We wrap up our series of our 30th Anniversary celebrations with this final video. In the Caribbean we celebrate not only the diversity of our birds (172 bird species found only in the region!), but also our members. For 30 years we have brought people together from dozens of countries to learn from each other, share ideas, and forge friendships and partnerships. Our members often tell us how much they value our network for the support and inspiration that it provides. It gives us the strength to keep going in the face of many challenges. And sometimes our members even fall in love.
First up is Jessica Rozek, graduate student at Tufts University. Jessica is studying sustainable use of wetlands in Trinidad and important stopover and wintering sites for shorebirds in the Caribbean. Jessica joined BirdsCaribbean in 2016 and has been an active member ever since. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology and a contributor to our blog. As our Waterbird Program Manager, Jessica is coordinating our upcoming Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats Workshop in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico and our Caribbean Waterbird Census Small Grants program.
Ingrid Flores worked for four years as Regional Coordinator of our Caribbean Endemic Bird and International Migratory Bird Festivals. The festivals introduce people to the joy and beauty oif local birds. They also help people understand how these birds are part of each island’s natural heritage and it is up to local communities to conserve them. Ingrid helped coordinators organize activities, shipped out materials, and managed social media around the festivals and bird education. She is passionate about Caribbean birds and encouraging people to become involved.
Glenroy Gaymes is the Chief Wildlife Officer in the Forestry Dept in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is well-known as a local expert on all aspects of the country’s flora and fauna, and is involved in many conservation initatives. Glenroy is also a founding member of SCIENCE, a local NGO. Together with member Lystra Culzac and other SCIENCE officers, Glenroy is active in teaching youth and local people about birds. His team carries out our BirdSleuth Caribbean program with school clubs and summer camps. He is also active as a local bird guide to residents and visitors alike.
Maydiel Canizares is a Cuban Biologist. For the past five years, he worked as a Biologist in the protected areas of Zapata Swamp Biosphere Reserve. Twenty three of the 28 endemic birds of Cuba can be seen here, in addition to ~300 resident and migratory birds. It’s a very important place for migration, featuring many types of diverse habitats. It’s also an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Ramsar site. Two big conservation initiatives in Zapata Swamp that Maydiel worked on are: 1) encouraging locals to landscape with native plants (which will help endemics like the Bee Hummingbird), and 2) installing nest boxes for threatened psittacid species: the Cuban Parakeet and the Cuban Parrot. Maydiel is also an experienced bird guide and led several of BirdsCaribbean’s bird tours at our conference in Cuba in 2017.
Jen Mortenson is a Post Doctoral Fellow at the University of Arkansas . Through her PhD research Jen was able to provide key data and recommendations for the first conservation plan of the White-breasted Thrasher, an endangered bird found only on St Lucia and Martinique. You can read about Jen’s exciting research here. We are grateful to Jen for this important work and so happy to have her as an active member of BirdsCaribbean.
Lisa Sorenson (Executive Director) and Jennifer Wheeler (recently retired Treasurer) are well-known to the BirdsCaribbean community for their many years of service in developing programs, raising funds, helping partners, and keeping the organization running smoothly. They had fun wishing BirdsCaribbean a very happy 30th birthday.
Editor’s note: After many months of paperwork and a visit to the US Embassy in Guyana, Maydiel immigrated to the US this past October. He and Jessica married in November 2018, the second BirdsCaribbean couple that we know of – congratulations!!!
Sincere thanks to Esther Figueroa (Vagabond Media) for putting together this video and Ingrid Flores, JC Fernández-Ordóñez, and José Colón-López for Spanish translation. Thank you to José (Pepe) González Díaz and Felisa (Fela) Collazo Torres for the video footage of the Green Mango (hummingbird) in Puerto Rico feeding on one of our donated feeders after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Golden Swallow photograph is by Dax Roman. Special thanks to our members, partners and supporters who make this work possible!!!
In case you missed them, view our other fun 30th Anniversary videos at links below:
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.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce the first recipients of grants from the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund. Three excellent projects focusing on endangered birds endemic to the Caribbean were selected among many deserving proposals. Projects in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and St. Lucia were granted over $132,000 through the fund, with commitments of an additional $114,000 for the second year of these projects.
The organizations to receive 2019 Betty Petersen Conservation Fund grants from BirdsCaribbean are:
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) for “Black-capped Petrel Conservation Through Poverty Alleviation in a Haitian Community”
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for “Engaging Local Communities in Reversing the Decline of the Endangered White-breasted Thrasher by Restoring Key Nesting Sites and Reducing the Impacts of Invasive Species”
The Peregrine Fund for “A Holistic Approach to the Conservation of Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk in Dominican Republic”
The “Betty Fund” was created to support conservation projects in the Caribbean that engage and empower communities and stakeholders to both protect and sustainably benefit from their birds. This approach was used successfully by the woman in whose memory the Betty Fund is named.
Difficult decisions after a tremendous response to call for proposals
Ridgway’s Hawks are critically endangered and found only in Los Haitises National Park in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by the Peregrine Fund)
“We received 24 pre-proposals representing extremely important conservation work in 16 island nations. We invited full proposals from six organizations, and while virtually all of these were deserving, we had to narrow these down to three projects,” said Andrew Dobson, Chair of BirdsCaribbean’s board and a member of the Betty Fund’s review committee. “It was a very difficult choice.”
BirdsCaribbean commends all the other applicants on their proposals and encourages re-application to the Betty Fund in the future as well as continued engagement in the BirdsCaribbean network as an aid to finding other sources of funding.
The 2019 Betty Fund projects all exemplify the principle that conservation is a social undertaking, and in each human empowerment and benefits are explicitly addressed. Project approaches include establishing tree nurseries with local schools in St. Lucia to help the White-breasted Thrasher, training in sustainable agricultural practices and sponsoring a soccer team in Haiti with the local name, Diablotin, of the Black-capped Petrel in Haiti, and providing hawk-proof chicken coops to farmers in the Dominican Republic to reduce shooting of the Ridgway’s Hawk.
Additionally, all three of the selected projects focus on an Endangered or Critically Endangered species endemic to the Caribbean. “Species endemism is not a requirement for support from the Betty Fund” explained Dr. Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, “but it’s gratifying to be able to direct these inaugural funds towards birds that are uniquely Caribbean.”
2019 Betty Fund Grant Recipients
Black-capped Petrel Conservation Through Poverty Alleviation in a Haitian Community Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
The stories of the petrel and the people of Haiti run parallel – stories of hanging on in the face of hardship and a tenuous future in the face of great challenge; but stories also of resilience and hope based on local and international commitment to improving the environment and lives of people. The short film, “Haiti, Our Love, Our Home” portrays these stories. With dedicated funding for two years, EPIC will be able to continue and enhance activities to alleviate poverty and increase the ecological sustainability of agricultural practices, increase awareness, and foster stewardship of the Black-capped Petrel through education and outreach events. To assess the connections between their conservation efforts and local petrel populations they will map and monitor local petrel breeding habitat as well as track petrel breeding success in petrel nesting colonies adjacent to the project site.
Engaging Local Communities in Reversing the Decline of the Endangered White-breasted Thrasher by Restoring Key Nesting Sites and Reducing the Impacts of Invasive Species Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
The White-breasted Thrasher is endemic to St. Lucia and Critically Endangered. New funding from the Betty Fund will help restore the species’ habitat and engage the local community in conservation. (photo by Steffen Oppel)
The goal of this project is to reverse the decline of the endangered White-breasted Thrasher found in Saint Lucia. Degradation of the thrasher’s dry-forest habitat, caused by unsustainable land use by local communities, and predation from invasive species are having negative impacts on the reproductive success of this small population. The team aims to increase the area of suitable habitat by working with local communities and land owners to develop a cooperative land management system promoting the protection of key nesting sites and sustainable land use practices as well as restoring the habitat through a program of planting. To reduce the impacts of invasive species, a control program will be designed and implemented across key nesting sites and the effects on nesting success will be monitored using a network of camera traps. They will also engage local school children to aid with the analysis of the camera trap footage through a local outreach campaign.
A Holistic Approach to the Conservation of Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk in Dominican Republic The Peregrine Fund
Ridgway’s Hawk is a critically endangered island endemic limited to one small, isolated population in the Dominican Republic, making it particularly vulnerable to extinction if human and natural pressures continue. The main threats are human persecution, infestation of botflies (Philornis pici) in nestlings, and habitat loss. Though the situation is dire, it is also hopeful. The Peregrine Fund has proven that most anthropogenic threats can be mitigated through environmental education and community engagement. They have developed an effective treatment protocol for Philornis infestations which has increased nestling survival by over 170%. Additionally, they have had great success with reintroductions in Punta Cana, where they released young hawks to create an additional population, which now numbers 18 pairs. The current goal is to create 1-2 more populations in Dominican Republic. Future successes will be measured by the number of hawks in each population, reduction of human-caused hawk mortality, and the advancement of local biologists to take on higher responsibilities.
About Betty Petersen and The Betty Fund
Betty Petersen helped many aspiring conservationists; we honor her legacy with this conservation fund. (photo by Jeffrey Gordon)
Betty Petersen (1943-2013), a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, was for many years director of a program called Birders Exchange (run by the American Birding Association), enabling birders in the US and Canada to provide resources to Latin American and Caribbean groups and individuals. In doing so, she created a network of friends and partners across all of the Americas, who loved and admired her deeply, as is evidenced by their generosity in supporting this project in her memory. The Betty Petersen Conservation Fund has been established, under BirdsCaribbean’s administration, by friends and family to keep her vision and dreams alive.
The Betty Fund was officially launched in 2018 from the generous donations of individuals who knew Betty Petersen personally or were inspired by her work. “I knew Betty for almost 30 years,” said BirdsCaribbean Board member, Charles Duncan. “She was, in her own way, a wizard. With nothing more than donated birding equipment, books, and a bit of cash, She turned local communities and school kids into committed conservationists, struggling NGOs into recognized players on the inter-American scene, and “paper parks” into real protected areas. And in the process she reminded us how rewarding it is to lend a hand when none is expected.”
Betty’s husband, Wayne Petersen, spoke on behalf of the family stating, ““Betty was neither a trained scientist nor an ornithologist. However she was a deeply caring, kind, and gentle soul who understood people, their needs, and their feelings. It was these attributes that made her sustained efforts on behalf of bird conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean so successful and what eventually made her a beloved, admired, and respected figure. I know that Betty would have been modestly overwhelmed by the way BirdsCaribbean is carrying forward her legacy – a legacy of which I am deeply proud.”
The Black-capped Petrel is a mysterious seabird locally known as Diablotin. It spends it life at sea returning to the mountains of the Caribbean to breed. Only recently was nesting by this species discovered in Haiti. (Photo by David Hollie)
BirdsCaribbean will continue to fundraise for the Betty Fund, especially given the commitment for year two funding for the three inaugural projects. Dr. Sorenson said, “The recipients have committed to raise almost $275,000 in matching funds for their projects so, in just the first two years of its existence, the Betty Petersen Fund will have enabled more than a half-million dollars for conservation of endemic birds in the Caribbean. We are off to a great start, and we can’t wait to see what other projects we can fund in the ensuing years.”
“What wonderful news!” commented Adam Brown of EPIC, a recipient of funding for his work on the endangered Black-capped Petrel in Haiti. “Thank you to you and the Committee for allowing us this opportunity. We look forward to promoting petrel conservation the way Betty would have been happy to support.”
For information on how to contribute to the Betty Fund and/or how to apply for funding please visit our page here. Thank you to all the generous donors for making this work possible!
The Avalon is setting sail again this May for important shorebird and seabird conservation and research. The mission is a continuation of on-the-ground protective and restorative measures to limit human-caused disturbance and control invasive Australian pine at key shorebird and seabird sites in The Bahamas with support from Conservian, BirdsCaribbean, Bahamas National Trust, and partners.
Volunteers Needed!
Our days will be filled with much adventure aboard the 75ft schooner “Avalon”. (Photo by Margo Zdravkovic)
We need your help to protect beach-nesting birds, nests & young. Conservian is seeking a weekly crew of 10 enthusiastic volunteers for our Bahamas shorebird habitat conservation project in May 2019 aboard our 75ft research schooner. Crews fly to the Bahamas each week to designated airports for shuttle transport to schooner. All trips include bunk, onboard meals, water, & ground transportation associated with project. Cost for week 1 or 2 trips is $1,750 per week. Week 3 patron trip cost includes “student sponsorship” and additional itinerary of cultural and historic site visits on Great Exuma. Please see website for more information at Coastalbird.org A valid passport is required. Airfare & insurance are not included.
This is a wonderful opportunity to gain field experience and shorebird ID skills or simply a once in a lifetime experience! Last year, BirdsCaribbean’s own Jennifer Wheeler joined the trip. Read all about her amazing adventures here.
May 2019 Expedition Dates & Locations:
American Oystercatcher with chick. (Photo by J. Gray)
Choose one week or more! Each week includes 7 nights aboard the schooner
Week 1: Joulter Cays & S. Andros- May 5-12 (Nassau Int Apt)
Week 2: Northern Exumas – May 12-19 (Nassau Int Apt/Exuma Int. Apt)
Week 3: All Exumas (including Great Exuma) – May 19-26 (Exuma Int. Apt/Nassau Int. Apt)
Project Crew Activities:
Protect, post & sign shorebird & seabird sites
Collect new data on nesting shorebirds, seabirds & habitat
Locate & protect shorebird & seabird nests & downy young
Control invasive Australian pine on beach habitats (select trips)
Work with local volunteers to accomplish the above goals
Snorkel reefs in gin clear waters
Learn sailing crew skills
Fish for dinner-catch of the day!
To join our conservation pirate crew please contact Margo Zdravkovic at MargoZ@Coastalbird.org Go to Coastalbird.org for more information on our 2019 expedition and Conservian’s coastal bird conservation work.
Aerial photo of prime shorebird habitat on Andros.
IMPORTANT: Applicants must be responsible, adventurous, in good physical condition, enjoy working in teams & be capable of walking several miles during warm weather on Bahamas beaches. Applicants must be comfortable living communally onboard a schooner for a week & riding in small boats to access survey sites.
The last time we met them, Yvan Satgé and his colleagues from Grupo Jaragua and USGS – South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit were hiking up and down the high slopes of Loma del Toro, in the Dominican Republic. They were in search of active Black-capped Petrel burrows in which to set traps for adults returning to feed their chick. Read Part I of the story here.
“Hay uno!” – There is one!
The endangered Black-capped Petrel or “Diablotin” only breeds in the mountains of a few Caribbean nations. (Photo by David Hollie)
Excited by the prospect of capturing Black-capped Petrels for the first time, I am awake well before sunrise. Even the local rooster is surprised by the beam of my headlamp emerging from the tent. I knock on the door of the caseta where the rest of the team sleeps and, within a few minutes, our group heads into the forest, a flock of LED lights floating in the night mist. When we reach the ridge that marks the edge of the petrel colony, there is just enough light to sense the tall presence of Hispaniolan pines, their bark beaded with water droplets caught in lichen and moss. We catch our breath while listening to the muted sounds of dawn: a few birds warming up in the distance, insects starting to chirp in the bushes, and Pirrín…who never stops talking.
To avoid unnecessary disturbance, we decide that only Ivan, the youngest and fittest of the group, will check on the traps. If he finds a trapped petrel, he will call us by radio to join him. Ivan scrambles down the slope of loose soil and rocks and disappears into the dense understory vegetation. Up on the ridge, as we solemnly listen to the radio, even Pirrín is quiet. In the momentary silence, I review the steps in the tagging process myself: record the time; remove the bird from the trap; check it over for condition or injury; place it in the cloth bag; weigh it; attach a metal band to its right leg. If the petrel is heavy enough, glue the GPS tracker to the base of the tail feathers with epoxy, and secure it with strips of waterproof cloth tape and a small zip-tie. Take measurements: tarsus, wing cord, bill (culmen) length and depth; take a picture of the bird’s profile; place it back in the nest; record the time. Collect any poop samples. Breathe.
The radio screeches: “Hay uno!” – There is one. My heart races as we enter the ravine, single-file. Despite our excitement, we need to move slowly through the branches and vines that block our path at knee and chest height. In front of the burrow, we review the procedure once again and assign roles. Ivan removes the trap from the tunnel’s entrance, revealing a small but handsome black and white bird with a black mask over its eyes and a shiny thick black beak: Diablotín, the Black-capped Petrel. Patrick places the petrel into the cloth bag and weighs it as José Luis takes notes. Meanwhile I begin to prepare the GPS tracking equipment, but Patrick stops me halfway through: “370g: it’s a light bird…” I won’t need the tracking equipment this morning after all.
The Seabird Biologist Receives Two Gifts from the Diablotin
José Luis Castillo holds a Black-capped Petrel ready to be equipped with a GPS tracker, while Pirrín Matos watches the procedure. (Photo by Yvan Satgé)
An implicit standard in the tracking of birds’ movements is to keep the mass of the tracking equipment below 3% of the mass of the bird to avoid undue burden. Counting the waterproofing, epoxy, tape and zip-tie, the mass of our GPS loggers adds up to a bit less than 9g, meaning we could equip petrels weighing as little as 300g. The night before, however, we had decided to raise the weight limit in case the stress of tagging a smaller petrel might cause it to abandon its chick. As important as our research can be for the conservation of Black-capped Petrels, we do not want to jeopardize the health or reproductive success of the already-endangered birds we study. It is tempting to bend our own rule in our excitement – but it’s always best, in any expedition, to follow decisions made with a clear head.
The petrel rewards us with a gift of sorts: a fresh fecal sample for my diet study lands on my legs. Will this poop contain DNA from squid, or from some unknown prey? We hope to find out soon. Now, we band the petrel and, after quick measurements and a photo, it’s time to place it back in its burrow. Too happy to release my first Black-capped petrel, I am not careful enough of its beak and receive the mark of the seabird biologist: a bleeding gash into the flesh of my finger.
Over the next ten days, we capture eleven more Black-capped petrels, nine of which we equip with a GPS tracker. We also set up three “base-stations” near their burrows: powered by solar panels, the base-stations will download the data stored in a tracker whenever a petrel comes back to feed its chick. Ernst and his team will retrieve the base-stations and data when they come back in June for their monthly check of the colony.
A Patient Ball of Fluff
Gerson Feliz inspects the chamber of a newly found Black-capped Petrel nest, revealed by a fallen tree: Gerson will protect the 2-week old chick with an improvised roof of branches, rocks and soil. (Photo by Yvan Satgé)
During our discussions, while, bathing in the sun after afternoon rains, huddled around the cooking fire, or preparing GPS trackers in the caseta at night, I have realized that spending so much time at Loma del Toro is challenging for the team. My companions have families and other responsibilities in town (Ivan will leave early to take tests for his high school certificate – we all thought he was finished with school for the year!). Although cellphones and WhatsApp make it easier for José Luis to chat with his wife and young kids or for Ernst to keep working on a multitude of other projects, their monthly monitoring visits to the colony usually last only a few days. Hence, we use these two weeks on the mountain as fully as possible.
One afternoon, Patrick, an expert rock-climber, refreshes the team’s climbing skills with two duffel bags full of safety equipment donated by Ted Simons, the leader of a 2001 expedition to locate Black-capped Petrel nests in this area. We use the ropes, harnesses and helmets to practice rappelling down petrel escarpments and climbing up trees where Hispaniola Amazons, a vulnerable endemic parrot also monitored by Grupo Jaragua, build their nests.
On other days, we search for petrel burrows. After many hours of bushwhacking in dense underbrush, we find two new burrows near the monitoring area. One of them houses a grey ball of down feathers: a 2-week old Black-capped Petrel chick patiently waiting for its parents to bring it food. The other nest contains only a cold egg. This is the fifth abandoned egg that we have found in the area; in the 8 years that Grupo Jaragua has been monitoring the species, Ernst has only found a few such cases. The reason for these abandonments is difficult to pinpoint, but may include the presence of feral cats (which can kill or disturb incubating adult petrels) or the lack of available prey in the petrels’ foraging areas (which means the parents must spend more time searching for food and less time incubating their egg). We hope that our research will help us better understand how these threats affect the petrel population. I collect the egg for the Dominican Museum of Natural History while Gerson builds a new roof of branches, rocks and soil to protect the petrel chick.
The First Annual Diablotin Festival Takes Off In the Rain
With the help of Noah Jodice, Patrick’s son and a talented illustrator, I designed a poster of the Black-capped petrel’s travels that I had planned on giving to the village school. Unfortunately, the poster got lost during the trip from the US. (The poster is now also available online, in Spanish, French and Creole translations: just contact us).
When doing fieldwork, it is easy to lose track of the “normal” world and to forget which day it is. During this expedition, though, there is an important date on our calendar: April 19th, the day of the first annual Diablotin Festival organized by our colleagues Anderson Jean (Société Ecologique d’Haïti) and Adam Brown (Environmental Protection in the Caribbean). That day, we put on our best field clothes, clean our muddy shoes, pack some supplies for the hike and for our friends, and head down the mountain into Haiti.
We enter the village of Boucan Chat, where students from two local schools line both sides of the road, wearing bird masks or tree costumes over their school uniforms. The students have spent weeks learning about Black-capped Petrels and the importance of protecting their habitat in the surrounding mountains. Protecting habitats benefits not only the birds but also the whole forest. Preserved from illegal logging, forests can store more water during the rainy season, preventing farmed fields from flooding and keeping natural springs flowing during the dry season.
The buzz of a drone raises a few heads amongst the children but most of them seem accustomed to its presence. After three years of on-and-off filming in the area, the “Save the Devil” filming crew has almost finished its documentary on Black-capped Petrel conservation in Boucan Chat. The next day, they will screen a short version of the film in front of the Boucan Chat villagers, who will ask to see the film three times in a row!
A band arrives on a convoy of motorcycles, and the parade begins. Villagers hurry to the roadside to watch and the puzzled looks quickly give way to smiles. The parade doubles in size before reaching the football pitch in the center of the village, surrounded by vegetable fields and a few majestic Hispaniola pine trees, a reminder of the forests that once covered these foothills. The local Diablotins team, sponsored by Black-capped Petrel conservation work as a way to raise awareness and pride for the species, wear new uniforms emblazoned with an image of the petrel. A female team is now also supported to provide gender balance.
René Jeune, Haitian Black-capped petrel field biologist and at times human-size Diablotin, leads the parade of school children during the first annual Diablotin Festival in Boucan Chat, Haiti. (Photo by Ernst Rupp)
The dark clouds that have enveloped the mountains in mist since morning soon burst into torrential downpour. The audience runs for shelter under crowded house awnings while the dedicated players run and slide in the mud, keeping their eyes on the ball despite the violent rain. The game ends amid shouts of joy, with a victory for the Diablotins: the spirit of the tough little seabird may have given them an advantage. After soaked, shivering goodbyes and an hour-long hike in the rain, we are delighted to find that the heater of our pickup truck is working. While we drive back to the top of the mountain, however, we can’t help thinking of the football players who, after a passionate game in torrential rain, returned to cold, damp houses with only the pride in their communities to keep them warm.
Back at the caseta, we huddle around the cooking fire to enjoy the pot of soup that Ivan has prepared. The clouds have lifted and we can see the first stars between the crowns of the Hispaniolan pines. Soon, a Black-capped Petrel wearing a small GPS will swoop down into the forest and hurry into its burrow. When it comes out again and flies away for another fishing trip, invisible radio waves will have transported the secrets of its travels to our base-stations, patiently waiting for Ernst and his team to return to the mountain.
Next time, in Yvan’s last blog post, we will learn about the travels of the GPS-tagged Black-capped Petrels and of the fish they catch, from Colombia to the United States.
Yvan Satgé is a Research Associate in the Lab of Dr. Pat Jodice, at the South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University (Email: ysatge@clemson.edu). He has been studying various aspects of seabird ecology for the last few years.
A stunning Purple Gallinule enjoying a wetland in Cuba. (Photo by Arnaldo Toledo)
2019 marks the 10th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) and we need your help surveying all types of waterbirds on your island! Anyone can participate in the CWC. Grab a friend, head out to your nearest wetland or beach, and record the birds you see. Detailed information about how to conduct surveys can be found here.
Starting in 2010, dedicated bird enthusiasts have ventured into the wetlands across the Caribbean to systematically survey all types of waterbirds (shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds, marshbirds, and waterfowl) each January 14th to February 3rd. The Caribbean is home to over 185 species of waterbirds, including a number of endemic and globally threatened species and many migrants. A structured, ongoing survey is essential for understanding how to best conserve this exceptional group of birds and manage their habitats.
The Cargill Salt Ponds in Bonaire were recently designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Regional Importance as a direct result of survey efforts. With the survey data we collected, our team was able to provide evidence that the site met the criteria for listing. Now, Cargill is dedicated to managing habitat for shorebirds on their property. It’s amazing what birding can achieve!
Why Is the CWC Important?
Ruddy Turnstones are common winter shorebirds in the Caribbean. (Photo by Arnaldo Toledo)
Since 1900, 64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, and the Caribbean region is no exception to this crisis. Wetlands are in urgent need of conservation. They are unique ecosystems that provide critical habitats to specialist species. Yet, they face many threats ranging from complete conversion due to development, degradation due to pollution and introduced species, and loss due to sea-level rise.
The waterbirds that rely on wetlands not only face the threats of their habitat being altered or destroyed but also hunting and introduced predators. In order to properly manage habitat for waterbirds in the Caribbean, we need to understand waterbird population trends. In addition, monitoring the health of waterbird populations and their habitats is beneficial to both birds and people, since we rely on the same habitats for our health and well-being.
In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked havoc in the Caribbean, damaging fragile wetland ecosystems. Results from the CWC in 2018 several months later were concerning, with our counters reporting dramatic declines in common bird species diversity and abundance. Have these sites recovered? We are hopeful and can’t wait for the results from the 2019 CWC!
Good luck, have fun, and we look forward to hearing about your findings. If you have any photos to share, please share them on our BirdsCaribbean Facebook page.
Banded Birds
Be sure to be on the lookout for banded birds! Especially Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings. You may report your sightings to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab which oversee all banding in the United States.
Need Help?
Find a tricky shorebird in winter plumage that you can’t identify? Need help setting up an eBird account? Want to participate in the CWC but you’re not sure how to get started? Please contact us at info@birdscaribbean.org.
A Note on Entering CWC Data in eBird
CWC data is stored on eBird Caribbean. If you participate in the CWC, it’s very important that you enter your data through this website using the correct protocol on Step 2, because this is where we collate all the data used for analyses. We don’t want to miss a single bird or site! Simply making an eBird list during these dates is not enough- the protocol is required for it to be CWC data.
If you are using a desktopcomputer to enter your data:
Sign into your account on ebird.org/Caribbean
Enter location information
Select the appropriate CWC protocol under Observation Type
If you recorded your CWC data using the mobile eBird app:
After you have submitted your checklist on your smartphone:
Log into eBird on a desktop computer
Click on “My eBird” at the top of the screen
Click on “Manage My Checklists” on the right menu
For your CWC checklist, click on “View or Edit”
Click on “Edit Date and Effort”
For Observation Type, select “Other” and then choose the appropriate CWC protocol
Another short entertaining video in our series celebrating our 30th Anniversary! Thanks to our members and partners for sharing your thoughts with us in creative and entertaining ways!
First up is our partner, Sustainable Grenadines Inc. (SusGren), based in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Drone footage shows recent progress on the restoration of Ashton Lagoon, which is underway now! After more than 12 years of hard work and perseverance, this -mangrove-salt pond-coral reef ecosystem damaged by a failed marina development is being restored to its former glory. BirdsCaribbean has been a partner on this project from the very beginning! Our initial Wetlands Education Training Workshop way back in 2004 was the catalyst for this work and we have assisted with fundraising and project planning. Congrats to SusGren Team and we look forward to further updates!
Next up is Hannah Madden, a biologist working with the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute based in St. Eustatius. She has been studying the nesting ecology of Red-billed Tropicbirds on St. Eustatius since 2012 but also conducts research and monitoring on other avifauna, such as the Bridled Quail-dove. Hannah is Secretary of the Board of Directors of BirdsCaribbean starting Jan 2018. She is an active member, attending our various workshops and conferences, carrying out waterbird monitoring through the Caribbean Waterbird Census. and leading local education events for World Migratory Bird Day and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. She has published a number of papers on different taxonomic groups, but always tends to gravitate towards birds.
Jeff Gerbracht is the Lead Application Developer for eBird at the Cornell Lab or Ornithology. Jeff has been a long-time member and key partner of BirdsCaribbean. He has provided critical help to us in developing our bird monitoring programs as well as our own eBird Caribbean online portal. Jeff is a facilitator at many of our training workshops and conferences. His enthusiasm, knowledge, and love of birds is inspiring. Thanks to Jeff for donating so much time to us to help us advance conservation of Caribbean Birds!
Anthony Levesque has discovered over 40 species never before recorded in Guadeloupe and banded more than 10,000 birds. He is currently carrying out research to advance our knowledge of the impacts of hunting on shorebirds in Guadeloupe. When he is not shaving ;-), he is also the Guadeloupian coordinator of the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) since its inception in 2006 and served as Regional Coordinator for many years. Anthony is co-chair of our Checklists Working Group. He is a founding member of AMAZONA – a local bird NGO, active in Guadeloupe with over 300 members. His enthusiasm and sense of humor are always a delight!
We first met Binkie van Es in 2014 when he attended our BirdSleuth Caribbean International Training Workshop, an innovative education program that reaches thousands of youth across 18 islands. Since then Binkie has been putting what he learned to excellent use in Sint Maarten/ St. Martin, educating hundreds of youth and community members about the beauty and value of our birds. Recently retired, Binkie is also a certified bird guide – he took our Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Workshop in 2016 and has been helping visitors and residents alike to find and enjoy birds on his home island. Binkie’s passion is infectious – we are lucky to have him as a partner for both education and bird tourism!!!
Ricardo Miller works as a biologist for the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in Jamaica. He is committed to doing all he can to ensure that Jamaica’s birds and wild places are conserved for future generations to enjoy. He does this through his work at NEPA and also tireless volunteer efforts educating youth in schools and taking Jamaicans out birding for our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and World Migratory Bird Day. Ricardo is also an outstanding bird guide and has own business, Arrowhead Birding. For 30 years BirdsCaribbean has provided conservationists across the Caribbean the ability to share information and strategies for studying and conserving birds and their habitats through training workshops, conferences, working groups and regional projects, as well as the academically acclaimed Journal of Caribbean Ornithology.
Sincere thanks to Esther Figueroa (Vagabond Media) for putting together this video and Ingrid Flores, JC Fernández-Ordóñez, and José Colón-López for Spanish translation. Thanks to SusGren for their awesome drone mini-video. Photographs are by Sipke Stapert (Brown Pelican) and Tadas Jucys (Purple-throated Carib, Shutterstock). Special thanks to our members, partners and supporters who make this work possible!!!
In case you missed them, view our other fun 30th Anniversary videos at links below:
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)
Our 30th Anniversary celebration of BirdsCaribbean continues! We’re delighted to share another short fun video of our members and partners describing the work they are doing with us to conserve birds and sending messages of congratulations. Thanks to you all for being part of our community, and enjoy!
Starting us off is Scott Johnson, Science Officer for the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). Scott shares his thoughts on how BirdsCaribbean changed his life, including his gratitude to the organization for introducing him to his wife, Janeczka Johnson, from Anguilla – they were married one year ago! Scott and Jan met at our BirdSleuth Caribbean International Training Workshop in Nassau. Scott’s work at BNT focuses on terrestrial fauna in the national parks. He loves Bahamian birds and reptiles and is a talented naturalist and skilled educator.
Jody Daniel-Simon is from Grenada and is working on her Ph.D. She has been working with colleagues at Gaea Conservation Network and Grenada Fund for Conservation to share our BirdSleuth Caribbean education program with teachers and hundreds of island children. This has helped secure a long sought-after Bird Sanctuary in the outstanding mangrove wetland of Petite Carenage. BirdsCaribbean has provided binoculars and BirdSleuth curriculum materials to increase the understanding and appreciation of birds across Grenada and Grenadines.
Akeisha Clarke is from Petite Martinique, part of Grenada – she attended her first BirdsCaribbean 21 International Conference last year. Over 250 participants from 30 islands and countries met in Cuba in 2017 at this conference. For many this is the only opportunity to collaborate on how birds are studied and protected. BirdsCaribbean funded the participation of 120 students and young professionals (including 60 Cubans). Akeisha left the conference excited to start a bird education program at home and she has been going strong since then!
Justin Proctor, our Vice President, shows off his questionable bird ID skills (;-) since becoming a member. For over 10 years BirdsCaribbean has supported science and conservation of the Black-capped Petrel and BC Board Treasurer, Jennifer Wheeler, is the Working Group’s Co-Chair. Justin is Associate Editor of our journal, The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, and is Head of our Organizing Committee for our 22nd International Conference in Guadeloupe.
Bertrand Jno Baptiste, aka “Dr. Birdy,” worked for many years as a Forestry Officer in the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division in Dominica, and has been a long-time member and partner of BirdsCaribbean. Since his retirement from Forestry, Birdy enjoys sharing his passion for birds and nature in Dominica as a bird tour guide and is part of BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail program. This program seeks to build sustainable incomes for conservation-minded communities. Since its inception it has conducted 6 training workshops for more than 150 people, giving local residents the skills and tools needed to take visitors out birding as well as well interpret the cultural and natural resources of their islands.
Adrianne Tossas is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla. She attended her first BC meeting in 1998 when she was a graduate student. She considers BirdsCaribbean the backbone of her career and a very significant part of her life, thanks to the support, mentoring and inspiration received from this organization and its members. She is now paying it forward teaching a new generation of students in Puerto Rico about the ecology of birds and conservation.
We especially thank Adrianne for working as our first Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival Coordinator starting in 2002. Each year this celebration raises public awareness, knowledge and appreciation for the region’s many resident and migratory bird species, especially the high number of endemic birds in the region (172)—species that exist nowhere else in the world.
Cynthia Pekarik works as the Coordinator of Migratory Birds Conservation with the Canadian Wildlife Service, a key partner for BirdsCaribbean. Cynthia has helped with funding to develop our Caribbean Waterbird Census program. Her support was key in gathering the data to have Cargill Salt Ponds in Bonaire designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site. David Mizrahi is a shorebird biologist with New Jersey Audubon and also collaborates with BC on shorebird conservation.
Sincere thanks to Esther Figueroa (Vagabond Media) for putting together this video and Ingrid Flores, JC Fernández-Ordóñez, and José Colón-López for Spanish translation. Thanks to Scott Johnson for his brilliant mini-video. Photographs are by Bruce Hallett (Bahama Yellowthroat) and Gregg Homel (Grenada Dove). Special thanks to our members, partners and supporters who make this work possible!!!
Dave Lee holding a White-tailed Tropicbird in the Bahamas. (photo by Mary Kay Clark)
David S. Lee was a pioneering naturalist and conservation biologist who helped get BirdsCaribbean started nearly 30 years ago, and inspired many naturalists with his work and his writing. He was a man of many interests, and with respect to the Caribbean, published numerous papers and articles in the popular press on seabirds, Bahamian fish, turtles, snakes, bats, and orchids.
Donations from Dave’s wife, Mary Kay Clark and his mother, June Bash, allowed the establishment of the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds that will award money to conservation projects in his honor. The money is being held in a trust and will be used to award an annual grant for innovative projects that protect Caribbean birds and their habitats.
Goal of the Fund: The David S. Lee Fund for Conservation seeks to continue David’s passion for protecting wildlife. The fund will support direct, innovative conservation work in the Caribbean Region for birds and their habitats. The fund will be managed by BirdsCaribbean and used for annual small grants.
A striking male Magnolia Warbler perches momentarily on a branch while foraging for food during its spring migration. (photo by Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock)
Eligibility: Scientists/naturalists working in the Caribbean, in conservation organizations or academic programs, may apply. Applicants should be students or early career ornithologists, conservationists, or wildlife professionals (i.e., not established faculty or senior staff of a conservation organization, less than 7 years post-graduation). A student must be enrolled in accredited Masters or PhD program in ecology, biology, conservation, or related field to be eligible. Applicants must be paid or sponsored members of BirdsCaribbean at the time of application.
Use of Funds: The funds can cover travel to field sites, living expenses in the field, or costs for equipment and supplies to conduct conservation projects. Examples of equipment and supplies include traps, cameras, automated recording units, nest boxes, etc. Ineligible costs include salary or other wages, overhead fees, etc. Projects that foster collaboration between scientists/naturalists in different island groups of the Caribbean, such as joint projects to test conservation techniques for similar species, will be favored.
Application Guidelines:
Proposals may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish. All should have an English version of the abstract
Applications should be emailed as a Microsoft Word document.
The application should include a cover page, proposal (download guidelines below), and a curriculum vitae for the applicant.
Separately, by email, three individuals who can attest to your effectiveness in previous work should submit letters of recommendation. For students, this would include your academic advisor.
Evaluation:
A committee appointed by BirdsCaribbean will review the proposals and award the grants.
The awardee will be required to submit a report one year from the day of the award explaining how the award money was spent and the results of the project to that point. The awardee is also asked to write an article for BirdsCaribbean’s blog about their work (informal article for a lay audience).
But wait! What if you are not eligible to apply for funds, you ask? You can still support this worthy cause by being a sponsor!
Reddish Egrets (dark morph). (photo by Tania Thomson, Shutterstock)
This fund will be for the conservation of any bird in the Caribbean as a reflection of Dave’s diverse interests. He was an important part of many projects, ranging from those of the Black-capped Petrel and Seabird Working Groups to the scholarly debate leading to the elevation of the Bahama Yellow-throated Warbler to a full species.
At the moment the fund contains $12,000. Our initial goal is to raise $25,000 so that we can award $1,000 every year to a worthy student or early career ornithologist, conservationist or wildlife professional. Not only will this fund encourage creative field work for projects that make a difference, but it will also help build the knowledge and skills of young conservationists that are urgently needed to make sure that the Caribbean birds and habitats that Dave treasured are still around for future generations to enjoy.
Cuban Parrot surveying his domain. (photo by Elliotte Rusty-Harold, Shutterstock)
At the 2015 BirdsCaribbean meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, a round of beers was purchased in Dave’s honor, since he always seemed to have a cooler full when people wanted one (and even when they didn’t). Think of this fund like a cooler full of refreshing beverages that Dave would have around if he were here. We owe it to Dave to stock that cooler—to vitalize naturalists and empower them in their work to help wildlife.
Please give a tax deductible donation to the David S. Lee Fund. Give generously. The more we put into the fund, the more we can give out each year. Thanks to all those that have contributed to the fund!
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 the David S. Lee Fund. If you have questions or to make other arrangements for donating, please feel free to contact Jennifer Wheeler, BirdsCaribbean Treasurer (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org)
Checks can be mailed to: BirdsCaribbean, 841 Worcester St. #130, Natick, MA 01760-2076
With so many recent tragic and conflicted events occurring in the world, BirdsCaribbean wants to share something uplifting. As part of our continuing 30th Anniversary celebration, we present you with a two-minute glimpse of what our Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican colleagues are doing to conserve birds and their expressions of appreciation to BirdsCaribbean. Please take a moment to enjoy their inspiring words and images.
First we hear from Alieny González-Alfonso, graduate student at the University of Havana. Together with her fellow students and professors, Alieny has been a a powerhouse of positive actions for understanding and conserving Cuba’s resident and migratory birds. She is studying Reddish Egrets for her PhD and participates in Caribbean Waterbird Census monitoring every year. Alieny also organizes events to celebrate our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and World Migratory Bird Day each year and coordinates activities across the island. Alieny also conducts teacher training workshops and leads activities for our BirdSleuth Caribbean education program. Congrats and thanks to Alieny and her team for her amazing work!
Next we travel to Puerto Rico and hear from José Colón-López. José is a legend in his native Puerto Rico. As a volunteer with SOPI, he has been active in studying and conserving the endemic and migratory birds of Puerto Rico and their habitats for over 30 years. He generously donates his time to train and mentor others, sharing his passion and vast knowledge with a new generation of conservationists. José is also a founding member of BirdsCaribbean and has been to every single conference of ours since the first one in St. Croix 30 years ago!!! Cheers to Jose and thanks for inspiring us with your dedication and energy!
Adriana Vallarino, Ph.D., is a professor a the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She studies Masked Boobies and Least Terns in the Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, vitally important nesting islands for many Caribbean seabirds. Adriana attended our International Seabird Training Workshop in San Salvador, Bahamas in 2012 and since then, has been carrying out innovative research and conservation work, including studying the impacts of micro plastics on seabirds. She also does a marvelous job organizing bird education events in Campeche, featuring birding walks, bird art and photography, mini workshops and more. We’re proud that Adriana is part of our network!
The videos highlight how our programs are engaging young and old in direct conservation, opening doors for scientific and educational exchange, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in ecotourism. Grab a cup of shade grown coffee, sit back and enjoy an inspirational moment.
Thank you to Esther Figueroa (Vagabond Media) for putting together this video and Ingrid Flores, JC Fernández-Ordóñez, and José Colón-López for Spanish translation. Photographs in the video are by Aslam Ibrahim Castellan Maure (Bee Hummingbird), Lisa Sorenson (American Flamingos), Wilfred Marissen (Reddish Egret), Aslam Ibrahim Castellan Maure (Blue-headed Quail-Dove), Jose Pantaleon (Cuban Trogon), Susan Jacobson (Western Spindalis), Lisa Sorenson (Viñales Valley, Cuba), Gary Donaldson (Trinidad, Cuba), Gary Donaldson (Zapata Swamp), AnnHaynes-Sutton (Masked Booby) and Arnaldo Toledo (Cuban Tody). Special thanks to our members, partners and supporters who make this work possible!!!
Cover of Caribbean Seabirds Monitoring Manual by BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group members (Sutton et al) – revised and updated, October 2018
BirdsCaribbean’s Seabird Monitoring Manual, released in English in 2015, has undergone final copy-editing and has been translated to Spanish and French. All three versions, now dated 2018, are downloadable in PDF format [EnglishSpanishFrench].
Yvan Satgé of the South Carolina Cooperative Unit of the USGS and Clemson translated the manual to French with help from Régis Gomès (Association pour la Sauvegarde et la réhabilitation de la Faune des Antilles), coordinated the translation to Spanish by J.C. Fernandez-Ordonez (Fundación Científica ARA MACAO), and laid out the final productions. The manual covers the underpinnings of a seabird monitoring program, provides protocols of varying levels of sophistication to survey seabirds at breeding sites, and provides life history information for the region’s seabirds. The manual serves as a training and planning tool for staff and volunteers and is meant to encourage an increase in knowledge of seabirds and their conservation needs across the region. The creation of the manuals was spearheaded by Ann Sutton, the co-chair of the Seabird Working Group of BirdsCaribbean.
Brown Noddy nesting in Bay Marigold, San Salvador, Bahamas (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
A reminder that BirdsCaribbean now holds the inventory of Bradley and Norton’s (2009) An Inventory of Breeding Seabirds in the Caribbean, currently out-of-print. This book provides a comprehensive look at the Caribbean region’s seabird populations, and is a resource that every seabird enthusiast should have in their library. The book is available for purchaseat a bargain price, with proceeds of the sale going to BirdsCaribbean. An excellent companion book is the Seabird Breeding Atlas of the Lesser Antilles (2012), available through its publisher, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC).
With the manual now widely available, and the years passing since the seabird inventories noted above, the Seabird Working Group is faced with the challenge of undertaking surveys to update our state of knowledge. Let’s keep that conversation going, especially at the upcoming International Conference in Guadeloupe, July 2019.
Migratory shorebirds like Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings rely on Caribbean beaches and wetlands for a safe haven during migration and overwintering. (Photo by Max Schwenne.)
BirdsCaribbean and Manomet, working with their partners are pleased to invite interested persons to participate in a five-day international training workshop entitled, “Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats.” This comprehensive workshop will cover shorebird identification, monitoring techniques, and shorebird ecology and conservation issues. The workshop is classroom and field-based and will take place at Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Puerto Rico from February 11-15, 2019. The deadline to apply is December 14, 2018.
The Caribbean islands have a diversity of wetlands, which are known to be vitally important for migratory shorebirds (including most of the focal species in the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Conservation Initiative). There are still large gaps in our knowledge of waterbirds at these sites, however. In addition, many of the region’s wetlands and inlets have been destroyed, while those remaining are threatened by development, pollution, invasive species, impacts from climate change, and more. Monitoring waterbird populations and their habitats and undertaking conservation actions to protect them is essential to not only birds, but also people.
About the workshop
Some of the participants of the Turks and Caicos Islands Piping Plover Census. (photo by Elise Craig)
The purpose of the workshop is to:
increase appreciation for a suite of bird species that represent limited and highly imperiled habitats of wetlands, coasts, and grasslands
share information on the ecology of waterbirds and the threats that they face
provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to significantly contribute to our understanding of waterbirds through direct involvement in international monitoring programs
inspire and facilitate involvement in conservation actions, including raising public awareness, alleviating threats, and restoring habitats that have been damaged
grow our regional network of people involved in the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) and International Shorebird Survey (ISS), and stewardship of our shared waterbirds
The long-term goals of this workshop include the creation of a network of important sites in the insular Caribbean that will be protected and managed to ensure the long-term survival of migratory and resident waterbird species, and to work with partners at priority sites to improve habitats that support healthier waterbird populations.
Participants will learn about Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) and the International Shorebird Survey (ISS). There will be opportunities to practice shorebird-waterbird identification and field methods during daily field trips to Puerto Rico’s wetlands. Participants will also identify threats to their wetlands, learn about management techniques for alleviating those threats, and how to approach management challenges. After the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to apply for a small grant (~$1K to $5K) to carry out their own shorebird projects.
Topics to be covered in the 5-day workshop include:
Overview of the Caribbean Waterbird Census and the International Shorebird Survey and how to design and implement a monitoring program
Field training in identifying and counting waterbirds and monitoring wetland habitats
Shorebird life history—migration strategies, stopover ecology, reproduction
Threats to shorebirds and wetland habitats and conservation and management strategies
Developing a strategy for the use of citizen scientists (volunteers) in bird monitoring and conservation
Case studies for successful monitoring and conservation
Building sustainability for long-term monitoring
Data entry and use of e-bird as a data storage platform for bird observation data
Data analysis, writing reports, and sharing information with decision makers and the public.
Who should attend the workshop?
Practice counts of wetlands birds at a training workshop in New Providence, Bahamas.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about waterbird monitoring techniques and/or would like to initiate/participate in a waterbird and wetland monitoring program and carry out conservation actions at a local site or sites (including potential trainers and participants). Preference will be given to persons who are: a) working in protected areas, on wetland conservation, or monitoring with government agencies or NGOs in Caribbean countries with globally important wetlands such as Ramsar sites, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network sites, and/or Important Bird Areas (IBAs), and b) interested in getting involved with the CWC and ISS as national coordinators or site coordinators.
Funding and Logistics
Travel and subsistence funding will be provided for selected participants. Participants who can contribute all or part of their costs will also be welcome. A limited amount of funding from is available to cover the cost of meals, accommodation (if required), workshops materials (e.g., all participants will receive binoculars, bird field guides, etc.) and field trip transportation. Participants should plan to arrive in Puerto Rico on February 10th and depart on February 16th.
American Oystercatcher grabbing a crab breakfast on the beach in Puerto Rico. (photo by Rafy Rodriguez)
The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 and lies along the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. It is one of the nine refuges managed by the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The salt flats of Cabo Rojo are managed under a special use permit with a private operator, who continues to manage water levels as part of a commercial salt-harvesting operation. Water levels on the salt flats are also managed with the needs of shorebirds in mind. This area is considered the most important stop over for migratory birds and shorebirds in the Eastern Caribbean. The migratory birds use the refuge during the cooler months, while resident species are present year-round. Because of the importance of salt flats to shorebirds, especially to Snowy Plover and Wilson’s Plover, the area was designated a WHSRN site of Regional Importance. To date, 245 plant species and 145 bird species have been identified on Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge.
About the CWC
BirdsCaribbean has been working to build capacity for waterbird and wetland conservation in the region. The Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Program—a partnership of Caribbean organization, communities, and individuals that monitor waterbirds—was established to help us study, monitor and conserve migratory and resident waterbirds and the habitat they need to survive. We have had great success in growing the program in recent years, however, there are still large gaps in our knowledge and coverage of important wetlands.
The objectives of the CWC are to:
Promote inventories, surveys and censuses of waterbirds and their habitats in all Caribbean countries
Encourage broad-based participation in waterbird counts including NGOs, governmental agencies, institutions, communities and volunteers
Ensure that as many internationally and nationally important sites as possible are conserved and monitored
Increase awareness of conservation issues related to wetlands and waterbirds and what can be done to address these issues.
The CWC is part of Wetland International’s global waterbird census programme called the International Waterbird Census (IWC); different regions of the world all take part in this census (e.g., Neotropical Waterbird Census, African Waterbird Census, etc.) which can be adapted to any country’s objectives and capacity.
The International Shorebird Survey (ISS) is a large citizen science project, first established in 1974, now with contributors throughout the western hemisphere generating shorebird counts that are used widely to understand shorebird population trends and identify sites of regional and international importance.
BirdsCaribbean would like to thank the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Manomet, Inc., Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, and the Canadian Wildlife Service for funding and support for this workshop.
A vibrant new look, a larger-than-ever staff, and a blast from the past in our growing Archives collection – we’re excited to let our community know that good things are happening all around the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology!
New Website
First and foremost, we have been moving forward with much-needed software upgrades that will allow us to create and better manipulate a new website interface. Our goals include a much more user-friendly interface, where reviewers, authors, and readers can more easily find the information they need, submit manuscripts, and receive communications from us. And so we are excited to show you our new website. While we are still working out a few small kinks and improving some aesthetics, we’re proud of the new look and feel, and hope you enjoy it as well!
Archives
We are also excited to announce that 15 years (Volume 16 in 2003 to Volume 30 in 2017) of publications from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology have been archived as free, downloadable pdfs with accompanying metadata on our Archives Page. Some of our more “seasoned” readers and authors might remember that prior to 2003, the journal was known as El Pitirre, which officially began with Volume 1 in 1988. We are now setting out to archive Volumes 1 through 15.
Archiving entire volumes of publications requires considerable time and patience, and none of this archival work could have been possible without a steady stream of people volunteering their time to bring this to fruition. Thank you for all that you’ve done!
More Staff
Next, in an effort to accelerate our publication pace, we have hired four additional staff members split between our Copy Editing and Production teams. Authors and reviewers should now expect quicker turn-around time, better communication from our end, and an even higher quality final product. Thank you to everyone for your patience of late as we train our new staff and continue to build greater momentum.
Page charges: While we continue to offer free, open access to all of our publications, we are pushing hard to take the JCO to the next level, but doing so requires a greater cost on our end that we hope to mediate with reasonable, low-cost page charges. As of January 1st, 2019, we will be instituting these charges. Please note that if you do not have the funds to pay, you will be given the opportunity to waive the fee during the manuscript submission process. We do not want fees to prevent the publication of worthy work.
With new staff and systems in place, we are anticipating a considerable number of completed publications to be added to our current Volume 31 between now and the New Year. Please check back often to read all of the great work coming out of the Caribbean!
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).
BirdsCaribbean has “come of age,” and is saying goodbye to its youthful twenties. It is thirty years old this year! While taking a glance behind us, to see how far we have come, we are also looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
A Short History of Us
Our special 30 Year Anniversary logo!
So how did BirdsCaribbean come into being? Well, the first official meeting of the Society of Caribbean Ornithology (SCO) took place in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands back in May, 1988. However, its roots go further back, when first President Jorge Moreno, then head of terrestrial ecology in Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources, met up with Dr. Herb Raffaele, who was then the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Project Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean. These were two of the “Founding Fathers.” Moreno and Raffaele joined forces and invited “estudiantes de las aves” (students of birds) from around the Caribbean to a meeting in Puerto Rico, funded by USFWS. The following year there was another meeting. After these successes it was clear that they were onto something. They decided to create a new entity, and in 1988 the SCO was formed.
The First Meeting: Bedsheets for Blinds
Who were these “students of birds,” and what was the very first meeting like? Founding Fathers ornithologists Dr. Joe Wunderle and Dr. Herb Raffaele and José Colón described the first meeting as attracting a group of biologists, scientists and conservationists. They saw the study of birds as an avenue to advance their research, management and conservation goals. The meeting in St. Croix took place on an old sugar estate – and was not without its challenges. The building had no air conditioning and the windows had no shades or blinds, so some participants removed the sheets from their beds and covered the windows, to darken the room for presentations. However, it was very windy and this didn’t work so well. No one had been designated as the projectionist, so Wunderle’s wife, Dr. Jean Lodge, volunteered to run the slide projector.
Participants at the 1st Society of Caribbean Ornithology Meeting in St. Croix in 1988 (click on the image to see a larger version)
Bear in mind there was no PowerPoint in those days! Nor Internet, nor any of the luxuries and conveniences of technology that we now enjoy at our meetings. There were also no simultaneous translations, so volunteers provided short translations after each presentation. Besides, the programs for each annual meeting were fluid, to say the least. Some speakers were “no shows,” others turned up unexpectedly. And scheduling of Cuban participants was especially challenging given uncertainty as to who would actually receive permission to attend. Needless to say, participants in the early days learned to expect the unexpected. Fortunately everyone was adaptable.
Rosemarie Gnam (former Treasurer) shared one fond memory of this first meeting: After going out to dinner one night in St. Croix, participants found themselves locked out of the small hotel where most of them were staying. Jorge and others scaled the tall fence to gain access – and eventually they got a good night’s sleep.
Herb Raffaele shared another fun memory from the early days of the society: “Our earliest Caribbean bird conservation meetings, begun in the late 1980’s, were relatively simple affairs. All of the planning and organizing was done by Jorge Moreno of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and all the funding for delegates from throughout the Caribbean was provided by the Latin America and Caribbean program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Everything was done on a shoestring budget, something in the order of $20,000, so corners were minimized at every opportunity. At one such meeting in Puerto Rico I remember driving up to the meeting site only to find this ratty old facility, completely rundown, surrounded by a towering cyclone fence that had to be scaled because no one had a key to its locked gate. When I queried Jorge about this choice of locations he reminded me with great satisfaction how this facility was such a bargain – it scarcely cost more than two dollars per night per person! However, after some attendees later heard gun shots, I suggested to Jorge that future budgets should allow more for accommodations. We have never met in such an inhospitable place again.”
Launching our 30thAnniversary on Video
Along the way, the largest conservation non-profit organization in the Caribbean has changed its name twice. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the U.S. in 2003 as the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB). Then, in 2013, following deliberations at the International Conference in St. Georges, Grenada, it was reborn as BirdsCaribbean.
While looking back nostalgically at the early days, Joe Wunderle observes: “Now the Society has grown tremendously and has active outreach and education programs, training programs, including training of field biologists, bird guides, and more…We have got young people who are coming to our meetings and taking leadership roles in the society.” We hope that Joe would not call himself an “old fossil,” however. We would prefer to describe him and his colleagues from the 1980s as “pioneers.”
We are delighted to launch our 30thAnniversary celebrations – starting with the accompanying video from Joe Wunderle himself, talking about how BirdsCaribbean has evolved over the past three decades. More memories, stories and videos will follow!
Share your Memories!
If you have fun memories or old photos to share, please send them to: Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org.
Many thanks to Joe Wunderle, Herb Raffaele, Rosemarie Gnam, Jose Colon and Emma Lewis for help with this article! Thanks also to Esther Figueroa (Vagabond Media in Jamaica) for putting together this video for us and to Jerry Bauer for videography. Photographs in the video are by Frantz Delcroix (Magnificent Frigatebird) and Rafael Arvelo (Hispaniolan Parakeets). Our cartographer, Aly DeGraff Ollivierre created our 30th Anniversary logo.
Participants at the 1st Society of Caribbean Ornithology meeting in St. Croix 1988. (click on the image to see a larger version). Let us know if you can identify unknown persons in these photos!
Black-Throated Blue Warbler visiting a feeder in Jamaica last week (photo by Ahhh…Ras Natango Garden and Gallery in Camrose Montego Bay)
The month of October always heralds a change in the seasons – even in the Caribbean. As the days grow a little shorter and the fierce heat of the sun lessens, it is also the season for hurricanes. For World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2018, Caribbean island residents are looking back at the terrible storms one year ago. But they are also celebrating the steady recovery of residents – and birds.
About 130 birds, a third ofthe 500 regularly seen species of birds in our region are summer or winter visitors. More than 30 events on 16 Caribbean islands are already lined up to celebrate these amazing birds. WMBD is officially celebrated on October 13 in the Caribbean, but can be celebrated any time in the fall when migratory birds are present. More than 80,000 Caribbean residents, friends and visitors will join in the activities, led by Environment for the Americas and BirdsCaribbean.
Children on a birding walk in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
“Last year, for obvious reasons, we did not have a large celebration of WMBD,” says Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean Lisa Sorenson. “Hurricanes Irma and Maria had just hit numerous islands with terrifying force, and many of our partners were dealing with the damage. But now we are moving forward with great hope, as thousands of migratory birds return to our shores. We encourage our partners to celebrate progress made.”
The 2018 theme for WMBD in the Caribbean is “Year of the Bird.” This celebrates birds 365 days of the year, with a special theme each month. It also commemorates a full century – 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and significant bird protection law ever passed. Visit this page for inspiring articles, messages and activity ideas.
The “Year of the Bird” is also an opportunity to look at critical issues affecting our birds – including those embarking on the challenging migration journey – that were addressed throughout this special year. These topics can become impactful WMBD action projects. For example, September’s Year of the Bird theme highlighted dangers for migrating birds – light pollution and glass windows. How can we make our homes more “bird-safe”?
Least Sandpiper – a common migrant to the Caribbean; this one has stopped for a rest in St. Maarten (photo by Binkie van Es)
Local coordinators on each island will raise awareness about simple actions that people can take to help birds each and every day. “Planting trees for native birds, encouraging people to keep their cats indoors and informing people how to create a bird-friendly yard, are just a few of the actions people can take,” said Regional Coordinator, Sheylda Díaz-Méndez. On the WMBD website for the Americas, partners can download activities, coloring pages, presentations, event flyers, banners, posters, social media materials and more for events and programs. Visit migratorybirdday.org for ideas on how to celebrate, an event map and updates throughout the month of October. Get the young people involved!
For WMBD in the Caribbean, learning about our migratory birds takes place in a diverse, harmonious setting. As in previous years, birding walks, tree plantings, clean-ups, church services, media interviews, street parades, fairs, information booths, games, drama and art competitions will form part of the WMBD celebrations. Innovative and creative ideas are always welcome.
October’s Year of the Bird action is to participate in Global Big Day on Saturday, October 6th. Just like Global Big Day in May, the folks at Cornell are organizing a worldwide Big Day in the Fall for the first time to celebrate and learn more about fall migration. Get all the information you need to participate at this link.
We look forward to hearing about your activities and the birds that you’re seeing – please share them with us on Facebook, twitter and instagram.
Our Vice President, Justin Proctor, reports on his recent scouting expedition to Guadeloupe to plan for our 2019 BirdsCaribbean Conference. Read all about the behind-the-scenes action and updates on conference prep. Everyone is invited to join us at what will be an epic gathering of bird lovers and conservationists from around the region and beyond!
Local Organizing Committee at the Parc National de la Guadeloupe headquarters in St. Claude
After just returning from our first scouting trip to Guadeloupe, I’m excited to report back that we are moving full steam ahead with conference preparations for the summer of 2019! A big thank you to everyone that supported the trip and threw so much hospitality my way, including Parc National de la Guadeloupe, my local hosts Lydie and Franck, our beloved birder/guide/photographer Anthony Levesque, and everyone in between. You have helped set into motion so many good things to come!
For many of the BirdsCaribbean community, this conference will excitingly be their first trip to Guadeloupe. I can already promise that this French island, along with its amiable and good-humored people, will not disappoint. You can expect to jump into an entirely different and unique flavor of Caribbean culture, language, food, and sights to see.
I’m excited to share with you a few preliminary details of the preparations underway as well as a sneak preview of what awaits you in the beautiful French West Indies island of Guadeloupe!
Anthony Levesque and Justin Proctor planning for the conference (drinking Carib and spotting swifts flying by) (Photo by J. Proctor)
The Conference Theme
One of our first big challenges with a BirdsCaribbean conference is settling upon a conference theme. Truth be told, the conference theme is a big deal – it sets the overarching tone for the conference, including the plenary speeches, workshops, symposia, and presentations. The theme must be both important and specific to the hosting island, but also largely applicable to the wider Caribbean. The process of whittling down the best ideas can take weeks, and involves a wide range of people. I found that in the final days of deliberation in Guadeloupe, that the entire process served as a great excuse to bond with both the Local Organizing Committee and their fresh Guadeloupean coffee. So without further ado, we are excited that we have settled on the following theme for the Guadeloupe Conference:
“Keeping Caribbean Birds Aloft”
“Keeping” implies that we, as a Caribbean community, are: 1) actively involved in the effort, and 2) working on ways to build resilience in the face of many challenges that Caribbean birds are facing.
Frégate superbe; Magnificent Frigatebird; Fregata magnificens (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
“Aloft” is an encouraging choice of words that reminds us what we’re all in this for – to see our Caribbean birds (1) in flight, (2) alive and well, (3) in their natural place, and (4) thriving.
Another great idea that came out of our brainstorming was to feature the conference theme in Creole, rather than defaulting to French, as Creole is officially spoken on Guadeloupe and also prominently spoken in a few Eastern Caribbean islands and Haiti. It therefore speaks to a wider breadth of Caribbean peoples. The Local Organizing Committee is currently working on translating the message as accurately as possible, but here is a first draft:
“An nou gadé zozio carayib an lè”
The Conference Venue
The venue we choose for the conference is critical. We have a long list of criteria that we try to fulfill when we make this decision, ranging from logistical efficiencies to quality of work spaces to whether the venue adequately represents the island hosting the conference. One of the key elements that we continue to rank high on our list is to what extent the layout of the venue can create an atmosphere that encourages the gathering of people together. While the organized elements of the conference are the core of the entire event, we also recognize the importance of creating time and space for delegates to spend time with each other more informally. Having the right kind of space readily available nearby to the main events is crucial for galvanizing these interactions.
Right now, we have our number one choice selected, and we really like it. What follows in the coming weeks is a negotiation with that hotel and ultimately the creation of a contract with all parties involved. Once we’ve solidified that, we will make the announcement. For now, know that we will be in the Le Gosier area of Guadeloupe (see map below), which offers itself as an excellent launch-pad to any part of the island.
Orienting Yourself
French West Indies (Map by J. Proctor)
Welcome to the French West Indies: seven territories under French sovereignty located in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. French Guiana, although located on the mainland of South America, is often lumped in.
The main butterfly-shaped landmass of Guadeloupe is actually two islands separated by a salt river. The western island is Basse-Terre, and the eastern island is Grande-Terre. Indeed there are only two bridges that connect them.
Guadeloupe (Map by J. Proctor)
The Pointe-à-Pitre international airport (PTP) as well as the location where the conference is going to be held, Le Gosier, are both located on Grande-Terre, only a few short kilometers from one another and centrally located. Note the extensive Parc National de la Guadeloupe that spans almost the entirety of Basse-Terre island, with the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles, La Soufrière (an active stratovolcano, mind you), in the southwest corner. Also take note of the three major Guadeloupean islands just a short ferry-ride away: Îles des Saintes, Marie-Galante, and La Désirade. Interested in birding on all three? So are we!
Some Highlights
La Soufriere – the tallest peak in the Lesser Antilles – makes for a great day hike (Photo by J. Proctor)
Let’s get right to it. The birding is excellent, and made even better by the habitats and landscapes you’ll be passing through to see the most emblematic species on the island. Iconic waterfalls (chutes d’eau), wet tropical forest speckled with Caribbean tree ferns, and black volcanic sand beaches (plages) offer but a few backdrops for you to enjoy some of the best birds (oiseaux), including the:
Guadeloupe Woodpecker (Melanerpes herminieri)
Forest Thrush (Turdus lherminieri)
Plumbeous Warbler (Setophaga plumbea)
Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis)
Brown Trembler (Cinclocerthia ruficauda)
Antillean Euphonia (Euphonia musica)
Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquata stictipennis)
There are a lot of people currently working on putting together a series of pre-, mid-, and post-conference field trips that will offer you the best that Guadeloupe has to offer. Once we have a list of solid options, we will send out a survey for you to rank them based on your interest in each one. That will help us to ultimately generate the best options to offer to all of you. We’re aiming for a good mix of terrestrial, coastal, and inter-island birding options, so stay tuned!
Engoulevent piramidig; Antillean Nighthawk; Chordeiles gundlachii (Photo by A. Levesque)
Getting the most out of your trip to Guadeloupe
Cyathea arborea on the slopes of La Soufriere (Photo by J. Proctor)
For many English and Spanish speakers, it might be a bit daunting to step onto an island where the dominant language is French (and Creole). Knowing that many of us may not have the chance to master the language before July of next year, I suggest the following: take a couple hours to learn some key phrases between now and then. Being able to say “Good morning, how are you?” in the local language (accompanied by a friendly smile, of course), goes a long way. You’ll also be much more successful at finding your way to the local bakery, which I promise you’ll thank yourself for.
French is filled with vowels. It’s really not intuitive how you string them together and then pronounce them. I realized this a few years back when I was reading a book aloud to a group of students and came to a passage with the words “faux pas”. In a desperate attempt to not draw attention to myself, I went with the pronunciation “fox paws” and hoped for the best. Two students immediately called me out on it and I’ve been ashamed ever since.
So, if you want to jump on the bandwagon and improve a bit before conference time, why not spend some time with Duo, and his free, fun-to-use online language program, Duolingo? And if the first thought that comes to your mind is, “what species of owl is that?”, then I suggest you read down through a lengthy forum that attempts to not only answer that question, but also the owl’s gender, clothing choices, and adorable expressions. After a little practice with Duo’s help, you’ll be donning a French beret and happily waving a fresh baguette in celebration of your new language skills.
P.S. – I’ve included a visual to help get you going with some of the island’s most important vocabulary: La boulangerie!
Local boulangerie, where all your dreams come true (Photo by J. Proctor)
Closing Thoughts
Although we are 300 days from the conference, our Scientific Committee is getting organized and will soon be ready to start accepting proposals. Right now we encourage all of you to start thinking about suggestions for workshops, symposia, keynote speakers, and presentations that you would be interested in seeing. We’ll be sending out the call for all of those in the coming weeks.
Our official conference website is almost ready to be launched. There you will find your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about the conference. We’ve updated the look and feel of the website this year, so we hope you like it!
Last, but not least, Guadeloupe’s beaches and rum are top notch. No Caribbean conference is complete without dabbing in a little bit of each. So bring your mask and snorkel, remember to hydrate before you hit the local bar, and come ready to have an all-around good time!
See you in Guadeloupe! #BirdsCarib2019
And if you haven’t done so already, please sign up for our monthly newsletter in order to receive up-to-date news and information regarding the conference. Follow us also Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@BirdsCaribbean). We’re looking forward to seeing you in Guadeloupe!
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.
Betty Petersen (1943-2013) was much-beloved by the conservation community for her kindness and generosity. (photo by Jeffrey Gordon)
BirdsCaribbean is very excited to announce the launch of the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund to advance the conservation of birds and habitats in the Caribbean region. We are thrilled by the response of the founding donors who have helped us already raise $127,000 towards our first-year goal of $150,000.
The Fund will provide competitive grants to groups or individuals who are engaging and empowering their communities to protect and sustainably benefit from their birds. We will begin accepting applications via our website on September 1st of this year.
Betty Petersen (1943-2013), a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, was, in her own way, a wizard. With nothing more than donated birding equipment, books, and a bit of cash, she turned local communities and school kids into committed conservationists, struggling NGOs into recognized players on the inter-American scene, and “paper parks” into real protected areas. And in the process she reminded us how rewarding it is to lend a hand when none is expected.
Betty’s connection to the Caribbean was strong. Birders’ Exchange, an initiative she began, provided equipment to ornithologists and conservation projects across the islands. It even had a special Cuba fund initiated by National Book Award-winning author, Phillip Hoose. Chilean-American author, Alvaro Jaramillo, stated that, “Betty was a force of nature… dedicated not only to the conservation of birds, but also in elevating local communities through education as well as helping them have the tools to be able to achieve their goals.”
At a recent gathering of Betty’s friends and family, Lisa Sorenson, our Executive Director, told the audience that she was so grateful for the outpouring of support we have already raised. “Just this month, we received another pledge of $25,000 from anonymous donors who want to inspire others to contribute to the Fund,” she commented. “Now our goal is to raise the remaining $33,000 by November so we can fund innovative projects in the Caribbean that will engage communities while reducing threats to birds and nature.”
Betty’s husband, ornithologist Wayne Petersen, recently said, “I am humbled and appreciative of everyone’s support and know this is exactly what Betty would want us to do to remember her.”
Redonda, a massive barren rock before removal invasive rats and goats. Christopher Columbus named the island in 1493 and claimed it for Spain. Redonda was later transferred to the British Crown and around 7,000 tonnes of seabird guano was harvested annually from 1865 to 1914. It is believed that rats were introduced to the island during this period. The mining community was disbanded during World War I, after which the island was uninhabited. In 1967, Redonda became a dependency of Antigua and Barbuda. (photo by Jeremy Holden/ Fauna and Flora International)
A campaign to remove invasive rats and goats from Redonda has yielded spectacular results for the island’s unique and special wildlife.
The bare, prominent rock rising defiantly from the sea, with its steep, brutal cliffs and lunar-looking landscape – this was Redonda – Antigua & Barbuda’s obscure sister. If conservationists had waved a magic wand, the results could hardly have been more spectacular. Within 12 months of starving goats and thousands of ravenous rats being removed from Redonda, this remote Caribbean island has witnessed a miraculous transformation.
Since the ambitious restoration programme was rolled out, in short time, the rock of Redonda has been transfigured from an inhospitable landscape to a greener haven. More importantly, the unique plants and animals native to this isolated, uninhabited outpost of Antigua and Barbuda are making a rapid recovery after being freed from an alien invasion.
The rat eradication and goat removal work was completed by June 2017, and Redonda was officially declared rat free the following year in July 2018. The entire population of black rats (Rattus rattus) was eradicated using Klerat, a bitter, waxy rat bait that has been used successfully to remove rats from dozens of Caribbean islands since the early 1990s. Klerat was readily eaten by Redonda’s rats but ignored by the native reptiles, mammals and birds. The bait was distributed at intervals of not less than 40 metres, even down the high cliffs, to be certain of reaching every rat. The eradication team lived on the island for more than two months to monitor bait uptake and remove rat carcasses.
The goat operation, which took more than six months, brought the healthiest animals back to Antigua alive. All were thin and stunted due to the lack of food on Redonda, but have since gained weight and begun breeding on Antigua.
The Critically Endangered and endemic Redonda Ground Dragon rebounded after removal of Redonda’s rats. (photo by Jeremy Holden/ Fauna and Flora International).
Freed from these invasive animals, this uninhabited outpost’s unique native plants and animals are making a rapid recovery. Numbers of the Redonda Ground Dragon, a rare black lizard found nowhere else on the planet, have doubled in number – just one of the many fantastic beasts that have been pulled back from the brink of extinction by removing the predatory black rats and plant-devouring goats.
It doesn’t stop there. In less than a year, numbers of the equally rare Redonda Tree Lizard have tripled, hundreds of new trees have sprung up, land birds have increased tenfold, and the island’s globally important seabird colonies – including Magnificent Frigatebirds and several booby species – are having their best breeding year on record. The now lush and vibrant island is a stark contrast to what we know Redonda to be. A landing helicopter, instead of whipping up clouds of dust now beat down on the gently yielding blades of grass. The dying sister is yet alive!
Speaking on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Dr Helena Jeffery Brown said: “The Government of Antigua and Barbuda considers the return to life of Redonda as a shining beacon in our collective efforts towards ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation that will bring us another step closer to attaining some of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets 3.”
The project’s coordinator, Shanna Challenger, of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI), added: “This has been the opportunity of a lifetime – witnessing the rebirth of an island. Changes forecasted to happen in five years occurred within months. Our conservation efforts really show the benefits of invasive species removal on Caribbean island ecosystems.”
Blood, Sweat, Toil and Teamwork
The survival of Masked Booby chicks will no longer by threatened by invasive alien species. Redonda has regionally and globally significant colonies of seabirds, including Brown Boobies, Masked Boobies, Red‐footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Red-billed Tropicbirds. It was internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area in 2009. (photo by Salina Janzan/ Fauna and Flora International)
In conservation, successful outcomes can take years if not decades to materialise, yet spectacular results on Redonda appear remarkably swift. The reality, of course, is that this ‘overnight’ transformation was a long time in the making with months of blood, sweat, toil and – above all – teamwork to catch dozens of nimble goats and remove over 6,000 rats from every inch of Redonda’s rugged terrain. This island makeover involved meticulous planning, ingenuity, and edge-of-the-seat manoeuvres that included abseiling down sheer cliff faces to lay down rat bait and – thanks to the skilled pilots of Caribbean Helicopters Ltd (CHL) – landing equipment in very tight spots.
New Zealand-based Wildlife Management International Limited led the rat eradication team: “We have over 30 years of experience in clearing invasive species from islands,” said ecologist Elizabeth (Biz) Bell, “but having a ground team, rope access team and helicopter team using a combination of bait stations and scattering by hand to successfully target all of the rats makes the Redonda project unique.”
The British Mountaineering Council played a vital role in ensuring that even the steepest cliffs could be reached to lay bait to get to every single rat. Skilled as they were, the volcanic cliffs of Redonda presented an extremely challenging environment for the climbers to operate in.
The safe removal of the malnourished herd of rare-breed feral goats presented an altogether different challenge. The goats were skilled climbers too! Capturing and safely relocating them took much patience and well-thought out plans.
What’s Next for Redonda?
Flowering Prickly Pear Cactus on Redonda. (photo by Salina Janzan/ Fauna and Flora International)
The long list of organisations that cooperated in this mission reflects the complex challenges that had to be overcome. The government of Antigua and Barbuda along with the Environmental Awareness Group and Fauna & FIora International joined forces with leading technical specialists from the UK, USA and New Zealand.
Thanks to their collaborative efforts, Redonda has been rat free for a year, while the feral goats have been rehoused and are being cared for by the government’s Veterinary and Livestock Division on Antigua. Equipment has been installed and protocols have been implemented to prevent future invasions.
Redonda harbours unique species that occur nowhere else in the world and globally important colonies of seabirds. Many argue that Redonda’s unique and special wildlife, coupled with the historical remains of one of the region’s largest guano mines, warrants greater protection for the island. They’re not the only ones. A recent nationwide survey revealed that over 96% of Antiguans and Barbudans agree the island should be protected.
Preparations for designating Redonda and the surrounding sea as a reserve are now under way, led by the Redonda Steering Committee, chaired by the Department of Environment. Commented Dr. Robin Moore from US-based Global Wildlife Conservation, which has supported this project and is now helping with planning for the protected area, “It’s incredible to see this radical and rapid transformation of Redonda from a bare rock to a carpet of vegetation. As plants and animals continue to rebound, this could truly be a showcase sanctuary for wildlife.”
Funding for the Redonda Restoration Programme has been provided by the Darwin Initiative, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and Global Wildlife Conservation.
By Natalya Lawrence (Environmental Awareness Group & BirdsCaribbean) and Tim Knight (Flora and Fauna International). For more information about the project, visit the Redonda Restoration Programme on Facebook. Hover over each photo in the gallery below to see the caption or click on a photo to see a larger photo and a slide show.
Magnificent Frigatebird soaring over Redonda – Jeremy Holden/ Fauna and Flora International)
Barren landscape on Redonda before invasive rats and goats were removed. (Elizabeth Bell)
Flowering Prickly Pear Cactus on Redonda. (photo by Salina Janzan/ Fauna and Flora International)
American Kestrels are among a dozen birds to have recolonised Redonda in the past 12 months. (Jenny Daltry/ Fauna and Flora International)
Before – Project camp on Redonda, February 2017 (Jenny Daltry/ Fauna and Flora International)
Redonda rapidly becoming greener after invasive goats and rats were removed. (Elizabeth Bell/ Wildlife Management International)
Isabel Vique and Shanna Challenger with one of the new trees in March 2018, 6 months after invasives were removed. (Jenny Daltry/ Fauna and Flora International)
Redonda transformed from bare rock to a carpet of vegetation within a few months after removal of invasives in October 2017. (Greg Scott Caribbean Helicopters).
Herbs, grasses and young trees on Redonda in March 2018. It’s hoped that the transformation of Redonda can be used as a global example of how a bare rock came to be a valuable and productive wildlife sanctuary. (Jenny Daltry/ Fauna and Flora International)
Vegetation returned to Redonda within months after removal of invasive rats and goats. (Shanna Challenger)
Helicopter landing on a now green Redonda, October 2017, six months after removing rats and goats.
Helicopter landing on Redonda before invasives were removed. (Jenny Daltry/ Fauna and Flora International)
Magnificent Frigatebirds nesting on Ficus Tree – Salina Janzan/ Fauna and Flora International)
The rare endemic Redonda Tree Lizards have tripled in numbers. (Shanna Challenger)
Redonda vegetation changes, including regrowth of ficus. (Elizabeth Bell/ Wildlife Management International)
Piping Plover “AP” spotted on Cayo Coco Beach in Cuba, March 2018. It was banded in New Brunswick, Canada in 2017. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
“Almost daily, we learn more about what astonishing creatures shorebirds are, but at the same time how their populations are disappearing,” said Dr. Charles Duncan, Former Director of the Shorebird Recovery Project and BirdsCaribbean Director-at-Large . “World Shorebirds Day celebrates their wonder and brings attention to their plights. And in that celebration, we are reminded of our connectedness to one another and all life on this good green planet.”
World Shorebirds Day logo featuring a Ruddy Turnstone.
World Shorebirds Day 2018 – Thursday, September 6 – is about more than raising awareness of these beautiful, sometimes elusive birds. Sadly, we also need to recognize that around half of our shorebird species are in decline globally. Critical habitat is shrinking – in particular the stopover sites where the migratory birds take a pause, or spend the winter. These include the remarkable Cargill Salt Ponds in Bonaire, recently designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Regional Importance, Cabo Rojo Salt Flats in Puerto Rico, the first WHSRN site in the region, and many more.
World Shorebirds Day is an opportunity to learn more about the birds and their lifecycles. Moreover, citizen scientists can take action and participate in the Global Shorebird Count. You never know what unusual birds may appear in your binocular lens! Last year, a female Common Eider showed up in Bermuda. This year, a BirdsCaribbean birding tour in Cuba came across a leucistic Willet in the Zapata Swamp in March, as well as a banded Piping Plover, spending the winter in the Cayo Coco Cays on the north coast.
Note the leucistic (nearly white) Willet in the middle of a flock of Willets and Short-billed Dowitchers in Las Salinas, Zapata Swamp, Cuba. (photo by Ernesto Reyes)
Caribbean birders can register their chosen birding site via Google Maps hereand then do their shorebird count on the weekend of September 5-11, 2018, submitting findings on eBird Caribbean. If you’re new to eBird, check out this Quick Start guide. Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird and any counts you do at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches count as Caribbean Waterbird Census counts. To increase the value of your count to science, be sure to count ALL birds at your site, including seabirds, herons and egrets, land birds, etc. This year, Bermuda Audubon Society will participate in the count by exploring Spittal Pond on September 8th.
To make your submitted data visible to World Shorebirds Day, please be sure to share your checklist with worldshorebirdsday eBird username of World Shorebirds Day (WorldShorebirdsDay) or add shorebirdsday@gmail.com email address, to your contact list, and share all your related checklists with us (only checklists made during the World Shorebirds Day count period between 1–7 September 2017 are eligible). Guidelines for sharing checklists are here.
Participate in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS)!
Some of our birds are already on the move. BirdsCaribbean invites all shorebird lovers to schedule some extra counts during the migration season (August to October and March to May) by volunteering for the International Shorebird Survey, a year-round initiative organized by Manomet since 1974. On eBird Caribbean simply do a Caribbean Waterbird Census entry, choosing the “CWC Point Count” or “CWC Area Search” on Step 2 of “Submit observations” in eBird Caribbean. After uploading, share the checklist with username “ISSData.”
Depending on the timing of migration, you may see a lot of birds or just a few at your site(s). Don’t be disappointed if you only see just one. Remember that very effort counts and adds to our knowledge of shorebirds and waterbirds and their habitat needs in the Caribbean!
Good luck and we look forward to hearing about your findings and seeing your photos! Please share on our BirdsCaribbean Facebook page.
Banded Birds
Be sure to be on the lookout for banded birds! Especially Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings. You may report your sightings to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab which oversee all banding in the United States.
Handout from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that provides information about Piping Plover banding locations and how to read and record the flags for reporting.
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.
Feeder giveaway in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
Zenaida Dove (photo by Glenroy Blanchette)
Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc (SOPI) volunteers distribute feeders in Puerto Rico.
Blue-headed Hummingbirds are found only on Dominica and Martinique (Photo by Paul Reillo)
A Bullfinch at a feeder made by the Forestry Dept. in Cabrits National Park, Dominica.
St Thomas US Virgin Islands feeder giveaway. (photo by Renata Platenberg)
Forest Ranger Eugene demonstrates to the students of the Morne Prosper Primary School in Dominica how to set up the bird feeders.
Volunteers on the ground in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Para la Naturaleza)
Students hang up bird feeders in Barbuda. (Photo by John Mussington)
Feeder giveaway in Anguilla. (Photo by Farah Mukhida)
Princlpe and students from the Tete Morne Primary in Dominica with their bird feeders.
Feeder giveaway in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Pallets of bird seed wrapped and ready for shipping! (photo by Judd Patterson)
Volunteers in Puerto Rico ready to distribute feeders and bird seed.
Adult Eared Dove with chick in Grenada – Mt. Hartman Estate. (Photo by Greg Homel)
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)
Bamboo feeding station installed at Cabrits National Park, Dominica.
Bird feeding station in Dominica. Thanks to the Forestry Dept for making these awesome feeders!
Principal Ellis and students of Bethel Methodist School with feeders in St. Eustatius. (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Boxes of bird feeders arrive in St. Thomas, USVI. (Photo by Renata Platenberg)
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)
Setting up the bird feeding stations in Dominica.
A Pearly-eyed Thrasher visits a feeder in Dominica.
Feeder giveaway in St. Maarten. (Photo by Binkie)
The Scaly-naped Pigeon is one of the many species of pigeons and doves that benefitted from the bird seed. (Photo by Canter Photography)
Zenaida Dove- one of many doves and pigeons helped with bird seed. (Photo by Ted Eubanks)
Forest Ranger Eugene explains the importance of bird feeders to students in Dominica.
Para la Naturaleza staff in Puerto Rico were happy to receive bird feeders.
Recipients learned how to clean and fill feeders in St. Martin. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
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.
Lloyd giving his dramatic presentation about Ashton Lagoon in poetry (photo by Beny Wilson)
Chirp chirp I cried
Flapping my wings from the sky
To see all my siblings from another egg
Black, white, and even red
From the quit of the banana
To that of the dowitcher
Terns and herons
Plovers and flycatchers
Doves and even the belly yellow elaenia
Nice how we diversify
The lagoon who’s gravity we defy
Flapping our multi-colored wings
And showing off our different bills
Come one, come all
Short and tall
To the Ashton Lagoon
Where restoration has placed us
In the showcasing mood
Thanks to those nice people
At SusGren, Inc.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Grenada race, one of the common flycatchers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Note the crest and yellow belly. (photo by Greg Homel).
This poem was written by Lloyd Joseph, a recently participant at BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop on Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He described his experience in poetry as well as prose. Lloyd works at Palm Island Resort, another island in the Grenadines. Although he had little experience in ecotourism prior to the workshop, he called himself a “fast learner and very interested in wildlife.” The training took place from May 28 to June 1, 2018 and was hosted by Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren, Inc), a local non-governmental organisation based on Union Island and a long-time partner of BirdsCaribbean.
On the last day of the training, each participant was required to give a five-minute presentation, incorporating what they had learned about environmental interpretation. “Lloyd Joseph blew us away with a dramatic reading of a poem he had written about the restoration of Ashton Lagoon, which was taking place while we were there,” said Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, who was one of the trainers. Susgren Inc is carrying out the Lagoon restoration. View his inspiring presentation below about Ashton Lagoon, where he gives a voice to the lagoon, and his reading of the above poem.
He simply described the workshop experience—and birding in general—as “a fun and educational way of studying and interacting with these amazing creatures called birds.” The fun part was simply enjoying the birds; the learning part was, as he realized:
Lloyd and other workshop participants enjoy spotting and identifying birds during the guide training workshop. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
FUN: Picture not having any family time and always being too busy to enjoy the simple things of life with your family or even on your own. Allow me to introduce you to an enjoyable activity that will blow your mind away and will definitely relax you. The workshop was the most fun and relaxing time I have had in a long time. Using binoculars and even a telescope to view these birds in their natural habitat and watching them feed was great – not to mention the friendliness of the entire class and the instructors. A week well spent, I must say.
LEARNING: One is never too old or too intelligent to learn something new. It is my honest opinion that our biggest challenge as humans is being malnourished in knowledge. To be honest I was so malnourished that I was a bit afraid to attend the workshop! Then attending the workshop my mind was opened and blown away with the vast amount of information that was passed on to me by the instructors. Interpretation skills were taught in the simplest forms so we all could understand. Skills like poetry and the hierarchy of needs (Maslow) emerged when taking a group out on a hike. Also, learning about a jaguar’s mating call, which our instructor Rick gave as an example of an interpretive story (complete with a drum to make the roaring sound), brought the power of the interpretive message home.
What do I think about birdwatching? Why did it take me so long to attend such a program?
The experience is amazing. The beauty of the birds astounding. And yes, the different bird calls—both normal calling and mating sounds—are fascinating.
I would most definitely want to attend such a workshop again. Thanks to BirdsCaribbean, SusGren, and all other participating agencies for making it possible for persons who were so malnourished in knowledge to be nourished. Thanks to Lisa, Rick, Beny, Aly, and all the other information sharers for a time well spent and a great experience. I must say, after this program, that birdwatching has become a part of me and I can’t help but observe, count, and keep track of birds wherever I go, from now on.
By Lloyd Joseph. Check out additional fun articles on the guide training here and here.
Aerial view of Ashton Lagoon and mangrove and Union Island in the distance. The lagoon was damaged by a failed marina development. It is is currently being restored through opening up the causeway and dock fingers to allow water to circulate. (photo courtesy of SusGren)Lloyd receives his Certificate of Completion from the facilitators at the end of the Guide Training Workshop, left to right: Rick Morales, Lisa Sorenson, Lloyd Joseph and Beny Wilson (Photo by Aly Ollivierre)Lloyd received a prize for giving one of the best presentations. (photo by Aly Ollivierre)
To learn more about the restoration of Ashton Lagoon:
A big thank you to all of the sponsors of this workshop for their funding and/or in-kind donations:
Sustainable Grenadines Inc.
Marshall Reynolds Foundation
KfW German Development Bank through Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
US Forest Service, International Programs
Optics for the Tropics
Palm Island Resort
Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, Disaster Management and Information
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
Ridge to Reef Project Grenada
Carefree Birding
Private donors
Kings Landing Hotel
Its local name is “Little Devil.” But not much is known about this elusive bird, either on land or at sea. An intrepid group of conservationists go on an expedition in the mountains of the Dominican Republic to find out more about the Black-capped Petrel.
A Seabird in the Mountains
Map of study site in the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, Dominican Republic (Map by Aly Ollivierre)
We park the pickup trucks at the park ranger’s hut and unload our gear and supplies. I climb the flimsy wooden stairs of the nearby fire tower, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunset. We have arrived on the ridge of the Sierra de Bahoruco, the Dominican Republic’s southernmost relief and the eastern end of the De la Selle mountain range. This is the backbone of Hispaniola’s southern peninsula. Below me, the forest of Occidental pines unfurls in a deep green velvet. To the north, I can see the dark plains surrounding Lago Enriquillo, already in the shadow of the mountains. To the southwest, the glistening waters of the Caribbean Sea. Further to the west, below the setting sun, Haiti is already disappearing in the fog that has started to accumulate against the escarpment. From atop the fire tower, I try to imagine what might happen in a few hours. Not far from our camp, a small silhouette will pierce the night clouds, crashing through the trees before rushing to its burrow. It’s a Black-capped Petrel – the region’s only endemic seabird and one of the most endangered seabird species in the Atlantic Basin. The petrel is returning to feed its single chick after a week at sea.
For the next two weeks, we will stay in the mountains of the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park to try and gather more information about how this elusive bird behaves at sea. Our team consists of Ernst Rupp, senior researcher and project manager at Grupo Jaragua, the Dominican conservation NGO monitoring the petrel’s nesting sites in the country; Pirrín Jairo Matos, Gerson Feliz, José Luis Castillo and Ivan Terrero, indispensable field technicians with Grupo Jaragua; Patrick Jodice, lead scientist at USGS – South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (SC CRU); and myself, Yvan Satgé, early career biologist at the SC CRU – Clemson University. As the temperatures drop with dusk and the wind picks up, I join my colleagues huddled around the cooking fire. At 2,000m above sea level, even a mid-April evening in the Caribbean can get cold.
The team, still fresh and clean on the first day of fieldwork. Left to right: Pirrín Matos, Ivan Terrero, Yvan Satgé, Patrick Jodice, and José Luis Castillo – not pictured: Ernst Rupp and Gerson Feliz (Photo by Ernst Rupp)
The Mysterious “Little Devil” – What We Know
The Critically Endangered “Diablotin” or Black-capped Petrel in flight. (Photo by Doug-Gochfeld)
Black-capped Petrels (Pterodroma hasitata), like most gadfly petrels of the Pterodroma genus, are famously hard to study on land. As pelagic seabirds, they spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to nest from mid-January to mid-June. They were once more common in the Greater Antilles. They are locally known as Diablotin, the little devil. They are night birds and their eerie calls during the mating season give them their name. The bird’s breeding sites have been especially hard to find. They were only re-discovered in the 1960s in Haiti, and the 1980s in the Dominican Republic. As recently as last year, Ernst and his team found a new nesting area in the central mountain range of the Dominican Republic. There is hope that Black-capped Petrels might also be nesting in the Sierra Madre of Cuba (where they are known as brujas, the witches) and Dominica, but none have yet been found there.
Although better-studied than breeding sites, the marine habits of Black-capped Petrels also remain vague. Until recently, they were thought to fish the waters off the southeastern United States year-round. However, our 2014 satellite tracking study of three adults showed that they might in fact forage off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela while raising chicks. During this expedition, we plan to track a dozen nesting petrels with lightweight GPS loggers and to study their diet. Once we know where they go and what they eat, we will better understand the secrets of their travels and the threats they face at sea.
“Como una aguja en un pajar” – The Proverbial Needle in a Haystack
Grupo Jaragua field technician Pirrín Matos walks among prime Black-capped Petrel nesting habitat in Loma Quemada, Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Yvan Satgé)
Before we can study the petrels though, we need to catch them. This is where the knowledge of Grupo Jaragua’s field technicians comes into play. The expression “a needle in a haystack” translates well in Spanish, and applies particularly well to their mission. In a haystack of dense mountainous vegetation, they are experts in finding the petrels’ burrows—underground “needles” hidden among rocky screes or under thick layers of leaf litter. Pirrín’s skill is in locating the nest entrances among the rocks and vegetation. He confirms his findings with the presence of a fly that seems to favor active nest sites: “Pirrín’s fly”. José Luis is in charge of the borescope. Maneuvering the thick cable of optical fibers as far as 2 meters underground, he inspects every corner of the burrow for signs of recent activity: a well-defined nest cup, an adult incubating the pair’s single egg, or a sleeping chick. Gerson, the team’s memory, can remember every burrow Grupo Jaragua has ever monitored. Knowing how to use rock-climbing equipment, he is also the group’s de facto safety officer, were the terrain to become too abrupt and exposed. Ivan is still a trainee; but if he learns as fast as he walks through the thick vegetation or climbs up and down the steep ravines, he will be finding new nesting sites very soon.
Small but Helpful Gems Found in a Burrow
José Luis Castillo uses the borescope to look for signs of activity in a nest previously located by Pirrín Matos (right). (Photo by Yvan Satgé)
At each active burrow, I collect as many samples as I can. The first nest brings me beginner’s luck: just in front of the entrance a petrel dropping awaits. It is shiny and fresh from the previous night. My colleagues joke as I collect the dark part of the poop as if it were a golden nugget (the white part, urea, is useless for our testing). As insignificant as it looks, this little sample can tell us a lot. Thanks to my fellowship with the Dave Lee Fund, I will use DNA found in the sample and others like it to identify the species of prey eaten by Black-capped Petrels. Dave Lee himself had studied the petrel’s diet off the coast of North Carolina and showed that they favored squid. The technique available at the time, however, tended to put heavier focus on prey species that took a long time to digest (such as squid, whose beak fragments tend to build up in the digestive tract). With the molecular analysis of fecal DNA, I’m hoping to refine our knowledge of the diet of Black-capped petrels. This will help us better understand their life at sea.
José Luis hands me a few breast feathers left behind by adult petrels when they enter or exit the tunnel. Feathers can tell us about the broad diet of the bird through an analysis of stable isotopes. We can also use them to measure the bird’s exposure to mercury, which Black-capped Petrels are prone to bio-accumulate. Finally, if we are lucky, DNA left in the quill will inform us on the genetics of the local population. We are also interested in collecting remnants of eggs. If the egg has hatched, the remaining shell can be tested for contaminants. It can also provide clues to the diet of the female when she produced the egg. If the egg proved infertile, we will collect it with great care to bring it back to the Dominican National Museum of Natural History for their specimen collection.
More Finds for the Test Tube
Typical entrance of a Black-capped Petrel burrow in Loma del Toro, Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic. Note the chicken-wire of a trap shining inside the tunnel. (Photo by Patrick Jodice)
In an active burrow, I find an insect that seems to use the discarded feathers to make its cocoon, a black tube with protruding white barbs of the petrel’s feather. Could it be Pirrín’s fly? I plop the fly into a test tube; each sample joins our growing collection in a freezer, until we have enough funding to analyze them. Then Ivan comes back to me with good news. The team found a group of four nearby nests, with a chick in each burrow. To limit disturbance, we will be using GPS loggers that remotely send their tracking data to a base-station. Due to the dense vegetation and the steep surroundings, the range of the base-station is limited to a radius of about 300m. It is therefore crucial that we choose nest sites close to each other. Under Pirrín’s supervision, we set chicken-wire traps at the entrance of each tunnel to capture the adults as they return at night. After carefully concealing the traps’ openings under the rocks, sod, or pine needles surrounding the burrow, we take a deep breath and hike up to the nearest ridge. We are hoping for success when we come back at sunrise.
By Yvan Satge. Yvan is a Research Associate in the Lab of Dr. Pat Jodice, at the South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University. He has been studying various aspects of seabird ecology for the last few years.
Colorful and friendly, the Cuban Tody is one of Cuba’s most beloved endemic birds. (photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
Join BirdsCaribbean, the Caribbean Birding Trail and acclaimed Cuban bird guide, Ernesto Reyes Mouriño, on the adventure of a lifetime in January or March of 2019.
Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. According to the new Endemic Birds of Cuba: A Comprehensive Field Guide, 371 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 26 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.
Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful birding locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay mainly in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality. We will also have the opportunity to meet and have discussions with local ornithologists and conservationists that have been working with BirdsCaribbean for many years.
BirdsCaribbean is offering two tours in 2019: an 8-day trip in January and a 12-day trip in March. Find detailed itineraries for both trips below. Traveling with us helps Caribbean birds as a portion of the proceeds from the trip supports our bird conservation programs and partners in Cuba and the Caribbean. See some of the world’s most beautiful and memorable birds, knowing you are helping ensure their welfare by supporting the people who study and protect them. Read testimonials and see photos from past trips in the gallery below.
Our 2019 tours are now full, but do email us to get on the waiting list or to be the first on the list for our 2020 trips.
Send an email to Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org
Check out the report and photos from our January 2016 trip here and from our July 2017 trip to Havana and Zapata Swamp here. See testimonials and photos from past trips below. Purchase the new Endemic Birds of Cuba Field Guide here.
NOTE: The recent policy changes in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations do not affect BirdsCaribbean’s birding trips or the requirements of US citizens traveling with us. Their birding trips consist of group travel under the general license that authorizes travel transactions that support the Cuban people (also known as the people-to-people general license.) The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requires that (1) all people-to-people travel be conducted under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact (BirdsCaribbean), and (2) such travelers be accompanied by a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction who is a representative of the sponsoring organization (the BirdsCaribbean trip leaders). While you are on the trip, BirdsCaribbean will ensure that you have a full-time schedule of activities that engage private citizens (e.g., local guides, Cuban biologists, private business owners), and avoid transactions with the State Department’s List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated with Cuba (“the Cuba Restricted List”).
Whether it is through GoogleEarth or a scope, the Grenadines are a beautiful sight to behold.
It was back in my university days on Antigua. I was studying for an undergraduate degree in Tourism. I remember spending every spare moment traversing the globe virtually, via GoogleEarth. One afternoon, I could visit the Louvre, and on another, discover the archaeological zone of Choquequirao in Peru. I was learning the world, one tiny part at a time – and not spending more than my monthly internet fee doing it!
On one of my virtual adventures, I decided to visit the Grenadine Islands, so close, yet quite unknown to me. I was blown away by the many tiny islands that connected Saint Vincent to Grenada. Some are reserved for unique plants and animals; some are tucked away as a private getaway for the rich; and others are home to regular people, just like me.
Anyone who knows me is fully aware that I’m addicted to budgets. Having explored the Grenadines online, I quickly set about costing out my actual trip there. I knew that, when reality hits you, sometimes your dreams are put on hold.
A Virtual Trip Becoming Reality
Whimbrels are common migrants to Union Island wetlands. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Fast forward eight years, and I am fully enjoying my career in endangered species conservation, specifically my work with birds. I receive an unexpected invitation to join an Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop – in where else but Union Island (Grenadines)! Though the training was targeted to people living in the Grenadines, Carefree Birding, a company that supports BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail, stepped forward to support two Antiguans to attend the workshop. I was one of them! So on 26th May, I began my journey to Union, to learn how to lead nature tours, and how to make them fun, exciting and meaningful to my clients.
Apart from the normal jitters that plague me when I soar through the sky in an aluminium tube, my heart skipped several beats on my journey to Union. I could see in real time images just like those I had carefully tucked away and cherished in my mind. GoogleEarth was pretty good at teaching me how a place looked. However, it could never help me experience the smell of an island, or feel the gentle Caribbean breeze. It could not make my emotions of awe well up, as I observed one Grenadine island literally kissing the coast of another. My virtual journey could not greet me with the welcoming smile of the Unionites. GoogleEarth could not offer me the mouth-watering coconut bakes that I was introduced to. These made me promise to definitely return to the Grenadines!
Learning and Birding on Union Island
Beny teaches the group about digiscoping at Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Akeisha Clarke)
The workshop began bright and early on Monday 28th May. BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Sorenson, officially opened the workshop. The Executive Director of Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren), James Lorde, and Programme Officer, Orisha Joseph, welcomed us. We were introduced to our two main facilitators, interpretive guides, Rick Morales and Beny Wilson, both from Panama. Besides their obvious love for their work and positive, high-energy presentations, something struck me almost from day one: Beny and Rick knew each participant by name and by country and they even knew our interests. They easily conversed with each us, making us feel like old friends.
Beny, Lisa and Rick’s numerous anecdotes during their presentations made them all the more interesting for us. Between Beny and Lisa, we learnt the necessity of properly marketing ourselves, how to identify birds, how to adjust our binoculars and how to set up our spotting scope to view birds. Beny taught us how to position ourselves before the group, how to lead the group and how to ethically use playback and a laser pointer to show the bird to clients. Beny strongly emphasized the need to ensure that all guests had a fair chance of using the bird-watching equipment.
Lystra Culzac role plays in her presentation, excitedly showing an imaginary St. Vincent Parrot flying overhead to her “clients,” other workshop participants. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
Rick’s focus was on the actual interpretation during a tour. He taught us how to meet the needs of our clients by first getting to know them and assessing their knowledge levels. He showed us how to create a tour that was an unforgettable experience – not by doing fancy or audacious things, but by simply knowing your product and being passionate about it. Your client becomes drawn in by your knowledge and enthusiasm. Between theory, personal experiences and field exercises, he encouraged us to ensure that our tours were relevant, engaging and personal.
During the classroom sessions, the group was also introduced to eBird, a virtual platform that allows users to upload their bird observations. These data are analysed by scientists and converted into graphs and models, such as bird migration models. It’s a wonderful tool for the user and allows us all to contribute as “citizen scientists.”
Grenada Flycatchers are found only in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Ted Eubanks)
In between learning about our product and meeting the needs of our clients, there were mornings and afternoons of birding. Yes, getting to know our product! Our group was comprised of people from Grenada, Carriacou, Petite Martinique, Union Island, Saint Vincent, Palm Island and Antigua. We were all in closely related fields, but we were not all birders. Our facilitators took baby steps, teaching us to identify birds. Tests in the classroom, games, and actual birding in the field all helped us to hone our skills. It was heart-warming to see the group birding. We all had different interests and different personalities, yet when it came to birding we all connected, even the shyest of us. We all wanted to identify the new bird, the one we hadn’t seen the day before.
I remember being overwhelmed with amazement when I observed Scaly-naped Pigeons (or Ramiers for the Grenadine people) everywhere! In Antigua & Barbuda, I’ve positively identified it only twice. I also saw two species for the first time in my life: the Grenada Flycatcher and the Yellow-bellied Elaenia. One participant, Lystra Culzac, ably guided us through the minute details that would enable us to differentiate between both birds.
Aerial photo of the restoration work at Ashton Lagoon, happening now. By opening up “holes” in the abandoned marina causeway and berths, circulation is being restored in the lagoon – the water is already much clearer from work completed to date. (Drone photo by SusGren)
One of my favourite birding sites was the Ashton Lagoon, particularly because of the story behind it. The government of Saint Vincent approved the conversion of the wetlands to a marina in the 1990s but the project went bankrupt and the investors left. What remained was a destroyed lagoon with dead zones created by the water’s inability to circulate. SusGren worked with local residents and partners (including BirdsCaribbean) and after several years, got approval from the government to restore the area. It’s already a beautiful spot to enjoy nature and no doubt, as SusGren continues to work on its rehabilitation, it will shine even more as an area of outstanding natural beauty, supporting the health and well-being of the people.
Showing Off What I Had Learned, Despite Nerves
Natalya demonstrating her new skills during her final presentation, a mini interpretive tour about mangroves. (photo by Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
As the training drew closer to its conclusion, even the bravest of hearts were tempted to faint. We had one final test: our own interpretive tour. We had to show that we had learnt to apply techniques and knowledge gained throughout the week. This challenge was taken so seriously that half the group opted out of an evening hike to go back to our rooms to practise our tour. I was absolutely torn between hiking to Union’s heights with my new-found friends, or working out my tour in preparation for the last day. My decision later haunted me. I opted to return to my room, working feverishly on my tour and later lost my notebook with all my points!
In the wee hours of Friday morning I rose to practise my newly planned tour – as I still hadn’t found my notes. I wanted to prove that the workshop did have an impact. I wondered if other participants were doing the same. I went over my handouts and practised away and day broke. The time drew close.
Starting off our presentations in the Ashton Lagoon and making our way to other wetlands and beaches, we were treated to “boat” tours, walking tours with mangoes falling from the sky, poems, songs, skits and games. I shook like an earthquake and sweated bullets throughout my presentation. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice but me! We did well, we had paid attention all week, and I think we made our facilitators very proud that day.
Learning about the principles of environmental interpretation from facilitator Rick Morales. (photo by Alison DeGraff Ollivierre).
On 2nd June, we non-Unionites begin the journey to return home. It was bittersweet. I have attended many workshops. Indeed, this was one of the most useful, memorable, and fulfilling trainings I’ve ever been fortunate to receive. Our entire group bonded extremely well, working together to get our activities done. We socialised, explored, birded, trained and played together. As I boarded my plane out of Union, I looked back and thought of my week’s experience. I got to my seat, sat down and smiled. It was a great week. The plane started up. Then there came the butterflies!
By S. K. Natalya Lawrence. Natalya has worked at the Environmental Awareness Group in Antigua and Barbuda for the past eight years, restoring offshore islands that are a refuge for globally significant and in some cases rare plants and animals. She primarily focuses on reptile and bird conservation and is passionate about educating Antiguans and Barbudans about the natural world which surrounds them. She often leads tours with schools, government ministries and community groups.
Group photo – Participants and facilitators at BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training Workshop. (photo by Vendol Ollivierre)
Editor’s Note: Natalya is too humble to mention this in her article but she won an award for delivering one of the best presentations (about the value of mangroves) on the final day! Natalya was one of 24 participants in BirdsCaribbean’s 6th Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training Workshop, held in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, May 27 to June 1, 2018. The workshop was hosted and organized locally by Sustainable Grenadines Inc. Workshop topics were related to building a sustainable tourism market focused on birds, nature, and heritage, including bird identification and guiding, environmental interpretation, and marketing. Check out entertaining blog posts by 2 other participants: Allison Caton and Lloyd Joseph.
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show. To see more workshop photos, visit our Flickr page.
Facilitator Rick Morales talks to the participants about guided interpretive walks. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Studying shorebird identification in the field with Lisa Sorenson. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
Birding at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Spotting birds in the field.
Participants recording their bird observations at Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
Natalya (second from right) with facilitators Rick Morales, Lisa Sorenson and Beny Wilson. Natalya won an award for best presentation, incorporating what she learned into an entertaining tour with a clear message. (photo by Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
Natalya consulting her field guide. (Photo by SusGren)
Participants listening intently to a presentation.
Looking at American Oystercatchers in Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Akeisha Clarke)
Caribbean Elaenias are found across the region, including Union Island. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Participants enjoy a morning of spotting birds in the field.
Whimbrels at Belmont Salt Pond, Union Island. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Birding at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
A big thank you to all of the sponsors of this workshop for their funding and/or in-kind donations:
Marshall Reynolds Foundation
KfW German Development Bank through Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
US Forest Service, International Programs
Optics for the Tropics
Palm Island Resort
Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, Disaster Management and Information
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
Ridge to Reef Project Grenada
Carefree Birding
Private donors
Kings Landing Hotel
So, if you want to jump on the bandwagon and improve a bit before conference time, why not spend some time with Duo, and his free, fun-to-use online language program, 
