I wanted to get to know the elusive Whistling Warbler on the island of Saint Vincent — which meant that we needed to go up. Straight up some very steep slopes!
Whistling Warbler spotted on La Soufriere Windward Trail. (Photo by Jonathan Slifkin ML621602299)
The Whistling Warbler (Cathoropeza bishopi) is an endangered, endemic species of bird that lives on the Lesser Antillean island of Saint Vincent. When we say a species is endemic, it means that the species exists nowhere else on the planet other than at a discrete location. This is a common designation for many island species. When a species is endemic and endangered, that can be a ‘code red’ for conservationists — because the species has nowhere else to go to disperse from threats! In the case of the Whistling Warbler, those threats come mainly from deforestation, land use change, hurricanes (exacerbated by climate-change), and the recent explosive eruption of Saint Vincent’s La Soufrière volcano in 2021, the largest to occur in the Caribbean in the last 250 years.
Figure 1. Map of St Vincent showing locations of our PROALAS Point Counts without Whistling Warbler (WHWA) sightings, with warbler sightings, and eBird Caribbean sightings prior to the April 2021 eruption of La Soufriére Volcano.
So where is the Whistling Warbler to be found? Well, this charming bird (whose plumage delightfully brings to mind an Oreo cookie!) appears to require a specific kind of natural forest for habitat: forests growing in steep, wet, montane environments. These mostly grow on the windward (east) side of the island. However, these forests have been experiencing a great deal of “wear and tear” in recent years. Some have been cut to grow non-native tree plantations, or terraced to provide farmland, in some cases for the illegal cultivation of Cannabis. Many of the northern areas were decimated by wind and volcanic ash from the 2021 volcanic eruption. The windward forests also take the brunt of hurricanes moving west across the Atlantic, which can wreak havoc on the essential habitat of the warbler. Hurricane Beryl just recently tore through St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG); the extent of the damage to the mainland forests (and the warbler) is currently unknown, though nearby Union Island has been devastated. These growing and more frequent impacts of climate change cannot be overlooked.
And yet, the Whistling Warbler has so far been able to hold on in small numbers, in the face of these daunting challenges to its habitat. Much of its success is thanks to conservation efforts that protect and restore their habitat. Now, it is absolutely vital that the warbler population is actively monitored to ensure its survival, and to inform future conservation efforts aimed at protecting its habitat. Part of the challenge here is that there is still so little known about this bird. We don’t know much about their habitat requirements; their nest construction; and when and where they breed. It is critical to understand these aspects of the warbler’s life cycle to make effective management decisions. We can only find this information by getting people out into the forest to make these discoveries and to monitor the population.
Preparing for the trip: some homework required
I am a graduate student at Antioch University New England studying Conservation Biology. Antioch Professor Dr. Mike Akresh has been working with Caribbean birds for over a decade, and when he asked if I would like to accompany him on a two-week field study trip in March 2024 to Saint Vincent, I was initially apprehensive. Leaving my young child and a pile of school work at home for two weeks sounded daunting, but I knew there was important work to be done on Saint Vincent as there is not an overabundance of researchers working on the Whistling Warbler. I made the decision to go.
The Vulnerable St Vincent Parrot. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
A pair of Rufous-throated Solitaire in St. Vincent (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Lesser Antillean Tanager on St. Vincent. (Photo by Steven Hunter ML200625941)
Firstly, I went into an intense learning period focussed on the birds of Saint Vincent; it was especially important to learn their calls. With the help of eBird, the Merlin App, and a handy field guide to the “Birds of the West Indies,” I familiarized myself with most of the birds we could expect to encounter on the trip. How were we going to monitor for the Whistling Warbler? Well, we were planning to work with the PROALAS landbird monitoring protocol, which requires us to document every bird seen and heard during a specific period of time at a point or transect. Every bird has a story to tell about the environment; birds are regarded as indicator species. This means that the presence of certain species or lack thereof provides critical insights about the impacts of land use change, climate change, and volcanic activity; in other words, the obstacles and challenges that the Whistling Warbler faces.
The song of the Whistling Warbler consists of an ascending trill of loudly whistled notes.
Our enthusiastic team on Saint Vincent
Our collaborators on the island were the talented and professional members of the SVG Forestry Department. Our point of contact and monitoring collaborator was the energetic Glenroy Gaymes, who has been working closely with the Whistling Warbler conservation efforts. Glenroy is an expert birder and naturalist, whose passion for conservation on Saint Vincent is infectious. With invaluable help from Glenroy and other Forestry staff such as Felicia Baptiste, Romano Pierre, Caswin Caine, and Kishbert Richards, we reached the steep and remote areas where the warbler lives. Glenroy and the Forestry Department have also been monitoring the endemic and endangered Saint Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildingii) and many other non-bird species.
Mike Akresh, Glenroy Gaymes and Christian Carson in Kingstown, St. Vincent.
Our days on Saint Vincent were demanding, but rewarding. We did find the Whistling Warbler!
Mike hiking nearly straight uphill. Accessing the Whistling Warbler’s habitat is not easy. (Photo by Christian Carson)
Primary Forest in St. Vincent. (Photo by Christian Carson)
Every morning we would wake up before sunrise, and head up into the sawtooth-like mountains, shrouded in mist. You may have seen these impressive mountains before if you have seen the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which were largely filmed on Saint Vincent. Fortunately, we encountered the Whistling Warbler several times at various locations. In keeping with previous observations, most or all of our encounters with the Whistling Warbler took place over 300 meters and in steep, wet forests. Did I mention that we had to go up high? The slopes of the misty mountains of Saint Vincent were steep and slippery.
Notes from the field
When studying where Whistling Warblers like to live, we found that they prefer primary forests with lots of moss. Younger and older secondary forests had fewer warblers. Interestingly, palm brakes were about the same as primary forests for warbler sightings, especially near certain trails. Detection was low in elfin woods, which seem to be unsuitable habitat for them. The drier, western side of the island has less of the wet montane forest they prefer.
We noticed that Whistling Warblers really like wetter forests, especially where there’s a lot of moss. For example, at one site – Silver Spoon, where the forest is very wet, we found lots of warblers. However, on the leeward side of the island, the forests were dry and grassy, and we didn’t find any warblers there.
We didn’t look for warblers in the northern part of the island because it’s too dry and no warblers have ever been found there. Tree plantations were the least likely place to find Whistling Warblers because these areas have trees, like Blue Mahoe and Big-leaf Mahogany, that are all the same age and don’t provide enough food or shelter for the birds. Overall, we also noticed that there were fewer other forest birds around areas affected by the volcano. Birds like Bananaquits and House Wrens were common near the volcano, but other species like Cocoa Thrush and Ruddy Quail-Doves were missing. The ash from the volcano may have made it harder for some birds to find food. However, some of these birds are starting to come back now, so we’ll keep studying and monitoring the area to learn more.
Christian and Kishbert surveying for the Whistling Warbler on La Soufrière. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
We still need more information on the mysterious Whistling Warbler!
Over the past few years and during this current trip, we have come across several nests that might possibly be those of the Whistling Warbler, but without a positive ID of a warbler using the nest, we cannot say for sure. Finding a nest is particularly important for conservation efforts because it allows us to better understand the warbler’s breeding ecology and habitat requirements. We also do not know how successful the warbler is in breeding; invasive mongoose or black rat populations may prey on eggs or fledglings. But it must be acknowledged that without more research, we cannot know for sure. There are limited resources available to protect the Whistling Warbler, so the more specifics we have about this species, the better those resources can be utilized to have the greatest conservation impact. We need to know more, so that we can do a better job at protecting this species, which is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
With the data we have been able to collect while on Saint Vincent, we aim to create a conservation action plan (CAP) specifically for the Whistling Warbler. Without the dedicated work of the Saint Vincent Forestry Department, BirdsCaribbean, and donors small and large, this work would not be possible, and the Whistling Warbler would likely be added to the alarming (and growing) number of species lost forever.
We owe it to the Whistling Warbler, up there in the remote rainforest and beautiful mountains of Saint Vincent.
Christian holding a Sphinx Moth. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Christian Carson is a graduate student at Antioch University New England studying conservation biology. He is interested in ways people seek and find meaning in the living world, and how this meaning (or lack thereof) shapes global environmental issues. He lives with his partner and three-year-old son in Western Massachusetts. He enjoys quiet walks in the woods, flying kites, and sitting zazen. You can reach him at ccarson@antioch.edu.
Acknowledgements: BirdsCaribbean is grateful to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for funding our Conservation of the Endangered Whistling Warbler Project, launched in 2022. We are also deeply grateful to Mr. Fitzgerald Providence and his staff at the St. Vincent Forestry Department for their help and support. Special thanks Glenroy Gaymes, who has been working closely with us on the warbler project. Finally, we thank BirdsCaribbean members, partners, and donors for your support, which made this work possible.
If you like Caribbean birds, maybe you want to learn to put a ring (or band) on them!
BirdsCaribbean is excited to invite applications to participate in a 5-day training workshop focused on bird banding, an important tool for research and monitoring! Participants will learn about the basics of bird banding, from setting up a mist-net to examining molt patterns, through a blend of classroom and field based activities. We’ll also discuss and demonstrate some of the benefits of joining our new Caribbean Bird Banding Network. We’re very excited to return to the Dominican Republic to one of our favorite workshop sites, Baiguate Ecolodge in Jarabacoa. Mark your calendars — this year’s workshop will take place from 20-24 February, 2025.
Why do we need to band birds?
A Cuban Tody wearing a BirdsCaribbean band about to be released. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Bird surveys, like those covered in our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshops, provide valuable information about abundance and species presence. But bird banding is a different methodology that takes a deeper dive into how bird populations are doing by assessing the condition of individual birds. By marking and assessing birds in the hand, we can collect data that can tell us about their demography and health, including:
Looking at fat scores and weights to assess the body condition of birds in different habitats and at different times of the year, which in turn sheds light on the quality of the habitats these birds are using.
Aging birds using plumage to investigate demographic patterns.
Using recapture records to learn about survivorship and longevity.
Assessing the presence or absence of breeding characteristics to better understand the timing of breeding and life history for many of our understudied Caribbean endemics.
Finding out which migratory routes our shared birds are taking and gaining a better understanding of factors influencing survival and longevity of species.
Over the long-term, bird banding data can also help us understand patterns and trends in bird populations, to aid in their management and conservation.
About the workshop
This workshop is the fourth annual Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Training Workshop. It will cover many of the same topics explored in our previous CBB Training workshops held in The Bahamas (March 2022) and the Dominican Republic (March 2023) and Grenada (March 2024). This bilingual (English and Spanish) workshop is designed for Caribbean wildlife professionals and volunteers who are interested in gaining more experience with bird banding. Prior banding experience is not required. However, priority will be given to applicants who are likely to continue training to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to contribute to or initiate avian research and/or banding programs on their home islands.This workshop will focus on banding landbirds, with an emphasis on Passerines. We hope to provide banding training opportunities for other bird groups in the future.
Daniela Ventura del Puerto (Cuba) provides instruction on bird molt to workshop participants Giselle Raganoonan (Trinidad) and Elvin Manual Vargas Estevez (Dominican Republic).
Zoya Buckmire instructs a participant on how to correctly hold a bird to take measurement. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
The purpose of the workshop is to:
Provide participants with a basic understanding of bird banding techniques and best practices.
Discuss what it takes to set-up and run a bird banding station.
Prepare participants for additional bird banding training and potential North American Banding Council (NABC) certifications (assistant, bander, trainer) in the future.
Share information about the other training opportunities, resources, and community available through the CBB Network.
Several NABC-certified trainers will share their knowledge in the classroom, at the mist-net, and at the banding table, covering topics including:
Juan Carlos Fernández Ordóñez shows participants how to correctly set up mist nets in Grenada. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
Proper set-up and placement of a mist-net
Proper techniques for extracting birds from mist-nets
Starting a banding station
Bird first-aid and safety
Bird banding ethics and basics
Using bird banding for education and public demonstrations
Aging birds using both WRP and Howell-Pyle terminology
Molt patterns
Bird banding is a complex skill to learn. This workshop is intended to be a starting point, and participants should not expect to leave the workshop with the necessary qualifications to band birds independently. To become fully immersed and practice what was learned at the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to be considered for bird banding internships following the workshop.
In an effort to decrease the amount of time spent in the classroom, some materials will be shared virtually prior to the in-person workshop. These virtual sessions will also be made available to a wider audience. Stay tuned for more information!
Funding and Logistics
We aim to include approximately 15 participants in this workshop. BirdsCaribbean has funding for a limited number of need and merit-based scholarships to cover the costs of travel and participation. Participants who are able to contribute all or part of their costs can allow us to include additional participants. We encourage applications from all candidates who are well-suited to make use of this training, regardless of their financial ability. Participants should plan to arrive in the Dominican Republic by February 18 and depart on February 25.
Participants at our Caribbean Bird Banding Workshop held in the Dominican Republic in March 2023. (Photo by Joshua Covill)
Applications
If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out this form by 8 December 2024.
Oportunidad de formación: Taller de anillamiento de aves caribeñas
Si te gustan las aves del Caribe, ¡Quizás quieras aprender a ponerles un anillo (o una anilla)! BirdsCaribbean se complace en invitarte a participar en un taller de formación de 5 días centrado en el anillamiento de aves, ¡Una importante herramienta para la investigación y el monitoreo! Los participantes aprenderán los fundamentos del anillamiento de aves, desde la instalación de una red de niebla hasta la revisión de los patrones de muda, a través de una mezcla de actividades en el aula y sobre el terreno. También discutiremos y demostraremos algunos de los beneficios de unirse a nuestra nuevaRed de Anillamiento de Aves del Caribe. Estamos muy contentos de volver a República Dominicana, a uno de nuestros lugares favoritos para los talleres: Baiguate Ecolodge, en Jarabacoa. Márcalo en tu calendario: el taller de este año tendrá lugar del 20 al 24 de febrero de 2025.
¿Por qué necesitamos anillar aves?
Los censos de aves, como los que se tratan en nuestrosTalleres de Formación para el Monitoreo de Aves Terrestres del Caribe, proporcionan información valiosa sobre la abundancia y la presencia de especies. Pero el anillamiento de aves es una metodología diferente que profundiza en la situación de las poblaciones de aves mediante la evaluación del estado de cada individuo. Marcando y estudiando a las aves en la mano, podemos recopilar datos que nos informen sobre su demografía y salud, entre otros:
Observar la acumulación de grasa y el peso para evaluar la condición corporal de las aves en diferentes hábitats y en diferentes épocas del año, lo que a su vez arroja luz sobre la calidad de los hábitats que estas aves están utilizando.
Determinación de la edad de las aves mediante el plumaje para investigar patrones demográficos.
Utilizar los registros de recapturas para conocer la supervivencia y la longevidad.
Evaluar la presencia o ausencia de características reproductivas para comprender mejor el momento de la reproducción y el ciclo biológico de muchas de nuestras poco estudiadas endémicas caribeñas.
Averiguar cuáles rutas migratorias siguen nuestras aves compartidas y comprender mejor los factores que influyen en la supervivencia y longevidad de las especies.
A largo plazo, los datos provenientes del anillamiento también pueden ayudarnos a comprender los patrones y tendencias de las poblaciones de aves, para contribuir a su gestión y conservación.
Sobre el taller
Este taller es el cuarto taller anual de formación sobre anillamiento de aves en el Caribe (CBB). Cubrirá muchos de los temas ya explorados en nuestros talleres anteriores de capacitación sobre la CBBN celebrados enBahamas (marzo de 2022), República Dominicana (marzo de 2023) y Granada (marzo de 2024). El taller bilingüe (inglés y español) está diseñado para profesionales y voluntarios que trabajan con vida silvestre en el Caribe y que estén interesados en adquirir más experiencia en el anillamiento de aves. No se requiere experiencia previa en anillamiento. Sin embargo, se dará prioridad a los solicitantes que tengan posibilidades de seguir formándose para adquirir los conocimientos, habilidades y experiencia necesarios para contribuir o iniciar programas de investigación y/o anillamiento de aves en sus islas de origen. Este taller se centrará en el anillamiento de aves terrestres, con énfasis en los paseriformes. Esperamos ofrecer oportunidades de formación en anillamiento para otros grupos de aves en el futuro.
Los objetivos del taller son:
Proporcionar a los participantes una comprensión básica de las técnicas de anillamiento de aves y las mejores prácticas.
Discutir lo que se necesita para montar y dirigir una estación de anillamiento de aves.
Preparar a los participantes para formación adicional en anillamiento de aves y posibles certificaciones del Consejo Norteamericano de Anillamiento (NABC) (asistente, anillador, entrenador) en el futuro.
Compartir información sobre otras oportunidades de formación, recursos y comunidades disponibles a través de la Red CBB.
Varios formadores certificados por el NABC compartirán sus conocimientos en el aula, en las redes de niebla y en la mesa de anillamiento, cubriendo temas como:
Montaje y colocación adecuados de una red de niebla
Técnicas adecuadas para extraer aves de las redes de niebla
Puesta en marcha de una estación de anillamiento
Primeros auxilios y seguridad
Ética y fundamentos del anillamiento de aves
Uso del anillamiento de aves para educación y demostraciones públicas
Determinación de la edad de las aves utilizando terminología WRP y Howell-Pyle
Patrones de muda
El anillamiento de aves es una habilidad compleja de aprender. Este taller pretende ser un punto de partida, y los participantes no deben esperar salir del taller con las calificaciones necesarias para anillar aves de forma independiente. Para sumergirse completamente y practicar lo aprendido en el taller, los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de ser considerados para prácticas o pasantías de anillamiento de aves tras el taller.
En un esfuerzo por reducir la cantidad de tiempo que se pasa en el aula, algunos materiales se compartirán virtualmente antes del taller presencial. Estas sesiones virtuales también se pondrán a disposición de un público más amplio. Mantente atento para más información.
Financiación y logística
Nuestro objetivo es contar con aproximadamente 15 participantes en este taller. BirdsCaribbean cuenta con financiación para un número limitado de becas basadas en la necesidad y el mérito para cubrir los costes de viaje y participación. Los participantes que puedan contribuir con la totalidad o parte de sus costes pueden permitirnos incluir participantes adicionales. Animamos a presentar solicitudes a todos los candidatos que reúnan las condiciones necesarias para aprovechar esta formación, independientemente de su capacidad financiera. Los participantes deben planificar su llegada a la República Dominicana para el 18 de febrero y su salida para el 25 de febrero.
Solicitudes
Si estás interesado en participar en este taller, llena este formulario antes del 8 de diciembre de 2024.
John Fletcher holds his gift book prepared by his birding family at his 90th birthday celebrations in April, 2019. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
We are saddened to share the recent passing of John Fletcher, a true pioneer of birdwatching in Jamaica. Emma Lewis—an influential blogger, environmental advocate, and longtime BirdsCaribbean member—has written a heartfelt tribute to John, honoring his remarkable legacy of inspiring Jamaicans to appreciate and protect their island’s birds. Emma, also a valued member of our Media Working Group, originally posted this tribute on her blog, Petchary, on November 3, 2024. We extend our gratitude to her for allowing us to share it here.
The birdwatching community has become quite close-knit over the past few years. It is small, but growing. Last month was a sad one, however, as we lost a beloved member of the older generation of birders. I penned this obituary; please feel free to share. As you can tell from the tributes at the end of this piece, we all miss John very much – but we are reflecting on the many good times we shared with him.
He was a teacher. He was a mentor. He was an expert bird guide. He was a friend. And he was never happier than when he had a pair of binoculars slung round his neck.
John was all about business and birds
Former President of BirdLife Jamaica (BLJ) and revered “elder statesman” of the island’s birding world, John Oliver Fletcher passed away in Kingston, Jamaica on October 11, 2024 at the age of 95, after a short illness. He leaves behind his two sons, Andrew and Mark, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, shared her condolences with Jamaican birders: “John was amazing, such a huge and positive influence on the birding community in Jamaica and a mentor and friend to so many. A life well-lived for sure and he will be missed. His spirit lives on in our memories—and in every joyful moment spent with binoculars in hand. Our condolences to all of you.”
President of BLJ Justin Saunders shared: “The significance of John to BLJ was evident from my first day as a BirdLife member over two years ago. The outpouring of love since his passing only confirms the beautiful stories I’ve heard about him since. I was not fortunate enough to have met and gone birding with John, something I expected would have been a memorable and fun experience; but I’m inspired every time I see one more picture and hear one more person speak about their favorite ‘John moment’. Even though John’s passing is a sad moment I think it’s also a beautiful reminder of the family we have here in BirdLife Jamaica.”
In a Facebook post, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica conveyed its sincere condolences, noting that John was a dedicated member for many years.
Born in Balham, south London on April 5, 1929, John arrived in Jamaica in 1948 as a nineteen year-old, to do his second year of required National Service in Jamaica. He worked in the Army Ordnance Depot on Princess Street, downtown Kingston. He fell in love with Jamaica, met and married a Kingstonian (Kitty Paxton), and started work with the Citrus Company of Jamaica as an assistant chemist. John worked in a management position in Stann Creek, Belize (then British Honduras) for a short while; however, Belize did not suit the Fletchers, and they returned to Jamaica. They lived in Bog Walk for twelve years, where John was Managing Director of Jamaica Citrus Growers. In 1970, he formed his own company, Fletcher Bowman Ltd., in Yallahs, St. Thomas. John was elected President of the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) in 1980. Following an illness, he sold the company in 1984. After serving as Managing Director of Salada Foods from 1986 for nine years, he retired at 65 and decided to join his son Mark’s company, Country Traders, where he started his own roastery – Coffee Roasters of Jamaica – an enterprise he enjoyed.
Somehow, despite all his responsibilities, John balanced his business career with his love for the environment – and birds in particular.
John Fletcher walking along the beach during a visit to Yallahs Salt Ponds, a place where he was always very happy. (Photo by Emma Lewis)
While living in Yallahs in the 1970s, John had started bird watching in the fascinating wetland area of the nearby Salt Ponds in the evenings; it remained one of his most beloved birding spots. He became a member of the Gosse Bird Club (now BirdLife Jamaica) where he served as Treasurer from 2005 to 2010 and then as President, until 2014. Besides his birding activities, he was Honorary Consul for Sweden from 1983, for 17 years; and wrote a fortnightly column in the Daily News on business and environmental issues from 1978. In 1990 he was appointed to the Appeals Tribunal of the National Resources Conservation Authority and became Chairman, resigning in 1996 from this and other posts.
John threw himself into his activities as an expert bird guide for locals and overseas visitors, conducting tours all over the island from 2001 onwards. Birding with inner city children, as part of a project with Jamaica Environment Trust, and talking to groups of schoolchildren about birds were among his most rewarding experiences – besides, of course, numerous field trips with BLJ.
Indeed, John loved life, laughed readily and easily, and “connected” with people of all ages and backgrounds. He even got on well with bird hunters. It was noticeable that birdwatchers would gather round him during field trips, to gather up his wisdom.
John adjusting the scope for young birders. (Photo by Doris Gross)
John helping a new birder identify a bird by using a field guide. (Doris Gross)
John helping a group of birders identify a bird. (Doris Gross)
John lived life to the fullest, and was very much a family man. His ninetieth birthday was celebrated in style with friends, family and birders at the Pages Restaurant in Hope Gardens, where he was presented with a book created by BLJ members in celebration of his life with birds, among other gifts. It was a joyous and at times emotional occasion.
John on his 90th, after a birding session at Hope Gardens, with the BirdLife “crew.”
While staying at Silver Sands in late July this year, John “really enjoyed his early morning swims,” according to his son Andrew. He had celebrated his 95th birthday with a party at a restaurant in Golden Spring, St. Andrew.
John gave so much to Jamaica’s birding family. He was much loved and appreciated as a colleague and teacher, and he will be greatly missed.
Other BLJ members and birders shared their fond memories:
“John Fletcher will live on in the hearts of birders in Jamaica. He has taught many about the birds of Jamaica and also how to be a superb bird guide…You have taught and shared so much information about birds to so many people, including me. On behalf of the birding community in Jamaica, we would like to send condolences to your family at this time. You were such a birder and you will live on in our hearts – even in our binoculars.” ImmediatePast President/BLJ Executive and Biologist Damion Whyte
“John and I have shared many birding moments, especially at Parrottee Ponds, St. Elizabeth. I chant that JAH grants all those who are connected to him extra strength in this time of bereavement. May his soul rest in the arms of the Ancestors. John, you have stepped into the next realm and the JAH of the birds are with you all the way. Live on Birding Brother.” – Wolde Kristos, BLJ Executive and Bird Guide
“John was serious about birds. He was always ready to share his knowledge with us all. His enthusiasm was truly infectious. He was a very kind and thoughtful man. I will always remember the steaming hot coffee that he would bring on bird trips and share with us; for example, at the top of a cliff in Hector’s River, as we watched White-tailed Tropicbirds sailing by.” – Emma Lewis, BLJ Executive and blogger
“It was so easy to take beautiful photos of John Fletcher. Because he was a beautiful soul and that showed on the outside…I always told him he is our inspiration for aging gracefully. Fly high with the birds John!” – Doris Gross, BLJ member
“I was honoured to have John Fletcher as a friend for over 30 years. John was remarkable not only for his extensive knowledge of birds, but for his amazing memory of people, places and events in Jamaica over the past seven decades. John was not only a birder, but a ‘hasher’ – a member of the running club, Jamaica Hash House Harriers (‘JAH3’) – and because he was an Englishman with a lifelong interest in birds, he earned himself the cheeky Hash name of ‘Tit Pincher’. It was always a pleasure having John on a birding trip: he brought his bird expertise, his stories of bygone times in Jamaica, and his delicious coffee. Farewell, John – fly with the birds you loved so much.” – Wendy Lee, Conservationist and Bird Guide
“I met John about 2002 through the late Dr. Peter Vogel when I was first introduced to BirdLife Jamaica.
I affectionately look back at the fact that John has always been an old man, even seeing pictures of him from years before he always looked the same…sort of how no one can conjure up a picture of a young Santa Claus. He automatically and effortlessly commanded the room as he immediately got the respect and undivided attention whenever he opened his mouth. He always spoke calmly, never overly excited – but still able to convey his passion for the subject at hand…birds.
Since I was studying birds at the time, John immediately knew I needed his help without me ever asking. So he became my unofficial mentor, keeping me grounded in the local and cultural aspects of birding while I was otherwise building up my technical knowledge. He guided me in how to be a bird guide, which is much more difficult than it seems. The one takeaway I always held on to is that he told me to remain calm and not get too excited when I find the bird, thus not robbing the birders I’m guiding of that experience. In that way he taught me how to let the other birders “discover” the birds themselves, even if it meant I should pretend that I’m not sure of what I am looking at. I understood the assignment.
From there he encouraged me to help train other guides and got me into the commercial aspect of birding to the point where I formed Arrowhead Birding Tours in 2012.
In my eyes, John lived the perfect life. We all knew this day would come when we bid him farewell, but we would never be sad about it.” – Ricardo Miller, Past President of BLJ and Bird Guide.
We’re still buzzing from our fantastic BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference in Santo Domingo! Our week-long Dominican Republic adventure was packed full of insightful learnings, spectacular birding, and experiencing the rich culture of our gracious hosts — but there’s one feature of the conference that most stands out to us — our incredible community! The opportunity to connect with the passionate trailblazers advancing the work of bird conservation across the region was unforgettable. Thanks to our generous sponsors, we were able to offer scholarships to Caribbean conservation leaders from around the region to join us in sharing knowledge and planning interventions to tackle the Caribbean’s most pressing conservation challenges. One superstar conservationist that we were thrilled to host at the conference was Trinidad and Tobago’s Giselle Ragoonanan.
Giselle Ragoonanan, Co-founder of the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre.
An indigenous naturalist and dedicated educator, Giselle is the co-founder of the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre (TTBO) which works towards advancing avian research, conservation, and education through bird banding, habitat management, and community engagement spanning across both islands. As a sponsored delegate, Giselle Ragoonanan had the privilege of diving deep into workshops and discussions that nurtured her passion for preserving Caribbean birds. From hands-on training in advanced monitoring techniques to dynamic sessions led by conservation leaders, each moment was a step toward impactful change. Join Giselle as she shares insights from inspiring keynotes, innovative collaborations, and the personal connections that transformed this conference into a pivotal experience for her work at the TTBO.
Bird Nerds Unite! Workshops and Learning: Diving into Conservation
July was a whirlwind month, and the highlight was undoubtedly the BirdsCaribbean International Conference in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This event brought together hundreds of bird enthusiasts, conservationists, and researchers from across the world, all with a shared passion for avian life. For me, it was more than just a conference—it was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, laughter, and connections that I’ll carry with me for years to come.
The pre-conference workshops were a true highlight of the event, setting the stage for the deeper discussions that would unfold during the conference itself. These sessions were intense but incredibly rewarding, covering everything from advanced bird monitoring techniques to community-based conservation strategies diving into the nitty-gritty of bird conservation across the region. Each session offered valuable insights that were immediately applicable to our work on the ground. It was a chance to deepen my knowledge, share experiences, and learn from some of the brightest minds in bird conservation.
Giselle completes an activity during the Create Your Own Coloring and Activity Book workshop hosted by Les Fruits de Mer. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
What made these workshops particularly effective was their interactive nature. Instead of passively absorbing information, we were actively engaged in problem-solving exercises, hands-on work, and group discussions that fostered collaboration and idea-sharing. This approach deepened our understanding of the topics and equipped us with new tools and techniques that could be adapted to our unique challenges back home.
Giselle explaining the conservation challenges she faces in Trinidad and Tobago during the BirdsCaribbean’s Capacity Building Assessment session at the conference. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
These workshops laid a solid foundation for the conference’s breakout sessions. The knowledge and skills we gained beforehand allowed us to engage more meaningfully in discussions, ask more targeted questions, and contribute to the collective learning experience. The seamless integration of these pre-conference workshops with the broader conference agenda made the entire event cohesive and impactful, ensuring that we left with actionable takeaways and a clearer sense of direction for our conservation efforts.
The Urban Birder: David Lindo’s Inspiring Keynote
One of the most anticipated sessions of the conference was the keynote address by David Lindo, famously known as “The Urban Birder.” David’s talk was nothing short of inspiring. He’s well known for his mission to connect urban populations with nature, particularly birds. He talked about his fascinating journey to to get the nation involved in changing Britain’s national bird from the robin to a species that truly represented the country. What struck me most was his genuine passion for getting people to simply look up and appreciate the birds around them, regardless of where they are. His energy was contagious, and it left everyone in the room buzzing with ideas on how to engage more people in birding, whether in bustling cities or rural landscapes.
David Lindo, The Urban Birder, inspired delegates with his keynote on connecting with nature in urban spaces. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Shaping the Future of TTBO: Insights and Innovations from the BirdsCaribbean Conference
The BirdsCaribbean International Conference was a turning point for the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre (TTBO). The insights and connections we gained during the event will undoubtedly shape our organization’s future. One of the most significant takeaways was the potential to integrate cutting-edge technologies and collaborative networks into our conservation efforts with the MOTUS project. This stood out as a particularly promising initiative. I think by joining this network, TTBO can contribute to and benefit from a global effort to better understand bird migration patterns, which is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
The Near Threatened White-tailed Sabrewing is one of TTBO’s target species for enhanced conservation initiatives on Tobago. (Photo by Adam Bowley ML 205389221)
Additionally, the conference highlighted the importance of rigorous, standardized monitoring techniques, such as Landbird Monitoring through point counts and transect points. Applying these methods will allow us to gather consistent, high-quality data on bird populations in Trinidad and Tobago, providing a solid foundation for our research and conservation initiatives.
The connections made at the conference were just as impactful. Engaging with other conservationists who are implementing similar projects across the region offered valuable insights into best practices, potential challenges, and innovative solutions. These interactions have already begun to shape our approach to future projects, ensuring that TTBO’s efforts are aligned with global conservation standards, and are part of a broader, collaborative network.
Building Connections and Sharing Our Work
One of the most rewarding aspects of the conference was the opportunity to share the work we’ve been doing in Trinidad and Tobago with a broader audience. Presenting our initiatives and progress at the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre sparked insightful conversations and constructive feedback from peers across the region. It was incredibly validating to hear seasoned professionals express admiration for our efforts, and even more so to engage in dialogues where we could exchange ideas and strategies.
Giselle discussing her research project with Jamaican ornithologist Dr Ann Sutton. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Northern Waterthrush. (Photo by Jesse Gordon)
Che Ragoonanan’s presentation on community engagement in Trinidad. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Children and ARC Conservation members wear their hand crafted masks.
Kelvin Kirk discussing his study on the avifauna of Tobago with Cuban ornithologist and scientific illustrator Arnaldo Toledo. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Daveka Boodram speaking about efforts to conserve the Near Threatened White-tailed Sabrewing in Tobago.
Shivam Mahadeo and Jennifer Wheeler reviewing the data obtained from his seabird research in Tobago. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
The connections we made were not just professional; they were deeply personal. It was fascinating to see how scientists and conservationists from different corners of the Caribbean and the world, each working in distinct ecosystems, were tackling similar challenges. The sessions became a melting pot of ideas, where everyone was eager to share their successes, failures, and lessons learned. We were all trying to piece together similar puzzles in our respective environments, and this collective brainstorming inspired me.
The genuine interest people showed in our work was both humbling and motivating. There was a strong sense of camaraderie as we realized that, despite the geographical distances, we were all part of a larger, interconnected community. These interactions reinforced the idea that conservation is not a solitary pursuit but a collaborative effort that thrives on shared knowledge and mutual support. For me, the conference drove us beyond networking; it was about building lasting partnerships and fostering a regional network of allies who are all striving towards the same goal: the preservation of our unique Caribbean biodiversity.
The Grand Silent Auction: Beautiful Chaos
The Grand Silent Auction was, in true Caribbean style, anything but silent. It was a delightful, chaotic spectacle where the usual calm and composed demeanor of scientists gave way to competitive zeal. Picture this: conservationists and researchers, who are usually discussing bird migration patterns and habitat restoration, suddenly turn into stealthy bidders, eyeing each other’s movements with laser focus. The air was thick with a beautiful and disruptive chaos as everyone tried to silently undermine their competitors by upping the bid by just 50 cents (AKA ME LOL). The room was filled with furtive glances, whispered strategies, and the occasional playful smirk as someone outbid their colleague at the last second. It was one of the funniest yet most rewarding human interactions I’ve ever observed—who knew that scientists could be so cutthroat when there’s a field guide or a rare bird print on the line? The auction was a hilarious reminder that, underneath the serious commitment to conservation, we all have a playful, competitive side just waiting for the right moment to emerge. And yes, ah win the map I alone bid on! Success!
Bidders placing their last, and hopefully winning bids during the Silent Auction. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
The Infamous Field Trip: From Punta Cana to “Poola Cana”
Giselle enjoying sightseeing on her ‘Poola Cana’ trip.
Ah, the field trip—what should have been a serene journey to the stunning hotspot of Punta Cana turned into an adventure all its own. In a classic case of “missing the bus,” what actually happened was the bus was scheduled to leave at 3:30am and I snoozed my alarm. Instead of Punta Cana, we jokingly dubbed our unexpected destination “Poola Cana.” We may not have reached our intended location, but the pool, pizza, and spontaneous birding we enjoyed made it one of the trip’s highlights. Sometimes, the best memories are the ones you don’t wake up on time for!
A Journey of Inspiration and Growth
Attending the BirdsCaribbean International Conference was not just an opportunity for professional development—it was a journey of inspiration and growth. My primary purpose for attending was to deepen my understanding of regional conservation efforts, to learn from others, and to find ways to enhance the work we’re doing in Trinidad and Tobago. BirdsCaribbean delivered on all these fronts and went far beyond my expectations.
The collective energy of the conference was palpable. Even those who have been in the field for over 20 years were visibly inspired by the new ideas and fresh perspectives brought by the younger generation of conservationists. There was a sense of renewal, as seasoned professionals shared their wisdom while also eagerly embracing the innovative approaches presented by up-and-coming researchers and activists. It was a powerful reminder that conservation is a dynamic field, one that benefits immensely from intergenerational collaboration.
Members of the TTBO at the poster session.
For me, the conference reaffirmed the importance of our work and provided a renewed sense of purpose. I left Santo Domingo with a deeper commitment to the birds and ecosystems we strive to protect, fueled by the knowledge that we are part of a vibrant and supportive community. The experience was a reminder that no matter how challenging our work may be, we are not alone in this journey. We are all connected by our shared passion for the natural world and our determination to ensure that future generations can continue to marvel at the beauty of Caribbean birdlife.
The BirdsCaribbean International Conference was more than just an event; it was a transformative experience. It strengthened my resolve, expanded my horizons, and connected me with a network of incredible individuals who are all making a difference in their own unique ways. As I return to Trinidad and Tobago, I carry with me not only new knowledge and ideas, but also the inspiration and support of a community that I am proud to be a part of.
Giselle Ragoonanan is an Indigenous naturalist and wildlife conservationist with a deep passion for preserving biodiversity. A certified NABC bird bander and nature soundscape recordist, Giselle is honing expertise in avian research and conservation. As the co-founder of the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre (TTBO), she has been working towards advancing bird conservation in the Caribbean. Giselle is also a committed educator, sharing her knowledge and fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world. Through her work, she continues to inspire and engage communities in the protection of wildlife and their habitats.
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the overwhelming success of this conference! Travel and Attendance scholarships were made possible through the generosity of our conference sponsors, donors, and local partners. These include The Rufford Foundation, Audubon, US Forest Service, Teleuniverso, American Bird Conservancy, Banco Popular, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Fondo Nacional para el Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Fondo MARENA) Dominican Republic, Naturalist Journeys, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Mass Audubon, Cúa Conservation Agency, Vortex Optics, Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, and the FUPAROCA Foundation.
Note that the same proposal cannot be submitted for more than one award in a given year.
BirdsCaribbean’s general Grant Application Guidelines are available here.
Learn more about the eligibility criteria of each program by visiting their respective websites.
Seeking Donors
BirdsCaribbean encourages others to consider endowments or other large awards to ensure that our grants programs continue indefinitely. You may also make a donation to support our work. BirdsCaribbean is a tax-deductible organization in the United States.
Students at Sandy Bay Primary School with a St Vincent Parrot plushie during CEBF celebrations organized by the local NGO SCIENCE. (Photo by Science SVG)
BirdsCaribbean is thrilled to lead the charge for the annual Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), collaborating with a vibrant network of environmental and community organizations throughout the region! Join us as we reflect on the fantastic celebrations of our beloved Caribbean birds, being in nature, and the joy of discovering the fascinating world of insects. Together, we’re making bird conservation an exciting and essential part of daily life in the Caribbean!
This year, the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) celebrated the theme “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” This theme highlighted the vital connection between birds and insects, emphasizing the crucial role insects play in sustaining bird populations and ensuring the overall health of ecosystems. The festival ran from April to May, with some organizations continuing the festivities well into summer. Our partners were instrumental in uniting bird enthusiasts, nature lovers, conservation organizations, and communities across the region to raise awareness and foster a deeper appreciation for endemic birds and the environmental balance that supports them.
A hive of activity across the Caribbean
This year’s CEBF saw vibrant participation from more than 20islands. CEBF island coordinators organized engaging activities, including birdwatching tours, habitat cleanups, parades, educational talks, art exhibitions, and so much more, all focused on endemic bird species and the critical role insects play in their survival.
Insects provide a rich source of protein essential for birds’ energy needs and overall health. Unfortunately, insect populations worldwide are declining, making this festival theme a timely call to action for insect conservation. “This year’s theme serves as a friendly reminder that every bee, butterfly and bug play a vital role in keeping nature thriving,” said Eduardo Llegus, co-regional coordinator of the CEBF. “Unsung heroes, insects are key players in our ecosystems. Without them, many birds – and the very balance of nature – would face serious problems, including the forests and wetlands that are essential for their survival. Protecting insects is about ensuring that all life, including birds, in the Caribbean can flourish together.”
A Martinique Oriole searches for food. They eat both insects and fruits. (Photo by Bussier Romain-Macaulay Library-ML136544221)
Trinidad and Tobago
The Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre (TTBO) held a fun-filled event hosting more than double the previous year’s participants — from 30 in 2023 to over 70 in 2024! Activities like the “Save the Soil for Cicadas” parade and interactive displays on birdwatching and insect identification captivated participants. The day culminated with habitat model constructions of nests and hives.
Are you Team Insects or Team Birds — or both?! (Photo by TTBO)
Handmade nests with paper birds. (Photo by TTBO)
Green-backed Trogon spotted during the TTBO Bird Harvest festival. (Photo by TTBO)
Youth learning about beekeeping. (Photo by TTBO)
Proud to be on Team Insects! (Photo by TTBO)
Beekeepers demonstrating how to handle bees safely. (Photo by TTBO)
Happy to be on Team Birds! (Photo by TTBO)
Youth birdwatching during the Bird Harvest festival. (Photo by TTBO)
Youth wearing an insect face mask. (Photo by TTBO)
St Vincent and the Grenadines
The team at Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE SVG) brought the excitement of bird festivities to Sandy Bay Primary School. Students were thrilled to dig deep into the world of their unique endemic birds, such as the majestic St. Vincent Parrot and the charming Whistling Warbler. For many, it was their first-time observing the beautiful birds in their schoolyard through a spotting scope, sparking awe and a deeper appreciation for local wildlife.
The event was not just about birdwatching; it also featured a variety of fun activities, including face painting, coloring, and mask-making. These creative endeavors allowed students to explore self-expression while learning about birds and insects.
Student displays his colored in drawing of the Whistling Warbler. (Photo by SCIENCE SVG)
Students coloring endemic bird coloring pages and decorating their insect and bird masks at Sandy Bay Primary School. (Photo by SCIENCE SVG)
Youth wearing a bird mask that she colored. (Photo by SCIENCE SVG)
Guadeloupe
AMAZONAhosted a birdfair for the community of Petit-Bourg. The event was a delightful celebration of nature, with birdwatching taking center stage. Enthusiastic participants ventured into the lush surroundings, where they were thrilled to spot an impressive 19 species of birds, including the striking Guadeloupe Woodpecker and the adorable Plumbeous Warbler.
The Guadeloupe Woodpecker is endemic to Guadeloupe. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Plumbeous Warbler. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
St Eustatius
The St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) hosted a booth at the monthly Taste of the Cultures event, allowing them to engage with and educate the public and visitors, especially children, on the importance of birds and insects through fun games. A major hit was the “I spy” bird game where children used binoculars to spot small bird photos that were set up around the booth. They shared with us that teenagers especially enjoyed the game, one of whom exclaimed “You should have more of these games! Seriously, I was looking for all the hidden birds around the booth with the binoculars for a while!” They also provided Endemic Birds of the West Indies coloring books, Statia bird ID guides, activity guides, stickers and other materials to fuel their interest in birds and nature.
STENAPA staff setting up their bird booth for the event. (Photo by STENAPA)
Posters about insect types and functions, created by STENAPA staff. (Photo by STENAPA)
STENAPA’s bird booth at the Taste of Cultures event with books, stickers and other materials on display. (Photo by STENAPA)
Antigua and Barbuda
barbudanGO hosted a variety of activities aimed at enhancing understanding and appreciating the Barbuda Warbler, the only endemic bird to Antigua and Barbuda, currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Participants engaged in artistic events that provided insights into the warbler’s habitat and conservation needs, fostering awareness and advocacy for its protection. Key highlights included the “Sip and Paint” event, which combined relaxation with artistic expression and education, and the “Puzzle Master” challenge designed for adults.
For children, they offered a “Birdhouse Construction” workshop where 11 to 16 year olds built and decorated birdhouses for a garden that was specifically planted to attract the Barbuda Warbler!
Completed birdhouses. (Photo by BarbudanGO)
Over in Antigua, the Environmental Awareness Group hosted bird fairs at two Important Bird Areas on the island: McKinnon’s Saltpond and Fitches Creek/Parham Harbour (Byams Wharf) and a habitat cleanup. Participants enjoyed seeing regional endemics like the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Caribbean Elaenia, and Green-throated Carib. Of course, no CEBF bird fair would be complete without games from our BirdSleuth Caribbean curriculum such as “Bird Spy Bingo” and the “Bird Survival Game.” Find out more about BirdSleuth Caribbean here.
Habitat cleanup crew consisting of members of both Environmental Awareness Group and The Rotaract Club. (Photo by EAG)
St. Martin
Les Fruits de Mer integrated birds into their larger Endemic Animal Festival, which included challenging scavenger hunts, free book giveaways, and lots of art and craft activities for over 100 attendees. Their coloring and activity books are free to download here.
A young girl decorating her pouch using bird stencils during the Endemic Animal Festival. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Les Fruits de Mer founders Mark Yokoyama and Jennifer Yerkes with volunteers.
Both children and adults attended the Endemic Animal Festival. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Young girls learning about the endemic animals of St. Martin. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Puerto Rico
Conservation Opportunity headed to Playa Buje, Cabo Rojo for a bird census — which we were told was a hit among participants! They rounded out the day with a beach cleanup, an educational talk that emphasized the integral role insects play in bird conservation, and installed an interpretive sign at the beach reminding beach goers to keep their environment clean.
Participants of the morning bird census led by Carla Montalvo of Roots and Shoots Puerto Rico.
Bird ID cards used by participants of the morning bird census. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Fabiola Torres, Conservation Opportunity Founder, giving a presentation on endemic birds and insects. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
And at El Yunque National Forest, over 1,000 enthusiastic participants came together for what could be the biggest CEBF one-day event of the year! The Fundación Amigos de El Yunque joined forces with Para La Naturaleza, Fundación Alma de Bahía, Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI), Hacienda El Portal, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to create a spectacular celebration of birds and bugs! From bird tours to inspiring presentations and nature-based activities, this event was a whirlwind of energy, creativity, and a shared commitment to protecting our birds!
Opening remarks from Yaritza Bobonis. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
Iguaco (Puerto Rican Parrot mascot) from USFWS with Amigos de El Yunque. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
Families having fun at the festival. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
Youth learning how birds eat and build their nests through sensory play. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
Presentation by Jessica Ilse from Forest Service. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
USFWS exhibit at the festival. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
Coriecis, Inc. invited adults and children to learn about the endemic birds of Puerto Rico through a webinar, after which they took the learning into nature at the Piñones State Forest — where they documented 34 species! Check out their eBird checklist here.Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico and Pajareo Virtual superbly integrated their CEBF celebrations into Global Big Day bird counts. They formed a small but determined team to spread the message that insects are important to birds and people and conducted a bird count at Playa Table Rock. Here is their checklist from Global Big Day. Along their route they spotted some insect munching birds like the Gray Kingbird and Puerto Rican Flycatcher. This activity was repeated at Caño Madre Vieja Reserve where 33 species were recorded.
Coriecis’ virtual presentation on the endemic birds of Puerto Rico. (Photo by Coriecis)
Birding group at Bosque Estatal de Pinones. (Photo by Coriecis)
Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico’s small but dedicated birding group at Playa Table Rock. (Photo by Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico)
Gray Kingbird feeding, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edgardo Cruz)
At the University High School, Miguel Sabatier (OREC) gave a riveting presentation highlighting the importance of insects for both endemic and migratory birds. Miguel shared with us that “the students, teachers, and graduate students’ faces lit up when they heard the bird calls and recognized some they were familiar with.”
Birding is truly for every body and we are proud to share that the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources’ CEBF activities involved leading an interpretive tour through La Plata Reservoir Natural Reserve for a group of blind birders.
The staff of the US Fish and Wildlife Service led a massive 580 participants on exhilarating birdwatching tours through Laguna Cartagena and Cabo Rojo NWR. They also organized an epic movie night under the stars that brought people together in celebration of birds and community.
Movie night at Cabo Rojo. (Photo by USFWS)
The staff at the Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan concentrated on recruiting more citizen scientists from nearby communities for their bird monitoring initiatives. To engage various community groups, they offered informative webinars and exciting birdwatching trips to local natural reserves.
Eliezer Nieves giving a presentation on the birds of Estuario de la Bahia de San Juan.
Despite the rainy weather which impacted attendance, Para La Naturaleza made a meaningful impact by introducing a dedicated participant to the fascinating world of birds. Together, they identified 15 species, including six that are endemic to Puerto Rico.
Eduardo Llegus, CEBF Coordinator based in Puerto Rico, along with his students got their hands dirty for the birdies and completed an early morning habitat cleanup at Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve in Ponce.
Eduardo with is students at Punta Cucharas.
Dominican Republic
Grupo Jaragua created an exciting roster of events for Dominicans to discover and celebrate their iconic birds. Throughout May, they hosted a variety of engaging activities, including an interpretative walk and bird count celebration for Global Big Day on May 11. They also held a recycling workshop and a short talk on the connections between pollution, insects, and birds on May 25. Their vibrant social media campaign featured nine informative posts, while a live webinar on May 16 brought in a wider audience. Additionally, influencer, nature advocate, and entomologist Yohan Nunez (@YohanNature) produced a captivating reel, and bird conservation outreach took place in the preschool program Natura Avventura throughout the month.
The CEBF celebrations in Cuba were a huge success. We owe a huge thank you to our amazing partners at Club de observadores de aves Granma, Club de Observadores de Aves de Guisa, Club de Observadores de Aves en Libertad (Holguín), Grupo Ecologia de Aves (University of Havana) and Jardín Botánico Nacional Cuba, Empresa Flora y Fauna, Museo de Historia Natural Joaquín Fernández de la Vara, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba, and independent coordinator Yorniel Martínez Cruz! Their enthusiasm and expertise were truly invaluable in making the events both memorable and impactful for Cuban bird conservation.
People of all ages and abilities enjoyed bird-themed puzzles, cartoons, and games, while also taking part in habitat clean-ups and tree planting. They were especially excited to see the birds in their neighborhoods, school yards, and nature reserves. Local media, and a podcast for kids by kids, Amiguitos de Las Aves, helped spread the word about the important relationship between birds and insects.
Youth enjoying bird games offered by the University of Havana Bird Ecology Group. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)
A young Cuban birder’s one-stop bird station set up by Club de Observadores de Aves de Guisa.
How long is your wingspan? A young girl measures her arm length against a banner with various bird wing lengths printed on it. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)
University of Havana Bird Ecology Group brought the wonders of birds and birdwatching to differently abled students. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)
University of Havana Bird Ecology Group member shows a younger birder where to locate the bird. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)
Protect Cuban birds posters designed by Yorniel for the Proyecto Amiguitos de la Naturaleza.
Youth birdwatching in Laguna de Maya Wildlife Refuge in Matanzas, Cuba.
Youth with their bird masks and participation certificates. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)
Jamaica
BirdLife Jamaica joined forces with Hope Gardens once again to host not just one, but two captivating bird walks at the beautiful Hope Botanical Gardens. This engaging event allowed participants to spot some of Jamaica’s unique endemic birds right in the heart of the city of Kingston! To cap off the experience, attendees also had the chance to plant bird-friendly trees, contributing to the preservation of these remarkable species. It was a wonderful blend of education, appreciation, and action for our feathered friends!
Group birdwatching at Hope Botanical Gardens. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
Common Gallinule at Hope Botanical Gardens. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
Insect mounts on display at Hope Botanical Gardens. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
The Yellow-billed Parrot is one of two endemic parrots on Jamaica. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
Two young birders using our Landbirds of the Caribbean bird ID card while birdwatching. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
You’re never too young to start birdwatching! (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
Over in Clarendon, our partner Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation hosted a poster competition for primary and secondary schools. They also provided delightful activities at the Portland Bight Discovery Centre such as Pin the Beak on the Bird, a Scavenger Hunt, and a Guess That Bird Sound activity for staff, students, and teachers. After an engaging presentation by guest speaker Michelle Roberts (BirdLife Jamaica) on Caribbean birds, participants were led on a birdwatching trip around the Centre.
Michelle Roberts speaks to attentive students during CCAM’s CEBF event at the Portland Bight Discovery Centre
CCAM staff member and Michelle Roberts teaching students how to use binoculars. (Photo by CCAM)
Students in CCAM’s bird hide using binoculars to watch birds. (Photo by CCAM)
Poster from the Pin the Beak on The Bird game. (Photo by CCAM)
The Bahamas
On Grand Bahama Island, EARTHCARE Bahamas was kept busy with tree planting (over 1500 mangrove seedlings!) and habitat clean-up at Water Cay; a magnificent birdfair and thrilling bird count at Rand Nature Centre; and a presentation at Bishop Michael Eldon School introducing students to the wonderful world of birds.
Gail Woon of EARTHCARE Bahamas explaining how to complete the scavenger hunt. (Photo by EARTHCARE Bahamas)
Gail and Dr Ancilleno Davis speaking to attendees about Bahamian birds. (Photo by EARTHCARE Bahamas)
A Legacy of Advocacy for Urban Wildlife and Inclusivity in Conservation
We remember an extraordinary environmental educator, Simón Guerrero, who passed away earlier this year. His research on urban ecology focused on making cities more habitable for wildlife, including birds. Simón had a remarkable ability to bring the wonder of birds into classrooms, captivating both students and teachers. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, he founded a birding group for blind Dominicans and emphasized the importance of ensuring that birds “know” our actions are in their favor.
His bird festivals always included the planting of native trees around schools and the university he worked at. Through the CEBF Small Grants and with the support of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, he was able to install nests for Hispaniolan Woodpeckers and Hispaniolan Parakeets. The Hispaniolan Parakeet is one of two endemic but threatened parrot species on the island. While there is a breeding population on the university campus, there are not enough nest cavities. During World Migratory Bird Day celebrations last year, Simón shared, “I always plant some trees to be sure birds will know we are doing something real for them, not just talking.”
Simón Guerrero was a founding member of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds. An engaging teacher and speaker with a great sense of humor, he influenced many to become fans and defenders of nature for many decades.
Students plant the firebush plant in their school’s garden. (Photo by Simón Guerrero)
Artificial nest boxes built by Simón and his team. (Photo by Simón Guerrero)
Simon leading a birdtour in the DR. (Photo by Grupo Jaragua)
We believe that his vision for greener urban spaces will continue to inspire future generations of conservationists.
Conservation champions honored at #BCDR24
In July, we were grateful for the opportunity to connect with our amazing community of Caribbean conservationists at the BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference in the Dominican Republic. We took the opportunity to honor organizations and educators too. They were awarded for their exceptional efforts in celebrating the CEBF over the past two years in consistently organizing creative and enjoyable activities for youth and local communities, and submitting their event reports and photos. Recipients of the 2024 Educator Awards will be shared in an upcoming blog highlighting all of BirdsCaribbean’s 2024 awardees.
We also distributed CEBF materials, featuring the artwork of Arnaldo Toledo, to participating organizations for their bird conservation outreach activities.
Feathery facts and free resources for classrooms and homes
Each day, we featured a new Endemic Bird of the Day on our website and across BirdsCaribbean’s socials, sharing 27 new species in 2024. The species were carefully selected to include truly unique birds, like the Vitelline Warbler; species which keep birders’ ID skills in check, like the Antillean Palm Swift; and endemic crooners, like the Greater Antillean Elaenia. You can find the complete library of 131 endemic birds covered thus far here.
Each endemic bird profile was accompanied by a beautifully drawn image by award-winning Cuban artist Arnaldo Toledo, stunning high quality photos and videos, online puzzles tailored for different levels (between six and 1,024 pieces), and bird calls. Fun, free and engaging activities were also provided for both kids and adults, including downloadable coloring pages, experiments, up-cycle crafts, and more. If you’re looking for more insect activities to do with children, inside and outdoors, to have fun together and be creative, download our ‘Incredible Insects’ activity booklet today.
This year’s CEBF is over — but don’t worry, we still have plenty of bird content for you to enjoy! Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn; and have joined the BirdsCaribbean mailing list to keep up to date with our latest news via our monthly newsletter.
The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival will return next April 2025 — but we need your support to help ensure that bird education remains accessible to all in the Caribbean.
Your donation is an invaluable investment in the future of Caribbean bird conservation and will help us provide materials and access to capacity-building programs to early-career Caribbean conservationists. These passionate individuals are committed to advancing bird conservation on their islands through engaging outreach events, like those listed above, that inspire communities to embrace bird-friendly practices. Your support will help amplify their efforts, fostering a deeper connection between people and the incredible wildlife that surrounds them.
Acknowledgements: A massive THANK YOU to the island coordinators for your enthusiasm and dedication to making this another memorable CEBF! Each year we see a growing number of participants committed to increasing their knowledge of Caribbean birds and actively working to protect their habitats. We also extend our gratitude to our donors and members who help us provide the coordinators with the support and resources they need to educate and inspire future generations of bird and nature loving communities. Special thanks to the US Forest Service, International Programs and the United Nations Development Program Ridge to Reef and IWEco Project for funding for our education and conservation programs.
The White-breasted Thrasher has been split into two species! (Photo by Hank Tseng and Adams Toussaint)
Exciting news is in from the American Ornithological Society (AOS) — the Caribbean can now boast six newly recognized endemic bird species! The 65th Supplement to the AOS Checklist of North American Birds has recently been released, bringing the total number of Caribbean endemics to an impressive 185 species.
Rather than discovering completely unknown birds, these new species typically emerge from deeper research into the unique geographical and biological features of the Caribbean. Islands are hotspots for endemism because isolated bird populations tend to evolve into distinct forms over time. As these differences accumulate, some populations eventually diverge enough to be classified as separate species!
These taxonomic updates often come in the form of “splits,” where what was once considered a single species is divided into multiple species due to significant differences in traits such as appearance, genetics, or behavior. In contrast, “lumps” occur when distinct populations are found to be similar enough to merge into a single species. Ornithologists use a combination of genetic analysis, morphology (shape and size), plumage, and vocalizations to determine whether a bird population deserves species status.
This year, we’re thrilled to introduce six newly recognized bird species in the Caribbean, thanks to two exciting splits!
Presenting the Caribbean’s Newest Endemic Birds:
The Wrenaissance is Here!
The bird formerly known as the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) has undergone a major revision and is now split into seven different species — four of which are newly recognized as Caribbean endemics! Say hello to the Grenada Wren(Troglodytes grenadensis), St. Lucia Wren (Troglodytes mesoleucus), St. Vincent Wren (Troglodytes musicus), and Kalinago Wren (Troglodytes martinicensis), which is native to Dominica. The Kalinago Wren, named in honor of the island’s Indigenous Kalinago people, was also historically found on Guadeloupe and Martinique, though it has since disappeared from those islands.
Additionally, the Cozumel Wren (Troglodytes beani) has been recognized as a distinct species for Cozumel, Mexico; and Trinidad and Tobago now has the Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus), whose range extends into Central and South America. Further research may even reveal that Trinidad and Tobago harbors its own distinct wren species, so stay tuned!
So, what makes these wrens distinct enough to be classified as separate species? One of the biggest factors is habitat. As the name House Wren implies, these birds are typically found around houses and neighborhoods, and often thrive around human settlement. However, this is not the case for Caribbean House Wrens — these birds much prefer forested and more natural habitats. While continental House Wrens have continued to thrive with expanding urbanization, many island populations have been declining, possibly due to loss of habitat.
This taxonomic split also highlights the need for more targeted conservation efforts, which can now be advanced as these birds have been given species-level recognition. Initially, the American Ornithological Society (AOS) proposed grouping all Caribbean House Wrens under a single species called the Antillean Wren. However, further genetic studies revealed that the wrens from the Lesser Antilles were more genetically distinct than previously thought, leading to the decision to split them into multiple species.
Meet the Caribbean’s New Wrens
Here’s a quick overview of our newly recognized Caribbean wrens, compared to the continental House Wren found in North America, which is small, brownish-gray, with a slightly curved bill, barred wings, and a barred, rusty-colored tail.
Grenada Wren: This species is larger and shorter-tailed with dark, richly colored plumage, and a whitish throat. It has one of the longest bills among House Wrens, giving it a distinctive, almost hammer-headed appearance. Interestingly, it behaves more similarly to the mainland House Wrens than the other Caribbean wrens, even adapting its song to urban environments.
The Grenada House Wren has dark, richly colored plumage, and a whitish throat. It also had one of the longest bills of the House Wrens. (Photo by David Hollie ML602671511)
St. Lucia Wren. The St. Lucia Wren is relatively rare and restricted to drier forest habitats in the southwestern and far northern parts of the island. Its plumage is overall paler than the Grenada Wren’s, and its song is quite different from that of its mainland relatives.
The St Lucia Wren’s plumage is paler than the Grenada Wren overall. (Photo by Charlie Bostwick ML 549893181)
St. Vincent Wren: This wren sports a lot of white and buff in its plumage, and it has a notably long wing chord, which suggests a larger overall size. Its song, too, is quite different from that of other House Wrens, making it one of the most distinctive of the new species.
The St Vincent Wren has more white and buff in its plumage. (Photo by David Hollie ML598496181)
The St Vincent Wren has a notably long wing chord. (Photo by David Hollie ML600921241)
Kalinago Wren: Unfortunately, this species has disappeared from Martinique and Guadeloupe. The remaining population on Dominica stands out with its rich rufous coloration and a long, mostly yellow bill. Its song has been described as loud and ebullient, distinctly different from that of mainland House Wrens, adding to its unique charm.
The Kalinago Wren has a distinct rufous coloration and a mostly yellow bill. (Photo by Holger Teichmann ML616854679)
Thrash Talk: The White-breasted Thrasher Split!
In more exciting news from the Lesser Antilles, we now have two new thrasher species! Say hello to the Martinique Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus) and St. Lucia Thrasher (Ramphocinclus sanctaeluciae), previously classified together as the White-breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus). Genetic studies have shown that these two populations have been evolving separately for quite some time, with no evidence of gene flow or interbreeding between them. Additionally, there has been no observed movement of thrashers between Martinique and St. Lucia, further confirming that these birds are isolated and distinct species.
The Martinique Thrasher is considered Critically Endangered, while the St. Lucia Thrasher is listed as Endangered. With their elevation to official species status, there is hope this recognition will help drive more conservation efforts to protect these unique birds, such as this study of the St Lucia Thrasher.
Let’s take a closer look at these birds:
The St. Lucia Thrasher is the larger of the two. It has darker brown overall plumage, darker black lores and ear coverts, and brighter white underparts. The markings on its flanks are more neatly organized, and it lacks the scalloping on the wing coverts seen in its Martinique counterpart. Interestingly, the St. Lucia Thrasher also tends to build its nests much lower in the vegetation.
The St Lucia Thrasher has dark brown plumage overall and white underparts. (Photo by Blake Matheson ML214222511)
The Martinique Thrasher, by contrast, is smaller, with grayer plumage and muddier white underparts. Its flank markings are more irregular, and it has scalloping on the wing coverts. Both species also have distinct calls, which further supports their classification as separate species.
The Martinique Thrasher has gray brown plumage overall and muddy white underparts. (Photo by Pam Rasmussen ML 619242216)
Listen to the differences between the calls of the Martinique Thrasher and St. Lucia Thrasher.
Shearing of a Shearwater
And finally, seabird aficionados rejoice — Cory’s Shearwater has been split! This wide-ranging seabird is now recognized as two distinct species: one breeding in the Mediterranean, and the other on islands in the East Atlantic. For those worried about having even more bird names to remember, rest assured — the species observed in the Caribbean will still be known as Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis), while the Mediterranean breeders have been reclassified as Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea). Both species have been recorded in the West Indies, so keep an eye out and try to photograph any Cory’s-type shearwaters you see (especially the underwing — Cory’s has less white in the underwing)!
Cory’s Shearwater feeding on fish in open water off the coast of Bermuda. (Photo by Richard Brewer ML620511968)
Scopoli’s Shearwater soaring at sea. (Photo by Brian Sullivan ML104100491)
Note that while this reclassification is exciting for our region, the shearwater’s range is not limited to the West Indies — so this does not add to our endemic checklist.
New Species Highlight the Need for More Research and Conservation
We’re thrilled to welcome these new endemics to the Caribbean! These new species underscore the ongoing potential for further bird research in the region. With new species being identified every year, it’s clear there is still much to learn about the incredible birdlife right here in our backyards, parks, forests, wetlands, and coastal habitats. It’s also imperative that we take care of these unique birds by reducing the threats they face. It’s up to all of us to protect their habitats to ensure they thrive long into the future, for the benefit and enjoyment of all.
So — did these recent splits add any new species to your life list? Or have they just given you six more reasons to start planning your next Caribbean birding adventure?
Ready, set—BIRD! It’s time to flock together for the season’s biggest day of birding!
A male Magnolia Warbler in breeding plumage, with his bright yellow underparts and heavy black streaking, forming a necklace band on its upper breast.
Get ready for a spectacular October Big Day! This annual event, falling on Saturday, October 12, 2024, coincides with World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) and is a thrilling celebration of our feathered friends and the vibrant birding community.
At BirdsCaribbean, we eagerly anticipate October Big Day. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to unite with fellow bird lovers to share in the joy of birdwatching and the beauty of Caribbean wetlands, forests, botanical gardens, and neighborhoods. This is our chance to celebrate our passion for birds, support science, and strengthen our conservation efforts. Whether you’re enjoying a quiet morning from your balcony or heading to a prime birding hotspot with your birding crew, October 12 is your moment to puff out your chest and rack up those eBird checklists!
And there’s more! Global Bird Weekend runs from October 11 to 13, offering even more opportunities to engage and possibly set new world records. Last year, we saw record-breaking participation during Global Bird Weekend—36,332 people from 191 countries submitted 83,735 checklists with eBird, and we’re aiming to surpass that achievement this year. Let’s make birdwatching history together!
Where are the birds, and what are they doing?
Dive into the excitement—track the birds, observe their behaviors, and discover their favorite spots. Early mornings are perfect for spotting warblers, while raptors soar as the day heats up. Seagulls and shorebirds are ever-present, and you might catch tanagers and bullfinches at their most active.
Make your birding count—submit & share your data!
Participating is easy with the essential tool, eBird, where you should record all the birds you see (and even hear) on Saturday 14th October via the eBird website or mobile app. If you’re in the Caribbean, be sure to choose the eBird Caribbean portal in your eBird app settings on mobile. If you do not already have one, it’s easy to sign up for a free eBird account—here’s a quick guide on how to use eBird.
Birders should aim to spot as many birds as they can from midnight to midnight in their local time zone on October 12; or bird anytime during the weekend of October 11-13 for the Global Bird Weekend. The handy mobile app allows you to keep and submit lists while you’re still out birding, perhaps exploring nearby hotspots. It will even track how far you have walked while watching birds. Remember to submit eBird checklists before October 15, 2024 to be included in the initial results announcement!
Make connections: Birdwatching can be a peaceful solo activity, like a serene stroll through the forest punctuated by bird sightings. But it’s also a fantastic social experience, and there’s so much to learn from fellow birders. They can help with spotting and identifying birds. Connect with your local environmental or birding club—there’s a good chance someone is organizing a birding event for October Big Day on your island, and they’d be thrilled to have you join in!
Don’t wing it: Make a to-pack list and use a backpack. Remember to pack your field guide, stylish and functional BC buff, medicine, water, and food too! If you’re birding in an unfamiliar place, make a trip plan. Be sure to consider where you might park your car, the amount of time you plan to spend birdwatching, how far you want to walk, and tell your friends and family about your plans and where you will be.
Embrace being a beginner birder: If you’re a newbie don’t let anxiety keep you from discovering the wonderful world of birds. Birding groups love it when new members join their flock; they will share their scopes and field guides and work with you to identify the birds you see. They’ll even help you navigate the eBird app and submit your very first eBird checklist!
Find your flock! Birding in a group can be rewarding and fun. (Photo by Edward Hernandez Lara)
Show off your bird sightings and let us in on the birding blast!
Don’t forget to share your birding stories and photos with us on social media. Follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram @birdscaribbean and tag us in your posts. If social media isn’t your thing, join our discussion group with over 950 members to share your October Big Day experiences.
May we remind you that BirdsCaribbean membership has so many benefits; you will receive discounts on our products, workshops, and conferences; meet and network with fellow birders, scientists, educators and conservationists across the region; and keep in touch with birding trends and news through our monthly newsletters (free sign-up here). Join us today to help protect Caribbean birds and their habitats!
Let’s make October Big Day 2024 unforgettable. Have a blast, remember to stay hydrated, and tag @BirdsCaribbean in all your birding adventures. We can’t wait to see the incredible migratory birds that have arrived in the Caribbean!
Jennifer Wheeler weaves through the buzzing crowd at theDominican Fiesta Hotel’s Convention Centre, raises the BC conch shell to her lips, and blows with all her might. The booming sound of the conch fills the air, instantly silencing conversations and commanding everyone’s attention. This spirited signal marks the official start of the BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference—five exhilarating days of non-stop science, birding, and forging lasting conservation connections! Here we dive into the standout moments that made the conference truly unforgettable.
The BirdsCaribbean conch shell. (Photo by Martin Rodriguez)
Conservation thrives on the strength of community. This belief in the power of community is why every two years, BirdsCaribbean joins forces with our partners to host our International Conference—a transformative event where collaboration and learning drive real, impactful change. Conservationists from all walks of life come together on a beautiful Caribbean island, united by a shared passion: protecting the incredible birds that define our region.
This year’s conference, held at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in partnership with local NGO Grupo Jaragua, invigorated this mission. Centered on the theme “From Mangroves to Mountains: Safeguarding Our Avian Treasures,” the conference brought together a diverse group of conservationists—including representatives from international and regional higher education institutions, research centers, government agencies, NGOs, the ecotourism industry, and the media. The event provided the platform for delegates to share their knowledge, ideas, science, and resources—strengthening the conservation community and re-energizing the fight to save our precious Caribbean birds.
Spanning five exciting days, the conference featured expert-led presentations, roundtable discussions, training sessions, networking opportunities, fundraising initiatives, and birding trips to observe Hispaniola’s diverse bird species, including its unique endemics.
United for Birds: A Community-Driven Mission
The conference began on July 18th with opening remarks by Sixto J. Incháustegui, President of Grupo Jaragua, who emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to protect nature and wildlife. “Participation must come from all sectors of society to conserve biodiversity,” he stated.Frederico Franco, Vice Minister of Protected Areas at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, echoed this sentiment, stressing the need to work together to ensure a sustainable environment for our birds. He highlighted the significance of conferences like the BirdsCaribbean, noting that “they play a crucial role in sharing scientific knowledge and promoting sustainability as a national culture.”
Sixto J. Incháustegui, President of Grupo Jaragua. (Photo by Martin Rodriguez)
Frederico Franco, Vice Minister of Protected Areas at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
BirdsCaribbean President Adrianne Tossas and Executive Director Lisa Sorenson warmly welcomed the record-breaking 338 delegates from 32 countries and islands. “I am elated to see so many young people here,” Sorenson remarked, “Your interest in birds and environmental stewardship bodes well for the long-term conservation of our biodiversity, which is vital to our health and well-being.”
Keynotes that Ignite: Wisdom, Vision, and Passion for Birds
Each morning, delegates gathered to hear phenomenal keynote speakersshowcase the diversity of thought, culture, knowledge, and work within our community. On the first day, Dr. Yolanda León, a Dominican biologist and immediate past president of Grupo Jaragua, emphasized the importance of effective conservation action for birds and habitats. She honored Simón Guerrero, a beloved member of BirdsCaribbean and Dominican conservation stalwart who passed away earlier this year, by posing the question he always asked: “Does the species know?” She underscored the significance of ensuring species know we are working to protect them and their habitats, as reflected in populations thriving in healthy ecosystems.
Dr. Yolanda León, a Dominican biologist and immediate past president of Grupo Jaragua, addresses the delegates during the opening ceremony.
Yolanda answers the question “Does the species know?” during her talk.
David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, captivated the audience with his keynote address “Conservation at Your Doorstep.” He inspired delegates with his passion for learning about birds in urban spaces and his dedication to encouraging city dwellers to connect with their environment. His speech was a captivating blend of humor, insight, and inspiration, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees.
David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder.
Delegates listening to David’s inspirational talk.
Chris Rimmer shared insights from 30 years of research in his talk “Bicknell’s Thrush: Conserving a Vulnerable Songbird in the Caribbean and Across the Hemisphere”. He outlined the necessary conservation actions to safeguard this migratory songbird in the Dominican Republic and Greater Antilles. Dr Steve Latta, in his talk “The Synergies of Advancing Conservation: Using Field Research and Avian Monitoring to Build Capacity and Conservation Awareness” emphasized that conservation research should also facilitate field training and capacity building, raise awareness, and demonstrate the interdependence of healthy communities and healthy ecosystems.
Chris Rimmer, Emeritus Executive Director of Vermont Center for Ecostudies, speaks to delegates about conservation priorities for the Bicknell’s Thrush.
Dr Steve Latta speaks to the crowd of delegates about creating nurturing relationships, and advancing conservation through training opportunities and awareness raising campaigns.
Other keynote presentations reinforced delegates’ belief in their ability to achieve their own bird conservation goals and become successful conservation leaders. Award-winning Antiguan conservationist Shanna Challenger delivered an inspiring, instructive talk “From Passion to Purpose: The Journey of a Caribbean Wildlife Conservationist.” She shared how the knowledge and skills acquired from various projects, trainings, partnerships, and mentorships transformed her approach to conservation and helped her to achieve remarkable successes, including the restoration of Redonda through the Rewilding Redonda project.
Shanna Challenger retelling the hard work it took for her team to restore Redonda Island.
Eric Carey reflected on his 20-year tenure as Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust, during which he significantly expanded the organization from a 10-person staff to 90, and developed a 32-park system covering 2.2 million acres, a substantial increase from the initial handful of national parks. In his presentation, “20 Years Protecting Habitat and Species through the Stewardship of Conservation Opportunities in The Bahamas—Success Stories and Lessons Learned,” Carey highlighted the challenges and triumphs of conservation in The Bahamas, and how he and his team overcame obstacles to protect habitats and wildlife while gaining the support of local Bahamians.
Keynote speaker Eric Carey. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Finally, Dr. Terry Root addressed the pressing issue of climate change in her presentation, “Climate Change Impacts in the Caribbean.”Shedetailed the sobering realities of the ecological consequences for birds and emphasized the role of science in developing effective mitigation policies. Dr. Root concluded with a hopeful message, urging attendees to come together, take action, and pressure governments to shift the societal approach to combating climate change, much like the successful campaigns to reduce smoking.
Dr Terry Root addresses climate change and discusses the social marketing approach needed to combat it.
A good conference day starts with birdwatching
Each day of the conference, many of our delegates were up before dawn, eager to connect with nature and discover the incredible birdlife at the Jardín Botánico Nacional (Dr. Rafael María Moscoso Botanic Garden). Guided walks through the 400-acre nature preserve were led by members of Grupo Jaragua and Grupo Acción Ecológica. The Garden, known for its extensive variety of native trees, palm species, over 300 types of orchids, and diverse bird species, provided an ideal setting for these early morning explorations.
Group of early morning birding delegates at the National Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo. (Photo by Stefan Gleissberg)
Birders in action! (Photo by Bryan Naqqi Manco)
During the 2-3 hour walks, delegates explored wooded areas, stream-side habitats, and open palm savannas, offering excellent birdwatching opportunities, including the chance to spot endemic species. Participants were thrilled to observe endemic “lifers” like the Vervain Hummingbird, Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Black-crowned Palm-Tanager, and Yellow-faced Grassquit, all commonly found in the garden. Some were also fortunate enough to spot elusive species like the Limpkin, as well as threatened birds such as the West Indian Whistling-Duck and Hispaniolan Parakeet. Observing these birds in the tranquil garden setting was a refreshing way to start the day before diving into the conference’s stimulating presentations and discussions!
Water lilies at the garden. (Photo by Aaliyah Cunningham)
West Indian Whistling-Duck. (Photo by Rondell Smith)
The national bird of the Dominican Republic, the Palmchat. (Photo by Rondel Smith).
Collaborative Learning and Dialogue for Conservation Success
338 delegates from 31 countries gathered for workshops, presentations, discussions and to connect with fellow Caribbean conservationists.
Workshops
This year’s conference featured a wide range of workshops tailored to the diverse bird conservation and research needs of our delegates. In the “Adaptive Project Management using Conservation Standards” workshop, participants enhanced their project management and implementation skills. The “Introduction to Data Analysis using R” workshop provided essential training on cleaning and analyzing data effectively for publications and reports. “Motus in the Caribbean” focused on the regional use of the Motus wildlife tracking system, offering critical guidance on designing, installing, and maintaining functional and robust Motus receiver stations, as well as planning collaborative projects. Additionally, “Navigating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Ornithology” addressed the cultural differences across Caribbean islands and emphasized the importance of ensuring that all stakeholders feel respected, accepted, and recognized for their contributions to bird conservation.
Jody Daniel (Gaea Conservation Network) explains to participants how to code and analyse their data using R.
Participants discuss threats and solutions among themselves during the Adaptive Management breakout sessions.
Todd Alleger speaks about the utility of Motus tracking stations in the Caribbean.
Participants engaged in interactive learning activities led by Marta Curti and Gabriela Diaz, utilizing “Environmental Education Guide: Raptors of the Caribbean” from The Peregrine Fund. These activities aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the vital role of raptors in their ecosystems while enhancing their ability to educate others about birds of prey using the guide’s materials and strategies. Mark Yokoyama and Jennifer Yerkes of Les Fruits de Mer led a creative workshop titled “Make Your Own Coloring Activity Book,” which received high praise from participants for its innovative approach to teaching children about the natural world.
Dominican delegates with their raptor made with recyclable materials.
Jennifer Yerkes (Les Fruits de Mer) shares how the workbook ‘Booktastic’ will be used as an ideation and planning tool during the workshop.
Damany Calder reads the guidelines given in the ‘Booktastic’ workbook.
Mark Yokoyama (Les Fruits de Mer) shares insightful tips for creating engaging educational materials.
The “Connecting Birds and People: Environmental Interpretation as a Key Tool in Bird Conservation and Appreciation,” workshop highlighted the importance of interpretation in fostering bird conservation awareness among the general public. In “How to Publish Your Research and Conservation Reports with the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology,” participants received valuable insights into effective publication practices.
The workshop “Protect Insects, Protect Birds: Educational Tools to Celebrate WMBD,” presented by Environment for the Americas, addressed the current threats facing migratory birds and insects and the actions needed to slow their decline. Participants also learned how to organize and execute a successful bird festival. Finally, “Conservation Photography for Biologists, Artists, and Stakeholders” presented by Jerry Bauer, USFS International Programs, equipped attendees with skills to enhance their visual communication and inspire conservation action.
During the conference, we took the opportunity to assess BirdsCaribbean’s capacity-building initiatives and identify future priorities. Participants were asked to provide feedback via an online survey on how resources, training, equipment, and grants from BirdsCaribbean have helped them achieve their conservation goals. The conference also featured a collaborative session where participants worked together to create a comprehensive theory of change, or results tree. This involved identifying necessary intermediate results, specific actions, and SMART indicators to measure the impact of those actions. The group then reviewed and validated the problem tree and engaged in a hands-on activity to further develop the results tree by identifying specific actions, indicators, and implementers.
Christel Mohammed, BirdsCaribbean Communications Manager, and workshop facilitator, Jim Goetz.
Participants break into groups for the problem identification exercise.
Jethro van’t Hul shares the problems he faces as a conservationist working in the Caribbean.
Shanna Challenger adds a problem to her group’s results tree.
Problem tree being analysed and turned into a results tree by participants.
Group of participants discussing capacity building opportunities in the Caribbean.
Symposia
As is customary at each BirdsCaribbean conference, local ornithological work was highlighted during the first symposium, ‘Hispaniola Day.’ Rosanna Guzmán-Pérez from the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales shared findings from her study on plant-frugivore mutualism in the Casabito cloud forest at the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, identifying the Hispaniolan Spindalis as one of the main seed dispersers in the forest. Pedro Genero Rodríguez from the Asociación Dominicana Fotógrafos de la Naturaleza discussed the critical role of Reserva Privada el Zorzal as a refuge for both rare migratory birds with specific habitat requirements and common bird species.
Pedro Genero Rodriguez, Dominican photographer, speaks to delegates about the use of wildlife photography in conservation.
Male Hispaniolan Spindalis feeding on berries. (Photo by Jose Miguel Pantaleon)
Andrea Thomen answers a question from a delegate on the domestic parrot trade in the Dominican Republic, during the Hispaniola Day symposium.
Hispaniolan Parrot eating. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi, Executive Director of Haiti National Trust, speaks about ecosystem restoration in Haiti, during the Hispaniola Day symposium.
Jennifer Wheeler presented “Mountain Top Strongholds: The Story of Haiti’s Black-capped Petrel” on behalf of Haitian researchers who could not attend. Delegates were deeply moved by a short film, The Diablotin Festival, which tells the heartwarming story of how the community of Boukan Chat, alongside a team of conservationists, humanitarians, and storytellers, has united to protect the endangered Black-capped Petrel.
Other pivotal symposia addressed key issues in Caribbean bird conservation. “Conserving Caribbean Threatened and Endemic Birds” focused on the impacts of natural threats like hurricanes and the illegal bird trade on island endemics and discussed strategies for protecting the region’s unique avifauna. “Ecology of Migrants and Importance of Stopover Sites in the Caribbean” highlighted crucial research on migratory patterns of Near Threatened species like the Kirtland’s Warbler, and the role of stopover habitats which are often targeted for development on islands.
The “Waterbirds, Wetlands, and CWC” symposium examined the interconnections between waterbirds and wetland ecosystems, the severe threats they face, and the outreach, advocacy, and actions needed to protect these critical habitats. “On the Ground Bird and Habitat Conservation: New Approaches, Success Stories and Lessons Learned” shared practical conservation methods and outcomes aimed at strengthening the management of green spaces including protected areas and urban parks like botanical gardens in the Caribbean for birds and other wildlife.
Simon Busutill shares the triumphs and challenges of protecting a nature reserve in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Grenada Dove. With fewer than 190 individuals left in the wild, we must act NOW to secure its survival. (Photo by Greg Homel)
Lourdes Mugica, co-author of the field guide “Birds of the National Botanical Garden of Cuba.”
Caribbean conservationists are also leading social transformation through art, social media, and environmental education to gain support for protecting our feathered friends. In the symposium “Outreach and Education: Raising Awareness and Engaging Diverse Audiences,” they shared what strategies have been successful (and what hasn’t) in involving local communities and stakeholders in bird conservation efforts.
Discussions on “Habitat Restoration and Best Management Practices” provided insights into effective restoration techniques, while talks from “Landbird and Endemic Monitoring– Challenges, Solutions, Needs, and Results” addressed various monitoring methods, results from current projects, and the emerging issues and challenges encountered at different stages of a monitoring project.
Miguel Landestoy shares the findings from his study on the distribution of the Bay-breasted Cuckoo in the Dominican Republic.
Bay-breasted Cuckoo. (Photo by Carlos Pedro, Macaulay Library- ML393609811)
Dr Mark Hulme, reports on the behaviour of the range restricted Trinidad Piping-Guan and pressures affecting the population.
The large turkey-like Trinidad Piping-Guan is only found in Trinidad’s mountainous Northern Range. (Photo by Wendell SJ Reyes (ML66246621))
Demonica Brown, of The Bahamas National Trust, explains how bird monitoring is carried out at the Lucayan National Park.
Mangroves at Lucayan National Park. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Claudia Mantilla shares the findings from her Oriente Warbler research in Cuba.
Oriente Warbler. (Photo by Ian Burgess, Macaulay Library- ML558957951)
Finally, the symposia “From Mountains to Mangroves…and the Sea: Challenges and Opportunities for Caribbean Seabird Conservation, Research, and Monitoring” and “Invasive Alien Species From Mangroves to Mountains” tackled the multifaceted challenges of seabird conservation across the region, especially those faced by researchers and citizen scientists during the 2023-24 Caribbean Seabird Census, and the impact of invasive species on Caribbean bird populations and ecosystems.
The abstracts for the BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference can be viewed by session here.
Roundtables
The Caribbean Motus Collaboration’s “Let’s Talk Motus!” roundtable brought together Motus leaders from across the Caribbean and beyond to discuss their experiences using and managing Motus as a whole, from building and maintaining receiver stations, to deploying transmitter tags on birds, all with the goal of advancing partners’ Motus efforts and facilitating potential collaborations.
Maya Wilson, BC’s Landbird Monitoring Program Manager, provides an update on new Motus stations in the Caribbean.
Motus audience listens attentiviely.
“Advancing Bird Conservation and the 30×30 Initiative through new Caribbean subnational Protected Areas” introduced the Conserva Aves initiative to the Caribbean bird conservation and ornithological communities. Delegates discussed the potential, opportunities, challenges, and geographic priorities for the implementation of a Caribbean-wide initiative that would preserve essential habitat for birds and biodiversity over the next 5-6 years by catalyzing local leadership in the creation and sustainable management of new local protected areas. Teams worked together to develop recommendations for the expansion of the Conserva Aves initiative to the unique context of the Caribbean.
Sebastion Herzog leads a discussion on advancing bird conservation and the 30×30 initiative through new subnational protected areas in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Bird Banding Program’s roundtable discussion explored “Landbird Monitoring in the Caribbean”. Participants discussed ideas to continue developing the Caribbean Bird Banding Network by investigating the needs of bird banders in the Caribbean.
Working Group Meetings
Caribbean Parrots
The BirdsCaribbean Parrots Working Group meeting was attended by 10 members from the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. Andrea Thomen chaired the meeting. Members reached a consensus that more effort should be directed towards fostering collaboration and sharing information among parrot biologists in the region. Additionally, members requested the creation of an online library for parrot research papers, technical reports, articles, and books.
Bird Educators Working Group
Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival Coordinators Aliya Hosein and Eduardo Llegus, along with World Migratory Bird Coordinators Laura Baboolal and Miguel Matta, presented our bird educators with a fantastic set of CEBF and WMBD branded materials for their bird conservation outreach activities. The materials included t-shirts, bookmarks, buttons, bird masks, bird bands, and stickers. The stickers feature the artwork of Arnaldo Toledo and Anna Rose, showcasing a variety of Caribbean birds, including endemics, residents, waterbirds, shorebirds, migrants, and the seven selected migratory species for WMBD 2024.
Miguel, Aliya, Laura, and Eduardo with CEBF and WMBD materials for Caribbean coordinators and educators.
Organizations and educators were honored for their exceptional efforts in celebrating CEBF and WMBD over the past two years, consistently organizing creative and enjoyable activities for youth and local communities, and submitting their reports and photos.
We asked our delegates to Sing Like A Bird!
Our delegates have dedicated countless hours to studying our beloved Caribbean birds. They’ve uncovered critical nesting and feeding sites, as well as behaviors that enable these incredible birds to survive and thrive in the wild. But wait, can they sing like a bird? Hit play on the videos below to find out! It’s going to be amazing!
Exquisite artwork, rare first-edition books signed by the authors, heirloom-quality jewelry, premium Caribbean chocolates and rum, apparel that allows you to wear your love for nature and birds, and so much more, the Silent Auction always draws in a lively crowd at our conferences. Mix these irresistible auction items with highly competitive personalities and you’ve got a recipe for fundraising success!
Ancilleno explaining the rules of the auction.
A delegate places her bid during the coffee break.
Auctioneers Ancilleno and Andrew stirred the crowd into a bidding frenzy!
Caribbean ornithological books for auction.
A massive thank you to our generous delegates who donated handmade auction items from their home countries, and to our enthusiastic bidders who helped us raise US$4,700 for Caribbean bird conservation.
“It’s about this big.” Delegates browse the selection of items for auction.
“Hmm, how do I out-bid my competition?”
Stunning bird inspired jewelry were hotly contested at the aution!
Delegates try to decide which items they should place bids for.
A huge round of applause goes to Jennifer Wheeler, Linda Fuller and Natasha Atkins, for organizing the auction and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to collect, categorize, and display the items, as well as our auctioneers Andrew Dobson and Dr Ancilleno Davis for keeping up the excitement and energy. Their hard work made this event a huge success, and we couldn’t be more grateful!
In search of Hispaniola’s beautiful birds
From mangroves to mountains, birding adventures were not in short supply in the Dominican Republic. Delegates explored vast mountain landscapes, enchanted forests, calm rivers, lagoons, and even rolling sand dunes, all in search of the country’s phenomenal endemic birds. Conference field trips to Sierra de Bahoruco, Reserva Privada Zorzal, Los Haitises and Cotubanamá, Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, Cayo Arena, Punta Cana and Cordillera Central were led by local tour companies: Explora Ecotours, La Cua Birding Tours, Ova Trails, and independent guide Holly Garrod.
Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve.
Delegates birding at Ebano Verde.
A Hispaniolan Trogon perched quietly at Ebano Verde.
Andrew Dobson takes a photo of the Hispaniolan Trogon.
Some of our delegates are eagerly working on blogs about their incredible conference field trips. Stay tuned for their firsthand experiences!
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the overwhelming success of this conference! Working alongside our co-host and local partner, Grupo Jaragua, was a true pleasure. We must express our deepest appreciation to all the conference sponsors and donors, including The Rufford Foundation, Audubon, US Forest Service, Teleuniverso, American Bird Conservancy, Banco Popular, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Fondo Nacional para el Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Fondo MARENA) Dominican Republic, Naturalist Journeys, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Mass Audubon, Cúa Conservation Agency, Vortex Optics, Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, and the FUPAROCA Foundation. Your generous support was instrumental in making this conference a resounding success!
We are truly thankful to everyone who provided funding and donated to help us provide travel scholarships to 93 Caribbean wildlife professionals and students, including those who participated in and donated to our 2024 Global Big Day fundraising event in May.
The conference provided an invaluable platform for Caribbean conservationists to connect with and learn from a diverse array of international and regional professionals, thereby enhancing their professional visibility and honing their skills. The exchange of ideas and perspectives has equipped them with fresh insights and innovative strategies to drive bird conservation efforts in the Caribbean.
We also thank American naturalist and painter Alex Warnick for making her stunning artwork available for us to use for the conference. Her gorgeous work adorned our conference t-shirt and buff, and was used across our merch and promotional material.
Special shoutout to our delegates who volunteered with conference related activities like taking photos, assisting with sales at the merch table, and being rapporteurs. A special thank you goes to Egido Sanz, Juan Carlos (JC) Hernández Ordoñez and Mario Merrero. We appreciate your willingness to give your time and talents!
Mario takes a break from conference tasks to have his photo taken in front of the wingspan banner.
JC helps a delegate from St Vincent and the Grenadines with registration at the conference.
Egido helped with many conference tasks, and here she is helping delegates register for the conference.
We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in collaboration with our sponsors, donors, and delegates and eagerly anticipate the next conference!
Relive the fun moments through the #BirdsCaribDR24 Photo Gallery
This year, we went paperless for the conference program and used the Whova app!
Alieny and Matthew at the cocktail reception.
Howard gave us his best smile, while Ellie an Stefan continue chatting.
Alondra next to her poster on the use of social media to raise bird conservation awareness.
Dominican dancers in traditional dress at the opening reception.
Arnaldo and Lillian at the BC Merch table.
Audience at the Caribbean Birding Trail symposium
The Diablotín Team. (Photo by Yolanda Leon)
Caribbean Birding Trail symposium speakers: Dave, Holly, David, Ivan, and Manny, with Lisa.
Chocolate and honey for sale at the conference.
JC at the BC Merch table.
Laughs over cocktails at the opening reception.
Chit chat during the coffee break.
Damany and Jeanelle with their Spirit Mountain coffee.
Daniela, Maya, Todd, and Saul at the poster session.
Daveka and Giselle selling t-shirts at the BC Merch table.
Ellie and Sue at the opening reception.
Traditional Dominican dancers at the opening reception.
Geronimo and Elvin at the poster session.
Hand-knitted Black-capped Petrel chick by Jennifer Wheeler.
Hispaniolan birds in a row.
More honey for sale at the conference.
Birdlife Jamaica representatives having fun with our selfie board and Hispaniolan Parrot prop.
Laura and Todd enjoying the local Dominican music at the opening reception.
Joshua and Steve at the opening reception.
Kah Kow chocolates on display at the conference.
Lisa Sorenson with some of our Caribbean delegates.
Mark wins the bid! (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Matthew at the poster session.
Puerto Rico en la casa! (Photo by Christina Rodriguez)
PROALAS Girls at the closing gala. (Photo by Gail Woon)
Shanna and Devon catching up during the coffee break.
First time BC Conference attendee Soraya proudly stands next to her poster.
A coffee lover’s dream come true!
St Martin and Anguilla delegates at the opening reception.
Representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory at the poster session.
For more memorable moments captured at the conference, by our delegates, check out our photo album on Google Photos!
Whether you’re passionate about landscapes, birds, or wildlife in general—our photo contest is your chance to gain recognition and inspire others to protect Caribbean biodiversity. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to win incredible prizes. See below for more details.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce our 5th Digital Photography Contest at the BC Conference in the Dominican Republic—we invite you to participate!
BirdsCaribbean se complace en anunciar que celebraremos nuestro 5º Concurso Anual de Fotografía Digital en la Conferencia de República Dominicana – ¡Te invitamos a participar!
BirdsCaribbean est heureux d’annoncer son cinquième Concours Annuel de Photographie Numérique à la conférence BC en République dominicaine et vous invite à y participer !
The Vortex Viper HD spotting scope is a high-end scope with incredible optical performance bringing even the finest distant details in for a closer look. It is built to withstand rugged terrain and harsh weather.
Adjusting a spotting scope for participants during a Bird Guide Training workshop in Turks and Caicos. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Students learn to use binoculars and a spotting scope to look at birds at Hope Gardens, Jamaica.(photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)
Participants learned about spotting scope set up and management – especially when dealing with the needs of a large group!
In addition to the Grand Prize, the following prizes will be awarded in each category:
First Place: $100 Amazon Gift card
Second Place: $50 Amazon Gift card
Third Place: $25 Amazon Gift card
Photos must be taken during the time of the conference, including the pre- and post-conference field trips and workshops, in the Dominican Republic between the 15th and 25th of July 2024. Photos can be submitted online starting July 16. (See the full contest rules and submission details below)
The deadline for submitting entries is 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, August 25th, 2024.
Winners will be announced by Thursday September 12th, 2024.
The BirdsCaribbean 2024 Photography Contest is open to ALLphotographers (aged 18 and over), except board members of BirdsCaribbean and the judges of this contest and their immediate families. The contest is open to all participants of the conference regardless of residence or citizenship, so long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation. Review the rules for entering below.
Contest Categories
Our Conference Photography Competition is all about showcasing the beauty of Caribbean birds, ecosystems, and people. That’s why we have included a variety of submission categories that provide a wide range of opportunities to capture rare endemic species and vibrant habitats. We are also excited to see passionate individuals dedicated to preserving our unique biodiversity. Our ultimate goal is to find compelling digital photos that embody our 2024 theme, From Mountains to Mangroves: Safeguarding Our Avian Treasures.
Here are the photo contest categories that you can enter:
“THE ENDEMICS”: Hispaniolan and regional (West Indies) endemic birds found in the Dominican Republic
“FUN WITH BIRDS AND PEOPLE”: Fun with birds, nature, and human interaction* (including photographs of people during conference activities, people experiencing and enjoying nature)
“BIRDS AND NATURE”: Natural habitats and landscapes in the Dominican Republic, including close-up photography, and birds that are not endemic to Hispaniola
Please do not include photographs of pets or domestic animals, nor images of captive animals.
*If you choose to include people in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary (verbal) releases from the individuals depicted. Entrants must not submit images that involve human nudity, or the willful harassment of wildlife.
All photos must be submitted via the photo-sharing site Flickr. Here’s how:
Log on: To submit your photos via Flickr, use your Yahoo! ID, Google, or Facebook account to login to http://www.flickr.com. If you do not have an account, you can sign-up for FREE.
Join the BirdsCaribbean Flickr group: go to the home page for the group and click the button that says “+ Join Group”
Upload your images: Click “Upload” in the top near the search bar and upload your entries.
VERY IMPORTANT – Tag your photos: Browse to the image you wish to submit for the contest and add tags (there is a tags section below the image in the right column). Please add the following tags: BCPhotoContest2024, and the category you are entering (Endemics, FunwithBirdsandPeople OR BirdsandNature), so each photo should have two tags total. Type the tags exactly as you see them here (or copy and paste). Please include your name, the location where the photo was taken, and the subject or title of the photo. Adding a descriptive caption in the title or comments about your photo is also helpful also!
Submit the image: Use the “Send to Group” function above the image to add your photograph to the BirdsCaribbean group.
The deadline for submitting entries is 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday August 25th, 2024.
You can check to see that your photos are uploaded and properly tagged by making sure they are there when you type in the overall contest tag BCPhotoContest2024 in the search bar at the upper right. Check that they are in the proper category by typing in two tags for each category, for example:
BCPhotoContest2024 Endemics
BCPhotoContest2024 FunwithBirdsandPeople
BCPhotoContest2024 BirdsandNature
Rules, Eligibility, and Judging:
This competition is open to all registered participants (full time and part time) of the conference.
All submissions must have been taken during the time of the conference, including the pre- and post-conference field trips and travel between 15th and 25th July, 2024 inclusive.
To ensure eligibility for the contest all entries must have a resolution of 2MB or greater.
Color, black & white, and edited formats are accepted.
SIX entries are allowed per participant for EACH CATEGORY, thus you can submit as many as 18 photos total.
The welfare of the bird always takes priority. Please keep your distance and do not disturb birds!
No audio playback.
No flash or other artificial lights may be used.
Any still photography method is acceptable, including digiscoping, SLR, point-and-shoot, mobile phone, etc.
BirdsCaribbean reserves the right to adjust any deadline(s) as the result of causes beyond its immediate control.
Winning Photos and Prizes
First, second, and third prize winners will be selected in each category and there will be one grand prize winner. Photos will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. All decisions made by the judges are final.
The judges are a selected panel of birders, photographers and scientists. Winning photos will be featured online on the BirdsCaribbean website, social media and Flickr site.
Read the Fine Print—Rules, Terms, and Legal Conditions
By entering, participants agree to indemnify BIRDSCARIBBEAN and its representatives, from any and all third party liability for any injuries, loss, claim, action, demand or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the competition .
Each entrant in the Contest is responsible for ensuring that he or she has the right to submit the photos that he or she submits to the Contest per these rules.
BIRDSCARIBBEAN is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information.
BIRDSCARIBBEAN assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, of entries.
If, for any reason, the photo competition is not capable of completion as planned, BIRDSCARIBBEAN reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the photo competition.
By entering, participants agree for BIRDSCARIBBEAN to use all submitted images for their purpose online and in printed matter. The participants do retain the ownership of the photos submitted, and when used, all photographs will be credited to the photographer.
Questions and inquiries about contest rules or issues with submitting your photos can be emailed to Lisa Sorenson: Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org. You must read the following rules, terms, and legal conditions before submitting any photos!
Your photographs help BirdsCaribbean raise awareness of how important it is to protect the Caribbean’s amazing diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats. Thank you for helping to further our mission through your photography.
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing the best of Caribbean nature photography!
A look back at past winners
2022 Grand Prize Winner – Red-legged Thrush by Edward Hernández-Lara
Back in May 2019, BirdsCaribbean joined other guests to celebrate the opening of the lovely office of Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren), perched on the edge of Ashton Lagoon on Union Island in the Grenadines. It was a joyful occasion—the result of 13 years of planning and sheer hard work which transformed an old, abandoned, and failed marina development into a beautiful place for local residents to enjoy—as well as the birds and other wildlife nestling in its restored mangroves and lagoon waters. Read more here. On July 1, 2024, this brilliantly successful project was dealt a catastrophic blow by the major Hurricane Beryl, sweeping away the SusGren office building and most of Ashton Lagoon’s infrastructure, and causing widespread devastation.
Here SusGren’s Executive Director Orisha Joseph talks about her devotion to the project and her determination to “build back stronger.”
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
If you would like to assist, please donate at the link below, and help Ashton Lagoon, Union Island and its residents—both human and animal—get back on their feet! Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
I first visited Union Island as a young reporter in 2009, on a trip to the world famous Tobago Cays Marine Park. Instantly, I fell in love with this small beautiful island. Soon after, I was introduced to the non-governmental organization Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren).
Who knew that this introduction would lead me to migrate from Grenada to Union Island in 2012, where I began work as Administrative Officer with this amazing organization!
At SusGren, I used my communications skills to further reach audiences across the Transboundary Grenadines, in the region and further afield, sharing the impactful work we do in conservation, sustainable livelihoods, youth engagement and policy development.
Orisha Joseph speaking at the opening ceremony for the successfully restored Ashton Lagoon.
Fast forward to 2024. As Executive Director of SusGren, looking back at our journey, I wouldn’t change a thing—no regrets, at all!
However, on July 1st, 2024, Hurricane Beryl “changed everything.”
In 2019 we completed restoration work in the largest mangrove ecosystem on Union Island: the “Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project”. It was one of our flagship projects, to rehabilitate a failed marina area, which had caused significant ecological and socio-economic impacts with both long-term and short-term consequences for Union Island.
Twin suspension bridges over breached gaps in failed marina causeway in the Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Birdwatching tower in Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Ashton Lagoon trail. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Our achievements after restoration saw the construction of a two-storey office space and welcome centre, twin bridges at Ashton Lagoon to provide access—which became the main attraction on Union Island—restoration of red mangroves, construction of wildlife viewing towers, trails and interpretive signage, and a swale system for water exchange in the mangrove forest.
Sadly, since Hurricane Beryl visited us on that fateful day, we have lost everything.
Ashton Lagoon trail destroyed by Hurricane Beryl, the earliest hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
I was with one of my team members, her partner, my landlord, and 10-year-old grandson. As Hurricane Beryl displayed her strength, hurled broken glass at us, and lifted our roof, we held a mattress in front of us for protection. As the roof began to cave in, we realized we were not safe and needed to get to another house on the property.
Once I thought it was “safe,” I ran across the yard to the next house, then called for the others to do the same. We made it! We were alive! We are all together!
We stayed there until Hurricane Beryl decided she had done enough, and it was calm enough to go outside. I looked around in total shock, I could not believe this was the second time I am experiencing a devastating hurricane—my first being Hurricane Ivan, which destroyed Grenada in 2004. I cried….
Hurricane Beryl damaged or destroyed more than 90% of homes on Union Island. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
My mind went to my two other team members. Were they OK? Were their families OK? Was the office OK? Was the bridge OK? What about other infrastructure? My heart sank as I started to walk through the island, witnessing the utter devastation, people with bewildered looks on their faces, homes destroyed.
SusGren employee Kisha McFarlen and other residents of Union Island survey the damage around them. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Then it all sank in, as I got to the office. It was completely gone, except for the stairs and two walls on the first floor. The mangrove was littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. Birds were just hanging around and fiddler crabs were trying to find shelter.
The charming SusGren office before it was destroyed by Hurricane Beryl. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Ashton Lagoon mangrove littered with littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Despite the devastation, there was an overwhelming sense of relief. We had survived. Hurricane Beryl tested our resilience and reminded us of the power of Mother Nature.
But more importantly, Hurricane Beryl showed us the strength of our community and the unyielding spirit of Union Island. In the face of such adversity, we discovered that together, we could weather any storm.
As we pick up the pieces from here, to build back better and stronger, we welcome your support! If you are able to help, please go to our fundraising page here. Any gift, no matter how small, will be gratefully received!
Global Big Day 2024 was an electrifying celebration of birding, fundraising, and phenomenal photography! We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who participated and shared their incredible photos with us. We are thrilled to announce the winners of our annual Global Big Day Photography Awards. This year’s photos beautifully capture the splendor of Caribbean birds and the unifying spirit of our community.
If you missed our Global Big Day 2024 report—click hereto catch up on the teams’ performances and find out who the new reigning champ is!
When great people, birds, and art converge, extraordinary achievements are within reach! A massive thank you to everyone, especially our exceptional team leaders and generous donors, for propelling Global Big Day 2024 to unparalleled success. With a record-breaking 29 teams participating, we soared past our $25,000 fundraising goal to support Caribbean nationals attending our 24th International Conference this July—absolutely amazing! We’re stretching our ambitions and raising our goal to $30,000 to support as many dedicated Caribbean conservationists as possible! If you’d like to contribute to these travel scholarships, please visit: https://givebutter.com/BCGBD2024
Photography Award Winners 2024
We especially congratulate this year’s First Place Best Bird Photo winner, Northern Mockingbird by Jose Alberto (Cuba).
The Second Place Best Bird Photo goes to Rufescent Tiger-Heron by Jerome Foster (Trinidad and Tobago).
The Third Place Best Bird Photo goes to White-cheeked Pintail by Rondel Smith (British Virgin Islands).
The photos we received were outstanding and we couldn’t not share more stunning photos from the competition. Along with the winning photos, the judges selected the three honorable mentions below.
Puerto Rican Tody. (Photo by Edgardo-Cruz)
Semipalmated Plover, St Lucy, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Snowy Plover, Anegada, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
Photographers from almost every team and corner of the world are recognized for their stunning photos in the following categories.
Best Endemic Bird
There were teams named after warblers, ducks, and even cuckoos. The Trinidad and Tobago team decided to mix it up a bit by adding a guan. But not just any guan—one that is endemic to the island and quite restricted in its range, the Trinidad Piping-Guan, locally known as the “Pawi.” Josh Bajnath, a member of the reigning GBD 2024 team—the Piping Pawis—submitted this photo of the Pawi and secured another victory for his team. We imagine that the moment Josh snapped this photo and exquisitely captured the rare and elusive Pawi must have felt like magic—his stunning shot certainly looks like it!
Trinidad Piping-Guan, locally known as the “Pawi”, Bajnath’s Estate, Trinidad. (Photo by Josh Bajnath)
Best Camouflage
Rondel Smith, a member of the BVI Birders team, didn’t just come to play; he came to hide, and he did so well, ultimately helping him to capture some amazing shots of birdlife in the British Virgin Islands.
Rondel Smith decked out in camo gear for GBD 2024.
A well hidden Killdeer. (Photo by Ancilleno Davis)Red Knots resting on Playa del Chivo, Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
When Watchers Become the Watched
Sometimes you do the bird watching, other times you’re being watched!
Click the arrows to scroll through the images.
Youngest Global Big Day-er 2024
We love to see when young people connect with the incredible bird communities in their home countries and we hope to see more young naturalists participating in next year’s GBD! Perhaps, we should add a ‘Junior Birderwatchers’ team to the competition next year?!
Marjel Morales Jr., member of Club de Observacion de Aves Holguin, in Mayabe, Cuba.
The Calming Effect
Science suggests that viewing pictures of nature and seascapes can induce relaxation. Take a look at the photos below and let us know if the science holds true.
St. James Farm. (Photo by Steve Constantelos)Freshwater Lake, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Sublime Silhouettes
Silhouettes are a beautiful way to play with light and add variety and drama to your photos.
Double-crested Cormorants, Tommy Thompson Park, Canada. (Photo by Nicole Gutierrez)
Worst Camouflage
This bird needs to figure out if it wants to be seen or not!
Killdeer, The Bahamas. (Photo by Ancilleno Davis)
Spectacular Shorebirds
Spotting these great travelers might be easy, but getting great photos of shorebirds is a real challenge! However the following photographers have captured their beauty almost effortlessly!
Killdeer, Bayamón, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward-Hernández Lara)Least Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers, Playa del Chivo, Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
Maritime Masterpiece
While some of our teams birded by land, other birders took to the seas and left the shore behind—far behind! Backyard birds, forest birds, waterbirds, and even seabirds were all accounted for during the Global Big Day count in the Caribbean. We certainly have the most dedicated and thorough community of birders!
South Polar Skua off the coast of Guadeloupe. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Photographer spotlight: Jose Alberto
Cuban photographer and our First Place Best Bird Photo winner Jose Alberto knows how to perfectly frame a moment, an especially impressive feat when dealing with erratic and challenging subjects—birds! Our judges were awed by Jose’s keen eye for “the little things”—the subtlest movements, changes in posture, and the way light gracefully illuminates the colorful feathers of the birds. Enjoy more of his photos below.
Click the arrows to scroll through the images.
Best Selfie
We couldn’t just choose one! See who you can spot.
Members of Flying Pintails birding in the Chicago suburbs. (Photo by Steve Costantelos)
Grand Bahama Island Birders team. (Photo by Charmaine Francis)
Members of Havana’s Bird Watchers Club, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
Members of Havana’s Bird Watchers Club at Playa del Chivo, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
Marjel Morales and Marjel Morales Jr.. members of Club de Observacion de Aves Holguin, in Mayabe, Cuba.
Noelia Nieves Colón and José Colón López birding in Puerto Rico.
Cuban photographer-Samuel Núñez getting a photo of a Stilt Sandpiper.
A member of Team Gundlach, in Santiago de Cuba. (Photo by Alexander Coronado Torné)
Members of Imperial Seekers in Dominica stop to take a selfie before beginning their GBD count. (Photo by Jeanelle Brisbane)
LGBT team members en route to count birds on La Désirade, Guadeloupe. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Members of The Palmchatters taking a break from birding in the Dominican Republic.
Members of Wadadli Warblers in Antigua got in on the early birding action for GBD 2024. Photo by Shanna Challenger
One Love Jamaica Birders team leader Justin with his team at Hope Botanical Gardens, Jamaica. (Photo by Justin Saunders)
Subgroup of the Whistling Warblers taking a break from birding at the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown St Vincent. (Photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
A young member of the Piping Pawis team birdwatching in Brasso Seco, Trinidad for Global Big Day. (Photo by Giselle Ragoonanan)
A subgroup of the Gundlach Team in Cuba ready to dominate the competition on the morning of GBD 2024.
Members of Gundlach Team in matching birding kit. (Photo by Yaro Rodriguez)
Members of The Palmchatters. (Photo by Andrea Thomen)
Our President, Adrianne Tossas, in her favorite birding spot in Puerto Rico.
Members of President’s Perch birding in Bermuda. (Photo by Andrew Dobson)
Flying Pintails leaders Mike and Lisa Sorenson birding in Boston. (Photo by Mike Sorenson)
Our eBird guru Jeff Gerbracht.
Xavier Ragbir birding in Trinidad.
ENJOY THIS GALLERY OF BIRD AND SCENERY PHOTOS TAKEN ON GLOBAL BIG DAY BY VARIOUS TEAM MEMBERS IN THE CARIBBEAN, US, AND MORE!
Adrianne’s favorite birding spot in Puerto Rico.
Black-necked Stilts, Holguín, Cuba. (Photo by Freddy Cobas Agilera)
Caribbean Martin, Layou, Dominica. (Photo by Garry Auguiste)
Female Hooded Merganser with chicks, Huntley Meadows, Virginia. (Photo by Ducky Nguyen)
Semipalmated Plover feeding with peeps, Fosters, St. Lucy, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Mangrove Warbler, Cuba. (Photo by Jesus Molina and Alejendro Sautié)
American Oystercatcher, Cataño, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward Hernández Lara)
Yellow-faced Grassquit building a nest, Holguin-Cuba. (Photo by Marjel Morales)
Tundra Swan, Corey Marsh, Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Jacob and Dave Ewert)
Roseate Tern, Bonaire. (Photo by Steve Schnoll)
Cuban Tody, Holguín, Cuba. (Photo by Freddy Cobas Agilera)
A rare spring visitor to Barbados- a White-rumped Sandpiper. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Horse Back Ridge, Kalinago Territory, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Greater Roadrunner, Hagerman NWR, Texas. (Photo by John Thomlinson)
Long-tailed Hawk, Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Jesús Molina and Alejendro Sautié)
Loubiere, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Grasshopper Sparrow, Bonaire. (Photo by Steve Schnoll)
Juvenile Little Blue Heron, McKinnons Pond, Antigua. (Photo by Nick Hollands)
Burrowing Owl nest, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas. (Photo by Charmaine Francis)
Northern Lights, Montana. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Purple Gallinule, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Eastern Meadowlark, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. (Photo by Alexander Coronado Torné)
Tundra Swan landing, Corey Marsh, Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Jacob and Dave Ewert)
Black-bellied Plover, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Maria Irizarry González)
Cattle Egret, Anegada, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
Short-billed Dowitcher, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Green Heron, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward Hernández Lara)
Hagerman NWR underwater, Texas. (Photo by John Thomlinson)
Pinnated Bittern, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Puerto Rican Woodpecker. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Black-necked Stilt, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves-Colón)
Kalinago Territory, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Gray Kingbird feeding, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edgardo Cruz)
Kalinago Barana Aute, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
White-beared Manakin, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Montana, USA. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Scotts Head, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Trumpeter-Swan, Tommy Thompson Park, Canada. (Photo by Nicole Gutierrez)
Loggerhead Kingbird, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edgardo Cruz)
Caribbean Elaenia in nest, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Ruddy Turnstone, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Dimaris Colón Molina)
Common Gallinule chick, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Bahama Woodstar, male. The Bahama Woodstar can only be found on the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas! (Photo by Keith Salveson)
In 2023, Martha Cartwright of Grand Bahama Island Birding (GBIB, a local birding club) accepted the challenge of restarting Grand Bahama’s famous “Introduction to Birding” classes—the brainchild of the legendary Erika Gates. Erika’s Beginner Birding course had been a fixture of Bahamian birding for decades and had ushered many a new birder into the flock. In this blog, Martha shares just how much brain-racking work involved in planning and running a successful birding course—and gives some tips on how others can take up the mantle and grow the community through their own courses!
Birding is awesome! The vibrant colors, entertaining behaviors, and unique songs and calls of birds provide us with the incentive to get outside and reconnect with nature. However, birding isn’t always an easy hobby! It can be challenging and unpredictable. Beginners often struggle with spotting and identifying birds, especially in poor lighting or when obstructed by leaves and branches. Additionally, learning to use equipment like binoculars can be frustrating. These challenges can make the hobby seem daunting at first, but with patience and practice, the rewards are well worth the effort.
Minutes of Grand Bahama Island Birding (GBIB) Annual Meeting, 31 March 2023:
Birding classes can provide the resources and community to help new birders get started. These courses can be highly rewarding to both instructors and participants. They are also a crucial part of GBIB’s remit and it was decided at the club’s annual meeting in 2023 that they should be revived. Members shared that “They (the classes) are important for recruitment (over half of them joined as a result), as a community service, and as a legacy to Erika.”
I agree to take the lead on this with the aim of running a course in November 2023.I cracked my egg-head skull for seven months because of that one small hold-your-hand-up moment volunteering for this job. In retrospect, despite said cracks-in-head, I’m glad I did. The actual teaching part was great fun—I love teaching. But as any teacher will tell you, hours and hours of planning and preparation are needed before that “fun” begins.
I thought this would be easy. Our beloved mentor, Erika Gates who passed away in December 2021 had taught the class for years. I figured I’d find her notes and teach from them. Unfortunately, Erika’s notes were nowhere to be found. The irony was not lost on me that I was practically the only local resident who, because of teaching yoga on Saturday, had not been able to attend Erika’s classes. However, Erika had generously taught me about birds and birding at her elbow, I had old student binders to review, and I had thousands of bird and habitat photos on file. I could do this.
Erika doing some lock-down birding on Global Big Day, May 2020.
Erika birding with a young participant during the Grand Bahama West Indian Whistling Duck & Wetlands Conservation Workshop, March 2007.
Martha Cartwright, Marilyn Laing & Erika at Garden of the Groves in 2018. (Photo by Linda Huber)
Erika received a Lifetime Achievement Award from BirdsCaribbean (Lisa Sorenson presenting) for her outstanding contributions to bird conservation, BirdsCaribbean Conference in Freeport, Grand Bahama, July 2011. (Photo by Bruce Purdy)
Erika at a Tainos Trail bird sign, a birding trail she created in Grand Bahama. (Photo by Linda Huber)
My hope is that by sharing our process for creating this class, your skull will have fewer cracks when you design your own program. Out of 10 students, nine gave us a 10/10 review. One student gave us a 9/10 review with a comment, “Maybe more classes so that it is not too jam-packed.” Tough criticism, that.
Did you notice? I’ve switched from writing as an “I” to a “we.” I may have put my name on the job, and I have put my name on this blog, but this has been a group effort! Delores Kellman, GBIB President, was with me every step of the way both in preparing for the class and as co-instructor. She too is an educator, and an organized and reliable one at that. She delivered on every commitment she made. She is the best—thank you, Delores.
Martha and Delores at Owl’s Hole. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Many other GBIB members generously helped with ideas and suggestions when asked—and I asked often. Thanks to Bridget Davis and Charmain Hall for leading the group out in the field. Thanks to Deana Williamson for donating classroom materials. Thanks to GBIB members who came to audit the class and assist if needed. Special thanks to another educator, Mark Milkovich, who critiqued the syllabus time and time again, and was instrumental in getting us to clearly define our objectives and then pack them into four half-day classes—classes which included time outside birding! Jam-packed indeed.
Antillean Nighthawk, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Steven Oxley)
Cape May Warbler male in Erika Gates’ garden, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Erika Gates)
Black-necked Stilt, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Steven Oxley)
Bahama Warbler (Photo by Larry Therrien)
It takes a village to raise a child—and it takes a flock to organize a birding class. It takes good sponsors too. Ed Gates’ Grand Bahama Nature Tours made a generous donation that we used to buy Vortex binoculars from BirdsCaribbean (BC) at a discounted price. We sold those as needed and our expenses were covered. Our second sponsor was, you guessed it, the fabulously supportive and generous BirdsCaribbean. BC shared their professional PowerPoint presentations. Their awesome Bird Sleuth program,available for download in English and Spanish here, also has many great ideas that can be tailored for adults. They provided Raffaele’s “Birds of the West Indies” field guides, which we sold to cover costs. They shipped down posters and gifts of buffs, hats, and tote bags. Little gifts always make for fun classes. Lisa encouraged and reviewed and suggested and encouraged some more. Thank you, Lisa; thank you, BirdsCaribbean! Our final sponsor was Garden of the Groves who donated the beautiful venue for the classes and gave entrance to students free of charge. Thanks to Ed Gates and Marilyn Laing for their support.
For four Saturdays in November, from 8:30am -12.00pm, we charged $20.00 for the course, accepting students from a minimum age of 16 years and older. Students were required to have the Raffaele field guide and a pair of binoculars. We had both available for purchase. We also provided loaner binoculars. Membership in GBIB was encouraged but not required. We distributed homework every week and reviewed it in class, but—no grades ever!
Course participants got hands-on training in Bird ID and using binoculars. (Photo by Triston Gibson)
The survey consensus was “more time out birding.” Our outings were rained out twice, I talked too much once (what, only once?). After that first class Delores and I put time constraints for teaching each concept. To have more time for birding would mean more classes, longer classes, or teaching fewer birding skills. Well? I suppose we could leave off the eBird section of the course, but there is so much information on eBird for continued learning—bar charts, range maps, hot spots, Birds of the World—there’s a lifetime of learning! Besides, I believe strongly in citizen science. Submit an eBird checklist—what a simple way to give back to the birds for the pleasure we receive when observing their intriguing lives! No, eBird stayed in the course.
Martha speaking about the variety of birds at Reef Golf Course, Freeport, The Bahamas. ( Photo by Tristan Gibson)
Martha helps a participant use eBird during the classroom session. (Photo by Tristan Gibson)
GBIB President, Delores Kellman, was also a course facilitator. (Photo by Triston Gibson)
Martha explaining the basics of birdwatching to participants. (Photo by Tristan Gibson)
Course facilitators teaching participants how to use the field guide to ID birds. (Photo by Tristan Gibson)
Below are our “10 Objectives” and our “To-Do List” from start to finish. I hope it helps and encourages you to develop your island’s Basic Birding Class. If you want a copy of the final version of our syllabus, please send me an email at marthainfreeport@icloud.com and I’ll be happy to share with you. This has been a totally rewarding experience, and we plan to make it an annual event. As you can see from the comments below, Erika was very much a part of our class, and we know she’d be proud to see her tradition carried on.
Here are some edited notes from Tristan Gibson’s article on the class. Photographs are by him as well. Our thanks to Tristan for covering the event in the local news.
For novice birder, Gemma Hudson, this class was a way to reconnect with Erika.
“I was working for her [at Kayak Nature Tours] from 2010. Even outside of work, she made an impact on me,” she said. Gemma jokingly added, “When I trained to be a tour guide, Erika would come along. She’d often ask, ‘Okay, what [bird] is that?’ Just to keep you on your toes.”
“I remember going out to Lucayan National Park for a kayaking tour where there were many shorebirds. One time she asked me if I knew what they were. I said, ‘baby birds,’ and she was like, ‘No, Gemma. We need to get it together,” she chuckled. Despite her position, Gemma admitted that this was her first formal birding class. “It was actually fun to finally understand the theory behind birding. And I guess it’s been rubbing off of me because I now have a son, and he wants to go birding too. He gets upset when I go without him.”
Mangroves at Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
As a long-time friend to Erika, Eugena Granger was happy to see the class being offered once more. “I’ve known Erika for many, many years—probably 40 or more at this point. She was the type of person who mastered what she took on. She did her best and just wanted you to reach your best.”
She continued, “This class is a tremendous tribute to her legacy. She was not only a birder; she was an environmentalist at heart. She used to walk on the beach, pick up distressed bees she noticed near the water, and take them to a dry spot. She was always one to promote protecting the environment and witnessing all it had to offer.”
Gemma and Eugena both noted that birding has become a competitive, yet relaxing activity that bolsters a supportive community they’ve grown to love. “The excitement of getting up in the morning to see what else you’ll find, comparing what you’ve found with others, it’s exhilarating,” Eugena enthused.
Delores Kellman noted that as interest in birding grows on the island, more classes will be offered in the future. “We are very blessed here in Grand Bahama. There are many birds to discover, including five Bahamian endemics that can be found on the island. Considering the 10,000 species of birds worldwide, how can you get bored of birding!” she exclaimed. “Erika was always concerned with making yourself better, becoming more knowledgeable, especially in this field. Birding was her gift we wanted to pass on.”
Goals and Objectives
By completing the course, student should be able to:
Properly use and care for binoculars and birding scopes.
Know birding etiquette (in group & alone.)
Know how to observe and describe a bird in the field: Size & shape, Color Pattern / Topography, Behavior, and Habitat. “Notice 3 things about a bird.”
Understand the organization of a field guide and the information contained in the Guide.
Know how to find a bird in the Guide. Have highlighted in the Guide the birds likely to be seen on Grand Bahama.
Know how to find when you’ll see a bird on the island (using field guide status and eBird bar charts.)
Know basic habitat classifications on GBI. Understand the importance of habitat to the bird, and how habitat affects behavior.
Know how to submit a bird record on eBird and eBird Mobile app. Understand the importance of eBird data for scientists and for maintaining your personal birding data / journal. Know how to navigate eBird for information.
Build a list of additional resources to continue learning after the course is completed.
Identify ways you can contribute to bird conservation in your yard, locally, nationally, and globally.
A Bahama Mockingbird with nesting material, spotted on Abaco, the Bahamas, during Global Big Day 2022. (Photo by Elijah Sands)
“To do” list for our home-grown class:
Determine course objectives and goals for class. Create a four-week syllabus.
Find sponsors to assist with costs, materials, and hand-outs.
Determine course requirements, dates & time, class size, age limits, location.
Update the Grand Bahama Island bird checklist for distribution.
Organize sign-up procedures. Create an e-mail group (or chat group) for class notices and updates. Have students create an eBird account before starting the class.
Advertise to the community.
Create PowerPoint and Keynote presentations for use during class.
Prepare materials for distribution and homework assignments.
Determine locations for weekly field trips and ask GBIB members to lead the outings.
Create a survey for end of class feedback and suggestions.
Have printed Certificates of Completion for distribution to “graduates.”
Group photo of course facilitators and participants. (Photo by Tristan Gibson)
This course came full circle for me. I started off as a student of Erika’s, barely able to identify birds on my own. And now, working with a network of dedicated bird conservationists, I have helped new birders to identify birds by sight and birdsong. They understand the importance of habitat not only as a place to live, but as a place birds need to survive and raise their young. Birding is a lifelong hobby that can provide you with many benefits if properly nurtured. So, if you’ve been telling yourself that you want to start birding—don’t wait. Start now.
Considering starting a beginners birding course on your island? (We hope you are!) We have loads of FREE educational resources that can help. Explore the links below, and feel free to reach out to us at info@birdscaribbean.org.
For Global Big Day 2024, we will be raising funds to help Caribbean delegates attend our conference in the Dominican Republic. (Hispaniolan Woodpecker pictured in graphic, photo by Jose M Pantaleon)
Every year, on Global Big Day (GBD), bird enthusiasts and nature lovers head to the great outdoors to observe and record the incredible diversity of birds in their corners of the world. The observations help scientists and researchers monitor bird populations, track migration patterns, and identify habitats that require conservation attention. This event, organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eBird, encourages participation by individuals of all ages and skill levels.
We are thrilled to be hosting our exciting and popular teams competition this year on Saturday 11th May 2024. This year we are raising funds to provide support to Caribbean students and wildlife professionals to attend our 24th International Conference in the Dominican Republic. Having the opportunity to attend our conference can be a life-changing experience!
Rep your flag!
There will be national (individual islands) and multinational teams for birders of all backgrounds to join. We would love to have a national team for each Caribbean island so if you don’t see your island listed here, this is your opportunity to take up the mantle, create a team (we are here to help if needed), and showcase your island’s amazing birding community, ecosystems, and birdlife! You and your team have the power to make a significant impact on our understanding of Caribbean birds and their habitats!
Last year we had 17 teams compete with members spanning across 35 countries and raised over $20,000US for our Caribbean Bird Banding program. This year let’s go bigger—more islands, more vibes, more data—and show the world how passionate and serious we are about bird conservation!
24 joyous hours of watching birds, exploring new habitats, and making friends
During peak migration time in the spring, birders around the world head out to their favorite birding spots, or venture into new areas, to see, hear, and record as many bird species as they can in a 24-hr timeframe. Global Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. The data is entered into eBird (or eBird Caribbean specifically if you’re birding in the Caribbean).
No matter where you are—at home, a botanical garden, beach, river, or nature reserve—you can contribute important data, via eBird checklists, about the birds around you. You don’t need to be an expert birder or spend the entire day looking for birds. Just 10 minutes of birding in your backyard or from your balcony will count too.
A wetland in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eric Torres Rivera)
For some of us, birding is more enjoyable when done with a friend or a group. Pairs or groups can carpool, help out with tricky bird IDs, share equipment like spotting scopes …and possibly snacks!
St Vincent crew at the end of Global Big Day, tired but happy! Mike and Lisa Sorenson, Glenroy, Joanne and Maeson Gaymes, and Jeff Gerbracht.
Youth spotting birds for Global Big Day, Puerto Rico.
Flock of flamingoes at Margarita Island, Venezuela. (Photo by Josmar Marquez)
Birding along L’Anse Aux Epines road, Grenada. (Photo by Gaea Conservation Network)
We are calling on our community to bird together in virtual teams during Global Big Day and engage in friendly competition to see which team can:
1) collectively see the most species of birds, and
2) raise the most funds.
Funds raised by BirdsCaribbean GBD participating teams will be used to fund travel scholarships for Caribbean students and wildlife professionals to attend our conference this July!
Prizes/ bragging rights will be awarded to
Bee Hummingbird (Photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
the team with the most creative name!
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!)
the team with the best “find” of the day (unusual, rare, plumage aberration, etc.)
the team with the best bird photo of the day (must be posted on eBird along with your list)
Last year the Bee Hummers Dream Team from Cuba and the multinational Flying Pintails swept the competition. Will your team be the one to dethrone these champs?
Preparing for a memorable Global Big Day is easy!
Participating in our teams competition on Global Big Day involves a few simple steps we’re here to help you so you can make the most of this exciting day!
First things first, if you don’t already have one, download the eBird app and set up your account. You will need it to submit your checklist/s. It’s FREE and you can sign up here! Assemble your birdwatching gear: binoculars, field guide, pencil and notebook, camera, comfortable shoes, and a hat. Decide on the birding hotspots you want to visit during the day. Local parks, nature reserves, and wetlands are excellent locations to find a diverse range of bird species.
Click the ‘JOIN A TEAM’ button on the campaign page. You can choose to join an existing team OR create your own team.
If you choose to create a team, personalize it with a fun name, photo, and your own lingo. NOTE: if you need assistance creating your own team, email Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org and/or Christel.Mohammed@BirdsCaribbean.org and they’ll will get you set up pronto!
Once set up, you 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 its overall goal!
By inviting people to your team, you are:
(1) raising awareness for BirdsCaribbean and the critical bird research and conservation work we do in the region,
(2) helping to raise funds for travel scholarships, and
(3) promoting Global Big Day, citizen science, and the importance of conserving birds and their habitats.
and/or . . .
2. Make a donation to one of the birding and fundraising teams.
By doing so, you will have helped Caribbean students and conservationists access mentorship, knowledge building fora, and networking opportunities that nurture and advance the future of Caribbean conservation; and encouraged that team to give it their all on Global Big Day.
and/or . . .
3. Commit to spending some time (or the entire day!) birding on Global Big Day (May 11), being sure to keep track of what you see and enter 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 lots of birding hotspots, or set yourself up in a familiar spot 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!
If birding from the Caribbean, you should plan to submit your observations to eBird Caribbean. Then we’ll tally them up and see how we all did! We will send out more information about this as the event draws closer.
Why we need your support
The insular Caribbean is a critical region for birds. There are 180 species that occur here and nowhere else in the world! In addition, the islands provide a winter home for numerous migrants—many stay 6 months or longer—while others rely on the islands as stopover sites to rest and refuel during their long journeys north and south.
The Jamaican Blackbird lives in the forests of Cockpit Country and the Blue and John Crow Mountains. Its feeding style is similar to woodpeckers. It is threatened by destruction of its habitat (bauxite mining, illegal cultivation, etc.). (Photo by Judd Patterson)
Lesser Yellowlegs are a common migratory shorebird in the Caribbean; they are also one of the most hunted shorebirds in the Atlantic Flyway. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
The elusive Endangered Whistling Warbler, an endemic bird to Saint Vincent. (Photo by Judd Patterson)
The development of a strong regional conservation community, through capacity-building training and career development opportunities at the island level for local people, is critical to ensure the preservation of island birds and their habitats.
How your gift will be Used
This Global Big Day fundraiser will fund travel scholarships for Caribbean students and wildlife professionals to attend our upcoming International Conference, 18th – 22nd July, 2024, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. These are dedicated persons who are on the ground, doing the working everyday to secure a future for birds and their habitats. Attending the conference is an invaluable opportunity for them to 1) build upon or gain new skills to address threats to bird conservation on their respective islands, and 2) network with the wider conservation community, share their work, and learn from others. For Caribbean students, this experience will help to kickstart their introduction into the ornithological and conservation community and they will benefit from mentorship opportunities.
Puerto Rican conservationist, Laura Fidalgo, presenting on her research on the post hurricane habitat structure of the Elfin Woods Warbler, at the BirdsCaribbean Conference in Guadeloupe.
Workshop Facilitator, Elijah Sands, from the Bahamas National Trust, uses videos from his portfolio to explain key concepts to the group. (Photo by Tahira Carter)
Participants in the Landbird Monitoring Workshop engage in classroom sessions before going out into the field. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Gabriel Diaz speaks about her work to protect the Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk in the Dominican Republic.
Participants in the Raptors of the Caribbean Workshop show off their bird of prey, a Secretary Bird, made from recycled materials. (Photo by Tahira Carter)
One group plans the activity they will teach to the rest of the workshop participants. (Photo by Gabriela Diaz)
BirdSleuth Caribbean Workshop group photo.
Participants sketch birds at the BirdSleuth workshop. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Bahamian conservationist, Dr Ancilleno Davis, explains how he converted eBird data into a dubstep track using analytical computer programmes R and Python, at the BirdsCaribbean Conference in Guadeloupe.
Our plan is to raise funds to help cover travel costs that will allow deserving participants to attend—including covering registration, airfare and/or hotel costs as necessary.
As with everything in the Caribbean, we will be successful when our whole community pitches in, so let’s do it together! We need your help to do this!
Aliya Hosein, Co-Regional Coordinator of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.
One of the issues that the birding community has been working on for the last several years is how we can be more welcoming and inclusive of all birders—beginner birders and future potential birders—to join us and share the joy of birding. It’s an issue to which passionate birders, Hannah Buschert, and her husband Erik, have given a great deal of thought, and which led to the creation of Women Birders (Happy Hour) podcast.
Their ‘happy hour’ podcast is dedicated to broadcasting the lived experiences of women, from diverse backgrounds, who love birds. And of course, it’s not happy hour without cocktails! For each episode, Hannah delights us with a unique, bird-inspired alcoholic concoction based on a species mentioned in the interview.
BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival Co-Regional Coordinator, Aliya Hosein chats with Hannah about fond memories of watching backyard birds with her father, growing and nurturing a bird watching community, how bird watching provides moments of wonder and encourages mindfulness, and the achievements that can be made when local and international conservationists join forces to reintroduce an extirpated native macaw in Trinidad in this insightful episode!
Blue-and-yellow Macaw in flight. (Photo by Luc Viator)
Aliya graduated from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus with a B.Sc. in Biology and M.Sc. in Sustainable Development and Conservation in the Caribbean (with Distinction). Her master’s thesis focused on the abundance of Red-bellied Macaws in relation to fruiting Moriche Palms in an edaphic savanna ecosystem. She is an alumna of the Conservation Leadership in the Caribbean (CLiC) Program. In 2017, Aliya attended our International Conference in Cuba and presented her research studying patterns of interaction between humans and Blue and Gold Macaws within farming and urban communities. Before joining BirdsCaribbean she worked on multiple projects applying social science tools to influence behavior towards more environmentally-friendly practices, including a behavior-change project to reduce the illegal buying and keeping of wild parrots in Trinidad and Tobago.
Red-bellied Macaws feeding on Moriche Palm fruits. (Photo by Neil Bowman)
Moriche Palms in the Aripo Savannas. (Photo by Nandani Bridglal)
Red-bellied Macaws in flight.
Aliya now works full-time for BirdsCaribbean on our Communications Team, writing, editing, and developing exciting content to educate and engage people year-round in learning about birds, and as Co-Regional Coordinator of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF). Here Aliya works with a team of bird educators and coordinators across the region to raise awareness about our endemic birds and the actions that can be taken to reduce threats to their survival and habitats.
Grab yourself a drink (might we suggest Hannah’s Blue and Gold Macaw cocktail below?), kick back, and settle into happy hour with Hannah and Aliya! It’s an inspiring podchat about the mentors and experiences that helped shape Aliya’s career in bird conservation and communicating science to motivate action to protect birds and their habitats.
Enjoy!
Listen
Choose your preferred podcast platform to listen to Aliya’s interview by clicking the image above or this Buzzsprout link.
Delight your taste buds with this tropical Blue and Gold Macaw cocktail
Hannah Buschert, host of the Women Birders (Happy Hour) Podcast.
In case you missed Hannah’s podcasts with our President, Dr Adrianne Tossas, and Caribbean Bird banding Program Coordinator, Holly Garrod, check them out here:
BirdsCaribbean brings you highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our feature “Just Published in JCO.” Here, Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, explores the innovative methods Caribbean researchers are using to overcome the challenges of monitoring bird populations.
Roseate Tern adult on its nest incubating an egg and panting in the heat. Shark Cay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Photo by Daniel Nellis)
Long-term monitoring of bird populations would be a breeze if scientists had unlimited time and money. In the real world, however, monitoring efforts are limited by funding, access, trained personnel, and time. This is the case throughout the Caribbean, especially on the more remote islands and cays. So how do we navigate these many challenges to collect the critical information we need to manage and conserve our bird populations? In three papers recently published inVolume 36 of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, researchers across the region explore our options—from synthesizing historical data to exploring new technologies, to maximizing the power of citizen science!
The value in historical surveys
Quality bird survey data is worth its weight in gold, but surveys conducted over different periods with different objectives and priorities can be difficult to compare. Nevertheless, these comparisons are necessary to identify trends in populations. Where consistent long-term monitoring data are lacking, it is possible to compare even a single season’s worth of historical data with current surveys to approximate trends.
This is precisely what Dr. Paige Byerly and her colleagues did with seabird data from the Virgin Islands, a region which is critical for breeding seabirds in the Caribbean. In their article “Current status and 21st century population trends of breeding seabirds in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands,” the researchers focused on seven species of seabirds (boobies, terns, and pelicans) known to breed in the archipelago, and compared data from the early 2000s with their own surveys conducted in 2016-2018. Whilst the population trends they found were dismaying, they were incredibly timely and necessary for the effective management of these birds and their breeding sites. Paige and colleagues demonstrate here that it is not impossible to form a cohesive picture from various disparate surveys over time—thus highlighting one way to make the most of the limited data available in the Caribbean.
The light morph of the Red-footed Booby. (Photo by Andrew Wright)
A pair of breeding Brown pelicans and their hungry chick. (Photo by Nelson Biffar)
Extent of study region in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands with locations of important seabird nesting islands.
New technologies for monitoring
The logistical problems of access and funding for surveys are compounded on the remote cays that are preferred by seabirds. A few miles east of the Virgin Islands, in Anguilla, the National Trust has been exploring their options to increase the efficiency of their monitoring efforts. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is an emerging tool that uses recording units and automated species recognition software to identify the birds present at a site. In 2020, Dr. Louise Soanes and her former colleagues at the Anguilla National Trust launched a pilot project to test the utility of this tool in the Caribbean context. By deploying recording units at several study sites and ground-truthing with regular point counts, they were able to compare the accuracy and effectiveness of PAM to more traditional point counting.
PAM is not without its kinks, of course, as species recognition software is not yet well developed for Caribbean birds (and their many dialects), which leads to many misidentifications. However, with time and additions to the database (which you can contribute to!), these automated identifications will improve. In their paper “Passive acoustic monitoring of birds in the Lesser Antilles—a useful tool for monitoring remote sites?”, Louise and colleagues describe these results and present recommendations for the best use of PAM throughout the region. With further testing and more widespread implementation, this tool has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of monitoring, especially in remote and hard-to-access areas, and can support the establishment of more long-term monitoring programs in the region.
A few species of birds, like the Pied-billed Grebe, were not detected by the ARUs possibly because they were too far from the unit for vocalizations to be recorded. (Photo by Becky Matsubara)
Some common birds on Anguilla, like the Mangrove Cuckoo, were only detected by ARUs during the survey. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Small wading birds that are rarely recorded on Anguilla, like the Wilson’s Plover, were detected by the ARUs but not point counts. (Photo by Andy Morffew)
The SwiftOne Autonomous Recording Unit enhances research and conservation efforts by offering better energy efficiency, a more precise clock, greater customization for frequency settings, voice memos, and greater microphone sensitivity. (Photo by Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Dr. Soanes is also the Seabird Census Coordinator for the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group, which recently shared preliminary results from thefirst-ever Caribbean Seabird Census in a webinar you can watchhere!
Making the most of citizen science
Citizen science data, like eBird records and community-mobilized surveys, provide a seemingly obvious solution to the various logistical and resource challenges of data collection in the Caribbean, but using these data comes with its own challenges. Because survey methods are unstandardized and user experience can vary greatly, from novice and casual birders to trained ornithologists, citizen science data must be taken—and analyzed—with a grain of salt. Some questions to consider are: how does observer experience affect detectability of birds in the field? And do observers perform differently depending on survey design (single- or double-observer) and who they are paired with? To answer these questions and more, graduate student Nicholas Bergen conducted his thesis research in Grenada using a citizen science experiment.
Detailed in their article “Effects of observer skill and survey method on forest bird abundance data: recommendations for citizen science conservation monitoring in the Caribbean,” Nicholas and colleagues involved 34 different observers (myself included!) in over 400 surveys across the island. By pairing observers of different skill levels and conducting both point-count and transect surveys, they were able to identify the most efficient survey type for citizen scientists (spoiler alert: it was point counts) and draw correlations between observer skill level and the detectability of different species. The authors provide several practical recommendations for the design and implementation of citizen science-based monitoring programs in the region including ideal timing, protocols, and observer pairings for the surveys.
Birding along L’Anse Aux Epines road, Grenada. (Photo by Gaea Conservation Network)
However, you do not have to create your own citizen science programs from scratch! eBirdis an incredible but underutilized resource in the Caribbean. Millions of observations from around the world and thousands of checklists from the Caribbean have been verified by Cornell Lab and uploaded to the database. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, creator and maintainer of the eBird database, has produced acomprehensive guide to the use of eBird data, including accounting for its various biases. With these challenges in mind, it is a goldmine of observations that can tell us lots about understudied areas and islands in the region, from “recording” new (previously unreported) species to identifying trends of decline. A few years ago, in our Volume 33,Ruby Bagwyn et al. used eBird data from The Bahamas to identify over 40 bird populations that had not been recorded over an 8-year period, highlighting the areas and species most in need of updated surveys. They suggested that we should use eBird to harness “the observational power of birdwatchers…to provide timely notice of declining or missing populations,” and spur us into action to prevent their extinction or extirpation.
These three examples from Volume 36 are just a sample of the incredible and innovative work being done across the Caribbean by researchers invested in our birds and their wellbeing. BirdsCaribbean is continually supporting monitoring in the region by adding to the skill sets and knowledge of Caribbean researchers through our capacity building efforts, including through our Seabird Working Group,Caribbean Waterbird Census program, Landbird Monitoring Network, and Caribbean Bird Banding Network. You can support our efforts to equip Caribbean nationals with the skills and resources they need to protect the region’s endemic, resident, and migratory birds here.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology is a peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of ornithology within the Caribbean region, publishing in English, Spanish, and French. We welcome manuscripts covering the biology, ecology, behavior, life history, and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats. The JCO also publishes conservation reports and mentors inexperienced authors to help them develop their manuscript for publication. The JCO relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO.
BirdsCaribbean brings you highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our feature “Just Published in JCO.” Here, Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at various research on birds and their conservation in Grenada.
Ramon Williams and John Holas conducting bird surveys on Hog Island.
Our feathered friends do not have it easy in today’s world. They face a myriad of threats from hunting, to habitat loss and land-use change, to climate change and all its related impacts. These challenges are especially felt by bird communities on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like those in the Caribbean. These small islands are subject to unique economic, social, and ecological pressures, which translate to a unique set of challenges for resident fauna, and puzzling questions for those of us involved in their conservation. How are birds using and responding to natural and anthropogenic habitats on these islands? In what ways does this use differ from the well-studied continental regions? And critically, how should this inform conservation and management measures here in the Caribbean?
Using Grenada as a case study for his master’s thesis research, Ramon Williams, a local biologist, sought to explore some of these questions. In their recently published article “Avian use of anthropogenic and natural habitats in a Small Island Developing State,” Ramon and his advisors present some of their critical findings, including habitat preferences for some of the regionally endemic and range-restricted species we know and love. Ramon recently shared his findings in a webinar hosted by Gaea Conservation Network, which you can viewhere. We wanted to learn even more about his behind-the-scenes process, so Zoya Buckmire, Lead Copy Editor of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) and fellow Grenadian, reached out to the author with the following questions (responses have been edited for flow).
How did you first conceive of this study, and what motivated you to conduct this research?
We conceived this study because Grenada was lacking a comprehensive scientific survey to shed light on how anthropogenic disturbance affects the terrestrial bird community. As Grenada is a SIDS that has been undergoing rapid developmental changes, we found it important to understand the effects of these environmental changes on birds so that adequate conservation strategies could be implemented to help conserve both avian species and their habitats.
Comprehensive surveys for Grenada are few and far between, but Ramon’s work built upon the Ellie Devenish-Nelson and Howard Nelson’s “Abundance and density estimates of landbirds on Grenada,” published just two years prior in the JCO.
Tell us about a memorable moment during field research or data analysis.
My best memory during field research was when I had an incidental observation of the endemic Grenada Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus mirus). Although we did not observe any Hook-billed Kites during our scheduled surveys, the incidental observation was spectacular! On 2 August 2017, we had to cancel our data collection due to rainy weather. At about noon, it was raining heavily, and as I stood on the balcony of my residence in La Fortune, Saint Patrick—I noticed a Hook-billed Kite up in the secondary forest canopy! I grabbed my binoculars and my phone and went out into the pouring rain to capture some low-quality photos and video of the kite.
Grenada’s endemic subspecies of the Hook-billed Kite is considered to be Endangered. (Photo by Andrea Easter-Pilcher)
A Grenada Hook-billed Kite chick. Female and male Hook-billed Kites work together to build their nests, which are shallow and cup-shaped and built from small twigs and sticks.
Male Hook-billed Kites tend to be a solid bluish-gray color on their heads and backs, while their breasts are grayish and adorned with pale streaking in horizontal bars. (Photo by Andrea Easter-Pilcher)
Tell us about a challenge you had to overcome during fieldwork or data analysis.
Our biggest challenge was navigating the unpredictable weather during fieldwork. On 1 August 2017, we went to Hog Island (one of Grenada’s many cays) to conduct one of our field surveys. While the survey was successful, the rain started pouring around 9 am and we had nowhere to shelter our field equipment on the uninhabited island. We resorted to using a trash bag to shelter our equipment from water damage.
Ramon and his team had to navigate unpredictable weather on Hog Island but they persevered and completed the bird surveys.
Run for cover! Ramon had to quickly use a trash bag to protect his equipment from the sudden rain.
Quincy Augustine, one of Ramon’s field assistants, attempting to navigate a flooded trail.
One of the key findings from Ramon’s research was that the birds in Grenada used a variety of habitats, including anthropogenic ones like agricultural and rural areas. While these human-altered landscapes supported higher densities of birds than natural cloud and secondary forests, the latter hosted more habitat specialists and species of conservation concern. Regional endemics like the Grenada Flycatcher (restricted to the Grenada Bank) rely on secondary forest and mature lowlands including mangroves. This demonstrates that while “natural” habitats are critical for birds, human-altered landscapes are also an important part of the available habitat mosaic—and they should all be maintained for our feathered friends.
What are your hopes for what your research will lead to?
We hope that our research can serve as a baseline for further research and help inform conservation decisions. As anthropogenic development continues in Grenada and other Caribbean islands with similar species and habitat requirements, further research is needed to monitor how the avian community is responding to the changing environment.
Will this work impact your own research agenda going forward?
Yes, we are continuing to conduct research on Grenada’s birds, and are currently working on research with Bananaquits—of which we have a melanistic subspecies in Grenada (Coereba flaveola aterrima).
Bananaquits are found throughout the Caribbean. They have a sharp, curved bill, black head and upperparts with a white eyestripe, gray throat, and yellow underparts. (Photo by Dominic Sherony)
The majority of Bananaquits in Grenada are of the black morph. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
Is there anything else you would like to share?
We conducted a field outreach exercise on the island of Carriacou with both elementary and high school students. The primary goal of the exercise was to help the children with bird identification and hopefully inspire future ornithologists. The exercise had two phases: the first phase was a presentation on the defining identification characteristics of terrestrial birds; and the second phase involved a brief birdwatching exercise.
Ramon with primary school students in Carriacou after his bird identification presentation.
School students in Carriacou were led, by Ramon, through a short birdwatching activity around the school’s grounds.
Other recent work from Grenada
A heartening amount of important bird research has been published about Grenada’s birds in the last few years, most of which emerged from the former Koper Lab at the University of Manitoba (now at the University of Northern British Columbia). As a Koper Lab alum myself, I actually got my first exposure to the lab and their work through assisting with Nicholas Bergen’scitizen science experiment in 2016. From the lab’s bird banding activities, Alexandra Heathcote et al. publishedmorphological comparisons of a few resident landbird species, and Christopher De Ruyck did his dissertation onlandbird diets and the importance of agroecosystems as habitat. Those same banding activities led to the recognition of thesong variation of Grenada’s House Wrens and documentation of theirmorphological differences, contributing to Grenada’s population being declared its own subspecies (Troglodytes aedon grenadensis)!
Grenada House Wren singing. (Photo by Kim Wetten)
Ezra Campbell, another local biologist and Koper Lab alum, researched native raptors for her thesis, and her findings on theBroad-winged Hawk population were also published in the JCO in 2022. That same year, Arnaud Lenoble and colleagues published their research on theHook-billed Kite’s diet on the island. Ezra’s study found that Broad-winged Hawks are doing well in Grenada, where they are widely distributed and adapting well to changing environments, possibly to the detriment of the more specialized Hook-billed Kites. The hawks were even observed using old kite nesting trees and exhibiting aggressive behavior towards them, possibly pushing the endemic raptor out of its optimal habitat. A case of mistaken identity—where kites are often prosecuted for the chicken-stealing activities of the hawk (aptly nicknamed “chicken hawk” on the island)—further puts the kites at risk. Combined with Arnaud’s findings of the kite’s preference for medium-sized snails, which vary with the seasons and site and restrict the availability of suitable habitat, this endemic subspecies seems to have the odds stacked against it. Both of these studies emphasize the importance of further research to identify and protect suitable habitat for both species.
Broad-winged Hawk. (Photo by Ezra Campbell)
And a lot remains yet unpublished. For instance,eBird records indicate the presence/occurrence of 171 species in Grenada, a significant increase over the last record of 153 species from the 2019Complete Checklist of the Birds of the West Indies. Many of these “new” species have been recorded in the last 5 years by avid birders on the island, and if/when these records get published, they will contribute to our knowledge of the biodiversity, species distributions and population statuses across the region. Grenada is also part of the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network, with several local biologists being trained over the last few years in bird banding and landbird surveys using the PROALAS protocol. In fact, our next Bird Banding Workshop is being hosted in Grenada in early March, so stay tuned for updates on this! Together, these advances reassure me that for Grenada, the future of ornithology—and of the birds we are working to preserve—is bright.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology is a peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of ornithology within the Caribbean region. We welcome manuscripts covering the biology, ecology, behavior, life history, and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats. The JCO also publishes conservation reports and mentors inexperienced authors to help them develop their manuscript for publication. The JCO relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO.
We are pleased to share with you the new edition of the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba, number 7, 2024, by Nils Navarro Pacheco.
The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba is an annual publication that constitutes the most complete and updated official list of Cuban avifauna. It is the result of a deep and thorough bibliographic review and updating from the field. It serves as a basis for generating regional and global listings and is standardized for use with eBird.
The main objective is to provide up-to-date annual listings of Cuban birds, including reference information on each new report and general statistics about Cuban birdlife, and to serve as a reference platform for ornithological studies in the country. The increasing number of bird-watching tourists on the island as well as more bird monitoring by Cuban biologists and the rapidly-growing Cuban birding community are contributing to an increase in the number of previously unrecorded species entering the list every year. Furthermore, the influence of climate change is producing altered patterns of migratory movements in many species.
The new list has been enriched with 6 new records—3 of these were added to Cuba’s main list to bring the new Cuban total to 404 species. The other three records comprised two exotic species, and another which is currently classified as ‘dubious.’ Beyond the numbers though, splits announced in the American Ornithological Society 64th Supplement to the Checklist of North American Birds means that Cuba now boasts 3 more Cuban, rather than West Indian, endemic species! Cuba welcomes the Cuban Nightjar ( Greater Antillean Nightjar split to Cuban Nightjar and Hispaniolan Nightjar), the Cuban Palm-Crow (Palm Crow split to Cuban Palm-Crow and Hispaniolan Palm-Crow) and the Cuban Bullfinch (split from the Cuban Bullfinch into the Grand Cayman and Cuban Bullfinches, making the Cuban Bullfinch a true Cuban endemic!).
This year’s cover features a captivating photo of the beautifully plumaged Western Spindalis, Cuban subspecies (Spindalis zena pretrei), taken by Yadiel Veunes, in the Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt. The Western Spindalis belongs to the Spindalidae family which is a recognized family of songbirds endemic to the Caribbean. Spindalises were formerly classified as members of Thraupidae (or “tanagers”) but have since been reclassified as a separate family based on genetic studies. There are five subspecies of Western Spindalis one of which is the Cuban subspecies!
The 2024 checklist is now available in PDF for free download from the BirdsCaribbean website (see below). The printed version is available on Amazon at a good price. It is not intended to be a field identification guide but is a checklist, updated in accordance with the 64th supplement of AOS. Nils and the publisher, Ediciones Nuevos Mundos, hope this publication fulfills its role and is useful to all persons interested in Cuban birds and ornithology. Nils welcomes questions or suggestions about the checklist (Nils Navarro).
This checklist edition is dedicated to the memory of Jim Wiley, a great friend, extraordinary person and scientist, a guiding light of Caribbean ornithology. He crossed many troubled waters in pursuit of expanding our knowledge of Cuban birds.
If you are looking for a Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, you can purchase it here or on Amazon.
Past checklists are all available for download, click on the images below to download a pdf of each.
We’re buzzing with excitement! The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) returns this spring to offer an immersive experience that combines the region’s iconic birds and mesmerizing ecosystems with the vibrant energy of our diverse cultures.
The festival begins on April 22nd (Earth Day) and runs through May 22nd (International Biodiversity Day). This annual regional event highlights the amazing birds that live only in the Caribbean—their natural history, the threats to their survival, and how we can help reduce these threats. This year’s theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.”
Yummy! Bugs for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and growing baby birds
While some people may shriek at the sight of these tiny creatures (and rightfully so because our brains confuse fear with disgust, and some insects are actually harmful to us), they are an important delicacy for birds. For our dazzling hummingbirds, our captivating todies, swooping swifts and swallows, darting flycatchers, pewees and potoos, drilling woodpeckers, and many other birds—insects are an essential protein source. They keep up birds’ energy and body mass, and are also critical for nurturing healthy baby birds.
Black-crowned Palm Tanager with chick. (Photo by Dax Roman)
The Cuban Oriole will feed on soft fruits, nectar, and insects too. (Photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
Guadeloupe Woodpecker. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
A female Vervain Hummingbird feeds her chicks. (Photo by Eladio Fernandez)
The Bahama Swallow feeds mainly on flies and beetles. (Photo by Elijah Sands)
Insects are on the decline… But what can we do?
Unfortunately, a study published in the Journal of Biological Conservation reported that 40% of all insect species are declining globally. Loss of natural areas like forests and grasslands that have been converted or degraded by intensive agriculture as well as urban development and pesticide use have all contributed to this downward population trend. The decline of insects has led to a worldwide population decrease among birds, especially insectivorous birds. A scarcity of this protein-rich food source can reduce reproductive success, lead to weakened immune systems, and increased mortality rates for both adult birds and their offspring. In addition, scientific literature points to climate change and its stressors as posing a growing global threat to insect and bird diversity. This decline in insect populations adversely affects the ecosystem services that they provide to us all.
A male Carmine Skimmer. (Photo by Charles J Sharp)
This CEBF, we would love for you to join us in taking proactive conservation measures for insects: for example, by reducing your use of pesticides and herbicides, growing native plants, and limiting the use of exterior lighting around your house at night. And please, do also use your voice to counter the negative perceptions of insects, that they are “scary” and “gross.” Insects are pollinators, prey, physical decomposers, they advance progress in science and technology, and they provide pleasure. Writing blogs, newspaper articles, essays for school, taking interesting photos, and posting informative videos about insects on social media are ways to change these perceptions, and to increase appreciation within your community. Writing about, for example, their incredible adaptations, is one way of getting the message across about how important insects are to our ecosystems—and how fascinating!
Ladybirds provide a natural way to control insect pests like aphids. (Photo by Charlotte Descamps)
Female Monarch Butterfly. Monarch Butterflies feed on poisonous milkweed. The toxins accumulate in the butterfly without harming it but are effective at deterring predators. (Photo by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson)
Cuban subspecies of the bird grasshopper. (Photo by geosesarma)
Art for conservation: Supporting the protection of Caribbean birds and nature
The CEBF team has been busy preparing another stellar line-up for Endemic Bird of the Day! Our lips are sealed when it comes to this year’s selected species! But we are more than thrilled to share that Cuban ornithologist, photographer and scientific illustrator, Arnaldo Toledo, is currently busy sketching birds and mixing colors to create this year’s endemic bird coloring pages!
Artist, Arnaldo Toledo, at work.
Phase 1: Sketches of the Puerto Rican Tody begin the design by Arnaldo Toledo.
Phase 2: Painting begins with inspiration from the initial sketches.
Phase 3: Finishing touches are added to the bird and its surroundings.
Arnaldo skillfully captures the beauty of our natural world. His drawings bring a sense of wonder, joy, and appreciation for nature to children and adults. He was the artist behind our popular AOS-BC Conference t-shirt in 2022 and the grand prize winner of our first-ever Zine Competition for our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival in 2021.
Alongside Arnaldo’s drawings, we will provide natural history information, range maps, puzzles, photos, videos, and activities, all designed to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and enjoyment for both adults and children.
Celebrating birds, biodiversity, and beautiful Caribbean people
For over 22 years our amazing CEBF island coordinators and educators have been celebrating with festivities on their respective islands through in-person and online events. Thousands of people, of all backgrounds and abilities, flock to these events to explore nature, share knowledge about birds, and strengthen their commitment to environmental stewardship. Birdwatching trips, presentations, arts and crafts, bird fairs, habitat clean-ups, and birdscaping of home gardens, schools, and parks with native plants are just a handful of the events that will take place across the region this year. You don’t want to miss this feathered fiesta!
Find a CEBF event and celebrate!
We encourage you to get in touch with your local conservation organizations to find out what events are taking place near you—and this includes forestry departments too!
Looking for a CEBF event on your island? Check our map below for what is going on near you!
If you are a CEBF event organizer and would like to add your in-person, virtual or hybrid event(s) to this map please use this Google form to register your event with us. The information you provide will then be used to populate the map above. If your event is a presentation being held at a school or university and is not open to the public you can still fill out the form, but state that it is closed to the public.
You can also get together with your friends and family, or community groups, and plan your own event. We have lots of activities on our website and on our YouTube page: quizzes, ‘Learn to Sketch’ and origami tutorials, bug hunts, upcycled crafts, outdoor games, and many more that you can do in small or large groups.
Yaritza Bobonis with Lola the Puerto Rican Parrot mascot. (Photo by Fundación Amigos De El Yunque)
Justin Saunders of Birdlife Jamaica helps with bird identification at Hope Gardens. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
The Conservation Opportunity cleanup crew. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Children and ARC Conservation members wear their hand crafted masks.
Bird nests on display at CEBF event at El Yunque Forest. (Photo by Fundación Amigos De El Yunque)
How long are your ‘wings’? A member of Conservation Opportunity measures her arm length against a bird wingspan poster. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Winning submission by Scarlett Evans for the Kids Art Contest (8-12 years) titled “Yellow Belly.” (Image courtesy Cayman Birding)
We did it! Students display the results of their BirdSleuth Caribbean Scavenger Hunt in Salt River, Jamaica. (photo by Emma Lewis)
Student bird poster on display at the Botanical Gardens, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Grupo Acción Ecológica)
Cadets plant bird-friendly trees at Battle of Las Carreras Military Academy in the Dominican Republic.
Students from St. Martin Primary School in Dominica planted native plants for CEBF 2018.
Birding along L’Anse Aux Epines road, Grenada. (Photo by Gaea Conservation Network)
Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and videos @birdscaribbean on social media with #CEBF #FromTheNest #ProtectInsectsProtectBirds
CEBF Small Grants—Apply Now
Thanks to our generous donors, BirdsCaribbean is able to offer small grants to help cover some CEBF expenses! To apply, send a short proposal via this form, no later than Friday, March, 8th, 2024: bit.ly/CEBF-Grant-2024
Here are some CEBF events we funded in 2023 and 2022. All projects submitted for consideration must be relevant to this year’s theme, “Protect Insects, Protect Birds,” and BirdsCaribbean’s mission to protect birds and their habitats through science and education. All registered non-profit, civil society, or community-based organizations operating within local communities across the Caribbean are eligible for funding. Organizations directly funded from state budgets such as environmental departments or agencies within government ministries are also eligible for funding. Remember to include in your budget any in-kind funding you can offer such as volunteer staff time, materials, etc.
Dr. Lourdes Mugica and the Bird Ecology Group share educational materials on birds with the local community and children in Cuba for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.
If you are unable to submit your application for a small grant via the google form (see link above), you may send your proposal to CEBF Co-Coordinators: Eduardo Llegus (CEBF@BirdsCaribbean.org) & Aliya Hosein (Aliya.Hosein@BirdsCaribbean.org), and Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org) with the subject line: CEBF Small Grant Proposal 2024.Please contact Eduardo Llegus if you have any questions about submitting an application. We are looking forward to hearing about the many exciting activities you will be organizing this year.
The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival is a great way to learn more about birds and connect with nature. Your support ensures that our resources, which help both adults and children learn about how to protect birds, remain free and accessible. If you would like to make a contribution, please click here.
BirdsCaribbean is pleased to announce the 2024 cohort of grantees under two prestigious named awards, the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds, and the James A. Kushlan Research and Conservation Fund.
These twelve projects aim to advance the study and conservation of avifauna in seven different Caribbean countries: Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico (offshore islands in the Caribbean Sea), St. Eustatius, and The Bahamas.
In this article you can read about the exciting plans proposed by each awardee. Stay tuned for results and accomplishments featured in future issues of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, blog articles, and presentations at our upcoming 24th BirdsCaribbean International Conference in Dominican Republic this summer.
Congratulations to these outstanding researchers and conservationists from our BirdsCaribbean community!
Establishing baselines in research, data and science for birds (BiRDS for birds) in The Bahamas
Dr Ancilleno Davis, Science and Perspective & University of The Bahamas
Baselines in Research, Data, and Science for birds (BiRDS for birds) is a program to establish baseline data for bird diversity, population estimates, and research or scientific standards that can be applied to research and conservation activities throughout The Bahamas. The program will provide training in the use of bird monitoring protocols and access to optical equipment to local students along with opportunities to participate in wildlife assessments. It is expected that this project will improve local biodiversity knowledge, and ultimately, will help trainees to have better opportunities for obtaining jobs in conservation in The Bahamas and insular Caribbean.
Distribution shifts of the Oriente Warbler: species assessment in Villa Clara province, Cuba
Claudia Mantilla, Center for Environmental Studies and Services of Villa Clara, Cuba
The Oriente Warbler (Teretistris fornsi) is endemic to central-eastern Cuba. In recent years, occasional sightings have been recorded in provinces outside its known range, such as south of Cienfuegos and north of Villa Clara. In this project, Claudia will conduct population surveys and bird banding to understand the species’ distribution in the westernmost part of the central region of the country (Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Villa Clara), where it also overlaps with the congeneric Yellow-headed Warbler (T. fernandinae). The goal of this study is to determine the ecological requirements of the Oriente Warbler in order to promote the conservation of its habitat, since only 16% of its distribution is within protected areas.
Understanding the importance of a small urban park for conserving migratory and resident bird species in Havana
Daniela Ventura, University of Havana, Cuba
Havana is home for 47% of the bird species of Cuba, and is an important stopover and wintering site for migratory birds. Research efforts have been conducted in green spaces located in the less densely populated municipalities of the capital. Thus, to obtain a better understanding of urban bird communities within Havana, Daniela plans to expand a banding scheme initiated as part of BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Bird Banding Network to the Quinta de Los Molinos Park. Specifically, she intends to evaluate the migration phenology of Neotropical migratory birds that use the site as a stopover or wintering area, and determine the survival and overall physical conditions of migrant and resident bird species. The project will provide an indirect measure of the importance of urban forest fragments for supporting biodiversity, and will increase the awareness of park visitors about the need to protect wild birds.
Raising awareness and education on the endangered Jamaican Blackbird in a National Park
Justin Saunders, BirdLife Jamaica
In this project, Justin and a team of collaborators from BirdLife Jamaica, aim to create an innovative public education campaign to raise awareness about the endangered Jamaican Blackbird (Nesopsar nigerrimus) and its habitat in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. The project includes the development of educational signs within the park and the creation of a basic virtual tour to engage a broader audience. The educational outcomes will be evaluated at educational events at the park. The plan will be implemented in partnership with the Jamaica Conservation Development Trust, Jamaica Environment Trust, and the National Environment Planning Agency.
Conservation ecology of the Puerto Rican Oriole
Michael Ocasio, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Conserving Caribbean island endemics, like the Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis), requires an increased and specific understanding of the threats faced by these species. Notably, the Puerto Rican Oriole has shown worrying signs of reproductive challenges, including high rates of brood parasitism and low reproductive success. In this project, Michael aims to assess the oriole’s population dynamics through point counts, banding, radio tracking, and nest monitoring across different habitats and elevations. His results on the species abundance, survival, and reproductive success will contribute to the Puerto Rico State Wildlife Action Plan, the USGS list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, while also fostering collaborative and effective conservation efforts in the Caribbean.
Investigating male and female vocalizations of an understudied endemic Caribbean songbird in Puerto Rico
Michelle Moyer, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis), one of 18 endemic species on the island of Puerto Rico, remains significantly understudied. Improving our understanding of how the orioles use sex-specific songs is necessary to develop effective conservation management plans. Preliminary work in 2023 indicated that male and female orioles may sing different songs, but at similar rates. Increasing the sample size by recording additional individuals is crucial for gaining an accurate understanding of the singing behavior of this species. Through this project, Michelle will engage undergraduate students from the University of Puerto Rico in point counts and mist-netting, and intends to co-develop management strategies in collaboration with Para La Naturaleza.
Understanding the social and spatial organization of the Palmchat in the Dominican Republic
Qwahn Kent, Princeton University
In this project, Qwahn aims to investigate the social and spatial organization of the Palmchat (Dulus dominicus), a communally breeding bird endemic to Hispaniola. The Palmchat plays a crucial role in the ecosystem—it disperses seeds and provides nesting sites for several species, including the critically endangered Ridgway’s Hawk, which nests on top of Palmchat nests. Qwahn will band individual Palmchats and will use a social network analysis to understand their complex organizations. Morphological features of nesting trees will be measured, and a machine learning algorithm will be developed to predict Palmchat nest locations. This research has conservation implications, since the spatial organization of Palmchat nests and their movement patterns influence both patterns of seed dispersal, as well as nest site availability for the hawks.
Help the Bridled Tern return to Isla Contoy National Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Jonathan Nochebuena, Mexican Association for the Conservation of Birds and their Habitats (AMCAH)
The Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) breeds on Isla Contoy, a small Island off the Caribbean coast of Yucatan, Mexico, which is considered a site of international importance for the conservation of seabirds. In 2019, AMCAH started a project to protect the terns’ nesting areas, with the support of park managers and the local group Friends of Isla Contoy. This new project intends to continue the monitoring and banding efforts with community participation, and to develop measures to help increase the species’ population. This initiative will also help raise community awareness about threats to seabirds in general.
Avifauna of Las Balsas wetland, Gibara, Holguín, Cuba
Ailen Anido, Museo de Historia Natural Joaquín Fernández de la Vara, Gibara
The wetland Balsas de Gibara in Holguin consists of a large area of mangroves, coastal lagoons, mudflats, and salt marshes located between two rivers that flow into Gibara Bay. High concentrations of waterfowl have been reported in this site, including new bird species for Cuba. Ailen and her team will carry out an inventory of the birdlife of this important site using BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Waterbird Census protocols. They will train local residents in bird identification and survey techniques to engage them in the field work throughout the year. She also intends to increase awareness of the high ecological value of this protected area by promoting sustainable practices, such as the creation of a birdwatching club and bolstering bird and nature tourism.
Update of the status and trends of American Flamingos in Cuba
Susana Aguilar, University of Havana
The Cuban population of the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), the only flamingo distributed through the Caribbean, is one of the most important in the region. The species depends on estuaries and saline lagoons, making it vulnerable to climate change. In this project, Susana seeks to update the information about the status of the American Flamingo in the island by assessing its current distribution, and estimating its abundance and number of nests in the breeding sites. She and her team will carry out field expeditions to verify new potential nesting sites in remote coastal wetlands of central Cuba, using drones in their surveys. Results are expected to contribute to the improvement of management decisions for the species in Cuba.
Characterization of the community of aquatic birds associated with the wetland of the San Miguel de Parada Fauna Refuge
Yanelis Sánchez, Empresa Flora y Fauna, Santiago de Cuba
Cuban wetlands are important stopover and wintering areas for numerous species of migratory waterbirds. However, they are increasingly being polluted by industrial discharge of solid and liquid waste, like the case of San Miguel de Parada Wildlife Refuge in the province of Santiago, Cuba. Yanelis will be conducting monthly surveys in this wetland throughout the year to determine the composition and structure of the waterfowl community. Moreover, she intends to identify and monitor nesting colonies from May to June, describe their habitat characteristics, and assess the breeding success for different species. As part of the project, she also wants to promote the recovery and conservation of the Santiago de Cuba Bay by implementing effective management actions and educational campaigns.
Enhancing conservation initiatives for Red-billed Tropicbirds in Boven National Park, St. Eustatius
Jethro van’t Hul, St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA)
The Red-Billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), an iconic seabird species with striking red bills and long tail streamers, faces imminent threats to its population on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius. Previous research estimated only 300-500 breeding pairs. Through this study, Jethro aims to reassess the population on Pilot Hill, and compare counts with a second study site on the cliffside area of Boven National Park where no data has been collected previously. Monthly surveys will be conducted in both locations, and video recordings will be taken to estimate the number of potential nesting pairs in a section of the Boven cliffs. His goal is to obtain a more accurate population estimate of nesting pairs to support further conservation efforts in Boven National Park.
Are you working on, or planning a research or conservation project with Caribbean birds?
Jennifer Mortensen, from the University of Arkansas, retrieving camera trap data with a team of conservationists from the Saint Lucia Forestry Department, including Stephen Lesmond, Therence Eugene, Jeannette Victor, and Jonathan Cornibert (from right to left).
Our next call for proposals will be advertised in the fall of 2024. Members of BirdsCaribbean conducting research and conservation work are eligible to apply. Stay informed and don’t miss our announcements by subscribing to our monthly newsletter,joining our Listserv, and following us on social media (@BirdsCaribbean on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Linked In).
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BirdsCaribbean switched into top gear for 2023. With a lot of ground to cover, we were quickly up and running! Here are some of the highlights of the year…
Focus on one adorable but elusive waterbird…
Our Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) region-wide count, from January 14 to February 3 2023, included an ‘added’ Caribbean-wide Piping Plover survey. This species is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN with an estimated global breeding population of just 8,400 birds. The search was enhanced by beautiful graphics and merchandise by Josmar Esteban Marquez. Sightings were tracked live and plotted on a map. During the survey, these attractive but vulnerable birds were spotted in The Bahamas (a great success!), the British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Word of our search spread far and wide and we also received sightings from the Caribbean coast of Mexico! Please continue to keep a sharp eye open for these small, round birds, which are often seen in small flocks on sand flats and might also be found in mangroves, mudflats, and other shoreline areas.
A Piping Plover in winter plumage with an all-black bill.
A Piping Plover chick. Piping Plovers breed in restricted areas of North America.
A small flock of Piping Plovers in winter plumage. (Photo by Walker Golden)
Just how do you spot those easily camouflaged, tiny plovers? Graphics from Josmar Esteban Marquez shared all the tips!
click to download as a pdf
During CWC 2023, an abundance of waterbirds were spotted across the region by diligent birders, young and old, as they kept their eyes peeled for the elusive Plover! Some of the wonderful waterbirds seen on our 2023 census included a white-morph Great Blue Heron on Bonaire (a rare sight outside Florida and Cuba); a diverse gathering of shorebirds on Cuba (including Dunlins, Sanderlings, Short-billed Dowitchers, Least and Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated and Wilson’s Plovers and many others); and and some ducks enjoying some winter sun on Jamaica (including Green-winged Teals, Ring-necked Ducks, and Lesser Scaups).
Survey team in Cuba searching for Piping Plovers during CWC2023. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Looking for landbirds…
After the volcanic eruption of April, 2021, St. Vincent’s landbirds, especially two vulnerable endemic species, the threatened St. Vincent Parrot, and endangered Whistling Warbler, faced new dangers—both in the short and long term. We thought it fitting to continue building the capacity of Caribbean conservationists to identify and monitor landbirds using standardized survey protocols.
Thanks to funding from theCritical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and BirdsCaribbean members, partners and donors, we organized a Landbird Monitoring Workshop on St. Vincent with 24 participants, including from neighboring islands(Grenada, St. Lucia, and Montserrat).
Participants and facilitators of the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Workshop at Montreal Gardens, St Vincent.
Bob and Maya constructing the base frame. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Maya and Todd checking cables. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Demonica Brown and Maya Wilson assemble the Motus antenna. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Cesar and Todd attaching the antenna to the Motus tower at the Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
Grand Bahama Motus Installation team: Lisa Sorenson, Todd Alleger, Bradley Pinder, Cesar Montero, Maya Wilson, Demonica Brown and, David Cooper. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Demonica and Bob Davies digging the hole for the base of the tower at the Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
We were out and about again! Celebrating our beautiful endemics
Did you know we now have 180 endemic birds in the Caribbean region? And we celebrated these one-of-a-kind birds during our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) from April 22 to May 22, 2023—with a special emphasis on water conservation. What would our birds (and we humans) do without water? With the increased heat (it was a very hot summer) we may have seen our birds drinking at bird baths—they get thirsty like we do! With the climate change crisis pressing on us, this was a very important theme to emphasize, and our partners across the region took it on enthusiastically.
Yaritza Bobonis with Lola the Puerto Rican Parrot mascot. (Photo by Fundación Amigos De El Yunque)
Information about the festival and endemic birds of Cuba was shared via radio interviews.
A Conservation Opportunity member sensitises participants about the threats posed by marine pollution. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Ashy-faced Owl, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Jay McGowan- Macaulay Library-ML162362421)
Students help plant native trees for birds and other wildlife at the National Botanical Garden.
A young girl plays a bird game during the CEBF festivities as a member of the Luis-Munos Marin Foundation looks on. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez)
Felix Raul Figueroa, photographer and member of Grupo Ecología de Aves, looks on as students from Ciénaga de Zapata color the Cuban Parrot. (Photo by Grupo de Ecología de Aves)
Birding along L’Anse Aux Epines road, Grenada. (Photo by Gaea Conservation Network)
Children and ARC Conservation members wear their hand crafted masks.
Jamaican Mango, perched. (Photo by Clive Daelman)
In 2023, the CEBF once again hosted in-person events and the response was tremendous—over 10,000 persons participated from The Bahamas down to Trinidad and Tobago! Our citizen scientists of all ages were out in numbers, with mangrove explorations, BirdSleuth Caribbean’s learning activities, school visits, habitat cleanups, art workshops, a birding for kids excursion, and even a floating classroom field trip!
On the Caribbean Birding Trail in Turks and Caicos
As the year-end drew closer, discovery, learning, and empowerment were words that came to mind during the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Interpretive Guide Training Workshop in Turks and Caicos Islands, which took place from October 23 to 27, 2023. Twenty-four participants were trained in the Islands’ beautifully unique environment during an intensive five-day workshop. The trail now includes 138 birding sites and ten hotels and eco-lodges in 24 countries—all combining amazing birding experiences with learning and information on ecosystems, cultural and natural heritage, and more.
Beny leads the group along the Bird Rock Point Trail. Several field trips throughout the week allowed participants to get acquainted with TCI’s best birding sites! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Tangles of red mangrove prop roots at Wheeland Pond. This extensive wetland is a haven for birdlife and a true shorebirder’s delight!
Flamingo Pond is a must-visit spot for American Flamingo lovers! Depending on the time of the year, flocks at this wetland on North Caicos can number in the thousands!
Class is in session! 24 participants from a range of backgrounds formed our CBT TCI cohort.
Ecotour guide and participant Geneile Robinson thumbs through her Birds of the West Indies field guide while distinguishing between waterbirds!
Lisa gives the class one of the toughest pop quizzes of all! How many different species of shorebirds are in the picture?
Participant and Biology teacher Amanda Brittain consults her Seabirds of the Caribbean card for gull ID support.
Rick’s demonstration of an interpretive talk where he played the role of a hammock salesman was so transportive that the class was convinced that he really was trying to hawk them hammocks for a while!
This was our seventh CBT training. We are deeply thankful to our Turks and Caicos sponsors—the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, and Vortex Optics.
Bonding over Bird Banding! Workshop #2 in the Dominican Republic
Bird banding is an essential component of birding science worldwide. It is a complex and technical issue that requires longer training sessions. We returned to the Dominican Republic again in March of last year (the location of this year’s International Conference), continuing our work of nurturing a committed community of trained banders. The response from our highly intelligent group of trainees was enthusiastic.
Participants learned to set up and close mist nets during the workshop. (Photo by Josh Covill)
Participants at the banding workshop, earlier this year, in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Joshua Covill)
Daniela Ventura del Puerto (Cuba) provides instruction on bird molt to workshop participants Giselle Raganoonan (Trinidad) and Elvin Manual Vargas Estevez (Dominican Republic).
Caribbean bird banders have gone abroad!
We sent some of our bird banders off to the United States and Brazil for immersive banding experiences. The interns reported back to us (Grenadian Zoya Buckmire at Klamath Bird Observatory in Oregon, Puerto Rican Dayamiris Candelario at Willistown Conservation Trust in Pennsylvania) on their exploration of new landscapes, new ecosystems—and, of course, new birds! We would like to thank all our partner organizations and generous donors who supported these internships. Once again, we were happy to add new dimensions to our young trainees’ experiences, so they may return to their countries to establish new programs and projects. Empowerment is key!
Seabirds under pressure
Despite a range of challenges, our dynamic Seabird Working Group has been addressing the critical state of Caribbean seabirds for some time now. The first-ever Caribbean-wide Seabird Census is ongoing, for 2023 and 2024. Over 300,000 pairs of breeding seabirds have already been counted at over 58 sites! Caribbean seabirds, like those in other areas of the world, are threatened by human activities—including pollution (especially plastics), climate change, invasive species, and unsustainable fishing practices. The Census continues! Please contribute your thoughts and findings, watch the webinar updates, and follow the admirable work of our Seabird Working Group this year!
Map 1: Countries participating in the Caribbean Seabird Census. Note that for large countries, the whole country is colored even though only a few localized sites may be censused.
Juliana Coffey identifying seabirds with seabird patrol volunteers, Union Island. (Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
Grenadines Guardians seabird survey. (Photo by Juliana Coffey)
Magnificent Frigatebird nesting colony. (Photo: Jeff Gerbracht)
Masked Booby adult and chick. (Photo by Ann Sutton)
More direct funding for research and conservation work!
From combating the illegal bird trade in Cuba, to surveys of our most endangered endemic Caribbean hawk in Haiti, thanks to our grant awards, 10 innovative new projects are helping us to protect and learn more about the region’s understudied birds and habitats! Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs sharing exciting project results and accomplishments.
The 2023 cohort of grantees under our three named awards, the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds, the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund, and the new James A. Kushlan Research and Conservation Fund.
Have we forgotten something? Oh, yes…
Last but by no means least, Global Big Day 2023 was another huge success, with increased numbers of Caribbean birders participating. Our region saw more birds (a total of 515 species) and more humans (511 posting on eBird) than on any other Global Big Day. Once again, competition among our teams was heated—and once again, our Executive Director Lisa Sorenson’s multinational “Flying Pintails” dominated! Hmmm…
NOTE: Please remember to record ALL your bird sightings, whether in your backyard or out on a birding excursion, on eBird Caribbeanvia their website or phone app. Your bird notes make a difference in helping scientists identify the “what, when, how many, and where” of our region’s birds!
Networking is key…
As you can see, building and strengthening networks across the region has always been a significant part of our work, and it was the same in 2023. Our network of scientists (including citizen scientists), students, educators, non-governmental and community organizations, as well as nature-friendly companies and government entities, continues to grow.
Talking birds: Justin Saunders lends a listening ear to a young birder. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Daniela and Elvin take a closer look at a bird’s wing while another participant John Holas looks on. (Photo by Josh Covill)
Yvan Satge discusses birds at sea with fishermen. (Photo by Jacob Gonzalez-Solis)
María Paulino hosts a group discussion with students at the National Botanical Garden.
Levardo, Estefania, and Junel discuss the finer points of binocular adjustment.
In addition to the Caribbean Bird Banding Network, the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, and the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network, we are also building a vibrant group of trained interpretive guides through the Caribbean Birding Trail. This person-to-person aspect of our work is important for knowledge-sharing, interaction, and “comparing notes” with each other. A great deal of teamwork goes into all these endeavors, as you can see from our reports. All of this creates a positive and nurturing environment. We have great faith in our newly-trained Caribbean citizens, who are both enthusiastic and action-oriented. They want to see progress and improvements for our wonderful birds and their habitats.
We look forward to keeping in touch with you all! Here’s to 2024!
A huge thank you to all of our members, partners, and donors. This work would not be possible without your dedication, passion, hard work, and financial support.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology publishes peer-reviewed science on Caribbean birds and their environment that is critical to informing conservation work. In this annual blog feature, JCO’s staff is proud to show off the amazing research from scientific teams around the Caribbean. Volume 36 demonstrates the wide range of research conducted by our authors; from population and habitat use studies, to documentations of behavior, to methods-centered papers on bird monitoring. About ten articles focus on land birds, while three concentrate on waterbirds.
The JCO is immensely grateful for its dedicated team of editors, reviewers, copyeditors, translators, proofreaders, and production specialists that have worked together so well again this past year to produce high-quality publications. We also thank the 57 authors behind the 16 Research Articles and Notes for their trust in the JCO to publish their open-source work in the best form. The JCO and our non-profit publisher, BirdsCaribbean, continue to emphasize support for early-career researchers, trilingual content, open access, and a comprehensive archive going back to the very first volume from 1988.
Map depicting research locations of studies published in Volume 36.
A few glimpses behind the scenes of JCO’s operations in 2023:
JCO has welcomed Dr. Susana Aguilar, our Birds of the World (BOW) Coordinator for Cuba. Susana has an intimate knowledge of Cuban ornithology and we are very happy that we could recruit her to facilitate the revision of BOW accounts from the largest Caribbean island. Our Production Assistant and Designer since 2019, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes is pursuing another professional opportunity. She has tremendously helped with typesetting and, being an Adobe InDesign wizard, has optimized several “under the hood” features. Our Associate Editor team expanded with Yvan Satgé of Clemson University and Dr. Kathryn Peiman, from Ontario, Canada joining the team. Sadly, we learned that one of our Associate Editors, Dr. Virginia Sanz D’Angelo (Centro de Ecología, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela) has passed away. Her dedication to JCO leaves a big gap.
It took a little longer than hoped, but our (all part-time!) staff finally pulled together a voluminous (94 pages) Special Issue with Caribbean-themed conference contributions from the AOS-BC conference in San Juan in 2022. Because it sometimes takes authors a while to fully publish research, these conference presentations and poster abstracts provide a more timely glimpse into what’s happening in Caribbean bird research and conservation.
We hope to see many of our readers, authors, editors, and team members in July at the BirdsCaribbean 2024 Conference in the Dominican Republic!
— Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr., JCO Editor-in-Chief,
— Stefan Gleissberg, JCO Managing Editor
— Zoya Buckmire, JCO Lead Copyeditor
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO. Consider being a sustainer with a monthly contribution of $5 or more!
Like humans, birds are susceptible to parasitic infections, including avian malaria, and similarly, variations in hemoglobin structure may influence their susceptibility to these infections. Using one of the most widespread West Indian species, the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), Humphries and Ricklefs aimed to relate variation in hemoglobin structure and avian malaria infection across several islands. In this paper, they present the results of this fascinating study, with suggestions for appropriate markers for further biogeographic analyses.
In the midst of the central Bahamas archipelago lies the tiny Conception Island National Park. This multi-island park is designated as an Important Bird Area, but until now, its bird diversity was poorly documented. In this paper, Reynolds and Buckner present the first avifaunal list for this park in over a century, with a whopping 68 species, 3 of which are Bahamian endemics.
As human influence over the environment increases, so too does the distribution of artificial materials in natural spaces. More and more birds are encountering human debris in their habitat and interacting with these materials in various ways—whether mistaking them for food or becoming entangled in them. In this research note, Madden and Danielson-Owczynsky document landbirds in St. Eustatius using human debris in an interesting but dangerous way, a fascinating discovery that hints at the pervasiveness of our impact on the world around us.
Anderson Jean, Maxon Fildor, Marta Curti, Eladio Fernandez, Christine D. Hayes, and Thomas I. Hayes
Few things are more exciting than the rediscovery of a once-extirpated species, and the case of the Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is no exception. This Hispaniolan endemic was once well-distributed across the island, but had not been recorded in Haiti since 1962. A chance encounter in 2019 prompted hope and follow-up studies in subsequent years as the authors sought to confirm sightings of the species. In this research note, Jean et al. document their rediscovery of this unique hawk in Haiti.
Joshua LaPergola, C. Justin Proctor, Hodali Almonte, and Kate J. Wallace
Birds eat bugs—or at least, that is how it’s supposed to go. The roles are sometimes reversed in the natural world, with one noteworthy example being parasitism. Philornis sp. larvae are a well-known parasite for birds, but we are still figuring out which species are affected by these parasites. In this paper, LaPergola et al. document the first record of Philornis sp. larvae parasitizing a swift, in this case an Antillean Palm-Swift (Tachornis phoenicobia) in the Dominican Republic. This expands our understanding of parasitism by this genus and adds to the ever-growing list of threats to Caribbean birds, especially aerial insectivores like swifts.
Nicholas Bergen, Christopher C. De Ruyck, and Nicola Koper
Citizen science provides a seemingly obvious solution to the various logistical and resource challenges of data collection in the Caribbean, but it is not without its own challenges. How does observer experience affect detectability of birds in the field? And do observers perform differently depending on who they are paired with? Bergen et al. conducted an experiment in Grenada to answer these questions and more, involving 34 different observers in over 400 surveys across the island. In this paper, the authors present the results of their study, along with several practical recommendations for the design and implementation of citizen science-based monitoring programs in the region.
Louise M. Soanes, Devon Carter, Laurel B. Symes, Jennifer C. Daltry, Holger Klinck, Clarissa Lloyd, and Farah Mukhida
If we as scientists had unlimited time and money, then long-term monitoring of bird populations would be a breeze. In the real world, however, monitoring efforts are limited by funding, access, and personnel, especially on remote islands and cays. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is an emerging tool with the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of monitoring efforts, and a recent pilot project in Anguilla aimed to test the utility of this tool in the Caribbean context. In this paper, Soanes et al. describe the results of their pilot, with recommendations for the best use of PAM throughout the region.
Samantha J. Hagler, Kara Abbott, Christine D. Hayes, Thomas I. Hayes, and André A. Dhondt
The Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is a charismatic species that has received lots of conservation attention in recent years, but there still remain major gaps in knowledge about this species’ life history and behavior, especially pre-breeding. In this research article, Hagler et al. present their results from tracking 3 established breeding pairs of Ridgway’s Hawks in the Dominican Republic, adding critical information to the body of knowledge about this endangered and endemic species.
Yaroddys Rodríguez Castaneda y Nils Navarro Pacheco
The wild bird trade is a growing threat to Caribbean birds, with species targeted for their bright plumages and/or beautiful songs. This industry is especially prevalent in Cuba, with over 3,000 birds trapped in one month (October 2021). Dozens of species are trapped and sold, including species that may not have been previously recorded for the island. In this Spanish-language paper, Rodríguez Castaneda and Navarro Pacheco document a new species for Cuba, discovered through the ongoing bird trade, suggesting that Cuba’s true avian diversity may be even higher than estimated.
El tráfico de aves silvestres es una amenaza creciente a las aves del Caribe, con las aves elegidas para sus plumajes brillantes y/o sus bonitos cantos. Esta industria es especialmente frecuente en Cuba, con más que 3000 aves capturadas en un mes (octubre 2021). Docenas de especies son capturadas y vendidas, incluyendo unas especies que quizás no eran reportadas para la isla. En este artículo español, Rodríguez Castaneda y Navarro Pacheco documentan una especie nueva para Cuba, descubierta por el tráfico continuado de aves, sugiriendo que la verdadera diversidad de aves de Cuba puede ser aún más alta que la estimada anteriormente.
Ramon J.T. Williams, Miyako H. Warrington, and Nicola Koper
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are subject to unique ecological pressures, and the bird populations on these islands are no different. How are birds using and responding to natural and anthropogenic habitats on these islands? In what ways does this use differ from the well-studied continental regions? And importantly, how does this inform conservation and management measures here, in the Caribbean? In this paper, Williams et al. explore all these questions and more using resident landbird species in Grenada.
Kara L. Lefevre, Elizabeth Forys, Adam DiNuovo, and Adam D. Smith
Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) are a charismatic—and admittedly odd-looking—colonial seabird distributed throughout the coastal Americas. Populations in Florida (R. niger niger) are under threat, and to inform conservation measures, Lefevre et al. set out to track the dispersal and movements of skimmer chicks from breeding colonies in Florida. In this paper, the authors describe their use of various tracking methods, some more successful than others, and present important recommendations on how to design future studies.
Parrots and parakeets (Psittaciformes) are some of the most widely introduced species in the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico is no exception. There, the White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus) was introduced in the late 1960s and has since become “the most successful invasive psittacine species on the island”. However, until now, not much was known about their life history or population status in Puerto Rico. In this article, Falcón and Tremblay report on the status of two breeding populations with estimates of their growth rates, as well as other critical information including the species’ diet and nesting habits on the island.
Paige A. Byerly, Susan Zaluski, Daniel Nellis, Judy Pierce, and Paul L. Leberg
Effective management of bird populations requires quality data, but quality data is often difficult to come by. Where studies do exist, methods may vary greatly based on differing research questions, objectives, and priorities, but as Byerly et al. demonstrate here, it is not impossible to form a cohesive picture from various disparate surveys. Comparing data from surveys in the early 2000s with their own in 2016-2018, the authors produce up-to-date trends on the populations of 7 seabirds in the Virgin Islands—and none of them are good. In this paper, Byerly et al. present these timely population status updates, a call for action, and a great example of how to make the best of the limited data we have in the Caribbean to conserve and manage our birds.
Nils Navarro Pacheco, Roberto Jovel Lara, Wisdenilde Navarro Méndez, Juan Carlos Lobaina Montero, Noel Coutín Lobaina, and Carlos Hernández
The Cuban subspecies of the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus fringilloides) is relatively understudied, with no documented nesting records for Cuba—until now. In this Spanish-language article, Navarro Pacheco et al. present the first record of a nest found in Guantanamo, Cuba, with detailed descriptions of the nest, eggs, breeding behavior, and other aspects of the reproductive biology of this endemic subspecies.
El Gavilancito Cubano (Accipiter striatus fringilloides) es relativamente poco estudiado, con ningunos registros de nidificación documentados para Cuba—hasta ahora. En este artículo español, Navarro Pacheco y otros presentan el primer registro de un nido encontrado en Guantánamo, Cuba, con descripciones detalladas del nido, los huevos, el comportamiento de reproducción, y otros aspectos de la biología reproductiva de esta subespecie endémica.
Avery Young, David Aborn, Steven C. Latta, and Jennifer Nagel Boyd
The way wildlife interacts with food systems is an increasingly important topic as food production expands and encroaches upon habitat. In the Dominican Republic, a major driver of habitat loss is the conversion of forests to avocado farms to meet demand. How does habitat differ between the natural forests and these farm systems? How are birds responding to these differences? And does avian response vary depending on whether the birds are endemic, resident, or migratory? In this research article, Young et al. answer these questions and more, and offer recommendations to balance habitat preservation with our food production needs.
Malo Braquier, Anthony Levesque, Jérémy Delolme, and Charlotte Francesiaz
How long do birds live in the wild? Lifespan of course differs by family and species, and even within species as birds face varying threats within their habitats, migration routes, and from the humans they encounter. Shorebirds like plovers can live into their teens, and for the Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia), the previous longevity record was 10 years. In this research note, Braquier et al. report a new longevity record for this species from their resightings of a previously banded Wilson’s Plover in Guadeloupe.
The annual compilation of the most important articles that appeared elsewhere, annotated by Steve Latta.
Article by
Zoya Buckmire – Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology;
Stefan Gleissberg – Managing Editor JCO
TheJournal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO.
BirdsCaribbean brings you highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our feature “Just Published in JCO”. Here, Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at various research on the Critically Endangered and endemic Ridgway’s Hawk.
The Ridgway’s Hawk is one of the most critically endangered raptors in the world with fewer than 400 individuals remaining. It is endemic to Hispaniola. (Photo by Dax Román)
Few things are more exciting than the rediscovery of a once-extirpated species, and the case of the Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is no exception! This Critically Endangered raptor is endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), but despite its historically widespread distribution, it had not been spotted in Haiti since 1962. A chance encounter on one of Haiti’s satellite islands prompted hope and a follow-up study as Anderson Jean and colleagues sought to confirm their suspected sighting of the species. Thus began an epic scavenger hunt to rediscover this unique hawk on the Haitian side of Hispaniola! The authors shared a behind-the-scenes look at their discovery and their ongoing work to conserve the Ridgway’s Hawk.
Map showing current known Ridgway’s Hawk distribution on Hispaniola. (Map by Leah Dunn of The Peregrine Fund)
The first sighting in 2019 was entirely by chance—or rather, by fate. Anderson Jean andMaxon Fildorwere conducting a rapid ornithological assessment of Les Cayemites, two islands off the southwestern coast of Haiti, as part of a baseline study for the recently declared Baradères-Cayemites protected area. They were compiling information on the terrestrial vertebrates present to inform the management plan for the region. It was then that they spotted two raptors in flight—rushing to document what they could, they speedily took pictures, videos, and audio recordings to aid in identification. One of those two birds was later identified as a juvenile Ridgway’s Hawk, the first sighting of the species in Haiti in over 50 years, and the first sighting for Les Cayemites in over a century.
Juvenile Ridgway’s Hawk spotted by Anderson Jean and colleagues on Petite Cayemite. (Photo by Anderson Jean)
Adult female Ridgway’s Hawk with a green vine snake on Petite Cayemite. (Photo by Thomas Hayes)
With this confirmation, the authors returned the following year with a purpose, partnering with The Peregrine Fund to conduct systematic surveys on the Baradères Peninsula and both Petite and Grande Cayemite. Between 2020 and 2021, the group detected as many as 19 Ridgway’s Hawks in the region—a veritable population! And not only is a population present, it also has the potential to persist as the birds are breeding.
The authors describe their most memorable moment as the instance, in 2021, when they found two nests on Grande Cayemite for the first time. Whilst the nest was located high in a tree on a weak branch too high and risky to climb, the evidence of breeding was enough. On the smaller cay, Petite Cayemite, they have only observed one breeding pair to date, but that pair has nested every single year since they were spotted in 2019. Another exciting development is that the authors banded their first Ridgway’s Hawk chick in 2023, which will surely provide more insights to this ongoing research.
Ridgway’s Hawk nest in a gumbo limbo tree with a juvenile hawk perched above. (Photo by Anderson Jean)
Ultimately, Jean and colleagues hope that their research will contribute to the body of knowledge on this charismatic species, and help conservationists understand the causes of population decline and to increase the population size in Les Cayemites. They are continuing their search in nearby areas like Pestel, Grand Boukan, and Gonâve Island. Although White et al. did not find any sign of the species in their 2012 raptor survey of Gonave Island, it is possible that Ridgway’s Hawk have recolonized the island in the decade that has since passed. Anderson Jean and his colleagues hope to eventually witness the reintroduction of the species throughout its historical range.
La Gonâve Island, Haiti. (Photo by Justin White)
Amidst this exciting rediscovery in Haiti, on the other side of the island of Hispaniola, another fascinating investigation was underway! Samantha Hagler and colleagues studied the breeding behavior of the species—looking particularly at pre-breeding behavior—observing and recording the birds to gain insights into how they form and strengthen pair bonds. This research supports ongoing conservation efforts to restore the Ridgway’s Hawk population, including a past project by The Peregrine Fund that translocated hawks to create a new population in Punta Cana. Translocating the hawks was a challenge within itself, with initial successes limited by high mortality rates due to power poles near the sites. Dwyer et al. document the creative solutions that had to be used to minimize hawk mortality, leading to eventual success of the program.
Ridgway’s Hawks hatched in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic thanks to The Peregrine Fund’s Assisted Dispersal Program. (Photo by The Peregrine Fund)
Ridgway’s Hawk parent feeding its chick in the nest. (Photo by Dax Román)
At the newly established population in Punta Cana, Hagler et al. tracked three established breeding pairs to compare them (and their behaviors) to the source population in the Los Haitises National Park. Interestingly, pre-breeding behaviors actually differed between the two groups. This could be a function of the populations’ size, density, or different levels of development—and raises even more questions that will be critical to better understanding and conserving the species.
Between these two populations in the Dominican Republic and the newly found population in southwestern Haiti, the future of the Ridgway’s Hawk looks brighter than in previous years. Thanks to the award of a BirdsCaribbean Betty Petersen Conservation Fund grant, Anderson Jean is continuing his urgent work to map and protect Ridgway’s Hawk populations in Haiti. His surveys will be further extended to the larger island of Grand Cayemite. To additionally address anthropogenic threats, the team will initiate an educational campaign directed at local communities, especially schoolchildren and farmers. Outreach materials will be distributed in the communities and a special curriculum will be presented in local schools.
We look forward to further research and reports on this important endangered and endemic raptor, as it provides hope for the conservation of other raptors throughout the Caribbean.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology publishes the peer-reviewed science on Caribbean birds and their environment that is so important to inform conservation work. All of the publications are free and open-access.
MORE FEATURED ARTICLES FROM “JUST PUBLISHED IN THE JCO”
The Purple-throated Carib is endemic to a handful of islands in the Lesser Antilles. (Photo by Barbara and Frank Lilievre)
Being one of only two Eulampis species (a genus endemic to the Caribbean), the Purple-throated Carib adds endemic sparkle to the rainforest and cloud forest habitats of the Lesser Antilles. This large (it’s the largest hummingbird in the Caribbean!), brilliantly plumaged hummingbird is also closely associated with two species of native heliconia.
The Purple-throated Carib will visit feeders and cultivated landscape plants for a sweet drink of nectar, making it a familiar and quite spectacular sight for many in the Lesser Antilles. However, the Carib’s Birds of the World (BOW) account, which was previously just a short article last revised in 2018, provided only basic information which did not reflect the present state of scholarship and knowledge of the species.
Enter Dr. Ethan Temeles
A biology professor at Amherst College (MA, USA), Dr. Temeles has spent 8 field seasons in St. Lucia, and 17 field seasons in Dominica researching the Purple-throated Carib, making him the perfect candidate to revise and update its species account for Birds of the World. He connected with BirdsCaribbean staff at the American Ornithological Society/BirdsCaribbean conference held in Puerto Rico in 2022, and learned of the opportunity to contribute as an author for Birds of the World.
Purple-throated Carib drinking nectar from a banana flower in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Brian Sullivan ML 89366011)
Professor Temeles measures the length of a hummingbird’s beak using a caliper. (Photo by Amherst College)
Female Purple-throated Carib. (Photo by Tadas Jucys)
Dr Temeles eagerly took on the work of updating the species account with the latest science—including much of his own original research from 20 years of field work! He used the opportunity of lighter academic duties in the summer to synthesize his own and others’ work on the species.
Plumage Particulars, Population Data…and Partitioning of Flower Resources!
Thanks to the passionate work of Dr Temeles and his collaborators, the account has been greatly enriched in this 2024 update. It now includes detailed information about plumages, diet, and intriguingly, the sexual partitioning of flower resources. Dr Temeles also discusses the impact of Hurricane Maria (a deadly Category 5 hurricane that devastated 17 Caribbean islands in 2017) and other conservation concerns for the species. If you are from the Caribbean, learn how you can access all the scholarly resources on Birds of the World for FREE here.
The Birds of the World species account for the Purple-throated Carib has been significantly expanded in this update.
Editors at Birds of the World worked with Dr. Temeles and Macaulay Library resources to add a wide variety of photographs to the account—including many that will help with field identification. Even at a sizable five inches long, without perfect lighting the species often appears completely black except for its dazzling emerald green wings. Photographs of the Carib’s microhabitats, as well as videos and photographs showing its foraging behavior, are now also newly linked to the species account, demonstrating the powerful nature of integrating the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s online resources.
Dr. Temeles is still teaching biology and environmental studies classes at Amherst, and took a break from grading Intro Biology exams to finalize the publication. He enthused, ”I’m delighted to share my 20+ years of field work on this species with readers of Birds of the World, and hope that others will be inspired to study and answer some of the questions for future research presented in this account of a truly spectacular hummingbird.”
Of his experience as an author he added, “Working with the Birds of the World and BirdsCaribbean staff was great and their editorial expertise was amazing.”
Visit this page to access our free Purple-throated Carib coloring page and other educational activities.
Do you work with a Caribbean bird species, or are you interested in contributing to a Caribbean species account? We are always on the lookout for authors! Find out more or contact Caroline Pott (carolinepott@birdscaribbean.org) for more information regarding a species of interest.
The BirdsCaribbean-Cornell Lab of Ornithology partnership that produced this updated account also provides Birds of the World access for FREE to Caribbean-based IP addresses!
The Peregrine Falcon is famously known as the fastest animal on Earth, reaching speeds of up to 240mph when in a dive. (Beth Hamel)
Birds of prey are magnificent, powerful creatures, with a mystique all their own. They play an essential role in Caribbean ecosystems. Sadly, however, their significance as the only native terrestrial predators in the region is often underestimated and misunderstood.
Hispaniola Program Director at The Peregrine Fund, Marta Curti, is one of those conservationists who believe that raptors don’t get the attention they deserve. To inspire others with her own personal passion for the birds, she has written a remarkable new 200-page publication entitled “Raptors of the Caribbean: Education and Conservation Resource Guide.” It is available in Haitian Creole, Spanish and English, and divided into four chapters, each including fun and enlightening educational activities and a learning evaluation. The guide covers identification of raptor species, conservation techniques, and—most importantly—explains “Why Raptors Matter.”
Cover of the new Raptors of the Caribbean Education & Conservation Resource Guide.
“I believe the completion of this guide is a major milestone for raptor conservation throughout the Caribbean,” says Marta. “I hope this guide will help in fostering passion and compassion for the region’s birds of prey and will inspire students, teachers, biologists, and others to work to conserve these amazing birds.”
The workshop includes hands-on, dynamic activities including constructing life-sized hawks using recyclable materials, participating in “raptor Olympics,” a “food chain relay race,” and putting on a play. Marta’s goal is to extend these workshops across the region—while at the same time “training the trainers” to continue teaching students, community members, and educators about the importance of our amazing hawks, falcons, and kites.
Nature sketching and bird observation. (Marta Curti)
Training Workshop practicing bird observation skills. (Marta Curti)
Building a life sized Ridgway’s Hawk out of recyclable materials (Marta Curti)
Caribbean birds of prey vary greatly in size, behavior, and their preferred habitats. Some are migratory or passage migrants, transiting through the region, such as the Peregrine Falcon itself, which may be becoming more common in urban areas. Another speedy and powerful hawk, the Merlin, also migrates from north to south in the winter. Others such as the American Kestrel and the Red-tailed Hawk are seen more often. While some raptors are quite adaptable to new environments, several endemic species and subspecies are in need of help: for example, the Ridgway’s Hawk, Cuban Kite, Grenada Hook-billed Kite, and Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk. Climate change, deforestation, hunting, and persecution are among the dangers they face.
The Ridgway’s Hawk is one of the most critically endangered raptors in the world, with fewer than 500 individuals remaining. (Dax Roman)
Merlin Female taking off. (Phoo Chan)
The American Kestrel is a more frequently seen migrant to the region. (Photo by Imran Ashraf)
Since the printing of the new guide, Marta has completed two training workshops for a total of 39 people, including teachers, field technicians with the Ministry of the Environment, biology students, and women from rural communities who she hopes to involve more in our conservation efforts through a Women’s Conservation Fellowship. One of the best comments we received from participants were: “These activities really show how much we know about the Ridgway’s Hawk,” and “I am so surprised about how much we have learned in just two days.” Another great comment was short and sweet, “I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time as I have during this workshop.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the workshops and/or how to access a copy of the Raptor Education Guide, please contact: Marta Curti
BirdsCaribbean is proud to support this groundbreaking initiative, through the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund; along with the VanTienhoven Foundation, ACSEH, and National Aviary and partners in the Dominican Republic: Fundación Propagas, Fundación Grupo Puntacana, the Dominican Republic Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, and ZOODOM (National Zoo of Santo Domingo).
For as long as we have been here, human activity has fundamentally altered our environment. In this blog, forensic scientist and ornithologist, Dr Jessica Oswald, and archaeologist and curator, Dr Michelle LeFebvre, discuss their latest research into changes in parrot diversity after human arrival to the Caribbean. Their study analyzed ancient DNA from fossils and archaeological specimens to show how even cultures and peoples that are largely lost, have shaped the diversity and distributions of species, and changed ecosystems.
Dr LeFebvre elaborates, “As we enter what many are calling the “Age of Humans” (or the Anthropocene), it is more and more apparent that conservation must consider how species can survive in a human-dominated world. In the Caribbean, parrot conservation is exemplary of this need! This study provides a long-term blueprint, or baseline, of past human impacts on parrots from which to think about the future of extant parrot species distribution, vulnerability to loss, and hopefully persistence across Caribbean landscapes increasingly impacted by people.” Dr Oswald adds, “Only through deep time perspectives of diversity with paleontological (pre-human), archaeological (human associated) and modern samples from museum specimens, can we begin to reveal the complexity of our role in shaping our natural world.”
Co-authors Michelle LeFebvre (left) and Jessica Oswald (middle), pictured with graduate student Cristina Oliveira (right), combined DNA from modern museum specimens with ancient DNA from fossils and archaeological specimens to find out how humans altered the distribution of parrots. (Photo by Kristen Grace/Florida Museum)
Understanding the long-term impact of humans on biodiversity is critical for sound conservation. Parrots are one of the most enigmatic and beloved animals worldwide. For thousands of years, they have been valued as pets, for their feathers, and as a source of food. They are also among some of the most endangered birds today as they face extinction due to habitat loss and the pet trade. Parrot conservation efforts include reintroduction to places previously occupied by parrots and breeding programs. However, knowing the natural (pre- human) distributions of parrots is nearly impossible with modern day distributions because of thousands of years of trade and habitat loss. The conservation of parrot species thus greatly benefits from knowledge about past parrot diversity and distributions prior to encountering people for the first time. We can obtain this information through fossils and bones from paleontological (pre-human) and archaeological (human associated) sites.
Humans have been altering the natural world for longer than we thought
The Caribbean is a well-known biodiversity hotspot. Yet, the region has lost more than half of its native parrot diversity since the arrival of humans around 6,000 years ago, including macaws, parakeets, and even a tiny sparrow-sized parrot called a parrotlet that once inhabited the islands. Today, there are only 12 remaining parrots native to the Caribbean, which compete for space and resources with 12 non-native parrot species that have been recently introduced to the islands. Fossil and archaeological records and historical documents, all suggest that the remaining species were once far more abundant than they are today. For example, while exploring The Bahamas over 500 years ago, Columbus wrote that flocks of parrots were so abundant that they “obscure[d] the sun.”
All species of Amazona parrots are in decline and their pre-human, native distributions are not well understood. Through our work recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we aimed to understand how diversity and distribution of Amazona parrots changed before and after humans arrived in the Caribbean. Our primary focus was on the Cuban Parrot (A. leucocephala) and the Hispaniolan Parrot (A. ventralis), which have excellent archaeological and paleontological records. These records allowed us to reconstruct historical distributions and diversity over ~10,000 years—a period called the Holocene—through the ancient DNA found in these remains. Through this effort we also investigated the genetic relationships of living or recently lost (in the 20th century) Cuban Parrot populations and the relationships of all Amazona species using modern specimens curated in natural history museum collections. We combined this molecular data with carbon dating and evolutionary analysis to produce a comprehensive baseline of Caribbean parrot diversity through time.
DNA from Hispaniolan Parrot Amazona ventralis (top) and Cuban Parrot A. leucocephala (middle) specimens, and their bones (bottom) were sampled for this project. The left two (humeri) bones are from fossil sites while the rightmost is from a modern specimen. (Photo by Kristen Grace/Florida Museum)
The endemic Hispaniolan Parrot was once native . . . to The Bahamas!
In our study, we found that Caribbean parrots were much more diverse earlier in the Holocene and prior to human arrival to the region. Parrot extinctions started upon the arrival of Indigenous peoples ~6,000 years ago, accelerated through colonization by European settlers at the end of the 15th century, and they continue today. Within Amazona parrots, we found evidence that a population of Cuban Parrots in the Turks and Caicos was genetically distinct and is now extinct. The Hispaniolan Parrot, now endemic to Hispaniola, was once also native to The Bahamas prior to human settlement. Our results also suggest that the Hispaniolan Parrot was transported to islands beyond their native ranges, including Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles. From the perspective of Caribbean parrot conservation, our results suggest that many species have been lost due to human impacts and there is evidence of long-term human introductions of species beyond their native ranges.
Hispaniolan Parrot eating. (Photo by Dax Roman)
The findings from our study provide the most detailed view of Caribbean parrot diversity and distribution across the Holocene and show that the shifts in parrot diversity and distributions were strongly influenced by people across millennia. The results clarify that notions about whether a species is native or restricted to a region or island requires data across long time scales, rather than relying purely on the lens of the present. Deep-time historical sciences and perspectives are key to conservation as we navigate biodiversity loss and conservation in the present and future.
Pair of Cuban Parrots. (Photo by Ger Bosma)
Jessica A. Oswald is a Michigan native who earned her PhD from the University of Florida. She has spent her career building a research program that uses a variety of data, like fossils and genomic data, to understand the diversity and distributions of birds. Her hope is that these data can be used for conservation applications and will provide insight into the importance of paleontological data in biogeographic, phylogenetic, and ecological studies.
Michelle J. LeFebvre is an archaeologist and a curator of archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. With a focus on how interactions between people and animals in the past have impacted animal diversity and distribution in the present, she collaborates with paleontologists, biologists, Indigenous peoples, and local resource managers to support the conservation of biological and cultural diversity in the Anthropocene. Her passion lies in exploring the ways in which human culture and nature are linked and shape the world around us.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Wilson’s Warbler
This spritely migratory bird with the bad toupée is the Wilson’s Warbler. It is one of the smallest warblers at around 10-12cm long and weighing 5-10g.
Its plumage is mainly yellowish-olive, with a golden yellow throat and belly. It has beady black eyes and a small, thin beak. Adult males have a glossy black cap on their heads; the cap on females and juvenile males is highly variable but usually duller and more olive colored. These little birds are insectivorous, feeding on various arthropods on tree leaves and branches. They often hover in front of leaves as they try to capture a tasty insect morsel!
Wilson’s Warblers breed in the western United States, across Canada, and also in Alaska. It is a ground-nesting species that loves scrubby habitats and thickets near streams. Their clutch size ranges from 2-7 eggs and they are capable of breeding twice in a season. Only females incubate the eggs and brood nestlings (chicks), but males help feed nestlings and fledglings (chicks that have grown feathers and are learning to fly).
By August they leave their breeding grounds and begin their fall migration to Central America and islands in the northern Caribbean—The Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. During migration they use many types of habitats, from lowland thickets near streams to high-elevation cloud forests. On their wintering grounds they supplement their diet of squirmy, slimy, crunchy insects with “honeydew”—a sugary liquid secreted by some insects as they feed on plant sap.
The Wilson’s Warbler is not threatened but is listed as a “Common bird in steep decline” by the Partners in Flight organization. This is because of habitat loss on both their breeding and wintering grounds, predation from invasive species like domesticated cats, and nest parasitism. Helping Wilson’s Warblers, and other birds, can be as simple as keeping pet cats indoors and using a leash and harness when outdoors; and supporting the efforts of bird advocacy groups and NGOs that are working to restore and protect habitats across the Wilson’s Warbler’s range.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
The Wilson’s Warbler
‘I’m a tiny warbler,
With beady black eyes,
A black cap on my head,
And energetic for my size,
I breed in mountain meadows,
And thickets near streams,
I winter in Central America,
A vagrant in the West Indies,
Because of habitat loss,
My species is in decline,
Please protect my forest home,
Before I run out of time”
Thanks to Scott Johnson for the text and poem, and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Wilson’s Warbler
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Wilson’s Warbler
The call of the Wilson’s Warbler is a husky chip. You may also hear the male as they start to sing on their wintering grounds. The song is a rapid string of similar notes, dropping in pitch toward the end.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Female Wilson’s Warbler. Look for this bird in tangles of vegetation along streams or ponds or even forested edges. (Photo by Arlene Ripley Macaulay Library-ML176994031)Male Wilson’s Warbler. Wilson’s Warblers tend to be brighter yellow in the West and paler yellow in the East. Pacific Coast populations have the brightest yellow, almost orange, foreheads and faces. (Photo by Rick Evets)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: This year the theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.” We want to highlight the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds.
We often see birds flying, preening, bathing and feeding. You might not have ever seen a bird taking a drink of water but they do!
Birds need water just as much as we do. Drinking water helps them regulate bodily processes like digestion. Water also keeps birds clean and cool on hot days when they take a splish-splash in a puddle, gutter, or backyard bird bath. Many birds also rely on wetland habitats, such as our ponds, salinas, marshes, mangroves, rivers, and coastal waters.
In our activity you can create your own poster to show how important water is to birds. Draw in the various ways birds use water!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Wilson’s Warblers in the wild! In the first, you can see a lovely, brightly colored male. In the second, a Wilson’s Warbler takes a bath—one of the many things birds need water for as they migrate!
Read all about a bird banding adventure in Oregon! Caribbean biologist Zoya travelled all the way from Grenada to the US to learn more about studying birds using bird banding. Wilson’s Warbler was one of many bird species that Zoya was able to get up close to on her way to passing her NABC (North American Banding Council) exam and becoming a certified Bander. Find out all about her experiences in the blog below.
Front and back covers of Birds of the National Botanic Garden of Cuba. The Cuban Green Woodpecker, on the front cover, is the only representative of the Cuban endemic genera living in the garden.
At almost 500 hectares, the National Botanical Garden of Cuba offers a green oasis to birds, other wildlife, and people, in the capital city of Havana. It is well known for its extensive collection of palm trees, ethno-botanical displays, greenhouses, and serene Japanese Garden. From November to February it is an ideal place to see migratory birds, while some of Cuba’s iconic endemic and native birds can be seen year-round.
The new field guide “Birds of the National Botanical Garden of Cuba” (Aves del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba) is the most comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date work of its kind. We speak with the dedicated authors Dr. Martin Acosta, Dr. Lourdes Mugica, and MSc. Karen Aguilar, about the field guide. They share the extensive research that went into its creation, how the team persevered through numerous setbacks, their surprising finds and fond memories at the garden, and advice for aspiring field guide authors.
What inspired you to create a field guide to Birds of the National Botanical Garden of Cuba?
It is a long love story between our group and the birds of the National Botanical Garden. In 1982, Dr. Martin Acosta began tutoring an undergraduate’s thesis on the garden’s birds. Since then, he realized that, with its almost 500 hectares and varied vegetation, it was a privileged place, despite the fact that at that time less than 40 species were detected. From there we carried out and published several studies on the ecology of the species that inhabited the different areas that make up the garden.
Cover of the first field guide to the Birds of the National Botanical Garden of Cuba, published in 1990.
Later, in 1990, we published a short rustic guide to identify the 41 birds we had recorded at the garden. As we had no camera or way to obtain the illustrations, Dr. Vicente Berovides, Professor at the University of Havana, drew each of the birds by hand with pencil. Incredibly, his drawings were good enough to identify the birds! That simple guide sold out quickly, so very early we could appreciate that the public was eager to get this kind of information.
From the year 1990, the well-known Special Period arrived in Cuba, with a deep economic crisis that did not allow us to travel to the field and investigate the waterfowl of the rice fields and natural wetlands that were the main focus of our research in that period. That fact resulted in all our energy and time being focused on the birds of the garden, where we traveled by bicycle from before dawn to monitor their bird populations and assemblages, to do several ecological studies, and to assist our students in their undergraduate theses.
Over time our knowledge of the place and commitment to sharing our results were increasing. Both Martin and Lourdes thought that we were going to retire without fulfilling the dream of having a book for the general public. At the time we did not have any funds to guarantee writing, editing, design, and printing. Even without the funds, but with all the accumulated knowledge of more than 30 years, in 2019 we got the final push when Dr. Banessa Falcón, Director of Teaching and Research of the National Botanical Garden, insisted on the importance of achieving this book. Karen joined the authors to contribute voluntarily with the design, photography, and anything else that was needed.
Similarly, Neyda Izquierdo, winner of the National Publishing Award in Cuba, edited the book free of charge. Additionally, Dr. Banessa Falcón, supported us in working on the book from its inception and was our scientific editor for the botanical topics.
Karen and Lourdes traveled by bike to the garden almost every day until the book was completed.
In this way, we managed to assemble a fantastic team, with whom the work became a constant exchange of ideas between wonderful people, who dedicated many hours to ensure the quality of the text in the pandemic times. In the end, it was a collective work, full of love, commitment, science, and fun!
Today, within 55 years, the garden has an assemblage of birds that has tripled in diversity in response to the vegetation development. So far 128 species, (three of them after publishing the book) have been registered, so this group of vertebrates is among its greatest attractions.
Undoubtedly, this was the great moment to bring to light the work that seemed to be just a dream for so long. Our research shows the importance that a well-managed anthropogenic (man-made) site can have for the conservation of birds. In addition, we hope that this field guide may be a useful model to other botanical gardens in Cuba and the world.
How is this field guide different from other Cuban bird guides?
It differs in several aspects:
It is the first Cuban bird guide made entirely with photographs of birds; the guides that currently exist in Cuba are based on illustrations.
The biggest difference is that it includes closeup images of the heads of most bird species (85%), which allow you to appreciate important details that are not visible in general photos or drawings.
In Chapter Four of the field guide, each family has a general picture with the main characteristics of the family and then, all the species within the family are presented. Each species has between two to six pictures; icons and text complete the descriptions.
It is the first guide that dedicates a chapter to the interdependence between the development of plant communities and the assemblages of birds that use them, in addition to revealing different aspects of the ecology of some notable populations. The guide also includes a chapter that encourages bird watching in Cuban society and offers strategies for its development.
In Chapter Three, the authors promote birdwatching and give advice on how to attract birds to your garden. In this page several vegetation structures are highlighted because of the impact they may have on birds and the resources they can offer.
It is a field guide based on the original scientific results obtained by the authors from more than 30 years of research, not on a bibliographic compilation, and it includes a chapter where many of these results are shared.
In Chapter Two, the published ecological results collected by the authors for over 30 years at the garden are presented.
The incorporation of informational boxes within the text of the general chapters is also new in Cuban bird guides. They offer a deeper understanding of the scientific elements, and were obtained by the authors in this botanical garden.
The book focuses on an ex situ conservation institution, dedicated primarily to the conservation of plants, which now joins a small group of botanical gardens around the world that have their own bird guide.
In the Field Guide chapter, 125 species are presented with 473 photos. Although the authors provided 70% of the pictures, the rest are from the selfless collaboration of 52 Cuban and foreign photographers, so this guide is a result of solidarity for the good of conservation.
Soon after the guide was published, we received a national award from the Cuban Book Institute (First Prize for Technical Scientific Criticism 2022) and the Prize for Best Scientific Book of Natural Sciences from the University of Havana. It is the first Cuban bird guide to achieve these recognitions within the country.
Tell us about your team of authors—how did each contribute?
Taking photos of moving subjects is not easy but Karen persevered.
Martin and Lourdes had the general idea of writing a bird guide since 1990, when we first published a much simpler version. Both of us contributed with our long experience, field data, and results from published studies. We wrote most of the text, and did the exhaustive revision of each version. Martin also contributed numerous photographs that are used in the field guide.
But it was Karen who designed the book and supplied most of the photos. She spent many hours doing fieldwork during the book’s development, and processed the images for the guide. She also wrote some informational boxes.
The three authors worked closely and intensively during the two and a half years it took to complete the book. We also actively participated in the final revision of the text, together with the general and scientific editors.
How much research did you need to do for this field guide?
That’s a good question, because we never worked to make a field guide, we worked to contribute to the knowledge of the natural history of the birds that live in the garden, and the more we learned, the more questions arose. So we carried out research on reproduction, territoriality, feeding, seed dispersal, and composition and structure of the assembly of birds associated with some types of vegetation. The findings have all been very useful in writing the book.
The birds used the water from the garden to maintain their feathers and meet daily demands, as well as the annual molting behavior in different bird species.
After extensive research, the authors found that the garden can meet the birds’ diverse needs: food, shelter and security.
What we can say is that it is not enough to know the list of birds that have been recorded in a site. It takes years of observations, and countless hours of fieldwork, to study essential aspects of the ecology of the species of birds that live there to contribute to their knowledge more effectively.
Martin closing a mist net at the garden. Mist netting is an essential tool for species inventory, provides useful indices of relative abundance, and can be used to track temporal trends in abundance.
What part of creating this field guide—writing, photographing, designing and editing—did you have the hardest time with or find most challenging?
Photography and design were the biggest challenges of this book. Photography, because we set out to create a guide based entirely on photos, and getting good-quality photos of 125 species, many of which are rare or difficult to photograph because of their behavior, such as aerial insectivores, was really a major challenge. At the end all species have photos and each species identification page has between 2 to 6 photos.
Martin and Karen taking photos in the garden.
Martin and Karen talk about camera models and techniques to get the best photos.
The design was challenging because it was Karen’s first design job, so taking on that task involved long hours of intense work. Both challenges were successfully overcome.
In general, it was challenging to achieve our goal that both the writing and the design were attractive to a very wide audience, including children, young people, adults, birdwatchers, and specialists in the subject.
What helped you to stay focused on such a large project?
First of all, the love of birds. Knowing that a book like this can have a great impact on Cubans and contribute to bird conservation also motivated us. Little by little, we realized that the garden can contribute a lot to local knowledge and the appreciation of birds, helping people to value not only their beauty, but also all the ecological services they provide.
Secondly, it is not easy to visit our protected areas because they are located in isolated areas that are difficult to access and transportation is scarce. However, the National Botanical Garden is situated close to Havana (only about 30 km or 18 miles) and can be easily visited by the population of the city.
Finally the teamwork, which was fabulous and exhilarating. It kept us together and working hard from start to finish. Every photo achieved, every chapter completed, every species completed, was an achievement we thoroughly enjoyed and it kept us excited to reach the next goal.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating this field guide?
We learned important things related both to the birds, as well as to perseverance and the strength we have to achieve our goals.
As for the birds, we were impressed by the beauty and complexity of the birds’ heads—the close-up photos highlighted details that are not captured with binoculars or full-body photography.
Another thing that surprised us was the important role played by the Red Silk Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba) in the early months of the year, when very few plants bloom in the garden. In January and February, this tree is covered with beautiful red flowers and numerous birds are attracted to them, but not only in search of insects, nectar and pollen. The most surprising thing is that the flowers accumulate a lot of water, and the birds use them as natural sources, to quench their thirst, in these months of intense dryness.
At the top of the left-hand page you can see a Yellow-faced Grassquit looking for water in a Red Silk Cotton tree flower; at the bottom, in the same tree, a Cuban Blackbird looks for water or insects in the flowers.
For Martin and Lourdes, it was not difficult to write the text, they knew the site and the birds well and already had the experience of working on other books. But for Karen the challenge was immense, she did not know about design, nor photography, nor was she able to recognize the bird species. All this knowledge was necessary to complete the book.
That involved numerous hours of self-study to learn how to work CorelDraw, Photoshop, and InDesign programs. So Karen took photography courses, studied the content of the main bird guides that have been published in America, and learned the particular style of providing the information in the field guides. At the same time, she made frequent visits to the field to take photographs, and learn to recognize the birds, and she kept working on the book every single day during those years.
Any fun stories to share during the process of writing, photographing, design, and editing?
There were many stories. At first Karen said she wanted the guide to be with photos, so that it would bring something different from other Cuban guides. When she tried to take her first photos, a mockingbird and a sparrow, after much effort, she did not achieve anything with her lens—at that moment she realized that the road was going to be long, difficult, and that she had a lot to learn.
I remember when we went to the zoo to take close-up pictures of the herons. They were asleep with their heads lowered and eyes closed. Yelling at them was the only way to wake them up. We shouted wildly and the moment they woke up Karen took the photo very fast. People passing by looked at us as we were screaming at the herons and by the looks on their faces, they thought we were crazy. We really laughed a lot.
Another day, Karen went alone on a motorcycle to the garden to take photos. When entering the garden, she saw a group of puppies crossing the fence and stopped the motorcycle to play with them. But the puppies ran after her which gave her a good scare. She had to run so they wouldn’t bite her.
How long did it take to complete the field guide?
We started in June 2019, the book was ready to print in January 2022. During Covid we had an interruption of about six months in which we were totally isolated without communication, (not all in the team had a good cellular phone to use the internet), and without the possibility to visit each other as we were not able to meet. So we would say that it took approximately two intense years to complete the book.
When the lockdown restrictions were lifted, we established a method of working that allowed us to advance relatively quickly, because at the same time that we were advancing in the text, we worked on the design. We made constant visits to the garden, looking for photographs that helped us explain the text, and with those visits we were constantly updating the information.
In fact, up to 2019, when we started working, 105 species had been registered; in 2022 that number had already risen to 125.
How did you celebrate when the field guide was completed?
The five of us, three authors and two editors, were so happy, we could not believe that we had finished the book. When we saw the first print proof the emotion was immense! We celebrated it by spending time together and sharing each of our experiences.
How many endemic birds live in the garden?
Of the 27 living endemic species in Cuba, 10 are found in the garden; and also 12 of the 20 species reported as endemic for the West Indies—making a total of 22 species in this category.
In the book we report on nine Cuban endemics, but recently the Cuban Trogon was recorded for the first time at the garden!
What is one of your fondest memories of birding in the Botanical Garden?
Every time we visit the garden we enjoy it so much and we learn something new about the behavior of the birds so it is difficult to say. For example, seeing the sunrise and the awakening of the birds, seeing for the first time the Cuban Tody, a typical bird of our well-preserved forests, seemed incredible to us, and recently, we just observed the Cuban Trogon for the first time!
The national bird of Cuba- the Cuban Trogon. (Photo by Rafy Rodriguez)
I remember one time when it started to rain, and we had to place the camera under the umbrella to take the photos. That day we registered two new species and got several quality photos for the book, it was unforgettable!
Recording a new species and getting a quality photo that we needed, of a bird doing an activity that we mentioned in the text, was always exciting to us. I can say that the three of us thoroughly enjoyed each visit, which in those last two years amounted to more than 60.
Where in Cuba can someone purchase this field guide?
Right now it is not for sale. We have a small first batch of just 300 printed books and very high demand. The first copies have been used to promote the book and they have been given as a prizes in competitions and festivals, as well as gifted to outstanding nature photographers, decision-makers, and some libraries.
The second printing will be made this year, thanks to a grant from the Betty Peterson Conservation Fund from BirdsCaribbean. We are thinking of selling copies from this second batch at the National Botanical Garden or in the Library of the University of Havana, Alma Mater, in the City of Havana.
How can someone outside of Cuba get their own copy?
We hope to eventually sell the book through BirdsCaribbean’s website.
Do you plan on providing an English translated version of this field guide?
We would love to have an English version and the idea is to seek funding in the future for translation, design, and proofreading.
What would you say to a birder who is thinking of publishing his own field guide?
Keep going, never stop, work hard, visit the site as many times as you can, and record species, behaviors, dates and places. When you gather enough information, find a good team and work together. A good field guide is a collective work, which can help birds and people.
We have always lived in a poor country under a strong blockade, with few resources, little transportation, lots of communication problems, and high migration of young personnel. If we could succeed, then anyone who proposes a project like this and puts in the effort, perseverance, and love will succeed too.
Our small Caribbean countries need to know their natural heritage, and be aware first of what we have, so that later they become aware of the responsibility of each one in taking care of it. We all can contribute in some way to conservation. Books like this are the first step to take—knowledge brings appreciation, appreciation is an important step for conservation.
You can, you should.
The three authors of the book, from left to right, Karen Aguilar Mugica, MSc in Geography, Martin Acosta Cruz PhD. and Lourdes Mugica Valdés PhD, both ornithologists from the Bird Ecology Group of the University of Havana. Karen has been a volunteer with the group for several years.
Drs. Lourdes Mugica Valdés and Martin Acosta Cruz are Professors at the University of Havana’s Faculty of Biology in Cuba. They teach both formal ecology courses and in the faculty’s research and environmental education programs. They, along with Karen Aguilar Mugica, are members of the University of Havana’s award-winning Bird Ecology Group (BEG). The BEG is widely recognised for its contribution to our knowledge of Cuban waterbird ecology. They are, moreover, long-standing members and friends of BirdsCaribbean.
The former Antillean Euphonia has been split into three new Euphonia species! (Photo by Bobby Wilcox-ML532706381)
Get out your binoculars and plan a Caribbean birding adventure because we’ve got five new species of birds for you!
The American Ornithological Society has just announced their 64th Supplement to the Checklist of North American Birds. Every year, ornithologists and birders alike eagerly peruse their current bird lists and wait for the announcement of new bird species! Usually, these new species don’t arise from a remote jungle expedition, but by re-examining the differences and similarities within our current species lists.
Species can either be “lumped” or “split.” Lumps occur when two similar species are lumped back together and considered one species again. This is usually the case for very similar birds that have overlapping ranges. “Splits” are when one species is divided into two or more different species. These splits usually include birds that may look alike but evidence suggests have diverged sufficiently that their populations would no longer interbreed.
We are very excited to welcome these new bird species to the Caribbean—bringing us now to a total of 180 endemic bird species. Our Caribbean birding hotspot just got even hotter, giving you all the more reason to plan your next Caribbean birding adventure!
The joys of isolation…
Within the Caribbean, we have many species that occur across multiple islands, but don’t island hop–making these isolated populations. Over time, as these bird populations continue to breed in isolation from one another, they can develop differences, and even evolve into distinct species! By reviewing evidence, including genetics, morphology, plumage, vocalizations, and behaviors; ornithologists can determine if the populations are in fact distinct enough to be considered different species.
This year we are very excited to announce that we have five new species for the Caribbean! These species all fall under the category of splits (there were 4), meaning they were formerly considered one species and are now considered two or more! Let’s review the newest members of the flock.
*Drum roll*…welcoming five new Caribbean species!
Grand Cayman Bullfinch and Cuban Bullfinch
Let’s give a warm welcome to a new bullfinch species in the Caribbean, the Grand Cayman Bullfinch (Melopyrrha taylori)! This species was split from the Cuban Bullfinch(Melopyrrha nigra) due to vocal and morphological differences. The Cuban Bullfinch can now proudly boast that it is a true Cuban endemic, and the Grand Cayman islands have their second endemic bird species. Interestingly, the research supporting the split came from a birdwatcher’s observations of song differences between birds on Cuba and Grand Cayman! This show the value of citizen scientist birders being observant and uploading their information to apps like eBird (sightings, photos, and recordings of songs and calls).
Cuban Bullfinch, female. Females and juveniles are duller black and have a less prominent wing patch (Photo by Mario Olteanu)
Grand Cayman Bullfinch, female. Her color is dull slate-black tinged with olive. (Photo by Ray Robles)
The male Cuban Bullfinch is glossy black with white wing patches. It’s bill is a little smaller than the Grand Cayman Bullfinch. (Photo by Greg Lavaty)
The male Grand Cayman Bullfinch is black with a greenish gloss and has white wing patches on shoulders; its bill is slightly larger and heavier than the Cuban Bullfinch. (Photo by Aaron-Boone, ML151327701)
Hispaniolan Nightjar and Cuban Nightjar
Let’s give a warm welcome to two new species of nightjar! The bird formerly known as the Greater Antillean Nightjar (Antrostomus cubanensis) has now been split into the Hispaniolan Nightjar(Antrostomus ekmani) and Cuban Nightjar (Antrostomus cubanensis), based on convincing vocal differences between the two populations. The Hispaniolan Nightjar is found in the western third of the Dominican Republic and the western part of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. The Cuban Nightjar is found throughout the island of Cuba.
Hispaniolan Nightjar. (Photo by Dax Román)
Cuban Nightjar. (Photo by Greg Griffith, ML204321841)
Listen to the difference in the songs of the Hispaniolan Nightjar and Cuban Nightjar!
From one to three new Euphonias! Puerto Rican, Hispaniolan, and Lesser Antillean
Let’s give a warm welcome to not two but three new Euphonia species! The former Antillean Euphonia (Chlorophonia musica) has now been differentiated as the Puerto Rican Euphonia (Chlorophonia sclateri), the Hispaniolan Euphonia (Chlorophonia musica), and the Lesser Antillean Euphonia (Chlorophonia flavifrons). This long awaited split is based on considerable plumage differences between the three new species.
Males of the Hispaniolan Euphonia and Puerto Rican Euphonia have a turquoise blue crown and nape, blackish-violet face, back and wings, a small band of tawny-yellow to orange on the forehead. However, the male Puerto Rican Euphonia boasts a sunny yellow throat, underside, and rump, while the male Hispaniolan Euphonia has a dark blue throat and orange underside and rump. The male Lesser Antillean Euphonia has an olive-green body, sky-blue crown and nape, and yellow forehead; his plumage is fairly similar to the females of all three species but he is a little brighter.
The females of all three species are lighter overall, with yellow-greenish body and wings, turquoise crown and nape, and the forehead nicely adorned with a spot of gold.
The male Puerto Rican Euphonia has a yellow throat, underside, and rump. (Photo by Alfred Irizarry)
The male Hispaniolan Euphonia has a dark blue throat and an orange underside and rump. (Photo by Joshua Covill, ML548852851)
Female Hispaniolan Euphonia; yellow-greenish body and wings, turqoise cfrown and nape and yellow-orange spot on the forehead. The plumage of females of all three Euphonia species is similar. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
The male Lesser Antillean Euphonia has an olive-green body, blue head cap, and yellow forehead. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Hispaniolan Palm-Crow and Cuban Palm-Crow
Let’s give a warm welcome to two new species of palm crow! The bird formerly known as the Palm Crow (Corvus palmarum) is now recognized as the Hispaniolan Palm-Crow (Corvus palmarum) and the Cuban Palm-Crow (Corvus minutus). The vocalizations between the two are quite distinct, enough that ornithologists can tell the two apart, so it’s likely that the crows can too! They also show genetic and behavioral differences, including a curious tail-flicking behavior exhibited only by the Hispaniolan Palm-Crow!
A Cuban Palm-Crow. (Photo by Arturo Kirkconnell Jr.)
Hispaniolan Palm-Crow. (Photo by Jay McGowan, ML162378241)
Listen to the differences between the calls of the Hispaniolan Palm-Crow and Cuban Palm-Crow.
We are very excited to welcome these new bird species to the Caribbean—bringing us now to a total of 180 endemic bird species. Our Caribbean birding hotspot just got even hotter, giving you all the more reason to plan your next Caribbean birding adventure!
We’re curious: Did you get an “armchair lifer” or two? (i.e., a new bird on your life list without actually having seen a new bird due to splits like this) Which of these new species would you like to see the most? Comment below!
The endangered Whistling Warbler, an endemic bird to St. Vincent in need of more monitoring (Photo by Judd Patterson).
In April 2021, La Soufrière Volcano, on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, erupted for the first time in 42 years. Explosive eruptions and heavy ash fall devastated ecosystems, leaving many species without homes and unable to forage in the wild. St. Vincent’s wildlife, especially endemic landbird species like the threatened St. Vincent Parrot and endangered Whistling Warbler, faced grave peril. The conservation community swiftly formed an emergency group, raising funds and providing much-needed assistance to the Forestry Department working on-the-ground in St. Vincent.
As St. Vincent’s forest regenerates, there is still work to be done to assess the impact of the volcanic eruptions on wildlife populations. A historic lack of research and funding means that there is limited baseline knowledge about the ecology and population status for most of the forest birds on the island. Thanks to funding from theCritical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and BirdsCaribbean members, partners and donors, we have launched a project to build capacity and provide the data needed for long-term landbird species protection. Read on for a second update on this vital work to study and conserve St. Vincent’s unique birds!
Human activities are a threat to the landbirds—and then came the volcano…
Landbirds, as their name implies, spend the majority of their lives on land, and include birds like hummingbirds, raptors, doves, flycatchers, and songbirds. They forage and breed in a variety of habitats in the Caribbean, from gardens, parks, open savannas, and cultivated areas, to scrub and many different types of forests at varying elevations. Many habitats have already been lost, and those remaining are constantly threatened by destruction and degradation from land-based development, cutting of trees for charcoal and timber, and also pollution, invasive species, and climate change. These factors mean that landbird populations, already at risk, experienced another blow to their survival with the eruption of La Soufriére in 2021.
Mesopotamia Valley, one of the most cultivated areas on St Vincent. (Photo by Nandani Bridglal)
How are the landbirds doing now? Enter the CLM Network!
Assessing the status and recovery of endangered wildlife populations is now an urgent priority. In collaboration with the St. Vincent Forestry Department and other partners, we launched the “Conservation of the Endangered Whistling Warbler Project” in April 2022 to monitor the Whistling Warbler and other forest birds, build local landbird monitoring capacity, prepare a Conservation Action Plan for the Whistling Warbler, and raise awareness for landbird species. In January 2023, we held a Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop to 1) build local capacity to monitor forest birds using standardized protocols, and 2) establish a long-term monitoring program on St Vincent.
This project is held under the banner of the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network, through which BirdsCaribbean has been building the capacity of Caribbean conservationists to identify and monitor landbirds. Using these data, we can expand our knowledge of how birds use different habitats in space and time, and enable researchers to assess the status and trends of their populations in relation to habitat, climate, and natural and anthropogenic activities and threats.
Post-eruption clean-up exercise in Hermitage, St. Vincent, on April 2, 2021. (Photo by the SVG Forestry Department)
The elusive and endangered Whistling Warbler. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
The Vulnerable St Vincent Parrot. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Ash plume on April 9th at 4 PM, the first day of eruptions (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Valley on the Leeward side of St. Vincent showing severe damage to trees and vegetation. (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Under the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network, BirdsCaribbean has been building the capacity of Caribbean conservationists to identify and monitor landbirds using standardized survey protocols. Using these data, we can expand our knowledge of how birds use different habitats in space and time, and enable researchers to assess the status and trends of their populations in relation to habitat and climate variables. The first CLM Training Workshop was held in the Dominican Republic in February 2022, followed by an introductory workshop in Puerto Rico in July 2022 in conjunction with the AOS-BC meeting. For this workshop, we head to another enchanting Caribbean island, this time in the Lesser Antilles.
Landbird Monitoring takes wing in the Lesser Antilles
St. Vincent (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) is brimming with bird life and is home to legendary species found nowhere else in the world like the St. Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and the Grenada Flycatcher (also endemic to Grenada). Other beautiful regional endemics include the Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Purple-throated Carib, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Lesser Antillean Euphonia, Brown Trembler, and Rufous-throated Solitaire.
The Grenada Flycatcher is a landbird that is endemic to both St Vincent and Grenada. These two were spotted at the Botanical Gardens of St Vincent and the Grenadines. (Mike Akresh)
The workshop’s content and sessions were facilitated by: Jeff Gerbracht and Ingrid Molina (both from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology), Lystra Culzac-Wilson (Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education – SCIENCE), Glenroy Gaymes (Wildlife Unit, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Forestry Department), Dr. Mike Akresh (Antioch University), Dr. Maya Wilson (BirdsCaribbean), and Dr. Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean).
During the workshop, 24 Caribbean wildlife professionals representing NGOs and government agencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Montserrat, and Grenada learned how to use the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) landbird monitoring protocols. These protocols were originally developed in Latin America to survey birds in tropical habitats. We have adopted the methodology (PROALAS Manual, Caribbean version) for our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Program and are training our local partners in its use.
Group photo of workshop participants and facilitators at Montreal Gardens, St Vincent. (Photo by Timothy Vaughn)
Bountiful Birds at the Botanical Gardens
Curator’s House at the Botanical Gardens of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The workshop was held in the Curator’s House at the Botanical Gardens, just outside the capital city of Kingstown. At over 250 years old, it is the oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere, and an important conservation site. This is also the location of the Nicholas Wildlife Aviary Complex, which maintains a captive population of the vulnerable St. Vincent Parrot.
This location was perfect for learning, discovery, and practice. The Botanical Gardens and nearby Anglican Pastoral Centre’s small forest patch support a variety of bird species, allowing participants to quickly step out of the classroom to practice carrying out PROALAS point counts and transect surveys. The lessons entailed estimating distance using both stride lengths and range finders, marking survey areas, and recording count data in the eBird app (Caribbean pack). But perhaps the most intense and highly rewarding process for participants was learning to identify the birds around them.
Landbirds are often small busy birds that perch briefly, usually hidden by leaves, before darting off to another tree. Fortunately, participants were guided by local birding veterans Lystra Culzac (Director of local NGO SCIENCE) and Glenroy Gaymes (Chief Wildlife Officer, St Vincent Forestry Department) for these bird identification sessions. They reiterated the importance of using field marks, with help from the Merlin app and the Birds of the West Indies field guide, as well as songs and calls, to correctly identify the birds they spotted.
Ingrid Molina explaining monitoring methods to participants.
Forestry Officers (St Vincent and the Grenadines) conducting transect surveys behind Anglican Pastoral Centre.
Kayroy Baptiste (Union Island Environmental Alliance) entering data into PROALAS survey sheet during transect survey behind Anglican-Pastoral Centre.
Dr Maya Wilson presenting on the importance of monitoring landbirds.
Practice makes perfect
Following several preparatory sessions, including “Bird ID 101,” “Landbirds of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” and “How to Use Binoculars,” the participants headed out to the Botanical Gardens to practice identifying birds. The group’s concentration and determination were palpable! Those working in small groups whispered to each other about the nuances of colors, bill shapes, tail lengths, and other field marks. Others pointed out the different bird calls, another important means to ID forest birds. Some of the more experienced birders in the group even used the opportunity to take their bird knowledge and identification skills to the next level, mentoring less experienced birders and adding “lifer birds” to their personal lists!
Lystra Culzac-Wilson introduces participants to the landbirds found in St Vincent.
Dr Mike Akresh helping participants identify birds at the Botanical Gardens.
Jeff explaining binocular specs to participants.
Participants practicing using their Vortex binoculars. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Lystra Culzac-Wilson highlighting the differences among species of doves found in St Vincent.
Lystra and participants practice identifying birds in the Botanical Gardens.
Conquering wild terrain and rough weather to master PROALAS in the field
Botanical gardens and reserves in urban landscapes provide refuge for birds and other wildlife. But realistically, most of our poorly studied and threatened species, including the Whistling Warbler, inhabit rugged forested areas. All of the participants are normally tasked in their jobs with traversing rivers and climbing steep hills—often in unpredictable weather. The workshop’s trajectory naturally shifted from practice to on-the-ground application.
Fieldwork over the next several days began with 5 am wake-up calls to catch the bus to the Vermont Nature Trail or Montreal (part of the Central Mountain Range Forest Reserve). Early risers were rewarded with “gram worthy” views of pristine moist forests and lush undulating ridges. At Vermont Nature Trail we were delighted to see and hear St. Vincent Parrots! Here, on narrow slippery trails with dense vegetation on either side, participants had to rely upon their knowledge of the PROALAS protocols and bird identification by sound to yield the best data for their surveys. Participants displayed sheer professionalism and dedication, working together to improve their skills while braving the less than ideal environmental conditions (yes, we had some downpours!). The team discussed survey methods, assigned tasks, and helped each other with bird identification and equipment use.
Stream along the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Amonie Holas (Gaea Conservation Network) using a rangefinder to calculate distance during the survey on Vermont Nature Trail.
Ansaki Roberts (SVD Forestry Department) marking a point count station with flagging tape on the Vermont Nature Trail.
Participants conducting a point count survey at Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Maya-Wilson)
View from the parrot observation deck at Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Participants identifying and recording birds along the Vermont Nature Trail.
St Vincent Parrot quietly perched on a tree, Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Briefing before start of surveys at Montreal Gardens.
Participants identifying birds with Lystra Culzac-Wilson at Montreal Gardens.
A Purple-throated Carib sitting in her nest was spotted by Lisa at Montreal Gardens. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson).
On the last day we headed to the dry forest on the leeward side of the island at Zion Hill. Along the way we stopped at Buccament and Layou to survey waterbirds for the annual, regional Caribbean Waterbird Census, which was ongoing at the time. Bird identification reached a crescendo when Jeff set up the spotting scope for everyone to get a closer look at the shorebirds. The most popular among the group was an American Oystercatcher! We were all jumping back in line to catch a second look at this snazzy bird with its carrot-like beak.
Buccament Bay, St Vincent.
Jeanette (St Lucia National Trust) and Aloysius (St Lucia Forestry Department) looking for waterbirds at Buccament Bay.
Identifying waterbirds for CWC2023, St-Vincent. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
The Layou River in St. Vincent is an important freshwater site. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Caribbean Waterbird Survey at Layou Bay. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
American Oystercatcher using its unmistakeable red-orange beak to forage.
And the CLM Network grows
After a non-stop week of birding and learning, participants returned to their home countries to start the next phase—designing and implementing their own landbird monitoring programs, educating their communities about local landbirds, and contributing information to an accessible online Caribbean landbird monitoring database. This mass Caribbean capacity building is ultimately what these workshops are about. This type of training enables participants to develop sustainable and homegrown programs in their own countries, laying the groundwork for a future where our endemics can be known and protected through deeper appreciation, ongoing monitoring, comprehensive Conservation Action Plans and policy interventions.
In particular, we are excited to see the St. Vincent Forestry Department lead their own landbird monitoring programs to understand and conserve the St. Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other forest birds. In addition, both Forestry and SCIENCE are raising awareness with children and communities about St Vincent’s special endemic birds and how important it is to protect their forest habitats. Stay tuned for further updates reporting on the results of our monitoring and education programs!
Forestry staff and workshop facilitators during a brainstorming session for a landbird monitoring plan for St Vincent, at Montreal Gardens.
Participants shared how their workshop experience would support their own conservation work:
“I am now able to organize a [landbird] monitoring program for my island and use the eBird app.”
“The workshop deepened my understanding of landbird ecology and how to efficiently monitor these birds.”
“I really appreciated being able to connect with other Caribbean conservationists and build my network.”
“The workshop gave us the tools, equipment and knowledge to collect data about landbirds.”
The workshop “provided me with the necessary skills to properly survey a [bird] population.”
“It has increased my understanding of what should and should not be done when monitoring landbirds.”
Acknowledgements: BirdsCaribbean is grateful to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for funding this Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop. We also want to express our deepest appreciation to Mr. Fitzgerald Providence and his staff at the St. Vincent Forestry Department for their help and support, and to Vortex Optics for assistance with binoculars for all participants. Special thanks to our workshop trainers and to all of the participants for an incredible workshop. Finally, we thank BirdsCaribbean members, partners, and donors for your support, which made this work possible.
Behind-the-scenes
BirdsCaribbean has years of experience organizing and executing workshops and each one comes with its own unique challenges and opportunities. Here are some of the behind-the-scenes preparations for this CLM Training Workshop.
Getting there
Even though in some cases islands are miles apart, inter-Caribbean travel is rough. Economy flights are expensive between islands because airlines have to pay high taxes at each airport and each airline has fixed flight schedules. This meant some participants had to overnight on another island before flying to St. Vincent or leave St. Vincent a day later. Maya had to be methodical in selecting flights so that everyone got to St. Vincent on time for the start of the workshop. We suggest that Maya add ‘travel agent’ to her CV.
Field Reconnaissance
Workshop facilitators also have to scout for suitable locations for the field sessions. This entails selecting the site, visiting the site, collecting sample data and vetting for safety. During the recon mission at the Anglican Pastoral Centre, our very own member of the Media Working Group, Aliya, slipped and fell down one especially steep part of the trail. Although Glenroy told us “what happens in the forest stays in the forest,” we think it’s too funny not to share. Aliya admits that she is prone to falling but that this event stood out to her because it was “not an abrupt fall I am used to. I slowly slid down the trail and it felt like I was never going to stop!” We hope that Aliya and her legs have since worked out their differences.
Workshop and outreach materials
Flights are expensive and so is shipping to the Caribbean! Every opportunity to meet in-person is an opportunity to share printed materials and equipment. It really would not be a gathering of Caribbean people if suitcases of goods other than clothes were not brought to the event! We used this opportunity to share field guides, binoculars (again, massive thanks to our donors), rolls of flagging tapes, stacks of waterproof notebooks, nest cameras, Endemic Birds of the West Indies coloring books, and stickers.
Rolls of stickers of birds endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Each roll contains 1000 stickers. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Close-up of the Whistling Warbler sticker with the call to “Protect & Love Our Endemic Birds.”
The beautiful stickers were designed by Josmar Esteban Márquez featuring 11 Lesser Antillean gems; Green-throated Carib, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Bananaquit, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Whistling Warbler, Scaly-breasted Thrasher, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Grenada Flycatcher, Mangrove Cuckoo, and St Vincent Parrot. They were custom-made for use by the various NGOs and government agencies partners during their conservation outreach and education activities at schools and thus bear the name of the bird with a call to “Protect & Love (heart symbol) our endemic birds.”
We underestimated the time it would take to divide and distribute stickers (1000 per roll per species). Since the workshop was coming to an end, we needed all hands-on-deck to cut and package the stickers for each of the NGOs and government agency representatives. Indeed, teamwork makes the dream work! But next time we’ll get a head start.
Workshop facilitators sorting, tearing and packaging stickers for our partners during the workshop.
Stephon and Antwone (Montserrat National Trust) receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Kristy Shortte (Sustainable Grenadines) receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Forestry staff receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Aloysius Charles St. Lucia Forestry Department receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Ajhermae White Montserrat Department of Environment receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Kayroy Baptiste and Roxanne Froget (Union-Island Environmental Alliance) receive outreach materials from Lisa.
