Three Bird Species Thrive in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Monitoring Shows

Ocellated Turkey Sian Kaan

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo — Monitoring by students from the Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Felipe Carrillo Puerto has found that three bird species in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve are maintaining healthy populations.

The students, enrolled in the Community Development Engineering program, tracked the great curassow (Crax rubra), the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), and the crested guan (Penelope purpurascens) within the reserve’s medium-height forest, considered one of the most important ecosystems in Mexico.

Biologist Arturo Bayona Miramontes, who advises the student team, said all three species are listed under some level of risk due to habitat loss and other environmental factors.

The monitoring took place at the Ramonal Biological Station inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The work is funded by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) through its Conservation and Restoration Program (PROREST), aimed at generating data to strengthen biodiversity protection.

“We are tracking these magnificent species and finding that their conservation status is optimal, with seasonal reproductive periods and considerable density, which highlights the importance of this protected natural area for their conservation,” Bayona said.

The monitoring provides key insights into wildlife population conditions and helps reinforce conservation strategies for emblematic species of the Maya forest.

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By Ana Reyes

Ana Reyes covers environmental policy, conservation initiatives, infrastructure projects, and political developments across the Yucatán Peninsula for Riviera Maya News & Events. She reports on issues from sargassum management and reef conservation to the Maya Train, coastal development, and state and federal policy affecting Quintana Roo and the broader peninsula.Ana has covered environmental and political news since 2023, tracking key developments in Mexico's environmental regulations, coral reef protection, coastal zone management, and the intersection of tourism development with conservation efforts. Her reporting spans from Cancun's hotel zone to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the culturally significant regions of the Yucatán interior.Ana is fluent in English and Spanish, and draws from a wide range of sources including government environmental agencies, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and local community leaders to provide balanced, well-sourced coverage. She is particularly focused on how environmental policy decisions affect the daily lives of residents and the long-term sustainability of the region.For story tips: ana@rivieramayanews.mx