2023 Central American Waterbird Census: No Impacts from Avian Influenza Recorded

H5N1 avian influenza is a threat to birds, with the added concern of the potential to spread the virus during migration. This year the focus of the Central American Waterbird Census (CAWC) was to document the presence of dead and/or sick birds due to avian influenza, in addition to documenting diversity, abundance and habitat status as has been done for the past 10 years. Even though almost all Central American countries have issued health alerts due to the confirmation of the increase in cases of avian influenza, only one dead individual, a Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata manificens) was reported in Belize during the CAWC. The cause of death for this bird is unknown.

Survey Efforts

The CAWC is conducted each year between January 15 and February 15. A total of 145 sites and 230 sampling units were surveyed in eight countries from southern Mexico to Panama (Map 1). In the Caribbean, only 10 sites were surveyed in Belize and Honduras. It is important to note that most of the sites where avian influenza has been reported are in the Caribbean.  Among the habitats sampled were marine-coastal wetlands (77), inland wetlands (52), and human-made wetlands (58). These categories of habitat create a mosaic of ecosystems that includes intertidal flats, estuaries, intertidal forested wetlands, aquaculture ponds, and salt farms areas.