Conteo de Aves
| In Conservation | Tagged Bird Race, Caño Negro, Charity, Conteo de Aves, illustration | by Diana Höhlig
The annual Caño Negro Bird Count
The annual bird count in Caño Negro, Costa Rica, has been taking place since 2015. The aim of this activity is to raise awareness of the area's ecological value and strengthen local capacity to promote greater appreciation of the protected area. To date, a total of 397 species have been recorded during the event.
This year will be my third time participating in this wonderful event. I have also been given the opportunity to illustrate this year's featured species, the sungrebe (Heliornis fulica), also known as the Patito Cantil by the locals.
Conteo de Aves - Caño Negro
6. - 7. November 2026
About the Initiators
Ecotourism drives conservation action in the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.
'To conserve, we must know' is the motto of the Caño Negro Experience team. The founders, Tatiana and Renato, have developed authentic ecotourism programmes that give visitors a genuine and unique experience of nature and local people.
"Through ecotourism, we can raise awareness among citizens, generate employment opportunities in local communities, and conserve these ecosystems more effectively", says Renato Paniagua.
Tatiana Guerrero sees the project as "an opportunity to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in Caño Negro". Through environmental education and research projects, we aim to inspire people of all ages to contribute to nature in the best way they can".
Caño Negro Experience aims to promote research projects in the Caño Negro wetland to expand knowledge of this important place and enable humans to coexist with nature.
Since 2021, the couple have been carrying out local initiatives in the Caño Negro community. The main objectives are to promote adequate waste management and to find more opportunities in ecotourism.
As well as offering guided tours to visitors, they have initiated environmental education programmes for local children and support local initiatives to promote coexistence with nature.
