Birds and Community: La Selva Takes Part in Global Big Day 2025
Based on a report by Génesis Castro, Scientific Academic Department – OTS
On May 10, 2025, bird enthusiasts across the globe took to forests, wetlands, coasts, and cities for the Global Big Day, an international bird count coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Once again, La Selva Research Station joined the effort, contributing valuable data to this global celebration of birds and biodiversity.
The goal of Global Big Day is simple yet powerful: to record as many bird species and individuals as possible in a single day—whether by sight or sound. These citizen science efforts are more than just numbers. They serve as critical data points for conservation, habitat monitoring, environmental education, and the promotion of sustainable tourism. Platforms like eBird help showcase biodiverse hotspots while building a global community of observers, researchers, and passionate nature lovers.
At La Selva, a dedicated team of 10 bird counters took part in the initiative—seven local birding guides and three station staff members, organized across three birding routes within the station trails.
The day began with clear skies and warm weather. Around 9:40 a.m., a heavy rainstorm rolled in, lasting until 10:30 a.m., before the sun returned. Despite the weather shift, the team worked through the heat and humidity (with temperatures ranging from 21°C to 31°C, and 12.5 mm of rain) to complete the count over 25 kilometers of trail.
The Result?
An impressive total of 152 bird species and 573 individuals were recorded in just 24 hours.
Events like this highlight the importance of local expertise, collaborative science, and the unique role that research stations like La Selva play in linking biodiversity conservation with community participation and scientific discovery.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, Global Big Day is a reminder that every observation counts—and every voice in the forest matters.
