The majority of bananaquits in Grenada are of the black morph. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
Did you know that the same species of Caribbean birds can be a bit different on each island? Find out more from Nicky Koper, who visited Grenada with her team, to compare the Grenadian birds with those across the Caribbean.
Every island in the Caribbean has its own feel, vibe, and ultimately, its own ecosystems. It is not surprising, then, that the Caribbean’s bird communities have adapted a little differently to every island they are found on. This makes each island population genetically and ecologically distinct. Our team from the University of Manitoba and Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre (in Manitoba, Canada) wanted to learn more about why this happens.
Recently, the team published two papers highlighting how and why birds on different Caribbean islands are distinct from one another. We paid special attention to land birds of Grenada, because to the best of our knowledge, the unique forms and structures of land birds here have only been studied in depth for one species before (Bananaquits, by Dr. Joseph Wunderle). While we collected lots of primary data from Grenada in our field trips there, these papers represent one of those special projects that really came about through collaborations with and contributions from many scientists, who generously contributed their data from other islands (and Venezuela) to enable this research (see our thank-you*, below!).
Common Ground Doves had longer tarsi on Grenada than on any other island. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
Although we caught 19 species in Grenada in mist-nets from 2015 to 2017, we focused our analyses on just 4 of these, for which we had lots of data (> 400 individuals per species) from Grenada and other islands: Bananaquit, Black-faced Grassquit, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, and Common Ground Dove.
Personally, I found our results extremely interesting, as we found many differences between the populations on Grenada compared with other islands, as published in our recent Journal of Caribbean Ornithology paper. In fact, every one of the 4 species we studied on Grenada differed in at least one way from every other population we studied. In a few cases, the Grenada populations were exceptional; for example, Lesser Antillean Bullfinches were smaller on Grenada than anywhere else, while Common Ground Doves had longer tarsi (lower leg bones) than any other population.
Black-faced Grassquits had relatively long wings on Grenada compared with other islands. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
We also really wanted to find out what might have contributed to the unique adaptations of these species across the Caribbean. In our paper in the journal Ornithology, we show that islands with lower avian diversity have populations with characteristics suggesting evidence of “ecological release” – on islands with fewer species, there is less competition among species, which allows for that population to use a wider variety of habitats or niches. This, in turn, tends to result in morphological characteristics that help birds to successfully use a wider variety of resources.
While ecological release seems to be the most important single driver affecting evolution of physical traits in the species we studied, it’s definitely not the only one. Grassquits had longer wings and ground doves had longer tarsi on islands with mongoose, which might mean that these species have begun to adapt to the recent increase in predation risk from that animal. The stronger they can fly or lever off of the ground, the better they can escape mongoose. Morphology of several species also varied with climatic differences among islands.
We think the key take-home messages from this research are that Grenada’s bird populations – and indeed, the populations on all the Caribbean islands – are ecologically unique. Our conservation and management of these islands shouldn’t focus just on species that are endemic; we also need to recognize that each island population contributes to the diversity of its species, so we really need to conserve the species on every island on which they occur.
Lesser Antillean Bullfinches were lighter on Grenada than on any other island. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
*We sincerely thank these researchers for generously sharing their morphological data with us: Floyd Hayes, Miguel Lentino, Chris Rimmer, Kent MacFarlane, John D. Lloyd, Stewart White, Bob Wilkerson, and The Institute for Bird Populations. Many thanks to George Wallace for directing us to a publicly accessible database compiled from years of research. Many thanks to our volunteer banders and assistants, including Chelsea Enslow, Christoph Ng, Laura Burns, Ezra Campbell, Nicholas Bergen, Marie-Ève Cyr, Hannah Carey, and Alice Davey.
Dr. Nicola Koper is a Professor in the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Manitoba. She studies avian conservation biology in Canada and the Neotropics. Currently, she is focusing on effects of anthropogenic noise, oil and gas activity, and agroecology of birds.
The poster entitled “The Endemic Birds of Jamaica – 31 More Reasons to be Proud of Jamaica” will be distributed island wide, free of cost to all public education institutions. National school distribution efforts will commence on September 1st. The artwork is from “A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies” by Herb Raffaele et al., illustrations by Tracy Pedersen and Kristin Williams.
It was October 2001, a few weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when BirdLife Jamaica launched the first ever poster to illustrate all of Jamaica’s endemic birds at the Public Affairs Auditorium of the United States Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. The newly minted U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Sue McCourt Cobb, attended the launch.
Dr. Herbert A. Raffaele, then Chief of Division of International Conservation at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was scheduled to be the keynote presenter at that event, but was unfortunately not able to attend. All senior-level U.S. federal government employees were on high alert and non-essential international travel had been banned. Despite the stress-filled and unusual atmosphere, the launch of Birdlife Jamaica’s poster and associated booklet, entitled “Birds of Jamaica — A Celebration,” to illustrate all of Jamaica’s endemic birds proceeded and was an immediate success. The 2001 poster, along with copies of the Teacher’s Guide to the Birds of Jamaica and the book “Birds of Jamaica” by Downer & Sutton – which provided full photographic coverage of every resident bird species in Jamaica – was distributed free of cost to almost 600 primary, all-age and secondary schools across the island.
Twenty years later, Dr. Raffaele was again guest speaker on July 25, 2021, when BirdLife Jamaica launched a new, updated poster to illustrate Jamaica’s endemic birds. This time he was able to attend the launch, albeit on Zoom, due to the pandemic. Raffaele applauded BirdLife Jamaica for the organization’s leadership in shedding light on the island’s commonly marginalized natural history. He emphasized that today there was more interest, and greater opportunities to bring Jamaicans face-to-face with the island’s biodiversity and to magnify the local eco-culture. Raffaele said, “This is what conservation is all about! Working with local people to develop respect and pride in THEIR biodiversity.”
He added, “Your success at this will ultimately be reflected in the extent to which future generations of Jamaicans will have prospering populations of local birds to enjoy. This poster can prove a valuable tool in such a process. I and the Cape Cod Bird Club congratulate you on this especially important accomplishment.”
This new poster features thirty one species of birds (download the PDF here). The 2001 edition featured 30 species. So why thirty-one? On the new poster, the Olive-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula nana) which has one subspecies in Jamaica (E.n. nana) and one in Central America (E.n. astec), is now considered by some taxonomists as two full species—the Jamaican Parakeet (Eupsittula nana) and Aztec Parakeet (Eupsittula astec). BirdLife Jamaica President Damany Calder explained:
“As with a number of other birds, whether the Jamaican Parakeet (or Olive-throated Parakeet) is considered an endemic species or not depends on which classification system is used.
During the launch webinar event, BirdLife Jamaica also unveiled their new logo. It pays homage to the original logo but has a new modern look to it.
“The American Ornithological Society, which publishes the AOS Checklist of North and Middle American Birds* does not consider the bird endemic at the species level. It is lumped together with the Central American bird. However, AOS did change the scientific names of a number of parakeets, including Jamaica’s. The Jamaican and Central American population are now Eupsittula nana and the Jamaican subspecies is E.n. nana. In the UK, however, they use a different taxonomy. By the closest of votes, the British Ornithologists’ Union adopted the International Ornithological Council’s World Bird List as its favored taxonomy. So that list too classifies the Jamaican parakeet as a subspecies. A third classification system is that of Birdlife International, which compiled the Handbook of Birds of the World. That is the system used in the recent “Birds of the West Indies” (Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides) written by Kirwan et al. That system splits many more species, including the Jamaican Parakeet as a distinct species, using the same scientific name as above – that is, Eupsittula nana.
“So, it comes down to preferences. The two primary ornithological societies lump the Jamaican population with the Central American population; the UK’s top bird non-profit organization splits it. A paper in Zootaxa by Remsen et al. reviews the genetics of these birds and led to the change in the genus name. For us working in Jamaica, we are inclined to split the bird into a distinct species, because it can be justified by a solid source and it gives us another important selling point to push for the conservation of this widely persecuted Jamaican species, which is perceived as a pest.”
The first poster of the Endemic Birds of Jamaica, published in 2001.
The production of the first poster and informational booklet in 2001 received broad corporate sponsorship and support (from Shell Jamaica Ltd, The Caribbean Cement Company, The Hilton Hotel, and the Jamaica Gleaner Company, among others). The poster quickly became a fixture at major hotels across the island. On this occasion, BirdLife Jamaica took the position not to solicit sponsorship directly from corporations whose values and goals directly conflicted with the conservation of birds and their habitats. BirdLife Jamaica believes this to be a critical issue. Calder noted: “We felt it might be confusing and even counterproductive to add the names and logos of businesses whose existence depended on the continued degradation, pollution and marginalization of the natural world.”
This time around, the Cape Cod Bird Club in Massachusetts is a major sponsor of the new poster. BirdLife Jamaica provided a 100% match to the Cape Cod Bird Club grant through donations from its Board. The Club provides small grants of up to US$1,000 to the Caribbean for projects relating directly or indirectly to the well-being and protection of birds.
In launching this long-anticipated public educational resource, BirdLife Jamaica Calder described the poster as invaluable for school education programs. He believes it will help all Jamaicans learn about the island’s rich and globally significant natural heritage, encouraging Jamaicans to value nature and to acknowledge the public’s right to a clean, healthy environment.
BirdLife Jamaica is the only organization on the island specifically concerned with the conservation of birds and their habitats. Ten species of Jamaican birds are considered globally threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), that is, at risk of becoming globally extinct, and at least two Jamaican species have become extinct since the 1800s. Field-based efforts are ongoing to determine whether the latter two species, namely the Jamaican Petrel and the Jamaican Pauraque, may yet survive in remnant populations within the most inaccessible areas of the island, such as the Cockpit Country and Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park.
The poster is perfect for schools, libraries, and anyone who loves birds. It will be officially available from September 1st, 2021 but you can pre-order yours using this form.
*The AOS Checklist is considered the official source on the taxonomy of birds in North and Middle America, including adjacent islands. It is the checklist used by Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s popular eBird program and Birds of the World – the new comprehensive website on all of the world’s birds, bringing together content from 4 different resources (a subscription to this website is included in BirdsCaribbean membership). Hence, if you are entering your sightings of the Jamaican Parakeet in eBird Caribbean you will not find Jamaican Parakeet, you need to search for Olive-throated Parakeet and enter it as such in your eBird checklists. If, in the future, the species is deemed to merit full species status by the AOS Checklist Committee, then your sightings will be updated to the new name, Jamaican Parakeet. Similarly, note that the Red-billed Streamertail and Black-billed Streamertail are no longer considered two distinct species by the AOS. They are now lumped into one species “Streamertail” (Trochilus polytmus) with two subspecies: Streamertail (Red-billed) – T.p. polytmus and Streamertail (Black-billed) – T.p. scitulus). In ebird you have the option to enter your sighting as Streamertail or Streamertail (Red-billed).
Enjoy the Gallery of Photos below showing presentations of the poster to different agencies and organizations in Jamaica and also a few screen shots from the July 25th poster launch event on zoom. Click on each photo to see it larger and to view as a slide show.
Poster presentation to Gary Allen, RGR Gleaner Communications Group by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica.
Herb Raffaele, keynote speaker, at the poster launch event on Zoom.
Poster presentation to Ms. Shanique Hamilton, Senior Teacher at Denham Town High School, by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica.
Poster presentation to Mrs. Helen Austin, Vice Principal of Charlie Smith High School, by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica.
Poster presentation to Heather Pinnock, Urban Development Corporation, by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica
Birding legend John Fletcher is interviewed by Damion Whyte about his life as a birder and how ornithology and birding has developed in Jamaica over the years.
Damany Calder, BirdLife Jamaica President, welcomes viewers at launch webinar on Zoom.
Poster presentation to Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, CEO, Jamaica Environment Trust by Damany Calder, BirdLife Jamaica President.
Poster presentation to Dr. Dwight Robinson, Head of the Dept of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, by Ricardo Miller, BirdLife Jamaica & NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency).
During the webinar launch on zoom, Ricardo Miller explained why the new poster has 31 species.
Poster presentation to Dr. Tracy Commock, The Director, Natural History Museum of Jamica, Institute of Jamaica by Ricardo Miller, BirdLife Jamaica
Poster presentation to Mr. Ainsley Henry, CEO & Conservator of Forests at the Jamaican Forestry Dept, by Ricardo Miller, BirdLife Jamaica.
Flock together with us this August for the AOS 2021 Virtual Meeting! The meeting, August 9-13, features a fantastic line-up of keynote and plenary speakers, workshops, symposia, discussions, and social events. The meeting theme, Birds of Many Feathers Flock Together, aims to harness the power of all the individuals who study, conserve, and educate about birds. BirdsCaribbean is excited to be a part of the meeting through several events, including a symposium, and a meet and greet social hour. Mark your calendars, be sure to register, and read more about these events below!
BirdsCaribbean Symposium Will Showcase Caribbean Research and Conservation
On August 11th and 12th, BirdsCaribbean will host a three-part symposium entitled, “Resilient Caribbean Birds—Surviving and Thriving in a Challenging World.” This symposium will highlight lessons learned from recent avian research and conservation projects in the Caribbean that focus on the resilience of birds and people to cope with numerous threats, including storms and hurricanes, invasive species, habitat destruction, and more. Sixteen ornithologists and conservationists will share their work and there will be time for Q&A and discussion. See the full abstract below; the AOS Meeting program and abstracts are available for download here.
Get Social with Us!
BirdsCaribbean will host a Meet and Greet Social Hour on Tues Aug 10 from 4-5pm EDT. We all miss live events and getting to catch up in person. We’re hoping you’ll join us on Zoom, where we can all grab our favorite Caribbean cocktails and see your smiling faces! Our Meet and Greet is a fantastic opportunity for BirdsCaribbean members to reconnect and for new recruits to meet some friendly colleagues. Come mingle with our amazing community and hopefully get inspired to learn more during our three-part symposium over the following two days. We’ll be starting out with some ice breakers (think favorite Caribbean bird and Caribbean cocktail), followed by a fun bird trivia quiz to test how well you know your Caribbean birds (studying encouraged!).
BirdsCaribbean Symposium Abstract: Resilient Caribbean birds: Surviving and thriving in a challenging world
Organizers: Lisa G. Sorenson and Adrianne G. Tossas
The insular Caribbean is recognized as one of the top five global biodiversity conservation hotspots, yet this important region’s wildlife face numerous threats, from destruction of habitats for development to more frequent and extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. The region is of exceptional importance to birds, hosting 171 endemic species. It also serves as a key migratory route for more than 100 migrants, whose journeys between the North and South American mainlands depend on quality habitat throughout the islands. BirdsCaribbean and its wide network of partners across the Caribbean have recognized that in order for birds and their habitats to survive and thrive during these times of rapid change, conservationists and communities must share resources, collaborate, and flock together to stem the tides of avian loss.
During our symposium, members of the BirdsCaribbean community—scientists, conservationists, students, and volunteers—will share their work and lessons learned on building resilience for the region’s resident and migratory bird species. The diversity of research and accomplishments showcased in this symposium is a testament to the region’s tenacious spirit, camaraderie, resourcefulness, and inherent passion for their natural world. It is also a testament to the resilience of birds, demonstrating that many species of birds can survive if we give them the chance to do so, by alleviating threats, protecting habitats, and engaging communities in conservation.
The Bahama Nuthatch is finally declared a full species. Sadly, due to recent hurricanes, it may now be extinct. (photo by Bill Hayes)
The Bahama Nuthatch (Sitta insularis), formerly considered a subspecies of the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), has finally been split from the Brown-headed Nuthatch. This elevates the Bahama Nuthatch to a full species, meaning we now have a new Caribbean and Bahamas endemic!
The Bahama Nuthatch was split from the Brown-headed Nuthatch due to research showing differences in vocalizations. The calls of the Bahama Nuthatch are strikingly different from those of the Brown-headed Nuthatch, including a unique, rapid, high “warble.” In addition, there is a weak response of each species to playback of vocalizations of the other species. In other words, each species does not recognize the other as members of the same species. Additionally, there are some physical differences that distinguish the Bahama Nuthatch such as a much darker brown facial stripe, much longer bill, and considerably shorter wings.
Bahamian Biologist, Scott Johnson commented, “After many years and a lot of research, the Bahama Nuthatch has been elevated to full species status (although many of us knew and recognized it as such for a while now). Sadly, we are not sure if it is still alive. Hurricane Dorian destroyed the only place on Grand Bahama where it was found. I will be keeping an eye and ear out for this species during my next trip to GB.”
More surveys are urgently needed. We hope we can still find this incredibly special bird and find a way to bring it back. In the meantime, conserving its pine forest habitat is paramount!
St. Kitts Bullfinch granted full species status
Since it was first described by George Lawrence in 1881, the St. Kitts Bullfinch was considered a sub-species of the Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Milopyrrha portorinsis). This bird, locally known as the St. Kitts Bullfinch (Melopyrrha portoricensis grandis), was living in St. Kitts with a restricted distribution on the upper slopes of Mt. Misery.
However, the AOS have formally amended the status of the St. Kitts bird from a subspecies to a distinct full species, now officially named the St. Kitts Bullfinch (Milopyrrha grandis). This gives St. Kitts its first and only endemic bird! The catch – this bird has been extinct for almost 100 years!
Thanks to a few specimens and a PhD study on this unique bullfinch, the St. Kitt’s Bullfinch was differentiated from the Puerto Rican Bullfinch by a larger size of about 25%, bigger and heavier beak, and differences in coloration. The St. Kitts Bullfinch has consistent black markings on the undertail coverts that the Puerto Rico birds do not have. In addition, the plumage of St. Kitts birds is more glossy black and the throat and upper breast patch is more extended and darker reddish-brown.
What caused the extinction of this species? It’s hypothesized that the St. Kitt’s Bullfinch likely existed with a very restricted range on Mt. Liamuiga. It was thought to be common in the 1890s but when two large hurricanes struck in 1899, the bullfinch disappeared. You can read more about the St. Kitt’s Bullfinch here and here.
Museum specimens showing the marked difference in size between a male St. Kitts Bullfinch (upper) and male Puerto Rican Bullfinch (lower). (photo by Douglas Wechsler)
Mounted specimen of a St. Kitts Bullfinch. (Naturalis Zoology andGeology catalogues)
Other Caribbean taxonomic updates
Additionally, there were a few interesting broader reclassifications published in the AOS Supplement. The Antillean Piculet (Nesoctites micromegas) is reclassified as no longer belonging to the Piculet subfamily. Recent genetic evidence shows that these unique Caribbean picids are more closely related to woodpeckers (subfamily Picinae) than to the smaller South American piculets. However, the Antillean Piculet still lacks some classic woodpecker features such as stiffened rectrices (tail feathers) and adaptations for drilling, making it unique among both piculets and woodpeckers.
Antillean Euphonia, Puerto Rican Subspecies (Photo by Aldredo Irizarry)
Another Caribbean classic, the Antillean Euphonia (Euphonia musica), has been reclassified with the genus name—Chlorophonia musica. Recent genetic analyses have distinguished Antillean Euphonia as well as its cousin, the Elegant Euphonia, as more closely related to the Chlorophonia finches than the Euphonias (all within Family Fringillidae).
Another generic change—Jamaican Owl has been moved from Pseudoscops grammicus to Asio grammicus.
Finally, Crested Caracara (Caracara cherway) and Southern Caracara (Caracara plancus) have been lumped into a single species Caracara plancus.
We are excited to welcome the two new species of endemics to the BirdsCaribbean family, and hope beyond hope that they somehow still survive. Caribbean birds remain understudied and we hope future research will help us solve some other taxonomic mysteries in the Caribbean.
BirdsCaribbean hosted its first Bird Zine (pronounced zeen) Contest during the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. Now, what is a Zine, you may ask?
A zine is a self-published booklet. Zines tend to be a collage of different images, text, and messages put together by writing, drawing, and/or cutting and gluing content into a booklet. In other words, it’s a hands-on creation utilizing various techniques that showcase informational content. We recognize the value of encouraging this form of expression and acknowledging the talent and knowledge of both novice and experienced birders.
The contest was presented as an opportunity for anyone with a love for birds to dig deep into one of the following topics that fascinates them: Bird Sounds; Bird Flight; Caribbean Endemic Bird Species Spotlight; and Why Caribbean Birds Matter.
We received 33 zines (22 in Spanish and 11 in English) from Barbados, Bonaire, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. Some zines were handmade while others – like Allison Perkins’ zine about the Blue-headed Quail Dove and Alondra Del Mar Norat Pérez’s zine ‘Get to Know Me – the Puerto Rican Emerald’ – were beautifully made using free online design software.
All zines submitted are worthy of celebration! The unique quality of a zine is how its ability to share an idea/s will differ depending on the context and reader. We honour the work of all the zine creators. They were artistically unique and effective at expanding our knowledge of the bird and topic.
Grand Prize Winners
Adults (16 and older)
Arnaldo Toledo, Cuba, was the winner of our Grand Prize for adults (ages 16 and older). Arnaldo Toledo, Cuba- “Apuntes de campo Carpintero Churroso” (Field Notes Fernandina’s Flicker). Arnaldo’s zine explores the amazing adaptations of a Cuban endemic bird, the Fernandina’s Flicker. He beautifully combines art & science with his exquisite drawings and his deep knowledge of the species. One judge commented, “This zine is beautifully designed and packed with information. It reminds me of artwork I would find in The Naturalist’s Library by Sir Jardine Williams (published in the 19th Century).”
We asked Arnaldo what inspired him to create his zine. He replied, “Woodpeckers are among my favorite birds, they are so active and full of cool adaptations. The Fernandina’s Flicker is special for me, I have spent a lot of time observing it and studying its life. It is a Threatened species that needs all the help we can give it. I had a lot of fun creating the Zine. I was able to draw freely about a topic I love, mixing a lot of art techniques and ideas. My hope was to make anyone who opens my zine interested in our beautiful flicker.”
Children (15 and under)
Dayami Ravelo, Cuba, age 9, created a lovely zine on the topic of Why Caribbean Birds Matter. Dayami Ravelo, Cuba- “Por qué importan las aves del Caribe” (Why Caribbean Birds Matter). Dayami’s zine showcases many Cuban endemic birds and why they are important. It is inspirational to both children and adults. Dayami’s zine received great reviews from the judges. One judge commented, “It is visually appealing with the hand drawn photos of all the birds and landscapes. A lot of effort was put into creating this zine and I am curious to learn more about Cuba’s endemic birds.”
Prizes for Each Age Category
After much deliberation, the judges made their selections in the following age group categories:
Adults (ages 16+)
First Place:1st Beatriz Hernandez, Puerto Rico – “Why Caribbean Birds Matter” Beatriz’ lovely sketches and handwritten information on Todies makes this zine an absolute delight to read. Beatriz was delighted to hear that she was a winner and commented, “I was not only making something, I was learning along the way! Creating the zine was an incredible opportunity to think about how to combine art and words to talk about Why Caribbean Birds Matter. By using the iconic todies, endemic and well represented in the Caribbean, I hope to engage others to learn about the importance of birds in our region as well as ways to protect them and their habitats.”
Winner: 13 to 15 years old: Miguel Alejandro, 13, Cuba – “Por qué importan las aves del Caribe” (Why Caribbean Birds Matter)
Winner: 10 to 12 years old: Luis Yaniel, 10, Cuba – “Vuelos de aves” (Bird flight)
Winner: 7 to 9 years old: Iris Garrido, 9, Cuba – “Tesoro de mi país” (Treasure of My Country)
We would like to express our deepest thanks to everyone who entered their zine; and to the judges, who had the undoubtedly difficult task of reviewing all the zines and selecting the winners.
We invite you to visit our Caribbean Bird Zine Library at this link and below to explore and enjoy the amazing bird zines we received. We would love to see this collection of bird zines grow! Please contact Aliya.Hosein@birdscaribbean.org and info@birdscaribbean.org if you would like to contribute a zine – or two – to our library.
Scott Johnson of the Bahamas National Trust bands a Black-and-white Warbler. Banding birds gives us a picture of what condition birds are in. Together with surveys and tracking birds, these monitoring tools can help fill the knowledge gaps we have about landbirds in the Caribbean. (photo by Giselle Dean)
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce that we were recently awarded a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant! With the help of matching funds from our partners, we were awarded US$200,000 to implement a project that will increase capacity to monitor landbirds in the Caribbean!
So the next step, of course, is landbirds! Landbirds spend the majority of their lives over land, and include birds like parrots, hummingbirds, songbirds, woodpeckers, todies, and raptors. Many landbird species are declining, including our resident and endemic birds, as well as over 100 migratory species. Monitoring is essential to filling gaps in our knowledge about the status, trends, and habitat use of their populations.
Our new Landbird Monitoring project will increase capacity to monitor landbirds in the Caribbean using three different, yet complementary, monitoring tools: standardized surveys, bird banding, and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.
Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network
A group carries out a bird survey in Adelaide, The Bahamas, at a past BirdsCaribbean Workshop. Using standardized monitoring protocols means we can compare data from different places and observers and helps build a better picture of how birds are doing. (Photo by Deb Reynolds)
Currently, there is not a standardized set of protocols for observing and recording landbirds in the Caribbean. The Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) Manual was developed in Latin America, and was designed specifically with the tropics in mind. We plan to further adapt these protocols to fit our unique Caribbean ecosystems. The multi-level survey protocols in the manual also incorporate the use of eBird, which will help us get a more complete picture of how our Caribbean birds are faring! Standardized surveys are one of the best ways to monitor landbirds, and entering survey data into eBird ensures its longevity.
These standard protocols will be made available as soon as they are ready, and we will be offering several training workshops to our Caribbean colleagues to get hands-on experience using them.
Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network
Carefully measuring and banding a Broad-billed Tody in the Dominican Republic. Bird banding can provide extra information about birds, like body condition and survival rates, that surveys cannot provide. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Bird banding is a monitoring technique used throughout the world to gain valuable demographic and health information from birds in the hand. While surveys give us a broader picture of landbird communities, banding gives us deeper insights into how these birds are doing, allowing for assessments of body condition, survival, and more. Birds are captured and given bands with unique identifying numbers so they’ll be recognized if they are captured again, no matter where they travel to. There are several ongoing and pending bird banding operations in the Caribbean, and we are hoping to unite them under the Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network!
As part of the CBB Network, we will create Caribbean bird bands and distribute them to permitted and qualified banders in the region. Our system will be similar to the USGS system, which no longer distributes bands outside of the U.S. Our bands will be stamped with contact information so that anyone can report a bird band or banded bird they find. The banding network will also include a database so that banding data can be collected consistently across the islands, and compiled to easily find recaptured birds.
Joining the network will connect banders to the other banding operations throughout the Caribbean, enabling them to discuss, share information, and learn about topics like banding techniques and molt patterns. NMBCA funding will allow us to develop the CBB Network and also offer training workshops and internships so people can learn how to band birds and improve their banding techniques.
CLICK ON EACH PHOTO BELOW TO VIEW LARGER.
A Bahama Warbler in the hand during banding. (Photo by Scott Johnson)
Banding a Broad-billed Tody in the Dominican Republic.
Black-throated Blue Warbler during banding in the Dominican Republic (Photo by Holly Garrod).
Motus Wildlife Tracking in the Caribbean
The Cape May Warbler is a declining landbird that winters in the Caribbean; increased monitoring will help fill gaps in knowledge of the species. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Motus (Latin for movement) is a collaborative research network managed by Birds Canada that allows us to better understand bird migration patterns. The powerful tracking technology uses automated radio telemetry stations to detect tagged birds (and other small flying animals like bats and insects) as they move across the landscape.
Motus stations have been popping up all over the Eastern U.S. and Canada, and the network is starting to expand in Central and South America. The Caribbean is one of the remaining empty gaps in the network – but that’s soon to change! Thanks to NMBCA, we now have enough funding to put Motus stations on multiple Caribbean islands and train local conservation groups to help maintain them! We’re also going to tag some of our shared migratory birds on their Caribbean wintering grounds to get a better sense of where exactly they migrate to.
In addition to the Motus component of our Landbird Monitoring project, we’ve accelerated our efforts to expand the network in the Caribbean through our Caribbean Motus Collaboration. Special thanks to everyone who participated and donated to this initiative during our Global Big Day campaign!
Thank you!
We are very excited to officially launch our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring project in partnership with our widespread collaborators! We look forward to working with you!
If you are interested in getting involved, be sure to join our BirdsCaribbean Monitoring Working Group listserv to receive updates and learn about upcoming training workshops and other opportunities. Simply send an email to MonitoringWG+subscribe@BirdsCaribbean.groups.io (Note: this will also subscribe your email address to our main BirdsCaribbean listserv).
Red Knots are known for their extraordinary long-distance migrations. On the Atlantic Flyway they head north from their main wintering areas in South America to breed in the Arctic, traveling as far as 15,000 km each way! Here in the Caribbean, they winter in small numbers on various islands, and we see them also during Fall and Spring migration. Counts of birds on northward migration are way down from previous years, causing great concern. Did something different happen this year? Where are the missing Red Knots? We need your help to find out!
Target count dates are July 10-20, but counts at any time during July are welcome!
When Red Knots migrate north to their breeding grounds they will stop along the way to refuel, gathering in large flocks at key sites to rest and feed. These sites are vital for Red Knots and other shorebirds to re-build fat reserves before completing their long journeys north to breed. Counting birds at these sites can give us an indication of how the populations of these birds are faring.
You may have heard that this year, on spring migration, a very steep decline in Red Knot numbers was recorded at one such site. The count of Red Knots at Delaware Bay (New Jersey, and Delaware) where knots gather in huge numbers to gorge on the eggs of spawning Horseshoe Crabs, was just 6,800. This is an alarmingly low count compared to the 19,000 seen last year, and 30,000 seen in 2018 and 2019. In fact, this year’s count was the lowest recorded since the 1980s when the population was about 90,000.
Help Us Find Out What Happened: CWC count July 10-20
We are asking for your help in July to try to understand what happened. It is possible that some of the ‘missing’ Red Knots decided not to migrate north and spent the breeding season in their wintering areas or stopped their journeys before reaching this key stopover site. As part of an international coordinated effort, we would like you to carry out a Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) count at wetlands and beaches you know are good for shorebirds, from July 10 – 20. These are the key dates for the coordinated count, but if you cannot make it out during this period doing a CWC count atany time in July will also help.
Red Knots in Trouble
A Red Knot, in in September still showing some remnants of breeding plumage. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
We already know that Red Knots are in trouble, like many other shorebirds. They are threatened by climate change, loss of habitat, reduction in food resources, human disturbance, and hunting. The birds using Delaware Bay as a stopover site are of the Rufa sub-species of Red Knots, listed as Threatened since 2014. This sub-species also migrates through the Caribbean on the Atlantic Flyway and winters in small numbers in the islands. The population of rufa Red Knots is estimated to have declined by 75% in recent years and the USFWS say threats to this sub-species put it “in danger of extinction in the next few decades.” So, it is vital that we try to understand what has happened to Red Knots this year!
Ornithologists report that although horseshoe crab eggs were abundant at Delaware Bay, numbers of some of the other migratory shorebirds that stop there, like Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Sanderlings were also lower than expected this year. One factor that may have contributed to low numbers of knots was poor reproduction on the breeding grounds last year (there is some evidence for this). Or perhaps migration was delayed due to poor weather, or there was abundant food at another stopover site and so not as many birds used Delaware Bay.
It’s also possible that more birds than usual may have stayed in the Caribbean or other parts of their nonbreeding range instead of migrating north—some juvenile Red Knots do not reproduce in their first year and spend the breeding season in different places across the Americas. Or perhaps some unknown factor (e.g., disease, a storm, etc.), caused the demise of a large numbers of birds. We hope that this is not the case!
Red Knot ID Tips – Click on each photo below to view larger.
Red Knot in breeding plumage. (Photo by Rick Evets)
Red Knots molting from breeding to non-breeding plumage. (Photo by Stephen Buckingham)
Red Knot in winter plumage. (Photo by Beth Hamel)
Your CWC Count Data is needed!
We need our CWC monitors throughout the Caribbean to help this international effort to try and understand why numbers of Red Knots and other shorebirds are down this year. Please carry out as many counts as you can during the period July 10-20. When you do your CWC count, remember to keep an eye out for other shorebird species at the same time, and that you should count all the birds you see (of any species, including “landbirds”) on each count—doing a complete count greatly increases the value of your data to science and conservation.
Don’t forget to enter your data in eBird Caribbean using one of the CWC protocols on Step 2 of data entry. If using eBird mobile, set your portal to eBird Caribbean to access the CWC options for your checklists/ counts at wetlands and beaches). Thanks to you, we now have 11+ years of CWC data and counting, and are able to look at status and trends for many species at different sites and in the region overall. Remember that CWC counts can be done at any time of year—whenever you are conducting a count at a wetland, mangrove, salt pond, or beach, make it a CWC count.
Share this special CWC July Count, Red Knot edition, with your networks!
As mentioned above this is an international collaborative effort, thus, we would like people to carry out counts throughout the Caribbean and the Americas! We have prepared promotional graphics (portrait, landscape, square) in English, Spanish, and French for our partners in the Caribbean – you can download them here. If you would like to use and adapt these graphics for your country, you are welcome to do so! Contact Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org.
Please, do remember to follow any COVID rules and precautions in your country when doing surveys.
Thank you for contributing to our knowledge base, as we try to solve the mystery of the missing Red Knots.
Binkie takes kids birding at a nearby sports field. It did not long for the kids to become hooked on birds!
Binkie van Es shares his experience of working with disadvantaged youth in Sint Maarten—introducing them to birds and science through the BirdSleuth Caribbean education program. Was he successful in getting kids interested in birds? Read on to find out!
In 2014 BirdsCaribbean provided me with training to their BirdSleuth Caribbean Education Program. The training venue for the 3-day workshop was in the beautiful Retreat Garden at the Bahamas National Trust in Nassau. I will never forget how I was introduced into a wonderful new world that will be with me the rest of my life. Birding has never been the same since that week.
From the very first training day I was hooked on the program. I enjoyed every aspect of it.
For those of you that are not familiar with BirdSleuth, it is a program geared to young people. It teaches the life cycle of birds, the challenges birds face, their importance for us, and human influences (both positive and negative) on birds. The goal is to reconnect children with nature – and birds.
The program is set up as a classroom curriculum, but is extremely easy to adapt to other settings. Separate sections can be taught outdoors and during daytime events. With a bit of creativity, “birdsleuthing” can take place off grid. Over the years, I have used BirdSleuth in different ways – whether it is training educators, or teaching children in class myself.
How is the BirdSleuth program received? This varies, depending on the group. The greatest challenge is to get it introduced into school curriculums. The teachers are willing, but school boards are not so keen. The best memories, and greatest successes, have been working with children directly.
Bird feeders in the outdoor classroom in Sint Maarten, part of the Player Development Foundation’s afterschool program for youth that now includes bird watching!
In the summer of 2020, I started working with an afterschool program in Sint Maarten, called Player Development Foundation. This foundation had evolved from a sports activity/ baseball little league to after-school experience-based education. The ages of the children range from 6 – 14 years; they come from difficult backgrounds, many with broken families and living in poverty.
I started visiting them one afternoon per week to teach them about birds. Using BirdSleuth Caribbean, they learn about nature, how to help keep our environment healthy, and how they can learn from bird behavior.
In the first lesson I introduced myself and started talking with them about birds, to find out what they already knew. Importantly, I made them realize that they knew more than they thought they did.
Over the course of several weeks, I taught these children how to use binoculars. They got to see birds close up for the first time in their lives and they were mesmerized.
We also made their location more bird-friendly, installing bird feeders (including feeders the kids made themselves), and attracting an ever-growing variety of birds into their outdoor classroom. Now, they get to see Bananaquits, Black-Faced Grassquits, Bullfinches, Carib Grackles, Pearly-Eyed Thrashers, and Zenaida Doves on a daily basis.
Then the community where they all live became a COVID hotspot, and their coach advised me to stay away until the risk was manageable again. They had to shut down twice for a fortnight because of exposure to the virus.
Nevertheless, the children had become thoroughly hooked on bird watching by that time. They continued to observe the feeders and study the bird’s behavior. Whenever they spotted a bird that they could not name, they would send me a picture for identification. On a weekly basis, the coach would post pictures of their bird adventures on Facebook.
Then the most amazing thing happened. The children were asked by the local newspaper if they were willing to write about the birds in their classroom, and willing they were!!!
A bully bird at the feeders – Find out what happened to the quesadilla!
So far, they have published three newspaper articles. Each story covers one bird species—the first one was on Bananaquits, the second on Carib Grackles, and third about Pearly-Eyed Thrashers.
The children are amazing. They observe carefully and they work hard on their research, although they only have access to one laptop with internet access. They observed, for example, the pecking order between the various species and between male and female birds.
I must admit that the children are better story tellers than I am, and the only help they got from their teacher was with grammar.
If you work with children or are planning to work with them, please consider the BirdSleuth Caribbean program if you are not using it already. It will open up a wonderful new world for you also.
A week after writing this blog post, I will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and am already planning my return to the children, who in turn, are also excited to hear that I am coming back to them to continue their bird education.
I extend gratitude to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for developing BirdSleuth and would like to thank BirdsCaribbean for adapting the program for the Caribbean, for introducing me to it and providing all the teaching materials and binoculars. I appreciate all the children and adults who have so far been willing to be taught by me. Most of all, I extend my appreciation to Lisa Sorensen at BirdsCaribbean, who kept me motivated with her boundless energy, and who gave me this new, very rewarding, purpose in life.
By Cornelis “Binkie” van Es is retired from his career in sales and now working full-time on his second “career” as a bird educator, volunteer for several environmental non-profits, and bird tour guide on Sint Maarten/ St. Martin. He is a certified Bird Guide with BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail program. Do visit this wonderful island – you’ll have the best time birding with Binkie!
BirdsCaribbean thanks the US Fish and Wildlife Service, NMBCA (Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act) Program, and our members and generous donors for funding support for our BirdSleuth Caribbean program. We also thank Jennifer Fee and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for their partnership and assistance.
Happy World Rainforest Day! We want to take today to appreciate some of the Caribbean’s beautiful tropical forests and the unique birds residing within them, as well as provide you with some tips to help conserve the world’s rainforests.
Did you know that the poop of these birds helps keeps these forests growing? Birds are some of the most important seed dispersers, especially in the Caribbean where many of the typical tropical mammals such as monkeys and peccaries are lacking. As birds fly around the forest eating many a tropical fruit, they poop out the seeds, planting many future plants. Some studies have even used birds to help reforest areas using perches and feeders to encourage extra pooping!
The biggest rainforest in the Caribbean is the El Yunque Forest in Puerto Rico. Several years ago this forest took a hard hit during Hurricane Maria. Many of the Caribbean rainforests are actually adapted to the annual hurricane season, tropical plants such as Cecropias are some of the first recolonizers. But climate change has made recent hurricanes far more destructive than many rainforests are accustomed to.
Only 25% of the rainforest remains in the Caribbean. And with continuous destruction for agriculture and growing development we might continue to lose the lush, tropical hills of the Caribbean.
Take a look at our infographic for some ideas on how you can make some of your daily habits more rainforest friendly. Feel free to download and share with others!
Are you an experienced marketing and communications professional? Do you want to help us tell the world how amazing Caribbean birds are and why we should protect them? Then consider joining our team!
Position Overview: The Communications Manager oversees communications, marketing, and public relations efforts to raise awareness and support for BirdsCaribbean’s mission, projects, and programs. This role will provide strategic and tactical guidance to BirdsCaribbean to help our organization communicate effectively with our partners, members, and donors, and build awareness and engagement around our various programs. This position will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean and other staff, including members of our Fundraising, Media, Education, and Program Committees. This is a full-time employee or contractor position with benefits and can be worked remotely from any location. Caribbean nationals residing within the Caribbean are strongly encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities:
Overseeing BirdsCaribbean’s external communications with members, partners, donors, the public, and media sources
Overseeing all content creation and messaging, as well as online engagement growth, including:
Overseeing and developing materials to convey the organization’s mission and work
Keeping our website up-to-date with organizational news, events, and educational resources for our partners and members/followers
Managing and helping to create content for our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube) together with our small team
Producing and overseeing all printed and digital marketing, promotional, and educational materials (e.g., one pagers, brochures, reports, promotional graphics for upcoming events, e.g., bird festivals, conferences, training workshops, webinars, contests, etc.), including graphic design needs
Executing clear and engaging copywriting for emails, blogs, press releases, and other promotional materials; coordinating and editing the work of other authors on our team
Drafting and sending out our monthly newsletter, and other email communications with members, donors, partners, etc.
Editing and approving press releases, articles, graphics, announcements, etc.
Helping to develop and manage fundraising and membership campaigns
Analyzing and documenting the effectiveness of all executed marketing and communications
Managing a calendar of organizational priorities and weekly tasks for internal coordination with the team
Managing photography and videography needs for events (e.g., conferences), activities, online, and print publications, as well as social media
Ensuring consistency of messaging across all marketing and communications channels to convey the organization’s brand, mission, vision, and values
Working in partnership with the Executive Director, and Fundraising, Media, Education, and Program Committees
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field strongly preferred
Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 to 7 years of demonstrated experience in marketing/communications/public relations, including marketing and managing communications across a diverse set of platforms
Outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills; understanding of science grammar is a plus
Graphic design skills – Adobe Creative Suite and Canva strongly preferred
High proficiency with MS Office and WordPress strongly preferred
Advanced proficiency with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Ability to prepare and edit audiovisual materials (including videos) for social media posts or brand content
Knowledge of the media industry and ability to stay on top of market changes and relevant media opportunities
A passion and curiosity for environmental science and conservation in the Caribbean; strong interest and/or experience with Caribbean birds or ornithology/ecology is a plus
Strong attention to detail and the desire to deliver high-quality work without exceptions
Ability to prioritize tasks, simultaneously manage multiple projects, and set/meet deadlines
Capacity to oversee a small team that develops communications and educational content
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, focused, and ambitious; creative and innovative thinking
Professional demeanor, team player, and a consistent positive attitude
A reliable internet connection that supports Zoom video meetings without a problem
Ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with a highly diverse audience
Desired Knowledge and Experience:
Experience or working knowledge of Caribbean birds and environmental conservation issues
Experience with non-profit communications, marketing, and fundraising strongly preferred
Excellent oral communications skills
Professional working proficiency in Spanish and/or French language
Familiarity with Mailchimp
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position that will require the flexibility to be available outside of normal working hours (i.e., 9am – 5pm) in certain cases, depending on the timing of specific deliverables and project deadlines. Pay will be commensurate with experience and local wage/cost-of-living considerations, and a benefits package will be developed in consultation with the candidate.
Interested applicants should send an email to Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org) and Adrianne Tossas (Adrianne.Tossas@BirdsCaribbean.org) with the subject line reading “Communications Manager Application.” Within the email, please include the following:
– Briefly introduce yourself
– Attach a cover letter (1 page or less) that expresses why you are interested in this position and summarizes your qualifications and experience
– Attach a current copy of your resume
– Include a compilation of any of the following of your work: newsletter or blog articles, public relations or promotional materials, and/or social media posts that you have written
Application period: June 21, 2021 to July 31, 2021
About Us: BirdsCaribbean (BC) is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean (including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all islands within the Caribbean basin). Our mission is to raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve, and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems. We are a non-profit membership organization based in the U.S. With 33 years of experience, BirdsCaribbean has built an extensive and active network of more than 60 partners across 31 countries, which include environmental organizations, government agencies, institutions, businesses, tour guides, educators, and individuals.
BirdsCaribbean is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. BirdsCaribbean makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
Wilson’s Plover parent and two downy chicks. This species breeds on beaches and in mangrove areas in the Caribbean. (photo by R. J. Wiley)
It’s beach season! That means vacationers, boaters, photographers, and beach-lovers will be heading to the seashore to enjoy the water and beat the heat. But remember this is also the time when shorebirds are nesting and raising their adorably fluffy chicks. These shorebirds have travelled very long distances and we want to reduce the additional challenges that they face upon reaching our shores.
Eggs and chicks are at risk of being crushed or trampled over because these fluffy little beach bumblers have a knack for blending in. You will definitely want to double or even triple check where you set down your beach chairs, umbrellas, bags, and coolers. Vulnerable young birds and adults can be stressed or killed by predators when they are flushed from their areas. Some adult birds may abandon their nests altogether!
Here are some easy tips for sharing the shore with shorebirds this summer and making your trip more enjoyable:
Watch your distance. Sure these birds know how to camouflage but if you do find a nest, give them space, at least 100 feet. Getting too close can alarm the parents causing them to use precious energy in nest defense behavior that would have been used to forage for food. Some parents will do a broken wing display – where they may appear injured by dragging their wing along the ground. If you see this, the bird is likely fine and just trying to distract you from a nearby nest! Walk away and give these birds space.
Respect posted areas. Do not wander into roped-off or fenced-in areas where birds are nesting.
Never force birds to fly! These birds spent a lot of energy arriving here—shorebirds and seabirds make some of the most impressive migrations! Don’t chase these little beach runners.
Keep pets away from nesting areas. Even the most well trained dogs can be tempted to chase birds. They also do not know that these birds need space to comfortably nest. It is therefore always best to keep your pets on a leash near nesting sites.
Help keep the beach clean. Seabirds and shorebirds have some of the highest ingestion rates of plastic – help those little fluffs get the proper nutrition they need by using bins, if provided, or taking a garbage bag with you to the beach.
Do not feed the wildlife. Growing fluff balls have specific nutrition requirements that only parents can provide.
Spread the word! If you see people disturbing nesting shorebirds, gently remind them that shorebirds’ survival depends on our actions. Some areas even have hotlines to report offenders.
Together we can share the beach and give shorebirds and their adorable growing fluffs the best chance of survival!
Here is an infographic that you can use to encourage others to #ShareTheShore this beach season:
There will be many different species nesting on the shores, but they have similar behaviors and reactions to being disturbed. Here are some notable shore-nesting birds in the Caribbean and the US.
American Oystercatcher with two chicks (photo by J. Gray)
Black-necked Stilt with four chicks. (photo by Rick Evets)
Killdeer performing a broken wing act to lure potential predators away from its nest.
This young Killdeer chick is growing its characteristic black breast band. (photo by Dave Irving)
Piping Plover downy chick, vulnerable to predators and people as it blends in perfectly with its sandy environment. (photo by Dave Irving)
Respect posted protected areas for shorebird or seabird nesting. (photo by Erika Gates)
This Snowy Plover chick and egg blend in perfectly with the sandy beach substrate. (photo by Antonio Ros)
Snowy Plover chick running on the sand. Shorebird chicks are precocial, meaning they are born with downy feathers and can walk and feed themselves soon after they hatch. (photo by Hartmut Walter)
Wilson’s Plover nest in the Bahamas. Most shorebird species nests are a simple scrape in the ground, lined with a few shells and rocks. (photo by M. Zdravkovic)
We are excited to announce that the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds will fund 9 projects in 2021! In the previous 4 years (2016-2020), the fund has provided assistance for 15 projects in 6 countries for work on dozens of species in the Caribbean.
This fund was created by generous donations from the family, friends, and collaborators of David S. Lee to continue his inspiring legacy of conservation in the Caribbean. You can help us to continue supporting these invaluable projects by making a donation here.
Congratulations to these exemplary researchers, and we look forward to hearing about your results in future blog articles and publications!
Investigating variation in cooperative breeding behavior between Puerto Rican Tody populations
Amber Wendler, Virginia Tech
Cooperative breeding occurs when some individuals, known as “helpers,” assist with raising their siblings, rather than reproducing themselves. This breeding strategy is used by many bird species, including the Puerto Rican Tody (Todus mexicanus). However, only some individuals of this species breed cooperatively, and differences are thought to be linked to habitat. Amber’s research will examine how the Tody’s cooperative breeding behavior differs in rainforest and dry forest habitats. By increasing our understanding of the Tody’s natural history, her work can help manage and conserve this endemic species.
Territory use of the Critically Endangered Bahama Oriole across the annual cycle
Michelle Moyer, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
The Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi) is a Critically Endangered species that is found only on Andros Island in The Bahamas. Thanks to recent work by the Bahama Oriole Project — a collaboration between UMBC and the Bahamas National Trust (BNT)— we have learned a lot about this species’ breeding habitat, including that it uses the native pine forest much more than previously thought. However, it is unknown how Orioles use the pine forest and other habitats outside of the breeding season. Using tiny, solar-powered transmitters (CTT Life Tags™ ), which will be attached to Orioles and detected by a central receiver (CTT Node), Michelle will track their movements throughout the full annual cycle. The results of her research will inform BNT’s conservation management strategies for the Oriole.
Caribbean psittacines as indirect controllers of ecosystem dynamics through commensal feeding associations and ecosystem engineering
Damion Whyte, University of the West Indies at Mona
Parrots and parakeets are notorious for not finishing the fruits that they open. As a result, they are often viewed as wasteful pests, and are feared by farmers. However, we do not have a great understanding of the impacts that this behavior can have on the local ecosystem, such as providing easier access to the fruit by other species and dispersing seeds. Damion’s research will quantify the ecosystem-wide effects of foraging by parrots and parakeets on the island of Curacao. Using observations and camera-traps, he will identify which species visit fruit that has been opened by, and how their behaviors vary. By providing insight into these species interactions, his work will support bird conservation and management in protected areas.
Pre-reproductive survival, movements, and habitat use of the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus) in Southwestern Puerto Rico
Jean P. Gonzalez Crespo, University of Wisconsin
The Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus) is an Endangered species that is endemic to Puerto Rico. Although conservation measures such as artificial nesting structures increased the reproductive success of this species, populations have continued to decline. Using CTT Life Tag™ transmitters Jean will track Blackbirds after they fledge from the nest and estimate their survival during this critical period. His work will help local and federal agencies determine whether survival rates before breeding are contributing to population declines, and identify the factors that influence survival.
Establishing a long-term banding program for migratory birds in Isla Contoy National Park, Mexico
Jonathan Nochebuena Jaramillo, Estación de Anillamiento Parque Nacional Isla Contoy
Isla Contoy National Park (PNIC) is a small Caribbean island (238 hectares) near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The island is an important site for many migratory birds to rest and refuel on their long journeys between North, Central, and South America. In 2019, Jonathan personally initiated a banding program in PNIC. He will continue and expand this program to document and spread awareness of the importance of the island for a wide diversity of birds, and provide information to conserve birds and their habitats on the island.
Understanding nestling diet composition of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) through fecal DNA Metabarcoding
Luis Ramos, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
Environmental changes such as rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification pose many threats to seabirds and the marine food sources that they depend on. The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii ) is a species of conservation concern in the Caribbean, including in Puerto Rico. Yet we know little about foraging behavior, ecology, and population trends of this species. Luis’s research will use an advanced molecular method (DNA metabarcoding) to assess the diet composition of chicks in Tern populations on the southern and northern coasts of Puerto Rico. His work will identify the fish and other prey that are available to Terns in different colonies, and advance our understanding of DNA metabarcoding as an important biomonitoring tool.
Evaluating the effects of greening actions on avian diversity on tropical urban landscapes
Julissa Irizarry, Penn State University
Expansion of urban areas contributes to loss and fragmentation of habitats across the globe. These drastic landscape changes can negatively impact biodiversity, especially on islands. Large-scale tree planting efforts, such as those planned in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, have the potential to increase the suitability of urban areas for native wildlife. Julissa’s project will investigate the benefits of urban reforestation for resident and migratory birds. Using an experimental approach, she will compare how birds use newly planted trees—“functional” tree species that are known to be important for foraging and “structural” plants that are traditionally used for landscaping. Her work will inform best practices for implementing urban greening projects in order to maximize conservation benefits.
Current status of the breeding colonies of Red-footed Booby, Brown Booby, and Masked Booby in Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela
Los Roques Archipelago National Park is in the Caribbean Sea 130 km north of Venezuela. It has 42 islets and 200 sandbanks arranged around an internal lagoon. It is home to all the typical ecosystems of tropical maritime and coastal areas: sandy beaches, coral formations, salt and brackish water lagoons, seagrass meadows, and mangroves. This archipelago was declared a National Park in 1972, and its Use Regulation and Management Plan was finalized in 1990. Los Roques is home to a great diversity of seabirds and is a priority area for conservation. Conserving seabirds in the Caribbean is essential, as their numbers have been decreasing over time. Documenting their status and trends is needed to develop conservation plans. Two species of boobies have breeding colonies in Los Roques: Red-footed Booby and Brown Booby. Masked Booby’s presence has been documented, but their reproduction has not been confirmed. 20 years have passed since the last assessment of the population of seabirds in the Los Roques Archipelago. Since then there have been many political, economic and environmental changes in Venezuela—changes that may put the Los Roques Archipelago and the booby colonies at risk. We propose to survey and evaluate the reproductive colonies of boobies in 4 keys of the archipelago. We will also explore other cays to look for confirmation of breeding activity. We will integrate the local “Roqueños” communities in the censuses and outreach activities.
Population dynamics, conservation and management of the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) on Margarita Island, Venezuela
Anahy Marcano , INPARQUES / AveZona / PAAVe
Venezuela has about 38% of the total population of American Flamingos, Phoenicopterus ruber. It is considered a resident species on the Isla de Margarita in Venezuela. Although its population has shown variations in size and distribution, historically, American Flamingos have been observed on the Isla de Margarita since the beginning of the last century. Recently, a new flamingo nesting area has been identified on Margarita Island in the Laguna de las Marites Natural Monument. However, its population status is unknown and currently there is no plan for its conservation and management. As the first stage of this project we will estimate the size of the breeding population, the reproductive success, and the demographic parameters in two of the nine areas occupied by the American Flamingos on Margarita Island, las Marites Lake Natural Monument and La Restinga National Park. Visual observations will be conducted from a safe distance so as not to disturb the breeding areas. After the breeding season, the area used for the nests will be evaluated. As part of this project, we will involve local communities in the censuses and an educational campaign will be established.
The David S. Lee Fund for Conservation seeks to continue David’s passion for protecting wildlife. The fund supports direct, innovative conservation work in the Caribbean Region for birds and their habitats. The fund is managed by BirdsCaribbean and used for annual small grants. We are grateful to all those who have supported the fund, and also to our David S. Lee Fund Review Committee who carefully reviews proposals each year and makes recommendations on funding.
You can you help us to continue to fund invaluable research to conserve Caribbean birds by making a gift 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 Financial Officer (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org)
Checks can be mailed to: BirdsCaribbean, 841 Worcester St. #130, Natick, MA 01760-2076
Did you ever wish you had an interactive bird guide in your pocket wherever you go? For smartphone users in Puerto Rico and the northern Lesser Antilles, your dream has come true. “All Birds Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands & northern Lesser Antilles” birding app has recently been released!
The new ALL BIRDS app covers Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Saint-Martin, Saint Eustatius, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saba, Montserrat, Antigua-Barbuda, and Anguilla! This unique app encompasses not only common birds but also all migrants, vagrants, and established introduced species.
This bilingual (English & Spanish) app features all 415 bird species found from Puerto Rico east to Antigua and Montserrat. The mobile app expands the previous version called “Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Birds in Photos and Audio.” It is the perfect companion in the field.
This user-friendly app lets you identify birds by browsing alphabetically or taxonomically, or selecting on individual islands or on specific features or colors. Beginning birders looking to identify the species in their backyards can filter listings to display only common species. Users can also use the app to record their own bird sightings and even export this information.
Listings for each bird include detailed species accounts and 2,570 outstanding photos showing distinct plumages, including variations and subspecies. Advanced birders will love the audio that is included for each species: over 670 bird songs and calls are just a touch away. The resource section includes information about Caribbean birds and introductions to key topics like biogeography, conservation and migratory birds.
You can download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The Apple version is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Mac M1 chip. Once downloaded no internet connection is needed and all updates are free of charge.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to finally announce all of our Global Big Day 2021 photography winners and share some of the many awesome photos that were taken on Global Big Day! We already reported on the team and individual stats and awards – click here if you missed the results from our record-breaking day!
Thanks to everyone that participated, especially our team leaders and generous donors, Global Big Day 2021 was a huge success. We had a record number of teams participating (15). And thanks to a game-changing challenge grant from a member of the President’s Perch team, we were able to raised close to $20,000 for our new Caribean Motus Collaboration – so amazing! Congrats to all the winners – enjoy the photos and gallery below!!!
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Best Bird Photo: Rafy Rodriguez – Puerto Rican Tody
Second Best Bird Photo: Roberto Jovel — Cuban Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cuba
Third Best Bird Photo: Jerome Foster — Little Blue Heron, immature (molting), St. Lucia
Best Shorebird: Julian Moore — Ruddy Turnstone, Barbados
Youngest GBDer: (1) Joanne Gaymes – Maeson Gaymes in St. Vincent; (2) Anneke Mace – Holly Mace birding in New Zealand
Best Smiles: Andrew Dobson and teammates Patricia Zurita and Katrina-Dobson – UK
Best Selfie: Maikel Cañizares – The Bee Hummers Cuban Dream team, Cuba
Most Beautiful Landscape: Rafy Rodriguez
Urban Birds: Jerome Foster – Gray Kingbird on nest, St. Lucia
Life in the Wild: (1) Jerome Foster – American Kestrels mating, St. Lucia; (2) John Kricher – Mute Swan parent banishing Canada Goose; (3) Joanne Gaymes – Black-faced Grassquit female collecting nesting material, St. Vincent
Sweetest Fluffiest Birds: (1) John Kricher – Mute Swan cygnets; (2) Rafy Rodriguez – Green Heron immature
Enjoy this gallery of bird, people and scenery photos taken on Global Big Day by various team members in the Caribbean, US, UK, Costa Rica, Panama, Netherlands, and more!
Killdeer in Antigua (Xavier Roberts)
Cattle Egret portrait, St. Lucia (Jerome-Foster)
Purple Martin nest with chicks. (John Kricher)
Lisa and Mike Sorenson birding in Massachusetts on Global Bird Day
Jamaican Becard nest, reused every year (Wendy Lee)
Beny Wilson with GBD birding group, including Rick Morales and Ivan Skildsen (Minister of Tourism) in Panama (Beny Wilson)
Glenroy Gaymes birding with son Maeson in the St Vincent Botanical Gardens (Joanne Gaymes)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Mark Oberle)
Painted Bunting, Darien, Georgia (Joe Wunderle)
Barbados Bullfinch, endemic to Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Laughing Gulls and Maeson Gaymes in St Vincent (Joanne Gaymes)
Phyllis Pollack’s son and grandson at Berkeley Marina (Phyllis-Pollack)
Jamaican Becard with insect prey (Claude Fletcher)
Yellow-Crowed Night-Heron in flight (Jerome Foster)
Caribbean Martins in Barbados (Julian-Moore)
American Coot on nest in Barbados (Julian-Moore)
Eastern Phoebe (John Kricher)
Submerged Pied-billed Grebe in Barbados (Julian Moore)
Holly Garrod and Josh-Covill, birding in Costa Rica, winners of most birds seen for GBD 2021!
Dunlins and Black-bellied Plovers (John Kricher)
Long-billed Dowitcher in Barbados (Julian Moore)
Returning Bobolinks (John Kricher)
White-crowned Pigeon in Antigua (Xavier-Roberts)
Yellow Warbler- in Antigua (Xavier-Roberts)
Jeff Gerbracht selfie, yes, it’s snowing again for GBD in Ithaca, NY.
Find out from Jean Gonzalez-Crespo, all about how a project aimed at restoring mangroves destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria will help protect part of Puerto Rico’s coast-line and its wildlife, whilst also helping the people that live there.
Puerto Rico’s fragile coastline needs help, badly.
With the support of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, BirdsCaribbean, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla’s Center for Coastal Restoration and Conservation, known locally as Vida Marina UPR, is about to start work on the restoration of four valuable mangrove forests in the Northwest region of Puerto Rico. These forests were destroyed after the two storms – Hurricanes Irma and Maria – hit the island in 2017, a “double whammy.” Critical infrastructure was left at the mercy of future storms, future hurricanes, and in danger of future destruction.
Secret Spot- Basin Mangrove in the Municipality of Isabela. This mangrove suffered close to 100% mortality due to the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. On its left is PR Road 466, an important evacuation route (Photo by Vida Marina UPR).
However, thanks to funding provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience Grant, our center is now able to help in the recovery of these remarkable ecosystems—bulwarks against the impact of climate change. We are scheduled to start planting mangroves by the end of May 2021, but we already taking a look at the current conditions of our restoration sites, preparing for our work, and coordinating future activities that will integrate local communities into the restoration process.
What’s in it for humans?
Well, where do we start? There are actually so many important benefits. It’s a win for humans.
The restoration of these mangroves will reinstate the primary line of defense against storm surges for local communities, that increasingly threaten their livelihood and economies. Main access to roads and sanitary infrastructure, essential for those living on the coast, will be protected. The restored mangroves will also provide habitat for many species that, when carefully managed, will be sustainably harvested for local consumption or sale.
Also, thanks to the aid of UW-Madison’s Latino Earth Partnership’s training, we will get communities involved. Citizens on the ground will take “ownership” of the project, and the work will create a sense of stewardship that will result in stronger and more resilient coastal communities. The training will help create community groups that are empowered to identify and respond to threats to their homes and their livelihoods – swiftly and effectively.
Caño Madre Vieja Nature Reserve in the Municipality of Aguada. On the right is the Barrio Espinar community, which was heavily impacted by both storms in 2017. Many houses were flooded during these events as well as the only road that gives access to this community; something that left many families stranded and unable to be rescued (Photo by Vida Marina UPR)
Making life better for birds
It will take time, but the aim is to bring them back.
Our project will restore 59 hectares of severely degraded Basin Mangroves that serve as habitat for a wide range of species, including waterfowl. This should improve the diversity of waterfowl species, which appears to have decreased after the storms of 2017. We are currently carrying out periodic bird surveys, and will continue to do so throughout entire restoration process. If we are to be successful in this restoration, we should, among other things, be able to reach levels of waterfowl diversity like those before the hurricanes.
Efficient mangrove and wetland plant germination
It’s all about getting those seeds going. Now, we have the opportunity to grow and plant more trees, by improving our greenhouse arrangements.
A germination table installed inside Vida Marina UPR’s greenhouse in the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla. This design adds to the integrity of the table and allows us to germinate multiple species without the risk of mixing them. Furthermore, these divisions also let us test different treatments that may increase seed germination rates (Photo by Vida Marina UPR).
We expect to plant at least 11,500 mangrove trees to be successful; it will take a great deal of time and effort. However, thanks to funding from BirdsCaribbean and ECCC, we were able to significantly increase the rate at which we can grow mangroves and other wetland plants in our greenhouse. With the construction of two seed germination tables, we will be able to grow mangroves more efficiently by maximizing our greenhouse’s limited space. Normally, we would have let all seeds germinate in flowerpots. Not all seeds planted will germinate, so this would result in unsuccessful pots occupying a space that a growing tree would have used. Our new germination tables will give a great boost to tree production. They will not only reduce the amount of time and effort invested in producing mangroves. They will also help us plant more trees in our sites than we initially planned.
Putting the green in greenhouse
Water is always a major concern.
Thanks to this funding, our greenhouse’s irrigation system is now able to run almost exclusively with stored rainwater. This “greener” alternative allows us to save a considerable amount of water each year. It’s a simple way in which we can help protect our country’s water supply and the environment. Additionally, this will give our plants enough water to survive through droughts that can result in the rationing of water.
Heriberto working on the installation of a water pump into the rainwater tank for the irrigation system. (Photo by Vida Marina UPR).
Training the next generation of ecologists and restoration practitioners
Young people will learn practical, hands-on techniques.
Under the mentorship of experienced researchers, undergraduate and high-school students involved in our project will be able to develop valuable research skills. Also, since they will take an active role in the monitoring of animal diversity, they will learn multiple survey techniques as well as the fundamentals of native plant and animal identification.
Our trainees will also have the opportunity to learn how to operate unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), as well as other types of technology, to solve different conservation issues. They will also learn how to interpret and analyze multiple types of data. Most importantly, they will be able to play a part in the planning and implementation process of wetland restoration. It will be a rich and rewarding learning experience for them.
Members of Vida Marina UPR’s taking a small break after finishing the construction of the large, germination table. In the picture, from left to right, are: Jean P. González Crespo, Heriberto Martir Vargas, and Jose J. Vera Rodriguez. Missing in this photo is Arianna Lopez Rodriguez, whose help was vital to the success of this project. (Photo by Vida Marina UPR)
It really does take a village to restore mangroves
Team work is everything. It is only through our partnerships with local communities, environmental groups and agencies, and both state and municipal governments that we will be able to achieve our restoration goals. Without their support, this project, like many others, would be close to impossible to complete. We are as excited as our partners as we get to work to bring back these wonderful forests, which make a tremendous difference to Puerto Rico’s coastal defenses. This is a project that will benefit both humans and wildlife in years to come.
Jean Gonzalez-Crespo is a PhD student from UW-Madison who works as a project assistant in this study. He has worked on multiple bird conservation projects in Puerto Rico since 2017. In addition to overseeing the anuran and avian monitoring of this project, Jean also works in the conservation of the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird—an endangered species unique to Puerto Rico.
On Saturday, May 8th, birders and BirdsCaribbean members around the world went outside birding to celebrate Global Big Day—the biggest birding day of the year which is timed to coincide with peak spring migration for many places in the USA. Approximately 53,000 participants joined in the fun—with 365 observers representing the West Indies and submitting 1,995 checklists—way to go!
This year, observers found 364 species in the West Indies—beating last year’s record by a whopping 19 species! (see Figure 1). Cuba clinched the lead for most species seen—161, followed by Puerto Rico at 139 species, The Bahamas coming in hot at 131 species, Dominican Republic close behind at 127 species, Jamaica swinging in at a nice 104, and Cayman islands finishing with a solid tally of 94 species.
And more Caribbean “eBirders” too…
The number of eBird observers in the West Indies—365—increased by 62 persons from 2020, and the total number of checklists submitted—1,670—increased by a colossal 619! (see Figure 1). This jump in participation helped fuel the increased number of species seen in every country/ island.
Figure 1. The top graph shows that the total number of eBird Observers in the West Indies, total species seen, and total number of eBird checklists submitted increased from 2020 to 2021. The bottom graph shows the number of species observed on Global Big Day for the top 6 West Indies countries increased from 2020 to 2021.
Inspired by last year, many of us continued to bird together from afar on teams that raised funds for bird conservation. This year, those funds will target new Motus bird monitoring stations in the Caribbean. Our Global Big Day was hugely successful on all fronts, with 15 teams participating, including 10national teams!!! (up from 7 teams in 2020). And we raised $19,113 USD, very close to our goal of $20,000 USD—congrats and thank you to everyone for your participation and support! Read on for all the exciting details and final team stats…
The Bee Hummers Mighty Achievements – Congratulations to our Cuban Friends!
How did our BirdsCaribbean teams fare? Once again, the indomitable, multinational Flying Pintails, led by Executive Director Lisa Sorenson, claimed the title for the most species observed: 714 (see Figure 2). President’s Perch, led by Past President Andrew Dobson, and the Bee Hummers Dream Team, the Cuban national team led by BC board member Maikel Cañizares, came in second and third with 597 and 465 species seen, respectively. The Bee Hummers swept three other categories, however, with the most eBird checklists (241), most eBird observers (65), and most West Indies endemics (48). Congrats to the team named after the smallest bird in the world for all of these great achievements!!!
Figure 2. Global Big Day results for our 15 BirdsCaribbean teams, which included 10 national teams. The numbers in red show which team had the highest number for each category. A total of 1,348 species and 136 West Indies endemics were observed by all 15 teams combined. ( a total of 147 West Indies endemics were seen by all eBirders, i.e., including those not on a team).
Tracking the Endemics on our GBD Teams
This year, with our 10 new national (Caribbean country or island) teams, we were excited to see which national team would see the highest proportion of their endemic birds on Global Big Day (a category created to control for differences in the number of endemic species on each island – see Figure 3). There were two winners for this title: the One Love Jamaica Birders, whose well-organized sub-teams and individuals fanned out over the entire island and managed to see all 28 Jamaican endemics, and the Bajan Birders who also worked hard and made sure to get their one endemic (Barbados Bullfinch) on their lists! 😉 The Peeping Cuckoos (Puerto Rico), Bee Hummers (Cuba), and Team Jaragua (Dominican Republic) also did well finding their island endemics.
Figure 3. The 7 teams who saw the highest proportion of their island endemics on Global Big Day 2021. The One Love Jamaica Birders managed to see all 28 of their endemics – congrats! And the Bajan Birders easily checked off their one endemic, the Barbados Bullfinch.
Small was Beautiful
Smaller and more local teams also had their advantages. When the total number of species seen was divided by the number of people on the team, Far Flung Flock came in first, with an average of 27 species observed per person (see Figure 4). The Statia Tropicbirders were a close second with 23 species per person, followed by the Flying Pintails (19), Abaco Island Big Day Birders (17), WANSIRI (16), and Turks and Caicos Island Blue Jays (14). The accomplishment of the Abaco Island Big Day Birders is especially impressive, since this was a small team of 5 persons birding on a relatively small island that had been largely decimated by a hurricane less than 2 years ago!
Figure 4. The average number of species observed per person for each of the 15 Global Big Day teams. Far Flung Flock of Friends was the winner in this category with an average of 27 species per person. Statia Tropicbirders came in 2nd with 23, followed by the Flying Pintails (19), Abaco Island Big Day Birders (17), WANSIRI (16), and the TCI Blue Jays (14).
Congratulations and thank you to all the teams for your enthusiastic participation. We will be sharing more about our experiences, including photos and prizes, in a second Global Big Day 2021 blog article.
Handing out Bouquets to these eBirders
The most distinguished eBirders from our Global Big Day campaign were Holly Garrod and Josh Covill (birding together in Costa Rica) of the Flying Pintails, who over 16 hours recorded an incredible 208 species! Richard Korpi and Phil Lehman, both on the Barefoot Bobwhites team, came in 2nd and 3rd with 138 and 136 species, respectively. Holly and Josh both win a year’s membership in BirdsCaribbean and some awesome BC swag!
Special commendations go out to the following birders who had 20 or more West Indies Endemics on their GBD checklist on May 8th:
Maria Paulino (gray shirt) leading a group of urban birders in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Global Big Day.
Maria Paulino (Dominican Republic) – 30
Lyndon Johnson (Jamaica) – 27
Wendy Lee (Jamaica) – 27
Adrian Cobas (Cuba) – 26
Ana M. Suárez (Cuba) – 25
Maikel Cañizares Morera (Cuba) – 24
Miguel Landestoy (Dominican Republic) – 23
Tania Piñeiro (Cuba) – 23
Alina Perez (Cuba) – 22
Wayne Arendt (Puerto Rico) – 22
Noelia Nieves (Puerto Rico) – 21
Robert Jovel (Cuba) – 21
Wisdenilde Navarro (Cuba) – 21
Alondra Medina Charriez (Cuba) – 21
Karlos Ross (Cuba) – 20
An Exciting Finish to our Fundraising, and Thank You!
After the success of last year’s fundraiser we have carried the tradition onward. This year’s donations will help fund our newly launched Caribbean Motus Collaboration, which is part of our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring network.
The final days of our fundraiser were incredible! We were still a ways out from our target goal of $20K when a most generous BirdsCaribbean member on the President’s Perch team stepped up and offered a $5K match. In other words, if the President’s Perch Team could raise $5K in 3 days, the donor would match it with a donation of $5K, giving us the opportunity to double the funds!
We quickly put out the call and many generous people answered it! With a few hours to spare before the deadline, we reached the $5K goal on President’s Perch team, which was then promptly doubled by our generous supporter! Thus, to date, thanks to your generous donations and support we have raised a total of $19,113, which will help to install at least 4 Motus stations in the islands!!! (note: it is not too late to donate if you want to help us reach our $20K goal).
2021 BirdsCaribbean Global Big Day Teams*
You can visit each birding team’s page profile on eBird to see maps of the team’s countries/ islands where birds were sighted and their checklists. You can also visit each team’s GoFundMe page and donate to specific teams to help them reach their fundraising goal, or donate to the general campaign.
Black-whiskered-Vireo spotted on Global Big Day in the Dominican Republic. (photo by Maria-Paulino)
BirdsCaribbean has celebrated the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) for the past 20 years with the encouragement and support of a diverse group of partners throughout the Caribbean. The festival highlights the region’s rich bird community, with special attention given to the 171 species found only in the Caribbean. Each year the CEBF activities are planned around a theme.
This year the theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar—Like a Bird!” Due to the coronavirus pandemic we are celebrating virtually again. Virtual events often leave little room for meaningful interaction. However, it is extremely important to us that we provide our members and partners with the opportunity to share their experiences with us.
Therefore we invite you to tell us, in your own words, what this year’s theme means to you! Whether you are camera shy or not, the guidelines below will help you capture a compelling video. All you will need is a smartphone, laptop, or camera capable of recording video. There will be no need for fancy equipment or spending long hours editing. We need less than a minute of your time!
All suitable submissions will be used to create a video collage which will be shared at the end of the CEBF 2021 on the BirdsCaribbean website and social media accounts.
Guidelines and Tips for Creating your Short Video
Instructions for the video content:
Have fun! Remember this is not a school project or work assignment.
Speak in your native language; if possible, please send us the English script if it is not English.
First introduce yourself: your name and where you’re from
Then let us know what our theme “Sing, Fly, Soar—Like A Bird!” means to you. Smile, speak naturally, from the heart, and feel free to be creative!Some ideas: You can talk about how birds inspire you, how you got into birding, what you love about birds, your birding activities, how birds changed your life, your “spark” bird, why birds matter, how birds unite us, how you relate to this theme personally, your work conserving, studying or educating about birds, etc. Do your best to relate it to the theme, and don’t be shy about conveying your enthusiasm!
Instructions for recording the video:
Videos should be up to one minute in length – two or three sentences is great (20-30 seconds). If you need a little longer to tell your story, that’s okay too!
If possible, shoot your video with a DSLR camera, iPhone, or smartphone at high resolution.
If you shoot the video from a phone, use landscape (horizontal), not portrait (vertical) mode. It’s best to place yourself in the left or right ⅓ of the image, rather than the center.
Shoot from about an arm’s distance from the phone so that the video covers till your stomach and make sure there is a little headspace on the top.
Check your lighting. Natural light outdoors in nature works best (the sun should be behind the camera). If using a lamp or other light source make sure it is in front of you- NOT behind, overhead, or to the side.
Check your sound. Make sure the audio is clear and there is minimal or no background noise.
Ask a friend or family member to handle the camera work while you focus on delivering your best performance.
Optional: If it’s helpful, feel free to check out some past video testimonials on our website or youtube channel.
Videos must NOT contain:
Copyrighted material (such as music tracks, photos) without necessary authorizations.
Material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene or hateful
Instructions for sending us your video:
Email video, consent form (if needed), and English script (if needed) toAliya.Hosein@birdscaribbean.org. Note: the file may be too large to send via email; you may also send it via Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, OneDrive, etc. Please send reasonably high resolution, e.g., 1080 px).
For adults, by submitting your video you give BirdsCaribbean consent to use the video for purposes specified above.
For those under the adult age in your country, the minor’s video must be accompanied with a consent form signed by a parent or guardian – download the form here.
Kristy Shortte, a Program Officer at the NGO Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.
A local community that understands the value of natural habitats and the wildlife that lives there is key to successful long-term conservation. Find out how this happens from Kristy Shortte, a Program Officer at the NGO ‘Sustainable Grenadines,’ on Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. From building observation platforms at vital wetlands, to garbage clean-ups and installing information signs, to training locals to identify and help monitor birds, Kristy describes the amazing and inspiring range of work carried out by her organization, local partners – and of course, the local community!
At the trans-boundary NGO Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren) we know that conserving the places where birds live is key to their survival. But how do we achieve this? So many of our habitats are under threat—from pollution and degradation by human activities, to outright destruction for development. When there are competing demands on the use of our natural resources, we need to make wise decisions. Sometimes we need to educate our local citizens about the immense value of these areas to people and wildlife, and to get them actively involved in their conservation. It’s a hands-on approach with community partners. Showing people the benefits of managing and protecting habitats is the best way to ensure the long-term health of bird populations and the habitats on which they depend.
Finding the best ways to protect birds and their habitats
Residents of Union island, harvesting salt at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Radio Grenadines).
Here at SusGren, we have taken the initiative to support birds and protect the places they live through two projects – both completed during the pandemic of 2020! SusGren believes that some areas are so special that they need to be protected – no ifs, ands, or buts!!!!
After many years of hard work to restore Ashton Lagoon and develop it as a bird and nature sanctuary for enjoyment by all, we turned our attention to Belmont Salt Pond. This is the second largest ecosystem on the island of Union and one of the last two remaining salt ponds in the entire St. Vincent and the Grenadines (he other salt pond is on Mayreau). Salt picking is still practiced at Belmont, providing economic benefits to locals.
So…what’s so special about Belmont Salt Pond?
The Belmont Salt Pond area is significant, in that it provides habitat to many species of resident and migratory birds. Here you can see Whimbrels, Willets, Blue-winged Teal, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Mangrove Cuckoo, and even the American Flamingo on occasion. Migratory birds use Belmont as a place to rest and feed. This can be for a few days or weeks, before they continue with their migration, while others stay from fall to spring. For other birds, the Salt Pond is ‘home’ all year round.
Blue-winged Teal female spotted at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
American Flamingo Spotted at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
With this rich history and biodiversity and the salt pond threatened by human activities, SusGren decided to enhance the area for enjoyment by locals and visitors alike. This would help ensure the protection of the area’s biodiversity and would increase ecotourism opportunities in Union Island, following our successful restoration of nearby Ashton Lagoon 2 years ago. The platform would also help us to continue the long-term bird monitoring of our wetlands through participation in the Caribbean Waterbird Census.
Taking a community-based approach
The ‘’Clean up Squad’’ at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Zoe Jennett)
Due to a lack of community knowledge of the importance of the area, it was being used for the burning of charcoal and dumping garbage. We knew that over time these activities would damage Belmont Salt Pond and biodiversity would be negatively impacted. So at Susgren we decided to carry out a project in partnership with members of the community, to ensure that such behavior is reduced and eventually eliminated.
As part of this approach, SusGren contributed towards a cleanup organized by a local group of 10 people called “Union Island Cleanup Squad.” They held massive cleaning up sessions at the Belmont Salt Pond on May 7th and May 13th, 2020. A total of 30 bags of trash was collected during the first session, and 40 additional bags of trash were picked up at the second cleanup around the edges of the pond. It was great to see local community groups actively taking up the stewardship mantle of their island!
Follow the signs!
Interpretive sign at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Our project also involved the construction of viewing platforms at Belmont Salt Pond, designed to provide people with a fantastic overview of the wetland and the birds living there. At each of the Belmont Salt Pond platforms – and at the Ashton Lagoon Eco Trail – we installed interpretive signs displaying resident and migratory birds. We worked with BirdsCaribbean to design signs that included land birds, wetland birds, and shorebirds likely to be seen at each of the sites. At Ashton Lagoon, one sign also provides visitors with knowledge about the marine and terrestrial species of animals found in the area.
Our interpretive signs include features on bird identification. Thus, someone using the platforms at Belmont Salt Pond or our bird towers at Ashton Lagoon can receive a “self-crash-course” in basic bird identification. Moreover, there are now three 4 x 6 billboard signs installed at Belmont Salt Pond that explain the history of the area and its cultural and environmental importance. Two ‘rules’ signs also notify visitors about appropriate behavior in the area.
Keeping the trash at bay
“Bird branded” garbage bins and signs at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
To reduce the problem of litter, we installed attractive garbage receptacles at both Belmont Salt Pond and Ashton Lagoon. The bright green receptacles are adorned with images of the various birds one can see in the area. Our hope is that this will help build local pride and community ownership and encourage people to dispose of their garbage in a responsible way.
Since the installation of 4 bins at each location, we are gratified to see that people are using them. The local solid waste management company ‘’Uni Clean’ assists with the weekly disposal of trash from these areas.
Reaching out in different ways
We found different ways of reaching out to our stakeholders and the general public. Normally, we would have been hosting lots of in-person outreach and birding activities and events with the community and schools during the last year. But due to the pandemic and schools closing, we used radio and social media platforms to engage the community and key stakeholders. We made phone calls and delivered letters with updates on our projects. We also sent out a media blast with the local telecommunications company on the island, so that recipients could obtain a poster of the activities being undertaken at Belmont Salt Pond on their phones.
Finally, we had a hugely successful radio interview and webinar with the show, “Conversation Tree” on Radio Grenadines. SusGren’s Program Director, Orisha Joseph and I gave a presentation and discussed our activities with the radio host. This was seen by over 2,000 people and was very well-received.
World Shorebirds Day
Kristy Shortte pointing out and identifying birds on a guided birding walk. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc).
To further community involvement in our work and help people develop a love for the environment and birds, we collaborated with Katrina Collins-Coy, Union Island Environmental Attackers, and celebrated World Shorebirds Day in September, 2020. Eleven students and two teachers from the Stephanie Browne Primary School participated.
The celebration involved a birding walk with Bird Bingo and a Bird Identification tour along the Ashton Lagoon Trail. The children also enjoyed activities in the classroom, such as learning about the Parts of a Bird, bird games, and bird arts and crafts. We were elated to see the enthusiastic students and teachers come out as early as 5:30 am to be a part of the session!
Birds of Belmont Salt Pond – A New Resource!
Through this project (with matched funding from the SVG Conservation Fund) we also developed a booklet entitled “Birds of Belmont Salt Pond.” The booklet includes notes from SusGren’s directors, information on the project’s team, a brief history of the Belmont Salt Pond, photographs of resident and migratory birds found there, and a full checklist and space for taking notes while bird watching and monitoring. Thirty copies were printed and distributed to key stakeholders in the community and other organizations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We hope this will be a great resource for visitors.
Belmont Salt Point. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Bird Identification Training Workshop—“Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats”
Participants taking part in a Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Basic Bird ID Training Workshop. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
We weren’t finished yet! We also held a five-day bird identification training workshop as part of the project, during October 2020. The workshop was facilitated by Lystra Culzac, who is the Founder and Manager of Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE) and graduate of our Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats Training Workshop in 2019 (as is Kristy!). Those taking part represented a wide range of professions, from Park Rangers, Tourism Division, Environmental Groups, and regular community members. As part of the training, a bird monitoring trip took place at the newly installed platforms, making good use of our new booklet “Birds of Belmont Salt Pond.”
We included training in seabird monitoring as part of the workshop and participants took a trip to Catholic Island and Tobago Cays Marine Park. Here they got the opportunity to learn firsthand how to identify a wider variety of the seabird species in their natural habitats. Following the bird watching trip in the Tobago Cays, SusGren, in partnership with SCIENCE, collaborated on a clean-up effort at Petit Bateau, one of the cays in the Marine Park and a known seabird habitat. A total of 6 bags of trash was collected.
Continued CWC Monitoring
At both Ashton Lagoon and Belmont Salt Pond we have been carrying out Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) surveys for many years. These surveys help us to keep track of which birds are using these sites, while keeping an eye out for any changes or threats to the habitats. During the project we carried out 9 CWC surveys across Ashton Lagoon and Belmont Salt Pond, making visits twice a month. Now that the project is over we plan to continue to monitor the birds at both sites using CWC surveys. With all our newly trained birders on Union island, equipped with binoculars and copies of the ‘Birds of Belmont Salt Point,’ we should have plenty of support to do this!
How did the community respond to our work?
During an Attitude and Perception survey interview done with residents on the island, persons expressed excitement and satisfaction with the new development. One noted interviewee was Benjamin Wilson, a Tobago Cays Park Ranger. Wilson said, “Before the enhancement, I would have passed the salt pond straight – but now I have to gaze at the work that was done.’’ SusGren believes that this project was the first step towards having a local community that value ‘their’ wetland. The wildlife viewing platform is now being regularly used by locals and tourists alike!
Mission accomplished? Yes, for that phase, which is a first step in the right direction towards bird and habitat conservation.
This project was made possible with funding and support from BirdsCaribbean via the US Fish and Wildlife Service NMBCA program and BirdsCaribbean members and donors, with matching funds from the SVG Conservation Fund.
Kristy Shortte has worked with Sustainable Grenadines Inc since 2013, starting out as an Administrative and Research Assistant. Since 2017 she has served as a Program Officer. Kristy has qualifications in Business Studies, and since working at Sustainable Grenadines, she has been dedicated to using her business knowledge and environmental training and experience to empower her community in the Grenadines to protect and develop their resources sustainably. She has grown to love and be inspired by nature and birds since working for SusGren. She comments, “A lot of times I would look at birds and observe how they are so fearless and free in the sky and by looking at these creatures you learn from them about how to create a beautiful life.”
Salt being produced at Belmont. (Photo by Radio Grenadines)
One of the new signs showing the bird of Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
The new platform at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Lesser Yellowlegs at Belmont Salt Pond. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Kids with BirdSleuth Caribbean Bird Bingo-cards. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Kids learning about birds with BirdSleuth Caribbean and World Migratory Bird Day materials. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Viewing Platform at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Viewing Platform at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
American Flamingo Spotted at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
If you’re working today, you shouldn’t be. Tomorrow is Global Big Day for crying out loud. There is much to do.
And so, here’s your Friday Checklist:
Global Big Day – May 14, 2022Polish up your binos with one of those sweet microfiber cloths. Nobody knows what microfiber actually is; maybe spider silk, or the amazingly soft armpit hair of a baby goat, or dandelion seed fluffs sewn together. Scholars are mystified, so just be happy it works. Wipe away.
Begin carb-loading. Finding time to eat tomorrow will be challenging, so aim for consuming somewhere around four to five thousand calories today and you should be good to go. Pig out.
Play around on social media. Not just because it’s routine for you to do so at the top of every hour (isn’t working from home nice?!), but because you need to get the down-low on what other birders are up to. Some might already be tailgating in preparation for Global Big Day. Don’t let their cool personas get to you. Stay strong.
Take a nap from at least noon to 3pm. You’ve earned it. Plus, tomorrow is going to be an early one. Sunrise waits for no one, neither do those birds. Sleep easy.
It’s time to plan out the ground that you’re going to cover. Hour by hour planning is fun, but so is winging it. Keep some spontaneity on the docket. Remember that high vantage points can be really advantageous. Even though birds hate being looked down upon, it’s your best shot at seeing a lot of them at one time. Go high.
Refresh your knowledge of intricate molt patterns, especially with gulls. Rumor has it that some gull species have over 300 plumage variations, and that no mortal man or woman could possibly comprehend them all. Good luck.
Avoid people at all costs (unless you like people) because you might encounter other Global Big Day’ers out there. They may look friendly at first glance, but what they really want is information. Act naive, maybe even slightly disappointed, and ask them if they wouldn’t mind giving you advice on how to find whatever the most common species is in your area. They’ll leave you alone after that. Fly casual.
It’s gonna be a long day, so be sure to hydrate like crazy. Electrolytes are all the rage these days, and because they taste like hell by themselves you’ve got a great excuse to mix in a few cups of sugar. Nectar for the birds, and nectar for you. Pace yourself.
Reflect on which sock type to wear: tube socks or low-cuts? Don’t kid yourself, you’re a birder. That choice was made long ago. Tube up!
Tell a family member about Global Big Day. Not your second cousins on your mother’s side, they won’t care. But maybe your sweet aunt or the brother you’ve neglected for far too long. Convince them that birding is fun and that they should join you. Remember that family is obligated to love you and the things you do. Milk that.
Cue up your eBird account, make sure it still works, and take note of your GBD team’s username that you’ll be sharing your final list(s) with. Your role as a citizen scientist makes you awesome. And remind yourself that LBBs (Little Brown Birds) are not an acceptable species entry in eBird. That’s unfortunate.
With all this prep, your Global Big Day will surely be unforgettable. But your memory isn’t what it once was, so you might actually forget a lot of it. Best to document your exploits. While it’s highly likely that Uncle Sam is continuously taking beautiful photos of you from above, some good shots from ground-level of birds and people birdwatching will make you eligible for more prize giveaways—so be sure to pack a camera. Say cheese!
If you’re not having fun, then you’re not birding. And if you’re not birding, you’re definitely not having fun. Let’s make Global Big Day 2022 the best one yet!
p.s. It’s not too late to join one of our 17 awesome teams!!! Just click here to choose a team – or create one of your own! And here’s a link to our Global Big Day blog article with more information about how this fundraiser will benefit conservation of the Caribbean’s AMAZING birds!Any questions whatsoever about your birding mission tomorrow, don’t hesitate to email us! Lisa Sorenson – lisa.sorenson@birdscaribbean.org;Tahira Carter – tahira.carter@birdscaribbean.org; Justin Proctor – justin.proctor@birdscaribbean.org; and Jeff Gerbracht – jeffgerbracht@gmail.com.
St. Vincent’s iconic Parrot still faces challenges from the La Soufrière eruption, but work is being done to help the parrot and relief supplies are on the way (thanks to many generous donors who responded to our emergency appeal)! As the dramatic month of April draws to a close, it is still a mixed picture for the island of St. Vincent, its wonderful parrots and other wildlife, and its people. This level of uncertainty is likely to persist for the foreseeable future, according to scientists, who are monitoring La Soufrière on a daily basis. Their message is that the smoldering, steaming volcano, which is fairly quiet for now, is “still dangerous.” As we have learned, the situation can change rapidly.
Remobilization of ash at surrounding areas of La Soufriere, St. Vincent (Photo by Ilias Papadopoulos, UWI-SRC)
La Soufrière’s destructive path
Since we wrote about the volcano’s first eruption on April 9th, the volcano erupted again on the morning of Earth Day (April 22), with the plume of ash reaching as high as eight kilometers. This created some pyroclastic flows – a mixture of extremely hot volcanic ash and rocks that burns everything in its path. Since then, there have been flows of lahars (these are very fast-moving, dense mudflows or debris flows consisting of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, ash and water) along river valleys and gullies. To make matters worse, torrential rains on April 28 and 29 have created floods and landslides in several parts of the island (including the capital, Kingstown) exacerbating the flow of lahars through valleys. Residents are being advised not to go near rivers or streams, especially in the dangerous Red Zone in the north.
Lahars observed in the Wallibou River (Red Zone, Leeward side of the island) on the morning of 29 April, 2021. The rainfall overnight generated lahars (mudflows) in the red and orange zones. (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Lahars are fast moving, dense mixture of rocks, ash and vegetation and water originating from a volcano. It has the consistency of wet concrete and can cause severe damage to rivers and valleys around the volcano. (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
As of the evening of Thursday, April 29, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Centre reported that the volcano’s activity remained low. However, the lahars (some extremely hot) have caused considerable erosion and damage in all valleys that drain the volcano, bringing down many trees that have been carried into the ocean and are creating a hazard for shipping. In several parts of the island, damage to the forest has been quite extensive and rivers are filled with sediment. Earth tremors have been frequent. A recent survey noted many broken trees, weighed down by the heavy ash falls – even in the southern Green Zone where the danger is less. In some areas (for example, Jennings, Tiberoux, and Perseverance) trees have lost their tops and there was little sign of life in the forest. This is not good news for birds, including not only the St. Vincent Parrot but species such as the endangered Whistling Warbler and twelve other restricted-range endemic species, including the Grenada Flycatcher, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Purple-throated Carib, Brown Trembler, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Antillean Euphonia, and others.
Valley on the Leeward side of St. Vincent showing severe damage to trees and vegetation. (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Vincentians working hard for the birds
However, there is good news! Our partners on the ground at the Forestry Department of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are still seeing and hearing parrots. Local foresters are working hard for the birds; take a look at the photos and great videos below and on their Facebook page, where you will see them preparing and resupplying fresh fruit to the tall, spindly, but sturdy feeding platform stations that they constructed in the island’s Orange Zone (the central area where many of the parrots are located). Forestry staff have been clearing paths through the damaged forest, looking for stressed parrots and where they are concentrating, clearing waterways of fallen trees and branches in order to restore water supply in several areas, and at the same time doing humanitarian work – helping out their fellow Vincentians with supplies for shelters. Kudos to these brave and hard-working foresters!!! Forestry reports that they have a number of farmers that work with them and they are sympathetic to the plight of the parrots and putting our fresh fruit for them. Forestry is helping to supply this fruit. Members of the public are also calling in to Forestry to report that parrots, hummingbirds and other birds are showing up in areas where they do not normally occur. This shows that parrots are moving around searching for food – thank goodness they have wings! Hopefully, much of the population has been able to escape the eruptions and most damaged areas – time will tell as surveys continue in the coming weeks and months.
Help is on the way!
Thanks to the generous donations from friends and donors to the BirdsCaribbean fundraising effort, and the great support of international partners, we have shipped off supplies for the Forestry Department: a range of field equipment, including binoculars, respirators, backpacks, machetes, GPS units, walkie-talkies, cameras, and head-lamp flashlights; also tools and supplies such as hand drills, aviary wire, tarps, and hardware to repair and enhance the Forestry Department’s facilities for breeding captive parrots at the Botanical Gardens. The shipment also includes supplies to treat and care for rescued parrots—two veterinary “go-bags” (field kits containing all the critical care supplies needed to treat parrots in the field), Vita Seed Top Parrot Mix (300 pounds), hand-feeding formula and medicines to treat rescued parrots, and a portable oxygen generator and St Vincent Parrot-sized mask to help parrots in respiratory distress. The first shipment including all of the above items (1,625 pounds) is now en route to St. Vincent via Tropical Shipping sea freight – it will arrive on May 5th! Additional items still to be sent include nectar feeders for hummingbirds (many flowering plants have been badly damaged), seed feeders for other birds, and camping supplies to allow Forestry to spend the night in the field during parrot survey watches.
Recovery and relief supplies in the first shipment to St. Vincent include field equipment, supplies to care for rescued parrots, and hardware to repair and enhance the St. Vincent Parrot Aviary at the Botanical Gardens. (photos by Paul and Karen Reillo).
In these uncertain times, our caring local partners will continue to need our support. They are working hard in very challenging, often dangerous conditions to ensure that some of our most vulnerable Caribbean birds are assured of a safe and secure future. Later on, there will be a great deal of restoration work to do. At the moment, the volcano remains “in a state of unrest,” according to the UWI.
Jan 2022 Update
Our crowdfunding platform for this appeal, GoFundMe Charity, a separate arm of GoFundMe, unfortunately closed down this site, with a plan for all charities to operate fundraising pages on their main site, thus our crowdfunding page for this fundraiser is no longer available. However, you can donate here and designate your donation in the comments to help with the continued recovery of the St Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other wildlife in St Vincent. We owe it to the gorgeous St. Vincent Parrots and their beautiful island home!
Thank you to all of the incredibly generous donors to our fundraising campaign for your support. This has been critical to allow us to purchase and ship relief supplies as well as send funds to our local partners in St. Vincent. A huge thank you also to our international partners who are supporting this relief effort, including Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, Caribaea Initiative, Fauna & Flora International, Vortex Optics, and the Farallon Islands Foundation. We thank our amazing local partners SCIENCE Initiative, the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Environment Fund, and the Forestry Dept for your support and hard work.
Some of the recovery and relief supplies sent to the St Vincent Forestry Dept in the first shipment (April 2021). (photo by Paul and Karen Reillo)
Portable oxygen generator with a mask adjusted to fit the St Vincent Parrot. (photo by Paul and Karen Reillo)
Aviary wire and other relief supplies loaded up and ready to take to the port in West Palm Beach. (photo by Karen Reillo)
Relief supplies (1,200 pounds) ready to go the port to get on Tropical Shipping’s next boat to St Vincent on 28 April. Huge thanks to Paul and Karen Reillo for assembling and repacking all of the supplies for shipping! (photo by Karen Reillo)
Scientists studying the impacts of the volcano in the Wallibou River area on 26 April before lahars hit the area on 29 April. (photo by Prof. Jenni Barclay)
The Wallibou River area on 29 April AFTER a lahars hit the area on 29 April. Never underestimate the power of a lahar! (photo by Prof. Jenni Barclay)
St Vincent Parrot in better times, eating monkey goblet fruit (Clusia major), May 2018. (photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
Map of La Soufrière danger zones in St. Vincent. The St Vincent Parrot’s main habitats are in the forests in the orange and yellow zones.
Field technicians at the Loma del Toro colony in happier times (Photo by Grupo Jaragua)
Jennifer Wheeler of the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group shares some shocking and sad news on the Black-capped Petrel in the Dominican Republic.
In mid-March 2021, researchers from the environmental organization Grupo Jaragua arrived at Loma del Toro, located in the Dominican Republic’s Sierra de Bahoruco National Park. The team’s mission was to check up on the Black-capped Petrel, an endangered seabird endemic to the Caribbean.
The trip to the field site was long and taxing, the final hours of bumpy travel up a steep, unpaved mountain road. Nevertheless, the team was in an upbeat mood, anticipating evidence of the first chicks to be hatched this year.
A shocking sight
Sadly, the researchers’ hopes were soon to be crushed. In the early morning, the forest of Hispaniolan pines that is home to the Black-capped Petrel nesting sites would normally have been full of life, with a noisy dawn-chorus of migrant and resident birds. Instead, the woods seemed a bit quieter than usual. When they reached the nesting sites, the team was met with a scene of carnage. The colony’s burrows were torn up, petrel feathers scattered around, and the remains of eggs and adult petrels dotted the ground. Predators had decimated the colony.
Analysis of camera traps at thirteen nests revealed that several dogs had been visiting the colony regularly since the end of November, and the depredations were the work of one particularly determined dog. This individual killed a minimum of seven adult petrels, likely more were attacked off camera.
Dog invading a Black-capped Petrel burrow at the Loma del Toro colony. An adult petrel was killed outside this burrow in early March. (Photo by Grupo Jaragua)
Rare and vulnerable nesting sites
Only about 100 nests of the Black-capped Petrel have ever been located, after years of searching. These are all in the mountains on Hispaniola (the island comprised of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Loma del Toro, in the Dominican Republic just east of the Haitian border, hosted 28 of them. Of the 28 known burrows, at least 22 were invaded by the dogs (based on camera traps, visual inspection of nests, and observation of carcasses.) Field teams expect that there were additional yet-to-be-found burrows in the area; these may have been affected as well.
The site has been monitored regularly since 2011. Adults claim burrows in November and December, and usually a high proportion (~70%) of chicks fledge from Loma del Toro in the summer months. There have been disappointments and setbacks before. In 2018, the presence of a cat resulted in the failure of nine nests at Loma del Toro. The loss of breeding adults and destruction of burrows, however, made this year’s scene especially tragic.
An adult Black-capped Petrel in a Loma del Toro burrow in early 2014. Black-capped Petrels nest in colonies in underground burrows located on forested slopes and cliff sides on Hispaniola, generally above 1500 m. They lay just one egg. (Photo by Grupo Jaragua).
Introduced mammals – a destructive threat
Worldwide, animals introduced by humans – rodents, mongoose, cats, dogs, pigs – have devastated native island bird populations. The seabirds that evolved on islands free of mammalian predators are ill-equipped to withstand the pressure of animals evolved to take prey.
Not that Black-capped Petrels and other seabirds are helpless – these are tough birds that spend their lives in the winds and waves of the marine environment. Camera footage shows them battling each other as well as rats. However, seabirds are typically clumsy and slow on land, and nests on or in the ground are easily accessed by predators.
In an endangered species such as the Black-capped Petrel, any death of an adult can have extreme consequences for the health of the entire population. For this reason, the Conservation Action Plan currently being updated by the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group (IBPCG) identifies predation by introduced mammals as a key threat, and reduction of predator pressure as a top strategy. In fact, Grupo Jaragua’s deployment of multiple camera traps was a step in understanding the specifics of the threat at known colonies.
Dog standing over dead Black-capped Petrel. Another petrel, presumably a mate, returned to this burrow in early January (Photo by Grupo Jaragua).
Tackling the challenges
What now? Of course, the park authorities in the Ministry of the Environment have been notified about the specific threat posed by the recently documented group of dogs. The International Black-capped Petrel Group (IBPCG) had already begun to pilot trapping activities for smaller predators such as rats and mongoose. It will also pursue the idea of restoring the Loma del Toro colony using buried nest structures (“artificial burrows”) to provide more secure nesting locations.
Reducing the predation pressure at Loma del Toro and other Black-capped Petrel colonies will be a challenge given the costs and logistics of operating in a remote, mountainous location. Accessing the Black-capped Petrel colonies can only be done by rough unpaved roads that take a heavy toll on the research teams’ trucks. Finally, the IBPCG must also combat the threats of fire, collisions, habitat loss and degradation from agricultural expansion, all while continuing to seek out and study the species in colonies elsewhere in the region.
The Working Group and partners fight on…
Yet, this group’s efforts have always been notable for the level of shared dedication and collaboration to benefit this special bird. The IBPCG has strategies in place to offset many of the conservation threats that the Black-capped Petrel faces annually; some have already shown positive outcomes for the species. The tragedy at Loma del Toro only strengthens the resolve of Grupo Jaragua and its IBPCG partners, which include BirdsCaribbean, the American Bird Conservancy, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) and others – to protect the species and allow it to thrive across its range.
…and need your support
The IBPCG continually strives to raise funds for its work. If you would like to contribute to keeping the Grupo Jaragua field team in the field and support the work to reduce predation pressure and other threats, please give directly to Grupo Jaragua at http://www.grupojaragua.org.do/apoyanos or you can route through a gift through BirdsCaribbean: http://bit.ly/GiftForCaribbeanBirds
More bad news! At press-time, a raging wildfire threatens the remaining birds and burrows of the Loma del Toro colony. We await more information…
It’s that time of year again—spring migration! And that means birders from around the globe will be gathering for Global Big Day, happening on May 8th, 2021. This year, BirdsCaribbean is excited to be hosting another fundraiser that harnesses the energy, excitement, and comradery of Global Big Day (GBD), and uses the money to further conservation work in the Caribbean!
Last year’s GBD, at the peak of our pandemic lockdown, was a welcome respite from isolation as we connected with each other through birding. We want to do it again this year and make it even bigger and better! Read on for more details!
What is Global Big Day (GBD)?
Twice a year, during peak migration times (once in spring and once in fall) birders gather (often in teams) and travel around an area trying to observe as many bird species as they can in a 24-hr period of time.
BirdsCaribbean virtual teams will bird “together” and engage in friendly competition to (1) raise the most funds, and (2) collectively see the most species of birds on Global Big Day.
This year we’re excited to announce all the money raised from participating BirdsCaribbean GBD teams will benefit BirdsCaribbean’s exciting new Caribbean Motus Collaboration! And new this year, all funds raised by Caribbean island teams will go directly to fund Motus stations in their countries.
Because of continued safety concerns with COVID-19, many of us will be birding again individually, and from a safe place*.
If you choose to create a team, personalize it with a fun name, photos and your own lingo. NOTE: if you are outside the US or Canada, we will need to assist you with the first step of creating your own team; after this you will be able to manage the team (email Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org and she will get you set up pronto!)
All team leaders and members should then invite family, friends, colleagues, and members of your birding community to join your team and/or donate to your team. It helps to set your own personal fundraising goal to help your team reach it’s overall goal!
By inviting people to your team, you are (1) raising awareness for BirdsCaribbean and the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, (2) helping to raise funds for Caribbean Motus, and (3) promoting Global Big Day, citizen science, and the importance of conserving birds and their habitats.
and/or . . .
Simply making a donation to one of the birding and fundraising teams.
By doing so, you will have (1) helped advance knowledge and conservation through supporting Caribbean Motus Collaboration, and (2) encouraged that team to bird as hard as they can on Global Big Day.
and/or . . .
Committing to spending some time (or the entire day!) birding on Global Big Day (May 8), being sure to keep track of what you see and then entering that information into eBird. We hope everyone will do this, whether or not they join a team or fundraise.
This will be a fun event to fundraise for and get excited about birds! Be ready to visit birding hotspots or set yourself up in a safe place* and bird for as much of the day as possible, knowing that all of your teammates, friends, and BirdsCaribbean community members are doing the same!
Why This is Important
The insular Caribbean is a critical region for birds. There are 171 species that occur here and nowhere else in the world! In addition, the islands provide essential habitat for over 100 migratory birds. Many stay 6 months or longer while others rely on the islands as stopover sites to rest and refuel during their long journeys.
As vital as the region is for birds, we still lack basic information on many species. In addition, Caribbean birds face a whole range of threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change.
We plan to address these issues by identifying the most critical sites and habitats for our birds. We will use an exciting new monitoring tool: the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. Motus, Latin for movement, is a powerful collaborative research network that uses automated radio telemetry to monitor the movements of small animals. The system consists of hundreds of receiver stations and tens of thousands of deployed bird tags.
Motus is also a great tool for engaging the public and youth in science and conservation – we plan to involve local communities and schools in our efforts!
Data from the Motus network has already expanded our understanding of bird migration. The Motus network is widely established in Canada and the US, and beginning to spread throughout Central and South America. Currently, however, there are no active receiver stations in the Caribbean, and many species of conservation concern have not yet been tagged. We want to fill this critical geographical gap!
Our plan is to raise funds for Motus stations and work with our partners to install them in priority areas throughout the islands. We need your help to do this!
We need to raise funds to install and maintain Motus receiver stations in strategic locations throughout the islands. The components of stations cost approximately ~$4,800, and the total cost of a station (including shipping, installation, maintenance, etc.) is ~$10K.
Keep in mind that each station is able to detect thousands of tagged birds flying by, every second of the year, and that the more stations we install, the more detailed information we learn about critically important migration flyways and stopover sites throughout the Caribbean.
We also need to deploy nanotags on priority bird species in the islands to track their movements. Each tag costs ~$225.
Any amount that we can raise is helpful! This is a highly tangible way to get involved in the conservation of Caribbean species.
As with everything in the Caribbean we will be successful when our whole community pitches in, so let’s do this together. We know we can count on you to help!
About Global Big Day
Global Big Day is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Last year, more than 50,000 people across 175 countries collectively reported an astounding 120,000 eBird checklists. Learn more here about this citizen scientist initiative.
Prizes will be Awarded to
(1) the team that raises the most funds
(2) the team with the most creative name and stylish fundraising page
(3) the team that sees the most bird species on Global Big Day
(4) the “country/island team” that sees the highest proportion of their birds on Global Big Day (to control for differences in the number of species on each island!)
(5) the team with the best “find” of the day (unusual, rare, plumage aberration, etc.)
(6) the team with the best bird photo of the day (must be posted on eBird along with your list)
And others, TBD! Remember that all funds raised by island/country teams will go to support Motus in that country!
*Safety
While COVID is decreasing in some islands and more and more people are getting vaccinated, it’s still important to be cautious. Be sure to choose birding locations that (1) comply with your municipality’s COVID-19 safety guidelines (i.e. social distancing, wearing a mask, and travel guidelines), and (2) comply with your personal safety preferences. And so whether you will be birding at local parks, reserves, wetlands, beaches, neighborhood or backyard, we will all be enjoying the opportunity to distract ourselves with some safe, fun birdwatching. Additionally, we will all be birdwatching “together” for a great cause that unites us!
Thanks in advance for participating and supporting our fundraiser, however you can! We hope to see lots of teams forming throughout the Caribbean, US, Canada ,and beyond! We will keep you updated with more news and details about our Global Big Day, such as how to keep a count of your birds and enter your data on line – stay tuned!
The first powerful eruption of La Soufriére Volcano on the morning of April 9th, 2021. (photo by Richard Robertson-UWI Seismic Research Centre)
At 8:41 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021, La Soufrière volcano, located in the north of the island of St. Vincent, erupted for the first time in 42 years. There have been many additional and more explosive eruptions since then, including a collapse of the volcano’s dome and pyroclastic flows starting on April 12th, decimating villages, farms, and housing. St. Vincent and neighboring islands are now covered in ash, in particular Barbados. The ash plume is also affecting St. Lucia, Grenada, and the Grenadines Islands of Grenada and St. Vincent via surface or sea level winds.
Our hearts go out to our dear friends and colleagues and the people of St. Vincent, as they continue to cope with the devastation caused by the continuing eruptions and dangerous falling rock and ash. Thankfully, many people in the danger (red) zone have been evacuated, but the entire country is impacted by ash fall, power outages, and water shortages. Humanitarian efforts are well underway, but the wildlife also needs our help! Together with our international partners we are organizing funding support to help with the rescue and recovery of the threatened St. Vincent Parrot. (see updated link to donate below under “Jan 2022 Update”).
Please donate generously if you can so that we can provide emergency funding for on-the-ground partners and volunteers to rescue and provide care to injured parrots facing a loss of habitat and food. note: our gofundme page was taken down when their system was changed, so please donate here.
St. Vincent landscape covered in ash, view from Belmont Observatory in St. Vincent, 11 April 2021. (photo by UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Impacts on the St. Vincent Parrot and Other Wildlife
The St. Vincent Parrot, locally known as Vincie, is the National Bird of St. Vincent. It is listed as Threatened. (photo by Nandani Bridglal)
The normally lush green landscape of this beautiful country is now blanketed in gray ash. It’s possible that the eruptions and ash fall could go on for weeks, devastating an island already suffering from the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. We are very concerned about the impacts to many regional and endemic birds on St. Vincent, particularly the threatened St. Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildingii), listed as Vulnerable, and the Whistling Warbler, listed as Endangered. Other restricted-range endemic species (12) include the Grenada Flycatcher, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Purple-throated Carib, Brown Trembler, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Antillean Euphonia, and others. The St. Vincent Parrot is a gorgeous, vibrant symbol of national pride, which bears the country’s national colors. It stands apart from many other Caribbean parrots with the typical green body feathers instead showing iridescent bronze feathers, edged in sunset orange. These striking parrots were once common, but destruction of their forest habitat, illegal trade, hunting, and hurricanes all led to the parrot’s decline to only 370-470 birds in the 1980s. Thankfully, the parrot and its habitat are now protected by law and the population is slowly increasing. It is now listed as Vulnerable with a wild population of about 750 birds. Parrots are generally resilient, but they need our help to make it through this devastating natural disaster.
The Threatened St. Vincent Parrot Needs our Help
Impacts on the wildlife from the eruptions: This St. Vincent Parrot was found in a weakened state. It’s eye were crusted with ash and its crop was empty. Unfortunately, it did not make it. (photo by St Vincent Forestry Department).
Our colleague in St. Vincent, Lystra Culzac, is optimistic that any parrots in the area of the volcano would have moved to safer zones (their main population area is in the west and east slopes of the central mountain range south of the Soufriére Volcano). However, with continuing eruptions many birds have and will continue to perish as ecosystems are devastated from the atmospheric gases and heavy ash fall blanketing the country, as well as pyroclastic flows. We’re very concerned about the impacts on the health and survival of the St. Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other birds and wildlife. Breathing volcanic ash and dust is extremely harmful; Radio Grenadines reported Scaly-naped Pigeons falling dead out of the sky on nearby Union Island the day after the first eruption. One adult St. Vincent Parrot in the Jennings area has been rescued so far. The bird was found in the Jennings area on Thursday 15th. Bradford Latham (Acting Forest Supervisor for Wildlife Conservation) reported that the bird was very weak when found—its eyes were swollen and crusty with ash and its crop was empty. Sadly the veterinarian worked to save it, but was not able to.
How Your Gift Will be Used
We are working closely with other concerned conservation organizations that want to help, such as the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, Caribaea Initiative, and Fauna and Flora International, in partnership with the Forestry Department in St. Vincent, who is directing the recovery effort. Plans are being formulated for the rescue and rehabilitation of St. Vincent Parrots that are impacted by the volcano. However, carrying them out will be complicated and take time, due to the pandemic and also the understandable need to deal with the humanitarian crisis first. Birds that are rescued will be cared for in the Botanical Gardens of St. Vincent, set up as a rehab and breeding facility. Aviary building supplies are needed to expand aviaries and holding enclosures for rescued birds. Survey equipment, parrot feed, and veterinary supplies are needed to provide care, food, and shelter to rescued birds.
Ensuring the long-term health and recovery of the St. Vincent Parrot will require sustained support and effort as the eruptions may continue for weeks or months (Univ of West Indies Seismic Research Centre). The immediate priorities are field expeditions to search for injured and weakened parrots, put out ripe fruit, nuts and parrot feed on platforms in forest areas with high concentrations of parrots, and expanding accommodations for rescued birds. Down the line, habitats and park infrastructure may need restoration and repair. In addition, surveys to assess the damage to habitats and the parrots’ overall population size will be critical. We will keep our community informed about these plans and our progress in the coming days and weeks. Keeping the parrots within SVG territory is a conservation priority. Rescued birds will be cared for until is safe for them to return to their mountain forest habitat.
Please help us to provide the financial resources that our on-the-ground partners need to carry out the rescue and rehab work and save as many St. Vincent Parrots as possible.
Jan 2022 Update
Our crowdfunding platform for this appeal, GoFundMe Charity, a separate arm of GoFundMe, unfortunately closed down this site, thus our crowdfunding page for this fundraiser is no longer available. However, you can donate here and designate your donation to go towards “St Vincent Volcano Recovery” to help with our continued recovery of the St Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other wildlife in St Vincent. We owe it to the gorgeous St. Vincent Parrots and their beautiful island home!
Any donation that you can make at this time will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!!
Enjoy the photo gallery below – click on first photo to see a slide show with captions.
Grenada Flycatcher, endemic to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (photo by Ted Eubanks)
Parrot Lookout on the Vermont Nature Trail (photo by Amos Glasgow)
Eruption of La Soufriére Volcano, as seen from Kingston. (photo by Lystra Culzac)
Whistling Warbler, endemic to St Vincent, classified as Endangered.
Eruption of La Soufriére Volcano, as seen from Kingston. (photo by Lystra Culzac)
Purple-throated Carib, endemic to the Lesser Antilles. (photo by Alistair Homer)
Rufous-throated Solitaire, endemic subspecies in the Lesser Antilles. (photo by Frantz Delcroix)
St Vincent Parrot portrait (photo by St. Vincent Parrot Project)
Antillean Euphonia, endemic to the Lesser Antilles (photo by Anthony Levesque)
Roof collapsing under the weight of the volcanic ash. (photo by UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Vermont Natural Trail (photo by Amos Glasgow)
Warning sign up put in December when La Soufriére began to show signs of increased activity. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre has been monitoring the volcano closely and warned of imminent eruption.
Palm trees giving way to the weight of volcanic ash. (photo by UWI Seismic Research Centre).
Dead Scaly-naped Pigeon found in Union Island, one of the Grenadines Islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Ash plume on April 9th at 4 PM, the first day of eruptions (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Brown Trembler, restricted range species. (photo by James Scriber Daley)
Measuring the thickness of the ash fall in St. Vincent. (Photo by UWI Seismic Research Centre).
We have a new activity for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) and we think you’re going to love it! This year’s CEBF theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar — Like A Bird!” And BirdsCaribbean has lots of fun events and activities planned around this theme, including a zine (pronounced zeen) making contest!
We are very excited to invite you to participate in our first Bird Zine Contest. This is a fantastic opportunity for children and adults to revisit and creatively express their understanding of birds. You will find detailed guidelines and judging criteria in these docs: Bird Zine Contest Guidelines and What is a Zine and Bird Zine Contest Instructions. Be sure to read both documents carefully. There are prizes for each age category and two awesome GRAND PRIZES of a pair of waterproof Vortex Optics Binoculars!
What is a Zine?
A zine is a self-published booklet. Zines tend to be a collage of different images, text, and messages put together by writing, drawing, and/or cutting and gluing content into a booklet. The booklet can be reproduced through photocopying and hand-binding, or shared online via a PDF or flip booklet. Because they are informal and colorful, they are an engaging way to learn and accessible to different types of learners. Need more information? We’ve put together this document that explains how it works, and how you can make your very own!
The Bird Zine Contest was created to allow people in all walks of life, children and adults, to creatively explore the fascinating world of birds. Entries could be from researchers, educators, photographers, students, tour guides, storytellers, artists, advocates – even the ‘I saw my first bird in the wild yesterday’ people! We hope that these zines will also illuminate the intimate relationship between birds and people. It can also be an enjoyable way to further connect our community, so that zine creators will communicate with each other, find opportunities, or even collaborate on future projects.
Remember, birds are super clever and resourceful. They freely express themselves everyday. So should YOU!
We look forward to receiving your bird zines. This collection is meant to reflect our incredibly diverse species of birds and culture and your creativity.
Help us spread the word! Tell your friends and family about the contest and the cool prizes.
Be sure to read these 2 documents and follow instructions carefully:
St Lucia Parrot Zine cover, created by Aliya Hosein, Trinidad and Tobago. You can view the full zine booklet below.
Bird Zine Contest Guidelines – information on who is eligible to participate in the contest, how to submit your zine, prizes, judging, and more.
The deadline for submission is 11:59 PM EDT on Sunday, May 30th, 2021.
Learn More About Zines
A quick online search for ‘Zines’ can provide you with endless examples and tutorials. Here are some zines, many environmental, to look at to get your creative juices flowing.
The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), now in its 21st year, announces its return for a month-long celebration of the region’s endemic birds! This year’s theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar — Like a Bird!” We will learn about our feathered friends, exploring their beautiful songs and astounding power of flight. Their flight expresses pure freedom and their songs reach out to us, as we connect with them and reflect on their amazing journeys with mixed feelings of envy and admiration. Who hasn’t wished they were able to slip “the surly bonds of Earth” and “danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings”?* These emotions stir us as we embrace this evocative theme.
CEBF creativity – online
How are we reflecting the theme in our CEBF 2021 activities? The #HumansofBirdsCaribbean have been busy behind the scenes preparing webinars, e-books, art classes, colouring pages, videos, origami, puzzles, activity sheets and so much more. A fan favourite, the ‘Endemic Bird of the Day’ series is back with a line-up of 30 new endemic bird species. Be sure to follow BirdsCaribbean on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see if your favourite bird made the cut. BirdsCaribbean is also excited to host our first ever Bird Zine Contest (pronounced zeen) and a virtual social event, Bird Jeopardy, this year to the festival!
Last spring the event kicked off with a discussion on the Bahamas’ mysterious “Chickcharney” led by the Bahamas National Trust’s Scott Johnson. Dr Ancilleno Davis led a wonderful story time session about mangroves and gave us a virtual tour of his backyard, which happened to be a thriving mangrove habitat! Christine Elder and Josmar Esteban Marquez helped us to realize our potential as artists by inviting us to follow along as they sketched Caribbean birds. New birders were treated to a six-session course “Birding for Beginners,” organized and hosted by Antigua’ Environmental Awareness Group (EAG). The BirdsCaribbean flock has expanded considerably and we hope to continue to build interest and enthusiasm for the region’s rich bird diversity.
An interactive festival experience
This year, during April and May, we have another astonishing line-up of talks. We will dive into a range of topics, including how to record and use birdsongs to understand bird behavior; endemic hummingbirds in the Bahamas; the role of wildlife rehabilitators in nurturing the next generation of champion conservationists; and new discoveries in regional bird research.
However, CEBF participants will not only be sitting and watching; we have also worked on making the CEBF even more interactive. For the past 18 months we have collected stories, myths, and beliefs about birds from our members, which are currently being compiled into an e-book. We have also launched a zine-making contest called the Bird Zine Contest: you will find more details here. And throughout the festival we will be accepting short videos of our members, explaining what this year’s theme means to them – more details on this coming shortly!
Meanwhile, stay safe…
The well-being of our partners and supporters remains the highest priority for BirdsCaribbean. Following the model of our hugely successful virtual “From the Nest” edition of CEBF in 2020 we will provide activities that can be done from the safety of your homes. Some countries are still experiencing serious COVID challenges, while others are doing better. Do follow your local public health guidelines and mask up, socially distance, and stay home if this is called for. With vaccinations now being administered, there is a light at the end of the tunnel—hopefully we will be able to up meet at birding hotspots across the region in the coming months!
The CEBF is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn about and connect with the Caribbean’s 171 endemic bird species. These birds inspire us to rise above our challenges. In spite of the threats they face; from loss of their habitats to hurricanes to invasive species, they continue to sing, fly and soar!
Visit birdscaribbean.org or follow @BirdsCaribbean on social media for fun and free activities this spring.
BirdsCaribbean is very excited to announce that we are launching a new bird monitoring initiative — the Caribbean Motus Collaboration. And we need your help and involvement! Read on to learn more about this program and how you can help.
What is Motus?
Kirtland’s Warbler fitted with a lightweight nano-tag. These tiny transmitters, which weigh as little as 0.2 g, allow researchers to track the movements of small animals with precision across thousands of miles. (photo by Scott Weidensaul)
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a powerful collaborative research network developed by Birds Canada. Named after the Latin word for movement, Motus uses automated radio telemetry arrays to study the movements and behavior of flying animals (birds, bats, and insects) that are nano-tagged and tracked by Motus receivers.
Motus’ main objective is to enable conservation and ecological research by tracking the movement of animals. The system consists of hundreds of receiver stations and thousands of deployed nanotags on 236+ species, mostly birds. Data from this network have already expanded our understanding of bird movements, including pinpointing migration routes and key stopover sites, as well as movements, habitat use, and behavior during breeding and non-breeding seasons. We are only just beginning to tap into the enormous potential of this new technology and growing network of partnerships and data sharing for conservation.
Motus technology is also a valuable educational tool that can advance conservation education both in and out of the classroom. Birds Canada and the Northeast Motus Collaboration have developed a curriculum that combines interactive classroom activities with Motus tracking tools that can be used to teach local children about birds, migration, and conservation.
Expanding the Motus Network in the Caribbean
Motus is widely established in Canada and the US, and beginning to spread throughout Central and South America; however, there are currently no active receiver stations in the Caribbean. The more Motus stations we can put up, the more we can increase our understanding of where tagged birds are moving. In addition, many species of conservation concern that live in or migrate through/ to the region have not yet been tagged. We want to fill this critical geographical gap.
Yellow dots represent the active Motus receiver stations. The white box outlines the insular Caribbean. A few Motus stations that were put up in several islands have been damaged by storms and hurricanes, and need repair.
The Caribbean Motus Collaboration (CMC) is developing a multi-pronged strategy to expand the Motus network by installing and maintaining receiver stations in strategic locations throughout the islands, deploying nanotags on priority bird species, and implementing a specially adapted Caribbean educational curriculum.
Why is this Important?
Our birds are declining at alarming rates.
The Painted Bunting is a declining songbird that winters in FL, Cuba, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America. (photo by Ray Robles)
The insular Caribbean is a global biodiversity conservation “hotspot” that is home to over 700 species of birds. Roughly half of these bird species are residents in the Caribbean, including 171 that are endemic – meaning they are found nowhere else in the world! The other half are migratory, splitting their time between temperate and tropical habitats in the Americas, and shared among multiple countries along the way.
For some migratory birds, the Caribbean islands are the perfect winter retreat — they arrive in early fall and stay until spring. Others use one or more islands as stopover sites to rest and refuel as they fly between their breeding and wintering grounds further south. Whether they stay or move on, they are much-loved visitors, reflecting the seasons and inspiring our cultural expressions.
Unfortunately, bird populations are declining. Fifty-nine Caribbean species are at risk of extinction, listed as Vulnerable (30), Endangered (24), or Critically Endangered (5) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A recent study found that nearly 30% of the bird populations in North America since 1970 have been lost, and Caribbean species are among the many that are in trouble.
Birds in the Caribbean face an entire suite of threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, and invasive species. In addition, climate change has become a constant danger to the region, not only to people, but also to wildlife. The Caribbean is experiencing increasingly intense hurricanes, long droughts, and dramatic changes to the marine environment. The threats are growing for our vulnerable birds, and we can’t afford to lose any more.
Needed now: An effective bird monitoring system in the Caribbean
Research on our birds has progressed considerably in recent decades, but we still lack basic information on many species. We need to understand them better if we are to save them.
We need to identify the most critical sites and habitats for our migratory, resident, and endemic birds, and we need to assess the threats they face. Importantly, we need to raise awareness about why all of this matters.
At BirdsCaribbean we partner with international, regional, and local partners to develop long-term monitoring programs, e.g. our Caribbean Waterbird Census program. We are using several strategic tools for doing so, and we are confident that the Motus Wildlife Tracking System will become an invaluable resource for strengthening our efforts.
Motus receiving stations function similar to automated toll booths on a highway – every time a bird passes over the station it’s recorded, just as automated toll booths record license plates. The stations have a range of about 9 miles or 15 km. (Ruddy Turnstone photo by Maikel Cañizares)
The Caribbean Motus Collaboration (CMC) can inform and promote bird conservation
Colleagues from the Northeast Motus Collaboration stand by a newly installed Motus station in Pennsylvania. (photo credit: Northeast Motus Collaboration)
Our partners are eager to build the Motus network in the Caribbean. The initiative is gaining momentum quickly and the time to act is now! As a regional organization, BirdsCaribbean is keen to facilitate this effort and assist our partners.
Our collaboration will enhance the efforts of those working to grow the network in other regions of the Americas. And it will shed light on the movements and habitat use of bird species of conservation concern. This knowledge is essential to safeguarding birds throughout their full life cycles and reversing population declines.
Caribbean natural resource managers, including many of our partner organizations throughout the region, will be able to use information from the Motus network to identify the most important sites and habitats for our resident and migratory birds. Once identified, those in the Caribbean network and beyond will be able to focus our work on these most critical areas, alleviating threats and protecting these sites. By building the capacity to use this powerful tool, we will also be contributing to the development of local research and environmental education programs. The knowledge, skills, and appreciation for birds will multiply. It’s a “win-win” for the birds, and for those who work to conserve them in the region.
We Need Your Help!
To grow the CMC, we are seeking funding from granting agencies and private donors, and looking to establish partnerships with international and regional organizations, landowners, and businesses in the Caribbean.
Can you suggest a good site for a Motus receiver station? Stations should be located in secure areas that are optimal for detecting movements of birds (e.g., migration flyways, prime habitat for resident and migratory birds). Receivers can be installed as independent structures that are powered by solar panels. However, installing a station on existing structures (e.g., building roofs, fire towers, abandoned telephone towers, radio towers, etc.), especially those with access to electricity, can significantly reduce costs.
Would you or your organization be willing to maintain Motus receiver stations on your island? Motus stations should require minimal maintenance. However, depending on the station setup, data might need to be downloaded a few times each year. It is also important to regularly check that the stations are in working order, particularly following a storm or other disturbance.
Are you interested in sponsoring a Motus receiver station or nanotags, or know of an individual, organization, or business who would be? The components of receiver stations cost approximately ~$4,800, and the total cost of a station (including installation, maintenance, personnel, etc.) is ~$10k. Nanotags, which will be deployed on priority species to track their movements, cost ~$225 each. But any amount is helpful! This is a highly tangible way to get involved in the conservation of Caribbean species.
*NOTE: This year, our fundraiser for Global Big Day (May 8th, 2021) will raise funds for the Caribbean Motus Collaboration. We hope that you will participate – stay tuned!
If you are interested in contributing to the CMC in any capacity, we want to hear from you! Please fill out this short survey so that we can gather information and follow up with you.
Special thanks to the Northeast Motus Collaboration for their generous help, advice, and encouragement in developing this project!
Hannah Carey (left) and Marie-Eve Cyr teach kids at the bird festival. (photo by Belmont Estate)
Do House Wrens on Grenada have different songs in different places? In 2017 Marie-Ève Cyr, a masters student from the University of Manitoba, visited Grenada to find out. Read all about her research and the celebration of Grenada’s birds that Marie-Ève and her lab-mates held whilst on the Island.
Back in 2017, I had the chance to visit the island of Grenada and the southern West Indies on a field course with other students from the University of Manitoba. As a group, we were there to learn about the natural history of the island, local socioeconomics, and sustainable tourism. As a researcher with the Koper lab at the University of Manitoba, I also planned to study resident House Wrens. During our stay we were helped and guided by a multitude of wonderful local organizations, including Belmont Estate, SPECTO, and Almost Paradise Cottages.
Learning from each other
Beyond academic goals, we wanted to give back to the community. As part of the field course, we created the 2017 edition of Celebration of Grenada’s Birds Festival, hosted by Belmont Estate, where we taught local children about Grenada’s avian fauna. The festival was a success and an amazing experience. But during the field course, I also collected recordings of Grenada House Wren songs, and in October 2020, my colleagues and I published a paper about these recordings in the journal Bioacoustics. So, during our stay in Grenada, we learned from the community and they learned from us.
Click on photos below to view larger and see captions.
Rojin Amani at teaching table festival. (photo by Belmont Estate).
Zoya Buckmire releasing Lesser Antillean Tanager. (photo by Belmont Estate)
Changing their tune in the city
This research on Grenada House Wrens started from discussions with other Canadian students who had visited Grenada before me. We were discussing how the Grenada House Wrens appeared to sing differently from those they usually hear in Canada; and that there were variations in their song across the island. However, we could not find any studies on House Wren songs in Grenada. My interest was piqued! Because my background is the study of the effect of noise and human activity on birds, those two ideas merged in my mind. I focused my attention on figuring out whether those differences in the House Wren songs that my colleagues had identified were associated with the human presence in their environment. As it turned out, my colleagues were right. House Wrens did sing differently in different parts of the island, and adjusted their song when living in urban habitats.
Kim Wetten and Lee Sutcliffe with a House Wren. (photo by Belmont Estate)
Singing in different spaces
House Wrens are found throughout North and South America. They are one of the most widely distributed species and their song is extremely variable. With a variety of life history traits throughout its range, there is some discussion about the status of the House Wren as a single species with over 30 recognized subspecies. Could one or more of these subspecies qualify as full species?
Accompanied by two colleagues, I recorded House Wrens in five urban areas and five rural areas in Grenada in 2016 and 2017. Grenada is a Small Island Developing State, where cities are characterized by buildings a few storeys tall. The capital of St. George’s has fewer than 40,000 inhabitants. This contrasts greatly with big cities in North America and makes this research all the more interesting. Since most of the literature regarding urbanization and its impact on birds was done in North American cities, it is hard to look at them within the context of Grenada. We felt that birds in Grenada, including House Wrens, might deal with the challenges of urban environments differently.
A lovely Grenada House Wren in the hand. House Wrens are widely distributed across North America, South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They are migratory in northern latitudes but are year-round breeding residents in the tropics and much of South America. House Wrens are resident in the Lesser Antilles islands of Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Barbados.
Competing with the humans
We found that House Wrens did adjust their singing style in urban areas to improve their communication, using a mix of strategies. As is often observed in North American birds, they increased the lower frequency of part of their songs, specifically the introductory part. This reduces the masking of their song caused by the noise created by humans. However, unlike their North American counterparts, they sang faster trills in urban habitats. Fast trills can quickly disappear in closed habitats, but can also transmit further. This might explain why Grenadian House Wrens increase the number of trills as a compensatory mechanism in urban settings. It also suggests that birds in Grenada, and in other parts of the Caribbean, face different challenges compared to birds in larger North American cities. Why might this be?
Grenada House Wren singing. (photo by Kim Wetten)
Birds and buildings
The high number of large and tall buildings, such as skyscrapers, in North American cities create a closed environment. There are lots of opportunities for echoes and the reverberation of sounds from the walls of buildings. But in Grenada, the dense and tall surrounding forest might actually be more closed than urban surroundings. Buildings in Grenada’s towns are generally less than four storeys tall, are not very close together, and are separated by roads. This is a good reminder that socio-economic context is important to consider, and bioacoustics research should expand its scope outside North America. More research from the Koper lab is ongoing in Grenada—there is much more to learn, so stay tuned!
Marie-Ève Cyr is a graduate student working on her Master of Natural Resource Management in the lab of Professor Nicola Koper at the University of Manitoba. Her current focus is on bioacoustics research and conservation biology, studying bird species under anthropogenic pressures in the Canadian prairies and the Caribbean.
Dr. Nicola Koper is a Professor in the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Manitoba. She studies avian conservation biology in Canada and the Neotropics. Currently, she is focusing on effects of anthropogenic noise, oil and gas activity, and agroecology of birds.
Click on photos below to view larger and see captions.
Zoya Buckmire holding a Black-whiskered Vireo with Kim Wetten at Belmont. (photo by Belmont Estate)
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch. (photo by Paul Des Brisay)
Kim Wetten banding a Mangrove Cuckoo. (photo by Belmont Estate)
Common Ground Doves. Photo by Paul Des Brisay.
Chris de Ruyck teaching Wing String 2019. (photo by Belmont Estate)
Black morph of the Bananaquit. (photo by Paul Des Brisay)
Steven Latta assessing the condition of a banded Louisiana Waterthrush. Photo by Bob Mulvihill.
The Louisiana Waterthrush is a neotropical migratory warbler that links North America, where it breeds, to the Caribbean, where is spends the winter. Steven Latta PhD has worked on this species for more than a decade. Here he shares some fascinating insights into how water quality impacts the health and survival of this small bird, and what this means for people as well as birds.
Clean water is something that is essential to each and every one of us. There is, however, a rising tide of water quality threats facing Neotropical migratory birds – both in their North American breeding grounds and their Caribbean wintering spots. Water pollution and water diversions can wreak havoc on the quality of the water that supports plant, animal and aquatic life. This also negatively impacts the health and welfare of humans who also depend on that water resource.
I have used a migratory songbird, the Louisiana Waterthrush, for more than a decade to monitor changes in water quality, and to understand the impacts of water quality on birds and other life that depend on riparian ecosystems – that is, rivers, streams and wetlands.
Although somewhat reminiscent of a thrush, the Louisiana Waterthrush is actually a large, mostly terrestrial warbler. It is uniformly dark olive-brown above and white below, with dark brown streaks on its breast and sides, and flanks washed buffy. Distinctive field marks include a white supercilium (eyebrow stripe) which flares and broadens behind the eye, and an unspotted white throat. In both its breeding and wintering grounds, the waterthrush inhabits freshwater streams and associated riparian vegetation in forested hills and mountains. The Louisiana Waterthrush is considered a Species of Conservation Concern in several Bird Conservation Regions. Its dependence on a specialized habitat, now threatened by a number of environmental stressors, makes the species more vulnerable.
The Louisiana Waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla, a bioindicator of water quality and ecosystem integrity in forested headwater streams. Photo by Mike Doughtery.
Waterthrush Warnings
Long-term studies in Pennsylvania and the Dominican Republic have sought to understand the role of water quality and other factors in determining the population size of the Louisiana Waterthrush
In the Caribbean, Louisiana Waterthrush are solitary and territorial. They forage mostly on the ground by walking in a deliberate manner along the water’s edge, jumping over obstacles, characteristically bobbing and teetering, as they capture aquatic insects and similar prey.
I have worked closely with my colleagues, Danilo Mejía and Maria Paulino, from the Dominican environmental organization, Grupo Acción Ecológica, in a long-term study of this charismatic species. Every year, our work has taken us from studies in wintering areas in the Cordillera Septentrional of the Dominican Republic, to research in the breeding grounds in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
At both ends of the annual cycle, we have shown how the waterthrush can serve as a warning sign, pointing to the deteriorating condition of waterways, and the presence of toxins and harmful chemicals. In areas where the bird breeds such as Pennsylvania, water quality is affected by acid precipitation, acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines and agricultural run-off. Most recently. metals associated with hydraulic fracturing for natural gas deposits have impacted the condition of the fresh water. On the wintering grounds, the sites we visit suffer adverse effects from sedimentation and run-off from agriculture and human settlements.
Water Quality: A Critical But Deteriorating Factor
By tracking nesting, breeding success, and survival of individual birds, we have been able to quantify the impacts of reduced water quality. Contamination may directly impact the Louisiana Waterthrush. For example, we have shown that because of its position at the top of the food chain along rivers and streams, the waterthrush will accumulate within its body the metals associated with hydraulic fracturing of deep shale layers for natural gas. Studies with our collaborator, Mack Frantz, have further suggested that this shale gas development may even result in epigenetic effects on gene expression in waterthrush. This means there may be changes in the genetic structure itself that may affect long‐term population survival and fitness.
Dominican field crew sets out to survey and capture Louisiana Waterthrush returning to overwinter territories in the Cordillera Septentrional. Photo by Steve Latta.
But reduced water quality can also have more subtle effects on birds. For example, Louisiana Waterthrush that nest on acidified streams are fewer in number and hold larger territories, presumably because they need more space to find enough food. Notably, the birds in contaminated areas delay nesting, producing fewer, smaller chicks, and fewer of these nesting adults return to the same stream the following year. These results suggest that waterthrush suffer pronounced declines in populations as the result of poor water quality.
A similar situation exists on the Caribbean wintering grounds. Louisiana Waterthrush on lower quality streams require longer territories, and pass the winter in poorer body condition. Fewer birds from low quality territories return the following year as compared to high quality territories. This suggests that reduced water quality in wintering grounds also reduces the birds’ survival rates.
How Does Poor Water Quality Affect the Birds?
Collaborating with two graduate students, we have been able to show why water quality affects Louisiana Waterthrush so dramatically. Brian Trevelline and Brandon Hoenig have combined traditional habitat sampling with advanced molecular techniques such as DNA metabarcoding of feces to analyze diets. They have demonstrated that when water quality declines with increased acidity or other contamination, the availability of preferred aquatic insect prey, such as mayflies, declines. The waterthrush compensate for this by altering their typical aquatic foraging behavior and diet. They venture further away from the stream to consume more terrestrial prey such as crickets, moths and spiders.
While these findings suggest that migrants may be able to adapt to environmental degradation, such behavioral changes may carry additional costs. Alternative food sources may have less nutritive value, resulting in physiological impacts on nestlings or adults. The breeding season is one of the most energetically demanding periods for birds; flying further away from the nest in search of alternative food in unfamiliar places could incur physiological costs. Moreover, it makes the predation of eggs, nestlings, or even adult birds more likely.
Aquatic stream insects are collected in the Cordillera Septentrional of the Dominican Republic to assess availability of food resources. Photo by Steven Latta.
“You Are What You Eat:” The Waterthrush’s Evolving Diet
On the Dominican wintering grounds we also found shifts in diet among the streams that form the birds’ habitat. The diet of Louisiana Waterthrush in the Caribbean consists of fewer aquatic prey species and more terrestrial beetles, flies, and caterpillars. While the wintering waterthrush appears to feed on a wider range of species, these data suggest that on the wintering grounds, it is more of a dietary generalist. This highlights the importance of studying birds across their entire annual cycle to better understand their ecology and conservation needs.
These changes in the birds’ diet, which depend on the quality of habitat and the seasons, have vitally important consequences. On the breeding grounds, we have shown that nestlings from high quality streams that feed largely on mayflies grow faster and larger, and this has survival consequences. On the wintering grounds, variation in diet is also thought to impact survival. We showed that birds occupying higher quality territories with better food resources achieve a better body condition (i.e., they gain more muscle and fat) during the overwinter period. Body condition, in turn, was important in determining whether birds return the following winter, with the healthier birds returning at higher rates.
Brian Trevelline from Duquesne University collects Waterthrush fecal samples to analyze diet. Photo by Danilo Mejía
Good Quality Fresh Water: Important for the Birds, and Humans Too
This body of work links water quality to availability of preferred food resources. Our findings provide linkages among events during the breeding season and the overwintering period that affect the birds’ physiological condition, reproductive success, and annual survival. These studies show that changes in water quality from human activities, impacting the aquatic creatures that form the birds’ diet, can carry over across seasons. These changes accumulate over more than one life-history period, before manifesting themselves in a pattern of reduced survival.
The community of La Joya comes together to clean up trash from streams near their homes. Photo by Danilo Mejía.
Taken together, these studies emphasize the critical importance of water quality as it affects aquatic insect prey and as a result, impacts Louisiana Waterthrush at both ends of its annual migratory cycle. However, water quality also affects human communities. This is a message we have communicated through annual summer fairs and other activities in rural communities near our Dominican stream sites. Clean water is something that is essential to each and every one of us; we are pleased to be using birds as a tool, helping to protect watersheds and water quality across the range of the Louisiana Waterthrush.
Dr. Steven C. Latta is the Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. He obtained his Ph.D. in Avian Ecology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has worked in the Caribbean islands and Latin America for more than 25 years where his research has focused on the winter ecology of migratory birds, and understanding how migrant and resident species respond to natural and anthropogenic changes to their habitat. Dr. Latta has authored several books on the birds of Hispaniola, has published over 125 articles and book chapters, and is dedicated to training young biologists in developing countries in field research and monitoring techniques, and to educating the general public on the importance of conservation.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS from Steven Latta:
Almonte-Espinosa, H. and S. C. Latta. 2011. Aspectos del comportamiento de forrajeo de la cigüita del río Parkesia motacilla (Aves: Passeriformes: Parulidae) en época no reproductiva. Novitates Caribaea 4:100-108.
Frantz, M. W., P. B. Wood, S. C. Latta, and A. Welsh. 2020. Epigenetic response of Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) related to shale gas development. Ibis 162(4):1211-1224. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12833
Latta, S. C. and R. S. Mulvihill. 2010. The Louisiana Waterthrush as an indicator of headwater stream quality in Pennsylvania. Pp. 246-258 in S. K. Majumdar, T. L. Master, M. C. Brittingham, R. M. Ross, R. S. Mulvihill, and J. E. Huffman (eds.), inAvian ecology and conservation: A Pennsylvania focus with national implications. The Pennsylvania Academy of Science, Easton, PA.
Latta, S. C., L. C. Marshall, M. W. Frantz, and J. D. Toms. 2015. Evidence from two shale regions that a riparian songbird accumulates metals associated with hydraulic fracturing. Ecosphere 6 (9):1-10. http://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1890/ES14-00406.1
Latta, S. C., S. Cabezas, D. A. Mejia, M. M. Paulino, H. Almonte, C. Miller-Butterworth, and G. R. Bortolotti. 2016. Carry-over effects provide linkages across the annual cycle of a Neotropical migratory bird, the Louisiana Waterthrush. Ibis 158:395-406
Mattsson, B. J., S. C. Latta, R. J. Cooper, and R. J. Mulvihill. 2011. Latitudinal variation in reproductive strategies by the migratory Louisiana Waterthrush. Condor 113:412-418
Mulvihill, R. S., S. C. Latta, and F. L. Newell. 2009. Temporal constraints on the incidence of double brooding in the Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla). The Condor 111:341-348
Mulvihill, R. S., F. L. Newell, and S. C. Latta. 2008. Effects of acidification on the breeding ecology of a stream-dependent songbird, the Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla). Freshwater Biology 53: 2158-2169.
Trevelline, B., T. Nuttle, B. A. Porter, N. L. Brouwer, B. D. Hoenig, Z. D. Steffensmeier, and S. C. Latta. 2018a. Stream acidification and reduced aquatic prey availability are associated with dietary shifts in an obligate riparian Neotropical migratory songbird. PeerJ 6:e5141; DOI 10.7717/peerj.5141
Trevelline, B. K., T. Nuttle, B. D. Hoenig, N. L. Brouwer, B. A. Porter, and S. C. Latta. 2018b. DNA metabarcoding of nestling feces reveals provisioning of aquatic prey and resource partitioning among Neotropical migratory songbirds in a riparian habitat. Oecologia 187:85-98
Trevelline, B. K., S. C. Latta, L. C. Marshall, T. J. Nuttle, and B. A. Porter. 2016. Molecular analysis of nestling diet in a long-distance Neotropical migrant, the Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla). Auk 133:415-428.
BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group Newsletter – click on the image to view and download a PDF, OR read on your device as a full-screen flipbook (click below). For Spanish and French versions, click on the images below.
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! We’re excited to announce that the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group (WG) has launched a Seabird Newsletter! Available in English, Spanish, and French, it gives a picture of seabird-related activity across the Caribbean Basin. Anyone who works on or is interested in seabirds should take a look to catch up on the latest research, conservation, restoration, and education projects happening in the islands.
The newsletter starts with an inspiring Foreword by BirdsCaribbean’s new president, Dr. Adrianne, Tossas. You can also meet the Seabird Working Group’s new co-chairs, who are working hard to ramp up activities and communications by the WG. Find out the many ways that you can connect with the Seabird WG and its members, including a new Facebook group!
Do you remember the survey about seabird work that we sent around last year? The newsletter summarizes the responses from 78 participants and provides insights into mutual needs and possible collaborations. One collaboration that stands out is the possibility of a region-wide seabird survey effort in 2023 ….. interested?
The newsletter includes a list of recent publications, covering Roseate Terns, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Red-billed Tropicbirds, among others. It also has island-by-island updates—find out what has been happening on your own island or explore further afield. There is also a “seabirder spotlight” feature—our first issue features Hannah Madden, who is studying tropicbirds in St. Eustatius. Finally, check out the discussion on the seabird regional census and BirdsCaribbean’s plans for a centralized bird banding network.
Of course, it’s possible we’ve left something out; if you have seabird news to share, please take advantage of the many avenues for communication described in the newsletter. And let us know if you would like your work to be featured in the next edition!
P.S. Don’t forget to visit the Seabird Working Group webpages and our Seabirds Resources page. If you would like to order copies of our beautiful Save Our Seabirds Posters (available in English and Spanish), and “Inventory of the Breeding Seabirds of the Caribbean” book, we would be glad to get these resources into your hands!
P.P.S. We are keen to hear from you if you enjoyed our newsletter, and to know how often you would like to receive these updates going forward (quarterly, biannually, yearly)? Please also let us know if you have any recommendations on how to improve future editions. We would love to hear from you if you would like your work to be featured in the next edition!
BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group Newsletter in Spanish – click on the image to view and download the PDF.BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group Newsletter in French – click on the image to view and download the PDF.
Perhaps it all started with chickens! Orlando with two Rhode Island Red chickens in Third grade. A gift from his father for being in the top 10 of the class.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our dearest friend and colleague, renowned Cuban Biologist and Ornithologist, and living legend, Orlando H. Garrido Calleja, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, March 1st, 2021! Orlando, you are a jewel in the crown of Caribbean ornithology, and a treasured friend to so many!!! We wish you excellent health and many more years of happiness enjoying your work, passions, and company of dear family and friends!
In this article, Nils Navarro Pacheco pays tribute to Orlando in honor of his birthday, describing his many contributions to science, taxonomy, and natural history in Cuba, as well as his personal qualities of humility, generosity, and kindness. (scroll down for español) Many of Orlando’s colleagues also give testimonials about Orlando’s many achievements and contributions in a wonderful video by AvesPuertoRico (scroll down to view video).
I thank my BirdsCaribbean colleagues for giving me the opportunity to write this tribute to my beloved and admired friend and teacher, Orlando Garrido Calleja, on his ‘first’ 90th birthday. And I say ‘first’, because (simply) Garrido, as everyone calls him, is History, and history outlives human beings forever and ever.
Emeritus ornithologist and living legend, Orlando Garrido, sharing stories from the field while showing us his endemic bird collection; BirdsCaribbean Cuba Bird Tour. (Photo by Susan Jacobson)
Natural sciences in Cuba has in Garrido one of their most illustrious sons, whose awards have transcended national borders to become a symbol for generations of Caribbean naturalists. Nobody else has been able to explore each landscape and each animal entity of this archipelago and beyond in the same way; venturing into a great diversity of zoological groups, ranging from beetles to mammals, and it is in birds and reptiles, where his greatest scientific contributions lie. All in a historical context where there were no books or field guides like there are today. When he went to the field it was almost “blindly,” only with a backpack full of the passion and spirit of a “discoverer,” a word that would define him as a man of science. These were times when neither GPS nor digital technology existed, and the Internet had not even been thought of. His bibliographic reviews are incredible and even today I often ask him how they could do it in those days, to which he only responds with his characteristic smile.
Garrido is an example of greatness, simplicity and humility, as is common from greatest men of science, and also he is a person with great insight and irreverent sense of humor. Garrido does not skimp on sharing his knowledge and discoveries with other colleagues. When I met him, many years ago, I saw him as something unattainable; I remember the first time when Alfredo Rams, a mutual friend and former director of the Holguín Natural History Museum, took me to his house. That was precisely when I began to become more interested in herpetology, on that occasion Garrido, with that spontaneity that characterizes him, provided me with all the basic and necessary information to be able to delve into what later were new species that we would describe together, from that moment he has been my mentor and enduring advisor.
It is surprising how this nonagenarian sportsman turned scientist, mind is still so clear and fluid, personally, I consider it as we call here ‘mataburros’ (donkeys’ killer = encyclopedia), when I have any questions I just call him by phone. Garrido still remembers details from any of his publications, from expeditions in the 1960s, and describes them with the same passion as in those days. Anyone would think that Garrido is an excellent teacher, nothing could be further away, because they do not ask him to give them a class. His patience would not allow it, neither his nor yours… However, with Garrido, you learn by his side, with his example; Garrido is a school unto itself.
Orlando Garrido, Nils Navarro and Herb Raffaele at the 21st International Conference of BirdsCaribbean, in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July, 2017. Orlando was awarded a BirdsCaribbean Lifetime Achievement Award.
I will not do the story of his life, but we attach his full biography so that it is available to all. From that boy who raised chickens, to that boy who dropped out of biology at the University to become an internationally famous tennis player (he played six times at Wimbledon and still has the sweater from 1958!), representing Cuba in countless national and international competitions of the highest category. And from there he went on to become the pride of Cuban science.
I would like to summarize in a paragraph the greatness of his research. Garrido has to his credit the discovery of four mammalian taxa and the description of: 58 insect taxa, 21 birds, 90 reptiles (37 of them at the species level), and he holds the world record in species description of the genus Anolis. Also 78 new records among birds, reptiles, and coral fish, 23 taxa have been dedicated to him, and in total he has 298 publications.
Orlando, today I want to congratulate you with all my heart for having reached such an advanced age, with such energy and clarity, and also extend it to that person who by your side has allowed you to be who you are, to Gloria, your wife, that sweet and kind being who has “put up with you” for all these years, because as the saying goes: Behind every great man there is always a great woman…!
Personally, I would like to give you the dedication of my new book (in prep), for which you are and will continue to be an inspiration, and your legacy is inextricably linked to each of its pages:
Dear Orlando, this is my gift for your first 90 years. I dedicate this new “Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba” to you on behalf of all those who in one way or another love and enjoy the nature of Cuba and the Caribbean. In its pages and illustrations are engraved your countless teachings, adventures, studies, and discoveries. To you who have always been our example, with your enthusiasm and infinite energy, your invaluable contributions to science, your simplicity and your friendship. To you who are Great among the Greats, with the pride of being your disciple and friend!
Hover over each photo to see the caption – click on any photo to view the photos as a slide show. Thank you to Orlando’s wife, Gloria, for providing most of these precious photos to us!
Orlando and Reynaldo Garrido Calleja
Orlando, on the roof of the house of Perseverancia 258 between Neptuno and Escobar. Havana
Orlando Garrido Calleja
With the medal of the Sacred Heart
Orlando Garrido Calleja.
Perhaps it all started with chickens! Orlando with two Rhode Island Red chickens in Third grade. A gift from his father for being in the top 10 of the class.
Finalist in singles and doubles with Eduardo Zuleta, Ecuador. Rey Garrido when he won the Quebec, Canada Open. 1959.
Playing ball at El Vedado Tennis
Clandestine historical photo. Coffin of the Egyptian Pharaoh Cheops, in the Pyramid of Cheops, Cairo, Egypt. 1958
In front of the Pyramid of Cheops, Cairo, Egypt
Humboldt Expedition. Cuba-La Rada.
On a street in Calcutta, India, taking notes to include in my memoirs while Eduardo Argón, from Uruguay, took the photo. 1958
After a hunt with Warren, Popeye, Jacques. Australia.
La Fe, Pinar del Río, a future new subspecies. With the taxidermist Felino González
Cochabamba. Bolivia, with a sloth
With Florentino García Montaña and Telmo Naranjo, taxidermist, in Cayo Pugas, Tunas de Zaza.
Common Loon, Gavia Immer. First Record for the Antilles and Cuba.
With an Iguana, Juan García Cay, San Felipe Keys.
With Florentino García Montaña and Felino González, la Fe, Pinar del Río
Bare-necked breed of chickens created by Orlando Garrido
Bare-necked breed of chickens created by Orlando Garrido
Celebration of the First Anniversary of the Collections Department of the National Museum of Natural History. 1988.
Recording bird songs with George Reynalds
Orlando and Ornithologist George Reynalds. Recording bird songs.
Orlando and Ornithologist George Reynalds. Recording bird songs.
Orlando recording bird songs.
With ornithologist Lester Short, entomologist Esteban Gutiérrez. Arachnologist Giraldo Alayón, Jennifer Horne, wife of South African ornithologist Lester Short
Zapata Swamp. 1982
Isla de Pinos, March 1984
With George Reynard March 1984
With George Reynard March 1984
Ornithologist George Reynard, Ornithologist from Kenya, South Africa, Mrs. Jennifer Horne, wife of North American ornithologist specialist in woodpeckers Lester L. Short and Orlando
Holguín – Guantánamo. 1 April 1986.
Holguín, Río Jaguaní
Holguín, Río Jaguaní
With Jorge de la Cruz
Key West Florida- 1993
Key West Florida-1993
Key West Florida-1993
Key West Florida-1993
Monte Verde, Costa Rica, Marzp 1994
With Florentino García Montaña, tourism specialist
With George Reynard, 1994
Puerto Rico. Orlando Garrido, Alberto Areces, Antonio Pérez Asso, Riberto Arencibia and Víctor L. González.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Caracas, Venezuela.
Caracas, Venezuela.
Orlando Garrido and Mario Llamas, former Mexican National Tennis Champion. Acapulco, November 1995
Tribute to Gilberto Silva Taboada. José Fernández Milera and Orlando Garrido Calleja. University of Havana
Tribute to Gilberto Silva Taboada. José Fernández Milera and Orlando Garrido Calleja. University of Havana
Tribute to Gilberto Silva Taboada. José Fernández Milera and Orlando Garrido Calleja. University of Havana
With Rogelio García, El Pelao, Orlando’s first guide in Zapata Swamp.
With Rogelio García, El Pelao, Orlando’s first guide in Zapata Swamp.
With bird watchers in Santo Tomás, Zapata Swamp.
With bird watchers in Santo Tomás, Zapata Swamp.
International Congress of Zoology. Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007.
International Congress of Zoology, with Luis Diaz. Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007
International Congress of Zoology, with Arturo Kirkconnell. Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007
International Congress of Zoology, with Luis, Arturo, Alayón, Silva, Ivonne y Esteban. Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007
International Congress of Zoology, with Luis, Arturo, Silva, Esteban y los otros. Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007
Group photo at the third NAOC Conference in Baton Rough, Louisiana, in September 2002. (photo by Mike Sorenson)
Victor Joseph (Antigua), Orlando Garrido, and Leo Douglas (Jamaica), At the third NAOC Conference in Baton Rough, Louisiana, in September 2002. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
International Congress of Zoology, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007
International Congress of Zoology, Trinidad, 15th November, 2007
Orlando signing “The Birds of Cuba”. November 2014JPEG_420
Orlando Garrido in his Wimbledon sweater from 1958
Esteban Gutiérrez, Orlando Garrido, Arturo Kirkconnell and James Wiley
Group photo during the 21st International Conference of BirdsCaribbean, in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July, 2017
From left to right: Vicente Berovides, Orlando Garrido and Nils Navarro. 21st International meeting of Birds Caribbean, in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July, 2017.
From left to right: Vicente Berovides, Pedro Regalado, Orlando Garrido and Hiram González. 21st International meeting of Birds Caribbean, in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July, 2017.
During the award ceremony for Orlando Garrido’s lifelong work and presentation of a documentary about his life and work. 21st International conference of BirdsCaribbean, in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July, 2017. Maikel Canizares and Lisa Sorenson present a BirdsCaribbean Lifetime Achievement Award to Orlando.
Orlando Garrido, Nils Navarro and Herb Raffaele at the 21st International Conference of BirdsCaribbean, in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July, 2017. Orlando was awarded a BirdsCaribbean Lifetime Achievement Award.
From left to right: Nils Navarro, Orlando Garrido and Esteban Gutiérrez. During Illustration event in Cuba, Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Man, April 2019.
From left to right: Orlando Garrido, Vicente Berovides, Alberto Estrada, Santos Cubilla, and Aslam Ibrahim Castellón, Garrido’s home.
From left to right: Orlando Garrido and Nils Navarro. During the launch of the Cuba Endemic Birds Field Guide. Felipe Poey Museum, University of Havana, 2015.
Visit with Orlando at his home in Havana (2016) – Lisa Sorenson, Jim Wiley (RIP), Orlando, and Ann Sutton.
Emeritus ornithologist and living legend, Orlando Garrido, sharing stories from the field while showing us his endemic bird collection; BirdsCaribbean Cuba Bird Tour. (Photo by Susan Jacobson)
Orlando Garrido regales our group with stories of his Cuban adventures as a biologist and tennis pro! BirdsCaribean Cuba Bird Tour (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Orlando Garrido and Herb Raffaele, at Orlando’s home in Havana, January 2017 (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Joanne Justo-Gaymes, Orlando Garrido, and Glenroy (Pewee) Gaymes at the BirdsCaribbean Conference in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July 2017 (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Lisa Sorenson and Orlando Garrido – It’s always a delight to visit with Orlando, who is so vivacious and full of stories!
Group photo with Orlando at his home in Havana. BirdsCaribbean Cuba Bird Tour, January 2019.
Group photo with Orlando at his home in Havana. BirdsCaribbean Cuba Bird Tour, January 2020.
Tribute video to Orlando Garrido, presented at the BirdsCaribbean 21st International Conference in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July 2017:
Presentation of a lifetime achievement award to Orlando Garrido, at the BirdsCaribbean 21st International Conference in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July 2017:
Homenaje a Orlando H. Garrido en sus 90 años
Agradezco a los colegas de BirdsCaribbean por darme la oportunidad de escribir este homenaje al querido y admirado amigo y maestro Orlando Garrido Calleja, en sus primeros 90 cumpleaños. Y digo primeros, pues Garrido (a secas), como le llaman todos, es Historia y la historia simplemente sobrevive a los seres humanos por los siglos de los siglos.
Las ciencias naturales en Cuba tienen en Garrido a uno de sus hijos más ilustres, cuyos lauros han sobrepasado las fronteras nacionales para convertirse en símbolo para generaciones de naturalistas caribeños. Nadie como él ha sido capaz de adentrarse en cada paisaje y en cada entidad animal de este archipiélago y fuera de él, incursionando en una gran diversidad de grupos zoológicos, que va desde los coleópteros hasta los mamíferos. Y es en las aves y los reptiles, donde radican sus mayores aportes científicos. Todo en un contexto histórico donde no existían libros ni guías de campo como ahora, cuando se iba al campo casi “a ciegas”, solo con una mochila llena de la pasión y el espíritu de un “descubridor”, palabra que pudiera resumirlo como hombre de ciencia. Eran tiempos donde ni existía GPS, ni tecnología digital y menos se pensaba en la Internet. Sus revisiones bibliográficas son increíbles y aún hoy le pregunto, a menudo, como fue que las pudieron hacer en aquellos tiempos, a lo que él solo responde con su característica sonrisa.
Garrido es un ejemplo de grandeza, sencillez y humildad, como es típico de los grandes hombres de ciencia y, además, una persona con una gran perspicacia e irreverente sentido del humor. Garrido no escatima en compartir sus conocimientos y descubrimientos con otros colegas. Cuando lo conocí, hace ya muchos años, lo veía como algo inalcanzable. Recuerdo la primera vez, cuando Alfredo Rams, amigo común y antiguo director del Museo de Historia Natural de Holguín, me llevó a su casa. Ahí fue precisamente cuando comencé a interesarme más por la herpetología, en esa oportunidad Garrido, con esa espontaneidad que lo caracteriza, me brindó toda la información básica y necesaria para poder profundizar en lo que luego fueran nuevas especies que describiríamos juntos, desde ese momento ha sido mi mentor y consultor permanente.
Es sorprendente como este hombre nonagenario devenido en científico desde el mundo del deporte, posee su mente aun tan clara y fluida. En lo personal, lo considero, como decimos acá, un “mataburro”, cuando tengo alguna duda simplemente lo llamo por teléfono. Garrido aún recuerda detalles de cualquiera de sus publicaciones y de expediciones de los años 60, describiéndolos con el mismo apasionamiento que en aquellos días. Cualquiera pensaría que Garrido es un excelente profesor, nada más alejado de eso, pues no le pidan que les dé una clase, su paciencia no se lo permitiría, sí, ni la de él ni la suya… Sin embargo, con Garrido se aprende, a su lado, con su ejemplo, Garrido es una escuela en sí mismo.
No voy a hacer la historia de su vida, sino que adjuntaremos su biografía completa para que esté disponible para todos. De aquel niño que criaba pollitos, hasta aquel muchacho que dejó la carrera de biología en la universidad para llegar a ser un tenista internacionalmente famoso, representando a Cuba en un sinnúmero de certámenes nacionales e internacionales de la más alta categoría y de ahí pasó a convertirse en gloria y orgullo de la ciencia cubana.
Quisiera resumir en un párrafo la grandeza de sus investigaciones. Garrido tiene en su haber el descubrimiento de cuatro taxones de mamíferos y la descripción de 58 taxones de insectos, 21 de aves y 90 de reptiles (37 de ellos a nivel de especie), ostentando el récord mundial en la descripción de especies del género Anolis. Ha realizado 78 nuevos registros entre aves, reptiles y peces coralinos; 23 taxones le han sido dedicados y en total posee 298 publicaciones.
Orlando, hoy quiero felicitarte de todo corazón por haber llegado a tan avanzada edad, con tal energía y claridad y además hacerlo extensivo a esa persona que estando a tu lado ha permitido que seas quien eres, a Gloria, tu esposa, ese ser dulce y amable que te ha “soportado” todos estos años, porque como dice la frase: ¡Detrás de todo gran hombre siempre existe una gran mujer…!
A título personal quisiera regalarte la dedicatoria de mi nuevo libro, para el cual tú eres y seguirás siendo inspiración y tu legado está ligado indisolublemente a cada una de sus páginas:
Querido Orlando, este es mi regalo por tus primeros 90 años. Te dedico esta nueva “Guía de campo de las aves de Cuba” en nombre de todos los que de una forma u otra aman y disfrutan de la naturaleza de Cuba y del Caribe. En sus páginas e ilustraciones están grabados tus incontables enseñanzas, aventuras, estudios y descubrimientos. A ti que has sido siempre nuestro ejemplo, con tu entusiasmo e infinita energía, tus inestimables aportes a la ciencia, tu sencillez y tu amistad. ¡Para ti que eres Grande entre los Grandes, con el orgullo de ser tu discípulo y amigo!
Nota: Hemos dispuesto un espacio para todos los colegas que deseen enviar mensajes de felicitación a Orlando. Los que lo conocen, saben que todos los que hemos interactuado con él tenemos siempre una anécdota que contar, ¡Bienvenidas sean entonces también sus anécdotas!
