Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA includes approximately 15,000 ha of tidal mudflats in the Bay of Parita, from just south of Antón, Coclé, in the northeast to the La Villa River near Chitré, Herrera in the southwest. In some places the mudflats extend as much as six km offshore. It also includes adjacent on-shore areas, including mangroves near the mouth of the Río Grande Mangroves, wetlands near Aguadulce and Chitré, and three protected areas, the Cenegón del Mangle Wildlife Refuge, Sarigua National Park, and the Peñón de Honda Wildlife Refuge. Major rivers entering the bay include the Hondo, Grande, Pocrí, Santa María, Parita and La Villa.
Parita Bay is the second most important site for migratory shorebirds in Panama after the Upper Bay of Panama. The maximum one day count was 14,010 in October 1991, of which 10,676 were small shorebirds (Morrison
et al. 1998). If turnover is taken into account, an estimated 39,000 small shorebirds pass through on autumn migration. Nationally, the area is particularly important for Short-billed Dowitcher, with 62.0% of the total in January 1993. Other significant species, with percent of national totals in January 1993, include Willet (6.4%) and Whimbrel (7.4%); (Morrison
et al. 1998). The area is the only known breeding site for Black-necked Stilt in Panama. There are important heron and wader nesting colonies at El Rosario, Cenegón del Mangle, and the Chitré area. Several nationally threatened species occur, including Aplomado and Peregrine Falcons and the endemic Panama races of White-winged Dove and Common Ground-Dove.
Non-bird biodiversity: American Crocodile occurs (Delgado 1985). Neotropical River Otter may also occur.
There are extensive areas of mangroves near the mouth of the Río Grande, at Cenegón de Mangle, and in the Chitré area and other areas along the coasts. Inland, the site includes freshwater and brackish wetlands and agricultural land including rice plantations, subsistence agriculture, and cattle pasture. There are extensive areas devoted to shrimp farming near Aguadulce and Chitré. There were formerly large salt ponds near Aguadulce, but these operations are now much reduced. Cover in non-agricultural areas consists mainly of dry scrub.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The mangroves are threatened by extraction for wood, tannin, and charcoal, and by conversion to shrimp ponds. Much of the former freshwater wetlands of the area has been converted to rice. Although mangroves are considered state property and protected by law, there is little enforcement. Illegal hunting is a threat to gamebirds such as ducks. Pesticides and other agricultural chemicals used in agricultural areas could be detrimental to birds. Local residents have protested to ANAM and other agencies over crop-dusting too close to habitations. In 1999 a local rice farmer deliberately poisoned at least 1,000 ducks by spreading poisoned rice to protect his crop. Garbage has been dumped into or adjacent to wetlands in some areas.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Ongoing studies have been carried out by Francisco Delgado at the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Station near Chitré for many years.
Sarigua National Park was declared in 1984, and has four park guards assigned to it. Cenegón del Mangle was declared a wildlife refuge by the local municipality in 1980. An observation tower and nature trail have been constructed with support fromFundación Natura. Peñón de la Honda Island was declared a wildlife refuge by the local municipality in 1982, and the adjacent mainland area was added in 1985. However, no park guards are assigned to it.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Parita Bay (Panama). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/parita-bay-iba-panama on 23/12/2024.
