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PA038
Metropolitan Nature Park
Location Panama, Panamá
Central coordinates 79o 33.00' West  8o 59.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4iv
Area 265 ha
Altitude 15 - 120m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Sociedad Audubon de Panamá



Ornithological information Metropolitan Nature Park is an important bottleneck site for migratory raptors. In 2004 a total of 732348 Turkey Vultures, 55,061 Broad-winged Hawks, and 322,469 Swainson's Hawks were counted on autumn migration. Many of these probably used the park as an overnight roost. Several nationally threatened and biome-restricted species also occur, including the nationally endemic Yellowish-green Tyrannulet.

Site description Metropolitan Nature Park is an urban park at the edge of Panama City. It is adjacent to Camino de Cruces National Park in the north and to the Curundu and Los Angeles sections of Panama City to the south, east, and west.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura passage  2004-2005  732,348 individuals  good    Least Concern 
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus passage  2004-2005  55,061 individuals  good    Least Concern 
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni passage  2004-2005  322,469 individuals  good    Least Concern 
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi winter  2006  30 individuals  poor    Near Threatened 
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera winter  2006  -  poor  A1  Near Threatened 
Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea passage  2006  rare individuals  poor    Vulnerable 
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes passage  2004-2005  -  good  A4iv   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Metropolitano Natural Monument 251 is identical to site 265  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   major
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   minor

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research major
tourism/recreation major

Other biodiversity Mammals that are known or probably occur include Central American Woolly Opossum, Silky Anteater, Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Panamanian Spiny Pocket-Mouse, Ocelot, and Jaguarundi. The reptiles and amphibians have not been surveyed in detail but some of the species found in Soberanía National Park may occur.

Management considerations  In 1995 the law establishing the park was amended to permit construction of the Northern Corridor Highway, dividing the park and destroying forest in the eastern sector, before an environmental impact assessment had been completed, leading to strong opposition from many of Panama’s environmental and civil organizations including PAS. Some of the mitigations and compensation promised by PYCSA, the company constructing the highway, have never been made. Only a few minutes from downtown Panama City, it is of exceptional interest for ecotourism and environmental education, and there are several nature trails.

Protection status Metropolitan Nature Park was created in 1985 in part of the U.S.-administered Canal Zone that reverted to Panama in 1979. Six park guards are assigned to it.

Conservation response  The park has been the focus of important studies on forest canopy ecology, using a tower construction crane, by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the United Nations Environment Program.

References Angehr, George R. 2003. Directorio de areas importantes para aves en Panama. Directory of important bird areas in Panama. Panama: Sociedad Audubon de Panama.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Metropolitan Nature Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife