The fall of 2017 was a tumultuous one for the Caribbean. Hurricanes beat relentlessly on our islands, destroying homes, toppling trees and darkening cities. The storms hurt both people and nature, damaging forests, wetlands, and the animals that live in them.

Despite the challenges, bird enthusiasts across the region rallied to learn about migratory birds. At events all over the region, people young and old took time out from rebuilding to connect with nature. It brought people together with each other and with local birds.

These events were part of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). IMBD focuses on the natural enchantment of birds and uses this to motivate a passion for their conservation through an annual conservation theme. In 2017, this theme highlighted the importance of stopover sites, those places where migratory birds rest and refuel before continuing their journey. IMBD takes place all over the Americas, and is coordinated by Environment for the Americas. Caribbean events are organized by BirdsCaribbean, and take many forms.

Dr. Adrianne Tossas involved students at the University of Puerto Rico in a study that will examine whether Hurricane María changed the numbers and diversity of birds in mangroves, coastal native forests and the seashore. Ingrid Flores, the Puerto Rico IMBD Coordinator, taught the value of wild spaces to migratory birds with school children at Instituto Las Américas of Caguas, Puerto Rico.

In Haiti, Anderson Jean from Société Écologique d’Haiti took 150 guests to Les Cayes to learn bird identification. In Cuba, a team led by Alieny Gonzalez visited schools to explain why stopover sites are key to migratory birds. Youth were amazed to learn that some birds can use wind gusts in their favor to “ride out” a tropical storm and survive. Grupo Jaragua in the Dominican Republic worked with more than 1,000 people during presentations and bird walks.

In the Dominican Republic, Grupo Accion spent two days with students of ABC school – they studied migratory birds and native plants that are “bird-friendly. They also learned how to use binoculars and identified 46 species of birds in a field trip to the Botanic Garden in Santo Domingo.

On islands impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, hundreds of hummingbird feeders and bags of bird seed were given out to help local birds. These were donated by BirdsCaribbean, thanks to generous donations to the organization’s hurricane recovery fund on Razoo. “Food for our birds was in seriously short supply following the hurricanes,” commented IMBD Coordinator Ingrid Flores. “People and schools were happy to receive these items so that they could help birds in their back yards survive through a rough patch.”

“Through International Migratory Bird Day, we work to engage people of all ages to make their homes and towns safe places for birds,” says Susan Bonfield, Executive Director of Environment for the Americas. For many islands in the Caribbean, creating safe spaces for birds can also be part of our recovery.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to all of our Caribbean coordinators for once again organizing amazing IMBD events this year!  Thanks also to Lizzie Mae’s Bird Seed for donated “Hurricane Relief Bird Seed” and to Classic Brands and Songbird Essentials for discounted and donated hummingbird feeders. Thank you to Environment for the Americas for help with  educational materials. And big thanks to the many donors that supported our Hurricane Recovery Fund on Razoo (still raising funds for recovery projects!).

Additional photos from celebrations around the islands are featured in the gallery  below.  Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.

Materials for IMBD celebration in Carriacou Island-Grenada, organized by Keisha Clarke

Schoolchildren excited to learn about birds – IMBD in Carriacou Island, Grenada

Birding Field Trip – Carriacou Island, Grenada, organized by Akeisha Clarke

Youth birding for IMBD-Carriacou Island, Grenada

Special stickers help kids remember lessons learned – Carriacou Island, Grenada

A male Yellow Warbler in the Bahamas

Ingrid Flores presenting Birds of Pterocarpus forest

Children enjoy the migratory bird puzzle, Carriacou Island, Grenada

Ingrid Flores with primary children following IMBD activities

Ingrid Flores with a group of Graduates students of Universidad del Turabo at Pterocarpus Forest.

Bird feeder made at the Shorebird Festival organized by SOPI (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña)

Side 1 of brochure produced by AMAZONA in Guadeloupe – all about the Caribbean Martin

Side 2 of brochure produced by AMAZONA in Guadeloupe – all about the Caribbean Martin

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Birds in Agriculture conference

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Black Friday Bird Count

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Flyer-habitat conservation

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Group Photo – habitat conservation

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Black Friday bird census

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad – Shorebirds sighted on bird count in October.

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad – Oct bird count

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Selfie time during the bird count

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Working on bird ID during a bird count.

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-schoolyard birding

Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad – Second graders give feedback on bird ID Workshop.

Sheylda Diaz-Mendez and students at University of PR, Arecibo campus

Students show off materials in Univ. of Puerto Rico, Arecibo campus.

Birding at Shorebird Festival organized by the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña

Shorebird Festival organized by the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society

Ingrid Flores at IMBD information table at Shorebird Festival

Birding at Shorebird Festival organized by the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society

Birding at Shorebird Festival organized by the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña

Learning about birds at the Universitarios Pro Ambiente y Biodiversidad workshop in Puerto Rico.

Urban Green Lab-making bird journals with youth in Puerto Rico

Urban Green Lab-youth with their bird journals-

Urban Green Lab-PRHome-made bird feeder activity with youth in Puerto Rico

Grupo Accion in the Dominican Republic – group photo with students 2017

Students learned how to use binoculars and spot birds with Maria Paulino-Grupo Accion Ecologica, Santo Domingo, DR

Youth birding at Grupo Acción Ecologica IMBD activity in the Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo

Andrea Thomen (Grupo Jaragua) talks with students about migratory birds in the Dominican Republic

IMBD activity at Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR)

Children complete IMBD puzzle at Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) event

Environmental Biology Association of University of Turabo – Festival event for students

Environmental Biology Association of University of Turabo – Festival event for students – showing materials

Education Coordinator for Jobos Bay NERR (JBNERR), Ernesto Olivares gives a talk about migratory birds

Environmental Biology Association of University of Turabo group photo

Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez at San Patricio Forest with Boy Scout Troup 685 getting ready for a bird census.

Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez at San Patricio Forest with Boy Scout Troup 685.

Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez leads students on a bird Census at the San Juan Bay Estuary via boat with Univ. of PR Human Geography students.

Students at Specialized School of Science and Mathemathics of San Juan color in drawings from BirdsCaribbean Migratory Birds of the West Indies coloring book.

Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez and students at Specialized School of Science and Mathemathics of San Juan.

Eliezer Nieves Rodribuez gives a talk about birds and restoration of the estuary at a San Juan Fashion Event.

Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez with students at a workshop and bird census with the San Juan bay Estuarine Program and UPR with the Environmental Interpretation Course

Banding demonstration Bermuda with Bermuda Audubon Society.

Teacher Johannie Mercado and kindergarten students celebrate IMBD in PR.

Teacher Johannie Mercado and kindergarten students celebrate IMBD in PR.

Art activity to learn about birds and celebrate IMBD in PR.

Kindergarten students of teacher Johannie Mercado prepare soil for planting native trees.

Teacher Mayra Ortiz and students in Puerto Rico participate in IMBD for the first time

Teacher Mayra Ortiz and students at Notre Dame Middle School