CONSERVING BICKNELL THRUSH WINTERING HAB

General

Bicknell's Thrush (BITH) is a neotropical migratory bird species whose population overwinters predominantly in the ..Dominican Republic where forest habitat is under threat from agricultural expansion and fire. With past NMBCA ..support, significant progress has been made in identifying and protecting critical habitat, managing that habitat, ..and restoring previously lost habitat for BITH in the DR. This project builds and expands upon those advances. ..This project will: 1) improve management of four key habitat areas by supporting park guard personnel, patrols, and ..boundary-marking 2) engage coffee and cacao farmers in Bird-Friendly production methods; 3) restore 73 hectares ..by planting more than 35,000 native trees and coffee plants, 3) monitor presence, and distribution of BITH and other ..Partners in Flight priority migratory species; and 4) conduct land tenure studies to explore opportunities for expanding ..land protection. With matching funds, we will: 1) hire 7 new park guards, and maintain 11 existing guards and two ..reserve managers; 2) build a new guard station 3) create a new 7.5 hectare private reserve; and 4) build capacity in ..our partner through construction of an ecotourism facility and a fundraising/educational event.