| The spectacular Green Thorntail is another hummingbird that has proven to be more common than previously understood as more birders have flocked to the foothills of eastern Coclé and western Panamá Provinces. It is found regularly both in the gardens of the Canopy Lodge (where I filmed the male pictured below in May of 2006) and around Altos del Maria. This new understanding of Green Thorntail's relative abundance is a perfect example of how recreational birders can contribute to ornithological knowledge. Scientific expeditions upon which historic range data were based could only hope to observe and collect within a limited area and through the efforts of a limited number of field workers. The result of the growing popularity of birding in the Panamanian foothills has been that there are skilled observers in the field almost every day, and in all seasons; which cannot help but lead to a more complete understanding of local population density of many species. Green Thorntail may prove to be common enough to someday merit removal from this list. |
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