Back in May 2019, BirdsCaribbean joined other guests to celebrate the opening of the lovely office of Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren), perched on the edge of Ashton Lagoon on Union Island in the Grenadines. It was a joyful occasion—the result of 13 years of planning and sheer hard work which transformed an old, abandoned, and failed marina development into a beautiful place for local residents to enjoy—as well as the birds and other wildlife nestling in its restored mangroves and lagoon waters. Read more here. On July 1, 2024, this brilliantly successful project was dealt a catastrophic blow by the major Hurricane Beryl, sweeping away the SusGren office building and most of Ashton Lagoon’s infrastructure, and causing widespread devastation.
Here SusGren’s Executive Director Orisha Joseph talks about her devotion to the project and her determination to “build back stronger.”
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
If you would like to assist, please donate at the link below, and help Ashton Lagoon, Union Island and its residents—both human and animal—get back on their feet! Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
I first visited Union Island as a young reporter in 2009, on a trip to the world famous Tobago Cays Marine Park. Instantly, I fell in love with this small beautiful island. Soon after, I was introduced to the non-governmental organization Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren).
Who knew that this introduction would lead me to migrate from Grenada to Union Island in 2012, where I began work as Administrative Officer with this amazing organization!
At SusGren, I used my communications skills to further reach audiences across the Transboundary Grenadines, in the region and further afield, sharing the impactful work we do in conservation, sustainable livelihoods, youth engagement and policy development.
Orisha Joseph speaking at the opening ceremony for the successfully restored Ashton Lagoon.
Fast forward to 2024. As Executive Director of SusGren, looking back at our journey, I wouldn’t change a thing—no regrets, at all!
However, on July 1st, 2024, Hurricane Beryl “changed everything.”
In 2019 we completed restoration work in the largest mangrove ecosystem on Union Island: the “Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project”. It was one of our flagship projects, to rehabilitate a failed marina area, which had caused significant ecological and socio-economic impacts with both long-term and short-term consequences for Union Island.
Twin suspension bridges over breached gaps in failed marina causeway in the Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Birdwatching tower in Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Ashton Lagoon trail. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Our achievements after restoration saw the construction of a two-storey office space and welcome centre, twin bridges at Ashton Lagoon to provide access—which became the main attraction on Union Island—restoration of red mangroves, construction of wildlife viewing towers, trails and interpretive signage, and a swale system for water exchange in the mangrove forest.
Sadly, since Hurricane Beryl visited us on that fateful day, we have lost everything.
Ashton Lagoon trail destroyed by Hurricane Beryl, the earliest hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
I was with one of my team members, her partner, my landlord, and 10-year-old grandson. As Hurricane Beryl displayed her strength, hurled broken glass at us, and lifted our roof, we held a mattress in front of us for protection. As the roof began to cave in, we realized we were not safe and needed to get to another house on the property.
Once I thought it was “safe,” I ran across the yard to the next house, then called for the others to do the same. We made it! We were alive! We are all together!
We stayed there until Hurricane Beryl decided she had done enough, and it was calm enough to go outside. I looked around in total shock, I could not believe this was the second time I am experiencing a devastating hurricane—my first being Hurricane Ivan, which destroyed Grenada in 2004. I cried….
Hurricane Beryl damaged or destroyed more than 90% of homes on Union Island. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
My mind went to my two other team members. Were they OK? Were their families OK? Was the office OK? Was the bridge OK? What about other infrastructure? My heart sank as I started to walk through the island, witnessing the utter devastation, people with bewildered looks on their faces, homes destroyed.
SusGren employee Kisha McFarlen and other residents of Union Island survey the damage around them. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Then it all sank in, as I got to the office. It was completely gone, except for the stairs and two walls on the first floor. The mangrove was littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. Birds were just hanging around and fiddler crabs were trying to find shelter.
The charming SusGren office before it was destroyed by Hurricane Beryl. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Ashton Lagoon mangrove littered with littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Despite the devastation, there was an overwhelming sense of relief. We had survived. Hurricane Beryl tested our resilience and reminded us of the power of Mother Nature.
But more importantly, Hurricane Beryl showed us the strength of our community and the unyielding spirit of Union Island. In the face of such adversity, we discovered that together, we could weather any storm.
As we pick up the pieces from here, to build back better and stronger, we welcome your support! If you are able to help, please go to our fundraising page here. Any gift, no matter how small, will be gratefully received!
On April 9th, 2021, La Soufrière Volcano, on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, began to erupt for the first time in 42 years. These explosive eruptions left the conservation community gravely concerned about impacts to the island’s wildlife and vegetation. Using funds raised through our volcano recovery campaign, BirdsCaribbean, the Saint Vincent Department of Forestry, and Antioch University were able to begin assessing the effects. Here, we report on field work from our successful two-week pilot season surveying for the endemic Whistling Warbler and other forest species in May of 2022. Field Assistant Kaitlyn Okrusch shares her experiences—read on!
There is something indescribable about witnessing a creature that so few have laid eyes on. Not because it makes you lucky over others. Rather, this creature, this other living thing, has somehow managed to stay hidden from our pervasive (and distinctly) human nature. This thought crossed my mind several times as I glimpsed a view of the Whistling Warbler—a really rare bird found only on one island and restricted to mountainous forest habitat. As I gazed up at this endemic gem, I imagined its secretive life. With its stocky body, bold white eye-ring, cocked tail, and tilted head, it looked back down at me, just as curious.
When Mike Akresh, a conservation biology professor at Antioch University New England, asked if I wanted to assist a pilot study for the Whistling Warbler on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, I paused. “The Whistling Warbler?” I thought, “Saint Vincent?” I had never heard of the bird nor the island. Now, I don’t know how I could ever forget either.
Saint Vincent is located in the southern Lesser Antilles, and has a kite tail of 32 smaller islands and cays (the Grenadines) dotting southward. Its indigenous name is ‘Hairouna,’ which translates to the Land of the Blessed. The people, the culture, and the biodiversity are truly remarkable—blessed indeed. In addition to the warbler, the islands are home to the national bird, the colorful and endemic Saint Vincent Parrot, and host to six other bird species that are found only in the Lesser Antilles.
The rumblings, then eruptions, that ignited our work
At the northernmost point of this island lives the active volcano, La Soufrière, which last erupted in 1979. In December of 2020, this powerful mountain showed signs of life with effusive eruptions and growth of the lava dome for several months. On April 9th 2021, explosive eruptions began that sent plumes of ash as high as 16 kilometers. In addition, pyroclastic flows and lahars (very fast-moving, dense mudflows or debris flows consisting of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, ash and water) caused considerable damage along river valleys and gullies.
Multiple eruptions in April damaged trees and blanketed the forests and towns in thick layers of gray ash, leaving many parts of the island barren for months. Upwards of 20,000 people were evacuated in the Red and Orange Zones (northern half of the island), and, thanks to this decision, there was no loss of life. Remarkably, the 2021 eruption of La Soufriere is the largest to occur in the entire Caribbean of at least the last 250 years.
Massive ash cloud from La Soufriére volcano explosion on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, April 13, 2021. There were multiple powerful eruptions in April, starting on April 9th. (Photo by Dr. Richard Robertson, UWI).
There was grave concern for the welfare of the Saint Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other wildlife. BirdsCaribbean launched a fundraising campaign and our community stepped up to provide funding and supplies for volcano recovery efforts, both short and longer-term. This natural disaster was destructive for both the people and the land; the impacts are still being seen and felt today. But, out of this catastrophe arose an opportunity to assess the status of Saint Vincent’s iconic birds and to plan for their conservation moving forward.
The eruption of La Soufrière called attention to the urgent need for collaboration and research efforts regarding biodiversity conservation on Saint Vincent. With such limited baseline knowledge pertaining to most of the forest birds on the island, locals worried that some species (like the Whistling Warbler and the Saint Vincent Parrot) might disappear. No one was sure how these eruptions had impacted their populations.
This opened the door for concerted efforts between the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Forestry (SVGF), BirdsCaribbean, and Antioch University, to complete a pilot season surveying for the elusive and endangered Whistling Warbler and other endemic landbirds. SVGF and researchers from Florida International University (led by Dr. Cristina Gomes) were already in the process of specifically re-surveying the Saint Vincent Parrot population, so our surveys focused on other landbirds (stay tuned for a blog post on this work!).
La Soufriére Volcano Trail sign. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Volcanic remnants near the northeast town of Georgetown. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Headquarters of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Forestry, located in Campden Park near Kingstown. We met several times with Forestry staff during our visit to plan and discuss the field work. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Ash deposits on the coast at Wallibou, just north of the Wallibou River in the northwest, Glenroy is looking towards La Soufriére volcano. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Trees on the La Soufriére trail—one year later you can still see the damage to the canopy from the April 2021 eruptions. (photo by Lisa-Sorenson)
Touching down for the “oreo” bird
Flying into Saint Vincent. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
My eyes grew wide as the plane touched down and I stepped out into the humid, salty air. Lisa Sorenson (the executive director of BirdsCaribbean) had been down here for the previous few days with her husband, Mike Sorenson, and colleagues Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology and long time BirdsCaribbean member) and Mike Akresh. They had been scouting out potential locations for our surveys of the warbler using the PROALAS point count protocol with SVGF and specifically SVGF Wildlife Unit Head, Glenroy Gaymes.
Lisa and Mike A. picked me up from the Argyle International Airport in a silver Suzuki jeep—driver’s side on the right, drive on the left. I hopped in the car and we zipped off into the narrow (and steep!) hillside roads of Arnos Vale—a small community north of the capital of Kingstown. Lisa had been down here before. She drove us around like a local: confident and happy, despite the crazy traffic and winding roads! I rolled down the window and the sun brushed my face. Our first stop before our home base was a local fruit stand, well equipped with juicy mangoes, soursop, plantains, pineapple, and grapefruits. Island life and fresh fruits—nothing quite compares!
As Lisa and Mike picked out the various ripe fruits they wanted, Lisa didn’t miss an opportunity to ask the stand tenders if they had ever heard of or seen the Whistling Warbler. She took out her phone, pulled up the Merlin Bird ID app, and displayed some of the few captured sounds and photographs of this bird. She held it up for them to see. “Ahhhh, yes, we’ve heard that before!” the man said, after listening to the song. A smile crept onto his face. The unmistakable call of this bird, as I would come to observe, has been ingrained into the minds of many locals—without them even knowing who was making it. “We hear that many times when we are in the forest,” the woman said.
The song of the Whistling Warbler is a crescendo trill of loudly whistled notes.
Many locals (and non locals) are unaware that the Whistling Warbler is endemic to Saint Vincent. On the other hand, many are aware that the beautiful and iconic Saint Vincent Parrot is endemic. Endemic species are naturally more vulnerable to extinction due to their specific nature: their limited distribution leaves them particularly vulnerable to threats like habitat destruction, climate change, invasive predators, or overhunting. On top of those reasons—as noted above—their survival may be even more perilous after a devastating volcanic eruption. It is well known that often the large, flamboyantly colored birds captivate, motivate, and receive more funding when it comes to conservation. Sometimes the smaller, less colorful birds quite literally get lost in the shadows. Because of a lack of research and funding, there are large knowledge gaps pertaining to the Whistling Warbler’s ecology and population status.
Whistling Warbler perched on a branch. (Photo by the Saint Vincent Ministry of Tourism)
There are only two scientific papers out there (one unpublished) that contain what little we know about the Whistling Warbler. Consequently, you often see “no information” listed under the various tabs if you search for this species on the Birds of the World website. What is its breeding biology? Do we actually understand the plumage variations between sexes and ages? What about habitat preference and home range size? Diet? Perceived versus actual threats regarding its conservation?
Furthermore, this warbler is interesting because it is also monotypic. It’s in a genus all of its own, and there are no subspecies. This makes the warbler especially unique, and it may be susceptible to changes that we could be causing (and accelerating).
Unfortunately, as with many endemic birds throughout the Caribbean, the lack of capacity, funding, and previous interest has limited our ability to answer these research questions and better conserve these endemic species. Few have had the time (or the funding) to put into fielding these research questions. These are some of the motivations to try and research—to understand—this unique bird and its ecology. We hope to try and figure out the status of this endangered warbler and build local capacity to monitor the warbler and other birds.
Hiking, Birding, and Counting, Oh My!
Most birders acknowledge that in order to see a bird, you need to be a bird. This means getting up at unpleasantly early times, 4 am for example. But, more often than not, it is well-worth the short night of sleep, driving in the dark, and arduous hiking, to watch and hear the lush green forest wake up. On our first field morning, we headed to a trail called Montréal, a steep ascent up the mountain, that became Tiberoux trail, once you reached the saddle and hiked down the other side. This was an area that SVGF staff had both seen and heard our small, feathered friend before.
Montreal farm field with Glenroy Gaymes and Mike Akresh. Glenroy points the way to hike into the mountains on the Montréal trail to survey for the warbler. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Utilizing local and SVGF staff knowledge was a crucial aspect of our surveying strategy. Our team visited sites and hiking trails where the warbler was known to be seen or heard in the past. We then conducted point counts within these areas to collect data on the presence/absence of the warbler and other forest species. Glenroy (AKA “Pewee”) has a wealth of knowledge about Saint Vincent’s forests and wildlife. His deep connection with the land comes from inherent connection and diligent observation: being a part of and not apart from the land. He has been walking these trails for 30+ years, patiently learning. Now, he was going to try and teach us about one of his favorite birds.
At first glance, the Whistling Warbler seems nearly impossible to study, partly due to its elusive nature, and partly due to its apparent habitat preference. This bird is found in dense, mountainous forests on extreme slopes of ridges and slippery ravines. This, as you can imagine, makes it difficult to track the bird, let alone nest search. One wrong step, and you can be sent flying down the mountain.
Luckily, with Glenroy’s knowledge and our protocol incorporating a playback song of this species, we were given glimpses here and there as the warbler flitted through the dense, dark, mid-canopy. Digging our heels into the steep sides of the trail, we would all anxiously listen for and await our prized subject. You could feel the tension rising as each of us swiveled our heads back and forth, looking for any sign of movement. “I see it, I see it, right there!” one of us would whisper—the others getting our binoculars ready.
For this two week pilot season, we wanted to rely on local knowledge to understand where to place our PROALAS point counts. PROALAS is a protocol used throughout Central America, and is now beginning to be implemented with BirdsCaribbean’s new Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Project. The protocol includes a standardized set of survey methods for monitoring birds, specially designed for tropical habitats. For our study, we would stop and do a 10-minute point count, noting every single bird that we see and/or hear every 200 meters along a designated trail. This methodology is a quick and systematic way to get an understanding of the landbirds in an area.
Additionally, we collected vegetation and habitat data which can then be used to understand species-habitat relationships. In our case, since we were focusing on the Whistling Warbler, we also did an additional five-minute point count just for it. For the first two minutes, we would play a continuous variety of Whistling Warbler calls and songs and visually looked for the bird to come in. For the final three minutes, we would turn off the playback, and listen to see if the warbler called back. At several locations, we also set out Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs), which are small devices that record bird songs for days at a time without us being physically present at the site.
All of this data was entered into eBird, available to local stakeholders and forever stored in the global database (see our Trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/58880). Needless to say, Lisa, Mike, Jeff, Mike Akresh, and myself all got a crash course in Saint Vincent bird ID in the field.
Jeff, Mike, and Kaitlyn hiking on Tiberoux trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mike Akresh setting up the AudioMoth acoustic monitoring device in the field. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Winston “Rambo” Williams and Mike doing a point count on the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Team on the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Warbler and Parrot teams on the Silver Spoon trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Glenroy Gaymes walking through Mahorn Ridge. The orange flowering bush is Palicourea croceoides; common names Yellow Cedar and Caribbean Red Cappel Plant. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Audiomoth Automatic Recording Unit (ARU) set up on a tree to record songs and calls of forest birds. (photo by Lisa Sorenson).
So, how are the warblers doing?
Figure 1. Map of St Vincent showing locations of our PROALAS Point Counts without Whistling Warbler (WHWA) sightings, with warbler sightings, and eBird Caribbean sightings prior to the April 2021 eruption of La Soufriére Volcano.
The good news is we found some warblers! After surveying 8 sites, 46 points, and conducting 100+ point counts, we detected the Whistling Warbler, by sight and/or sound, at around 35% of the point locations (see Figure 1). Warblers had higher abundance on the eastern (windward) side of the island compared to the western (leeward) side, and appeared to be present on steep, mountainous, wetter slopes with natural (non-planted) forest.
Interestingly, we detected a number of Whistling Warblers along the La Soufrière Trail, an area that was highly impacted by the volcano eruption, so the warbler seems to be doing ok despite the habitat destruction! However, the impacted northern areas were definitely quieter and a number of other forest birds seemed to be missing, like the Cocoa Thrush and Ruddy Quail-Dove. One hypothesis might be that the heavy ash deposits closer to the volcano affected insects living on the ground—the food resources needed by ground-foraging bird species.
We also noted that a few other bird species were especially rare on the island after the volcano eruption. For instance, we did not detect any Antillean Euphonias, and only briefly saw or heard the Rufous-throated Solitaire at two locations. The Green-throated Carib, Brown Trembler, and Scaly-breasted Thrasher also had fairly low numbers throughout the island. This may have been due to the habitat we focused on and/or the time of year of our surveys. Clearly, more surveys are needed to assess these other species.
Fenton Falls trail, where Whistling Warblers were detected. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mike Akresh, Jeff Gerbracht, and Mike Sorenson along the Fenton Falls trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Possible non-active Whistling Warbler nest. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Whistling Warbler looks out from a branch. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Whistling Warbler (possible juvenile or female). (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Nature is resilient!
After traversing much of this island in search of the warbler, it is hard to imagine that this devastating eruption happened only one year ago. We saw the remnants of the ash on the trails; trees drooping over from the sheer weight of the volcanic ash upon their branches, and huge swaths in the north part of the island mostly devoid of large canopy trees. Yet, there was also life flourishing around us, green and growing up towards the light.
Glenroy commented that after the April eruptions, the forests were so eerily quiet, he felt like he was in outer space. He told us that in some areas, there was not one creature to be seen or heard for months, not even the ever-present mosquitos. Despite this devastating natural disaster, here we were though, both hearing and seeing many of the forest birds coming back. This also often included hearing the unmistakable crescendo whistling song of the Whistling Warbler, much to our delight.
Spathoglottis plicata, Philippine Ground Orchid (invasive species) in bloom. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Glenroy Gaymes with a St Vincent Hairstreak butterfly (endemic to St Vincent). (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Jeff and Mike Sorenson at the Parrot Lookout on the Vermont Nature Trail. Yes, we saw parrots! (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
“Life From Death” interpretive sign along the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mike Sorenson looking for birds in dense forest habitat. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Optimistic for the future: Our next steps
Kaitlyn Okrusch on the Coffee Trail with a rainbow in the background. (Photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
BirdsCaribbean, in partnership with Antioch University, SVGF, and others, are hoping to better understand how (and if) the Whistling Warbler and other species are recovering. Based on our knowledge of bird population resilience following catastrophic hurricanes, some species may quickly rebound to their former population sizes, while it may take years for other species to recover, and some may even become extinct. For instance, the Bahama Nuthatch, with a previously extremely small population, has not been seen since the devastating Hurricane Dorian passed through Grand Bahama island in 2019.
Next steps are to further examine the audio recordings we collected, carry out more surveys, and conduct a training workshop next winter to help build SVGF’s capacity to continue to monitor the warbler and other forest birds next year and in future years. We also plan to work together with SVGF to write a comprehensive Conservation Action Plan (CAP) which will help guide monitoring and conservation of the warbler for many years to come.
Finally, we will work with SVGF to elevate the status of the warbler in the eyes of locals—educate about this special little bird through school visits, field trips, and a media campaign. This endemic bird will hopefully become a source of pride, alongside the Saint Vincent Parrot, so that local people will join the fight to save it from extinction. It takes a village to work for the conservation of anything—especially birds—and we are excited to be partners on a fantastic project.
I keep returning to a quote from Senegalese conservationist, Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” Through collaboration with Vincentians and SVGF, I do believe we can better understand how this bird lives, and what this bird needs. It is, and will be, hard work. With help from Glenroy and other Forestry staff who have a wealth of knowledge and appreciation for the land and its wildlife, hopefully all Vincentians will come to know and love the Whistling Warbler as we have, and help us to conserve it and Saint Vincent’s other forest birds.
Lisa at the Silver Spoon Parrot watch lookout. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The team at work. L-R: Mike Akresh, Jeff Gerbracht, Lisa and Mike Sorenson. (Photo by Mike Sorenson)
Acknowledgments
We thank Glenroy Gaymes for working with us in the field nearly every day, generously sharing his vast knowledge of the birds, plants, and other wildlife of Saint Vincent’s forests. We are also grateful to Mr. Fitzgerald Providence, Director of Forestry, and other SVGF staff for supporting our work, including Winston “Rambo” Williams, Lenchford Nimblet, and Cornelius Lyttle. Thanks also to Lystra Culzac for sharing her knowledge about the Whistling Warbler and St Vincent’s forest birds and providing helpful advice and insights to our field work. Funding for this pilot study came from BirdsCaribbean’s Volcano Recovery Fund—thank you so much to everyone who donated to this fund and to the “emergency group” that came together to assist with funding support and recovery . We also thank Antioch University’s Institute for International Conservation for providing additional funding.
Blog by Kaitlyn Okrusch (with Lisa Sorenson, Mike Akresh, Jeff Gerbracht, & Glenroy Gaymes). Kaitlyn is a graduate student at Antioch University of New England. She is obtaining a M.S. in Environmental Studies as well as getting her 7-12 grade science teaching licensure. She has worked and volunteered for various bird organizations over the past six years – both conducting research (bird-banding, nest searching) as well as developing curriculum and educating. These most recently include University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL), Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO), and Owl Research Institute (ORI). Her passion is fueled by connecting people with the wild spaces they call home – especially through birds.
Help us to continue this work!
Once again, we thank the many generous members of our community who donated to help with the recovery effort for birds in St Vincent impacted by the April 2021 explosive eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano. If you would like to donate to help with our continued work with the Forestry Department and local communities, please click here and designate “St Vincent Volcano Recovery” as the specific purpose for your donation. Thank you!
*The “emergency group” that came together to assist with funding support and recovery of the St Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other wildlife consisted of the following organizations: BirdsCaribbean, Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, Fauna and Flora International, Caribaea Initiative, Houston Zoo, Grenada Dove Conservation Programme, UNDP Reef to Ridge Project, Houston Zoo, IWECo Project St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Farallon Islands Foundation. We thank our amazing local partners SCIENCE Initiative, the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Environment Fund, and the Forestry Department for your support and hard work.
Gallery
Antillean Crested Hummingbird. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Lobster Claw Heliconia (Heliconia bihai). (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Fenton Falls Trailhead. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Cattle Egret coming in for a landing. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Jeff Gerbracht walking on Montreal Trail towards the mountains with a boom mic. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
La Soufriere in the clouds on the east side of the island. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Common Black Hawk in the Calabash mangroves. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Lisa and Mike at Fenton Falls. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Purple-Throated Carib on the Silver Spoon Trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Two-year old Maeson Gaymes (incredible little hiker!) on the La Soufriere Trail for Global Big Day 2022 in St Vincent. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mangroves down by the ocean in Kingstown. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
St Vincent Hairstreak (Pseudolycaena cybele), also called Marsyus Hairstreak, St Vincent endemic butterfly, rests on a flower. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Freshly picked Guava on the coffee trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Old Trinity Road on the west side of the island, near the volcano. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Purple-Throated Carib nest found by Jeff, Lisa and Mike S. on Montreal. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Scaly-breasted Thrasher sits on a branch. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Saint Vincent Bush Anole Anolis trinitatis). (Photo by Mike Akresh)
St. Vincent Whistling Frog (Pristimantis shrevei, IUCN endangered) in Glenroy Gaymes’ hands. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Plumrose or Water Apple flowers found on the Coffee Trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Lystra Culzac and Lisa Sorenson – mango sisters reunited! Lystra generously shared her knowledge about St Vincent’s forest birds and provided excellent advice for our field work. (photo by Mike Sorenson)
Lovely pastoral scene, nursing calf in Montreal. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Warbler and Parrot Crews at Silver Spoon Trail. (Photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
Acomat Boucan (Sloanea-caribaea) – Large tree with buttress roots in the forest. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Gommier (Dacryodes excelsa) dominant large tree in St Vincent. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon mystacea) in the Quill (photo by Hannah Madden)
The Bridled Quail-Dove is a quiet, retiring bird. It has reason to be nervous, because it is facing a doubtful future on the Dutch-speaking island of St. Eustatius (Statia). Hannah Madden, a Terrestrial Ecologist in St. Eustatius, gives us an important update on how this special bird is faring.
Two years ago we shared the worrying news that the Bridled Quail-Dove population had suffered a significant decline on Statia. This was as a direct result of the powerful and destructive Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which followed each other closely, in September 2017. Four years on, has the situation improved?
The Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) is a ground-dwelling species that is endemic to the Caribbean. It spends its day foraging in the forest understory for fruits, seeds and the occasional gecko. Quail-Doves prefer undisturbed forests with a closed canopy. They are very sensitive to changes in their natural habitat. And those changes are happening. Unfortunately the impacts of human-induced climate change mean more intense and more frequent hurricanes, which could spell trouble for this vulnerable species.
The Quill – Before and After
I began surveying Bridled Quail-Doves in the Quill National Park in 2016. The Quill is a dormant volcano that rises to 600 meters with a large, accessible crater. It is the dove’s only home on Statia. Pre-hurricane, Quail-Doves were relatively common and observant birders could almost certainly spot one or two while hiking along the trails. The species breeds in May, when its mournful and unmistakable ‘whooooos’ can be heard echoing through the forest.
Hover over each image to see the caption; click on each photo to see it larger and to view images as a gallery
Hannah Madden during fieldwork in May 2021. Some 100 meter transects took up to 20 minutes to complete due to the steep and challenging environment (photo by Oliver Jones)
Overgrazed understory in the Quill National Park, St. Eustatius (photo by Hannah Madden)
Then there are the goats!
In addition, we have a very serious goat problem in the park—one that has been pervasive for decades. These are non-native, free-ranging goats that graze excessively in areas that are already damaged. This results in a limited food supply and reduced understory cover for the Bridled Quail-Dove (as well as other species that depend on the forest). There is nowhere for the birds to find food and shelter. Feral chickens disturb ground cover and compete for the same food source. Invasive black rats and feral cats, both of which are present in the Quill prey on nests and take eggs and chicks. The Bridled Quail-Dove’s survival rate – and its chances of bringing up a family – are slim. There is no evidence that adult birds have come in from nearby islands. The Bridled Quail-Doves of Statia are physically and genetically isolated. We became concerned for the welfare of the Bridled Quail-Dove. We were grateful for the funds from many generous donors, including BirdsCaribbean, allowing us to conduct our surveys.
In search of the Quail-Dove
I conducted surveys of the Bridled Quail-Dove in the Quill National Park, walking previously established transects (walking routes) within the dove’s range (~150 to 600 m). We surveyed during peak breeding season (May), so that we could hear as well as see the birds. Once I saw or heard a Quail-Dove, I measured the distance to the bird. I also recorded how high up they were, and the height of the forest canopy. Once surveys were complete, I pooled all data from 2016 – 2021 to obtain abundance and density estimates per year.
Map of St. Eustatius showing transects (red lines) in the Quill National Park (440 ha).
Greater effort, disappointing results
As shown in the graph below, we increased the extent of our survey from 1,200 m of transects in 2016 to over 15,000 m in 2021. Our coverage increased 13-fold, and yet we were able to find only around one third of the number of doves that were counted in 2016, before the hurricanes. It was challenging work. As you can imagine, repeating so many surveys is physically demanding.
Number of detections (left axis; red line) and survey effort (right axis; blue line) between 2016 and 2021 (no surveys were conducted in 2020).
Unfortunately, estimates of the numbers of Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius have declined significantly since 2016. The current estimate is just 123 individuals (somewhere between a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 210). This is less than half of the 2019 estimate, and less than 5% of the 2016 estimate. So, numbers have continued to dwindle since the hurricanes.
After assessing the influence of covariates (factors that might influence the presence or absence of the dove, like weather, time of day, elevation, condition of the vegetation, etc.) on Bridled Quail-Dove presence, I found that doves were more likely to be found at higher elevations in habitats with a higher canopy (such as inside the crater, along the rim, and on the upper outer slopes of the Quill). It became clear also that in the years following hurricanes Irma and Maria, doves were less and less likely to be present in the survey area.
Abundance estimates of the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius between 2016 (pre-hurricane) and 2021 (post-hurricane). No surveys were conducted in 2020.
Urgent action is needed to save the Bridled Quail-Dove on Statia!
We are extremely worried about the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius. This lovely bird’s ongoing decline is caused by a combination of two factors: the destruction of the places it calls home, and the invasive species that prey on it. Its long-term survival is now uncertain unless urgent action is taken to save it. Even if the dove does keep going, such a small and isolated population faces additional risks, such as inbreeding.
Climate change is here to stay, and this means that hurricanes are likely to become more frequent and more powerful. This could be catastrophic for the Statia population, and others in the region. Recently the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) proposed that the conservation status of the Bridled Quail-Dove be reassessed, based on our work on Statia. This means the classification could be changed from Least Concern to Near Threatened or Vulnerable. However, apart from Statia, data are still lacking from many islands. We encourage enthusiastic birders to conduct their own surveys so that local populations can be evaluated.
An Action Plan for a precious bird
We will be working with local conservation NGO St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) to create an Action Plan for the Bridled Quail-Dove. To effectively protect the species locally, it is likely that we will have to take action on several fronts, Goats, cats and feral chickens will need to be removed from the park and rodent will need to be controlled. For this, we will need the support of the local government and the community.
Monitoring Bridled Quail-Doves on Statia is a tremendous effort. To make life easier, we are suggesting trying out passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) devices during the breeding season. How does this work? Recording units can be placed in the field for up to a month to record and interpret calls. Using these devices will allow us to collect data in less accessible areas, helping us to broaden our study.
The work will continue as we seek to find help for this iconic bird. Hopefully, by combining conservation efforts with field surveys and PAM, we will have better news in the coming years.
Thank you to BirdsCaribbean and all the generous donors who supported BirdsCaribbean’s Hurricane Relief Fund – my survey work on the Bridled Quail-Dove would not have been possible without your support!
Hannah Madden works with the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute, based on St. Eustatius. She is also a member of the IUCN Pigeon and Dove Specialist Group. She also works as a bird and nature guide in her spare time, sharing the beauty and diversity of Statia with visitors. Hannah is an active member of BirdsCaribbean and has participated in several training workshops and conferences. She has published papers on different taxonomic groups, but especially enjoys working on birds.
Find out from Jean Gonzalez-Crespo, all about how a project aimed at restoring mangroves destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria will help protect part of Puerto Rico’s coast-line and its wildlife, whilst also helping the people that live there.
Puerto Rico’s fragile coastline needs help, badly.
With the support of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, BirdsCaribbean, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla’s Center for Coastal Restoration and Conservation, known locally as Vida Marina UPR, is about to start work on the restoration of four valuable mangrove forests in the Northwest region of Puerto Rico. These forests were destroyed after the two storms – Hurricanes Irma and Maria – hit the island in 2017, a “double whammy.” Critical infrastructure was left at the mercy of future storms, future hurricanes, and in danger of future destruction.
Secret Spot- Basin Mangrove in the Municipality of Isabela. This mangrove suffered close to 100% mortality due to the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. On its left is PR Road 466, an important evacuation route (Photo by Vida Marina UPR).
However, thanks to funding provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience Grant, our center is now able to help in the recovery of these remarkable ecosystems—bulwarks against the impact of climate change. We are scheduled to start planting mangroves by the end of May 2021, but we already taking a look at the current conditions of our restoration sites, preparing for our work, and coordinating future activities that will integrate local communities into the restoration process.
What’s in it for humans?
Well, where do we start? There are actually so many important benefits. It’s a win for humans.
The restoration of these mangroves will reinstate the primary line of defense against storm surges for local communities, that increasingly threaten their livelihood and economies. Main access to roads and sanitary infrastructure, essential for those living on the coast, will be protected. The restored mangroves will also provide habitat for many species that, when carefully managed, will be sustainably harvested for local consumption or sale.
Also, thanks to the aid of UW-Madison’s Latino Earth Partnership’s training, we will get communities involved. Citizens on the ground will take “ownership” of the project, and the work will create a sense of stewardship that will result in stronger and more resilient coastal communities. The training will help create community groups that are empowered to identify and respond to threats to their homes and their livelihoods – swiftly and effectively.
Caño Madre Vieja Nature Reserve in the Municipality of Aguada. On the right is the Barrio Espinar community, which was heavily impacted by both storms in 2017. Many houses were flooded during these events as well as the only road that gives access to this community; something that left many families stranded and unable to be rescued (Photo by Vida Marina UPR)
Making life better for birds
It will take time, but the aim is to bring them back.
Our project will restore 59 hectares of severely degraded Basin Mangroves that serve as habitat for a wide range of species, including waterfowl. This should improve the diversity of waterfowl species, which appears to have decreased after the storms of 2017. We are currently carrying out periodic bird surveys, and will continue to do so throughout entire restoration process. If we are to be successful in this restoration, we should, among other things, be able to reach levels of waterfowl diversity like those before the hurricanes.
Efficient mangrove and wetland plant germination
It’s all about getting those seeds going. Now, we have the opportunity to grow and plant more trees, by improving our greenhouse arrangements.
A germination table installed inside Vida Marina UPR’s greenhouse in the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla. This design adds to the integrity of the table and allows us to germinate multiple species without the risk of mixing them. Furthermore, these divisions also let us test different treatments that may increase seed germination rates (Photo by Vida Marina UPR).
We expect to plant at least 11,500 mangrove trees to be successful; it will take a great deal of time and effort. However, thanks to funding from BirdsCaribbean and ECCC, we were able to significantly increase the rate at which we can grow mangroves and other wetland plants in our greenhouse. With the construction of two seed germination tables, we will be able to grow mangroves more efficiently by maximizing our greenhouse’s limited space. Normally, we would have let all seeds germinate in flowerpots. Not all seeds planted will germinate, so this would result in unsuccessful pots occupying a space that a growing tree would have used. Our new germination tables will give a great boost to tree production. They will not only reduce the amount of time and effort invested in producing mangroves. They will also help us plant more trees in our sites than we initially planned.
Putting the green in greenhouse
Water is always a major concern.
Thanks to this funding, our greenhouse’s irrigation system is now able to run almost exclusively with stored rainwater. This “greener” alternative allows us to save a considerable amount of water each year. It’s a simple way in which we can help protect our country’s water supply and the environment. Additionally, this will give our plants enough water to survive through droughts that can result in the rationing of water.
Heriberto working on the installation of a water pump into the rainwater tank for the irrigation system. (Photo by Vida Marina UPR).
Training the next generation of ecologists and restoration practitioners
Young people will learn practical, hands-on techniques.
Under the mentorship of experienced researchers, undergraduate and high-school students involved in our project will be able to develop valuable research skills. Also, since they will take an active role in the monitoring of animal diversity, they will learn multiple survey techniques as well as the fundamentals of native plant and animal identification.
Our trainees will also have the opportunity to learn how to operate unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), as well as other types of technology, to solve different conservation issues. They will also learn how to interpret and analyze multiple types of data. Most importantly, they will be able to play a part in the planning and implementation process of wetland restoration. It will be a rich and rewarding learning experience for them.
Members of Vida Marina UPR’s taking a small break after finishing the construction of the large, germination table. In the picture, from left to right, are: Jean P. González Crespo, Heriberto Martir Vargas, and Jose J. Vera Rodriguez. Missing in this photo is Arianna Lopez Rodriguez, whose help was vital to the success of this project. (Photo by Vida Marina UPR)
It really does take a village to restore mangroves
Team work is everything. It is only through our partnerships with local communities, environmental groups and agencies, and both state and municipal governments that we will be able to achieve our restoration goals. Without their support, this project, like many others, would be close to impossible to complete. We are as excited as our partners as we get to work to bring back these wonderful forests, which make a tremendous difference to Puerto Rico’s coastal defenses. This is a project that will benefit both humans and wildlife in years to come.
Jean Gonzalez-Crespo is a PhD student from UW-Madison who works as a project assistant in this study. He has worked on multiple bird conservation projects in Puerto Rico since 2017. In addition to overseeing the anuran and avian monitoring of this project, Jean also works in the conservation of the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird—an endangered species unique to Puerto Rico.
Martha Cartwright and her five birding companions visited the East End of Grand Bahama (GB) Island one month after Hurricane Dorian in 2019. They have returned one year later to look for signs of recovery and check on the bird populations after the devastating Category 5 Hurricane. Find out what they saw and how felt about the new, recovering landscapes in GB.
It was one year and one week after our first birding trip following Hurricane Dorian, on October 3, 2019. We were the very same group of six birders, revisiting the eastern area of Grand Bahama to see what changes had taken place in one year. The difference, however, was that this year we wore masks and traveled in three cars, rather than in one bus.
Same group of birders behind the masks, in the same location as last year. Left to right – Delores Kellman, recorder, (BirdsCaribbbean’s Administrative Assistant), Shelagh Paton-Ash, Bridget Davis, Gena Granger, and Erika Gates. As usual I’m behind the camera. Erika was busy looking and listening for a Pine Warbler; we spotted three.
The drive East along Grand Bahama Highway – Photo from 2019 on the left & 2020 on the right. Gena Granger commented: “I was encouraged by the greenery, remembering all the brown and black of last year…a tribute to life really, the new, the young, foraging through the existing devastation, making ready for the new generation!”
Owl Hole Road is typical of what we saw all day: The stark, dead pine trees keeping silent vigil over the vibrant undergrowth of bushes, thatch palms, grasses and vines.
The wetlands around Stat Oil were practically empty of wading birds and ducks; we saw a couple of Great Egrets and a few Blue-winged Teals in the wetlands to the east. Below are pictures from this year’s trip—you can see photos from the same locations one year ago here. The pictures speak for themselves.
The eBird locations call this area “Wetlands west of Stat Oil.” The company is now called Equinor (Statoil) South Riding Point. Small warblers were spotted along the track road into the area. I lamented the days of counting yellowlegs, ducks, herons, egrets, swallows, and hearing Red-winged Blackbirds calling over the habitat. What was once a lively, hidden Grand Bahama secret now sits forlorn and abandoned by the birds—at least it was abandoned on this day. When will the birds return? Has anyone tested the water? We need scientists to come and investigate.
A Changed Landscape, Sad Memories
That evening after a full day “out east” we shared our thoughts, and like the contrasts in the habitat, our feelings ran the gamut from positive and upbeat to depressed and sad. For me personally, despite new growth low to the ground, more species and more birds, the day was heartbreaking. I kept remembering years and years spent out east with my late husband, with birding friends. Sad to say, those days are gone. The places we visited then have been bowled over by Dorian’s tidal surge, and our remote beaches are no longer pristine.
Equinor area – Dead pines in the background are a fitting border to this wasteland.
Erika Gates, our Guru, wrote an email to the group that evening, and I think it summarizes the day perfectly.
Erika Gates’ Thoughts: The Loss of the Pine Forest
I am glad that most of you saw many positive things in the recovery of the environment! But I was deeply saddened by the appearance and total loss of our magnificent pine forest ecosystem along with our Bahamian endemic bird species, the Bahama Warbler and the Bahama Yellowthroat, the latter depending on the edge habitat of the pine forest. The Olive-capped Warbler which totally depends on the pine forest is probably also lost to Grand Bahama! We will most likely see another endemic bird, the Bahama Swallow, a secondary cavity nester, move to Andros or South Abaco, looking for non-fragmented pine nesting habitat where a resident Hairy Woodpecker will have provided the cavities!.”
Yes, it was like a miracle to see young pine trees sprouting out of the ashes and devastation we looked at a year ago; however, to attain the height and maturity of the former pine forest to offer new habitat for the above bird species will take 30 to 40 years! And where will they come from? Abaco? The pine forest and National Park in South Abaco fortunately survived Dorian and good numbers of the above bird species have been observed there during the recent BNT survey.
Erika points out the change from last year’s one inch of new growth at Owl Hole.
When I wrote my little book ‘Natives of the Bahamas—A Guide to Vegetation & Birds of Grand Bahama- in 1998, I wrote in my preface of a then recent conservation assessment of the terrestrial eco-regions of the Caribbean by the World Bank in association with the World Wildlife Fund. It stated that the unique Bahamian pine forest is one of the highly endangered ecosystems in the region facing threats from development! Who would have thought that after a two-day storm 22 years later, one of the largest Bahamian Pine forests (the largest being Andros, followed by Abaco and New Providence), where non-fragmented bird habitat covered approx. 250 square miles, would be no more!
Bend in the Road Beach – also known as Pelican Point Wetlands. A lone Semipalmated Plover was seen on our arrival. He did not stay long after we arrived.
Yes, we observed a variety of beautiful fall migratory Warblers on our “One Year After” trip that we began full of hope that morning! We were delighted to record several resident species like Western Spindalis, Thick-billed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Lucayan National Park’s Blackland Coppice and also found a few shorebirds along the Pelican Point shoreline!
Bridget spotted ten Sanderlings on Bend in the Road Beach. They didn’t seem bothered by our enthusiastic intrusion. Birds! In the wetlands across the road we saw 10 Blue-winged Teals – the only ducks for the day.
We had travelled 6 miles from Casuarina Bridge to Owl Hole Road along a lifeless pine forest and my expectations to find any live pines further east were disappearing. The pine forest habitat we surveyed close-up was a portion of Owl Hole road and the only resident birds we encountered were 3 Pine Warblers, with one male belting out his familiar song! It was music to my ears and also the highlight of my day!
Leaving Owl Hole we were surprised to see a “new” small wetland habitat. Had it always been there, but we couldn’t see it from the road? One Great Egret didn’t have a problem finding it.In the same “new” wetlands we saw tiny mangrove plants taking root. I count seven in this picture.
The Birders’ Mixed Feelings—Some Hope, Recovery Will Take Time
Bridget Davis: I was encouraged by what I saw. We had a major hurricane and forest fires that hit East End hard. The humans have not all gotten their homes repaired and livable yet. I was happy to see the reconstruction and repair of homes. I think with the salt water and oil intrusion it will be some time for the shore birds to come back. I feel hopeful about the warblers we saw and the green palm trees and new pine trees along the way. Good day for me—until next time.
Lucayan NP- Although Bridget might have gotten to the beach this year, we didn’t try since we hadn’t visited the area in 2019 and our time was limited. That’s for another day.
The always enchanting Ovenbird responded to our scold tape.
Delores Kellman: It was somewhat depressing; especially seeing the death of the Caribbean pine forest. Don’t think I will be around when it comes back to life.
Along Owl Hole Road- Delores jumped out of the car, excited to point out more young pine trees—look closely and you’ll see them. She wrote, “It was somewhat depressing; especially seeing the death of the Caribbean pine forest. Don’t think I’ll be around when it comes back to life.”
Gena Granger: I was encouraged by the greenery, remembering all the brown and black of last year, also with the numbers and quantities of birds. Though discouraged by the devastation of the pine forest, it was encouraging to see pine seedlings. A tribute to life really, the new, the young, foraging through the existing devastation making ready for the new generation!
A pine seedling springs up out of the ashes. But how long will it take to grow to maturity? (Owl Hole Road)
Shelagh Paton-Ash: I’m with Bridget—I guess we were in the optimistic car! When you think about it, Dorian was a cataclysmic event, but one year later, most of the plants are back, some birds are thriving, and many houses are rebuilt or in the process. It takes time to recover from something as catastrophic as Dorian.
Erika’s final comment: I look forward to birding with this group again, appreciating every bird in all the beautiful habitats that we are still so blessed to enjoy on our beloved island.
Just like last year, the ocean can still be seen from the Visitor’s Centre in the Lucayan National Park.
Martha Cartwright birding: this is my happy birding picture, the day I saw an American Avocet on Grand Bahama, Lewis Yard Wetlands (Photo by Shelagh Paton-Ash)
Martha Cartwright has been an avid birder on GB since 2014. She is particularly fond of shorebirds and participated in BirdsCaribbean’s Conservation Caribbean Shorebirds Workshop in Puerto Rico March, 2019. Together with bird guru-in-chief, Erika Gates, and their close group of Grand Bahama Island Birders, they regularly carry out birding excursions and counts in many habitats on GB and also do a lot of habitat restoration, outreach, and education about birds and nature on the island.
BirdsCaribbean is extremely grateful to all who have donated to our Hurricane Dorian Recovery Fund; donations are providing bird seed, nectars and feeders, replacing equipment and infrastructure lost in the storm and helping to fund bird and habitat surveys and restoration in Grand Bahama and Abaco. We are working with the Bahamas National Trust and other partners on this recovery work. Please click here or here if you would like to help with this work.
Map of Grand Bahama showing sites visited (Map by Aly Ollivierre)
More photos from the 2020 revisit of the eastern area of Grand Bahama to see what changes had taken place in one year. (all photos in this article are by Martha Cartwright with the exception of the photo by Martha above)
Lucayan National Park—looking down into Burial Mound Cave. Divers discovered the human bones of an adult and child from the Lucayan Indian era in about six feet of water. Dives are no longer allowed in the cave. Erika once spotted two young Barn Owls along the ledge. I went back several times hoping to see them, but I never did.
Cuban Tree Frog—the largest native frog in the Bahamas. I read once that as it is in the middle of the food chain, a frog is a sign of a healthy habitat. (Lucayan National Park)
Equinor committed to cleaning up the oil spill after Dorian’s winds blew off the tops of some of their storage tanks. Pictures show the oil has been scraped off the topsoil. But I see no signs of growth in the damaged area. Can you spot any?
An article in The Freeport News in May said Equinor laid off 15 Bahamian workers due to COVID-19. At least the offices got a good clean-up.
Delores trying to see over and through the roadside bushes into the wetlands east of Statoil.
The wetlands seemed healthier on the east side of Stat Oil. We spotted four Great Egrets in the area.
Bend in The Road Beach one year later. The mounds of seaweed from last year are gone, but little remains of what I once considered my favorite beach on Grand Bahama. Lined with casuarina trees, this beach was a favorite camping spot for aging Boy Scouts playing dominoes and cooking boiled fish over small stoves, while I spent my days combing the pristine beach looking for shells. Would that I had been a bird watcher back then.
Bend in The Road Beach- Some heavy equipment had been working in the area; I am not sure for what purpose. Last year we spotted one Laughing Gull and Three Royal Terns. They were not around this year.
At Pelican Point- Bridget has no fallen casuarina tree to lean against this year. It must have been a Herculean job to clear that tree away.
One year later Pelican Point is coming back to life. I don’t know what work the community has done to restore the beach, but what a difference in a year! The rocks are gone, Railroad Vines grow along the sand, dead palm trees have been cleared away and new palm trees sway in the breeze. We enthusiastically waved and cheered at a Brown Pelican cruising down the shoreline.
Pelican Point Rebuilds- In the foreground on the left you can see the church being rebuilt. It was in ruin after Dorian. Bridget commented, “I was encouraged by what I saw. We had a major hurricane and forest fires that hit East End hard. The humans have not all gotten their homes repaired and live able yet. But I was happy to see the reconstruction and repair of homes.”
Pelican Point rebuilds- Loyal to the community, construction workers are busy at work on Saturday. They greeted us with smiles, and one kind man shared two bottles of cold water with this thirsty birder (me) who had run out. He offered a cold beer, but I was tired and had a long drive home. Bahamians are the nicest people in the world. I know we all look forward to getting our tourists back to the island.
Pelican Point beach west of town. This beach west of town hasn’t changed much since last year. A single Black-bellied Plover, four Semipalmated Plovers, and a lone Sanderling were spotted in the area.
High Rock. We didn’t stop in High Rock this year. This settlement has worked hard to clean out debris and rebuild their homes. Even from the “highway” you can see the difference.
This year the long ride home wasn’t through fires and smoke but rather through rains. These very rains that have nurtured the land, that have leached out the salt water, and that have watered the plants and pine seedlings as they take nature’s journey – with roots going down to the soil and leaves upwards to the sunlight. May we all be so grounded, so uplifted, and so resolute on our journeys.
Memorial at the Bridge. We took one last stop at the memorial erected by the Grand Bahama Port Authority to commemorate the loss of life from Dorian. It is located just before the new bridge leading to East End. No one knows the number of lives lost on Grand Bahama. Officially the count is 84, but many persons were never found or included in the count. Missing is all we know, swept away by one of the most powerful hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. May they rest in peace.
Join Jennifer Wheeler as she shares real-life stories from the field about the challenges of saving the endangered Black-capped Petrel, aka Diablotin, from extinction. You might laugh, you might cry, you might want to join the project. Hopefully you’ll feel as inspired as we are about the future of this species, thanks to the hard work of many organizations and people.
Only a very small number of people on the planet can say they have had close contact with a Black-capped Petrel. This mid-sized seabird comes to land only to breed, only at night under cover of darkness, and often heads quickly out of sight into underground burrows. This covert behavior as well as the species’ eerie, wailing vocalizations in the night sky, earned it the name Diablotin (“little devil”) from early European and African arrivals to the Caribbean. It was the birds that should have been afraid: human settlement of the Caribbean, accompanied by the introduction of invasive mammals, reduced the Diablotin from abundant on many Caribbean islands to widely considered extinct by the early 1900s.
The Black-capped Petrel nests in burrows or crevices located at typically hard-to-reach, high-elevation spots in both the Haitian and Dominican Republic portions of Hispaniola. Petrel burrows have yet to be found on any other island (Photo by Jim Goetz)
I’ve been cheerleading and coordinating conservation of the Diablotin for a decade, working with numerous partners in the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group. The species turns out not to be extinct but very rare. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the total world population is estimated at no more than 1,000 breeding pairs. Only about a hundred Diablotin burrows have been located to date, all on the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It’s actually much easier to see a Diablotin out at sea than find one inland.
My first encounter with the species was in 2009. I saw them zipping by at a distance over the open ocean from the Stormy Petrel, a seabirding tour boat operating out of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Though the Diablotin’s breeding range is limited to the Caribbean, it turns out that they concentrate in a foraging area off the southeast U.S. To observe them at sea, one needs to be out over deep marine waters near or in the Florida Current and Gulf Stream, and that is most easily done where the Outer Banks protrude into the Atlantic. In the subsequent years, I got no closer, and I certainly wasn’t one of the group of people that could say they had touched a Diablotin, seen one up close, or even smelled their fishy body odor. Last year, I decided it was time to change that.
The small number of people who have seen a Black-capped Petrel have usually seen them at a distance from a boat well out at sea in deep marine waters (Photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
Hoping for Haiti
In April 2019 I planned on experiencing the Diablotin first-hand on a trip to Haiti. This is the country where most of those one hundred burrows are known to occur. In fact, it was in Haiti that they were re-discovered on a mountain ridge in 1961, after being lost to science for decades. This is miraculous considering that Haiti is one of the most deforested nations in the world, with some estimates that Haiti has retained less than 1% of its primary forest. Almost all of Haiti has been converted to agriculture or grazing, and secondary forest is degraded by wood-cutting and forest product collection. Petrels don’t need trees for nesting but trees and shrubs provide cover and root structure needed for burrow construction. Additionally, socioeconomic conditions in Haiti are so dire that people encountering these species are quite likely to consume them, which of course, is what introduced rats, cats and mongoose would like to do.
The Black-capped Petrel’s exact nesting locations in Haiti have not been easy to find. Even with the knowledge that they persisted on Haiti, it took until 2002 to locate an active burrow and until 2011 to see a living chick. Finding that little fluffball took an incredible number of hours crawling along cliffs and the forest floor, aided by information collected by radar and automated sound recording devices.
There is a small but significant nesting population of Diablotin in southwest Haiti, in a small patch of primary forest near the village of Boukan Chat. Since the discovery of the Diablotin in this area, local and international conservationists have been building relationships with the citizens of the village. Beginning with humanitarian projects, conservationists now pursue a strategy of improving farming practices and empowering local farmers to convert to more sustainable crops. More productivity on existing farmland reduces the likelihood of encroachment into the forest. Winning the hearts and minds of the local people also involves outreach, education and celebration. Foremost among these is the now annual Festival Diablotin Boukan Chat, which I had hoped to personally experience.
The conservation of the Diablotin relies on the actions and support of the local people. In the Haitian village of Boukan Chat, farmers are encouraged to switch to sustainable tree crops in buffer areas around the remaining patch of forest harboring petrels (Photo by Ernst Rupp)
Unfortunately, 2019 was not a good year for Haiti and its people. Anti-government protests turned violent last February, with accompanying increases in crime. The U.S. State Department and other authorities advised against travel to Haiti. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is the organization spearheading much of the education and outreach in Boukan Chat. Adam Brown, project leader, made the disappointing but prudent decision to cancel attendance by international festival team members, including myself.
And yet, civil unrest did not deter the local members from carrying on with the festival! Boukan Chat held a Black-capped Petrel parade with musicians, pupils, farmers, and community members from the village to the soccer pitch. The celebrations ended with a soccer match between two soccer teams, including the appropriately logo’ed Boukan Chat team, ‘The Diablotins.’ There was a nighttime screening of the short film, Haiti, My Love, My Home which tells how the villagers, conservationists and humanitarians, have come together to protect the Diablotin. EPIC just released another amazing film The Diablotin Festival, which portrays the festival and just about makes me cry every time I watch it. I sincerely hope I can attend the Diablotin Festival in-person in the future, and more importantly, that peace returns to Haiti.
A young man in a Black-capped Petrel costume leads the parade during the Festival Diablotin held in Boukan Chat, Haiti. The festival also includes a soccer game and film screening, and is designed to instill interest and pride in the rare bird nesting in nearby forest (Photo by Anderson Jean)
Lost (it) At Sea
May 2019 brought a new opportunity to encounter petrels. This involved another trip on the Stormy Petrel in North Carolina, but with a twist. A team would be attempting to capture petrels at sea in order to fit them with tracking devices. The goal was to learn more about Diablotin movements, and if the transmitters lasted until breeding season the following winter, track them to possibly new and unknown nesting locations. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) invited Chris Gaskin from New Zealand and his super nifty, specially designed hand-held net launcher for the job.
New Zealander Chris Gaskin prepares the air compressor used to launch a spreading net into the air. The net was specially designed to capture flying Black-capped Petrels at sea, in order to fit the birds with tracking devices (Photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
Even with this, I confess, I was a doubter. There was no way this was going to work. Petrels are fast flyers and don’t come all that near to boats. What I didn’t realize was that Chris would be shooting from a small, inflatable Zodiac, which apparently doesn’t spook petrels, especially those fixated on the smelly fish oil put out to attract them. On May 8, as I prepared to drive down to North Carolina from Virginia to join in the expedition, I received a text with an image of a flying net enfolding a Black-capped Petrel!
Turns out that the team was fantastic at catching petrels. Brian Patteson, captain of the Stormy Petrel knew where to find the birds. Brad Keitt with ABC and Pat Jodice with the U.S. Geological Survey South Carolina Coop unit at Clemson University took turns piloting the Zodiac and Chris into position. Chris never missed after his first shot. Yvan Satgé, also with Clemson, deftly fit each bird with a small solar-powered tracking device and took measurements and photos. Arriving in North Carolina, I helped celebrate the first six Diablotin ever captured at sea and I couldn’t wait to observe and assist.
The weather did not cooperate. The first day after I arrived the seas were too rough to be safe. The next day the seas were too calm; open ocean seabirds like wind. The third day was too rough again. I was out of time and actually began driving home. What was I thinking!?! An hour out I came to my senses and turned back to Hatteras to wait for good seas. Finally, on May 14, conditions looked very promising. And they were! It was so exciting to see a bird netted by Chris and watch the Zodiac speeding back to the boat to hand it over to me. And then, the dream came true: I held a living Diablotin in my hands!
One of the first Black-capped Petrels ever to be caught at sea and fit with a satellite tracking device awaits release. In total, 10 birds were tagged in May of 2019, tracking petrel movements to as late as January 2020 (Photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
Not for long. I rushed to disentangle the net, then thrust the bird into someone else’s hands so I could rush to the side of the boat and throw up my breakfast. My big chance to handle a live Diablotin and I nearly foul its feathers with vomitus. Sigh. I was seasick for the rest of the day, providing only comic relief while the rest of the team successfully captured and fitted four more birds with satellite transmitters. Over the months to come, the birds’ movements were followed via satellite. Amazingly, the bird I almost upchucked upon was still transmitting 8 months later, longer than any other. Maybe it felt the love.
Determined in Dominica
As noted, one of the hopes of the satellite tracking was to see if any of the birds traveled to new nesting locations. Diablotin burrows have been found only on Hispaniola, but hope and evidence exists that they also persist on other islands: notably Dominica, where evidence is very strong. In 2015, radar surveys performed by EPIC picked up 900+ petrel-like targets heading in and out of the mountains of that island. Additionally, individual birds were observed through night-vision scopes during those surveys. And over many years, a handful of grounded birds have been found well inland. Following the radar surveys, technical exchanges were arranged to train and assist in ground searching. In April 2016, a team from the Dominican Republic visited Dominica; another exchange in the opposite direction took place in April 2017. Unfortunately, bad weather limited search time and no burrows were located on Dominica. Then, petrel work and just about everything else on that island was derailed when Hurricane Maria blasted Dominica in September 2017, the strongest storm in that island’s recorded history.
Jennifer Wheeler takes a break on a newly opened trail in Trois Pitons National Park, Dominica, during a January 2020 expedition to look for evidence of Black-capped Petrels on that island. (photo by Stephan Brown)
Last month, I invited myself to assist EPIC’s trip to Dominica to repeat radar surveys after five years and to help resume ground searches. Overcoming the challenges of arriving in Dominica late and alone, needing to navigate across the island’s high mountains in the dark, and driving on the “wrong” side of the road, I began to feel quite confident and helpful. I met with staff from the Division of Forestry; attended to the logistics of rental car, rental house, and groceries and obtained the heavy marine batteries needed to power the radar. My greatest success was finding a supply of small desiccant packs (those little bags of silica used to absorb moisture). I visited a dozen shops dealing with computers, appliances, and clothing, affirming that yes, I did mean those little packets that say Do Not Eat, and finally, met success at a shoe store! I was so proud. But pride goeth before the fall.
Did I mention that Dominica has really narrow roads? And it was hard to see my front left side while driving with a right side steering wheel? Fortunately, the burly body-builder was very nice about the big dent I put in his car. Repairing the suspension from shoving his car into a culvert was going to be costly though. The good news was that the damage to the rental truck was minor! You can be sure that I was relieved to turn over the driving to Adam Brown when he arrived on the ferry from Guadeloupe after two weeks of radar surveys there. And I must report that Adam often turned over the driving the really winding roads to local team members Machel Sulton and Stephen Durand. Things went smoothly after that.
We assembled the marine radar equipment and headed into the hills. Sure, setting up takes some work, but this field activity was really pleasant. We positioned ourselves on a hilltop and watched the sun set, enjoyed the cool breezes, and looked and listened for night flying creatures. Petrels appear as a distinctive pattern of blips on the radar screen. Adam would note them coming and call out for us to attempt a sighting with the night vision or thermal image scope. As was the case in 2015, the surveys detected a number of petrels at a number of locations, flying rapidly in and out of the mountains. The peak of activity commenced about 45 minutes after sunset and tapered off at about three hours. At 9 p.m. we were packing up and headed to dinner, excited about our findings but a little concerned about the drop in petrel target numbers since 2015.
Adam Brown, Stephan Durand and Machel Sulton set up for an evening of radar surveillance in Dominica in January 2020. Five years earlier, the first radar surveys conducted on the island revealed hundreds of petrel-like targets flying in or away from several of Dominica’s mountains (Photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
Daytime work to place soundmeters required more exertion. Radar surveys only point the way to the peaks where petrels might be nesting. Placing automated recording devices in these areas to collect any vocalizations helps narrow down the sites and seasons to search. As noted, work on Dominica to find petrels discontinued in late 2017, and the trails to the peaks selected for soundmeter placement had yet to be cleared of trees felled by hurricane and two years of new growth. Division of Forestry foresters are really very good breaking trail with machetes; regardless, it was a slow, hot hike up to the first of the selected peaks. It was certainly not unpleasant, given the varied foliage, numerous orchids and occasional songbird; but I wish we had packed more food! Once we reached higher elevations, there was the chance of finding petrel burrows so off trail into the thick, prickly underbrush we went. Crawling through the dirt, peering under roots and sniffing at holes, I fantasized about finding a burrow entrance. I’m a finder by nature—I’m happy to spend hours looking for beach glass, fossils, antiques—and I just KNEW at any moment, I would see a hole with a tell-tale plop of guano or catch a fishy whiff of petrel. What a find it would be! Alas…I did not nor did anyone else. There is still no documented nesting in Dominica since 1862.
Persistence
Now it’s February, and petrel conservationists are gearing up for field work and community-based conservation on Hispaniola. I’ve heard that the biologists in Cuba are planning an expedition into the Sierra Maestra. There will be detailed reports coming out on the surveys in Guadeloupe and Dominica, with the findings from monitoring and recommendations for continued searches. Soundmeters are placed and listening. The members of the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group are strategizing for the long term and seeking funds. With the Diablotin, we must be persistent. Finding the petrel is difficult; contemplating the magnitude of its threats—human population growth, habitats invaded by introduced mammals, and climate change foremost among them—can be overwhelming. But as long as there are Diablotins, there is hope.
Here’s one more story to serve as a symbol of surviving against the odds. After placing a new soundmeter in Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica, we went in search of one deployed in 2017 and actually found it. It was bleached, scratched, and breached by rainwater. The tree to which it was strapped was broken and battered by the 160 mph winds of a Category 5 hurricane. It was difficult to open the unit. Yet the SD card inside survived, containing readable data. Miracles do happen.
Jennifer Wheeler is an avid adventurer and loves volunteering her time to help conservation causes. She was the coordinator of the Waterbird Council for 10 years and Board member and Treasurer of BirdsCaribbean for 8 years. She is currently co-chair of the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group and Financial Officer for BirdsCaribbean.
The activities noted in this article were largely supported by Seabirding/Stormy Petrel, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, Plant with Purpose, Jeune En Action Pour La Sauvegarde De l’Ecologie En Haiti, Soulcraft All-stars, Grupo Jaragua, BirdsCaribbean (and the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund of BirdsCaribbean), American Bird Conservancy, U.S. Geological Survey South Carolina Coop unit at Clemson University, Dominica Division of Forestry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Disney Conservation Fund.
Please Donate!
To help save the Black-capped Petrel from extinction while also working with the people of Haiti to farm more sustainably, please donate here or here.
To view larger images in the gallery, click on each photo; they may also be viewed as a slide show.
Conservation actions in Boukan Chat, Haiti include educational programs for both adults and children. The long-term goal of these programs is to provide local people with knowledge and appreciation for sustainable agriculture and other livelihoods that increase standard of living and protect natural resources into the future. (photo by Anderson Jean)
Adam Brown takes a GPS measurement on a ridge overlooking a valley where radar detected petrel movements in and out of the nearby peaks (Photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
Stephen Durand takes in the view overlooking a Dominica valley where radar detected petrel movements in and out of the nearby peaks. (photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
A soundmeter placed in early 2017 in Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park was recovered in 2020. Though the data are yet to be analyzed, the unit’s sound card was intact inside the unit, despite the devastation wrought by Category 5 Hurricane Maria (Photo by Stephen Durand)
Members of the team aboard the Stormy Petrel are all smiles after a successful expedition to catch Black-capped Petrels at sea. Can you tell who was seasick most of the trip? Back row, left to right: Yvan Satge, Chris Gaskin. Front row: Captain Brian Patteson, Jennifer Wheeler, Kate Sutherland, Brad Keith.
Jennifer releases a Black-capped Petrel fitted with a satellite tag.
Join Chris Johnson as he recounts his experience conducting the Christmas Bird Count on Abaco just two months after Hurricane Dorian devastated the region. While the survey was a somber reminder of the destructive forces of nature and how much recovery is still needed, Chris and his team found hope and encouragement in the birds they encountered. #AbacoStrong
Abaco – my beloved island
The Bahama Yellowthroat (endemic to the Bahamas) is one of many species of birds directly affected by Hurricane Dorian. (Photo by Chris Johnson)
I have been bird-watching in Abaco, an island in the northern Bahamas, for a little over eleven years. Actually, Abaco is where I started birding at the age 7. Needless to say, Abaco is very near and dear to my heart. When Hurricane Dorian hit the island that I have so much love for, I was heartbroken. I could not begin to fathom how my favorite island would be changed forever.
The hurricane occurred in September 2019, and shortly after, I made a trip back to assist some family members. The destruction I saw was catastrophic and the numbers of bird species had declined dramatically. On December 7th, 2019 , I learned that there would be no annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for North and South Abaco. I asked fellow birder and mentor Dr. Elwood Bracey if there were any plans to conduct the CBCs on Abaco. I was distraught to learn that the two annual leaders – Dr. Bracey and Reg Patterson – would not be able to attend and assist in the conducting of these surveys. The Abaco CBCs are a yearly tradition for the past ten years; I was very disheartened. I thought it over and said to myself, “If there’s nobody else who can lead it… You have to do it!” I contacted my Abaco emailing list and began to “round up the troops” for the 2020 Abaco CBCs.
After I touched down in Marsh Harbour for the second time post-Dorian, I realized immense reconstruction had begun. Roofs were being replaced, trash was being hauled back and forth to the dumps, the roads had been cleared of debris, and the well-known Abaco food store, Maxwell’s, had reopened. Sadly, however, the resident bird life in Marsh Harbour was still immensely affected. During three hours in Marsh Harbour the only resident birds that were seen or heard were four Great Egrets; five Eurasian Collared-Doves (invasive species, now resident); and a Turkey Vulture.
The aftermath of Hurricane Dorian during one of the author’s visits showing the destruction of St. Francis De Sales Catholic School and defoliated trees. (Video by Chris Johnson)
At the end of the first day in Abaco, a gorgeous sunset peered through the pulverized pine barrens. It was a beautiful ending to the day; the South Abaco CBC would follow the very next day.
South Abaco Christmas Bird Count
I woke up on the morning of South Abaco CBC anxious for the day to come. I brewed my two cups of coffee and sat on the porch as I felt the 20 mile per hour winds roll through Cherokee Sound. My Uncle, Keith Kemp arrived at my grandfather’s house at around 6:30 a.m. so we could begin our journey south to “The Y” (a popular landmark in South Abaco) at the Abaco National Park. Along the way we collected fellow birder and leader for the South Count, Niles Primrose. Along the 28-mile drive from Cherokee Sound down to The Y, we discussed the team grouping and the leaders for each team. We all agreed that my uncle would lead the team going North of the Abaco National Park, Niles would lead the Sandy Point team and I would lead the Abaco National Park (Forest) team. We arrived at the meet-up spot for 7:30 promptly. At the Y we met our additional birding peers: Janene Roessler and Lavonda Smith. After catching up for a short time we were met by Bahamas National Trust (BNT) park warden Marcus Davis. As we discussed the plans for the day a resident Red-Tailed Hawk flew over the group. A great first bird for the Forest Team! With everyone assembled we split into our respective groups and went our separate ways.
Abaco is located in the northern Bahamas. (Map by Aly Ollivierre)
The forest team, consisting of Marcus Davis and myself, travelled into the forest armed with our binoculars, field guides and one oversized camera to count all the bird species that we could possibly find. The first species that we saw was a male Cuban Emerald, fluttering around some morning glory flowers. He was eventually chased away from his routine pollination job by another Cuban Emerald, who also wanted a taste of the nectar. As we continued traversing the forest, we were listening closely for some Bahamian specialties such as the Bahama Warbler and Olive-capped Warbler. The next bird of interest was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker hard at work on drilling into a Caribbean Pine Tree.
The sapsucker, who was reaping rewards from his task of drilling into the dense pine tree, became “antsy” very quickly. Before our eyes the bird was under attack from another species of the raptor family. A Merlin had seemingly dropped out of the sky to attempt to catch the apsucker for a meal. However, the plot had failed and the Merlin decided to sit on a long pine branch. After a great photo-op, the small falcon decided that enough was enough and he was back on the hunt. He began coasting along the track road that appeared unaffected by Dorian, awaiting another opportunity for prey to present itself.
A Resilient Abaco National Park
As we journeyed deeper into the National Park, Marcus began to explain how lucky South Abaco was. It was minimally affected by Hurricane Dorian. And the numbers, even within the pine forest, were proving this statement. As we continued our conversation, a vivacious song filled the forest. Not one, not two, but three Pine Warblers flew into the pine right in front of our vehicle. The bright yellow warblers flew onto the bark of the pines, flitting about and dropping into the understory. After these warblers, we saw an Abaco and Grand Bahama specialty bird. The tiny and long-tailed Olive-capped Warblers maneuvered through the large pine tree tops, singing and chirping. The show continued for another ten minutes as we watched the tiny warblers ramble about the pine forest.
Northern Parula posing in Abaco National Park. (Photo by Chris Johnson)
Forty minutes in and we were already up to 17 species. However, we were still missing a few species. The Bahama Warbler, a relative of the North American Yellow-throated Warbler was finally seen for the first time of the day clinging onto the bark of the large pine trees and moving transversely. I decided to use a playback of a Bahama Warbler in an attempt to coax the fascinating warbler out. The explosive song from the pint-sized warbler began to ring out from within the forest. 1..2..3..4..5..6..7… seven Bahama Warblers flew into the pines directly in front of Marcus and me. What a sight to see! All of these warblers congregated together even after Hurricane Dorian.
After many more encounters with the Bahamian specialties, we began to spot and note many more migrant and winter resident species. Some of these species’ behavior and feeding habits had definitely changed thanks to Hurricane Dorian. For example, I noted a group of Indigo Buntings hopping about and feeding along the quarry road, something I had not seen in my ten-plus years of birding. Many birds were also grouped together, something quite abnormal for the time of year. One by one winter residents began to appear: Black-and-white Warblers, Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats and an abundance of Palm Warblers.
A Thick-billed Vireo spotted during the count. (Photo by Chris Johnson)
We eventually arrived at Cross Harbour to begin counting some water birds and shorebirds. Upon arrival at Cross Harbour, we were greeted by two new species. Sticking to each other very closely were a Yellow-rumped Warbler of the Myrtle variety and a Cuban Pewee. Both concentrated on catching insects for a quick meal. With all of the wind on the shorefront, catching bugs would prove to be a difficult task.
As Marcus and I traversed the seemingly endless beach and shore we also spotted new species! Three new herons and egrets had positioned themselves on the beach to begin fishing for their food. The species included a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Reddish Egret and a Great Egret. The tiny “tail-bobbing” Spotted Sandpiper decided to make an appearance for the day as it foraged on the shorefront for any small crustaceans that it could fit its beak around.
Along the trail which would eventually lead back to “The Y”, I noticed that we had not seen any species of dove for the day. The Common Ground Doves and Zenaida Doves, which were usually plentiful on the track roads, were now few and far between.
We eventually arrived back at “The Y” and arranged with the other teams to count all the bird species – as well as make time for a group picture in front of the Bahamas National Trust’s Abaco National Park sign! By the time everything was said and done the South count had totaled 62 species on the day of CBC and 67 species after count week. *Count week is the period of time before and after the day of CBC*. The numbers for the South were great post-Dorian as in past years the total number of birds were sometimes over 70.
POST CBC TRIP TO Bahama Palm Shores
After the CBC information was gathered and shared amongst ourselves, we all parted ways and returned back to our homes. I had decided that I just did not get enough birding during the CBC and decided to head to Bahama Palm Shores (BPS). I started off the checklist by stopping near a large patch of coppice. There was a dead tree trunk with dead branches still attached. Upon “pishing” for a few minutes, four Magnolia Warblers appeared. They put on a show by approaching me and got within three feet! The other species that made themselves known were Greater Antillean Bullfinches, Red-legged Thrushes, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and an abundance of Northern Parulas.
As I was just about to wrap up, I heard a vociferous chatter and calling near the easternmost street within Bahama Palm. I knew the chatter well; it was the species that got me started on bird-watching. The Bahama / Cuban Amazon Parrot had established a small population within BPS. I counted a total of more than 45 parrots in that particular area. This was abnormal, as I had never seen a group of more than thirty parrots in Bahama Palm Shores. They all appeared healthy and were actively feeding on Gum Elemi berries. Within the hour and four minutes I had spent at Bahama Palm Shores I had a total of 26 species and 114 individuals sighted (see the full eBird checklist here).
North Abaco Christmas Bird Count
The South Abaco Team. From left to right: Janene Roessler, Chris Johnson, Keith Kemp, Lavonda Smith, Marcus Davis & Niles Primrose. (Photo by Chris Johnson)
The morning of the North Abaco CBC started much like the previous morning. I started brewing my coffee and sat on the porch. This morning was much cooler than the morning of the South Abaco CBC. My Uncle Keith Kemp arrived at the house packed and ready for the day. We jumped in the truck and proceeded to the road that connects Cherokee to the Great Abaco Highway. There at the “turnoff” (the road where the Cherokee and Great Abaco Highway meet) we collected birding buddy Janene Roessler, who would be our scribe for the day.
As we began to inch closer towards Treasure Cay on the S.C. Bootle Highway, we witnessed a bizarre number of Great Egrets grouped in the ruinous wetland. There was a total of 14 Great Egrets in this one area and that was it. No Common Gallinule, Coots, Grebes, or any herons in sight. It was heartbreaking to see the damage to the North; it was undoubtedly worse than the catastrophe that struck Marsh Harbour in Central Abaco.
We arrived at the original meeting point for all the previous North counts. “Spanky’s Parking Lot” was located within Treasure Cay. It was almost unrecognizable, if not for the large liquor store, which was still standing but had lost all of its windows during the storm. The damage at “Spanky’s” would be minuscule compared to the damage within Treasure Cay.
A Cuban Pewee seemingly undaunted by a human with a large camera approaching. (Photo by Chris Johnson)
The first location would be to stop at the waterfront gas station to assess the damage the storm had done to the pylons and small rocky shorefront. After some substantial searching with our binoculars assisted by my 200-500mm camera lens we were able to pick up the first birds for the North Abaco CBC. We found: one Ring-billed Gull, one Black-bellied Plover, one Short-billed Dowitcher, and two Royal Terns.
We meandered our way through the debris-covered roads and paths for the next half hour with our destination in mind. My uncle had always spoken about a sandbank at the eastern end of Treasure Cay that always had birds. On our way out to the beach we were shocked to see Indigo Buntings perched low to the ground in dead shrubs foraging for food. The sandbank tragically held nothing for the count and we continued within the easternmost point. The damage at this end of the settlement was extraordinary. We saw entire “seawalls” washed out by the storm, houses seemingly torn in half, and cars flipped upside down.
Months after the hurricane, forests (like this one near Treasure Cay) have only begun to recover, and it will be years before they are able to support the same biodiversity as before the storm. (Video by Chris Johnson)
The next location was the Treasure Cay Golf Course Ponds. Many species had been counted on these small ponds in previous years. This area was by far our most active for the day. Our most notable species in this area were: White-cheeked Pintails, Least Grebes, Cattle Egrets, Merlin, White-eyed Vireo and the prize bird of the day… a Hooded Merganser! We noted quite a few new species for the count – but the storm-ravaged ponds and golf course were quite distressing to see.
The last few locations that we would check proved extremely disappointing. Sunset Ridge was a famed birding spot within Treasure Cay. Species ranging from Roseate Spoonbills to American White Pelicans, to the extremely rare Bald Eagle sighted by Dr. Bracey for many years had been recorded there. However, hope began to dwindle for the Dorian-devastated wetland. With the assistance of my camera we came to add a few more species to the “slowly-but-surely” growing list. One Belted Kingfisher, two Reddish Egrets, three Little Blue Herons, – and peculiarly enough, another large group of Great Egrets: a total of 26 individuals!
A resident Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was a welcome and familiar sight during the CBC. (Photo by Chris Johnson)
We then decided it would be in our best interest to make our way to Cooper’s Town foreshore to count some gulls and cormorants. Our trip to the foreshore allowed us to add numerous species to the list. It included: 25 Double-crested Cormorants, 18 Laughing Gulls, 11 Ring-billed Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Great Black-backed Gull!
At the end of the count, we had a total of 43 species for the North. This 2019 total was frightening as in previous years we would sometimes have totals of over 90 species. The number of species was effectively cut by fifty percent.
Final Thoughts
We all know that Dorian has done irreversible damage to Abaco. I would have never thought that such damage could be done to my second home. The catastrophic damage on this island is heartbreaking. The population counts are proving that we have not only lost many birds in the storm, but that birds in Abaco are still struggling to find food and shelter post-Dorian. There are many ways we can assist this Bahamian island in the rebuilding and replenishing of habitat for these avian species that make their home there. BirdsCaribbean and the Bahamas National Trust have done, and continue to do fantastic work in supporting research and replenishment of both Abaco and Grand Bahama. If you would like to assist these organizations in their efforts, please donate to the BirdsCaribbean Hurricane relief fund or The Bahamas National Trust.
Abaco and Grand Bahama will come back in time, and hopefully the birds with them. #AbacoStrong
Hover each photo to see the caption; click on a photo to see a slide show.
Reddish Egret spotted at Crossing Harbour. (photo by Chris Johson)
This Merlin was hunting along the track road in the forest. (photo by Chris Johnson)
We were thrilled to have 8 Bahama Warblers (endemic to the Bahamas) fly right in front of us in the forest. (photo by Chris Johnson)
This Bahama Parrot was attempting to blend into the treetop and allowed for great shots as he remained absolutely still. (photo by Chris Johnson)
Chris Johnson is an avid 18-year-old birder and photographer. He has been birding for over 10 years and has gotten opportunities to further his birding skills namely the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Young Birder Event. He enjoys spending his time on many Bahamian family islands and photographing the fauna around him. You can find him on Instagram @cmjphotography242 to see more photos from this young photographer and birder.
Looking back on 2019, the year provided us with a range of experiences. There was excitement, success, tragedy, and hope. When we reflect on all that we have accomplished this year, in both the good times and the bad, there was one common theme: collaboration. Sometimes it took the form of official partnerships and other times grassroots community efforts. Even fundraising, which was critical for efforts like hurricane relief, is a collaborative process. Here, we review some of the most important moments of the past year and acknowledge and thank all those who collaborated with us to further our mission. We are also grateful to our many members, volunteers, and donors who generously support our work. We have an awesome community!
Celebrating Success & Partnerships
The Cuban contingent! A record 20 Cubans attended, thanks to our generous sponsors! (photo by Fred Sapotille)
Keeping Birds Aloft! This was the inspirational theme of our 22nd BirdsCaribbean International Conference held in July. Over 250 delegates from 34 countries grabbed French phrasebooks and headed to the Karibea Beach Hotel in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe. The lively, productive and thought-provoking meeting was organized with our major partners, the Parc National de la Guadeloupe. Keynote speakers, workshops and brainstorming sessions helped participants plan how to engage their communities, combat wildlife trafficking, and address the varied environmental threats facing the Caribbean and its birds. A mentorship program for younger members was launched. (Check out what a few of our sponsored delegates had to say about how they benefited from attending the conference). Despite the profound topics being discussed, participants were upbeat and as would be expected of any Caribbean event, there was dancing on the final night!
At the conference, we were humbled and proud to receive the 2018 Partners in Flight Award. Our Board President Andrew Dobson accepted the award, presented by the U.S. Forest Service, in recognition of BirdsCaribbean relief and recovery work in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Ceremony celebrating the the opening of the restored Ashton Lagoon.
BirdsCaribbean was thrilled to celebrate the official reopening of the restored Ashton Lagoon, which took place on May 31, 2019. After 13 years of truly challenging work, our partners in the island archipelago between St. Vincent and Grenada – called the Transboundary Grenadines – proudly welcomed supporters and generous donors to Union Island. After a misguided tourism project at the site lay in ruins for 25 years, the neglected wetlands finally have a chance to reawaken. Orisha Joseph and her team at Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. (SusGren) were the stars of the show. Next step: to have the Lagoon and its surroundings designated as a Marine Protected Area.
During the restoration work, BirdsCaribbean organized a highly successful Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop on Union Island, empowering citizens from the Grenadines and beyond. In August, the Caribbean Birding Trail’s spectacular new website – https://www.caribbeanbirdingtrail.org – covering more than 150 birding sites in 24 countries, was launched. If you have not already done so, we invite you to explore – both virtually and in person, with our enthusiastic trained guides!
Devastation from Hurricane Dorian
Six Grand Bahama Island Birders carried out the first bird survey of the Eastern End of Grand Bahama Island one month after Hurricane Dorian. Left to right – Shelagh Paton-Ash, Delores Kellman, Gena Granger, Bridget David (recorder) and Erika Gates. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Just a few weeks after our conference, we watched with heavy hearts as tragedy of incredible proportions struck the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. The Category Five Hurricane Dorian, which lingered from September 1 to 3 over these islands, brought death and destruction to many communities, and devastated the landscape.
Immediately, BirdsCaribbean formed a response team to raise funds and deliver supplies. The first tentative forays by our Bahamian partners were subdued and sad, with moments of joy and relief when bird species such as the Bahama Parrot, thought to be badly impacted from the island by the storm, were discovered to be doing okay. As always, severe storms bring strong emotions in their wake – and for conservationists, deep anxiety over whether habitats and birds will eventually recover.
Our Hurricane Dorian Recovery Fund has raised US$29,000 to date, with less than one month to go. Thanks to our generous supporters, we shipped thousands of pounds of bird seed and hundreds of feeders. We also used funds to help replace equipment the Bahamas National Trust lost during the storm in addition to funding field surveys. Now the questions loom: Did the Bahama Nuthatch population survive? How quickly will the parrots recover? Will the waterbirds return? While there are encouraging signs, the future is still uncertain. There is much work to be done.
Supporting Conservation & Community
Participants of the shorebird conservation workshop on a field trip within Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
This year we also focused on our most vulnerable migratory species, shorebirds. We know these birds are in trouble; this is a global phenomenon. In February, we hosted the International Training WorkshopConserving Caribbean Shorebirds and Their Habitats in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico with 33 enthusiastic participants on “Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats.” Our partners were Manomet and local NGO Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI).
Our Betty Petersen Conservation Fund provided support to finance direct conservation actions for three endangered Caribbean species: The Black-capped Petrel in Haiti, the Ridgway’s Hawk in the Dominican Republic, and the White-breasted Thrasher in St. Lucia. In all these projects, community involvement (especially youth) has been a key factor. In Haiti, entire farming communities that cultivate lands adjacent to the Petrel’s nesting colonies are pledging to protect these critical breeding areas while in the Dominican Republic, teenagers are volunteering to guard the hawks’ nests. This work would not be possible without the many generous donations to the Betty Fund.
Children in the Dominican Republic learn to celebrate their endemic raptor with the new Ridgeway’s Hawk brochure. (photo by Marta Curti)
Meanwhile, our dedicated citizen scientists have been hard at work again. Global Big Day was – well, really big. 846 checklists were posted on May 4 – over twenty percent more than in 2018. The Bahamas ran away with the top number of species this time – 138. Runners up were Puerto Rico and third-place Cuba were not far behind. In all, eighty percent of the Caribbean’s endemics were spotted in just one day. BirdsCaribbean is proud of its partnership with eBird through our portal eBird Caribbean. Have you downloaded the free mobile app? Every bird counts!
In 2019 we all learned how to protect birds by becoming the solution to plastic pollution. This was a hugely popular theme for the Caribbean region, which witnesses daily the scourge of plastic pollution and its harmful impacts on birds. Dozens of coordinators organized many events related to this theme for our annual Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival in spring and World Migratory Bird Day celebrations in fall, including beach and wetland clean-ups, raising awareness about the issue and how plastic pollution harms us and wildlife, and how to personally reduce your use of plastic. Many Caribbean countries are leading the way with this global problem by banning plastic bags, plastic straws, and styrofoam. And, we continue to train and empower local educators so that they can develop the next generation of bird conservationists and environmental stewards – watch this inspiring short story from one of our star educators, Natalya Lawrence.
Creative use of plastic waste to make bird feeders! St. Croix Environmental Association WMBD event. (photo by Jen Valiulis)
Finally, there were lessons learned (or re-learned) in 2019. In the face of climate change, Caribbean islands must build greater resilience, especially along their vulnerable coastlines. The restoration of wildlife habitat is critical. So is the sustained and determined protection of our most endangered bird species, including migratory birds, in the face of encroaching human development. But we cannot do it alone. We need the support and the active participation of the communities where birds live – and we need you!
Then, and only then, will Caribbean residents – humans, birds, and wildlife in general – truly thrive, and continue to thrive in the future.
Our sincere gratitude to all of our donors and funding agencies for your generous support in 2019, which allowed us to carry out the work highlighted above, and much more! And a big thanks to all of our awesome partners, members, and volunteers for your dedication and hard work. You all inspire us every day!!!
Bananaquit by Aslam I. Castellan Maure. This unique shot of our logo bird won an Honorable Mention in our 2019 Photography Contest.
Bahama Parrots trying to find fruit to eat in a Gumbo Limbo tree stripped bare from Hurricane Dorian, Abaco Beach Club. (photo by Ancilleno Davis)
It is almost two months since a Category Five Hurricane named Dorian completely devastated the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco from September 1 to 3. Here is what has been happening since BirdsCaribbean sent out an online appeal for emergency funding to help birds and restore habitats on these islands. If you have not already done so, please consider donating even a small amount. There is much work still to be done, and Bahamian birds and nature will be grateful!
Still a Long Way to Go
Media reports have made it clear: life has by no means returned to normal on the islands. Many lives have been lost. Many residents have lost everything and are homeless. A large number have left the islands to seek a new life elsewhere.
Meanwhile, what needs to be taken into consideration, as rebuilding starts? This is up for debate. At BirdsCaribbean, when the time comes we hope that reconstruction will take place on an equitable basis, taking into account the need for coastal resiliency and habitat restoration. In other words, the environment takes priority.
What We Have Done So Far
Nectar feeders (400) and nectar concentrate have reached Grand Bahama and are being distributed to help birds during this post-hurricane food shortage period.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are pleased to report that contributions are going directly to restoration and long-term planning efforts across both islands. As we reported in our first update, 2,000 pounds of bird seed, 300 tube seed feeders, 400 nectar feeders, and nectar concentrate (enough to make 1,900 gallons) are currently being distributed in Grand Bahama (items are also been sent to Abaco). We will be sharing an update on which communities received supplies and the results of the feeding effort shortly. See a photo essay report on the first bird survey conducted on the East End of Grand Bahama on October 3rd, one month after Hurricane Dorian lingered over the area for 3 full days.
We also reached out to our valued partners at Bahamas National Trust (BNT) with essential new equipment. These include cameras, binoculars, a drone, iPad, GPS equipment, rangefinders, compasses, backpacks and other equipment vital for field survey work.
Our Partners Have Been Out in the Field
Thanks to generous donors, we were able to supply Bahamas National Trust with field equipment needed to carry out post-Hurricane Dorian field surveys. (photo by Scott Johnson)
Armed with the equipment they received from BirdsCaribbean, our colleagues at BNT did not waste any time. They went straight out into the field to assess the impacts of the storm on wildlife. Your support is helping to cover the cost of Rapid Assessment Field studies. A team from BNT and Audubon Florida just completed an initial 5-day survey of Abaco focused on the Bahama Parrot (also known as the Abaco Parrot) and its habitat.
Our partners found that conditions on the island of Abaco varied widely. In southern Abaco, both humans and birds appeared to be recovering and spirits were positive. Life was going on, homes were in relatively good condition, stores and bars were open and a fuel station at Sandy Point was open for business. Common bird species such as House Sparrows and Cuban Pewees appeared unaffected by the storm’s impact.
The northern part of the island painted a very different picture – a very sad picture. Many trees and buildings were destroyed. Older trees had lost their leaves or were severely damaged, losing limbs and bark. They were just beginning to sprout small leaves and shoots.
Getting Down to Work
Abaco Field Survey Team (left to right): Caroline Stahala, Bradley Watson, Giselle Dean, and Ancilleno Davis
The team got organized. They divided up tasks, in order to get as much done as possible in a short space of time.
Abaco Parrot researcher Caroline Stahala Walker (Audubon) and Bradley Watson (BNT Science Officer) worked on vegetation surveys. Occasionally, they were joined by David Knowles (BNT, Chief Park Warden, Abaco National Park), who had lost his own home in the hurricane, but is still continuing to work; along with Marcus Davis, the BNT Deputy Park Warden, whose home further south remained intact.
Giselle Deane (BNT Assistant Science Officer) and Ancilleno Davis (Blue Lagoon Island and BirdsCaribbean Board member) collected the bird survey data using the binoculars and rangefinders BirdsCaribbean was able to provide, thanks to the emergency funds raised. Visual records are vitally important. Bradley Watson used his new camera provided by BirdsCaribbean to take plenty of photograph of birds, plants, and habitats throughout.
Will Abaco’s Parrots Recover?
Bahama Parrots foraging on the ground; normally they feed only in the trees but their fruit trees have been stripped bare of food. Feeding on the ground has made the parrots vulnerable to predation by cats (seen hunting nearby). The team set up feeding stations to help the parrots survive during this critical period of food shortages. (photo by Ancilleno Davis)
It was disturbing to see the birds foraging in the dirt for fallen fruit at a resort development in central Abaco, while a cat prowled around nearby. The parrots’ usual habit is to only eat the freshest fruit directly from the trees, dropping small portions on the ground. Abaco’s population of the Bahama Parrot is also especially vulnerable since they nest in rock cavities on the ground.
But all is not lost. The team found small flocks of Bahama Parrots flying in Abaco. They are making themselves heard again across the island. The team put out supplemental food stations, to help the parrots survive during this critical period of food shortages.
It’s not clear, however, whether prospects for the parrots are encouraging in the long term. This is because the destruction of large parts of the birds’ habitat in central and northern Abaco means that food will remain in short supply. While the researchers remain cautiously optimistic, it is clear that a much wider effort to restore foraging habitat will be needed to help sustain the parrot population year-round and outside of the breeding season, which is May/June.
A Mixed Picture
The survey team will soon be releasing a full report on their findings on Abaco. There is much more work to be done, and the post-hurricane period is critical for the welfare of the birds and indeed all wildlife on these devastated islands.
Meanwhile, human residents are still picking up the pieces – in some cases literally – and many challenges remain.
PHOTO GALLERY – Hover over each photo to see the caption, to see a slide show click on the first photo.
Sincere thanks to all who have donated so generously to our Hurricane Dorian Recovery Fund! We will continue provide updates on our work to help restore birds and habitats and help local partners like the Bahamas National Trust with recovery work on Abaco and Grand Bahama.
Giselle Dean, BNT Science Officer, ready for field work with her new equipment. (photo by Bradley Watson)
Cat hunting near ground-foraging Bahama Parrots on Abaco after Hurricane Dorian, October 13 2019. Cats are known predators of Bahama Parrots. (photo by Ancilleno Davis)
Bird seed on pallet ready to be shipped to Grand Bahama. It is being distributed to residents, along with tube feeders, nectar feeders and nectar concentrate.
Scott Johnson with his new binoculars, GPS and backpack. (photo by Bradley Watson)
Giselle Dean practices using her new compass. (photo by Bradley Watson)
Bahama Parrot foraging on the ground in Abaco, unusual behavior for this species. Parrots were forced to search for food on the ground due to lack of fruit on trees stripped of vegetation by Hurricane Dorian. (photo by Bradley Watson)
Thanks to generous donors, we were able to supply Bahamas National Trust with field equipment needed to carry out post-Hurricane Dorian field surveys. (photo by Scott Johnson)
Scott Johnson’s Facebook post, expressing his gratitude for receipt of new field equipment from BirdsCaribbean – thanks to all the donors who made this possible! (photo by Scott Johnson)
Bradley Watson (BNT) made good use of his new camera on Abaco, documenting birds, plant specimens and habitats on the recent post-Dorian Abaco survey trip. (photo by Ancilleno Davis)
Field survey team on Abaco (left to right): Ancilleno Davis, Giselle Dean, Bradley Watson and Caroline Stahala (photo by Ancilleno Davis)
2,000 pounds of special Island Relief Wild Bird Seed Mix are being distributed in Grand Bahama to help birds survive a period of food shortage. Thanks to Lizzie Mae Bird Seed for this donation!
Join Martha Cartwright and her five birding companions on their intrepid journey to the East End of Grand Bahama (GB) Island one month after Hurricane Dorian. Their mission was to check on the status of the birds and habitats devastated by this monstrous Category 5 Hurricane. Martha paints a vivid and sobering picture of the “new normal” on GB for people and nature in the early stages of recovery.
I love birding on Grand Bahama, and I have a sweet spot in my heart for birding on the east end of the island. One highway runs from Freeport eastwards, but to call it a “highway” is a misnomer. It is two simple lanes, often potted with holes, and lightly traveled. It can be tedious, this road: mile after mile of Caribbean Pine trees and “bush” (our word for the native Thatch Palms, bushes, Century Plants, vines and orchids that grow under the pine trees). After rains there are usually pockets of standing water along the road; but there is never enough elevation to glimpse the beauty of the ocean, paralleling the road just off in the distance, nor the wetlands that are a hidden haven for birds of all kinds.
To love birding the east end, one has to learn to wait, to walk along unpaved trails in the pines, along miles of pristine beaches, around mangrove swamps…And let the birds slowly reveal themselves.
Six Grand Bahama Island Birders carried out the first bird survey of the Eastern End of Grand Bahama Island one month after Hurricane Dorian. Left to right – Shelagh Paton-Ash, Delores Kellman (BirdsCaribbean’s Administrative Assistant), Gena Granger, Bridget Davis (recorder) and Erika Gates (our leader and driver). We’re smiling for the camera, but we were not a happy group. I’m behind the camera, just where I like to be. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Three Days of Fear and Waiting
It was this same East End of the island that took the brunt of Hurricane Dorian, that slow-moving storm whose feeder bands we started feeling Sunday and who, if we were lucky enough to keep our houses, kept us inside until Tuesday.
From September 1 to September 3, for those three days, the world had been watching in awe and anguish the videos coming out of Abaco and Grand Bahama Island. Friends and family all over the world held their breaths, waiting with troubled hearts to hear that their loved ones had survived, waiting to hear if their homes were intact. For many of us in or near the storm without power, internet or cell service for weeks, realization of the devastation came in dribs and drabs. For me, the terrible news came mostly through conversations and shared stories, over the fence, waiting in lines, driving around or walking over debris to check on friends.
We heard grim stories of hours spent in the attic of flooded homes waiting for rescue, inspiring stories of courage as people on jet-skis headed over the bridge on Tuesday to rescue stranded families, sorrowful stories of the loss of family members – drowned or “missing.” Daily we watch news of global catastrophes – floods, fires, tornadoes. But when it is your own back yard that lies tattered and torn, emotions sit heavy in the heart and mind. The body keeps moving forward day by day, but the trauma burrows deeps and lingers.
#Grand BahamaStrong
While we were in the midst of the storm, thousands of rescue and relief organizations had already started to mobilize to bring in the necessities of survival. We saw the scenes on TV and the Internet and they were real. The disaster drills that rescue and relief organizations mobilized to bring in water, food, medical support, shelter, cadaver dogs. These organizations made good use of the millions of dollars donated for our recovery by caring people all over the world.
The people who work in humanitarian relief and rescue are amazing angels of hope and strength for the people whose lives they touch. Help from the outside gives local people time after a hurricane to take the initial steps towards recovery. We had to clear debris, salvage belongings, tend to businesses that were also damaged, and watch out for our neighbors. On Grand Bahama, we are so grateful to all who have helped and are continuing to help.
How Did the East End Fare?
This is the view as we drove east along Grand Bahama Highway, seeing for the first time the damage from salt-water surge and hurricane force winds. We were a quiet group, stunned and saddened during the drive. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
We wondered how our birds fared out east, but for the most part we kept our eBird recording to the Freeport area, where most of the Grand Bahama Island Birders (GBIB) live. It took us a month to gather a group of six for our initial survey of the birds out east. Roads that had been dangerous and nigh impassable except for relief trucks were now open. I wanted to go. I wanted to know about the birds, but truthfully, for days I dreaded the trip. People were still missing. Habitats were like moonscapes. Relief organizations were setting up camps, helping families, distributing supplies. People first. But what was happening to the birds?
Our Tour Begins With Many Questions: Owl Hole
Grand Bahama and bird survey sites on the highway out to the East End of Grand Bahama. (Map by Aly Ollivierre)
We stopped first in the pine barrens around Owl Hole Road. On one birding excursion in 2016, we had spotted 25 species for a total of 93 birds in the forest. It was home to the Common Ground-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cuban Emerald, Hairy Woodpecker, Western Spindalis, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-faced Grassquit, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cuban Peewee, mockingbird, thrushes, vireos, and warblers.
Now, we were wondering. The Bahama Warbler is known only on Grand Bahama Island and Abaco – has it survived? The Bahama Yellowthroat is seen in other islands beside our two Northern Islands, so it has a better change of survival. The Caribbean Pine or Yellow Pine, native to the four northern islands of the Bahamas (Andros, Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence) is also the only known home to the Critically Endangered Bahama Nuthatch. How long will it be before we know whether that little bird, that endemic species has survived Dorian?
Happier days birding along Owl Hole Road, before Hurricane Dorian. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
The endemic Bahama Warbler, photographed on Grand Bahama before Hurricane Dorian, occurs only on Grand Bahama and Abaco. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
This post-Dorian trip at Owl Hole we spotted four species for a total of 11 birds: one Common Ground Dove (in someone’s yard), three Turkey Vultures, five Palm Warblers and two Prairie Warblers. We were ecstatic to see our first bird, a Palm Warbler! (Owl Hole eBird checklist)
The Pine Forest habitat was inundated with salt-water and later burned with bush fires. (photo by Martha Cartwright)We were ecstatic to see our first bird, a Palm Warbler. There is not much food for birds, so each bird seen was a jubilation. (photo by Erika Gates)
Erika Gates pointing out the new growth in the scrub palm. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Some Encouragement in Lucayan National Park
Our next stop was the beautiful Lucayan National Park (LNP.) With the higher elevation around Ben’s Cave, no surge had flooded the Blackland Coppice. Recent rains had encouraged leaf growth. I saw my first Gray Catbird of the season. We marveled and took comfort in how quickly nature started to bring back her green mantle. One hundred and twenty-six species have been spotted in the Lucayan National Park. We walked the elevated Coppice area and saw just seven species, nine birds total. Not many, to say the least. (Lucayan National Park eBird checklist)
Gold Rock Beach before Hurricane Dorian. Downed casuarina trees along the shore are from previous hurricanes. Unless hauled away, the uprooted trees stay for… I don’t how long – decades? Casuarina eradication programs can’t keep up with this invasive species. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
The elevation near the Lucayan National Park Visitors’ Center afforded us a view of the ocean. This is unprecedented in our lifetimes; usually the elevation of the dune blocked the view. The dune with its sea oats, trailing Morning Glory and other dune stabilizers had been washed away by the storm. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Bridget stopped in her tracks at Lucayan National Park: we tried but were unable to get to Gold Rock Beach or even to the edge of the mangroves due to standing water and washed out boardwalks and trails. This area previously had wonderful paths, boardwalks and bridges through the mangroves to the beach and signs describing the birds and mangroves. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
On to the Wetlands
One of my favorite birding spots out east are the wetlands that run just inland from the beach. They are almost hidden from view and difficult to access. With good rains, the wetlands run from west of the oil bunkers down to Pelican Point. I always smile to think of Anthony Levesque birding out there, opening the car door and standing on the edge of the door so that he was high enough to see into the wetlands. He would have preferred the roof, but Frantz and I insisted on the door frame. On this trip, we didn’t need to stand on any part of the car. The vegetation had been stripped. Despite the better views, there were not many birds in the area. Again there was jubilation at seeing a Tri-colored Heron and a Little Blue Heron!
(Wetland near Statoil eBird Checklist).
The wetlands west of the oil storage tanks. We did not see visible signs of oil in the area, but we did not go into the water to take samples. (photo by Martha Cartwright)We were excited to spot a Tricolored Heron. (photo by Erika Gates)
Clean-up in progress at Equinor. (StatOil changed its name to Equinor.) The storm blew tops off some of the tanks and heavy oil covered the area. With all the work crews, equipment, and security, we did not even consider trying to access the beach south of the oil storage tanks. (photo by Martha Cartwright)Driving past the Equinor oil spill which is in the process of being cleaned up. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Wetlands east of the oil storage tanks were often filled with large wading birds, ducks, and shorebirds before Hurricane Dorian. One month post-Dorian, very few birds present. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
I love birding in the wetlands and on the beach at the “bend in the road” just before Pelican Point. The long, curving, isolated beach, with sandy shoals at low tide, is habitat for a variety of plovers, Sanderlings, American Oystercatchers, yellowlegs, warblers, egrets and herons. On this trip, no birds were spotted on the beach. Only a few Royal Terns and a Laughing Gull flew overhead. (Pelican Point wetlands eBird Checklist)
I think of this as Bend in the Road Beach. On the way east our birding groups always stop here to look for shorebirds. This picture was taken March 28, 2019. (photo by Martha Cartwright)Bend in the Road Beach one month after Hurricane Dorian, high tide. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Pelican Point: A Scene of Destruction
Our final eastern destination for the day was what used to be the beautiful, idyllic shoreline settlement of Pelican Point, host to the annual Coconut Festival. Dorian had transformed it from a dynamic, well-tended little village into a warzone of rubble and gutted houses. We left relief supplies with a woman, who said that only three homes were still habitable in the area.
Pelican Point before Hurricane Dorian, habitat for turtles and shorebirds. Not always in large numbers, but we have seen Piping Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers and larger birds along the coast. I love when the Brown Pelican idles by. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Pelican Point Beach this past April during the annual Coconut Festival. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Same Coconut Festival beach after Dorian. Bridget is dwarfed by the roots of the downed casuarina tree. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Pelican Point Beach after Dorian. Photo taken from the location of the now missing Nesting Turtles sign. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Shorebirds were often seen along the Pelican Point beaches, particularly during migration. Here, before Hurricane Dorian, a photo of Sanderlings resting on the rocks near the gentle surf. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Same beach post-Dorian, but no Sanderlings spotted on this trip. In fact, no shorebirds at all were seen on the Pelican Point Beach. Is there no food on the damaged beach? (photo by Martha Cartwright)
This past week, while waiting to fill my bottles at a water station at the Anglican Church, I met a Mr. Laing from Pelican Point. He had lost his home, but with a smile he told me that like all the families in the area he planned on rebuilding! Pelican Point was his home and would continue to be his home. Time and again I am humbled by the resilience and strength of island people.
A Visit to High Rock
Our last stop heading back home to Freeport was at Marilyn Laing’s home in High Rock. Being on the higher side of the main street, the house avoided the brunt of the storm surge. Marilyn is General Manager at the Garden of the Groves, and during the week, with assistance from Sanitation Services, she is working hard on restoring the gardens. On weekends she works to restore her home and community. We dropped the last of our relief supplies off with Marilyn, whose house has been a depot for relief goods in High Rock. She is a member of our Grand Bahama Island Birders group and well-known to BirdsCaribbean for her excellent education work with youth. And of course, while at Marilyn’s we lifted our binoculars to see the warblers flitting through the trees.
Despite an owner’s efforts to protect a home from the hurricane, this photo shows the power of the surge that swept over much of Grand Bahama. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Our empty bus sits with Marilyn’s house in the background. It is just across the street from the house in the previous picture. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
The long ride back to Freeport. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Recovery for Humans and Birds – and Some Rare Visitors
For some families in Grand Bahama, recovery will take years. For others, life seems almost “normal,” if you don’t visit certain parts of the community. Businesses and families are working hard to rebuild. (We do miss and need our tourists!)
And for the birds? It was sobering, but not surprising to see so few birds out east. Their instinct is for survival, and food is fundamental. Thanks to donations from BirdsCaribbean, our Grand Bahama Island Birders group has been distributing seed feeders and bags of wild bird seed, as well as hummingbird feeders and red nectar concentrate to anyone wanting to help our birds. Many people want to help our birds by making food available. Sarah left yoga class this morning with a seed feeder and a bag of seeds, asking, “May I take some more nectar?”
Again, thank you, Birds Caribbean.
Post-Dorian birders have been recording rare birds to the islands, perhaps vagrants after the hurricane. I’ve been excited to see a Hudsonian Godwit and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Late yesterday afternoon, a Barn Owl sat in Erika’s garden long enough for us to get a good look at this normally elusive resident.
Playing Our Part…While the Birding Continues
What about habitat recovery? The Bahamas National Trust, in a recent article in the Bahamas Tribune, indicated that it would begin to conduct “comprehensive assessments to determine the impact of Dorian on wildlife.” We are happy to hear this. I encourage environmentalists and scientists worldwide to travel to these storm-ravaged habitats to assess the damage to water, soil, plants and animals; to search for our fragile endemic species; and to recommend steps to enhance recovery and minimize damage from future hurricanes.
Bird feeders, seeds, and nectar are a welcome start, but more will need to be done. I encourage BirdsCaribbean to continue their work. I implore the National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, American Bird Conservancy, BirdLife International, Manomet, The World Wildlife Fund, and all other groups dedicated to the conservation of birds to assist BirdsCaribbean and Bahamas National Trust with our recovery.
As local birders, we will continue what we love to do…bird! We will report our findings to eBird Caribbean and the International Shorebird Survey (ISS). We will continue to distribute feeders and food for the birds. Mother Nature has already started to do her recovery work; no self-pity, no complaints, she will continue. Now it is time for each of us to insist that our governments and leaders take seriously the detrimental effect of climate change on our planet – and do their part. If you are reading this article, I am sure that you must care. You care deeply. I hope my story of the birds of East Grand Bahama after Dorian will encourage you to continue to act. You must know that your efforts will be appreciated, and are important.
Martha Cartwright receives her certificate from Lisa Sorenson at BirdsCaribbean’s “Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats” Workshop in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, March 2019.
It’s raining now as I finish this article. Since our normally potable tap water is still salty, I stop to put out large coolers to catch the rainwater for my plants and bird bath. From my desk I spot a Smooth-billed Ani up in the fig tree. Oh, and two Eurasian Collared Doves.
Goodbye for now, from Grand Bahama – an island in recovery.
Martha Cartwright has been an avid birder on GB since 2014. She is particularly fond of shorebirds and participated in BirdsCaribbean’s Conservation Caribbean Shorebirds Workshop in Puerto Rico last March. Together with bird guru-in-chief, Erika Gates, and their close group of Grand Bahama Island Birders, they regularly carry out birding excursions and counts in many habitats on GB and also do a lot of habitat restoration, outreach, and education about birds and nature on the island.
BirdsCaribbean is extremely grateful to all who have donated to our Hurricane Dorian Recovery Fund; donations are providing bird seed, nectars and feeders, replacing equipment and infrastructure lost in the storm and helping to fund bird and habitat surveys and restoration in Grand Bahama and Abaco. We are working with the Bahamas National Trust and other partners on this recovery work. Please click here or here if you would like to help with this work.
Pristine and beautiful Gold Rock Beach in Lucayan National Park in 2003. We could not reach the beach to check its status and look for birds on our October 3rd, 2019 birding trip. (photo by Erika Gates)Another pic of beautiful Gold Rock Beach in Lucayan National Park. We could not reach this beach to check its status and look for birds on our October 3rd, 2019 birding trip. (photo by Erika Gates)
Partners in Flight 2018 Leadership Award to BirdsCaribbean — a beautiful carving of a Bananaquit, our logo bird.
We are patting ourselves on the back! But the feeling is bittersweet…
It was a special moment at our 22nd International Conference in Guadeloupe on July 29, when BirdsCaribbean received a 2018 Partners in Flight Group Leadership Award. This was in recognition of our response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria across several islands in September 2017. President Andrew Dobson accepted the award alongside many members who had participated in the hurricane recovery effort.
Our efforts were twofold: Immediate relief for Caribbean birds, providing for their critical needs after the storms passed. Despite expected post-hurricane logistical challenges “Operation Feeder Rescue” succeeded in delivering crucial food resources across the affected islands for over 60 species of birds. 4,000 nectar feeders, almost 2,000 bottles of nectar and five tons of bird seed arrived in the islands’ ports. Secondly, through fund-raising efforts we were able to fund fifteen small grants for post-hurricane assessments, restoration, and recovery of birds and their habitats. At the same time, BirdsCaribbean helped to raise awareness and knowledge among the public on these islands about the needs of birds stressed by hurricanes. Many realized that it was not only humans who had suffered, and eagerly volunteered to help in the effort.
Greg Butcher (USFS) presents BirdsCaribbean with a 2018 PIF Group Leadership Award for Hurricane Relief and Recovery for Caribbean Birds and Habitats, with Andrew Dobson (President, BirdsCaribbean) accepting. Pictured from left to right are persons who participated in the hurricane recovery effort: Jennifer Yerkes (St. Martin), Mark Yokoyama (St. Martin), Scott Johnson (Bahamas), Natalya Lawrence (Antigua and Barbuda), Stephen Durand (Dominica), Frantz Delcroix (hidden, Guadeloupe), Anthony Levesque (Guadeloupe), Jose Colon (Puerto Rico), Julissa Irizarry (Puerto Rico), Laura Fidalgo (Puerto Rico), Judd Patterson (USA), Eduardo Llegus (Puerto Rico), Alcides Morales (Puerto Rico), Fernando Simal (Bonaire), Kathleen Wood (Turks and Caicos Islands), Adrianne Tossas (Puerto Rico), and Jennifer Valiulis (US Virgin Islands). Note that not all persons that helped with hurricane relief and recovery were present at the conference for this award. (Photo by Fred Sapotille)
So, why bittersweet? Because, just a few weeks after receiving the award, our members in the Bahamas were hit with the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. The violent Category Five Hurricane Dorian hit the Abaco Islands and then Grand Bahama on September 1 and 2, stalling for nearly two days close to Grand Bahama. People and wildlife are again suffering.
Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director, explained: “BirdsCaribbean was thrilled to get this award, but saddened that our members and islands are again facing devastation. We learned so much from this effort in 2017 and in fact had a whole symposium on it in Guadeloupe. Many lessons were learned and we are applying them to our current efforts to help the northern Bahamas with recovery, including supplying bird feeders and seed, replacing items that were lost, and funding bird surveys and restoration actions.”
Partners in Flight (PIF) Awards recognize exceptional contributions to the field of landbird conservation, in the categories of Leadership, Investigations, Public Awareness, Stewardship, and Lifetime Achievement. The PIF Leadership Award honors an individual or group that demonstrates outstanding guidance and direction that contributes, or has contributed, to advancing Partners in Flight conservation efforts. BirdsCaribbean received a 2018 PIF Group Leadership Award for Hurricane Relief and Recovery for Caribbean Birds and Habitats.
Thank you to Partners in Flight for this honor. Congratulations and thanks again to all who participated so enthusiastically in our recovery efforts for birds and habitats over the past two years. And sincere thanks to the many caring and generous individuals, organizations and companies that donated to help make this and our current efforts possible!
“Horrific…. Unprecedented.…Complete and utter devastation…Human, environmental and economic ruin.“ These are the words people are using to describe to me the impact of Hurricane Dorian, the Category 5 storm that pounded the northern Bahamas for 2 straight days.
McLean’s Town on the eastern end of Grand Bahama Island. (photo by Meredith Kohut)
Last night I spoke with Erika Gates, a recent BirdsCaribbean Board member and resident and owner of eco-tourism businesses in Grand Bahama. She told me that the area around the Lucayan National Park is still in search and rescue/recovery mode. Rescue teams have not even reached the farthest east community of McClean’s Town yet!
In the community of High Rock, only 12 out of about 100 homes are still standing. One resident (and member of our Birdscaribbean community) is cooking for 100 people a day when supplies are brought in! The non-profit World Central Kitchen (Chef José Andrés) is cooking 6,000 meals a day on location to feed those that have lost everything.
We have also received reports that Dorian left the oil facility in High Rock in shambles. Sam Teacher, founder of the Freeport-based non-governmental organization Coral Vita, saw the damage firsthand. He said that the tanks’ white domes and sides were stained black and six of the domes that top the tanks were gone. Oil was soaking into the soil, lying across the highway, and covering a now-flightless bird.
The Need for Clean, Fresh Water
The oil tanks at the Equinor South Riding Point oil facility in High Rock, Grand Bahama, were severely damaged, causing a large spill. Eric Carey, Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust, commented: “This can be a serious environmental disaster that we need to get on top off because this could be catastrophic.” (photo by Sam Teacher)
Petroleum is toxic and fresh water is limited on Grand Bahama. The population is almost entirely dependent on its aquifers for drinking water, and the water table on these islands is usually near the land surface. The spill could have an equally horrendous effect on marine life—which people depend on for both food and their economy. Sam worries the oil could further erode the coral and mangrove, already damaged by the hurricane, and destroy the natural sea wall that is supposed to protect the island from storms.
Our hearts go out to the people of these islands, many of whom are BirdsCaribbean members and friends. We are thankful that, as far we know, our friends and colleagues are safe and accounted for. We stand with our 30-year partner, the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), and pledge to do our best to help them with recovery of their birds, wildlife and national parks. To do this I need your help right now!
Our Experience With Major Hurricanes
Two years ago, we saw similar devastation when Hurricanes Irma and Maria cut a swathe of destruction across 18 different islands and leveled them. We know from experience that there are three tiers of action required to alleviate the situation:
Massive trees were felled and most were stripped of leaves and fruit, leaving little food for birds. (photo by Erika Gates)
Crisis management – simply addressing the most immediate needs of all survivors, both human and wildlife, to receive food and shelter;
Rapid assessment of restoration needs. For BirdsCaribbean that means assembling teams that can survey and evaluate the situation of species at risk and the habitat restoration needed to ensure their survival.
Formulating long-term policy changes that will make the communities and island’s habitats more resilient and better protected from the next terrible storm. That storm will inevitably appear on the horizon, now that climate change has made extreme hurricanes an annual event.
We know that the most immediate need will be supplemental food for starving birds. Most trees have been stripped of flowers, leaves, fruit and seeds. As we did for Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we are organizing delivery of nectar feeders and seed so that hungry birds will have help getting through a period of serious food shortage.
Delivering Hope
Students from Bagatelle Primary School, Dominica, with bird feeders and nectar after Hurricane Maria devastated this country and others in 2017.
Feeding the birds is beneficial not only to the birds, but also indirectly to people. Hundreds of people on multiple islands, who received supplies for the birds in 2017, told us they were happy to help the birds, even though they themselves were struggling to survive. The simple act of helping another living creature was truly uplifting in a situation where people felt helpless. As birds began to recover, people felt this was a tiny but important first step towards normal life. The birds lifted their spirits, reminding them that nature – and their own lives – can be rejuvenated and renewed.
Right now, there is a huge need to help with the ongoing humanitarian crisis. We are gratified to see the outpouring of assistance with food, water and shelter, as well as rescue and evacuation to other islands and the U.S. for the tens of thousands that lost their homes. BirdsCaribbean’s role is to focus on the birds and ecosystems we all depend upon.
Mobilizing for the Restoration
As soon as conditions on the islands are stabilized, we are ready to help with the surveys, restoration and recovery actions: clean-ups, planting trees, and repairing and replacing damaged equipment and infrastructure in national parks and birding hotspots. It is a massive amount of work and we need your help to make it happen.
Four threatened endemic species on Grand Bahama and Abaco (clockwise from upper left): Bahama Parrot, Bahama Swallow, Bahama Warbler, Bahama Nuthatch. (photos by Lynn Gape, Melanie Rose Wells, Erika Gates and Bruce Hallett)
With huge parts of both islands flooded and hammered by strong winds for two days, we are seriously concerned about how four threatened and endemic birds that live on these islands are doing after the hurricanes. These species will be the focus of the first surveys. They include the Bahama Parrot (ground nesting population in Abaco, also occurs in Inagua in the southern Bahamas), the Bahama Nuthatch (only occurs on Grand Bahama, Critically Endangered), Bahama Warbler (only occurs on these 2 islands) and the Bahama Swallow (GB and Abaco comprise 2 of its 3-island range). Intensive surveys of the Bahama Nuthatch in 2018 found just 5 birds; this species has declined by more than 95% since the 1960s and 70s.
Other country and island endemics like the Olive-capped Warbler, Bahama Woodstar, Cuban Emerald, Red-legged Thrush, and many migratory warblers (like Kirkland’s Warbler, Painted Bunting), waterbirds and shorebirds (Piping Plover, Reddish Egret), and others also call the diverse habitats on these islands home.
We know from experience that birds are resilient; many are able to survive severe storms and hurricanes by hunkering down on the ground or sheltering in low vegetation. The fact that Hurricane Dorian raged for 48 hours without a break is almost without precedent. We are fearful about how many birds were able to survive this onslaught. Undoubtedly, many were lost during the storm.
By restoring the incredibly diverse ecosystems of the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands, we will greatly increase our birds’ chances of survival. In addition, the sooner the islands and parks recover, the sooner we can restore residents’ livelihoods that are dependent on these ecosystems.
The gorgeous Bahama Woodstar, endemic to the Bahamas, is one of the many species impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. (photo by Keith Salveson)
Although they will never be quite the same, we are optimistic and determined that these islands can be restored to their former glory once again, teeming with tropical vegetation and beautiful wildlife across the landscape. I need your help to make this happen, please give generously.
Thank you to all of you that have expressed concern and have already donated, and to those that are donating now!
Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org)
If you prefer to donate with a check, please make the check out to “BirdsCaribbean” and in the memo section, note that it is for Hurricane Dorian Relief. If you have questions or wish to make other arrangements for donating, please feel free to contact Jennifer Wheeler, BirdsCaribbean Financial Officer (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org) or Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org).
Checks can be mailed to: BirdsCaribbean, 841 Worcester St. #130, Natick, MA 01760-2076
Barbuda Warbler, endemic to the tiny island of Barbuda. The world’s population of this bird is restricted to 62 square miles. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
March 28th, 2019: A year and a half after Category 5 Hurricane Irma smashed into the beautiful island of Barbuda. A survey team is on the local ferry, returning to conduct follow-up population assessments of the endemic Barbuda Warbler and the Magnificent Frigatebird colony. The Barbuda Warbler was last evaluated by the IUCN in October, 2016 and was classified as Near Threatened; the Magnificent Frigatebird colony is the largest breeding colony in the western hemisphere. As an endemic, the Barbuda Warbler is completely restricted to the 62 square mile island and with its relatively small population, is at a higher risk from extreme weather events and habitat loss. The frigatebird colony as the largest breeding colony in the region is critical to the continued success of this species in the Atlantic. When Hurricane Irma swept over the island, we feared for the safety of both the Barbuda Warbler and the frigatebird breeding colony. An assessment team was quickly gathered and sent to assess both species in October 2017. We found that the Barbuda Warbler seemed to have survived the hurricane well and the Magnificent Frigatebirds were already started to return in numbers. But, we were returning to investigate: how were these populations both doing 18 months later?
Of Tents, Tarps, and Old Friends
Shanna and Junior observing while Fernando records the observations. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Immediately upon landing at the ferry docks, we were greeted by the faces of friends we had made on the previous visit. Kelly Burton, Codrington Lagoon National Park Manager (Dept of Environment), was there making sure that the arrangements for transportation, food and lodging were taken care of and that our sometimes ‘unusual’ needs were met. Once we settled into our lodgings, we had a quick look around the town of Codrington, which had been nearly destroyed by the hurricane. Many homes now have electricity and roofs, but many were still without the basic needs of a simple roof. Tents and tarps are still being used by many Barbudans. Before we even left Codrington for an initial training session on methods, we encountered several Barbuda Warblers and the local subspecies of Yellow Warbler. A good sign for the first day.
We then headed north towards Two Foot Bay, where Jeff Gerbracht and Fernando Simal from BirdsCaribbean oriented the rest of the team with the survey methodology and what to expect for the following week: early mornings, late evenings and lots of walking, counting birds and good company!! Natalya Lawrence (Environmental Awareness Group – EAG), Sophia Steele (Flora & Fauna International) and Joseph (Junior) Prosper (EAG) enthusiastically dove right into the methods, asking great questions about the survey forms and practicing the count protocol. Sophia was part of the field team just after Irma and her prior experience with the methods was an added bonus. Of the eight point counts made that first afternoon, only one didn’t include a Barbuda Warbler, again a great start to a great week.
Revisiting Old Haunts, Meeting the Barbudans, and Lobster Wraps for Lunch
Discussing the Barbuda Warbler with John Mussington, secondary school principal and science teacher. (Photo by Natalya Lawrence)
The next day started with sunrise, with two teams visiting the points we had sampled a year and a half earlier. Generally, each team was able to cover 8-15 points before the sun drove both us and the warblers into hiding. We looked forward to the lunch breaks with fantastic lobster wraps provided by Claudette and the occasional visits by her lovely granddaughter. After a relaxing lunch and brief rest, we were back in the field by 3pm, covering as many points as possible before sunset. Evenings were a group dinner, followed by a few Wadadlis (local beer!) and strategizing for the following day.
One of the biggest differences from my prior visit was the number of people that were back on the island. During our first visit, Codrington was almost deserted, and this time it was a vibrant community. This also meant we could meet with the community members, discuss what we were doing and why, and also begin to understand their lives and challenges post-Irma. We met with the principals of both schools, gave presentations on the Barbuda Warbler and the monitoring efforts to several of the classes, and had many enlightening discussions with Barbudans we would meet in and around town. Several times during the week we met children returning home from school, which often resulted in some impromptu birding classes.
The Frigatebird Revival
Most of the smaller groups of mangroves appeared to be dead though the frigatebirds are still using them for nesting. The larger sections of mangrove appear to be slowly recovering with much dead vegetation still in evidence. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Partway through the week, Natalya and Sophia had to return to Antigua and Shanna Challenger (Flora and Fauna International), also an alum from the first season, joined the field crew and quickly showed her talent for spotting hard to find birds. With the help of Shanna and Joseph (who walked more miles than any of us), we were able to complete the necessary point counts, which gave us some extra time to conduct a rapid count of the Magnificent Frigatebird colony in the Codrington Lagoon NP. An afternoon boat trip to the colony was spectacular. We were joined by additional EAG staff (Nathan Wilson) and we counted as much of the colony as possible. One person counted adults, a second counted downy chicks and a third counted the ‘white-headed’ birds (mostly birds hatched either last year or very early this year). We counted a whopping 7,451 frigatebirds. The mangroves appear to be recovering slowly but that didn’t seem to bother the frigatebirds too much.
Connecting with Barbudans of All Ages
One of the very important aspects of our trip, besides counting the birds of course, was interacting with the Barbudans. During the second half of the trip, a team from EAG traveled from Antigua to do just that. In addition to the visits that we had already made to both schools, Arica Hill, EAG’s Executive Director, led the charge to host Barbuda Warbler presentations at the elementary school, complete with Shanna dressed as a Barbuda Warbler! Arica and EAG Director, Tahambay Smith, also organized a town hall meeting that was held with Barbudans, to gauge their interest in establishing an arm of the EAG over there. And let’s not forget filming! Lawson Lewis captured moments in the field, in the schools and in the meeting. These will be made into a short documentary that should become available very soon.
A New Airport Raises Concerns
Survey point now in the middle of the new airport runway. (Photo by Joseph Prosper)
Back to the field work! During the first few days, we kicked up clouds of red dust as we walked from point to point to count the Barbuda Warbler. Then, there were a few unexpected challenges, some caused by the much-needed heavy rains we encountered (Antigua and Barbuda have been in a drought for several years). But folks were happy to pull us out of the resulting mud when we got stuck and we were able to complete our surveys despite several rain delays. The construction of the new airport meant that several points we had previously counted were now either on the runway or in the middle of the rock quarry supporting the new construction. Habitat loss and concerns about the impact the airport will have on the surrounding warblers are something that should be closely monitored into the future.
There was also good news. We observed warblers throughout the island in numbers roughly similar to the previous counts shortly after the hurricane. 71 of the 105 random points counted during the week included at least one Barbuda Warbler. Certainly, one of the reasons the Barbuda Warbler population is doing this well, following a direct hit by Irma, is simply the amount of habitat available on Barbuda. The small human population and communal land ownership laws on Barbuda have resulted in most of the island remaining in a wild state, providing the warbler and other life with ample habitat. This likely provides significant buffers to the impacts of natural disasters such as droughts and hurricanes. As that habitat decreases, however, with the developments that are sure to follow the opening of a new airport, the risks to the warbler and its long term survival will also increase.
While the warbler appears to be doing fairly well, the data are still being analyzed and any conjecture about the true population status at this time is based on our observations and not statistics. We will follow up this blog post with the population estimates once the numbers have been crunched (and we will also present our work at BirdsCaribbean’s 22nd International Conference in Guadeloupe). The data are now off to Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan (who led the team during the first visit) – he will be running the various models to produce a current population estimate.
All in all, it was a very busy week but we had a wonderful time. Counting birds, meeting new friends, and spending time on such a beautiful, mostly wild island is a special experience—I’m ready to go back !!!
Thank you to our Partners!
We thank our donors and supporters who made this trip a successful one. Firstly, many thanks are expressed to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Fund), Global Wildlife Conservation, and Mr. Lamont Brown for providing funding for these important surveys and also for the educational outreach in Barbuda. Sincere thanks to the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) for assisting with the logistics, especially Ms. Arica Hill and Mr. Kelly Burton (Dept of Environment). Thanks to Fernando Simal (WILDCONSCIENCE), Joseph (Junior) Prosper, Natalya Lawrence, Shanna Challenger, and Sophie Punnett-Steele for tireless help with the field work. Thank you to Mr. John Mussington and Ms. Charlene Harris, principals at both the secondary and elementary schools in Barbuda, for affording us the opportunity to visit and speak with the students. Finally, we wish to thank the Barbuda Council and the Barbudan people who provided us with their assistance and support.
By Jeff Gerbracht, Lead Application Developer, eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. For many years, Jeff has served as a volunteer facilitator at our BirdsCaribbean training workshops and assisted with a number of field survey and monitoring efforts.
Hover over each photo to see the caption or click on the first photo to see a slide show.
Natalya Lawrence recording birds and vegetation cover. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The quarry, which is the source for the new airport foundation. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Natalya and Jeff in the field. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Counting Magnificent Frigatebirds, white-headed immatures and downy chicks in abundance. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Clearing surrounding new runaway and road to quarry. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Sunset at the Codrington wharf. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Impromptu bird monitoring class. Fernando showing some school children how to use binoculars. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Magnificent Frigatebird chicks. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Roofs yet to be repaired and some businesses still aren’t open. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, seen and heard on many of our points. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Jefff and Fernando planning logistics with Kelly Burton. (Photo by Natalya Lawrence)
Jeff showing Barbudan child how to use binoculars and catch a glimpse of local birds. (Photo by Joseph Prosper)
The Imperial Parrot, locally known as the Sisserou, is the National Bird of Dominica. (Photo by Paul Reillo)
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 their facility in Germany was an “emergency measure.”
A new report by Lisa Cox in The Guardian has uncovered just how dishonest ACTP has been in its dealings with captive birds. It also reveals the criminal history of its director, Martin Guth. This new information amplifies our initial outrage and serious concern for the exported birds from Dominica. Before we highlight the report’s findings, here is a brief history of events:
Timeline
17 Mar 2018:
2 Imperial Parrots and 10 Red-necked Parrots are secretly removed from Dominica’s Parrot Conservation and Research Centre. They are exported via private charter plane to ACTP’s facility in Germany.
3 Apr 2018:
BirdsCaribbean publishes their first blog post about the incident, describing the legal, scientific and ethical problems with this export.
5 April 2018:
Thirteen organizations, including BirdsCaribbean, prepared and signed a letter to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) expressing outrage over the transfer. The letter was also sent to representatives within CITES, the government of Dominica, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the European Union, .
April 2018:
ATCP publishes a statement in responses to the letter arguing that an external facility is the best option to protect these birds from natural disasters.
1 May 2018:
Forty international researchers, veterinarians and conservation leaders, including BirdsCaribbean, continued to express concern. They recommended the repatriation of the parrots and a full investigation into ACTP’s activities. This letter was sent to Dominica’s Director of the Environmental Coordinating Unit and Director of Forestry, Wildlife and Parks in addition to Germany’s Federal Agency for Conservation of Nature.
10 Dec 2018:
The Guardian publishes two articles by Lisa Cox about ACTP. The first is an exposé into how ACTP has acquired one of the world’s largest collections of endangered parrots. The second details Australia’s own dealings with ACTP, despite concerns.
What did the investigative report reveal?
Red-necked Parrots, also known as Jacos, are endemic to Dominica. (Photo by Paul Reillo)
Dominica has not been the only country to have questionable dealings with the ACTP. Since 2015, ACTP has removed 232 parrots from Australia (80% of all live native bird exports) including endangered birds like the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. In Brazil, the Spix’s Macaw is extinct in the wild; ACTP has 90 per cent of the existing global population (142 of the 159 birds left). The organization has also acquired endemic parrots from St. Lucia and St. Vincent.
The article reports that the ACTP has a license to operate as a zoo in Germany. Exports to zoos are typically granted under the assumption that the birds will be on exhibit. But the site is not easily accessible by public transport, there is no car park, and no clear indication that the facility is open to the public. There are no signs that offer information about opening hours or admission prices. Also, ACTP is not registered with any major international zoological association.
So what happens to the birds? That remains unclear as ACTP does not publish inventories, animal transactions, or financial reports. The article does note, however, that the German federal conservation agency is aware of private social media messages that show Australian birds apparently imported by ACTP offered for sale for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Guardian reporters describe Martin Guth as a convicted criminal, former nightclub manager, and “unofficial debt collector.” He served a five-year jail sentence for kidnapping and extortion in 1996 and a 20-month term for extortion in 2009. The reports also allege that “at least one individual who works with ACTP has a conviction for involvement with illegal bird trading.” German authorities reportedly deny any knowledge of Guth’s criminal background.
Yet, when ACTP applied to the Environment Department in Australia to be recognized as a zoo, it was asked: “If the zoo is privately owned, has the owner ever been convicted of a criminal offence or declared bankrupt?” ACTP responded that it was not privately owned. Its response in relation to criminal offences was marked “n/a”.
The Guardian reports have sparked strong reactions among conservationists on social media. Stephen Durand from Dominica’s Forestry Department said they confirm his worst fears: “When Martin Guth visited Dominica in January 2018…his first declaration was that he had absolutely no interest whatsoever to conduct any breeding programme for Dominica’s Parrots. And so here it is. History to confirm that Dominica’s Parrots were traded to a fraudulent zoo in the name of conservation, owned by a convicted criminal businessman.”
The Sisserou is endangered and endemic to Dominica. (Photo by Paul Reillo)
BirdsCaribbean and our fellow conservation organizations will continue to put pressure on authorities and individuals responsible for the controversial export of Dominica’s wildlife to ACTP. We stand by our recommendation to repatriate the 12 parrots. First, transfer the birds to a credentialed, experienced zoological facility to check for diseases. If deemed healthy and disease-free, return the birds to the Parrot Conservation and Research Centre in Roseau, Dominica. We also recommend a full investigation of all parrot imports by ACTP into Germany as well as ACTP’s activities with CITES I species (including inventory history). Finally, we support a ban on all future transfers of Caribbean parrots to the ACTP.
Dr. Paul R. Reillo, President of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation and co-Director of the Tropical Conservation Institute at Florida International University, points out: “Dominica’s parrots have survived hurricanes for millennia, and wild populations have rebounded thanks to broad-based, on-island conservation measures.” Dr. Reillo, who has worked in Dominica for over 20 years, also believes the parrots should be returned as soon as possible.
The lush habitat for which Dominica is famous, and the birds that live in it, were dealt a bitter blow by Hurricane Maria. However, like its people, the island is resilient – and so are its birds. The island’s biodiversity should be allowed to recover at its own pace – and within its own borders, as Dr. Reillo notes.
Parrot habitat in Morne Diablotin National Park in Dominica – The forest is recovering after the passage of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Photo taken in late 2018 by Stephen Durand.
A Green Mango visits a feeder in Puerto Rico—4,200 hummingbird feeders were distributed across 18 islands hit by hurricanes in 2017. (Photo by Manuel Torres)
We are 30 years old, and what a year 2018 – the Year of the Bird – has been!
The Caribbean has had another extraordinary year. It has been a “Tale of Two Cities” – or rather, two different groups of islands. On the one hand, it has been a story of restoration and a major push for recovery for islands devastated by the 2017 hurricanes. On the other hand, there were many encouraging developments on other islands; a number of conservation programs are under way that offer hope for our bird populations. Hispaniola researchers discovered new nesting sites of the critically endangered Black-capped Petrel. On St. Vincent and the Grenadines, BirdsCaribbean provided 24 people with sustainable economic livelihoods through our Interpretive Bird Guide Training Program.
BirdsCaribbean is deeply grateful for the generosity of donors and supporters throughout the year. This outpouring of support has helped us tackle the very tough work of identifying the post-hurricane needs of bird populations. This vital funding helped us provide our partners with the support they needed to get themselves, and the birds, back on their feet. Literally, at times – as many birds were shell-shocked!
There was much work to be done this year, but the Caribbean is well known for the resilience of its people. Our island-based partners rolled up their sleeves and got started. BirdsCaribbean helped communities rebuild and expand their conservation and education work, and launched new programs that focused on precious bird habitats – forests and coastal natural resources among them. It is always important to keep moving forward.
Over 60 species of birds were helped, including Bananaquits hummingbirds, pigeons, doves, parrots, thrashers, grassquits, and bullfinches-many found only on one or a few Caribbean islands. (map by Aly DeGraff Ollivierre)
However, some major challenges face us, and they are formidable. Some bird species – such as the Imperial Parrot in Dominica and the Bahama Nuthatch – now face extinction from the impacts of climate change, including storms. Island endemics are also threatened by a range of invasive species, and by poorly-planned human development projects. The situation is more critical and urgent than ever.
We do not want to lose these precious species – or the habitats they depend on.
Meanwhile, our vital education, science, and capacity-building programs across the Caribbean continue, in countries that did not make dramatic headlines. We launched the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund, raising more than $135,000 for groups that will engage and empower their communities to protect and sustainably benefit from their birds. We now have 15 years of archives from our Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, available for free download and we are working on getting the remaining 15 of our 30 years online. Our Seabird Monitoring Manual is now available in three languages. We supported many studies of species of concern, such as the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius – a bird whose population has declined by 76% since Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Students participating in the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
BirdsCaribbean also continues to make connections. We bring Caribbean people together through birds in several ways. We provide materials and small grants for creative annual programs, such as our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (this year including Haiti for the first time) and World Migratory Bird Day activities. This year these community-based events reached over 100,000 people in 20 countries. Our specially designed BirdSleuth Caribbean educational program is in use in 22 countries through 40 teacher training workshops this year. Over 37,775 Caribbean children and 9,329 community members participated in the workshops – yes, we did the math! We continue to work with eco-tourism tour groups, expanding bird watching tours across the Caribbean. In 2018, we promoted trips to Cuba, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
Lastly, but importantly, we have continued our work to help restore critical bird habitats. In hurricane-hit St. Maarten, we helped purchase 300 mangrove seedlings as well as 500 other plants, beginning a long-term restoration project in Cay Bay and Sentry Hill. This was just one of ten restoration projects we undertook on four islands, all impacted by the 2017 storms: the restoration and replanting of Red Mangrove at Anguilla’s West End Pond, restoration and enhancement of nesting habitat for Red-Billed Tropicbirds at the IBAs of Dog Island and Prickly Pear cays, planting of native trees in the British Virgin Islands, and establishing a native tree nursery in St. Martin.
2019 will undoubtedly bring its own challenges. Looking towards the future, BirdsCaribbean is optimistic that it will continue to build a more secure, sustainable future for the islands and their birds, working with our amazing partners. We cannot afford to lose ground as we struggle with complex challenges. With the generosity of our donors, we will make further progress.We need your help as 2018 draws to a close.
We wish all our friends and supporters Happy Holidays and a successful New Year!
Help us protect Caribbean birds and restore habitats in 2019 – THANK YOU!!!One of our highlights from 2018 was our Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training Workshop in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Participant Lystra Culzac role plays in her presentation by spotting a St. Vincent Parrot with her “clients.” (Photo by Kristy Shortte)Banded Red Knot “CTK” spotted at Cargill Salt Ponds, Bonaire. This bird was first captured and banded in 2004, making it at least 12 years of age. The salt ponds of Bonaire are providing critical habitat for this and other migratory birds during migration and winter. The salt ponds were recently designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site which will help raise awareness about the importance of Bonaire and the Cargill Salt Facility as a haven for migratory shorebirds. (photo by Fernando Simal)
Hannah Madden, an ecologist with the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute, provides an update on the status of the Bridled Quail-Dove one year after the tiny island of St. Eustatius was ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Surveys just after the storms indicated the population was smaller, but similar to pre-hurricane levels. However, the extensive vegetation loss combined with an upcoming dry season and invasive predators meant that the battle for survival for this West Indian endemic had just begun.
Bridled Quail-Doves are named for the thick white stripe on their face, which resembles a bridle. (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Eight months after hurricanes Irma and Maria passed through the Caribbean, many aspects of daily life have returned to normal or have reached a new balance. While the dramatic effects of the storms are no longer international news, in some cases their consequences remain just as severe or are only just now revealing their impact. The population trend of the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius (also knows as “Statia”) is one example of the latent and long-lasting effects of major climatic events.
Our team conducted population assessments for this shy ground-dwelling species before the hurricanes in May 2017 and two months after in November 2017. At that time, there was no reason to be alarmed. Our most recent assessment this year in May 2018, eight months after the storms devastated the island, yielded extremely low population estimates. The results were disheartening.
Bridled Quail-Dove Biology
The Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) is a regionally endemic species in the family Columbidae. On Statia, they only found in upper elevations (above ~150m) of the Quill, a dormant volcano, and inside the crater. It is easily distinguished from other dove species by the turquoise patch on its neck and white stripe (bridle) under the eye. Observant hikers are likely to spot this bird wandering the forest floor during daylight hours in search of food (seeds, fruits and the occasional gecko or snail).
This species is extremely sensitive to weather conditions. Activity and breeding are very much dependent on rainfall, and the dove is vulnerable to hurricanes and extended periods of drought. Similar to other Columbids, the Bridled Quail-Dove lays clutches of two eggs in a flimsy nest made of twigs up to six meters above the forest floor. They do not fare well in areas of human activity. Numbers have declined across the species’ range, presumably due to habitat loss. Hunting and predation by invasive mammals such as the black rat (Rattus rattus) are also perennial problems.
Statia’s Forests Hard Hit by Hurricanes
The inner slope of the Quill National Park before and after Hurricane Irma. (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Irma and Maria were the first recorded category five hurricanes to hit the Windward Islands. While Statia was spared extensive infrastructural damage in urban areas, its forest ecosystems did not fare so well. A recent publication by Eppinga and Pucko (2018) notes that an average of 93% of tree stems on Statia and Saba lost their leaves; 83% lost primary/secondary branches; 36% suffered substantial structural stem damage; and an average of 18% of trees died (mortality was almost twice as high on Statia than on the nearby island of Saba).
Our pre-hurricane assessment in May 2017 was encouraging. We found an estimated 1,030 (min. 561- max. 1,621) quail-doves across their local habitat, possibly the highest known density in the region. We were pleased and felt safe in the knowledge that the doves enjoyed some level of protection in the Quill National Park, which is also a designated Important Bird Area.
Changes in the estimated population size of the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius over 3 different survey periods (+/- standard error). May 2017 (black) was pre-hurricanes Irma and Maria. Post-hurricane surveys were done at 2 months (November 2017, green) and eight months (May 2018, purple) after the storms.
Following the hurricanes in November, however, we repeated the surveys and recorded a decrease in the population of around 22% to 803 (min. 451 – max. 1,229). Moreover, we were worried about a continuing decline in the population, as a direct result of the hurricanes. Also, since rat populations are known to spike dramatically following hurricanes, we feared that this problem might worsen.
We conducted surveys again in May 2018, hoping to coincide with the quail-dove’s peak breeding season. However, instead of the usual ~70 transects, we had to walk an exhausting 255 transects in order to find enough doves for analysis. No doves were heard calling, most likely as a result of delayed breeding, and only 32 were detected during 2018 surveys compared with ~92 in previous years. Our fears were realized when we ran the analysis: in May 2018, the Bridled Quail-Dove population had declined by 76% compared with the previous year. It is currently very small at around 253 individuals (min. 83 – max.486).
Will the Bridled Quail-Dove Disappear from Statia?
The Bridled Quail-Dove is found in higher elevation forests on St. Eustatius and other islands in the West Indies. (Photo by Hannah Madden)
With such a small population, there is a very real risk that Bridled Quail-Doves could become extirpated on St. Eustatius. Conservation efforts are now urgently required. We do not know a great deal about the Bridled Quail-dove’s survival and reproduction rates. However, black rats live in all vegetation types within the dove’s entire range. It is critical that we control these invasive mammalian predators, as a first step towards boosting the species’ breeding levels and survival rates, in order to bring back the population of this highly vulnerable species to pre-hurricane levels.
Thanks to funding by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs under their Nature Fund initiative, a rodent control project, facilitated through the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI), is running on St. Eustatius. The authors are grateful to St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation for granting permission to conduct surveys in the Quill National Park. We also wish to thank the many generous donors who contributed to BirdsCaribbean’s post-hurricane fundraising appeal, which covered Dr. Frank Rivera’s costs to conduct surveys in November 2017.
By Hannah Madden (CNSI), Frank Rivera-Milan (USFWS) and Kevin Verdel (Utrecht University). Hannah is a Terrestrial Ecologist in St. Eustatius with the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute. She also works as a bird and nature guide in her spare time, sharing the beauty and diversity of Statia with visitors. Hannah is an active member of BirdsCaribbean and has participated in several training workshops and conferences. She has published papers on different taxonomic groups, but especially enjoys working on birds.
BirdsCaribbean (BC) is celebrating our 30th Anniversary and we are getting messages from across the Caribbean thanking us for our work. Please enjoy this two-minute glimpse of our exciting work with founding members and some of our youngest and most enthusiastic bird conservationist from the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
First up are Joe Wunderle, PhD, an icon of Caribbean ornithology and conservation, and Kate Wallace, educator extraordinaire, from the Dominican Republic (DR). Joe is a founding member of BirdsCaribbean and wildlife biologist at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, US Forest Service, in Puerto Rico. Joe has studied the ecology of many birds in Puerto Rico and the region, including the Bananaquit, Kirtland’s Warbler and Puerto Rican Parrot. He has contributed to their conservation through his research findings and mentoring of countless students and BC members.
Kate joined the flock right after Joe. She has lived in the DR for 24 years, working first with the Peace Corps and then as a volunteer with BirdsCaribbean, Sociedad Ornitologica de la Hispaniola, Grupo Jaragua, and Grupo Acción Ecologica. Kate has been involved in our programs since the beginning, giving countless West Indian Whistling-Duck and Wetlands Workshops, coordinating Caribbean Waterbird Census counts, and organizing events for our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and World Migratory Bird Day each year. Oh, and did I mention Kate also promotes sustainable bird tourism and leads tours? She helped with Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Workshop in the DR and co-authored (with Steve Latta), Ruta Barrancoli: A Bird-finding Guide to the Dominican Republic.
Next take a virtual flight with us to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to meet Lystra Culzac and her students. Lystra is founder and director of SCIENCE (Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and the Heritage Museum and Science Centre of SVG. Through BirdSleuth Caribbean and other bird education programs delivered by Lystra and her dedicated team, the children of St. Vincent are fast becoming expert bird watchers, knowledgable about science, and budding conservationists.
Then, hear from US Geological Survey biologist, Elise Elliot-Smith, how BirdsCaribbean has helped her connect with researchers and conservationist across the islands as, together, they work to protect endangered Piping Plovers and other shorebirds of conservation concern throughout their wintering range. We are grateful to Elise and all involved in these efforts!
Through BirdsCaribbean, and its in-country partners, our programs are engaging young and old in direct conservation, opening doors for scientific and educational exchange, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in ecotourism. By the end of the two minutes I am sure you will agree with life-long BirdsCaribbean supporter, Nick Sorenson that BirdsCaribbean is “the greatest organization on the planet.” 😊 So what are you waiting for, grab a cup of shade-grown coffee, sit back and enjoy an inspirational moment. You deserve it – we would not be here without your support!
Lystra Culzac (Director of SCIENCE) and children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines say thanks to BirdsCaribbean.
Thank you to Esther Figueroa (Vagabond Media) for putting together this video for us, Ingrid Flores for Spanish translation, and Jerry Bauer for videography. Photographs in the video are by Dax Román E. (Hispaniolan Trogon), Walker Golder (Piping Plover), Aslam Ibrahim Castellón Maure (American Flamingo), Steve Estvanik (Whimbrel), Wilfred Marissen (Ruddy Turnstone), Kevin Le (Painted Bunting), Dax Román E. (Black-crowned Palm Tanager), Jose Miguel Pantaleon (Hispaniolan Woodpecker), Frantz Delcroix (Barbuda Warbler), and St. Vincent Tourism Authority (St. Vincent Parrot).
The newly planted mangrove seedlings flourishing during post restoration assessments in June 2018.
Kippy Gilders shares her experience working for Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) restoring the native biodiversity of three disturbed sites on St. Maarten after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irma in September 2017 – read on to find out more about the challenges faced and the results of their work.
Sweating in the hot summer sun, I wondered what I was doing clambering through thick brush instead of relaxing on a beautiful beach. In front of me is Dr. Ethan Freid, the head Botanist of the Leon Levy Preserve on Eleuthera in The Bahamas. He is skillfully ducking under and climbing over tree branches while I can hardly keep my balance and feel a bit like a giraffe attempting an intricate gymnastics routine. Dr. Freid is happily rattling off plant names while I attempt to make smart remarks and mentally store the new information. Where am I and how did I get here?
So Far, So Good
Having recently graduated and returned home to St. Maarten, I was thrilled and anxious to have been offered the position of Project Coordinator for a biodiversity restoration project with Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) Foundation in March 2017. The goal of the project, funded by the BEST 2.0 programme, was to encourage native biodiversity to flourish by removing invasive botanical species and planting 500 native trees between two terrestrial sites and 300 mangroves at one coastal site. In addition, the projected also aimed to increase the awareness and appreciation for local biodiversity conservation though a combination of community and school volunteer opportunities and presentations. With the project set to start in July 2017, I diligently started preparing for the initial biodiversity assessments. All the necessary steps and planning were put into place to ensure a smooth running of the project. What could go wrong!?
The coastal restoration site before and after Hurricane Irma
The elaborate giraffe gymnastics occurred in July 2017 when Dr. Freid joined us to conduct the initial botanical assessments of the two terrestrial sites. The project aimed to use the novel PVC encased method to plant the young mangrove propagules- a method that was new to me. To get a feeling for the technique (and to avoid any embarrassing mistakes with the planting volunteers!), it was decided to make 12 test encasements and place these at the site. Meanwhile the 500 terrestrial plants had been ordered with a local nursery and the mangrove stands were beaming with healthy propagules ready for planting. Things were right on track!
The Intensity of Irma Approaches
Then, whispers of an impending hurricane started to circulate. At first the usual optimism that perhaps the storm will dissipate keeps residents from starting the necessary preparations. However, it quickly become clear that there was nothing “normal” about Hurricane Irma. Her intensity doubled overnight and meteorologists were predicting a direct hit. We did what little preparations we could to protect our project and then battened down. We all remained positive and hoped for a shift north or south. But then it was confirmed. Direct hit. Category 5. Biggest storm seen in the Atlantic.
Volunteers planting mangrove seedlings using the encased method (December 2017).
With a tired sigh of relief, Irma passed and the winds decreased. With roads blocked by power poles, boats, and other debris, I jumped on my bike with adrenaline coursing through every possible vein of my body. I saw the complete devastation of my country while en-route to the EPIC office to assess damages. Roof, walls, windows of our office and staff housing… gone. Miraculously, our generous funders would secure funds if we felt that objectives could still be met. As the streets were cleared, we visited the sites. All the hillsides appeared burnt, as if not a single leaf had survived the storm. This was no exception at our two terrestrial sites. Previously large native trees that would be the shade-bearing centerpieces of restoration efforts were torn out by the roots or were diminished to merely a meter or two in height. The same terrestrial sites that once required giraffe gymnastics to traverse could now be easily navigated by the most unskilled of giraffes.
Survival in a Battered Landscape
Hopes waning, I jumped into a kayak and paddled to the coastal site. From the distance I could see that all the mature mangrove stands were nothing more than bare sticks. For sure not a single PVC encasement had survived. When that first glimpse of a thin white pipe became apparent, there it was again, the adrenaline. Had the encasements survived? Despite the total devastation of the mature mangrove stands, 10 of the 12 pipes were still in place and 5 contained propagules. With their first leaves! If any method could ensure high survival rates at this site, it would be the PVC encasement method! As if powered by jet fuel, I kayaked back to land and shared the happy news with the rest of the team and posted to our social media accounts using spotty data connections. Perhaps it was due to the mind set of “the worst has already happened, it can only get better from here” or perhaps all that adrenaline, and we said: Let’s do it, let’s go forth with the project!
School students participating in a beach clean up event.
This adrenaline-fueled positivity started to shake as we became aware that all mangrove propagules had blown off the mature stands, the on-island nurseries had been severely impacted, shipping ports were closed and volunteers could have evacuated or their priorities would shift away from volunteering. Almost simultaneously, organizations and generous individual saw our social media posts and offered funding to continue with and expand on planned restoration work, the site owners responded positively about resuming restoration work, ports began to re-open, shipping started to trickle in, nurseries and landscaping companies resumed operation, and increasing amounts of volunteers started to attend our restoration events. This allowed us to increase the amount of volunteer events to further the project goals.
Logistical Challenges Abound . . .
With two rounds of funding from the BirdsCaribbean Hurricane Relief Fund we were able to repair damages to a bird blind overlooking Little Bay Fresh Pond (a recognized Important Bird Area or IBA), pay technicians for extra hours of labor, buy and ship 300 mangrove seedlings, and continue to provide food and drinks during the increased amount of volunteer opportunities.
Along the way we experienced some hurdles, mainly the procurement of the 500 plants which now became more complicated and expensive, and ensuring adequate water irrigation to the sites. Since the aim of the project was to increase native biodiversity, we sourced the plants from multiple nurseries to ensure a higher final diversity of plant species added to the sites. However, this meant that not all 500 plants arrived at once and it became our responsibility to care for the plants we had already received before hiring the landscaping company to do the final planting. In some cases, site owners were also preoccupied with their own recovery efforts or experienced damages to machinery. Thus, irrigation installment was delayed or altogether no longer possible. Meanwhile EPIC staff and dedicated volunteers watered the plants by hand.
. . . But a Win for Increased Biodiversity
Restoration efforts at Sentry Hill included the creation of St. Maartens first informative nature trail.
Despite the multiple challenges faced along the way, final assessments showed that plant species diversity increased from pre-restoration to post-restoration by 25 to 35 different species at the site located in Cay Bay and 41 to 52 different species at the site located on Sentry Hill. The post-restoration survival rates were found to be up to 96.1% at Sentry Hill, 89.6% at Cay Bay and 84.5% at the coastal site on Little Key island. These results point to an increased biodiversity at the restoration sites and, once the trees mature, an increased carbon sequestration capacity.
Sometimes the greatest challenges bring the sweetest rewards and this was definitely the case for this project. The replanting of trees brought hope to EPIC staff and residents after Hurricane Irma and as a result a warm community of dedicated volunteers was created. During this project a nature trail was created within the restoration site at Sentry Hill. Along the trail, informative signs highlight the newly planted trees and the restoration efforts. This trail is the first of its kind on St. Maarten and serves as a beacon of hope for future conservation of the island’s natural habitats. We are grateful for the assistance we received from BirdsCaribbean, BEST 2.0, generous individuals and all the organizations that helped us along the way.
Dr. Freid performing the initial Botanical-Biodiversity Assessments in July 2017. Students of all ages were Introduced to biodiversity and the importance of preserving native habitat.Volunteer events were organized to further restoration efforts and increase community appreciation for habitat restoration.
It is unclear how many nuthatches may be left. Observations of two birds together and other single birds (including a juvenile) scattered across miles of forest indicate that five or more birds could survive.
The Bahama Nuthatch is an Endangered species, only known from native pine forest on Grand Bahama Island, which lies approximately 100 miles off Palm Beach, Florida. Closely related to the Brown-headed Nuthatch of the southeastern United States, the Bahama Nuthatch is considered by some authorities to be a distinct species (Sitta insularis) while others regard it as a subspecies (Sitta pusilla insularis) of the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla).
Locations of Brown-headed (Bahama) Nuthatch sightings on Grand Bahama in ebird. Most sightings are in the Lucaya Estates Pine Forest. The sighting in Freeport is at the Rand Nature Center in November 1978.
Common on Grand Bahama in the 1960s, the species declined drastically. Extensive population surveys in the mid-2000s by Hayes et al (2004) and Lloyd and Slater (2009) confirmed that the birds had become very rare; it was estimated that 1,000 to 2,000 individuals remained, all within the “Lucaya Estates” area. It had not been seen since Hurricane Matthew hit Grand Bahama in October 2016.
Two search teams worked in coordination with Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to rediscover the bird during the breeding season, starting in April of this year. One team was led by Zeko McKenzie and his students at the University of The Bahamas-North, supported by American Bird Conservancy, and another by University of East Anglia (UEA) masters students Matthew Gardner and David Pereira, in conjunction with BirdLife International.
Both teams first observed nuthatches in May 2018, documenting their observations with photographs. McKenzie’s team observed five birds in all, starting with a sighting of two individual Bahama Nuthatches together on May 1. The next sighting was on May 23, over a mile from the first observation, and included a juvenile bird accompanying a Bahama Warbler. The juvenile was distinguished from adults by the lack of distinctive brown plumage on the crown of the bird’s head. A video recording of this juvenile Bahama Nuthatch by McKenzie was the earliest documentation of the species’ continued survival in 2018, and was followed by additional photographs of adult birds by both research teams later in May and in subsequent months.
The Bahama Nuthatch exhibits several highly unusual and endearing behaviors: It is one of the very few bird species that conducts co-operative breeding, in which young males assist with nest construction, nest sanitation as well as feeding of the female sitting on the eggs, nestlings and fledglings. It is also one of the few birds known to utilize a tool. On occasion, it uses a bark chip, held in its bill, to pry off bark portions during foraging for insects and grub. (photo by Carrol Henderson)
Dr. Diana Bell, from UEA’s School of Biological Sciences, said, “The Bahama Nuthatch is a critically endangered species, threatened by habitat destruction and degradation, invasive species, tourist developments, fires and hurricane damage.”
Regarding the moment when he saw the Bahama Nuthatch, Matthew Gardner recalled, “We had been scouring the forest for about six weeks, and had almost lost hope. At that point we’d walked about 400km (250 miles). Then, I suddenly heard its distinctive call and saw the unmistakable shape of a nuthatch descending towards me. I shouted with joy, I was ecstatic!”
“The photographs clearly show this distinctive species and cannot be anything else,” said Michael Parr, President of American Bird Conservancy. “Fortunately this is not a hard bird to identify, but it was certainly a hard bird to find.”
Parr continued, “Despite the critical situation for this species, other birds—such as the New Zealand Black Robin—have recovered from tiny populations. We are optimistic that conservation can also save the Bahama Nuthatch.”
All of the Bahama Nuthatches was observed within the Lucaya Estates, an area previously logged during the mid-1900s and since developed with many miles of roads for residential development.
Bahama Nuthatch photographed in July 2018. (photo by Erika Gates)
A last sighting and photographs of a pair of Bahama Nuthatches was made by Erika Gates, well-known Grand Bahama birder and guide and BirdsCaribbean Director, on June 28, 2016, prior to Hurricane Matthew on October 6, 2016. She is elated at the recent sightings of the bird. “This will hopefully generate sufficient excitement in the scientific community to begin aggressive research and map a much needed conservation strategy,” she commented.
Bahamian researcher Zeko McKenzie said, “Although the Bahama Nuthatch has declined precipitously, we are encouraged by the engagement of conservation scientists who are now looking for ways to save the species.” Zero had previously set up nest boxes for the Bahama Nuthatch, but they were not used.
“The Bahamas National Trust feels that research on endangered species, such as the Bahama Nuthatch, is really important,” said Shelley Cant-Woodside, Director of Science and Policy of the Bahamas National Trust, “especially in the face of a changing climate.”
“These recent observations confirm that the Bahama Nuthatch is not extinct; it is critical that we raise awareness about the precarious status of this unique species and do all we can to make sure it survives,” declared Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director, BirdsCaribbean.
Participants at BirdsCaribbean’s 18th International Conference in Grand Bahama in July 2011 were fortunate to observe this rare species on one of the mid-conference field trips to the pine forest. (photo by Erika Gates)
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 was a terrible day for the British Virgin Islands.
With peak-sustained winds measured at 185 mph and momentary gusts exceeding 225 mph, Hurricane Irma caused catastrophic damage, turning the once vibrant green islands into a dull brown mess.
As conservation professionals, much of our time is spent on convincing people not to encroach upon or damage our important mangroves. I never dreamt that in just one day a “non-human” named Irma could deliver such a devastating blow to the BVI’s entire mangrove forest.
Salt-tolerant plants that grow in or near the water’s edge, mangroves provide countless benefits to nature and humans. Mangroves provide habitat and nursery areas for fish, playing an important role in fishery and coral reef health. Additionally, they help maintain good water quality by providing a catchment area for runoff from higher ground. They also act as a buffer for storm surge – wind and waves – protecting coastlines.
Bakers Bay Before and After Hurricane Irma. Note all the dead mangroves along the shoreline. (Photos courtesy of the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society)
Conservation starts with scientific information and planning
In April, with the financial support of the BirdsCaribbean Hurricane Recovery Fund, the Jost Van Dykes (BVI) Preservation Society carried out a rapid assessment of the hurricane-damaged mangrove areas in the British Virgin Islands. The Society also received technical assistance from Dr. Gregg Moore, a restoration ecologist from the University of New Hampshire with vast experience in evaluating post-hurricane mangrove systems in the Caribbean,
Successful Mangrove Seedling growing in Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Island waters. (Photos courtesy of the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society)
Land and boat-based rapid assessments were combined with UAV (drone) based aerial surveys. Dr. Moore compiled the results of the surveys into a report, which was provided to key BVI government agencies and non-governmental organizations. This report serves as a useful tool for informing future mangrove restoration.
The report confirms what we might have already guessed: about 90% of mature red mangrove trees that form the coastal fringing system have been defoliated and are dead, with very few exceptions. The damage to BVI mangroves is a serious ecological blow to the system, but the storm also took with it the flowers and fruits that we would expect to be the next generation of mangrove trees.
Nevertheless, the study offers some optimistic findings and some important lessons for the BVI and other Caribbean islands that may suffer serious storm damage. The “take home” lessons include:
Lesson 1: “Learn to See the (Mangrove) Forest Through the (Dead) Trees”
Jost Van Dyke youth planting mangrove seedlings with visiting volunteer from Actionquest’s Go Beyond Program. (Photos courtesy of the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society)
Let’s repeat together! DO NOT CUT DOWN THE MATURE DEAD MANGROVE TREES.
There are many reasons to support the recommendation to not cut the standing mangrove deadwood whenever possible:
Mangroves provide valuable habitat for wildlife such as birds and invertebrates;
As dead mangrove trees decompose, they release energy and return essential nutrients and carbon to the system;
Mangrove’s physical structure is mainly intact and still buffers wave and storm energy, and helps hold peat and sand in place along fragile coastlines; and
That structure also protects animals and helps trap and protect mangrove seedlings that will regenerate the forest naturally.
Any cleanup of debris should be limited and very carefully managed to avoid further damage. Foot traffic and the hauling of cut wood can trample fragile seedlings.
Even if most of the mature trees are dead, the mangroves are still a forest. Since Gregg’s visit, we have carried out monitoring of as part of a UK Darwin Initiative-funded ecosystem resilience project. During each visit I see perching birds, which help spread forest seeds, resting on the tops of dead trees; herons stalking the crabs that live around the prop roots; and seabirds foraging in nearby marine systems that are supported by our mangroves.
The mangrove forest and the environment are damaged, but the ecosystem is still alive, and needs a chance to recover.
Lesson 2: “The Children are the Future”
Despite severe damage to the mature canopy, virtually every site visited in the BVI had a significant understory of live, rooted seedling plants. Albeit quite young and short today, these young plants are the future of BVI’s mangroves and should be carefully protected.
We should get young humans involved. They will be the future stewards of this important ecological resource, and should play an important role in mangrove restoration work.
Lesson 3: “Think global, but Act/Grow Local”
There is a wide body of literature on mangrove and coastal habitat restoration available. Learn from others around the world about what works (and what does not) in mangrove restoration. Find seedlings that are available locally, or as close to your degraded site as possible. Importing plants carries the risk of introducing invasive species, diseases and other potential calamities.
Lesson 4: “It Takes a Village”
Jost Van Dyke youth and volunteers prepare for JVD’s first mangrove planting. (Photos courtesy of the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society)
Involve everyone. Or as many people as possible.
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest the stories about our mangrove work in local news publications and on social media generated in the BVI. Undoubtedly, some of the conservation community’s messages about the importance of mangroves have gotten through over the years!
Mangrove restoration across the BVI is going to be an enormous effort. We are excited to be partnering with the Rotary Club of Road Town. The Club plans to help turn mangrove conservation and re-planting activities into a territory-wide effort, involving individuals, community-based organizations and businesses.
We sometimes feel isolated on our tiny, individual islands, but we need to think in terms of broader landscape or seascape-level management. Our BVI-wide rapid mangrove assessments were useful in identifying mangrove sites within the BVI that can be used for the sustainable recruitment of plant stock for restoration and conservation efforts. The slogan “stronger together” is more than just a catch phrase.
Many thanks to generous donors to BirdsCaribbean’s Hurricane Relief Fund for supporting our mangrove restoration and education efforts! In October, Dr. Moore will return to Jost Van Dyke, BVI to assist the JVD Preservation Society and Rotary Club of Road Town in hosting a Mangrove Restoration Workshop. JVD Preservation Society is working to establish a small mangrove nursery site on the island of Jost Van Dyke.
By Susan Zaluski, Director, Jost Van Dykes (BVI) Preservation Society.
After the hurricanes, many birds, like these hungry Antillean Crested Hummingbirds in St. Martin, relied on feeders while vegetation recovered. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
What a year it was.
The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a bitter and painful one for sections of the Eastern Caribbean – in particular during the peak month of September, when Hurricanes Irma and Maria raged through several islands. Some Caribbean nations were still not fully back on their feet as June 1 ushered in the start of the 2018 season.
Everyday life was turned upside down on more than a dozen islands – and that included their precious birds. BirdsCaribbean came to the rescue, with all speed, to help partners and birds struggling to cope in the aftermath of the storms. Stories poured in of pigeons and doves standing in the road, weak, dazed and exposed; hummingbirds trying to feed on brightly-colored pieces of trash since no flowers were left; and surviving parrots descending into towns from the forest in search of food. The birds were as traumatized as many of the islands’ human residents.
Food, Glorious Food
Food was the most immediate need. BirdsCaribbean sprang into action, reaching out to U.S-based bird feed suppliers, who responded generously. Lizzie Mae Bird Seed donated 5 tons of bird seed. Classic Brands, Songbird Essentials, Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Aspects Inc., among others, donated high quality nectar feeders and nectar concentrate or provided them at a discount.
The needs were great, so BirdsCaribbean started a fundraising campaign on MightyCause (formerly Razoo). “Over 500 amazing donors from around the world responded to the call for help and we raised about US$126,000,” said Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “We used some funds to buy and ship the bird feed supplies, but follow up work is equally important; most of the funds have been used to award grants to partners for hurricane restoration activities.”
It is estimated that over 60 species of birds were helped, including Bananaquits hummingbirds, pigeons, doves, parrots, thrashers, grassquits, and bullfinches-many found only on one or a few Caribbean islands (Map by Aly Ollivierre)
It was an enormous task. In total, BirdsCaribbean, along with partners, volunteers and with the support of generous donors, coordinated shipments of 4,201 nectar feeders; 5 tons of bird seed; 1,850 bottles of nectar concentrate; and 100 tube feeders. These supplies were delivered to no less than 18 islands or countries impacted by one or both hurricanes.
From Miami to the Islands
Bird feeder giveaway in Grand Case St.Martin, hosted by Skys the Limit restaurant. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
The logistics were complex and time-consuming. Using five different sea freight companies — Tropical Shipping, Four Star Cargo, ECU Worldwide, Hassle Free Shipping, and King Ocean Services — BirdsCaribbean battled with seemingly endless paperwork, customs forms, emails and phone calls to arrange the multi-island shipments. Volunteers in Miami (where FEMA kindly provided temporary storage) worked hard. Some shipments had to be sorted and repacked. Thanks to their efforts, the items reached each island within a few days of leaving Miami. On each island, they were cleared and unpacked by our amazing Caribbean partners, who worked hard at the receiving end. Despite a number of ports being either damaged or overloaded with relief supplies, our shipments got through. Truly, it was a labour of love by all!
Volunteers staff a feeder giveaway station in the US Virgin Islands. (photo by Renata Platenberg)
Then, the distribution began, with numerous non-governmental organisations, government agencies and volunteers pitching in to help on the ground. All held giveaway events in the weeks and months after the hurricanes. Many schools also received feeders.
The response to the outreach events was heart-warming. Many island residents realized for the first time how important their birds were, and learned to love them. Despite struggling with their own post-hurricane problems (no roof, for example, or lack of utilities such as electricity and water) the islanders were delighted to help their hungry birds, who flocked to the feeders and quickly emptied them.
Bringing Hope and Happiness to Birds and Humans
Hurricane Maria transformed the landscape on the once lush island of Dominica. Colleagues at the Forestry Department struggled to recover, after losing much of their infrastructure and equipment. Director of Forestry, Wildlife and Parks MInchinton Burton thanked BirdsCaribbean for their donation of field equipment and bird feed: “Your very timely and generous support assisted us in being able to respond in a tangible manner to some of the urgent needs of the birds, particularly our two endemic parrot species, whose habitat and food sources were severely impacted by this monstrous storm.”
A Green Mango visits a feeder in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Manuel Torres)
The U.S. Virgin Islands suffered considerable damage to bird habitats, as well as infrastructure. The supplies were welcomed with open arms. On St. John, Phyllis Benton and Sybille Sorrentino from VI Ecotours reported on the distribution of supplies in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay: “People love them!! They’re so excited to be able to do something immediately helpful for the birds. Thank you and the group again so much for…bringing a little happiness and hope.” They noted “many hungry hummingbirds and Bananaquits at feeders!”
On St. Thomas, Renata Platenberg, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Management at the University of the Virgin Islands expressed it well: “From the ocean to the sky, the natural world is struggling to cope in the aftermath of the storms.” She noted that residents were anxious to help birds such as the Scaly-Naped Pigeon, which were “largely unable to find any food and so they’ve just been collapsing where they stand.” She noted the importance of this species, which feeds on fruit. This species is critical for seed dispersal and thus the revival of the forests. In many ways, the supplies that followed the storm brought people closer to nature. One St. Thomas family put up feeders by the window. “The grandmother sits and watches the birds all day long, and it makes her so happy,” said Professor Platenberg.
Caribbean Youth Get to Know (and Feed) the Birds
Outdoor classroom in Dominica: showing students how to fill a feeder.
The donations increased Caribbean citizens’ bird knowledge and conservation awareness. One young Anguillan, first-former Tahena Polanco-Hodge, was enthusiastic: “I was so excited to set up the hummingbird feeder. We had hummingbirds visiting our backyard before the hurricane but had hardly seen any after. But my mom and I put our feeder up and we’ve already had six hummingbirds flying around it and feeding from it!”
On Tahena’s island, the give-away of 200 hummingbird feeders, nectar concentrate and over 350 pounds of bird seed sparked tremendous interest, noted Executive Director of the Anguilla National Trust Farah Mukhida. “The island’s birds now have a much higher profile,” said Ms. Mukhida, with residents dropping by her office to talk to her about their bird sightings.
In Guadeloupe, BirdsCaribbean partner AMAZONA collaborated with garden suppliers Jardiland, distributing feeders at Abymes Town Hall. This was a valuable opportunity to teach schoolchildren greater environmental awareness.
Appreciating the Beauty of Nature in Puerto Rico
Installing two feeders in Utuado, Puerto Rico. (Photo by SOPI)
In hard-hit Puerto Rico, BirdsCaribbean’s shipments brought hope and a degree of comfort. Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc (SOPI) worked hard to provide hummingbird feeders for at least 27 municipalities. SOPI’s major partner was Para La Naturaleza, whose properties served as distribution centers. “These feeders were not only beneficial to the birds but also the people that could find a little solace in the beauty of nature,” mused SOPI’s Nathaniel González. “In these trying times we can always turn to nature to know that everything shall pass and that we can look forward for a better future,” he added.
“There is no doubt that the feeders and seed provided a boost to many native birds,” commented Sorenson. “This helped them survive a serious food shortage. The birds, in turn, lifted people’s spirits and brought them closer to nature.”
A Huge “Thank You!”
Boxes of Feeders and Food arrive in St. Maarten.
Post-hurricane assistance was a monumental effort coordinated by BirdsCaribbean. It was only made possible by close teamwork and collaboration across the region with literally hundreds of partners, donors and volunteers, including governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses.
We are tremendously grateful to all those who supported our effort (see a partial list of companies and organizations below). However, the work is not over! Recovery projects and surveys are ongoing, taking place across the region with BirdsCaribbean’s financial support, thanks to all the donors. You can still donate to this effort by clicking here. Further updates will follow.
Last but not least, the birds were thankful for the lifeline, too!
We invite you to enjoy the gallery of photos below. Hover over each photo to see the caption or click on the first photo to see a slide show. See our acknowledgments below.
The Scaly-naped Pigeon is one of the many species of pigeons and doves that benefitted from the bird seed. (Photo by Canter Photography)
Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc (SOPI) volunteers distribute feeders in Puerto Rico.
Princlpe and students from the Tete Morne Primary in Dominica with their bird feeders.
A Pearly-eyed Thrasher visits a feeder in Dominica.
Zenaida Dove (photo by Glenroy Blanchette)
Feeder giveaway in Anguilla. (Photo by Farah Mukhida)
Students hang up bird feeders in Barbuda. (Photo by John Mussington)
Feeder giveaway in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
Feeder giveaway in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Para la Naturaleza staff in Puerto Rico were happy to receive bird feeders.
Blue-headed Hummingbirds are found only on Dominica and Martinique (Photo by Paul Reillo)
Volunteers on the ground in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Para la Naturaleza)
Forest Ranger Eugene explains the importance of bird feeders to students in Dominica.
St Thomas US Virgin Islands feeder giveaway. (photo by Renata Platenberg)
Volunteers Raul (left) and Craig (right organize 25 pound bags of bird seed to go to different islands. (photo by Judd Patterson)
School students in Barbuda prepare seed and nectar for the birds. (Photo by John Mussington)
Antillean Crested Hummingbird trying to get nectar from a brightly colored piece of trash in St. Martin following Hurricane Irma. There were no flowers available for weeks following the storm. (photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Zenaida Dove- one of many doves and pigeons helped with bird seed. (Photo by Ted Eubanks)
Boxes of bird feeders arrive in St. Thomas, USVI. (Photo by Renata Platenberg)
Adult Eared Dove with chick in Grenada – Mt. Hartman Estate. (Photo by Greg Homel)
Volunteers in Puerto Rico ready to distribute feeders and bird seed.
Feeder giveaway in St. Maarten. (Photo by Binkie)
Bird feeding station in Dominica. Thanks to the Forestry Dept for making these awesome feeders!
Pallets of bird seed wrapped and ready for shipping! (photo by Judd Patterson)
Recipients learned how to clean and fill feeders in St. Martin. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Principal Ellis and students of Bethel Methodist School with feeders in St. Eustatius. (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Bamboo feeding station installed at Cabrits National Park, Dominica.
A Bullfinch at a feeder made by the Forestry Dept. in Cabrits National Park, Dominica.
Forest Ranger Eugene demonstrates to the students of the Morne Prosper Primary School in Dominica how to set up the bird feeders.
Setting up the bird feeding stations in Dominica.
By Emma Lewis, writer and social media activist, member of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group.
BirdsCaribbean is extremely grateful to the following companies and organizations for providing funding and/or in-kind donations for our “Operation Feeder Rescue” Project; thanks also to many individual donors to our Hurricane Relief Fund and to our many partners and volunteers in the U.S. and across the Caribbean islands.
Haitian students plant trees to help local birds. (Photo by Société Écologique d’Haïti)
“We’re so excited to have an event in Haiti this year!”
Ingrid Flores is delighted to add a new country to her map of events. She is the coordinator of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), organized every year by BirdsCaribbean. Partners across the region host events as part of the festival each spring. Its focus is on the types of birds that are unique to each island, or to the Caribbean itself. This year, events took place in at least 16 islands and involved over 2,000 people. Activities take place between April 22 (Earth Day) and International Biodiversity Day (May 22). This year, celebrations took place in at least 16 territories and involved more than 2,000 participants. Events ranged from lectures to bird walks, arts and crafts, tree plantings, exhibitions, and more.
For the first time, partners in Haiti joined the celebrations. The Société Écologique d’Haïti saw the CEBF as “the perfect opportunity” to boost nature education in Haitian schools. 290 students in Forêt des Pins and Les Cayes learned how hunting and caging birds is harmful. They also enjoyed planting trees and learning how trees help birds and people.
Ready to enjoy and help the birds in Puerto Rico!!! Activity by Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
In neighboring Dominican Republic, The Peregrine Fund led activities in five places during Ridgway’s Hawk Week. This beautiful hawk lives only on the island of Hispaniola. Listed as “Critically Endangered,” its numbers are falling. Over 300 schoolchildren and residents went on bird walks. They were thrilled to see a live hawk at one event.
On Jamaica’s south coast, the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation visited children from toddlers to age 11 years at four local schools. At one school, teachers hung bird art made by the children from classroom ceilings. To the east, 50 members of BirdLife Jamaica visited the Source Farm Foundation and Ecovillage. They joined residents for guided bird walks in the nearby hills.
On the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten, groups worked to restore wild spaces. The island still shows damage from Hurricane Irma. Les Fruits de Mer launched a new nursery to provide native tree seedlings at their Endemic Animal Festival. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) hosted visits to the Little Bay Pond bird watching hut, which was rebuilt by with hurricane relief funds raised by BirdsCaribbean.
A glamorous “Barbuda Warbler” (Shanna Challenger) and youth pose for a pic at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Many BirdsCaribbean partners in Puerto Rico were busy in 16 locations, including schools. Here they spread the word about endemic birds. Students at a science high school in San Juan were full of questions. They expressed a wish to conduct their own bird counts next year.
In Antigua, the Environmental Awareness Group, Dept. of Environment and Ministry of Education hosted a Bird Fair for 3 primary schools. Shanna Challenger, dressed as a colorful Barbuda Warbler, shared information with the students about the country’s only endemic bird. Through arts and crafts, birding, and other fun activities, the students also learned why birds are important in our environment. “The students were really into it!” commented organizer Natalya Lawrence.
Some endemic birds are iconic on particular islands. One of these is the splendid Guadeloupe Woodpecker, the island’s only endemic bird. It was among many other birds spotted during a CEBF bird walk in Guadeloupe – the location of BirdsCaribbean’s 22ndInternational Conference in July, 2019.
“As many islands still recover from hurricane damage, we were excited to share local birds and nature with people,” said Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean. “For the 17th year, the festival has reached thousands of people across the Caribbean.”
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Gorgeous Ruddy Quail Dove on the Caribbean Endemica Bird Festival promotional poster in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Franz Delcroix.)
Bird walk in Guadeloupe for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival
Adrianne Tossas giving a talk on Puerto Rico’s endemic birds at a girls Science Summer Camp.
Getting ready for a bird walk and survey at a girls Science Summer camp in Puerto Rico.
Introduction to bird watching in Haiti with Societe Ecologique d’Haiti.
Students in Haiti celebrate CEBF
Birding in St. Martin/ Sint Maarten with Binkie van Es.
The Wildlife Art Station was busy Les Fruit de Mer’s Endemic Animal Festival in St. Martin.
Boy Scouts in Puerto Rico learn all about Puerto Rico’s endemics birds.
Celebration of CEBF at Turabo University.
Arts and crafts for one of the bird festival events in Puerto Rico by Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
A fun celebration of CEBF in Puerto Rico with Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
A student compares her size to the size of various birds at an event in Puerto Rico with Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc. (Photo by Ingrid Flores)
Eliezer Nieves-Rodriguez and the San Juan Bay Estuary Program celebrating GLOBAL BIG DAY in the Piñones State Forest (Puerto Rico) as part of their CEBF.
Sharing information on the fascinating and beautiful endemic birds of Puerto Rico at the Ecoexploratorio (Science Museum).
Birding field trip at Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JOBANERR), Puerto Rico
Youth in Cuba enjoyed learning about endemic birds
Ridgway’s Hawk art activity in the Dominican Republic, organized by the Peregrine Fund and local partners.
Ridgeway’s Hawk Week in the Dominican Republic was a fantastic opportunity to learn about this critically endangered bird.
Birding from the observation tower for Ridgeway’s Hawk Week CEBF Celebration.
Birding Group poses for Global Big Day and CEBF 2018 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Youth spotting birds for Global Big Day, Puerto Rico.
Display at CEBF celebration in Trinidad organized by Lester Doodnath.
Learning how to use binoculars at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Students participating in the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Learning how to set up a bird feeder at Roseau Primary School in Dominica (bird feeder donated by BirdsCaribbean).
Barbuda Warbler Shanna Challenger leads a flock of students for a short flight at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
A student shows off her bird art at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Learning about Caribbean endemic birds and why birds matter at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Junior Prosper shows youth in Antigua how to use a spotting scope
Students from St. Martin Primary School in Dominica planted native plants for CEBF 2018.
Youth birding in Dominica for CEBF 2018.
BirdLife Jamaica members and guests take a bird walk at Source Farm. (Photo by Source Farm)
Sociedad Ornitologica Puerto Rico shares information about birds for CEBF 2018.
High school students in the Dominican Republic planting Hamelia patens shrub a native plant good for birds, organized by Simón Guerrero.
Birding activity with special education group in Puerto Rico by Yogani Govender
Youth learn about birds in Jamaica at C-CAM’s headquarters in Jamaica.
Young students celebrate CEBF in Jamaica with C-CAM (Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)
At Earth Day and the CEBF 2018 start date, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Interpretación y Educación, Inc. (APIE) celebrated our endemic birds as part of their Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. This activity was carried out with the co-host of the U.S. Forest Service and BIRDING PUERTO RICO.
CEBF Educational display @ Portalito HUB: Palmer of The U.S. Forest Service – El Yunque National Forest. (photo by Ingrid Flores)
Presentations on Puerto Rico’s endemic birds at Josefina Marrero Febus Elementary School. (photo by Glenda Lozada)
CEBF activity in PR at Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
Endemic birds of PR poster – Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
Presentation to children CEBF celebration Puerto Rico: Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
Recording data for a habitat assessment activity in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Urban Green Lab. (photo by Laura Hidalgo)
Learning about endemic birds of Puerto Rico, Urban Green Lab activity (photo by Laura Hidalgo).
Materials to learn about the endemic birds of Puerto Rico, Urban Green Lab activity (photo by Laura Hidalgo).
Learning about endemic birds in Puerto Rico with Laura Fidalgo, Urban Green Lab
Enjoying Cuban endemic bird art for CEBF 2018 in Cuba.
The beautiful Bahama Parrot, one of three subspecies of the Cuban Parrot .(photo by Lynn Gape)
Scott Johnson shares with us his recent experience conducting surveys of Bahama Parrots in the wilds of Great Abaco with Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan— read on to find out more about the challenges these birds face and the results of their work.
The chilly 52 degree breeze stung my face as I headed to our champagne coloured SUV. As the vehicle started and warmed up, I waited patiently for Frank to leave our residence and jump into the jeep. We were staying at the Research Center of Friends of the Environment, a non-governmental organization in Marsh Harbour on the island of Great Abaco, The Bahamas. Once Frank got settled in the vehicle, we began our hour-long drive south to the home of the Bahama Parrots.
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is a non-governmental organization that manages the national park system of The Bahamas. It currently protects over 2 million acres of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in its 32 national parks across the Bahamian Archipelago. Great Abaco is the second largest island in The Bahamas, with no less than six national parks. Abaco National Park is the southernmost, consisting of a 22,500 acre terrestrial park and including the habitat of the second largest population of Bahama Parrots.
The Bahama Parrot, which is currently listed as a sub-species of the Cuban Parrot, has three populations on three islands in The Bahamas: Great Abaco, Great Inagua and New Providence. Population monitoring and assessments are important for the management and conservation of these charismatic birds.
Irma’s Impact
Classic pine forest habitat in Abaco—prime habitat for the Bahama Parrot.(photo by Frank Rivera)
In the destructive fall of 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the southern Bahamas. devastating the Ragged Island chain. Irma also severely impacted the island of Great Inagua, home of the largest population of Bahama Parrots. After Irma had passed, there was great concern for both the parrot and the American Flamingo populations. How were they doing, and how had they been affected? The BNT decided to conduct post-hurricane assessments. Based on information from BNT park wardens on Great Inagua, most of the flamingos flew to other islands prior to the storm. The status of the parrots remained unknown. Because of logistical challenges, the BNT had to postpone the Bahama Parrot surveys on Great Inagua to late summer. They were anxious, however, to determine the status of the Great Abaco parrots, last surveyed in 2016. The BNT enlisted the help of population ecologist Frank Rivera-Milán, who helped me with the search for these lively birds. With financial support from Birds Caribbean and BNT, we travelled to Abaco on March 23rdand spent 10 days surveying the parrot population in the central and southern parts of the island.
Parrots Disturbing the Peace
The dynamic duo in the field – Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan (aka “Crazy Frank”) and Scott Johnson. (photo by Scott Johnson)
As we approached Abaco National Park, the cool, calm morning was interrupted by the vociferous squawking of dozens of parrots conversing with each other in the pine trees. I was super excited to see them, particularly because I had never seen Bahama Parrots on Abaco, let alone in the pinelands. As my mind began drift away from reality due to the sheer joy of hearing the birds, the survey point was just 200 meters away.
We stopped and parked the car at the point. We quickly got out, binoculars, range finders, and datasheets in hand (and around our necks) and listened and observed attentively. We were conducting point count surveys. Once a parrot was seen or heard, the information (such as the number of birds heard and seen, the distance from the point, food availability and habitat type) was recorded in our datasheet. We counted parrots at each point for 6 minutes.
Parrots – in Holes?
As we were continued counting, a pair of parrots flew into our survey area. “This pair is looking for a nest site,” Frank said. “The female is on the ground inspecting holes and the male keeps watch.” We watched as the female disappeared in the scrubby understory vegetation as the male remained perched on a pine branch just a few feet above her. Bahama Parrots are devoted couples; they tend to mate for life.
There is something very special about the Bahama Parrots on Abaco. They are the only parrots that habitually nest in solution holes underground – that is, holes or crevices created by rainwater dissolving limestone rock. This is an adaptation to the fire-dependent pineland ecosystem. In their holes, the birds can avoid the heat. No other New World parrot engages in such behaviour. Bahama Parrots feed on a variety of plants, such as West Indian Mahogany, Lignum Vitae, Cinnecord, White Torch, Gum-elemi aka Gumbo Limbo, and False-Mastic.
Dangers Lurk
Fire is one of several threats that Bahama Parrots face; too many fires (often set by humans) in the pine forest damage the habitat for parrots and other wildlife. (photo by Frank Rivera)
As we were driving to a survey point, we saw some rustling in the vegetation on the side of the road. It was a feral cat. These creatures are the biggest threats to parrots. Hurricanes are seasonal and of course, do not always hit Abaco. Cats present a different kind of danger – an everyday threat. They kill both chicks and incubating females. During the survey, we saw seven cats – three in areas where Bahama Parrots were known to nest. These cats gone wild have been a major conservation problem for the Bahama Parrot on Abaco. However, BNT Park Warden Marcus Davis and colleagues have been making tremendous efforts to remove this invasive species from the park. As a result, the numbers of parrots have increased from an estimated average of about 5,100 in 2008 to about 8,800 in 2016 – an impressive gain of nearly 60% .
Another regular threat is fire. One morning, as we were driving south to our study site, we noticed smoke in the distance, near the area where we had survey points. As we continued driving, the smoke increased and we saw fire in the pinelands and near the road. This fire had just been lit that morning. People often light fires to clear the understory so that they can hunt wild hogs, another invasive animal found in the pinelands.
Although fire plays its part in rejuvenating the pinelands, too many fires can cause great harm to the pine forest ecosystem. Frequent blazes can kill young pine trees and change the composition of the understory vegetation. Often, after pine fires, invasive bracken ferns move into the newly vacant space, blanketing the entire area. These invasive plants can quickly turn a once diverse understory, teeming with fruit-bearing shrubs that the parrots love, into a monoculture of ferns. Bahama Parrots will avoid these fern-dominated areas, which means that there is less suitable breeding and foraging habitat for them. For the Bahama Parrots, this is not good news.
A Healthy Population
Bahama Parrot feeding in a favorite tree – the Gumbo Limbo tree. (photo by Frank Rivera)
One evening, as we were driving along an old logging road in the pinelands, a flock of parrots flew into view and settled in the canopy of pine trees. Being the “somewhat” impulsive person that I am, I quickly jumped out of the vehicle and ran to the location where I saw the parrots. There they were, dozens of them squawking, their green plumage blending perfectly with the green vegetation, their white faces betraying their presence. The parrots then flew off in unison and headed to what appeared to be their roosting site. As I was observing and thoroughly enjoying the sight of these spectacular birds flying by in a huge flock, the ever-astute Frank was diligently counting. Ninety-three parrots!
After eight days of surveys, we analysed the data, using the program DISTANCE and other statistical software. Based on the survey data collected, we estimated that approximately 8,832 parrots dwell in central and southern Abaco. This suggests that the population appears to be stable and doing well – thanks to the management efforts of BNT’s park wardens. I take my hat off to them!
Conservation Partnerships Are Key
Upside down parrots! Bahama Parrots are partners for life. (photo by Scott Johnson)
The Bahamas National Trust, BirdsCaribbean and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service continue their partnership to accomplish the mission of managing and conserving wildlife and ecosystems in The Bahamian Archipelago and the Caribbean region. The Caribbean is home to a variety of important species, from endangered Rock Iguanas to American Flamingos. Wildlife management and conservation can be very challenging. It is not just about the animals and birds. It involves people, policy and laws, and the search for the right balance between the needs of humans and the needs of wildlife. As wildlife conservationists, we understand that our work illustrates the importance of biodiversity. We recognize that weare the active voices speaking up for the native and endemic plants and animals that may go extinct if no conservation action is taken.
It is always a joy to see our beautiful parrots flying wild and free. Let’s continue to work together to ensure that our future includes the amazing creatures that also call the Caribbean…home.
By Scott Johnson (Bahamas National Trust) and Frank F. Rivera-Milán (United States Fish and Wildlife Service). Scott is a Science Officer with the BNT; his work focuses on terrestrial fauna in the national parks and he loves Bahamian birds and reptiles. Frank is a Population Ecologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service. He frequently conducts field studies of doves and pigeons. He especially enjoys studying parrots.
Click on the photos below to see a larger version and slide show.
Devoted couple – Bahama Parrots pair up for life. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Lookout! Only in Abaco do you find a parrot crossing sign! (photo by Scott Johnson)
Bahama Parrot surveying his domain. (photo by Scott Johnson)
93 is the count for a huge flock of parrots that flew by. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Scott Johnson getting ready for the next count. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Bahama Parrots perched on a bare tree. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Pine Forest habitat with bracken form understory following fire passing through the area. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Caleb Spiegel, Beth MacDonald, Jen Rock, and Elise Elliott-Smith Searching for Piping Plovers (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
We have heard the painful stories of the 2017 hurricanes, which had devastating effects on humans and birds on some islands. How did our shorebirds weather the storm—especially those we are most concerned about from a conservation viewpoint? Elise Elliott-Smith shares her story of post-hurricane surveys in the Turks and Caicos Islands in February 2018.
For the past three years, I have been privileged to work with an international team of scientists led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. Working with local partners and other international partners we have conducted surveys for Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) and other shorebird species of conservation concern in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Charming Piping Plover
The Piping Plover is a small, round-bodied shorebird, with a charming, big-eyed look. It breeds on beaches in the interior and Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and Canada, migrating to beaches in the southern Atlantic U.S., the northern West Indies, and across the Gulf Coast into northern Mexico. There are three discrete breeding populations, all of which are listed as endangered in Canada, and threatened or endangered in the U.S.
Piping Plovers (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
Fifteen years ago, no one knew that large numbers of Piping Plover winter in the Bahamas and northern Caribbean. But there was a surprise in store. During the 2011 International Piping Plover Census, it was discovered that around 1,000 birds wintered in the Bahamas. So, searching the Turks and Caicos Islands became a priority for the next Census in 2016 (read about 2016 International Piping Plover Census here). Our 2016 search yielded almost 100 Piping Plover and we counted 174 during an expanded search in January 2017. During this search, we also tallied about 20 other shorebird species, many of which are declining in numbers, or are focal species of the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative. These species included the Red Knot (Calidris canutus), which is also listed as threatened/special concern in the U.S. and Canada.
The Onslaught of Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Destroyed House on South Caicos (Photo by Elise Elliott-Smith)
On September 7, 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the Turks and Caicos Islands as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 miles per hour. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria arrived, packing 125 mph winds and torrential rain. My thoughts were with my colleagues and friends in the Turks and Caicos Islands as the storms passed. Despite extensive damage, and a heavy blow to the islands’ infrastructure, everyone was safe; miraculously, there were no deaths in the Turks and Caicos Islands. And after hearing this, I started wondering about the birds.
Far from the storm, I saw images on my computer screen of the destruction to human property and then the video of injured and dead flamingos in Cuba. I reasoned that given the small size of the Piping Plover, they could likely hunker down in strong winds. Perhaps some were still on their southerly migration and had not yet arrived. But a Piping Plover is not large, nor is it pink. The plovers’ small sand-colored carcasses would surely wash away unnoticed. The truth was, I really did not know how the storms had affected shorebirds or their habitat. But we had collected comprehensive survey data on all shorebird species for two prior winters at many remote sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I was eager get back there and see what had changed.
Post-hurricane Surveys Show Drop in Piping Plover Populations
Planning and preparing for these excursions is always exciting and a bit stressful. Our colleagues at the Turks and Caicos Department of the Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) wanted to conduct surveys but they needed assistance. Partners at the USFWS and Canadian Wildlife Service – Environment and Climate Change Canada (CWS-ECCC) were also interested in helping but there were a lot of details to work out and questions to answer. Would we get funding? Would we get government permissions? Would we have enough cash to pay for the boats? Would the weather cooperate during the surveys? And would the birds themselves cooperate? This year, however, there was one very big question constantly looming in my mind as I was trying to secure funding for surveys and plan for the trip. How had the hurricanes affected the birds and their habitat? Would they even be there this year?
Surveying Piping Plovers (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
Post-hurricane surveys finally became possible with the support of BirdsCaribbean, the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund, DECR, SWA Environmental, USFWS, CWS-ECCC and USGS. We had an excellent International team of surveyors, with the support needed for surveying remote cays. So I found myself flying into Providenciales, TCI on the evening of 30 January 2018. Under the cover of night, I did not get to see the turquoise waters or the tarped and patched roofs of houses damaged by the storms. But looking out the window the next morning I saw evidence of the hurricanes that reminded me the Turks and Caicos Islands are still recovering.
Over the next 10 days our teams conducted surveys on over 15 islands and cays in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We revisited every site where Piping Plover had been seen the prior year and surveyed a few new sites. In total, we saw just 62 Piping Plover. This was a far lower total than had been seen in 2017 or 2016. Counts of Piping Plovers were actually down at all of the sites surveyed in prior years, and they were completely absent from several sites.
Landscapes and Habitats Reshaped by the Storms
Mixed species flock including Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
The extent of damage to human structures varied from island to island. Similarly, some Piping Plover sites appeared largely unaffected by the storms, while other sites had been substantially altered. Little Ambergris Cay was one of the sites hardest hit by the storms. The habitat had changed drastically. Multiple sandbars were breached or washed away entirely, interior mudflats were flooded, beaches were over-washed, and the island was literally split in two. Piping Plover had been seen at multiple locations on this island in 2016 and 2017. Despite the habitat changes, there appeared to be quite a bit of suitable habitat remaining in 2018. However, when we conducted a very thorough survey, no Piping Plover were seen. Shorebird numbers in general were down.
Caleb Spiegel (USFWS) and Jen Rock (CWS-EEEC) wading out to survey the high tide roost at remote sandbars south of Middle Caicos (Photo by Elise Elliott-Smith)
Some of the most important sites seemed relatively unchanged. However, storm erosion can be insidious, leaving sites looking deceptively undamaged at first glance. One of the most important shorebird sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands consists of a handful of very remote, tidally exposed sand flats and a tiny island, south of Middle Caicos. At this site, there is only a single small rocky area exposed during high tides. Birds tend to roost in this spot until neighboring sand flats are exposed for feeding. In 2017 we had seen about 3,000 shorebirds of at least 12 species at this site, including about 400 Red Knot. It is hard to identify and count 3,000 shorebirds, especially when they are spread out and moving around, so we planned our surveys for high tide, when birds concentrate. The area appeared to be largely unchanged. However, there were only about 1,000 shorebirds, far fewer than the prior year. We stayed in the area for nearly an entire tide cycle, but much of the sandflats remained shallowly flooded, even at low tide, indicating sand was likely lost during the hurricanes.
The Fate of Missing Birds Largely Unknown
Casaurina uprooted by the storms at Dickish Cay (Photo by Elise Elliott-Smith)
Our early observations add to mounting evidence that there may be immediate negative effects of hurricanes on local wintering Piping Plover and other shorebird populations. However, questions remain. As in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Piping Plover numbers were greatly reduced in the Bahamas after Hurricane Matthew, particularly in areas hardest hit by the storm (Matt Jeffrey and Walker Golder (National Audubon), pers. comm). However, it is not known if shorebirds are dying in hurricanes or leaving in advance of the storm and wintering elsewhere. Spotting marked birds again may be the key to understanding this question of mortality. During our surveys in the Turks and Caicos Islands we observed Piping Plover that had been marked on their Atlantic Coast breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada. Piping Plover tend to be faithful to their winter sites. However, some marked birds seen in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2017 were “missing” on 2018 surveys. We will be looking for these individuals on migration and breeding grounds this summer. Re-sighting them would indicate they survived the storm. We also hope to return to the Turks and Caicos again in early 2019 to see if these missing birds have returned.
So what of the birds’ uncertain future? How resilient are Piping Plovers to hurricanes over the long term? And how resilient are the ecosystems on which they depend? Will sand be deposited again where it was lost? And how are the invertebrates (aka shorebird food) affected by hurricanes? These questions need further study, especially considering that with changing climates, storms may become more frequent and intense. In addition to searching for marked birds, the next step in answering these question is seeing shorebirds return to their favorite haunts in the Turks and Caicos Islands in higher numbers next winter. If birds survived the storm, we might expect to see a rebound in numbers next year.
Caribbean Waterbird Census – An Important Tool
Tagged Piping Plover (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
We were fortunate to have baseline data before the storm from our previous surveys to assess how well Piping Plovers had survived the 2017 devastating hurricane season. Our results highlight the importance of the Caribbean Waterbird Census (which we have contributed to during our surveys of the Turks and Caicos) and other surveys that provide critical information on bird species abundance and distribution. This helps us gauge avian response to hurricanes and our changing climate and suggests actions that we can take to help birds survive. We cannot prevent the hurricanes from coming. But there is a lot that can be done to protect the birds remote habitats from development and minimize human disturbance.
As I returned home, I felt relief that at least some birds survived the storm and very encouraged by the incredible international support for our work. As an international species of concern, the Piping Plover requires collaboration to conserve their habitats across the different phases of their life cycle. I am optimistic that with the help of many, we can come together again to answer remaining questions and take steps to protect this beautiful little bird.
You can help too! We are still learning about this species’ distribution throughout the Caribbean – so learn how to distinguish them from similar species (like Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, Wilson’s Plover, and Snowy Plovers) and help conduct surveys. Be on the lookout on sandy beaches and tidal mudflats, look for bands and flags, take pictures of the birds you see, and report all your observations on eBird Caribbean (and any Piping Plovers to me as well please! Contact Elise Elliott-Smith).
Aerial view of some of the best Piping Plover habitat in the Turks and Caicos Islands including “Piping Plover Cay” (Photo by Elise Elliott-Smith)
Notes from the Field
Searching for Birds on Dickish Cay (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
Day 1: A very rainy adventure to cays between Providenciales and North Caicos with Caleb Spiegel (USFWS), Eric Salamanca and an intrepid boat crew from the Turks and Caicos Department of the Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR). Few birds are seen and no Piping Plover are seen on either of the cays where they were documented in 2016 and 2017. This could be due to tour boat disturbance seen at one of the sites, but it is easy to miss birds when it is windy and wet. Need to return for a re-survey in better conditions.
Day 2: After a morning flight to South Caicos, Caleb, Eric and I kayak to what had been the most important Piping Plover site during our surveys the prior two years, a small uninhabited unnamed cay that we’ve affectionately dubbed “Piping Plover Cay”. Looking out the window while the plane landed and driving to the end of the road to put our boats in the water, it appears that South Caicos was hit harder than Providenciales by Hurricane Irma, and lacks the resources of the more popular tourist destinations to make a speedy recovery. Many houses are still missing roofs, some are missing walls, and at least a couple have been leveled by the storm.
Power Line Damage on South Caicos (Photo by Elise Elliott-Smith)
More power lines are askew or knocked down than remain upright. And the salt ponds are too deeply flooded to support small shorebirds. Surprisingly, “Piping Plover Cay” looks good and largely unchanged. However, conditions are windy with some rain and although we see some shorebirds, there are no Piping Plovers in the flocks.
Day 3: Jen Rock and Beth MacDonald, our Canadian colleagues (ECCC), arrived last night. The weather has cleared, and we finally find some Piping Plover!! Seven birds are seen on Dickish Cay, a small uninhabited cay where we had seen them during both of the prior survey years. In 2016, we had accessed the site by swimming across a channel from the end of the road in Middle Caicos and had found 11 Piping Plover on interior mud flats. In 2017 we accessed the island by boat, surveying it twice, and the high count had been 24 Piping Plover, including two marked birds seen on the sandy beach. Piping Plover tend to be loyal to their winter sites, so we look for the marked birds seen in 2017. They are not in our small flock but we do see two newly marked Piping Plover: one marked as a chick in Newfoundland the prior summer and the other marked a few weeks before Hurricane Irma while on a migration stop-over in North Carolina. Although the number of birds is lower than prior years, if anything the hurricanes seems to have had a positive effect on the Piping Plover habitat. Invasive Casuarina has been uprooted and sand has been deposited on the east side of the island, widening the beach.
Caleb Spiegel and Elise Elliott-Smith scanning potential habitat in the windward channel between Middle and East Caicos (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
Day 4: Our team is joined by Kathleen Wood (SWA Environmental) and we head out in the DECR boat to survey Little Ambergris. We split into three teams of two and are dropped off at different locations on the islands so that we can efficiently cover all the habitat. Two sandbars on the south side of the island have been entirely washed away, creating inflows and flooding. We realize that the inflow on the southwest side has broken all the way through to the north side of the island, splitting the island into two. One beach was totally over-washed, widening it by leveling the short vegetation. Twenty-five Piping Plover were seen on this island in 2016 and 29 were seen in 2017. None are seen on this survey and overall shorebird numbers are lower than previous counts. There still appears to be a lot of reasonable shorebird habitat, but much of the habitat is greatly changed. On our way back we stop at Big Ambergris Cay. It is our first Piping Plover survey on this island; we did not survey it previously because the habitat on aerial images did not look ideal. Hurricane damage is very apparent here as well as erosion of beach habitat and cliffs backing the beach. Many structures are seriously damaged. We see no plovers and few shorebirds on the mostly exposed, windswept beaches.
Tagged Piping Plover (Photo by Eric Salamanca)
Day 5: Jen, Beth and Kathleen return to “Piping Plover Cay”. The conditions are good and they see 45 Piping Plover – including two birds that Beth banded in Nova Scotia the previous summer! Caleb, Eric and I do not have as much luck. We return to Dickish Cay but do not see any Piping Plover (they also may use neighboring Joe Grant Cay or Wild Cow Run beach but we do not have time to check there). Our expert boat operator, Tim Hamilton, shows us some habitat in Lorrimer’s channels on Middle Caicos that we had not explored in prior years. It looks like good shorebird habitat but we see few birds.
Day 6: Sandbars south of Middle Caicos. This is the site where we saw about 3,000 shorebirds last year, including Red Knot. We arrive close to high tide and go to the roost spot. The area around the roost is very shallow so we need to get off the boat and wade in waist-deep water a few hundred meters to survey. Caleb and Jen start surveying while Beth, Eric and I stay in the boat to check the other sandbars, which are all inundated. We return to the roost spot and help count. There are only about 1,000 shorebirds this year and around 40 Red Knot. We discuss why we are seeing such reduced numbers and whether some birds could be roosting in an unknown location. We decide to wait for the tide to fall and see if more birds arrive. The sun is setting with the falling tide so we leave just before low tide. Although it is a pretty extreme low tide, the multiple finger-like sand flats all seem to still be inundated. The habitat looked unchanged when we first arrived at the site that morning but it is likely that some of the sand has eroded. As we return to South Caicos the sun is setting with a squall in the distance and a rainbow over the turquoise waters.
Piping Plovers roosting just north of South Caicos on “Piping Plover Cay”, including a bird banded as an adult in 2017 on breeding grounds in Nova Scotia (Photo by Jen Rock)
Days 7-10: Caleb, Jen and Eric return to Providenciales and then to North Caicos where they survey with Naqqi and Flash (DECR). No Piping Plover are seen at the Northwest Point National Marine Park, where one Piping Plover was seen in 2017. Later, they return to re-survey islands between Provo and North Caicos in better weather than day 1, but still do not see any Piping Plover, and few shorebirds. However, they have luck on East Bay Island, seeing 10 Piping Plover where 16 were seen in 2017, including four tagged birds: two that were marked on breeding grounds in Canada and two at breeding sites in the U.S.
Beth and I split off from the rest of the group and travel to Grand Turk where we explore habitat and survey with Katharine Hart (DECR). I had not been to Grand Turk previously and while we see many waterbirds on this island, the habitat is not ideal for Piping Plover. On our second day, we take a very rough and wet boat ride to explore two nearby uninhabited islands, Cotton and Gibb’s Cay. Gibb’s Cay has some good habitat but it is frequented by cruise ships and we only see a couple shorebirds. The next day we take a bigger boat to Big Sand Cay. Katharine has been to the island before for turtle work (it is a National Sanctuary and the most important hawksbill turtle nesting site in the islands) and reports that it has been affected by the hurricane. A tidal surge likely washed out vegetation so that now the east and west side of the island are connected by sand flats in a couple of spots. The habitat looks very good on this island. We do see turtle nests but we don’t see any Piping Plover.
Many thanks to Caleb Spiegel, Beth MacDonald, Naqqi Manco, Kathleen Wood, Emma Lewis, and Lisa Sorenson for input on this article. And special thanks to DECR, BirdsCaribbean, American Bird Conservancy, Turks & Caicos Reef Fund, SWA Environmental, USFWS, CWS-EEEC, USGS, and Big Blue Unlimited for providing financial and other support for this research.
East Bay Island Survey Crew: Cardinal Arthur (boat captain), Jen Rock (ECCC), Eric Salamanca (DECR), Junel “Flash” Blaise (DECR), and Brian Naqqi Manco (DECR). (Photo by Caleb Spiegel)
The inner slope of the Quill National Park before (top) and after (bottom) Hurricane Irma (photo by Hannah Madden)
On September 6, 2017, record-breaking Category 5 Hurricane Irma pummeled the northern Lesser Antilles, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. While St. Eustatius (affectionately known as Statia) was spared extensive infrastructural damage and power was restored to most homes within a few days, forest cover in the Quill National Park did not fare quite so well. Immediately after the storm, defoliation of the vegetation was clearly visible across the dormant volcano, which rises to a maximum height of 600 meters and suffered the brunt of hurricane force winds of up to 150 mph.
When we felt it was safe to go out, our initial exploration of the Quill on September 9 revealed a shocking sight from the crater rim viewpoint at 400 meters. Areas that were once covered in lush evergreen vegetation were barely recognizable. Gone were the majestic Silk Cotton trees that once dominated the canopy; instead we were confronted with an almost bare crater wall covered in once-towering trees that looked like they had been snapped in two by an invisible giant.
Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed to the south of St. Eustatius and brought over 100mm of rain but less severe winds. Again, residents of St. Eustatius breathed a sigh of relief, but our thoughts were with those who suffered greatly in Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Maarten, Anguilla, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Dominica and other affected islands. Thankfully Maria’s rainfall helped stimulate vegetation regrowth in the Quill. However much of the original canopy was severely damaged, and all fruits, seeds and flowers that normally provided food for wildlife were lost.
Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon mystacea) in the Quill (photo by Hannah Madden)
Our immediate concern fell to the Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon mystacea), an uncommon to rare resident in a few Lesser Antilles islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This West Indian endemic forages for fruits and seeds on the forest floor. Little is known about the population status of this species throughout its range, but it is thought to be declining in the Eastern Caribbean due to loss of habitat and other threats. The Quill is the only habitat on Statia that supports the quail-dove.
In May 2017 we had conducted a population assessment of the dove in connection with a rodent control project that is being facilitated through the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI). Our initial results were encouraging, with an estimated 1,030 quail-doves (standard error [SE] = 275, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 561-1,621) across its local habitat of 440 hectares. This is possibly the highest known density in the region. With baseline data fortuitously in hand, we were very interested to assess the quail-dove’s population size post-hurricane. Thanks to generous persons that donated to BirdsCaribbean’s fundraising appeal, we were able to repeat the survey in early to mid-November, about two months after Hurricane Irma hit.
The survey team (L to R): Frank Rivera-Milan, Hannah Madden, and Kevin Verdel (by Chris Couldridge)
Our team consisted of Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan (population ecologist with the US Fish & Wildlife Service), myself (biologist with CNSI), and Kevin Verdel (student from the University of Utrecht). We conducted 56 transect surveys of 100 meters, and repeated them 2-4 times. This was fewer surveys than the 70 100-meter transects we had conducted in May because some trails were inaccessible due to downed trees. We also used a playback of the Key West Quail-Dove’s call, given that our surveys took place outside the breeding season, in an attempt to elicit a response from any Bridled Quail-Doves in the survey area. Unfortunately the quail-doves did not respond to the playback, which meant that all the detections during November’s surveys were by sight only. The perpendicular distance of the quail-dove from the transect was measured, and the data collected were brought into program Distance to give a total population size.
Our data analysis revealed an estimated population size of 803 Bridled Quail-Doves (SE = 208, 95% CI = 451-1,229) in November. This is a decrease of about 230 birds from the mean population size estimate of 1,030 birds counted in May. Although this is a decline in the population size of ~22% (SE = 8.2%), statistical tests indicate that this decrease is not statistically significant (Z score = 0.66, P value = 0.51). This is the good news.
Measuring distance from the transect point to where the dove was sighted (photo by Hannah Madden)
The bad news is that there is very little food available due to severe vegetation damage and we are now entering the dry season (Dec-Apr). This means that already scarce foraging resources will be reduced even further, which will likely result in decreased survival and minimum reproduction in 2018. The quail-doves we observed looked lethargic and did not flush far or fast during surveys. There is a real risk that the population will decline further due to lack of food. For this reason we plan to repeat the surveys again in May 2018, during peak breeding season.
We were glad to see that dry forest vegetation on the outer slopes of the Quill was recovering quickly. Inside the crater, however, approximately 50% of the evergreen seasonal forest that once covered this area has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma. It will take a few decades before the vegetation fully recovers. We expect this will have a negative effect not only on the quail-dove but also other bird species that rely on this unique habitat for their survival and reproduction. For example, instead of the usual flocks of Scaly-naped Pigeons (which are now foraging for food in coastal areas), we are now seeing smaller species like Bananaquit, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, and the migratory Black-whiskered Vireo.
Around the Mountain South trail immediately after the hurricanes (photo by Hannah Madden)
Following our initial surveys in May we were encouraged by the density of Bridled Quail-doves on Statia, the highest known density in the region at the time (although many islands that support the dove have not conducted population assessments). However, we now have some concerns for the species given its very restricted range (only found in the Quill National Park on Statia, at elevations of around 200 meters and above) and the fact that its natural habitat suffered extensive damage in some areas from Hurricane Irma. With food resources in scarce supply, competition between the doves and other species, such as the more aggressive and widespread Pearly-eyed Thrasher, could lead to a further decline in the already vulnerable population. We recommend removing predators and domestic animals above 250m to help the species recover and enhance its prospects for long-term survival in Statia.
Irma provided us with a unique opportunity to study the impacts of hurricanes on avian fauna on Statia (and elsewhere in the region). It is a bittersweet privilege to be able to contribute our results to the scientific community. Unfortunately, the frequency and intensity of Caribbean hurricanes are predicted to increase under human-induced global warming. We must do all we can to protect and enhance the integrity of our natural areas to help our birds and other wildlife survive the next hit, and hope to come out unscathed on the other side.
Broken trees in the Quill’s crater. (photo by Hannah Madden)
We are grateful to BirdsCaribbean for funding Dr. Rivera’s travel expenses, to St. Eustatius National Parks for allowing us to conduct surveys in the Quill National Park, and to CNSI for facilitating this ongoing project. We look forward to reporting back to the Birdscaribbean community after we complete our second post-hurricane Bridled Quail-dove survey in May 2018.
By Hannah Madden. Hannah is a Terrestrial Ecologist in St. Eustatius currently leading two projects at the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute. She also works as a bird and nature guide in her spare time, sharing the beauty and diversity of Statia with visitors. Hannah is an active member of BirdsCaribbean and has participated in several training workshops and conferences. She has published papers on different taxonomic groups, but especially enjoys working on birds.
BirdsCaribbean is grateful to everyone that has generously donated to our ongoing Hurricane Relief Fund to help our Caribbean partners, birds and nature recover. This has allowed us to fund bird surveys like this one, replace equipment lost in the storms, send nectar feeders and bird seed to 13 islands, plant mangroves, and other recovery actions.
Forest understory before Hurricane Irma (photo by Hannah Madden)Our companion Chris Couldridge inspects with disbelief the mangled vegetation on the crater floor (photo by Frank Rivera-Milan)St. Eustatius is located in the northern Lesser Antilles and forms part of the Caribbean Netherlands. It has a land mass of 11 square miles and a human population of around 3,500.
Read more about the Fall 2017 hurricane impacts on Caribbean birds:
The local school was extensively damaged with the roof completely gone (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
On September 6th, 2017, a Category 5 hurricane named Irma made landfall on the tiny island of Barbuda, devastating homes, stripping the forest bare, and inundating parts of the island with seawater. We all looked on in shock as the way of life for many Barbudans was destroyed. We also feared another disaster was in the making.
Barbuda is the only home for the small Barbuda Warbler, a close relative of the Saint Lucia and Adelaide’s Warblers. Scientists and conservationists alike feared that Irma may have caused its extinction. Even if the birds survived the ravages of the wind and rain, the food they needed to survive (caterpillars and other insects) would be greatly reduced immediately following the storm. Hurricanes have triggered extinctions in the past, on much larger islands like Cozumel. There the endemic Cozumel Thrasher is now presumed extinct, following a series of hurricanes beginning with Gilbert.
Unsafe conditions and travel restrictions to Barbuda prevented an immediate population assessment but as soon as was possible, several members of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) of Antigua, under the guidance and support of the Department of Environment (DoE), visited Barbuda. The group confirmed that some warblers had survived. BirdsCaribbean, EAG, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the DOE quickly teamed up to organize and carry out extensive surveys on Barbuda, to assess both the Barbuda Warbler and Yellow Warbler populations.
An Exciting Journey
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
On October 15, less than six weeks after the hurricane, a team of 6 left St John’s, Antigua by boat to cross the 40 miles to Codrington, Barbuda. High seas and heavy rain made it an interesting passage, but we arrived at the Codrington port to be greeted by the team from Guadeloupe: Anthony Levesque, Frantz Delcroix, and Eric Delcroix of Association AMAZONA, a conservation organization in Guadeloupe. They had just arrived by plane (read their story here) to conduct counts at the Magnificent Frigatebird Sanctuary. Though the stormy morning quickly turned to a bright, sunny day, our moods turned somber as we saw first-hand the extensive damage done by Irma. Many homes and businesses were completely destroyed, and rebuilding efforts by the handful of Barbudans on the island were only just beginning.
Our home for the next week was the DoE office in Barbuda, where we settled in, organized the surveys and made some last-minute refinements to the distance sampling protocol for data collection. We conducted observer training for the team members and field tested the protocol, which included a playback of Yellow and Adelaide’s Warbler calls. The Barbuda Warbler is very closely related, and was once considered the same species as the Adelaide’s Warbler of the Greater Antilles and the Saint Lucia Warbler. Recent genetic studies have confirmed that these three should be treated as distinct species, though their vocalizations are very similar. The field test, made on the edge of town, was a success and we recorded our first Barbuda and Yellow Warblers, along with a number of migratory shorebirds (view the eBird list).
An International Team Gets to Work
Part of the team that surveyed the warblers, left to right: Sophia Steele, Jeff Gerbracht, Lenn Isidore, Frank Rivera-Milan and Shanna Challenger.
Shortly after sunrise the following day, the two teams of three observers began the survey with a mixture of excitement, hope and dread. Frank Rivera-Milan (US Fish and Wildlife Service) was joined by Kelvin ‘Biggz’ Samuel and Dwayne Philip (Antigua Forestry Unit). Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) joined Lenn Isidore, (Saint Lucia Projects Coordinator for FFI) and Rudolph Zachariah (Antigua Department of Environment). Nearly as important as the current population assessment was providing that the training and resources to DOE and EAG staff, to ensure that the Barbuda Warbler population can be monitored long term. To this end, we were also joined by Sophia Steele (Fauna & Flora International) and Shanna Challenger (EAG, DOE and FFI), to learn about the methodology and gain the necessary field experience. That first morning both teams observed Barbuda Warblers and Yellow Warblers while surveying 19 points (view eBird list from that first morning). It was a great start but still a long way to go.
Male Yellow Warbler (migrant) (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Barbuda has about 62 square miles of land and prior to our arrival, Population Ecologist and team member Frank had randomly selected the survey points, which were loaded into our GPS units. Points were at least 400 meters apart. Each team was tasked with covering as many points as possible before late morning arrived, when the warblers became quiet and harder to observe. A typical survey consisted of walking from point to point, covering up to eight miles in a morning. At each point, the team would divide up the tasks. One person would categorize the habitat, food availability and disturbance at each site, while the others would look and listen for Barbuda Warblers. Each observation of a warbler was recorded, along with the distance and direction from the point to each individual bird. “Barbuda Warbler singing between 20 – 30 meters at 110 degrees from North” or “Yellow Warbler seen at 18 meters distance, 35 degrees”. All observations were recorded in detail so that detection probability, occupancy and abundance (density and population size) could be modeled and estimated as precisely and accurately as possible.
Nature is Resilient, But There’s Some Way to Go
One of the survey points deep in the highlands where the forest is green and vibrant with flowers beginning to open (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
During that first morning of surveys, we were all struck by the resiliency of the natural world and how the forests of Barbuda were so well adapted to hurricanes. Weeks earlier the forests had been stripped bare of all greenery; yet the forest was already recovering. Amidst the broken branches and downed trees, life was returning with a vengeance. Trees and shrubs had already put out new leaves and in some cases, flowers and even fruit were in evidence. In addition to the ever-present mosquitoes, we saw lots of other insects and caterpillars, i.e. warbler food. The forest seemed green and alive, in sharp contrast to how it must have appeared just a few weeks earlier.
Lowland forest heavily impacted by the storm surge with little sign of recovery on the south of Barbuda (Photo by Jeff Gerbract)
Unfortunately, other parts of the island weren’t faring nearly as well as the interior. Lowlands on the south of the island were especially hard hit by the storm surge. The forest there was struggling to recover.
To cover as many points as possible, the two teams stayed in different parts of the island. Henry, our driver and guide for the week, made sure that the teams got to where we needed to be. Our daily routine was pretty much the same: Leave for the field early; cover as many points as possible by 10:30; hike back out of the bush to be met by Henry; a quick lunch in town followed by an hour of down time; then back in the field between 2:30 and 5:30. In the evenings, we would review the data collected during the day to make sure everything was in order.
Hopes for Beautiful Barbuda’s Sustainable Recovery
An emotional roller coaster is a good way to describe how I felt throughout the week. Each day we were reminded of the devastation left by the hurricane and the long road to recovery for the Barbudan families. And each day we observed firsthand how the forest is recovering and how well the Barbuda Warbler fared. Barbuda is an island with very little development and miles of natural scrub and forest. The land is communally owned so there are few signs of outside development and that community ownership is reflected in the pride Barbudans feel for their island. I can think of few places where there are still miles of beach or forest with no development or human habitation in sight. This is pristine habitat for the birds. It is also the perfect location for eco-tourism: not only birding, but caving, horseback riding, snorkeling and other pursuits. It’s a rare gem, and the expanse of untouched natural habitat has surely been key in the forest’s rapid recovery.
Dwayne Philip pondering the best route through the damage to our next survey point (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
We had been given permission for one week to conduct these surveys. It came to a close all too soon. With 125 points surveyed once, and 37 points surveyed twice, 50 miles walked and 145 Barbuda Warblers detected, we felt that we had covered as much of the island as possible (eBird list from the final day). Once the numbers are crunched and population models run, we will have a much better estimate of the Barbuda Warbler population (stay tuned!). However, the good news is that all evidence points to a population, which somehow survived Irma’s fiercest onslaught.
As we left the island, we also left part of ourselves there – literally, in the case of the mosquitos and sand flies! In our hearts, there was the sorrow – and also hope – we feel for the Barbudans, their way of life and the island’s natural ecosystems. As more and more of the Caribbean becomes dominated by resort developments, Barbuda is a wonderful and refreshing contrast; a place where the natural world is still evident in abundance. We wish Barbuda a steady, sustainable recovery that will benefit its people and where its beautiful natural habitat will continue to flourish.
By Jeff Gerbracht, lead architect and software engineer at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and co-chair of the BirdsCaribbean Monitoring Working Group. Jeff has assisted Birdscaribbean for many years with eBird Caribbean, and monitoring and training workshops throughout the region.
Frank, Lenn and Jeff would especially like to thank the many individuals who made this population assessment possible, several of whom were also trying to rebuild their own lives on Barbuda:
Kelly Burton and Henry Griffin for ensuring our stay on Barbuda was as comfortable and productive as possible; Wanda for the excellent lunches; and Len Mussington for the exciting boat ride from Antigua to Barbuda.
Lenn Isidore looking out over the coastal scrub near Two Foot Bay (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
We also thank EAG, DOE, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Fauna and Flora International and BirdsCaribbean for their practical support, including the following individuals:
Shanna Challenger and Sophia Steele of Fauna & Flora International/EAG;
Rudolph Zachariah of the Department of Environment, Antigua;
Kelvin Samuel and Dwayne Philip of the Antigua Forestry Unit;
Sasha-gay Middleton of the Department of Environment for organizing our meals;
Matt Young of the Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology for putting together the warbler playback; and
Special thanks to Natalya Lawrence of EAG and Dr. Helena Jeffery Brown and Ruleta Camacho Thomas of the Department of Environment, for organizing so many of the necessary logistics.
BirdsCaribbean is grateful to all that have donated so generously to our ongoing fundraising effort for hurricane relief for our partners and beloved birds that has allowed us to send nectar feeders and bird seed to 13 islands and help our partners with surveys, replacing equipment lost in the storm, and other recovery actions.
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Female/Immature Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Damage along the south coast (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
The pants really take a beating (Photo by Sophia Steele)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
‘Which way do I go?’ Dwayne Philip (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
View of the upland forest, beautiful area (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
(Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Coastal habitat (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Looking over the forest from the highlands, towards Codrington (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lenn spotting another Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Sophia Steele)
Sophia Steele surveying from the heights (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Amevia (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Coastal areas were especially hard by Irma (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Male Lesser Antillean Bullfinch (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Departing from Antigua, left to right: Rudolph Zachariah, Lenn Isidore, Captain Len Mussington, Frank Rivera-Milan, Jeff Gerbracht, Dwayne Philip and Kelvin ‘Biggz’ Samuel (Photo by Natalya Lawrence)
One of the Rare times when Frank actually sits down (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Male Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Lenn surveying from the Tower (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Sophia and Frank embark on the ‘March of the Penguins’ on their quest to find the Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Shanna Challanger)
Martello Tower (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The destruction in Codrington was heart rending (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Red-legged Tortoise (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lenn and Jeff share a light moment in the back of a truck after completing surveys (Photo by Shanna Challanger)
Male Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
View of Condrington (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
View from Martello Tower (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
White-cheeked Pintail (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Lenn Isidore looking out over the coastal scrub near Two Foot Bay (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
One of the survey points deep in the highlands where the forest is green and vibrant with flowers beginning to open (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Built to last, Martello Tower (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Low coastal scrub along the Atlantic coast of Barbuda (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Toppled trees and broken branches are evidence of Irma (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Shows unique Barbuda Warbler habit of cocking up their tail, more like a wren than a warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Scaly-breasted Thrasher, one of three observed together (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Lenn Isidore inspecting the habitat (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Team ‘Frank’ returning from a morning of surveys, Dwayne Philip, Kelvin ‘Biggz’ Samuel and Frank Rivera-Milan (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
All of us at BirdsCaribbean followed the passing of Hurricane Irma with terror, for the people of Barbuda, and also for its birds. Such is the strength of our community that BirdsCaribbean members from nearby Guadeloupe – Anthony Levesque, Frantz Delcroix, and Eric Delcroix – all members of the organization AMAZONA, offered their help in surveying their neighboring island, alongside a team of ornithologists from the United States, Saint Lucia, and Antigua. Here’s Frantz’s story of their 10-hour expedition to Barbuda.
From Guadeloupe to Barbuda: Our Eventful Journey
Eric Delcroix, avid birder from Guadeloupe and Frantz’s husband, stands in front of the Piper PA28 airplane before take-off (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
The start of our day was scheduled for Sunday, October 15, 2017, around 6:30am. Our transport was a small Piper PA28 airplane, with a capacity of 4 people (the pilot and three passengers). The plane was sturdy enough to transport us, our field equipment, a cooler, and our boots! Despite bad weather for several days—an active tropical wave passing by Guadeloupe and Antigua and Barbuda—our pilot assured us that we could travel. Just before leaving, however, our pilot learned that due to cloud cover, the airport in Antigua (where we had to land first) was closed to all VFR (visual flight rules) flights, and was accepting only flights that can fly under IFR (instrument flight rules). Fortunately, we chose the right pilot; his plane was equipped and certified for this kind of flight!
We took off at 6:50am, landing in Antigua around 8:00am. It was a longer flight than we had anticipated, because we were flying under IFR. After passing through immigration, we went to the control tower to validate the flight plan to Barbuda. As we suspected, we had trouble with the fact that we did not have written authorization to travel to the island. Luckily, with the help of the Department of Environment in Antigua, we had taken the precaution of obtaining the necessary contact information for the authority, Major Michael, in Antigua. After a short discussion, the agent agreed to call the Major, and so was able to validate our flight plan to Barbuda. With a sigh of relief, we took off from Antigua around 9:00am and arrived in Barbuda twenty minutes later.
On Barbuda: The Birds’ Message of Hope
The boat captain, Kelly, (standing), left to right – the airplane pilot, Hervé Pennel, Frantz Delcroix, and Anthony Levesque as they set out for Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Upon arrival we made our first survey: a few Barn Swallows and a Bank Swallow circled above us and an American Golden Plover wandered around the airport parking lot. We were then greeted by an agent from the airfield, who kindly took us to the port where the rest of the team has just arrived by boat. There we met Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, USA), Frank Rivera (US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA), Lenn Isidore (Flora and Fauna International, St. Lucia), and others and went to the house that served as home base during our trip, as we did some birding around the neighborhood. Jeff, Frank, and Lenn planned to be in Barbuda for a full week to do an intensive survey of the Barbuda Warbler population (stay tuned for their story!). Our assignment was to visit Codrington Lagoon and carry out a survey of the Magnificent Frigatebirds, to see how the population and sanctuary was recovering six weeks after Hurricane Irma hit. We departed at 11:15am for Codrington Lagoon with our boat captain Kelly – and our pilot (who wanted to discover the avifauna of Barbuda with us!)
Male Magnificent Frigatebirds courting and in flight at the colony Codrington Lagoon. (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
We arrived at the colony at 11:30am and were delighted to see hundreds of frigatebirds in flight, the bare and brown bushes adorned with bright red gular pouches. Within a 4.5 hectare (11.12 acre) area, we estimated 1,710 Magnificent Frigatebirds and 17 Brown Boobies. In a count of seven bushes of 279 frigatebirds, 83 females (30%) and 196 males (70%) were counted. Amazingly, 90% of the females were on nests and some of the birds were observed courting and mating, even males carrying nest materials.
We returned to home base around 12:30pm for a lunch break and then went back to the field. Having no vehicle available, we decided to visit a nearby pond we had observed on the Barbuda map, to search for West Indian Whistling-Ducks and other waterbirds. Along the way, we made several surveys of the species present. In a scrubby area near town, we spotted our first Barbuda Warblers eating caterpillars! The warblers were active and responded readily to our “pishing.”
A Barbuda Warbler alive and well! (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Around the pond, we recorded two Lesser Antillean Flycatchers, two Long-billed Dowitchers, a Stilt Sandpiper, some Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, and a Scaly-breasted Thrasher. Unfortunately, no West Indian Whistling-Ducks were seen.
We continued our surveys until around 2:45pm before returning to home base to pick up our belongings and walk to the airfield for our 3:45pm takeoff. Skirting some clouds along the way, we arrived home in Guadeloupe at 4:20pm with a list of 36 surveyed species in hand.
Our Hearts are with the People of Barbuda
Complete destruction of a home in Barbuda (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Although we were there to conduct a birding survey, our hearts ached when we saw all the damage on Barbuda. Such utter desolation! We felt anguish and sadness for the people of Barbuda, who lost everything in this category 5 hurricane and are now living in Antigua awaiting word on when they can return home and rebuild. Witnessing the power of nature—its ability to inflict such damage, but also how it can quickly rebound—was an extraordinary experience.
Before the hurricane, the 4,000–5,000-strong frigatebird colony had chicks in the nest. Surveys just after the hurricane found no surviving chicks and only around 300 birds. Now, one and a half months later, there are more than 1,700 frigatebirds starting a new breeding period with almost all of the females nesting! Even the mangroves that suffered from salt burn and had lost all their leaves were bouncing back, beginning to sprout new leaves.
Magnificent Frigatebirds and Brown Boobies in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
So, we did not leave without hope. Nature is resilient! It can destroy almost everything, and yet incredibly allow a bird that weighs only ten grams to survive!
We thank all of our partners and friends from Antigua and Barbuda and BirdsCaribbean for trusting us and for providing funding and support for our survey, despite the challenges and the relatively short time we had to mobilize. We extend a special thanks to Natalya Lawrence of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) in Antigua and Lisa Sorenson of BirdsCaribbean
Frantz Delcroix is the President of AMAZONA, a bird conservation organization in Guadeloupe. She is an avid birder, photographer and conservationist. Thanks to all who donated to our Hurricane Relief Fund which provided funding for this survey. Thanks also to support from the Environmental Awareness Group and Dept of Environment in Antigua, and Fauna and Flora International.
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Male Frigatebirds in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Map-Location of nesting area on Barbuda-Codrington Lagoon
White-winged Dove (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Landing Magnificent Frigatebird over Colony (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Barbuda Warbler eating a caterpillar (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
A view of the Magnificent Frigatebird colony from a distance. It will take a long time for the formerly lush mangroves to recover. (Photo by Eric Delcroix
Frigatebird Colony in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Survey boat (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Counting frigatebirds in the colony (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
White-crowned Pigeon (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
A view of part of the Magnificent Frigatebird colony from a distance. It will take a long time for the formerly lush mangroves to recover. (Photo by Eric Delxcroix)
Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Pigs and dogs scrounging for food in Barbuda (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Guadeloupe Field Team-Frantz, Eric and Anthony ready to begin the survey on Barbuda. (Photo by Herve Pennel)
Frigatebird Colony in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Damaged communications building on Barbuda. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Long-billed Dowitcher, a rare migratory shorebird in this region (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Damaged building on Barbuda – the entire population has been evacuated. (Photo by Anthony Levesque) (1)
Female Magnificent Frigatebird on a nest in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Male Magnificent Frigatebird with Inflated gular pouch (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Courting male Magnificent Frigatebirds (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Female Magnificent Frigatebird nesting on bare mangroves. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
List of birds seen or heard on this day (all have been entered in eBird Caribbean)
Helmeted Guineafowl – Numida meleagris
Magnificent Frigatebird – Fregata magnificens
Brown Booby – Sula leucogaster
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
American Golden-Plover – Pluvialis dominica
Semipalmated Plover – Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus
Stilt Sandpiper – Calidris himantopus
Pectoral Sandpiper – Calidris melanotos
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Calidris pusilla
Long-billed Dowitcher – Limnodromus scolopaceus
Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria
Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes
Rock Pigeon – Columba livia
White-crowned Pigeon – Patagioenas leucocephala
Eurasian Collared-Dove – Streptopelia decaocto
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerine
Brown Booby at the frigatebird colony. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica
Zenaida Dove – Zenaida aurita
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Caribbean Elaenia – Elaenia martinica
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher – Myiarchus oberi
Gray Kingbird – Tyrannus dominicensis
Black-whiskered Vireo – Vireo altiloquus
Bank Swallow – Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
Scaly-breasted Thrasher – Allenia fusca
Pearly-eyed Thrasher – Margarops fuscatus
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Yellow Warbler – Setophaga petechia
Blackpoll Warbler – Setophaga striata
Barbuda Warbler – Setophaga subita
Bananaquit – Coereba flaveola
Black-faced Grassquit – Tiaris bicolor
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch – Loxigilla noctis
Carib Grackle – Quiscalus lugubris
Read more about the hurricane impacts on Caribbean birds:
