Avian communities in forest fragments and reforestation areas associated with banana plantations in Costa Rica

To evaluate the conservation value of forest habitats associated with banana (Musa sp.) plantations, an inventory of bird species was conducted in 10 forest fragments and reforestation areas surrounding seven plantations in the Costa Rican Atlantic lowlands. Birds were censused by point counts at 42 points in conserved forest remnants and 30 points in reforestation areas. To gather information about reproductive patterns, a supplementary mist-net study was conducted at 29 of these sites. Overall, 194 species (11,361 individuals) were recorded in the point counts and 73 species (1035 individuals) in the mist-net study for a combined total of 206 species, including 46 migrants and 87 resident species classified as moderately to highly susceptible to habitat disturbance. Immature birds were observed in 67% of the species captured in the mist-net survey and represented 35% of the total individuals netted. The results suggest that small-scale forest patches associated with banana plantations may provide viable habitat for the conservation of migrants and bird species moderately susceptible to habitat alteration. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.