Birds of prey are magnificent, powerful creatures, with a mystique all their own. They play an essential role in Caribbean ecosystems. Sadly, however, their significance as the only native terrestrial predators in the region is often underestimated and misunderstood. Hispaniola Program Director at The Peregrine Fund, Marta Curti, is one of those conservationists who believe …
Mark your calendars and plan to attend! [español abajo] We are delighted to announce the BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference! The conference will take place in Santo Domingo from 18 to 22 July 2024. BirdsCaribbean conferences bring together Caribbean and international wildlife professionals, ornithologists, educators, decision makers, the eco-tourism industry, community leaders, students, volunteers, and many …
BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Bird Banding Network recently held their second bird banding training workshop in the beautiful Dominican Republic. Read on for a delightful personal account of this workshop from local high-school teacher and dedicated Dominican biologist Elvin Manuel Vargas Estévez. On the fresh morning of March 8th, 2023, in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, one of the …
Simón Guerrero, is a lecturer at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (Autonomous University of Santo Domingo) and long-standing member of BirdsCaribbean. Below he shares his remarkable experiences birding with the National Board of the Blind in Santiago and how they celebrated the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival this past June. The idea of introducing blind people …
Holly Garrod, one of the BirdsCaribbean’s trainers at the recent workshop in the hills of central Dominican Republic, describes some highlights of the event. Wildlife professionals from 16 countries had the opportunity to get together in person and learn to address the challenges of identifying, counting, and tracking our fascinating landbirds – in a variety …
Jennifer Wheeler of the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group shares some shocking and sad news on the Black-capped Petrel in the Dominican Republic. In mid-March 2021, researchers from the environmental organization Grupo Jaragua arrived at Loma del Toro, located in the Dominican Republic’s Sierra de Bahoruco National Park. The team’s mission was to check up …
BirdsCaribbean approves of Dominica’s plans to launch new efforts to protect the Sisserou and Jaco parrots. Both species are rare and live nowhere else in the world. A recent letter from the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment, attached here, reaffirms Government’s pledge to help these birds locally, with the help of long-term …
In April 2018, we published an article about the controversial export of threatened parrots from Dominica to Germany. After the 2017 hurricane season, the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) exported two Sisserou (Imperial Parrots; Amazona imperialis) and ten Jaco (Red-necked Parrots; Amazona arausiaca) in March 2018. ACTP claimed that establishing a captive breeding population at …
BirdsCaribbean, its members and partners note the controversy surrounding the export of two Sisserou (Imperial Parrots Amazona imperialis) and ten Jaco (Red-necked Parrots Amazona arausiaca) from Dominica to a facility in Germany on March 17th, 2018. Both species are endemic to Dominica, both are globally threatened, and the habitats of both were badly damaged by …
Follow Spencer Schubert on his adventures into remote corners of the Dominican Republic and learn how birds (and their poop!) naturally restore forests. And they do this for free! Bird enthusiasts have long struggled with the challenge of attracting birds to their backyards, often employing the use of feeders, bird baths, or populating their gardens with …
Soaring above the tree tops of Los Haitises National Park is the mighty Ridgway’s Hawk. Conflicts with humans and changes in its forest habitat have made it hard for this species to survive. Marta Curti tells us about the work of The Peregrine Fund to save this critically endangered raptor. The Ridgway’s Hawk is endemic to …
Say “Dominican Republic” and almost instantly the image that appears in one’s head is that of a long, straight and blinding white-sand beach on which an infinite stream of foamy crests come to end their journey across the blue-green Caribbean canvas. This mental picture has been implanted in our brains by thousands of magazine articles …
A team of scientists from EPIC and Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have recorded 968 Diablotin, also known as the Black-capped Petrel, over the mountains of Dominica, a Lesser Antilles island for which the last confirmed date of nesting of that species is 1862. This rare seabird was once abundant on Dominica, but thought …
Whether you’re passionate about landscapes, birds, or wildlife in general—our photo contest is your chance to gain recognition and inspire others to protect Caribbean biodiversity. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to win incredible prizes. See below for more details. BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce our 5th Digital Photography Contest at the BC Conference in the …
Click here to get your exclusive BC 2024 Conference Merch Exciting news! Our online Conference Merch Store for the upcoming BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference is now OPEN! Order all your #BirdsCarib24DR merchandise online for pick-up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 18 to 22 July 2024! We’ve got a wonderful variety of items on sale …
BirdsCaribbean brings you highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our feature “Recently Published in JCO.” Here, Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, explores how researchers are using data that spans decades to examine the overwinter status of Bicknell’s Thrush. Birds connect our world—as the 2020 World Migratory …
Global Big Day 2024 was an electrifying celebration of birding, fundraising, and phenomenal photography! We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who participated and shared their incredible photos with us. We are thrilled to announce the winners of our annual Global Big Day Photography Awards. This year’s photos beautifully capture the splendor of Caribbean birds …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
The annual BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group (SWG) newsletter is now available! Catch up on the latest research, conservation, restoration, and education projects happening across the Caribbean—in English, Spanish, and French! In this issue of the SWG newsletter learn about the spread of herpes virus in Magnificent Frigatebird populations; recent and ongoing regional projects and publications, …
2024 saw our most extraordinary Big Day yet! It was a phenomenal day of birding, Caribbean commitment to avian conservation, soaring competitive spirit, and boundless potential to make valuable contributions to science and conservation. On Saturday, May 11, birders in the Caribbean and around the world woke up extra early and excitedly joined forces for …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature! …
Every year, on Global Big Day (GBD), bird enthusiasts and nature lovers head to the great outdoors to observe and record the incredible diversity of birds in their corners of the world. The observations help scientists and researchers monitor bird populations, track migration patterns, and identify habitats that require conservation attention. This event, organized by …
Mary Fulford brings dynamism and innovation to the sustainable tourism space! Through Island Mystique, she offers exciting, culturally immersive adventures. From delightful foodie deep dives featuring the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) must-try dishes, to handcrafting with local artisans, to listening as historians weave folklore tales by the crackle of a fire pit—Mary promises to …
One of the issues that the birding community has been working on for the last several years is how we can be more welcoming and inclusive of all birders—beginner birders and future potential birders—to join us and share the joy of birding. It’s an issue to which passionate birders, Hannah Buschert, and her husband Erik, …
