A prime
stopover site
Las Brisas Nature Reserve has
been identified as an important stopover site for Cerulean Warblers and other
migratory species as well. It is located on the lower northeast slopes of the Turrialba Volcano and has
two different sections, one at 250 meters above sea level and the other between 650 - 1030m.a.s.l., overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Part of the reserve is old-growth forest, but the majority of its area has been drastically transformed from poor pasture-land to a diverse forest through an exemplary reforestation project. and it is here that we have found the greatest concentrations of CERW. A unique combination
of factors -- precipitation, temperature and maybe
even topography, combine to make a favorable
habitat preferred over other regions of
Costa Rica.
The following aerial photos show the extent of the habitat improvement at Las Brisas. In 2001, extensive tracts of pasture are visible. By 2020 the grazeland has grown into a tall secondary forest.
Most of our banding actually takes place in these reforested areas and are used extensively by CERWs.
Aerial photo showing extensive grazeland in Las Brisas in 2001
Aerial photo showing the results of successful reforestation at Las Brisas in 2020
