Hundreds of species of birds occur in the American Southwest, which makes for some of the best birdwatching opportunities. Birds are a highly visible component of many ecosystems. Because they can respond quickly to changes in resource conditions, birds are considered good indicators of ecosystem health. Monitoring changes in bird population and community parameters can be an important component of any comprehensive, long-term monitoring program. Monitoring birds is especially critical given population declines for some species in recent decades, especially neotropical migratory birds. The Chihuahuan Desert Network (CHDN), of which Big Bend National Park (NP) is a part, will begin annual landbird monitoring at the park in 2010. However, many avian monitoring and research studies have been conducted in the past, with a number continuing today. This overview discusses the birds of Big Bend NP and a sampling of the surveys and studies that have been conducted to date; these include surveys/studies for wintering birds, migratory birds, and breeding birds, as well as those focused on particular species of interest.
Hundreds
Hundreds