Donations made by the American Birding Association, Birders’ Exchange Program have been a key factor in the success of a new training at the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) in southern Belize. Please click the link or logo below to visit the American Birding Association, Birders’ Exchange Program and learn more.

American Birding Association
Birders’ Exchange Program

Birders’ Exchange, the American Birding Association’s world-renowned conservation initiative, seeks to successfully address Neotropical migratory bird issues by promoting good science and public awareness in Neotropical regions. In these areas, many researchers, educators, and conservationists work without even the most basic equipment. The ABA addresses this need for equipment and educational tools and contributes to bird conservation through its Birders’ Exchange program. Birders’ Exchange takes new and used birding equipment and educational materials and matches it with local scientists, conservationists, and educators in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Elmar Requena, Junior Terrestrial Biologist at TIDE, participated in a month long internship at the Massachusetts Audubon Society and, as part of his work, created an Introduction to Bird Watching training. The course is conducted in two half-day sessions, one theory and one practical. The course has been presented on three occasions to date.

In October 2009, TIDE presented the course to sixteen youths between the ages of 12 to 15 from communities buffering protected areas including: San Pedro Columbia, San Antonio, Forest Home, Cattle Landing and Punta Gorda. Each participant gained hands-on experience in using binoculars and a scope and each was able to identify the topography of a bird.

In November 2009, TIDE presented the course to administrative and field staff who lacked experience in bird watching. The field trip took participants to the TIDE Private Protected Lands and to a farm in Emery Grove.

In April 2010, TIDE presented the course to a group of students from the Toledo Development Corporation. During the field trip to Boom Creek a total of 37 different species were observed.

Participants in these trainings were enthusiastic not only about bird watching but also about looking at other natural features. Presently two other local communities have requested the Introduction to Bird Watching training for their tour guides and environmental groups.

Feedback from the training sessions was overwhelmingly positive with requests for more training, a birding club, and access to materials about birds and how to identify species.