In 1951, several dozen Quakers (from 11 families) from Alabama seeking to live as farmers moved to and purchased land in Costa Rica.

In 1972, a young graduate student, George Powell, visited the Tropical Science Center (TSC) in San José.

Immediately, the TSC became interested in Powell's offer and started the process that led to the acquisition of the 328 hectares (810 acres) in April 1973.

Along with Powell, Costa Rican biologist Adelaida Chaverri and wildlife specialist Christopher Vaughn promoted the establishment of this private preserve, at the time a less-than-popular idea.

In fact, Adelaida Chaverri became one of the sponsors, along with Joseph Tosi and other TSC members, of what is today the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

The preserve increased in size during these years, but its best-known endemic species, the golden toad, as well as 40% of Monteverde's amphibian population became extinct, due to a deadly fungal pandemic chytridiomycosis.

The beginning of the migration of the three-wattled bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata) is similar to that of the quetzal, with reproduction occurring close to the Continental Divide, from March to June, and followed by a post-reproductive move downhill on the Pacific slope during the months of August and September.

The majority of the bird species in Monteverde are primarily insectivores, given that the plants in the region offer a wide variety of fruit.

On a global scale, the cloud forests of Monteverde are home to ten species of birds that are considered to be endangered by the organization Birdlife International, due to their very restricted habitat worldwide.