Listed as ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’ by the IUCN, the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus) is characterized by unique, bell-like vocalizations that register among the loudest bird calls on the planet. Bellbirds are endemic to Central American cloud forests and are threatened by human disturbance and accelerated habitat loss, primarily for agricultural expansion.  Bellbirds also have complex movements between these biodiverse—and threatened—habitats, which presents various challenges for effective conservation management and planning. 

To address these challenges, ZCOG, in partnership with the Instituto Nacional de Conservación y Desarrollo Forestal (ICF) and several independent field researchers, developed the Three-wattled Bellbird Conservation Monitoring Program, a multi-year project that investigates bellbird ecology and movement patterns and will help contribute to regional conservation planning for both the species and its habitat. 

ZCOG coordinates logistics among project partners and provides critical funding for research expeditions, field monitor salaries, and the purchase of Argos (Doppler) transmitters.  In September 2014, under the direction of Dr. Robin Bjork, program researchers affixed these satellite transmitters to bellbirds for the first time ever, resulting in detailed information about the bellbird migratory patterns.