Uso de hábitat del paujil de pico azul (Crax alberti) en la reserva el Paujil: fundamentos para el desarrollo de estrategias de conservación

Abstract

The Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti), a Colombian endemic and critically endangered species, faces major threats from habitat loss and poaching. This study aimed to assess its habitat use in the El Paujil ProAves Reserve (Boyacá) and promote community-based conservation strategies. Over a 45-day sampling period, point counts, intensive searches, and camera traps recorded 38 activity events: 25 vocalizations, 6 direct sightings, and 7 camera trap detections. Manly’s alpha index indicated strong selection for fragmented forest with secondary vegetation (0.50) and tall secondary vegetation (0.47), and low selection for riparian forest and open pasture. Camera traps revealed behaviors such as grooming, foraging in leaf scrapes, and water intake. The community component involved eight educational and participatory science activities with students from the Puerto Pinzón school, including talks, field walks, and the collective creation of a book about the species' ecology and importance. The results highlight the ecological relevance of secondary habitats and the role of participatory approaches in promoting conservation awareness. This work contributes essential information to inform integrated strategies for the protection of Crax alberti and its associated ecosystems.