When we think of tropical wildlife, the larger, more striking species often capture our attention. However, many small, inconspicuous birds have a crucial impact on biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems. These species, although less visible, play fundamental roles in processes such as seed dispersal, insect control and forest regeneration.
Small birds, big contributions to forests
Pollinators and seed dispersers
Birds serve key roles in tropical forests as pollinators and seed dispersers. Species such as hummingbirds, with their ability to flutter among flowers, allow many tropical plants to reproduce. Other birds, such as toucans and macaws, by consuming fruits and dispersing the seeds through their feces, facilitate the regeneration of the forest. This not only ensures the continuity of plant species, but also contributes to the heterogeneity of the ecosystem, favoring greater biological diversity while maintaining the balance between the different trophic levels of ecosystems.
Natural Insect Controllers
Many of the small species in the tropics are insectivorous, meaning they play a crucial role in controlling insect populations. Species such as the Peruvian Anthill (Hypocnemis peruviana) and the Quijos Anthill (Microrhopias quixensis) have developed techniques to follow ants and capture the insects they displace, which could represent a pest for vegetation. In this way, these birds keep insect populations on the forest floor under control.
Bioindicators of ecosystem health
Birds, have a high sensitivity to changes in the environment, acting as indicators of the health of tropical forests. The decline or disappearance of certain species can be a warning that the ecosystem is under pressure, facing deforestation, habitat loss or climate change. Monitoring bird populations can provide a clear view of the challenges facing a forest, allowing early action to be taken for its conservation.
PHOTOS: CARBON CREDITS CONSULTING – PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE WARG (REDD+) PROJECT IN BRAZIL
What would happen if they disappeared?
The disappearance of any species of bird would have knock-on effects, altering the natural processes that sustain life in the forest. For example, the absence of frugivorous birds such as the Pteroglossus mariae (Chestnut-eared Aracari) or the Querula purpurata (Purple-throated Fruitcrow) would affect the regeneration of many plant species, since they are responsible for taking the seeds to new areas. Without this process, young trees would have difficulty establishing themselves and the forest could lose some of its diversity.
On the other hand, the extinction of birds that control pests, such as Microrhopias quixensis (Dot-winged Antwren), would cause an uncontrolled increase in herbivorous insects, which would affect the health of the vegetation. This could lead to a reduction in vegetation cover, eroding the soil and affecting habitat quality.
When we talk about the extinction of small birds, we are also talking about the loss of genetic and functional diversity. These birds allow ecosystems to regenerate after disturbances such as fires or storms. If they were not there, ecosystems could take longer to recover or even transform in irreversible ways, affecting other species and the ecosystem services they provide.
How CCC Contributes to Bird Conservation
Bird conservation is vital not only for their intrinsic value, but also for their crucial role in the resilience and stability of ecosystems. The loss of a single species can trigger knock-on effects that impact many other species, from plants to large mammals, as well as the ecosystem services on which humans depend, such as pollination, water regulation, and climate stability.
One of the key objectives of our REDD+ projects is the conservation of the habitats of these birds, which are threatened by deforestation, urbanization and other human activities. Without REDD+ projects, many of these vital areas would be at risk of degradation, which would have a devastating impact on birds and biodiversity in general. By protecting ecosystems, we ensure that birds can continue to play their essential ecological roles.
Through our projects in Latin America, we constantly monitor bird populations to assess their diversity and abundance. We use species distribution maps as a key tool to identify priority areas, and we carry out rigorous sampling, such as free-observation transects. This method allows us to tour key habitats within our work areas, visually and acoustically recording the species present. In addition, we detect signs of avian activity, such as the presence of nests and feathers, and we have installed camera traps to obtain more detailed and accurate monitoring of the species.
Wildlife monitoring is critical to the success and effectiveness of our REDD+ projects. The information we generate from these activities allows us to characterize changes in wildlife populations over time, thus improving operational efficiency both inside and outside the project area. This approach allows us to make informed decisions about conservation and management strategies, ensuring the health and sustainability of forest species and their ecosystems.
In conservation efforts, it is easy to focus on large mammals or the most showy species, but we must not forget that the basis of ecological balance lies in these small players. By protecting birds, we ensure the survival of tropical forests and, with it, the lives of countless species that depend on them, including ourselves.
