利用红外相机对四川白水河国家级自然保护区鸟兽资源的初步调查

2017年5月至2018年5月, 我们在四川白水河国家级自然保护区内设置红外相机对地面活动鸟兽进行了初步调查。布设在24个位点的24台相机累计工作3,832天, 共获得可识别物种的独立有效照片535张。经鉴定, 兽类有4目10科17种, 鸟类有2目4科10种。其中, 国家I级重点保护野生动物5种, 国家II级重点保护野生动物8种, 中国豪猪(Hystrix hodgsoni)、宝兴歌鸫(Turdus mupinensis)和黑顶噪鹛(Trochalopteron affine)为保护区新记录种, 而大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)为汶川地震后首次拍到。兽类中, 花面狸(Paguma larvata)、黄喉貂(Martes flavigula)和中华斑羚(Naemorhedus griseus) 3种动物的独立有效照片总数占全部兽类独立有效照片数的50.2%。鸟类中, 血雉(Ithaginis cruentus)和红腹角雉(Tragopan temminckii)的独立有效照片总数占全部鸟类独立有效照片数的91.6%。本研究为白水河国家级自然保护区野生动物资源管理和保护提供了参考依据。     

Hunting strategies employed by bird hunters with economic pursuit in the city of Guiyang,Southwest China

Understanding hunter motivations and strategies is of particular importance in regions fraught with wildlife hunting, due to the critical hunter’s role in linking wildlife supply and consumption. However, such information is extremely scarce in China despite the worrisome situation of wildlife hunting. This study documents the techniques, motivations and hunting frequencies of bird hunters who have economic interests in the city of Guiyang, Southwest China, where numerous wild birds have been observed in trade. The data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires given to 50 hunters in a public market between March and July 2015. At least 9 kinds of tools and 10 kinds of techniques have been employed in local bird hunting practices. Up to eight factors have stimulated the collection of wild birds, of which commercial benefit was undoubtedly the most important. Hunting activities were conducted throughout the year, and efficient and low-cost hunting techniques, such as hunting with nets and neck snares were the predominant hunting techniques. The use of bait birds, whistles and bird song recordings was common, with the aim of improving the harvest by finding and attracting target species, highlighting a preference for hunting certain species of birds. The various hunting motivations underscore the complexity of the current hunting issue. Conservation management was discussed by considering the hunting strategies employed and the needs of hunters, as well as the market demand, which highlights the necessity of the combined actions of law enforcement, commercial breeding, social welfare, the development of hunting grounds and environmental education.     

Road exposure and the detectability of birds in field surveys

Road ecology, the study of the impacts of roads and their traffic on wildlife, including birds, is a rapidly growing field, with research showing effects on local avian population densities up to several kilometres from a road. However, in most studies, the effects of roads on the detectability of birds by surveyors are not accounted for. This could be a significant source of error in estimates of the impacts of roads on birds and could also affect other studies of bird populations. Using road density, traffic volume and bird count data from across Great Britain, we assess the relationships between roads and detectability of a range of bird species. Of 51 species analysed, the detectability of 36 was significantly associated with road exposure, in most cases inversely. Across the range of road exposure recorded for each species, the mean positive change in detectability was 52% and the mean negative change was 36%, with the strongest negative associations found in smaller-bodied species and those for which aural cues are more important in detection. These associations between road exposure and detectability could be caused by a reduction in surveyors’ abilities to hear birds or by changes in birds’ behaviour, making them harder or easier to detect. We suggest that future studies of the impacts of roads on populations of birds or other taxa, and other studies using survey data from road-exposed areas, should account for the potential impacts of roads on detectability.     

利用红外相机技术对广东车八岭国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类资源的初步调查

为深入了解广东车八岭国家级自然保护区野生动物资源现状,于2014年9月至2016年11月在保护区内布设101个红外相机调查位点,累计11 399相机日。共获得有动物的独立有效照片2 549张,鉴定兽类和鸟类有9目19科43种(兽类13种,鸟类30种),包括6种国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物：斑灵狸(Prionodon pardicolor)、中华鬣羚(Capricornis milneedwardsii)、白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)、仙八色鸫(Pitta nympha)、褐翅鸦鹃(Centropus sinensis)和松雀鹰(Accipiter virgatus)。红腿长吻松鼠(Dremomys pyrrhomerus)、小泡巨鼠(Leopoldamys edwardsi)、仙八色鸫、橙头地鸫(Zoothera citrina)和白冠燕尾(Enicurus leschenaultia)为保护区的新纪录物种。相对丰富度指数较高的兽类有红腿长吻松鼠、赤麂(Muntiacus vaginalis)和野猪(Sus scrofa),相对丰富度指数较高的鸟类有白鹇和黑领噪鹛(Garrulax pectoralis)。此外,鸟兽物种数呈现一定的海拔分布趋势,以海拔450~600 m之间的物种多样性最高,但差异不显著。与南岭山脉邻近保护区相比,就已发表的红外相机监测结果而言,车八岭的鸟类多样性最高,而南岭保护区的兽类多样性较高,鸟兽的不同分布可能与保护区亚热带常绿阔叶林的面积和生态系统的完整性有关。本次初步调查掌握了车八岭保护区的鸟兽多样性数据,为以后该保护区及整个南岭山脉野生动物资源长期监测积累了基础资料。     

鸟市贸易威胁野生鸟类生存——以哈尔滨道外花鸟鱼市场为例

为探讨鸟市贸易对野生鸟类的威胁与影响,给当地野生动物保护部门实施监管提供科学依据,于2016年11月—2017年11月对黑龙江省哈尔滨市最大鸟市——道外花鸟鱼市场进行调查。结果发现:(1)共记录6目34科83属117种18 729只鸟类,其中野生鸟类5目32科77属108种11 662只。有出售国家保护鸟种黄胸鹀 Emberiza aureola、猛禽及非法捕猎工具的现象。(2)所有被贩卖的野生鸟类中,在黑龙江省有分布的共69种,数量达9 707只。相关分析结果表明,黑龙江省有分布的野生鸟类是鸟市非法捕捉及贩卖的主要对象。(3)贩卖量为春、秋季多,夏、冬季少,7—10月鸟类迁徙季节时最多,占总贩卖量的45.2%,说明鸟类秋季迁徙是非法猎捕的高峰期。(4)调查中发现较多的南方鸟种(32.4%)也一定程度上说明野生鸟类非法运输的严重性。建议当地林业和草原局及时加强对道外花鸟鱼市场的监管,在鸟类迁徙季节从非法捕捉和运输环节实施严厉打击。     

Geographical range expansion of alien birds and environmental matching

The international wildlife trade is a significant source of introduced alien species, some of which proceed to become invasive and cause negative environmental and economic effects. However, not all introduced aliens establish viable populations, and it is important to identify the factors that determine establishment success. We explore the role of environmental suitability (including anthropogenic influences, climate and habitat types) in the establishment success of alien bird species introduced to Taiwan. Using maximum entropy modelling, we employed a recursive feature elimination and Akaike information criterion (AIC)‐based stepwise model selection approach to assess whether the environmental suitability, native range size, body size, residence time and the numbers of birds for sale in the shops affect variation in the extent of alien bird range size in Taiwan. We show that species with larger native range sizes and larger body sizes tend to have larger alien range sizes in Taiwan. There was no effect of environmental suitability on alien range size in Taiwan, but environmental suitability influenced the establishment success of bird species there.     

Waikanae River estuary: Changes to habitat and bird fauna evident from surveys thirty years apart

Abstract

A second ecological survey of the Waikanae estuary, in the North Island of New Zealand, was carried out 30 years after the first (1941–1943), and was of similar duration. The observer for the first survey participated in the second, and the same methods were used. Brief accounts are given of the prevailing climate and geology, and of physical changes at the estuary. The effect of periodic storms and of the various encroachments by man is recorded; the latter appear to be particularly important. The vegetation of the estuary is described. Records of beach patrols and of other ornithologists supplement the authors' observations on the bird life. The numbers of birds recorded in the two surveys are compared by analyses of variance. Changes in the flora deduced from aerial photographs spanning the two surveys and from notes and photographs are related to man-induced disturbance, natural physical changes, and natural succession. The total of 79 bird species recorded at the estuary and in its immediate vicinity compares favourably with the 60 species recorded during the first survey. The increase of nearly one-third is due to such factors as the appearance of new Australian bird species, the information provided by the beach patrols, and the extension of sand-flat habitat. In terms of numbers observed, 10 bird species have increased, 11 remain unchanged, and 8 have declined. The distribution of birds is considered in relation to nine areas of habitat: the beach and open sea; open dunes at the beach front; river and sand flats; unfixed and fixed dunes; saltmarsh; grassed fields; and lakelets. The most species (29) were recorded on sand flats and the least (7) on unfixed dunes. Periodic rechannelling of the river mouth has led to expansion of the sand flats as a habitat for waders and some other shore birds, but other man-induced developments, such as housing, are threatening the present ecological balance of the estuary. Use of the area for recreation and for wildlife study is increasing, and we consider that action by conservation authorities is urgently required.     

合肥市小微湿地鸟类多样性的时空格局及其影响因素

小微湿地是城市生态系统的重要组成部分, 也是生物多样性的重要庇护场所。鸟类作为城市小微湿地生态系统的指示类群, 其多样性时空格局受多种环境因子影响。本研究于2020年8月至2021年7月采用样点法对合肥市45个小微湿地鸟类的种类、数量分布和生境因子进行了调查, 并获取湿地面积、湿地形状、建筑面积比例、植被面积比例、环境噪声、人为干扰和城市化指数等生境变量。通过α多样性和β多样性分析, 研究城市小微湿地鸟类多样性的时空特征及其决定因素。采用信息论模型选择和模型平均法以及基于距离矩阵的多重回归模型进行计算, 确定影响鸟类群落α多样性和β多样性及其组分的主要环境因子。结果显示, 研究区域共有鸟类13目39科102种, 其中水鸟31种, 国家二级重点保护鸟类2种, 安徽省重点保护鸟类17种, IUCN濒危物种红色名录中的易危(VU)物种1种。湿地面积和城市化指数对小微湿地陆地鸟类和水鸟的α多样性、β多样性及其组分均具有显著影响, 其中陆地鸟类物种丰富度在中度和低度城市化之间的小微湿地中达到最高值, 面积超过4 ha的小微湿地能维持较多的水鸟物种。植被面积比例对陆地鸟类多样性具有重要的影响, 而建筑面积比例对水鸟多样性具有显著影响。此外, 总体β多样性及其组分计算结果显示物种周转组分占明显优势, 表明城市小微湿地群作为城市复合生态系统的重要组成部分, 加强整体保护更为必要。研究结果对于加强城市鸟类保护和提高城市生态环境质量具有指导意义。     

基于红外相机的四川亚丁国家级自然保护区鸟兽多样性初报

2017年5～11月,我们在四川亚丁国家级自然保护区内共布设64台红外相机,对保护区内的兽类和鸟类多样性进行了调查。经过8 394个相机工作日的调查,我们共鉴定出分属9目26科共56种的野生兽类和鸟类,其中国家Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物分别有5种和13种,被IUCN红色名录评估为濒危(EN)、易危(VU)、近危(NT)的野生动物分别有2种、3种和6种。相对多度指数居前三位的兽类和鸟类分别是毛冠鹿(Elaphodus cephalophus)、珀氏长吻松鼠(Dremomys pernyi)、猕猴(Macaca mulatta)和血雉(Ithaginis cruentus)、大噪鹛(Garrulax maximus)、雉鹑(Tetraophasis obscurus)。本次调查初步了解了亚丁保护区内鸟兽的种类、丰富度、分布以及人为干扰情况,是亚丁国家级自然保护区第一次开展鸟兽的本底资源调查和研究。我们的调查结果对掌握亚丁国家级自然保护区的鸟兽种类和分布现状等本底资料具有重要意义,同时也为保护区今后的科研工作及开展野生动物的保护管理和长期监测提供了数据支持和指导。     

Urban biodiversity in local newspapers: a historical perspective

Due to rapid urbanization the conservation and values of urban wildlife are becoming increasingly important study objects. Unfortunately, the lack of historical data makes it difficult to assess the effects of long-term urban land-use changes and human attitudes on local biodiversity. In this paper we show that old newspapers may in some cases provide useful historical data on both urban wildlife and local attitudes towards it. In the city of Turku, southwest Finland, the leading newspaper published 316 observations or reports on local urban mammals, birds and reptiles in 1890–1920, and in addition to these a lot of information on contemporary attitudes towards urban wildlife. At least 12 species of noncaptive mammals, 32 species of birds, and three reptile species were documented in newspapers. The newspaper data seem fairly reliable, and provide valuable information on the development of urban biodiversity. In the study period animals visiting urban areas were often persecuted, in which both adults and children (mainly schoolboys) participated actively. Birds were persecuted less frequently than mammals or reptiles. Some bird species, especially 'song-birds', were actively supported by winter-feeding and by constructing nest-boxes. According to newspapers local people were interested in local biodiversity, especially on phenological events, and benefited from it by getting esthetic pleasure, pet animals, and information on seasonal changes.     

Bird and insect pollinators differ in specialization and potential pollination services along disturbance and resource gradients

Combined studies of the communities and interaction networks of bird and insect pollinators are rare, especially along environmental gradients. Here, we determined how disturbance by fire and variation in sugar resources shape pollinator communities and interactions between plants and their pollinating insects and birds. We recorded insect and bird visits to 21 Protea species across 21 study sites and for 2 years in Fynbos ecosystems in the Western Cape, South Africa. We recorded morphological traits of all pollinator species (41 insect and nine bird species). For each site, we obtained estimates of the time since the last fire (range: 2–25 calendar years) and the Protea nectar sugar amount per hectare (range: 74–62 000 g/ha). We tested how post-fire age and sugar amount influence the total interaction frequency, species richness and functional diversity of pollinator communities, as well as pollinator specialization (the effective number of plant partners) and potential pollination services (pollination service index) of insects and birds. We found little variation in the total interaction frequency, species richness and functional diversity of insect and bird pollinator communities, but insect species richness increased with post-fire age. Pollinator specialization and potential pollination services of insects and birds varied differently along the environmental gradients. Bird pollinators visited fewer Protea species at sites with high sugar amount, while there was no such trend for insects. Potential pollination services of insect pollinators to Protea species decreased with increasing post-fire age and resource amounts, whereas potential pollination services of birds remained constant along the environmental gradients. Despite little changes in pollinator communities, our analyses reveal that insect and bird pollinators differ in their specialization on Protea species and show distinct responses to disturbance and resource gradients. Our comparative study of bird and insect pollinators demonstrates that birds may be able to provide more stable pollination services than insects.     

广东顺德生态乐园夏季鸟类资源和保护

报道了顺德生态乐园夏季鸟类资源的调查 ,记录了该乐园鸟类有 55种 ,隶属 6目2 0科 ,其中属国家二级重点保护鸟类 9种。对鸟类的生态作用、种类和组成作了讨论 ,并提出了保护鸟类的重要性和保护措施。     

利用红外相机技术调查云南布龙州级保护区野生动物

物种编目是自然保护区的生物多样性监测与研究的基础,为制定、实施保护计划及开展科学研究、环境教育等提供数据支持。2014年3月至2015年3月,按公里网格法,在布龙州级保护区内设置了137个位点,总监测日为10 675d,拍摄照片19 757张。获得独立有效照片数为984张,其中70.8 %为兽类,27.6%为鸟类,1.6%为人。经鉴定,可以识别兽类5目10科17种,鸟类4目9科14种,其中国家Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级保护物种各有3种和10种。被IUCN物种红色名录评估为濒危（EN）、易危（VU）、近危(NT)的物种分别有2、4、1种。本次调查兽类记录物种数较多的是食肉目和偶蹄目,分别为4和5种,相对丰富度指数以野猪和赤麂较高;鸟类记录物种数最多的是雉类（4种）,白鹇和原鸡的相对丰富度指数较高。本次调查进一步完善了布龙州级自然保护区中大、中型兽类和地栖性鸟类的物种资源编目,为后续的科研、监测和保护管理提供了本底资源。     

Using Bloodmeal Analysis to Assess Disease Risk to Wildlife at the New Northern Limit of a Mosquito Species

The historically southeastern mosquito species Culex erraticus has over the last 30 years undergone a marked expansion north. We evaluated this species’ potential to participate in local disease cycles in the northeastern USA by identifying the vertebrate sources of blood in Cx. erraticus specimens from New Jersey. We found that the majority of bloodmeals (92.6%) were derived from birds, followed by 6.8% from mammals (of which half were human), and a single amphibian bloodmeal from a spring peeper (0.56%). Medium- and large-sized water birds from the order Pelecaniformes made up 60.4% of the bird species and 55.9% of all identified hosts. This group of birds is known enzootic hosts of arboviruses such as eastern equine encephalitis virus, for which Cx. erraticus is a competent vector. Additionally, we screened blooded mosquitoes for avian malaria parasites and identified three different lineages of Plasmodium, including what may represent a new Plasmodium species (likely a wetland bird specialist) in bloodmeals from Green Herons, a Great Egret, and a Double-Crested Cormorant. Our results support the utility of mosquito bloodmeals as sources of information about circulating wildlife pathogens and reveal the potential of range-expanding species to intensify local zoonoses and bridge enzootic pathogens to humans.     

Understanding landscape patterns of temporal variability in avian populations to improve environmental impact assessments

It is recognized that wildlife populations exhibit spatial and temporal variability in patterns of species richness across heterogeneous landscapes. This phenomenon can prove problematic for environmental practitioners when attempting to complete comprehensive environmental assessments (EAs) with limited field surveys. A better understanding of regional spatio-temporal patterns in population dynamics should enhance site-level decision-making. In this study, the variability of seasonal data across the Credit River Watershed, southern Ontario, is assessed for a hierarchy of conservation measures including species richness, and two conservation wildlife response guilds based on primary habitat and area sensitivity. Bird populations were monitored at 24 forest monitoring plots across the watershed by the authors twice a season from 2003 to 2010 following the protocol of Environment Canada's Forest Bird Monitoring Program. The monitoring plots are located within four land management zones identified as 1) urban, 2) transitional, 3) escarpment and 4) rural. Data from the monitoring program are used to compare species richness among plots across the watershed and among land management zones. In addition, the variability of records from each plot over the 8 year period was determined by means of the Coefficient of Variation (CV) statistic. The mean variability of these records at each site within each land management zone was determined in order to assess whether the temporal variability of bird records might affect the integrity of short term assessments. Finally, a one-way ANOVA was applied to learn whether the result of short-term assessments may be further compounded by differences in the response of selected bird guilds to landscape heterogeneity. The results show that there is a significant difference in mean richness of forest birds among the four management zones. The ANOVAs indicate that significant difference is due to the temporal variability of a) breeding forest interior birds rather than edge birds or generalist species and b) breeding area sensitive species rather than area non-sensitive species. Recommendations are made that environmental assessments targeting forest interior bird populations need to plan sampling strategies that recognize this variability, especially for sites within the transitional and urban zones. Planning in the transition or urbanizing landscape should incorporate landscape ecology principles to sustain current levels of richness in forest species.     

Approaching birds with drones: first experiments and ethical guidelines

Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones, are being increasingly used in ecological research, in particular to approach sensitive wildlife in inaccessible areas. Impact studies leading to recommendations for best practices are urgently needed. We tested the impact of drone colour, speed and flight angle on the behavioural responses of mallards Anas platyrhynchos in a semi-captive situation, and of wild flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and common greenshanks (Tringa nebularia) in a wetland area. We performed 204 approach flights with a quadricopter drone, and during 80% of those we could approach unaffected birds to within 4 m. Approach speed, drone colour and repeated flights had no measurable impact on bird behaviour, yet they reacted more to drones approaching vertically. We recommend launching drones farther than 100 m from the birds and adjusting approach distance according to species. Our study is a first step towards a sound use of drones for wildlife research. Further studies should assess the impacts of different drones on other taxa, and monitor physiological indicators of stress in animals exposed to drones according to group sizes and reproductive status.     

广西恩城国家级自然保护区兽类和鸟类多样性红外相机监测初报

2019年12月—2021年1月,利用红外相机技术在广西恩城国家级自然保护区内布设了58个红外相机监测位点,对保护区内的兽类及地栖性鸟类多样性开展监测。本次监测共完成17 332个相机工作日,累计获得独立有效照片6 680张。共鉴定出兽类5目13科20种,鸟类9目20科61种,其中黑叶猴(Trachypithecus francoisi)为国家一级重点保护野生动物,26种为国家二级重点保护野生动物。被中国脊椎动物红色名录评估为濒危(EN)的有2种,易危(VU) 6种,近危(NT) 19种。物种相对多度指数(RAI)最高的兽类是小泡巨鼠(Leopoldamys edwardsi),鸟类是白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)。本次监测初步掌握了广西恩城国家级自然保护区内的兽类及地栖性鸟类的种类组成和相对多度指数,为后续开展野生动物研究与保护管理工作提供基础资料。     

Are we overestimating risk of enteric pathogen spillover from wild birds to humans?

Enteric illnesses remain the second largest source of communicable diseases worldwide, and wild birds are suspected sources for human infection. This has led to efforts to reduce pathogen spillover through deterrence of wildlife and removal of wildlife habitat, particularly within farming systems, which can compromise conservation efforts and the ecosystem services wild birds provide. Further, Salmonella spp. are a significant cause of avian mortality, leading to additional conservation concerns. Despite numerous studies of enteric bacteria in wild birds and policies to discourage birds from food systems, we lack a comprehensive understanding of wild bird involvement in transmission of enteric bacteria to humans. Here, we propose a framework for understanding spillover of enteric pathogens from wild birds to humans, which includes pathogen acquisition, reservoir competence and bacterial shedding, contact with people and food, and pathogen survival in the environment. We place the literature into this framework to identify important knowledge gaps. Second, we conduct a meta‐analysis of prevalence data for three human enteric pathogens, Campylobacter spp., E. coli, and Salmonella spp., in 431 North American breeding bird species. Our literature review revealed that only 3% of studies addressed the complete system of pathogen transmission. In our meta‐analysis, we found a Campylobacter spp. prevalence of 27% across wild birds, while prevalence estimates of pathogenic E. coli (20%) and Salmonella spp. (6.4%) were lower. There was significant bias in which bird species have been tested, with most studies focusing on a small number of taxa that are common near people (e.g. European starlings Sturnus vulgaris and rock pigeons Columba livia) or commonly in contact with human waste (e.g. gulls). No pathogen prevalence data were available for 65% of North American breeding bird species, including many commonly in contact with humans (e.g. black‐billed magpie Pica hudsonia and great blue heron Ardea herodias), and our metadata suggest that some under‐studied species, taxonomic groups, and guilds may represent equivalent or greater risk to human infection than heavily studied species. We conclude that current data do not provide sufficient information to determine the likelihood of enteric pathogen spillover from wild birds to humans and thus preclude management solutions. The primary focus in the literature on pathogen prevalence likely overestimates the probability of enteric pathogen spillover from wild birds to humans because a pathogen must survive long enough at an infectious dose and be a strain that is able to colonize humans to cause infection. We propose that future research should focus on the large number of under‐studied species commonly in contact with people and food production and demonstrate shedding of bacterial strains pathogenic to humans into the environment where people may contact them. Finally, studies assessing the duration and intensity of bacterial shedding and survival of bacteria in the environment in bird faeces will help provide crucial missing information necessary to calculate spillover probability. Addressing these essential knowledge gaps will support policy to reduce enteric pathogen spillover to humans and enhance bird conservation efforts that are currently undermined by unsupported fears of pathogen spillover from wild birds.     

Bird diversity in cacao farms and forest fragments of western Panama

Theobroma cacao plantings, when managed under the shade of rainforest trees, provide habitat for many resident and migratory bird species. We compared the bird diversity and community structure in organic cacao farms and nearby forest fragments throughout mainland Bocas del Toro, Panama. We used this dataset to ask the following questions: (1) How do bird communities using cacao habitat compare to communities of nearby forest fragments? (2) To what extent do Northern migratory birds use shaded cacao farms, and do communities of resident birds shift their abundances in cacao farms seasonally? (3) Do small scale changes in shade management of cacao farms affect bird diversity? Using fixed radius point counts and additional observations, we recorded 234 landbird species, with 102 species that were observed in both cacao and forest fragments, 86 species that were only observed in cacao farms, and 46 species that were restricted to forest fragments. Cacao farms were rich in canopy and edge species such as tanagers, flycatchers and migratory warblers, but understory insectivores were nearly absent from cacao farms. We observed 27 migratory species, with 18 species in cacao farms only, two species in forest only, and seven species that occurred in both habitats. In cacao farms, the diversity of birds was significantly greater where there was less intensive management of the canopy shade trees. Shade tree species richness was most important for explaining variance in bird diversity. Our study shows that shaded cacao farms in western Panama provide habitat for a wide variety of resident and migratory bird species. Considering current land use trends in the region, we suggest that action must be taken to prevent conversion away from shaded cacao farms to land uses with lower biodiversity conservation value.