The Harvest of Rain–Forest Birds by Indigenous Communities in Panama*

Abstract

abstract. In this article I attempt to shed light on the relationships between indigenous communities and bird populations through research on hunting in five neighboring villages in western Panama. Over eight months, 59 households captured 1,584 birds using rifles, sling‐shots, traps, and other methods, resulting in a total yield of 252 kilograms. Although hunters captured more than 125 avian species, just four species account for more than half of the total harvest. The most important game bird is the great curassow (Crax rubra), followed by the great tinamou (Tinamus major) and crested guan (Penelope purpurascens). The type and quantity of avifauna captured varies significantly according to habitat and hunting strategy. The spatial distribution of bird kill sites is highly concentrated, with 62 percent of the harvest by weight captured within just 1 kilometer of the participating households. Even the more vulnerable species are encountered close to home, suggesting that overhunting has not occurred.

Estado de la biodiversidad terrestre de la Región Autónoma Atlántico Sur (RAAS), Nicaragua

“…Con dr i definido como la tasa de detección por 100 días para la especie i en el lugar j y m definido como la masa promedia de la especie i de acuerdo con Reid (2009). Dos especies de aves, el pavón y el tinamú, también se incluyeron en este cálculo porque se reporta con frecuencia que estas aves grandes son vulnerables a la caza y la alteración del hábitat significativo (Smith, 2010). Una medida de la biomasa promedio fue elegido para la comparación entre sitios, porque en múltiples estudios se ha demostrado que disminuye con la destrucción del hábitat y la caza excesiva (al Brashares et al 2004;Peres, 2000).…”

The impact of hunting on Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria:Columbidae) in the rainforests of Northern Papua, Indonesia

“…Similarly, the hunters from Rofaifo ethnic group in Papua New Guinea like to go hunting alone rather than in a team, although they sometimes doing that in a team (Dwyer 1974). The same hunting type also applied by the hunters from Agta ethnic group in Phillipine (Griffin and Griffin 2000), and in Panama where the hunters usually go alone or in small groups (Smith 2010).…”

“…This opportunistic hunter also appears on their activities in gathering forest fruits and wild vegetables, or in harvesting rattan for housing needs, and collecting areca nut and bettles when across abandoned farms, adjacent to the hunting grounds. Similarly, local people in Panama showed this manner that they do land opening and clearing, collecting medicinal plants or just pacing from one hunting site to others when go hunting (Smith 2010).…”

“…For instance, women from Aka tribe in Central Africa are allowed to participate in hunting wild animals (Noss and Hewlett 2001), as well as the women from ethnic Agta in Philipines (Goodman et al 1985, Griffin andGriffin 2000), and Aborigines in Australia . Similarly, women and their boys in Panama are practicing such a simple hunting specifically hunting on birds, that the women usually use traps to catch birds, while boys catch the small birds using slingshots (Smith 2005(Smith , 2010. In fact, whatever animals from boys' hunting, it still has no significant effect to what they eat, but it may have general impacts on the vulnerability of bird population and bird ecological function like the loss of pollinators (Smith 2005(Smith , 2010.…”

“…Similarly, women and their boys in Panama are practicing such a simple hunting specifically hunting on birds, that the women usually use traps to catch birds, while boys catch the small birds using slingshots (Smith 2005(Smith , 2010. In fact, whatever animals from boys' hunting, it still has no significant effect to what they eat, but it may have general impacts on the vulnerability of bird population and bird ecological function like the loss of pollinators (Smith 2005(Smith , 2010.…”