Las Guacamayas Biological Station served as the meeting point for the 14th Christmas Bird Count, carried out in Laguna del Tigre National Park. Over three days of fieldwork, 43 volunteers—13 women and 30 men from different regions of Guatemala—took part in the systematic recording of birds, with notable participation from local youth connected to the territory.
The effort documented 259 species and more than 4,200 individuals, based on surveys conducted along seven monitoring routes. Of the total species recorded, 41 were Nearctic migratory birds and 218 were resident species, a pattern that underscores the importance of the area both as a stopover site for migratory birds and for the conservation of local avifauna.
From a biological perspective, the results provide key information on the condition of ecosystems in northwestern Petén. Among the records is the Wood Thrush, a species considered globally vulnerable, as well as species of high conservation value such as the Scarlet Macaw and the King Vulture, which serve as indicators of the persistence of functional habitats in the region.
The count also reflects a participatory process of knowledge generation. The involvement of observers from different regions and of local youth contributes to strengthening long-term monitoring efforts and to producing data useful for the management of the protected area.
The 14th Christmas Bird Count was organized by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), through its Petén Regional Directorate; the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); Asociación Balam; the Las Guacamayas Biological Station; the Petén Birders Association; and the Caoba Birders Club. The activity was supported by the Municipality of San Andrés, Petén; the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF); AgroAmérica; and NaturAceites.