How Is Ecotourism Hurting These Adorable Cave-Loving Birds In Colombia?

Cave ecostourism is creating jobs in Colombia, but it could also be impacting on guácharos (known as oilbirds; Steatornis caripensis), a nocturnal, fruit-eating bird.

There are thought to be tens of thousands of these birds across a range from Bolivia to Costa Rica; from Peru to Trinidad and Tobago and the population trend appears to be decreasing.

Juan Diego Pineda-Dueñas, a biologist and master's student at Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, explains that he used thermal cameras to understand population dynamics of the birds in areas affected by deforestation and other human activities.

"The guácharos are fascinating because of their nocturnal habits, echolocation abilities and their habitat in South American caves," he says, adding that population in protected areas are better studied.

In a study published in 2023, he estimated the size of these colonies in nine caves in the department of Santander, Colombia, using a method a standardized a point-count method coupled with thermal cameras outside and inside the caves

According to Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, ecotourism contributed 2.1% of Colombian GDP in 2022.

"It is replacing illicit enrichment activities: local communities care for and protect their surrounding ecosystems to encourage tourists," Pineda-Dueñas says, adding that in his master's thesis, he investigated the effects of ecotourism on the guácharos.

"Ecotourism has grown significantly, but it is crucial to determine how it affects the resting periods of these birds," he says, "when talking about karst systems, it is necessary to take into consideration the fauna that inhabits them, since they have specific adaptations for this type of life in the caverns."

Pineda-Dueñas explains that guácharos, being a social species with a vocal complexity, can be affected by the noise of tourists, causing them to abandon the cave or cavern in the medium or long term.

"The guácharos also have one of the most sensitive views to light in the animal kingdom, which is why they can be affected when exposed to the light of high-powered flashlights during cave tours," he says, adding that researchers hope to identify population declines that impact ecological and ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal by guácharos.

Passion For Colombia's Caves

Pineda Dueñas grew up in the Colombian capital of Bogota and says that this Eureka moment came when he participated in a project called “Artificial Light at Night Reduces Flashing in Photinus and Photuris Fireflies During Courtship and Predation”.

"Since then, I have been committed to contribute new knowledge for the conservation of our megadiverse country," he says, adding that the science of the Global South is crucial because of its biological and cultural diversity, which exposes scientists to unique situations and offers a broad perspective on problem solving.

"This diverse context allows for the development of innovative and culturally appropriate solutions that may not arise in other parts of the world," Pineda-Dueñas says, "In addition, scientists from the Global South are known for their creativity and efficient use of limited resources, allowing them to address challenges with sustainable and effective methods."

Pineda-Dueñas explains that research from this region also contributes significantly to global knowledge, enriching the understanding and management of complex problems worldwide.

"In short, science from the Global South not only benefits local communities, but also provides valuable solutions to global challenges," he says, "Scientists from the Global South have a direct influence on these issues that have short, medium and long term effects on the entire planet, this forces and motivates them to be very effective in creating solutions that are culturally appropriate and sustainable."

Turkey Vultures

Another researcher looking at another bird found across Latin America is Adrian Naveda-Rodriguez, lead scientist at Conservation Science Partners, Inc; he and his colleagues have found what's killing Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) in North America — which has implications for South America.

Naveda-Rodriguez explains that the populations he studies breed in North America (March to August) and then spend time Central and Northern South America (October to March) to avoid the cold days of the northern winter.

"Vultures provide a unique ecosystem service by feeding upon dead animals, and this service is highly demanded at different time of the years in different areas of the continent," he says, adding that these movements are related to food availability, for example, birds from Central North America spend time in the Llanos (savanna-like plains) of Colombia and Venezuela during the dry season when there is a relative abundance of dead animals.

"They return to breeding grounds in North America when the rainy season begins in the Llanos and the abundance of dead animals is reduced," Naveda-Rodriguez says, "If vultures are killed in North America between March and August, as proposed to mitigate human-vulture conflict, we are going to lose an important ecosystem service in Northern South America."