This Tuesday, January 7, the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, together with the National Museum of Costa Rica, welcomed nearly 300 waterbird specialists who are meeting in the country for the Annual Joint Meeting of the Waterbird Society (WBS) and the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG).
This important event, both touristic and scientific, will be held for the first time in the country from January 6 to 9 at the Marriott Hotel in Belén. Specialists, students and researchers from Latin America and the United States will participate in this meeting, on topics related to the study, observation and conservation of aquatic birds and their ecosystems.
Thanks to the initiative of specialists from the National Museum of Costa Rica and the Ministry of Culture and Youth, in 2024 the organization took the country into account to host this event that is especially important, since in more than 50 years since the organizations were created and being the fifth joint meeting, it is the first time that it is held in Central America, a recognition of the rich biodiversity that Costa Rica has and the importance of bird watching tourism that increasingly attracts more people who love and specialize in the subject.
“It is a pleasure for the Costa Rican Tourism Board to welcome more than 300 bird specialists and scientists as part of these days of research and exchange of knowledge, as our country is the natural habitat of more than 935 species of birds, which has allowed the promotion of birdwatching, a recreational activity that we promote and that is nourished precisely by these contributions and the dissemination of knowledge about the species and the importance of conservation,” said William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism, on the importance of this event.
For his part, Jorge Rodríguez, Minister of Culture and Youth, added that “when science, natural history and culture come together, wonderful things can happen.” He added that, by hosting this type of cultural tourism and birdwatching events, we show that we are essential to the world due to our scientific, cultural and nature ties, positioning Costa Rica in a different and innovative way.
Immersive experience with birds
Precisely, to highlight all the wealth of birdlife that the country has, the welcome event at the National Museum featured video projections of birds in their natural habitat, in a magical setting with the illuminated gardens of the National Museum and audios of local species as background, also highlighting the cultural, natural and archaeological wealth of the country present in this emblematic venue, where pre-Columbian spheres, stone pieces and the Natural History collection are exhibited.
The wealth of bird species has become a driving force for responsible tourism and sustainable development, as it allows for the promotion of conservation and, in turn, encourages the development of communities through job creation, rural entrepreneurship and the revitalization of the local economy. According to ICT data, 12.3% of visitors registered by air engage in bird watching with special equipment.
This event, which brings together 320 bird specialists, will also include meetings, workshops, technological demonstrations, social events and field trips.
Cultural and scientific relationship
The National Museum of Costa Rica, co-organizer of the event and member of the Waterbird Society, has a collection of nearly 8,500 bird skins, as well as almost 500 eggs, nearly a thousand skeletons and 320 bird nests. These collections are the basis for exhibitions and research that seek to monitor the state of ecosystems and the challenges they face due to climate change, pollution or habitat loss in order to eventually take the necessary measures to reverse the impact.
The ornithology collections of the National Museum were formed in 1887, with the foundation of this institution. The first collections were carried out by prominent European naturalists such as Karl Hoffman and Alexander Von Frantzius and Costa Ricans such as José Cástulo Zeledón and Anastasio Alfaro. The oldest specimens in the collection are two migratory species, collected abroad, probably as a result of the exchange of skins between the National Museum of Costa Rica and museums in North America and correspond to a Falco peregrius from 1844 and a Hylocichla mustelina from 1847. The oldest specimen collected on national soil is a Tyrannus melancholicus collected in San José in 1864.
“We are very happy that the invitation presented by the representative of the National Museum of Costa Rica at the last scientific meeting held in Florida was accepted. During this week, more than 300 researchers from different parts of the world, especially from North America, shared and discussed the results of their studies in our country. This shows the credibility and commitment we have with science, conservation and the good use of knowledge to protect birds and the ecosystems where they live,” concluded Ifigenia Quintanilla, director of the National Museum.
Feathered Background
The Waterbrid Society (WBS) and the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) were founded in the 1970s to increase coordination and communication among researchers and thereby improve waterbird science and management.
The Waterbird Society (WBS) is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to foster the study, scientific management, and conservation of the world's waterbirds. It was established in 1976 following the North American Wading Bird Conference held in South Carolina, USA. It is comprised of biologists, researchers, conservationists, students, and others from 31 countries interested in waterbird behavior, ecology, and conservation.
The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) is a nonprofit organization of professional researchers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds. It was formed in 1972 out of a need to increase communication between academics and government agencies with the goal of improving the quality and quantity of seabird research and identifying threats to seabirds in order to assist governments in protecting and increasing their populations.
Source: ICT.