BIRD DIVERSITY OF THE TIRIMBINA BIOLOGICAL RESERVE: THE ROLE OF RESEARCH, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ECOTOURISM IN BIRD CONSERVATION IN A TROPICAL WET FOREST IN COSTA RICA

· Long-term bird species monitoring is key to understand changes in species composition and assemblages. The Tirimbina Biological Reserve (TBR) protects a tropical wet forest in Costa Rica where bird species have been monitored and studied for more than 20 years. This study summarizes information on bird species composition generated from natural history, research studies, and conservation efforts carried for TBR. A total of 397 species are reported for TBR, where several species are under different IUCN’s Red List conservation categories. From that total of species observed, 82% are resident and 18% are migratory. Also, information on species turnover after the replacement of exotic to native plant species in gardens, and findings from an interpretative bird trail are shown. TBR is a local conservation model where different activities such as ecotourism, science, research, and environmental education work together to preserve a tropical wet forest as a suitable habitat for many species of birds.