Choeroniscus godmani 1 1 1 3
Artibeus intermedius 1
1
Anoura geoffroyi 1 1
Diphilla ecaudata 2
2 4
Eptesicus fuscus 1 1 2
Desmodus rotundus 1 1
2 4
Total 1 3 0 1 3 7 7 3 17 11 53
Annex 4: Bat captures with harp trap per point
Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Artibeus toltecus 1 1
Myotis nigricans
1 1
Lasiurus blossevillii 1 1
Total 1 1 1 3
Annex 5: Number of recordings (Anabat) per species per point
Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Lasiurus intermedius 3 1 3 7
Lasiurus blossevillii
10
2
4
16
Lasiurus ega 1 1 8 6 1 1 18
Pteronotus davyi
1
2
3
Molossus sinaloae 1 1
Total 1 11 0 6 11 0 6 9 0 1 45
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Annex 6: Birds recorded at point counts per point (high count of three sampling sessions) per species during September 2013 Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Black Vulture 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 6
Turkey Vulture 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
Red-billed Pigeon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Great Swallow-tailed Swift 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Green Violetear 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Magnificent Hummingbird 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
Azure-crowned Hummingbird 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 5
White-eared Hummingbird 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 2 10
Green-breasted Mountain-gem 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Mountain Trogon 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Blue-crowned Motmot 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Acorn Woodpecker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Golden-fronted Woodpecker 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Hairy Woodpecker 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3
Golden-olive Woodpecker 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Northern Flicker 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
Mountain Elaenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Western Wood-Pewee 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Buff-breasted Flycatcher 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Dusky-capped Flycatcher 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
Boat-billed Flycatcher 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Plumbeous Vireo 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Rufous-browed Peppershrike 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Bushy-crested Jay 3 8 2 8 0 2 5 0 0 0 28
Steller's Jay 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
House Wren 0 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 11
Band-backed Wren 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Plain Wren 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 2 2 1 10
Eastern Bluebird 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 6
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
Rufous-collared Robin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Clay-colored Thrush 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Blue-and-white Mockingbird 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Olive Warbler 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Black-and-white Warbler 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
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Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Crescent-chested Warbler 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Canada Warbler 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Blackburnian Warbler 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3
Grace's Warbler 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Townsend's Warbler 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 4
Golden-cheeked Warbler 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Hermit Warbler 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Wilson's Warbler 1 0 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 12
Painted Redstart 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 4
Slate-throated Redstart 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 4
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Yellow-faced Grassquit 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 10
White-naped Brush-Finch 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 0 7
Rusty Sparrow 1 3 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 12
Rufous-collared Sparrow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Common Chlorospingus 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 4
Flame-colored Tanager 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Melodious Blackbird 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 5
Great-tailed Grackle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Yellow-backed Oriole 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 4
Black-headed Siskin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Dickcissel 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Number of species 12 11 17 23 12 10 23 11 19 11 53
Abundance all species 15 22 20 39 14 12 35 13 26 12 208
26
Annex 7: Photo collage of bat species sampled with mist-nets
Left to right: Artibeus aztecus, Artibeus intermedius, Artibeus toltecus (Photos: Roselvy Juárez)
Left to right: Chiroderma salvini, Choeronyscus godmani, Myotis nigricans (Photos: Roselvy Juárez & Carlos Funes)
27
From left to right: Desmodus rotundus, Diphylla ecaudata, Eptesicus fuscus (Photos: Roselvy Juárez)
Left to right: Sturnira hondurensis, Sturnira lilium (Photos: Roselvy Juárez)
28
Annex 8: Examples of sonograms of bat vocalizations obtained during the present study Lasiurus blossevillii (Cerro Izopo, 14 September 2013):
29
Lasiurus intermedius (Cerro Izopo, 12 September 2013):
Molossus sinaloae (Cerro Izopo, 22 September 2013):