Over 190 neotropical migrant bird species funnel into colombia each year from where they disperse across the entire country and south american continent

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, through the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation program (CFDA 15.635), awarded a $753,158 project grant to Fundacion Proaves De Colombia. The funding supports two key strategies: 1) Establishing 11 permanent migratory bird biodiversity research stations across critical regions of Colombia to expand infrastructure and enable Colombian and international researchers to study neotropical migratory birds, with the goal of updating conservation plans by 2026; and 2) Launching a mobile classroom called the "Reinita Chiva" (Warbler Bus) to deliver migratory bird conservation education to 11,400 students and educators at 240 remote, rural schools in key wintering areas for priority migratory bird species. This two-year project grant, awarded on July 1, 2024, aims to improve understanding of migratory bird distributions and threats in Colombia, a biodiversity hotspot and high conservation priority for neotropical migrants.

Sadly, tropical and subtropical forests that land migrants are so dependent upon for both stop-over and wintering habitats are increasingly at risk in colombia. The combination of rural investments following the 2016 peace process together with instability from the covid-19 pandemic crisis facilitated an invasion and colonization of protected areas and other remnants of natural habitat. As a consequence, deforestation rates across colombia skyrocketed to some of the highest worldwide as vital habitats necessary for neotropical migrants were severely impacted. In 2003, fundacin proaves with nmbca support launched an intensive nationwide research and monitoring campaign to identify key areas and habitats for the most threatened migrants. The results and analysis of years of field data provided crucially-needed insight into the distribution and threats facing migrants, allowing US to publish three national and regional migratory bird conservation plans ten years ago. Those plans presented strategies targeting key areas and actions that guided proaves (with nmbca support) to build a strategic network of public and private protected areas safeguarding key habitat for migratory birds across colombia.with new emerging threats across key habitats and regions of colombia for neotropical migrant birds, proaves seeks nmbca support for a two major strategies:1)establish 11 permanent nationwide research and monitoring network in critical regions of colombia for migrants called migratory bird biodiversity research stations which will expand infrastructure and resources to enable colombian and international researchers to study migratory birds. Our goal is to increase our knowledge of neotropical migrants to then update their conservation plans for colombia by 2026.2)launch an innovative strategy to take migratory bird conservation education to remote and impoverished rural schools and communities on the frontlines of deforestation across 11 key areas of colombia through a visionary mobile classroom, called the reinita chiva (warbler bus). Our goal is to deploy a repurposed colombian chiva - a traditional and iconic type of bus used on unpaved roads to access rural communities in the andes. - and establish IT as a nationally recognized reintia chiva that champions migratory birds in key wintering areas for priority impact NMB species. Our objective will be educating and inspiring 11,400 school students and their educators at 240 schools each non-breeding season (october-april) to inspire the next generation of conservationists. Nmbca support will provide an enduring legacy towards protecting neotropical migrant birds in one of the most biodiverse nations on earth and one of its highest priorities for conservation.