Category: BirdsCaribbean News

March 29, 2021

Announcing our Bird Zine Contest—Get Creative and Submit your Entry!

We have a new activity for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) and we think you’re going to love it! This year’s CEBF theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar — Like A Bird!” And BirdsCaribbean has lots of fun events and activities planned around this theme, including a zine (pronounced zeen) making contest!

We are very excited to invite you to participate in our first Bird Zine Contest. This is a fantastic opportunity for children and adults to revisit and creatively express their understanding of birds. You will find detailed guidelines and judging criteria in these docs: Bird Zine Contest Guidelines and What is a Zine and Bird Zine Contest Instructions. Be sure to read both documents carefully. There are prizes for each age category and two awesome GRAND PRIZES of a pair of waterproof Vortex Optics Binoculars!

What is a Zine?

A zine is a self-published booklet. Zines tend to be a collage of different images, text, and messages put together by writing, drawing, and/or cutting and gluing content into a booklet. The booklet can be reproduced through photocopying and hand-binding, or shared online via a PDF or flip booklet. Because they are informal and colorful, they are an engaging way to learn and accessible to different types of learners. Need more information? We’ve put together this document that explains how it works, and how you can make your very own!

The Bird Zine Contest was created to allow people in all walks of life, children and adults, to creatively explore the fascinating world of birds. Entries could be from researchers, educators, photographers, students, tour guides, storytellers, artists, advocates – even the ‘I saw my first bird in the wild yesterday’ people! We hope that these zines will also illuminate the intimate relationship between birds and people. It can also be an enjoyable way to further connect our community, so that zine creators will communicate with each other, find opportunities, or even collaborate on future projects.

Remember, birds are super clever and resourceful. They freely express themselves everyday. So should YOU!

We look forward to receiving your bird zines. This collection is meant to reflect our incredibly diverse species of birds and culture and your creativity.

Help us spread the word! Tell your friends and family about the contest and the cool prizes.

Be sure to read these 2 documents and follow instructions carefully:

St-Lucia-Parrot-Zine-cover — St Lucia Parrot Zine cover, created by Aliya Hosein, Trinidad and Tobago. You can view the full zine booklet below.

Bird Zine Contest Guidelines – information on who is eligible to participate in the contest, how to submit your zine, prizes, judging, and more.

What is a Zine and Bird Zine Contest Instructions – detailed information on what is a zine and how to make one; Bird Zine Contest topics, examples of zines from around the world, and more!

The deadline for submission is 11:59 PM EDT on Sunday, May 30th, 2021.

Learn More About Zines

A quick online search for ‘Zines’ can provide you with endless examples and tutorials. Here are some zines, many environmental, to look at to get your creative juices flowing.

How to make a zine – helpful blog article
All about Zines – helpful blog and video on the history of zines
The Small Science Collective – Ecology Zines
Pigeonary by KS Whittle
Owllustration by KS Whittle
Berea College’s Environmental Zines collection
White Oak Bayou Association Bird Zines
Art and poetry zines on Pinterest – lots of fun ideas

March 29, 2021

Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival 2021 encourages participants to “Sing, Fly, Soar — Like A Bird”

The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), now in its 21st year, announces its return for a month-long celebration of the region’s endemic birds! This year’s theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar — Like a Bird!” We will learn about our feathered friends, exploring their beautiful songs and astounding power of flight. Their flight expresses pure freedom and their songs reach out to us, as we connect with them and reflect on their amazing journeys with mixed feelings of envy and admiration. Who hasn’t wished they were able to slip “the surly bonds of Earth” and “danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings”?* These emotions stir us as we embrace this evocative theme.

CEBF creativity – online

How are we reflecting the theme in our CEBF 2021 activities? The #HumansofBirdsCaribbean have been busy behind the scenes preparing webinars, e-books, art classes, colouring pages, videos, origami, puzzles, activity sheets and so much more. A fan favourite, the ‘Endemic Bird of the Day’ series is back with a line-up of 30 new endemic bird species. Be sure to follow BirdsCaribbean on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see if your favourite bird made the cut. BirdsCaribbean is also excited to host our first ever Bird Zine Contest (pronounced zeen) and a virtual social event, Bird Jeopardy, this year to the festival!

Last spring the event kicked off with a discussion on the Bahamas’ mysterious “Chickcharney” led by the Bahamas National Trust’s Scott Johnson. Dr Ancilleno Davis led a wonderful story time session about mangroves and gave us a virtual tour of his backyard, which happened to be a thriving mangrove habitat! Christine Elder and Josmar Esteban Marquez helped us to realize our potential as artists by inviting us to follow along as they sketched Caribbean birds. New birders were treated to a six-session course “Birding for Beginners,” organized and hosted by Antigua’ Environmental Awareness Group (EAG). The BirdsCaribbean flock has expanded considerably and we hope to continue to build interest and enthusiasm for the region’s rich bird diversity.

An interactive festival experience

This year, during April and May, we have another astonishing line-up of talks. We will dive into a range of topics, including how to record and use birdsongs to understand bird behavior; endemic hummingbirds in the Bahamas; the role of wildlife rehabilitators in nurturing the next generation of champion conservationists; and new discoveries in regional bird research.

However, CEBF participants will not only be sitting and watching; we have also worked on making the CEBF even more interactive. For the past 18 months we have collected stories, myths, and beliefs about birds from our members, which are currently being compiled into an e-book. We have also launched a zine-making contest called the Bird Zine Contest: you will find more details here. And throughout the festival we will be accepting short videos of our members, explaining what this year’s theme means to them – more details on this coming shortly!

Meanwhile, stay safe…

The well-being of our partners and supporters remains the highest priority for BirdsCaribbean. Following the model of our hugely successful virtual “From the Nest” edition of CEBF in 2020 we will provide activities that can be done from the safety of your homes. Some countries are still experiencing serious COVID challenges, while others are doing better. Do follow your local public health guidelines and mask up, socially distance, and stay home if this is called for. With vaccinations now being administered, there is a light at the end of the tunnel—hopefully we will be able to up meet at birding hotspots across the region in the coming months!

The CEBF is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn about and connect with the Caribbean’s 171 endemic bird species. These birds inspire us to rise above our challenges. In spite of the threats they face; from loss of their habitats to hurricanes to invasive species, they continue to sing, fly and soar!

Visit birdscaribbean.org or follow @BirdsCaribbean on social media for fun and free activities this spring.

*https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/poem/high-flight/

Hispaniolan Trogon CEBF 2021 graphic — The Hispaniolan Trogon is one of the 30 species we will feature in this year’s CEBF Endemic Bird of the Day (photo by Jose M. Pantaleon)

March 28, 2021

The Caribbean Motus Collaboration—Help us Develop this Exciting New Program!

BirdsCaribbean is very excited to announce that we are launching a new bird monitoring initiative — the Caribbean Motus Collaboration. And we need your help and involvement! Read on to learn more about this program and how you can help.

What is Motus?

Kirtland's Warbler with nanotag — Kirtland’s Warbler fitted with a lightweight nano-tag. These tiny transmitters, which weigh as little as 0.2 g, allow researchers to track the movements of small animals with precision across thousands of miles. (photo by Scott Weidensaul)

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a powerful collaborative research network developed by Birds Canada. Named after the Latin word for movement, Motus uses automated radio telemetry arrays to study the movements and behavior of flying animals (birds, bats, and insects) that are nano-tagged and tracked by Motus receivers.

Motus’ main objective is to enable conservation and ecological research by tracking the movement of animals. The system consists of hundreds of receiver stations and thousands of deployed nanotags on 236+ species, mostly birds. Data from this network have already expanded our understanding of bird movements, including pinpointing migration routes and key stopover sites, as well as movements, habitat use, and behavior during breeding and non-breeding seasons. We are only just beginning to tap into the enormous potential of this new technology and growing network of partnerships and data sharing for conservation.

Motus technology is also a valuable educational tool that can advance conservation education both in and out of the classroom. Birds Canada and the Northeast Motus Collaboration have developed a curriculum that combines interactive classroom activities with Motus tracking tools that can be used to teach local children about birds, migration, and conservation.

Expanding the Motus Network in the Caribbean

Motus is widely established in Canada and the US, and beginning to spread throughout Central and South America; however, there are currently no active receiver stations in the Caribbean. The more Motus stations we can put up, the more we can increase our understanding of where tagged birds are moving. In addition, many species of conservation concern that live in or migrate through/ to the region have not yet been tagged. We want to fill this critical geographical gap.

Motus-Receiver-station-map-Caribbean — Yellow dots represent the active Motus receiver stations. The white box outlines the insular Caribbean. A few Motus stations that were put up in several islands have been damaged by storms and hurricanes, and need repair.

The Caribbean Motus Collaboration (CMC) is developing a multi-pronged strategy to expand the Motus network by installing and maintaining receiver stations in strategic locations throughout the islands, deploying nanotags on priority bird species, and implementing a specially adapted Caribbean educational curriculum.

Why is this Important?

Our birds are declining at alarming rates.

The Painted Bunting is a declining songbird that winters in FL, Cuba, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America. (photo by Ray Robles)

The insular Caribbean is a global biodiversity conservation “hotspot” that is home to over 700 species of birds. Roughly half of these bird species are residents in the Caribbean, including 171 that are endemic – meaning they are found nowhere else in the world! The other half are migratory, splitting their time between temperate and tropical habitats in the Americas, and shared among multiple countries along the way.

For some migratory birds, the Caribbean islands are the perfect winter retreat — they arrive in early fall and stay until spring. Others use one or more islands as stopover sites to rest and refuel as they fly between their breeding and wintering grounds further south. Whether they stay or move on, they are much-loved visitors, reflecting the seasons and inspiring our cultural expressions.

Unfortunately, bird populations are declining. Fifty-nine Caribbean species are at risk of extinction, listed as Vulnerable (30), Endangered (24), or Critically Endangered (5) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A recent study found that nearly 30% of the bird populations in North America since 1970 have been lost, and Caribbean species are among the many that are in trouble.

Birds in the Caribbean face an entire suite of threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, and invasive species. In addition, climate change has become a constant danger to the region, not only to people, but also to wildlife. The Caribbean is experiencing increasingly intense hurricanes, long droughts, and dramatic changes to the marine environment. The threats are growing for our vulnerable birds, and we can’t afford to lose any more.

Needed now: An effective bird monitoring system in the Caribbean

Research on our birds has progressed considerably in recent decades, but we still lack basic information on many species. We need to understand them better if we are to save them.

We need to identify the most critical sites and habitats for our migratory, resident, and endemic birds, and we need to assess the threats they face. Importantly, we need to raise awareness about why all of this matters.

At BirdsCaribbean we partner with international, regional, and local partners to develop long-term monitoring programs, e.g. our Caribbean Waterbird Census program. We are using several strategic tools for doing so, and we are confident that the Motus Wildlife Tracking System will become an invaluable resource for strengthening our efforts.

Caribbean-Motus-Collaboration-Ruddy-Turnstone-graphic — Motus receiving stations function similar to automated toll booths on a highway – every time a bird passes over the station it’s recorded, just as automated toll booths record license plates. The stations have a range of about 9 miles or 15 km. (Ruddy Turnstone photo by Maikel Cañizares)

The Caribbean Motus Collaboration (CMC) can inform and promote bird conservation

Colleagues from the Northeast Motus Collaboration stand by a newly installed Motus station in Pennsylvania. (photo credit: Northeast Motus Collaboration)

Our partners are eager to build the Motus network in the Caribbean. The initiative is gaining momentum quickly and the time to act is now! As a regional organization, BirdsCaribbean is keen to facilitate this effort and assist our partners.

Our collaboration will enhance the efforts of those working to grow the network in other regions of the Americas. And it will shed light on the movements and habitat use of bird species of conservation concern. This knowledge is essential to safeguarding birds throughout their full life cycles and reversing population declines.

Caribbean natural resource managers, including many of our partner organizations throughout the region, will be able to use information from the Motus network to identify the most important sites and habitats for our resident and migratory birds. Once identified, those in the Caribbean network and beyond will be able to focus our work on these most critical areas, alleviating threats and protecting these sites. By building the capacity to use this powerful tool, we will also be contributing to the development of local research and environmental education programs. The knowledge, skills, and appreciation for birds will multiply. It’s a “win-win” for the birds, and for those who work to conserve them in the region.

We Need Your Help!

To grow the CMC, we are seeking funding from granting agencies and private donors, and looking to establish partnerships with international and regional organizations, landowners, and businesses in the Caribbean.

Can you suggest a good site for a Motus receiver station? Stations should be located in secure areas that are optimal for detecting movements of birds (e.g., migration flyways, prime habitat for resident and migratory birds). Receivers can be installed as independent structures that are powered by solar panels. However, installing a station on existing structures (e.g., building roofs, fire towers, abandoned telephone towers, radio towers, etc.), especially those with access to electricity, can significantly reduce costs.

Would you or your organization be willing to maintain Motus receiver stations on your island? Motus stations should require minimal maintenance. However, depending on the station setup, data might need to be downloaded a few times each year. It is also important to regularly check that the stations are in working order, particularly following a storm or other disturbance.

Are you interested in sponsoring a Motus receiver station or nanotags, or know of an individual, organization, or business who would be? The components of receiver stations cost approximately ~$4,800, and the total cost of a station (including installation, maintenance, personnel, etc.) is ~$10k. Nanotags, which will be deployed on priority species to track their movements, cost ~$225 each. But any amount is helpful! This is a highly tangible way to get involved in the conservation of Caribbean species.

Click here to make an online contribution.

*NOTE: This year, our fundraiser for Global Big Day (May 8th, 2021) will raise funds for the Caribbean Motus Collaboration. We hope that you will participate – stay tuned!

If you are interested in contributing to the CMC in any capacity, we want to hear from you! Please fill out this short survey so that we can gather information and follow up with you.

Special thanks to the Northeast Motus Collaboration for their generous help, advice, and encouragement in developing this project!

Learn more about Motus at the following links:

https://motus.org

https://motus.org/education/

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/tracking-technology-exposes-secretive-long-distance-movement-kirtlands-warblers

March 13, 2021

Launch of the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group Newsletter!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! We’re excited to announce that the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group (WG) has launched a Seabird Newsletter! Available in English, Spanish, and French, it gives a picture of seabird-related activity across the Caribbean Basin. Anyone who works on or is interested in seabirds should take a look to catch up on the latest research, conservation, restoration, and education projects happening in the islands.

The newsletter starts with an inspiring Foreword by BirdsCaribbean’s new president, Dr. Adrianne, Tossas. You can also meet the Seabird Working Group’s new co-chairs, who are working hard to ramp up activities and communications by the WG. Find out the many ways that you can connect with the Seabird WG and its members, including a new Facebook group!

Do you remember the survey about seabird work that we sent around last year? The newsletter summarizes the responses from 78 participants and provides insights into mutual needs and possible collaborations. One collaboration that stands out is the possibility of a region-wide seabird survey effort in 2023 ….. interested?

The newsletter includes a list of recent publications, covering Roseate Terns, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Red-billed Tropicbirds, among others. It also has island-by-island updates—find out what has been happening on your own island or explore further afield. There is also a “seabirder spotlight” feature—our first issue features Hannah Madden, who is studying tropicbirds in St. Eustatius. Finally, check out the discussion on the seabird regional census and BirdsCaribbean’s plans for a centralized bird banding network.

Of course, it’s possible we’ve left something out; if you have seabird news to share, please take advantage of the many avenues for communication described in the newsletter. And let us know if you would like your work to be featured in the next edition!

Enjoy!

Rhiannon Austin
Yvan Satge
Ann Sutton

P.S. Don’t forget to visit the Seabird Working Group webpages and our Seabirds Resources page. If you would like to order copies of our beautiful Save Our Seabirds Posters (available in English and Spanish), and “Inventory of the Breeding Seabirds of the Caribbean” book, we would be glad to get these resources into your hands!

P.P.S. We are keen to hear from you if you enjoyed our newsletter, and to know how often you would like to receive these updates going forward (quarterly, biannually, yearly)? Please also let us know if you have any recommendations on how to improve future editions. We would love to hear from you if you would like your work to be featured in the next edition!

February 28, 2021

Happy 90th Birthday to Cuban Ornithologist and Living Legend—Orlando Garrido

February 25, 2021

Caribbean Bird Records – Unusual Sightings – Needed for North American Birds

This female Common Eider was spotted at Cooper’s Island, Bermuda during the 2016 annual Christmas Bird Count, and was the first record for the island. (Photo by Andrew Dobson)

For over 100 years, North American Birds and its predecessors have delivered regionalized summaries of bird populations — including the West Indies. These regional reports are now being housed online which means they can be available much more quickly than the traditional printed copies. If you are already an eBirder*, you should be able to find your unusual records very easily.

For about three years, publication of reports unfortunately ceased altogether due to staffing and management issues at the journal. But with a new team on board, things are happening fast!

BirdsCaribbean members Robert Norton, Anthony Levesque, and Andrew Dobson have been compiling seasonal reports for the West Indies and Bermuda region for many years. We are keen to maintain these reports but can only do this with your help.

What records are required? — rare sightings, unusually high numbers, the effect of hurricanes on local bird populations, etc. We are especially keen to receive news of the ‘first record’ of a species or the ‘first breeding record’. There is the opportunity of show-casing more photos online than in the printed copy, and so if you have a great photo of a rarely seen bird please submit that, too.

We need your unusual records from 2018 onwards. Simply email us a list indicating:

A Spotted Crake was reported from Desirade Island, Guadeloupe in 2014. This species was only the second record for the Caribbean. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)

Name of observer
Name of species
Number of birds
Location
Date first seen
Date last seen (if known)
A hyperlink to your eBird Caribbean checklist
Any other comments (e.g. first record since 1995, first known wintering record, earliest spring arrival)

All contributors will be listed and credited with sightings.

Many thanks if you are able to help. To speed up the process, please feel free to copy all three regional co-editors listed below when you send the email.

Thank you,

Andrew Dobson (Past-President, BirdsCaribbean)

Andrew Dobson (Bermuda)

andrewdobs@gmail.com

Robert L. Norton (Greater Antilles, Bahamas)

corvus0486@aol.com

Anthony Levesque (Lesser Antilles)

anthony.levesque@wanadoo.fr

*For those of you that are new to eBird, it’s a fun and easy (and very powerful!) platform to record your bird sightings, find the best places to bird, and more. And your data helps scientists better understand and conserve birds. If you’re in the Caribbean, be sure to use our portal, eBird Caribbean, to enter your data which offers birding protocols (e.g., the Caribbean Waterbird Census) and news stories unique to the region. We encourage you to get started and create an account; follow the quick instructions here. The eBird mobile app, available for both IOS and Android, is also great for entering your data straight from the field. Be sure to choose “Caribbean” as your region in the eBird app settings (“Settings” –> “Portal”).

February 24, 2021

Hope for the Future: Bringing Shorebirds to the People in Montserrat

Schoolchildren looking at shorebirds in Montserrat — Ajhermae White helps students of the Grade 5 class of Look Out Primary School with shorebird ID during their field trip at Marguerita Bay. (Photo by Stephen Mendes)

Enthusiasm is a key ingredient when observing, teaching, and talking about birds. For Ajhermae White, organizing a shorebird education initiative funded by BirdsCaribbean on her native Montserrat was a learning experience for her as well as her audiences, and a deeply satisfying one all around. Here is Ahjermae’s account of her journey as a shorebird educator – with young children, frigatebirds, and Government officials thrown into the mix.

The ‘Education on Shorebirds in Montserrat’ project is an initiative carried out by the island’s Department of Environment and sponsored by BirdsCaribbean. The aim is to spread awareness of shorebirds and their habitats. Once island residents learn more about these birds and understand their significance, the likelihood of threats to shorebirds, such as habitat destruction and human disturbance, will be reduced. As the project leader, I was really excited about the possible outcomes of this initiative.

The journey of being a shorebird educator has been a fulfilling experience. It has been a real privilege for me as the project leader to be given the opportunity to educate the local populace, in schools and among the general population about this fascinating topic. This has afforded me personal growth in addition to the enormous pleasure of sharing my passion for birds and their habitats.

Cleaning Up the Beaches Where Shorebirds Hang Out

Young girls participating in the clean-up. Credit: Stephen Mendes — Young girls participating in the clean-up. (Photo by Stephen Mendes)

The first major activity of this project was hosting a beach clean-up, in August 2020. Together with my colleagues from the Department of Environment, we brought the local community together to clean a shorebird habitat ahead of the migratory season.

We chose Marguerita Bay, which is located on the eastern side of the island, for this clean-up. Debris is constantly deposited on this beach as a consequence with the tides of the Atlantic Ocean. Nonetheless, this beach has been a popular site for shorebirds on Montserrat during the migratory season.

It was a good turnout of volunteers of all ages, from various community groups. I found it quite surprising to see the various types of items that were collected from the beach. These included items such as fishnets, clothing items, shoes, and even a 20 pound propane bottle! This clean-up was a success. An amazing 1,300 pounds of trash was removed from the beach. As such, the beach was much cleaner for the 2020 fall migrants.

Click on photos to enlarge

Some of the participants of the beach clean-up with the trash they collected

Some of the participants of the beach clean-up. (Photo by Stephen Mendes)

Participants collecting trash at the beach clean-up. (Photo by Stephen Mendes)

Working in Schools and Communities

Ajhermae White talking to primary school students about shorebirds — Ajhermae White giving a shorebird presentation to the Grade 6 students of the Brades Primary School. (Photo by Rianna Thomas)

During the month of October 2020, we were out in the schools and communities, conducting outreach sessions. We gave presentations and organized field trips. We conducted outreach sessions with The Rotaract Club; grade classes in three primary schools; two groups with members of the public; and last but not least, an After School Club of four to six-year-olds.

For most of the school engagements, we made presentations in the afternoons. The following morning, we took the students out on the field trip, as soon as the school day started.

The students listened intently and participated actively in all the presentations, which was impressive. We talked to them about “What is a shorebird?” and went on to discuss their habitats, feeding habits, and threats to their survival. We then described some common shorebirds on Montserrat.

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Marguerita Bay, Montserrat — Semipalmated Sandpiper at Marguerita Bay during the field trip with the Grade 6 students of the Brades Primary School.

We made sure that these presentations included many pictures and videos of shorebirds and their habitats. Some classes had interesting questions. I specifically recall that during one presentation a student asked whether the Killdeer was the adult version of the Semipalmated Plover. When the student asked this, I felt a sense of gratification. This not only demonstrated that they were paying attention but that they were engrossed sufficiently to spot the similarities and differences and between the different species.

After every presentation, we gave the students a short quiz with spot prizes. After the quiz, every student was given a token (badge, sticker, pamphlet, or bird band). Needless to say, they were very excited to be “little ambassadors” for migratory shorebirds with their stickers and other tokens.

Meanwhile, Out in the Field…Frigatebirds Were a “Hit”

Our first stop for every field trip was the recently-cleaned Marguerita Bay, where students were thrilled to see shorebirds like the Sanderling, Pectoral Sandpiper, and the Semipalmated Sandpiper. However, as the month of October progressed, there were fewer sightings, as the shorebirds were moving on.

During every field trip at Marguerita Bay, we could count on the Magnificent Frigatebirds to put on a show by flying very low and putting on acrobatic performances when swooping down to drink water from the pond. It was as if they enjoyed the attention from the young bird-watchers, who could observe the sexual dimorphism in this species.

Even if there weren’t many shorebirds to see at the beach at the time of the visit, the Frigatebirds captivated the students. The After School Club birders (4-6 year olds) were mesmerized by the Magnificent Frigatebirds. I recall that I wasn’t certain whether these little ones would understand terms like “female”, “male” and “juvenile,” so to simplify for these kindergartners, I told them which frigatebirds were “girls”, “boys” and “babies”. They kept shouting out “That one’s a baby bird!” They were so funny.

Some of the information about the shorebirds was in Spanish, so I made sure that any student who spoke Spanish as a first language was able to see the Spanish names as well for the various species. Those students also received a Spanish Shorebird poster.

All Went Well With the Student Birders!

school kids birding in Montserrat at Marguerita Bay — Students from the After-School Club are excited to identify shorebirds with Scriber at Marguerita Bay, Montserrat (photo by Ajhermae White)

The second stop during the field trips was to Carr’s Bay. This area is near a busy road so we always took extra precautions when visiting this area. Students spotted species like the Sanderling, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, and others wading in the water. There were also a few other wetland bird species that the students were able to identify, such as the Common Gallinule and the Snowy Egret.

When we returned to the classroom we distributed refreshments and provided additional tokens. I gave students a shorebird word search that I created online, to help them remember the names of the shorebirds of Montserrat.

Students of the Brades Primary School identifying shorebirds at Carr’s Bay Montserrat — Students of the Brades Primary School identifying shorebirds at Carr’s Bay. (Photo by Ajhermae White)

Although I always felt a little anxious before leading a field trip, I felt relieved afterwards, because they were successful and went ahead without mishaps. This was quite a responsibility for me, especially with the smallest bird enthusiasts. The students were able to see shorebirds and many other birds. Fortunately, there were no accidents during the field trips and even if it was a rainy day, the rain stopped long enough for the field trips to take place.

Engaging with the students was really gratifying. After the first few educational events, I started feeling more confident about putting myself out there to educate more students and the public. The enthusiasm that the students displayed showed me how much potential there is to impart knowledge to the younger generation, so that they can become more intensely aware of the avian biodiversity on Montserrat.

Students of Grade 6 class showing their shorebird identification cards after their field trip Credit: Thiffanie Williams — Students of the Grade 6 class of the St Augustine Primary School showing their shorebird identification cards after their field trip. (Photo by Thiffanie Williams)

Radio, a Powerful Medium for Reaching People

We used radio a great deal during this project. We recorded a few radio spots to inform the public about shorebirds, their habitats and migration, playing shorebird calls to grab the listeners’ attention. The spots also informed listeners about some of the threats that these birds face, such as habitat loss and pollution. A few of our outreach activities were scheduled around World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) so this celebration got coverage on the local news and the public was informed about the activities planned.

The Department of Environment was featured on the Ministry of Agriculture’s radio program called “MALHE VIBES” in October. On this live program, James ‘Scriber’ Daley (Forest Ranger) and I spoke about shorebirds and their habitats, informed listeners about our activities throughout the month, and used the opportunity to invite people to a public shorebird educational event. (See the end of this post for links to all Ajhermae’s radio appearances during this project!).

Great Support for Public Events – and a Government Minister, Too

We hosted public events to educate people in the community about shorebirds and give them opportunities to see shorebirds in their habitat. We advertised these events on the radio and on Facebook. I was really grateful to my co-worker, Thiffanie Williams, who created digital flyers to advertise the public events of this project.

Flyer advertising school shorebird education event — Digital flyer for the first public shorebird educational event. Created by Thiffanie Williams, Montserrat Dept of Environment.

For the public events Scriber and I conducted presentations, starting at 6:30 am. This presentation covered the same topics as the school presentations – but this time, people of all ages attended these sessions. We also gave a mini-quiz to participants, with the opportunity to win a BirdsCaribbean tote bag. After stocking up on refreshments and equipping them with binoculars, the participants boarded a bus at 7:00 am. Just like the school field trips, we took the participants to Marguerita Bay and then to Carr’s Bay. At Marguerita Bay we didn’t see as many shorebirds as we had hoped to see but some seabirds were present.

Minister of Agriculture looking at shorebirds in the spotting scope. — The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Crenston Buffonge, looking at shorebirds in the spotting scope. (Photo by Ajhermae White)

The radio sessions had clearly paid off, as residents of all ages attended the public birding events. I was particularly grateful that the Minister of Agriculture, Lands Housing and the Environment (MALHE), Hon. Crenston Buffonge and the Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. Veronica Dorsette-Hector, each attended one of our public outreach sessions. It made me really pleased that these members of Parliament took part in these educational events and publicly showed their support for the project. This gave me hope for the future of wetlands on Montserrat.

Shorebirds at Carr’s Bay during the first public field trip on October 17th 2020. (Photo by Ajhermae White)

Carr’s Bay never disappointed us! On the first public birding trip, we saw fifteen different bird species at this site, including various species of shorebirds, like the Spotted Sandpiper and the Least Sandpiper! The first public birding trip was quite fulfilling for me because I saw two bird species that I had never seen before: the Merlin, and one that had eluded me many times – the Belted Kingfisher. The Minister jokingly commented that perhaps he and the other participants brought the good luck that allowed me to see these species.

It was quite satisfying to see when someone got an ‘aha moment’ after learning something new or finding out the name of a bird that they’ve often seen. A young girl, Kearah Ryan, who joined the second public birding trip, wrote a lovely blog about her experience. During that trip, Scriber and I were interviewed live on the radio by phone, informing the listeners about shorebirds, their habitats, migration, and the importance of protecting these birds. To my further delight, this clip was featured on ZJB Radio on the local news the following Monday. This served to boost my confidence as a shorebird educator.

Small girl-Kearah Ryan looking through the spotting scope at Carr’s Bay. — Kearah Ryan looking through the spotting scope at Carr’s Bay. Be sure to check out Kearah’s lovely blog and photos on her first shorebirding experience! (link above) (Photo by Ajhermae White)

An Impactful Project, a Great Personal Experience

Participants of the second bird watching trip. (Photo by Ajhermae White)

Overall, this project has been a resounding success! The Covid-19 pandemic had minimal impact on this educational project, as we have been fortunate in that Montserrat recorded no active cases between July 2020 and February 2021. With the use of the radio spots, the radio program, and the news, we effectively reached and educated many people locally about shorebirds and raised awareness about the threats that this group of birds face. So far we have directly engaged 145 persons, including two elected politicians. The feedback has been positive!

It is fair to say that I experienced personal growth while undertaking this project. It allowed me to sharpen my organizational skills, as quite a lot of planning and coordination was required to organize the clean-up and field trips. Additionally, with the wide coverage through the media and in-person presentations, my communication skills were also enhanced. As a direct consequence of this and the feedback I received, I am more confident to take on other projects in the future. I am therefore thankful to BirdsCaribbean for firstly, igniting my interest in birds, which allowed me to gain knowledge about avian species. Secondly, through their generous funding of this project I had the opportunity to educate Montserrat about this fascinating group of birds.

Ajhermae White and James ‘Scriber’ Daley with the participants of the first public shorebird outreach session. (Photo by Stephon Hixon)

Ajhermae White is an Environment Officer from the Department of Environment in Montserrat. She received a small grant from BirdsCaribbean to support her in this project to help educate people on Montserrat about shorebirds, their habitats and conservation. Thank you to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, and Manomet for supporting our Caribbean Waterbird Census and Shorebird Monitoring and Conservation Projects!

Check out the awesome live interviews of Ajhermae White and James “Scriber” Daley (Montserrat Dept of Environment) for their shorebird education events:

On Thursday 22^nd October 2020, the Department of Environment were the guests on the Ministry of Agriculture’s radio program “MALHE Vibes” where they spoke about out shorebirds and the activities that they had been conducting for the Shorebird Education project (start at 2:34):

https://montserratradioecho.wordpress.com/2020/10/22/thursday-october-22-2020-mahle-vibes/

While on the Public bird watching trip at Carr’s Bay, Ajhermae got a chance to go live on ZJB Radio to let everyone know about our birding trip. Here is a link to that snippet of the radio program:

https://montserratradioecho.wordpress.com/2020/10/24/saturday-october-24-2020-james-scriber-daley-leads-annual-migratory-bird-count/

The birding trip was also featured on the morning news today! Here’s a link (Shorebird news starts at 8:03):

https://montserratradioecho.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/monday-october-26-2020-complete-morning-news-sports-and-weather-package-with-james-white-jr/

Check out this excellent video of the beach clean-up!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2413869538918800&ref=watch_permalink

One of the mini-birders on the public birding trip, Kearah Ryan, wrote a lovely blog post and shared photos about her shorebirding experience on Saturday. Here is a link to her blog:

http://kearahryan.com/shorebird-watching/

BirdsCaribbean note: We are so proud of Ajhermae White, a young conservation leader in Montserrat! Ajhermae attended our Conservation Caribbean Shorebirds International Training Workshop in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico in February 2019. Thank you to the Dept of Environment and James Scriber Daley for their incredible support! Many thanks also to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Fund, Vortex Optics, Optics for the Tropics, and to our generous members and donors for supporting this project.

February 22, 2021

Taking a Look at Shorebirds in Trinidad: A Population Update and Testing a New Survey Method

Trinidad and Tobago has a rich abundance and diversity of shorebirds and provides vital habitats for them during migration and over winter. Martin Gebauer, the recipient of a small grant for work on shorebirds from BirdsCaribbean, gives us a historical perspective and an update on shorebird populations and their habitats on the island of Trinidad. Find out from Martin if using drones can help us to count and monitor shorebirds.

Mixed waterbird flock on Trinidad's west coast mudflats — Trinidad has a rich diversity of Shorebirds. This mixed group, using Trinidad’s west coast during spring migration has six different shorebird species. Can you find and name them all? Scroll down to see the answers. (Photo by Jerome Foster)

TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT MIGRATING SHOREBIRDS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Arctic-nesting shorebird populations have shown serious declines on breeding grounds, and at staging and wintering areas across their range. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), BirdsCaribbean (BC), and others have been looking into threats – including hunting – to shorebirds in the Caribbean through the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative (AFSI). It is clear, however, that more research is needed on the abundance, diversity, distribution, and habitat use of shorebirds migrating through or wintering in Trinidad and Tobago (TT), as well as the location of staging and wintering areas in the country. To support the AFSI, shorebird surveys (including the use of a drone) were conducted from 2018 to 2020. To determine the scale of shorebird declines, survey data were compared to data from aerial surveys on fixed wing aircraft conducted by Morrison and Ross (CWS) in 1982. The current work was supported by the USFWS and BirdsCaribbean.

Part of a group of Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers resting on Trinidad’s west coast during spring migration. (Photo by Jerome Foster)

THE RICH DIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S SHOREBIRDS

Shorebird diversity in Trinidad and Tobago is particularly rich. Of the 48 shorebird species recorded to date, some of which are European vagrants, 23 species were observed during the 2018 to 2020 surveys. Our surveys, and those by Morrison and Ross and others, found that the Semipalmated Sandpiper is by far the most common species, representing around 90% of shorebirds tallied in the country. Other common species are Western Sandpiper (see photo), Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpiper, Whimbrel, and Willet. Historical accounts suggest a similar mixture of species

SADLY, SHOREBIRDS IN DECLINING NUMBERS

The February 1982 aerial survey of Trinidad by Morrison and Ross documented more than 13,600 Nearctic shorebirds. But there is worrying news. The maximum number of birds seen on the 2018 to 2020 surveys was 4,174 (September 2018). This disturbing decline, which is described in more detail below, matches up with the USFWS and CWS findings. Although an accurate estimate of the percent decline is difficult, current shorebird populations are likely only between 20 to 30% of 1982 levels.

WHERE WERE WE LOOKING FOR SHOREBIRDS?

Some of the most important habitats for shorebirds are on the west coast of Trinidad. In fact, the west coast mudflats are designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. The area between the southern end of Caroni Swamp and south past the Couva River mouth to around Pointe-à-Pierre seems to be particularly good for shorebirds. Where the mudflats look greenish in color, there is a thick slurry of biofilm (i.e., diatoms, bacteria, organic detritus, and benthic invertebrates), a very important food source for Semipalmated and Western sandpipers. Morrison and Ross found that about 99% of all shorebirds observed on their aerial surveys were on the west coast mudflats, which aligns with the approximately 95% of shorebirds documented from 2018 to 2020. Very few shorebirds have been observed on the northern, eastern, or southern coasts.

Aerial image of Orange Valley mudflats looking south — Aerial image, taken from a drone, of the mudflats at Orange Valley, looking south towards Point Lisas. (Photo by Nicolaas Kersting)

Another important area for shorebirds is the Caroni Rice Fields. Regrettably, since 2003, rice farming has been abandoned in large portions of these fields and the overall habitat for shorebirds has declined. However, in some years – for example, in 2020 – large numbers of shorebirds can still be found here.

Flooded Rice fields — Active rice farming in Caroni Rice Fields provides habitat for shorebirds. (Photo by Martin Gebauer)

WHAT DID THE DRONE SURVEYS SHOW?

The drone surveys provided an excellent overview of habitats at each of the sites surveyed. Unfortunately, because the images were not sufficiently high resolution, a detailed analysis of shorebird use, whether manual or software-driven, was not possible. Another challenge was that birds were disturbed and often flew away, even when the drone was at a height of 100 m. We did find that drones may be suitable for surveying larger species such as gulls, skimmers and terns, as shown in the adjacent picture (Brickfield, 40m, 05 April 2020).

Drone image with Black Skimmers and Laughing Gull marked for counting — Still image from drone footage. The birds have been marked for counting. This image contains 878 Black Skimmers, 1001 Laughing Gulls and 19 Large-billed Terns. (Image by Nicolaas Kersting)

ARE SHOREBIRDS LOSING THEIR OLD HANGOUTS?

The area with the highest shorebird numbers during the 1982 Morrison and Ross surveys was the Point Lisas industrial development (see photo). However, currently this area is not accessible by foot or drone. Nevertheless, a review of recent aerial imagery suggests that habitats in this area have been dramatically altered through dredging and land reclamation activities.

Drone footage of Point Lisas on the west coast of Trinidad (Photo by Nicolaas Kersting)

Apparently, this loss of the mudflats that provide so much food and foraging for small shorebirds (Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers) appears to be a cause of the considerable declines of these charming, once abundant little birds between the 1982 and the 2018-2020 surveys.

Following the construction of the Orange Valley fishing pier, there has been a dramatic decline in the surrounding mudflats, with a rapid expansion of mangroves in the area.

There are local factors that are contributing to the declining numbers of shorebirds in Trinidad. Previously rich areas where they foraged for food are disappearing. In some areas, an increase in mangrove growth has affected the mudflats that shorebirds love. We must also take into account the global picture; across the flyway shorebirds are declining. What lessons can we learn from other countries? One thing is clear: To ensure that these losses of habitats for the wintering shorebirds do not continue in Trinidad, protecting and restoring remaining mudflat areas on the west coast of Trinidad has to be a critical goal in shorebird management.

This downward spiral has to be slowed or better still, turned around.

Martin Gebauer is an ornithologist and president of Gebauer & Associates Ltd., an environmental consulting firm. He is currently working on his PhD at the University of Oxford. He carried out research on shorebird hunting in the Caribbean for his MSc from Oxford.

Mix shorebird flock on Trinidad's west coast - species named in the photo. — Here are the six species of shorebirds with labels to identify them. Good for you if you were able to name some or all of them correctly! (Photo by Jerome Foster)

To learn more about shorebird ID, check out this training webinar:

January 25, 2021

Funding Opportunity—The David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds

2021 Awards Now Open!

Size of Award: Several grants up to $1,000 each Application Deadline: February 19th, 2021 at 5 p.m. EST. Address Questions and Send Application to: Will Mackin, BirdsCaribbean, willmackin@gmail.com with copy to info@birdscaribbean.org Announcement of Awards: March 15th, 2021 Donations to the Fund: Tax-deductible (U.S.) at this link. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dave Lee holding a White-tailed Tropicbird in the Bahamas. (photo by Mary Kay Clark)

David S. Lee (1943-2014) was a pioneering naturalist and conservation biologist who helped get BirdsCaribbean started nearly 30 years ago. He inspired many naturalists with his work and his writing. He was a man of many interests, and with respect to the Caribbean, published numerous papers and articles in the popular press on seabirds, Bahamian fish, turtles, snakes, bats, and orchids.

Donations from Dave’s wife, Mary Kay Clark and his mother, June Bash, allowed the establishment of the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds that will award money to conservation projects in his honor. The money is being held in a trust and will be used to award annual grants for innovative projects that protect Caribbean birds and their habitats.

Goal of the Fund: The David S. Lee Fund for Conservation seeks to continue David’s passion for protecting wildlife. The fund will support direct, innovative conservation work in the Caribbean Region for birds and their habitats. The fund will be managed by BirdsCaribbean and used for annual small grants. Applicants should demonstrate how their project will work with conservation groups and local communities in the Caribbean.

Eligibility: Scientists/naturalists working in the Caribbean, in conservation organizations or academic programs, may apply. Applicants should be students or early career ornithologists, conservationists, or wildlife professionals (i.e., not established faculty or senior staff of a conservation organization, less than 10 years post-graduation). A student must be enrolled in accredited Masters or PhD program in ecology, biology, conservation, or related field to be eligible. Applicants must be paid or sponsored members of BirdsCaribbean at the time of application.

Use of Funds: The funds can cover travel to field sites, living expenses in the field, or costs for equipment and supplies to conduct conservation projects. Examples of equipment and supplies include traps, cameras, automated recording units, nest boxes, etc. Ineligible costs include salary or other wages, overhead fees, etc. Projects that foster collaboration between scientists/naturalists in different island groups of the Caribbean, such as joint projects to test conservation techniques for similar species, will be favored. Application Guidelines:

Proposals may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish. All should have an English version of the abstract.
Applications should be emailed as a Microsoft Word document.
The application should include a cover page, proposal (download guidelines below), and a curriculum vitae for the applicant.
Separately, by email, three individuals who can attest to your effectiveness in previous work should submit letters of recommendation. For students, this would include your academic advisor.

Evaluation:

A committee appointed by BirdsCaribbean will review the proposals and award the grants.
The awardee will be required to submit a report one year from the day of the award explaining how the award money was spent and the results of the project to that point. The awardee is also asked to write an article for BirdsCaribbean’s blog about their work (informal article for a lay audience).
Awardees are encouraged to present the results of their work at the biennial International Conference of BirdsCaribbean and publish in The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology.

Eligible applicants can download the application here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Help support the Dave Lee Fund by being a sponsor!

Reddish Egrets (dark morph). (photo by Tania Thomson, Shutterstock)

This fund will be for the conservation of any bird in the Caribbean as a reflection of Dave’s diverse interests. He was an important part of many projects, ranging from those of the Black-capped Petrel and Seabird Working Group to the scholarly debate leading to the elevation of the Bahama Yellow-throated Warbler to a full species. At the moment the fund contains $12,000. Our initial goal is to raise $25,000 so that we can award $1,000 every year to a worthy student or early career ornithologist, conservationist or wildlife professional. Not only will this fund encourage creative field work for projects that make a difference, but it will also help build the knowledge and skills of young conservationists that are urgently needed to make sure that the Caribbean birds and habitats that Dave treasured are still around for future generations to enjoy.

Cuban Parrot surveying his domain. (photo by Elliotte Rusty-Harold, Shutterstock)

At the 2015 BirdsCaribbean meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, a round of beers was purchased in Dave’s honor, since he always seemed to have a cooler full when people wanted one (and even when they didn’t). Think of this fund like a cooler full of refreshing beverages that Dave would have around if he were here. We owe it to Dave to stock that cooler—to vitalize naturalists and empower them in their work to help wildlife. Please give a tax deductible donation to the David S. Lee Fund. Give generously. The more we put into the fund, the more we can give out each year. Thanks to all those that have contributed to the fund!

Click here to make an online contribution.

If you prefer to donate with a check, please make the check out to “BirdsCaribbean” and in the memo section, note that it is for the David S. Lee Fund. If you have questions or to make other arrangements for donating, please feel free to contact Jennifer Wheeler, BirdsCaribbean Financial Officer (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org) Checks can be mailed to: BirdsCaribbean, 841 Worcester St. #130, Natick, MA 01760-2076

Thank you for your participation and support!

Reports from Projects Supported with Dave Lee Fund Scholarships:

https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2020/03/protecting-the-snowy-plovers-of-coche-island-through-science-and-community/ https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2020/01/birdy-hear-birdy-do-does-playback-attract-seed-dispersers-to-restoration-sites/ https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2018/01/the-mystery-of-the-missing-todies-understanding-the-impacts-of-invasive-mammals/ https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2017/06/the-vampire-diaries-searching-for-seabird-blood-in-the-sunny-caribbean/ https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2017/05/bahama-swallows-in-the-pine-islands-report-from-the-field/ https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2017/12/forest-restoration-in-the-dominican-republic-how-i-got-the-birds-to-work-for-me/

January 24, 2021

Inauguration of “Joe” and “Kamala” could help save West Indian Whistling-Ducks!

West Indian Whistling-Ducks in Jamaica — West Indian Whistling-Ducks swimming through duckweed at Negril Royal Palm Reserve in Jamaica. WIWDs are endemic to the West Indies. Their long-term survival is threatened by destruction and degradation of their wetland habitats from development, climate change, and pollution, as well as poaching and predation by invasive species. (photo by Ann Sutton)

We are pleased and proud to announce that Inauguration Day, 20^th January 2021 was the start of a new and wonderful initiative. This big event happened far from Washington D.C., in a remote wetland near Negril, Jamaica. On this day, two West Indian Whistling-Ducks, nicknamed “Joe” and “Kamala”, became the first of their kind to bear GPS trackers. From now on, like their namesakes, these birds will be the focus of constant scrutiny and international attention. Their solar–powered backpack trackers will report their locations every hour. Read on as Dr. Ann Haynes-Sutton shares more with us about this exciting new initiative.

West Indian Whistling-Ducks (WIWD) are one of the rarest ducks in the Americas. We know very little about the behavior and movements of these secretive ducks, which are found only in the northern Caribbean (including the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda; extirpated, very rare, or vagrant elsewhere). WIWDs are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Near Threatened.” Threats to these ducks include destruction of their wetland habitats, climate change (severe droughts, storms, and flooding), predation by invasive species (e.g., mongoose), poaching, and pollution from agriculture and other sources. BirdsCaribbean members have long reported declines in the population of Whistling-Ducks and their habitats throughout their range, which led to the creation of the WIWD and Wetlands Conservation Project. Jamaican populations are among the worst affected in recent years.

Three GPS trackers ready for application. (photo by Ann Sutton)

About 10 years ago, I regularly saw more than 150 in the Negril wetlands but over the years I heard reports that their numbers had declined catastrophically. The reports reached the Jamaican Government, who made the recovery of the WIWD the focus of part of their Global Environment Facility Project “Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island States – Jamaica sub-project Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Coastal Landscapes within the Negril Environmental Protection Area of Jamaica.” The Government hired me as the lead expert for the West Indian Whistling-Duck component.

In order to plan for the ducks’ recovery, I needed detailed information, for example, how many there are, where they feed, nest, and roost, and the threats they face. I couldn’t find any such data, for Negril or any other part of Jamaica. I set out to survey the ducks from the ground, from roads, and by boat, using tapes, drones and cameras. All these approaches failed. Apart from one location, I could not find any ducks, although with the help of the Negril Environmental Protection Trust I received some reports from local community members.

Thus, I was more than delighted when BirdsCaribbean and Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation supported the purchase and importation of some GPS trackers from Cellular Tracking Technologies. These state-of-the-art trackers, used successfully on species like Peregrine Falcons and Greater Sage Grouse, will plot the positions of the ducks every hour to within a few metres.

BirdsCaribbean Executive Director, Lisa Sorenson commented, “We are thrilled with the launch of this exciting project. I expect it will lead to major improvements in our knowledge of the ducks’ movements and habitat use. If so, BirdsCaribbean will seek to do tracking in other parts of the Caribbean. WIWDs populations are small on every island where they occur (with the exception perhaps of Cuba) and they have been extirpated from several countries. We hope to ramp up our knowledge and conservation of this important regional endemic.”

Brandon Hay and Ricardo Miller taking measurements on one of the two WIWDs that were captured. (photo by Ann Sutton)

On 20^th January 2021, our small team – composed of Ricardo Miller of the National Environment and Planning Agency, D. Brandon Hay of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, and myself – captured two West Indian Whistling-Ducks in Negril and fitted them with transmitters. It was an amazing thrill to hold these beautiful birds in our hands and very carefully attach the devices. Gina Kent from the Avian Research and Conservation Institute in Florida and Lisa Sorenson of BirdsCaribbean were on hand remotely to provide us with technical advice and support.

With excitement and trepidation we set the ducks free. Now we are looking forward to see what we can learn from them. The information I gather will support my work with the local and international communities to develop and implement measures to preserve West Indian Whistling-Ducks in Negril. No doubt our findings will promote initiatives to assess and conserve the ducks in the rest of Jamaica, and throughout their range.

We decided to call the ducks “Joe” and “Kamala” in honour of the very auspicious date and our hope that they can help to save the species. Go for it Kamala and Joe – we wish you well!

Dr. Ann Haynes-Sutton is a Conservation Ecologist and Co-Chair of BirdsCaribbean’s Bird Monitoring Working Group and Seabird Working Group. She has been a long-time member of BirdsCaribbean’s WIWD Working Group and is also the senior author of Wondrous West Indian Wetlands: Teachers’ Resource Book, published by BirdsCaribbean and used in over 145 Wetlands Education Training Workshops since 2002.

Acknowledgements: We are thankful to BirdsCaribbean members and donors whose financial support made this project possible. We are also thankful to National Environment and Planning Agency, Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, Avian Research and Conservation Institute, Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation, and Cellular Tracking Technologies for support and assistance with this exciting project.

If you would like to donate to support this project, please click here. Thank you in advance!

Brandon Hay with Joe, one of the two WIWD. (photo by Ann Sutton)

WIWDs are a secretive duck, difficult to survey and study, as they typically roost in mangroves or other dense vegetation during the day. They become active at dusk, flying around to different wetlands to feed. (photo by Ann Sutton)

WIWD with GPS tracker attached using a backpack style harness. The tracker weighs about 20 g, which is about 2% of the species’ body weight. The batteries are solar powered. (photo by Ann Sutton)

First data coming in from “Kamala” showing her movements around the Negril Royal Palm Reserve in Jamaica.

The team at work, taking measurements on one of the two ducks that were fitted with GPS transmitters.

January 5, 2021

The 2021 Caribbean Waterbird Census: Join us from Jan 14th – Feb 3rd

The 12^th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) starts on Thursday January 14th and we need your help surveying all types of waterbirds on your island! Anyone can participate in the CWC. Grab your binoculars and your mask, head out to your nearest wetland or beach, and record the birds you see. Detailed information about how to conduct surveys can be found here.

Starting in 2010, dedicated bird enthusiasts have ventured into wetlands across the Caribbean to systematically survey all types of waterbirds (shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds, marshbirds, and waterfowl) each January 14^th to February 3^rd. The Caribbean is home to over 185 species of waterbirds, including a number of endemic and globally threatened species and many migrants. A structured, ongoing survey is essential for understanding how to best conserve this exceptional group of birds and manage their habitats.

Good luck, stay safe, and we look forward to hearing about your findings. If you have any exciting observations to report or photos to share, or need help with bird ID, please post to our Waterbird Group Listserve (everyone is welcome to join) and/or on our BirdsCaribbean Facebook page. For sharing on social media, use hashtags: #CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus and #WaterbirdsCount AND please tag us: @BirdsCaribbean

Count Birds & Stay Healthy

In these extraordinary times, many of our friends and partners are still trying to navigate their new normal and safely participate in outdoor activities. However, in many countries, we understand it is still not possible to do so. Participants of the Caribbean Waterbird Census should check their national guidelines to make sure their activities are in compliance with local health recommendations. Please take all the necessary precautions and stay safe, wherever you are!

The CWC Provides Critical Information about Wetlands & the Birds that Rely on Them

Wetlands are unique ecosystems that provide critical habitat to many specialist species. They are also one of the most threatened habitats in the world. Since 1900, 64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, and the Caribbean region is no exception to this crisis. In order to properly manage habitat for waterbirds in the Caribbean, we need to understand waterbird population trends. In addition, monitoring the health of waterbird populations and their habitats is beneficial to both birds and people, since we rely on the same habitats for our health and well-being.

Survey Team for North and Middle Caicos, Sarah Neima, Caleb Spiegel, Junel Blaise, B Naqqi Manco, Elise Elliott-Smith, Dodley Prosper, Craig Watson (Photo by Jen Rock)

Recent survey work in Turks and Caicos has revealed important sites for many shorebird species, including birds of conservation concern such as the Piping Plover and rufa Red Knot. In fact, teams surveying there recently documented record-breaking numbers of wintering Piping Plover in some areas and recording new Piping Plover sites altogether. This information is so important for conservation as just a few decades ago it was not well-understood where these endangered birds spent the winter. Now, we know the Caribbean plays a major role for the species and we are learning more with every survey effort.

Survey data can also be used as a tool to designate habitats that are essential for birds. For example, The Cargill Salt Ponds in Bonaire were designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Regional Importance as a direct result of survey efforts. With the survey data we collected, our team was able to provide evidence that the site met the criteria for listing. Now, Cargill is dedicated to managing habitat for shorebirds on their property. It’s amazing what birding can achieve!

The CWC is also important for monitoring how hurricanes effect bird abundance and distribution. In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked havoc in the Caribbean, damaging fragile wetland ecosystems. Results from the CWC in 2018 several months later were concerning, with our counters reporting dramatic declines in common bird species. The CWC in 2019 revealed encouraging numbers, especially for shorebird populations. It is important to continue monitoring the response of birds to hurricanes in the years that follow and we look forward to what the 2021 CWC will reveal.

Banded Birds

Be sure to be on the lookout for banded birds! Especially Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings. You may report your sightings to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab which oversee all banding in the United States.

Need Help?

Find a tricky shorebird in winter plumage that you can’t identify? Need help setting up an eBird account? Want to participate in the CWC but you’re not sure how to get started? Please contact BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director Lisa Sorenson at lisa.sorenson@birdscaribbean.org.

Shorebird ID Resources

You can find all our free, downloadable shorebird resources by clicking “Resources” –> “Shorebird Resources” at the top of the page. You can download the pdf of our Quick ID Guide to Common Shorebirds of the Caribbean here. For use in the field, print on cardstock and laminate.

Also, check out our Common Shorebirds of the Caribbean poster, which is available in English, Spanish, and French. Download them from this page.

We also have available a two-page Common Shorebirds of the Caribbean ID Guide – you can download it here. All these ID resources work well in the entire Atlantic Flyway, not just the Caribbean islands.

Entering CWC Data in eBird

CWC data is stored on eBird Caribbean. If you participate in the CWC, it’s very important that you enter your data through this website using the correct CWC protocol, because this is where we collate all the data used for analyses. We don’t want to miss a single bird or site! Simply making an eBird list during these dates is not enough- the protocol is required for it to be CWC data.

If you are using the mobile eBird app to enter your data:

First, make sure the portal is set to eBird Caribbean (“Settings” –> “Portal”)
After you are done birding and press stop “Stop Track”
On the next page under the Date/Location and above Observers, click on “Incidental”
Select the appropriate CWC protocol under Observation Type

If you are using a desktop computer to enter your data:

Sign into your account on ebird.org/Caribbean
Enter location information
Select the appropriate CWC protocol under Observation Type

If you recorded your CWC data using the mobile eBird app and didn’t use the eBird Caribbean portal/input the correct CWC protocol :

After you have submitted your checklist on your smartphone:

Log into eBird on a desktop computer
Click on “My eBird” at the top of the screen
Click on “Manage My Checklists” on the right menu
For your CWC checklist, click on “View or Edit”
Click on “Edit Date and Effort”
For Observation Type, select “Other” and then choose the appropriate CWC protocol

December 20, 2020

Hit by Storms and a Pandemic, World Migratory Bird Day Went Mostly Virtual for 2020

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) had a different “feel” to it this year, like so many other activities. And like other organizations, BirdsCaribbean “pivoted” and decided to take the event online, as many of our partners and supporters were in various stages of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some highlights.

Migrating Online—To a Wider Audience

“Birds Connect Our World” was the theme for our online series, celebrating a different migratory bird each day. The series turned into a marathon, with 41 species highlighted! For each bird there are coloring pages from the Migratory Birds of the West Indies coloring book, besides puzzles, quizzes and various activities that will keep the children (and you!) quiet for a while. These fun learning pages were shared widely on social media (join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and are still available online.

“It was a challenging period for us all, but we were very pleased at the response from members, supporters and members of the public to our online offerings,” said Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean Lisa Sorenson. “While our partner organizations and citizen scientists faced hurdles and many were unable to get outdoors, this was an opportunity to get creative and to hone new skills and ways of communicating.”

A Wealth of Webinars

Several partners, such as Sociedad Ornitologica Puertorriquena (SOPI) and BirdLife Jamaica, turned to online education, highlighting migratory bird species that visit their islands. BirdsCaribbean and Environment for the Americas offered free webinars throughout the fall and especially around October 10, addressing a variety of topics and drawing good attendance. BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Lisa Sorenson talked about the extraordinary “love life” of the Northern Pintail, while viewers learned how to draw the bird from naturalist and artist Christine Elder. Adrianne Tossas gave a talk on the migratory birds of Puerto Rico. Conservation ecologist Dr. Peter Marra shared some of his findings from 30 years of research on Jamaica’s migratory birds, highlighting the importance of high-quality winter habitat for survival and reproduction. Jen Yerkes of Les Fruits de Mer in St. Martin presented “Killer Fashion,” an epic story of a fashion trend that drove birds to the brink of extinction—and how women jumpstarted the conservation movement to save them. Finally, Josmar Esteban Marquez, prepared several fun videos about migratory birds and how to draw them, for example, the Wilson’s Snipe, Snowy Plover, and Yellow-throated Warbler.

Stormy Weather Brings Surprise Visitors

October was an unusually stormy month in parts of the Caribbean, which also curtailed birding activities. After Hurricane Delta passed by Jamaica, there was a huge surprise for birders on October 11. Large numbers of Yellow-billed Cuckoos (over 100 in one flock) showed up in an area of dry scrub on the island’s south coast, where they gorged themselves on caterpillars, and then moved on further south. The bird is normally a rare passage migrant. The exciting phenomenon was reported in the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, making a migration stopover in large numbers, in Jamaica (photo by Wayne Sutherland)

Speaking of storms (and a record-breaking 2020 hurricane season), BirdsCaribbean partner, the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA) created an engaging video series on supporting birds before, during and after hurricanes. Narrator Jen Valiulus provided detailed tips on how to help birds recover during the critical post-hurricane period. BirdsCaribbean sent seed and bird feeders to SEA in 2017, when the Virgin Islands were hit by two major hurricanes in a two-day time period and bird habitats took a major hit. Check out their excellent videos here!

October Big Day Was the Biggest Ever

Despite the twofold challenge of climate change and the pandemic, October Big Day 2020 (October 17) was a remarkable success. eBird called it “a global birding phenomenon,” with the highest number of species ever recorded in a single day around the world – 7,115. Lockdowns there were, but this did not stop 33,000 intrepid birders from observing in their backyards and beyond. Close to 80,000 checklists were submitted and according to eBird, 4,434 participants were “first-timers.” BirdsCaribbean also acquired new members through its October Big Day Membership Drive. In the Caribbean, Puerto Rico came out on top with 163 species, while Dominican Republic and the Bahamas followed with 145 and 139 respectively. October Big Day was part of the Global Bird Weekend (October 17 and 18).

A Young Shorebirds Advocate in Montserrat

Our island partners faced up to the challenges of social distancing with creative outreach projects. One outstanding example was the work of Ajhermae White in Montserrat. An Environment Officer for the Department of Environment, she has the full support of her boss, Ernestine Corbett, and colleagues. James “Scriber” Daley—well-known as the island’s “bird man”—has been mentoring Ajhermae. The recipient of a BirdsCaribbean small grant, she organized a beach clean-up attended by the Minister of Environment and public birding trips and made appearances on local television and radio, talking about the Shorebird Education Project. Primary school students enjoyed classroom sessions, field trips and activities guided by Ajhermae on October 9. While wetlands on Montserrat are scarce (their largest was destroyed by the 1995 volcanic eruption), plans are in place to restore and enhance remaining shorebird habitats with support from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Ajhermae White giving presentation to Grade 6 class of BPS

Students of the Grade 5 class of LOPS birding at Marguerita Bay

Clean Ups and Kids’ Sessions

Antigua’s Environmental Action Group (EAG) organized a major beach clean-up – at ten locations across the island – recording their results on the CleanSwell phone app. #TrashChallengeAntigua (for this second year subtitled #CoastalCOVIDCleanup) encouraged small groups to sign up. 205 volunteers collected close to 11 tonnes of trash from beaches and mangroves—important resting and stopover places for migratory birds. Way to go team EAG!

#TrashChallengeAntigua Team (Photo by Environmental Action Group)

#TrashChallengeAntigua (Social Media Post by Environmental Action Group)

In the Bahamas, EARTHCARE Eco Kids and volunteers on Grand Bahama Island were able to join Bridget Davis from Bahamas National Trust for a talk on bird migration, birding, and how to encourage birds to your garden. There were prizes and surprises with BirdsCaribbean merchandise for the youngsters to win.

Bridget Davis receives World Migratory Bird Day shirt from EARTHCARE Eco Kids Team Leader, Shakada Hutson (Photo by Gail Woon)

“While we at BirdsCaribbean played our part, our partner organizations and citizens once again demonstrated resilience and did not forget our migratory birds,” concluded Lisa Sorenson. “This made our celebrations of World Migratory Bird Day as impactful as ever. We learned a great deal and we all enjoyed the creativity.”

Huge thanks to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment for the Americas, and our members and donors for supporting our World Migratory Bird Day celebration!

November 24, 2020

Introducing BirdsCaribbean’s new Board of Directors

BirdsCaribbean Community,

It is with great excitement that we welcome our new BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors to the organization, and to our community. As a reminder to our member base, an election was waived this year because all candidates ran unopposed. That being said, we are welcoming many new Directors to our Board, who bring unique talents and backgrounds, as well as representation from Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, and Grenada. We also welcome back several members of the previous Board, who are eager to help guide the transition and continue their hard work on behalf of BirdsCaribbean. Below you will meet this great team of new and returning faces, who are ready to help lead BirdsCaribbean into even more productive and successful years ahead.

President — Adrianne Tossas, Ph.D.

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Three terms on the BC Board of Directors (2003–2004, 2005–2006, and 2019–2020), co-founder and first coordinator of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (2002–2005), current co-chair of the Mentorship Program.

Nationality: USA

Residence: Puerto Rico

Experience: Adrianne has taught biology at the university level since 2004, leading undergraduate students in avian ecology research and conservation work. Prior to teaching she worked with the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society (SOPI), implementing the Important Bird Areas program from BirdLife International in Puerto Rico. Adrianne is the author of the book Birds of Puerto Rico for Children, and regularly gives talks and contributes newspaper articles about conservation for the general public.

“As President of BirdsCaribbean I want to help the organization grow by promoting broader participation in current flagship programs and working groups, by recruiting a diverse and inclusive membership, and by strengthening partnerships with other organizations. I will also be working to make sure that the organization has the resources it needs to carry out its work. My goal is to continue moving BC forward as the leading ornithological and conservation organization in the region.”

Vice-President — Justin Proctor, M.Sc.

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Vice-President (one term), Managing Editor of Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (4 years), and conference organizer.

Nationality: USA

Residence: Front Royal, Virginia

Experience: Justin has a long and geographically scattered background of working in the fields of science, conservation, and education, from interpretation with the National Park Service in Maine, to underwater research with lobsters and shellfish in the Bay of Fundy, to youth adventure tourism in St. Martin and Costa Rica. After several years as program coordinator for Cornell’s Swallows of the Americas Project, Justin has carved out a niche for himself working extensively with aerial insectivore species, specifically swallows and swifts, from northern Canada down through Argentina. He conducted his master’s work on the threatened and endemic Hispaniolan Golden Swallow, and he also conducted an extensive search for the (likely) extinct Jamaican Golden Swallow. His work both domestically and internationally has included roles with non-profits, the National Park Service, the public education system, and university research projects. He is passionate about connecting communities with their environments, and in doing so instilling a greater sense of local environmental stewardship.

“Continuing on as Vice-President of BirdsCaribbean, I want to focus on attracting new members to the organization (early career professionals and new researchers in the region), helping them network, and getting them involved and engaged with the myriad programs that are underway throughout the Caribbean. I also plan to continue developing the BC Mentorship Program, help secure long-term funding for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, and continue improving our biennial conference experience for the BirdsCaribbean community.”

Secretary — Emma Lewis

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Member since 2013 when she joined the Media Working Group (currently the Chair). Was a member of the Organizing Committee for the BirdsCaribbean International Conference in Jamaica, 2015. Writes and edits media releases, articles, and blog posts for the BC website.

Nationality: British

Residence: Permanent Resident of Jamaica

Experience: Emma worked in International Banking in London for eight years before moving to Jamaica in 1988. She has since worked as a Public Affairs Specialist in the U.S. Embassy of Jamaica (1995–2011), worked in publishing/retail bookselling in Jamaica (1988–1995), and is now a freelance online writer and blogger. She has hosted her own personal blog (“Petchary”) since 2010 that regularly reports on environmental and conservation issues in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean. Emma also conducts media/social media training, in recent years for a European Union NGO project and for the Press Association of Jamaica.

“As Secretary, I would like to see BirdsCaribbean continue to steadily expand its advocacy for birds and their habitats in the Caribbean, design programs with greater outreach to ‘unattached youth’ (ages 16 to 30 years) in rural areas, establish relationships with the Caribbean private (corporate) sector and young entrepreneurs to help develop local green economies, support and publicize BC’s projects through sponsorships, and establish/strengthen and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with international organizations such as UNEP and IUCN.”

Treasurer — Nicholas Sorenson*

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Monthly donor since November 2016 and now officially joined as a BC member; is the son of two ornithologists*, has traveled to numerous Caribbean islands, and has spent a lifetime exploring nature.

Nationality: USA

Residence: Miami, Florida

Experience: Nicholas (Nick) has extensive experience in financial consulting, with project work including financial statement analysis, business valuation, capital budgeting, trend analysis & forecasting, and strategic planning. He has served on the Alumni Advisory Committee for the Boston University Student Managed Investment Fund, was a Business Associate for Wellington Management Company, and an Analyst for the Michel-Shaked Group. Nick is currently a founder and managing partner of Ventus Advisors, and the Business Operations Manager at Lovepop. Nick greatly values environmental conservation efforts, scientific research, and global sustainability.

“As Treasurer, my focus will be to help BirdsCaribbean align its operations with its strategic and business development plans, which together will chart out a clear path for the organization to grow and manage its primary sources of funds (e.g., CBT/tourism, monthly donors, HNW/corporate sponsors, grants, etc.). I’ve worked with a number of startups as an advisor to help them develop customized financial/data-driven solutions, create external presentations, raise funding from investors, and optimize all aspects of the business. I’m excited about the possibilities for BirdsCaribbean because of my familiarity with its valuable work.”

*I hereby formally acknowledge that I am the son of Lisa Sorenson, the current Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, and that this immediate family connection could be perceived by others as a conflict (either internally or externally). Based on my review of BirdsCaribbean’s 306 Conflict of Interest Policy, it is my understanding that there are procedures and comprehensive safeguards in place to ensure that all decisions will be made objectively and in the best interest of the organization, its board, employees, members, partners, and beneficiaries. I pledge to ensure that all matters, in particular those involving financial considerations, will be handled with the highest level of honesty and integrity. Finally, I do not currently have (nor anticipate having) any employment engagements, consulting projects, or business interests that would create or lead to a conflict with BirdsCaribbean’s key objectives and long-term mission as a non-profit organization.

Director-At-Large — Maikel Cañizares Morera, M.Sc.

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Member of BirdsCaribbean since 2011, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee for the 21st BirdsCaribbean International Conference and the Caribbean Birding Trail Workshop held in Topes de Collantes, Cuba. 2017. Has also attended and been active at the 2001, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2019 conferences.

Nationality: Cuban

Residence: Havana, Cuba

Experience: Maikel works at the Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática in Havana. He is a conservationist, researcher, and educator. He holds a master’s degree in both Systematic and Applied Zoology (Universidad de la Habana, 2003), and Managing and Leading Conservation Projects (Cambridge University, 2016). Maikel has considerable experience in Psittacids management, Caribbean bird ecology and conservation, and working with people from rural communities. He was President of the Cuban Zoology Society since 2014 until 2019 and was President of the Cuban Chapter of the Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation since 2010 until 2017.

“As a Director-At-Large, I want to support cultural integration and scientific exchange among bird lovers from our Caribbean nations.”

Director-At-Large — Jacqueline Andre

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Member of BirdsCaribbean since 2013. Participated in three BC International Conferences, including Grenada, Jamaica, and Guadeloupe.

Nationality: Dominican

Residence: Dominica

Experience: Jacqueline (Jacquie) is a Forest Officer with the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division in Dominica and is currently the head of the National Parks Unit. She has an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Recreation Management from Virginia Tech. Jacquie has been involved with bird education for several years as the Environmental Education Officer of the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division, and attended her first BirdsCaribbean conference in Grenada in 2013.

“As a Director-At-Large, I want to help foster more education programs that would in turn create much-needed awareness and bring a deeper appreciation for nature in the Caribbean.”

Director-At-Large — Terry L. Root, Ph.D.

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Past participant in two of BirdsCaribbean’s Cuba tours, and a monthly donor to BC.

Nationality: USA

Residence: Sarasota, Florida

Experience: Terry was a Professor at the University of Michigan for 14 years and then Stanford University for 15 years. She was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change 4th Assessment Report that in 2007 was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Vice President Al Gore. Terry was also a lead author for the 3rd Assessment Report (2001) and a review editor for the 5th Assessment Report (2014). She has served on the Board of Directors of three different conservation NGOs (Point Blue 2002–2012, National Audubon 2010–2019, and Defenders of Wildlife 2010–2014 & 2020–Present) and has been the Science Advisor to the Board of Directors of the American Wind and Wildlife Institute (AWWI, 2012–2015 & 2019–Present). Additionally, Terry is currently a Science Adviser to National Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife, AWWI, and Climate Communication.

“I have worked my entire career on how climate disruption has influenced the biology of wild plants and animals, and how that influence has grave potential of facilitating the extinction of a quarter to half of the species on the planet. I believe my skills and expertise can help BirdsCaribbean attain their mission of raising awareness, promoting sound science and empowering local partners to build a region in the Caribbean where people appreciate, conserve and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems.”

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology Editor-in-Chief — Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr., Ph.D.

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Founding member of BirdsCaribbean in 1988, former Vice-President and President on the Board, and has contributed to the society’s first constitution & bylaws. Was co-organizer for the society’s conferences in Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Guadeloupe, and the Chair and organizer of the Founders Awards for best student presentations at four conferences. Has assisted with fund-raising and grant proposal writing to support workshops and regional conferences, participated as a presenter or a chair/organizer for workshops/special sessions at all conferences, and has served as a reviewer on the editorial board of Journal of Caribbean Ornithology since its beginning in 1988.

Nationality: USA

Residence: Puerto Rico and Georgia, USA

Experience: Joseph (Joe) did his dissertation research on the genetics, behavior, and ecology of the Bananaquit on the island of Grenada, W.I., where he lived for six years and taught in the Canadian Junior College for Marine Biology in the nearby Grenadines. Prior to moving to Puerto Rico, he taught and conducted research with the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica as well as at North Carolina State University. He was a professor in the Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Puerto Rico in Cayey for eight years before joining the U.S. Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry in 1988, from which he recently retired after 30 years as a Wildlife Team Leader & Research Wildlife Biologist. He still maintains his ties with the University of Puerto Rico as an adjunct professor where he advises and teaches graduate students in ecology and ornithology. An underlying theme of his research is disturbance ecology, an understanding of which has facilitated his efforts to identify conservation prescriptions for bird populations threatened by disturbance from hurricanes, droughts, agriculture, and selective logging. He has authored or co-authored over 100 publications mostly based on his research on avian ecology and conservation biology, which he conducted throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas as well as in Central America and Brazil. In an effort to build local research and conservation capacity in the Caribbean and elsewhere, he has involved students and recent graduates from the region in his field research.

“I plan to continue to help strengthen BirdsCaribbean’s programs in education, outreach, advocacy, and transfer of scientific information related to avian conservation and ornithology in an effort to build local capacity to conduct research and foster conservation for Caribbean birds. Specifically, as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, I wish to build on the efforts of Jim Wiley and subsequent editors and their staff to increase the visibility and utility of the journal; to encourage and foster publication by Caribbean nationals; and to ensure the sustainability of JCO as an open access journal. JCO has an important role to play by facilitating communication among ornithologists, naturalists, and conservationists working in the region and by serving as a repository for studies of Caribbean endemic bird species and other species of conservation concern.”

Past-President — Andrew Dobson

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Member since 2001, President of the Board 2005–2008 and 2017–2020, and led BirdsCaribbean tours to Cuba in 2019 and 2020.

Nationality: British

Residence: Cambridge, UK

Experience: Andrew was educated in the UK and has a B.A. in Economics (University of East Anglia), Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (Bristol University) and M.B.A. (Educational Management) University of Leicester. Andrew taught in Bermuda for over 28 years. He served on the executive of the Bermuda Audubon Society 1990–2018 including many terms as President. He produced the Society’s newsletter during that period and developed their website. He organized birdwatching courses, field trips, an annual bird camp, and coordinated the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and International Migratory Bird Day events in Bermuda. Since 1995 he has been a regional editor for the journal North American Birds. He attended his first BirdsCaribbean conference in Cuba in 2001 and has since served twice as the Society’s President. In 2002, his ‘Birdwatching Guide to Bermuda’ was published. He has co-authored articles on Bermuda’s IBAs and Bermuda’s birds. A keen photographer, his bird photos have appeared in many publications. He is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and a BirdLife International Rare Bird Club member. In 2018 he received an honour from Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the protection of Bermuda’s natural environment and his work with the Audubon Society. Andrew recently retired from teaching and moved back to the UK with his family where he remains active in birding and conservation action.

“I am honored to be part of an amazingly dedicated team committed to supporting such important bird conservation work in the Caribbean region. The Society reaches thousands of people in the region with its educational programs. I am proud of the response that BirdsCaribbean has given to island communities in the aftermath of recent disastrous hurricanes, especially the resources supplied quickly to feed starving bird populations. In an unprecedented period of climate change, I look forward to being part of a team working with local communities to create a better environment for both people and birds.”

Executive Director — Lisa Sorenson, Ph.D.

Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Member since 1996, Project Coordinator, WIWD and Wetlands Conservation Project 1997 to 2016, former Vice President and President of the Board, Executive Director 2013 to present.

Nationality: USA

Residence: Natick, MA, USA

Experience: Lisa has a B.Sc. is in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis, and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. She has been working in the Caribbean for over 30 years and has expertise in waterbird and wetland ecology and conservation, climate change, conservation education, and surveying and monitoring techniques. Lisa raises funds for and oversees BirdsCaribbean’s various capacity building programs, such as the West Indian Whistling-Ducks and Wetlands Conservation Project, Caribbean Waterbird Census, BirdSleuth Caribbean, Caribbean Birding Trail Program, and bird festivals. She also works closely with our partners throughout the region, mentors students and young wildlife professionals, develops materials, and facilitates training workshops. Lisa became interested in Caribbean bird conservation through her PhD research on the breeding ecology and behavior of White-cheeked Pintails in the Bahamas and climate change impacts on wetlands and birds. She is passionate about her work and inspired by all the great work that our partners are doing to raise awareness and make a difference to help conserve the Caribbean’s amazing birds and biodiversity.

“Continuing as Executive Director, I want to grow and expand on all of our great programs in the region to conserve birds and nature. I believe that raising awareness and encouraging local citizens to know and appreciate birds, as well as get involved in science, monitoring, and conservation is vital to ensuring the long-term survival of the region’s incredible bird life. My priority is to continue building the capacity of our amazing local partners to carry out the fantastic work they do with their communities. We will build on our successes and strengths and grow the network of people that love birds and understand the value of local habitats for wildlife, sustainable livelihoods, ecosystem services, and ultimately, human health. I am honored to be part of an outstanding team that cares deeply about our mission and gives generously of their time and expertise. And I am thankful beyond words for our many partners, members, and supporters who believe in us and support our work in myriad ways.”

November 19, 2020

First Encounters with the Elusive White-breasted Thrasher in Saint Lucia

The White-breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus) is an Endangered songbird with an extremely small and increasingly fragmented range. Over 80% of the global population is found in Saint Lucia, most of it within the Mandelé range, which is considered the stronghold for the species at about 1,000 adults. (the remaining 20% is in Martinique). Bela Barata, Field Programme Officer with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, takes us into the field to find and study this elusive bird.

A pair of White-breasted Thrashers in the wild (Photo by Robert Curry, 2007)

On a sunny February morning, beneath the canopy of dry scrub forest along the central East Coast of Saint Lucia, staff of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Saint Lucia National Trust and the Division of Forestry prepared to complete the day’s task: checking camera traps in White-breasted Thrasher territory. One factor that limits reproductive success of this bird is nest predation by native predators such as the Saint Lucia boa constrictor and non-native predators such as rats, cats, and mongoose. The team had recently installed a network of camera traps, which take photos when trigged by motion, across the Mandelé range to get an indication of potential predator abundance in the area. These cameras were being monitored on a regular basis by Durrell and our partners.

Saphira Prepares to Meet the Thrasher

This assignment would turn out to be a great occasion for Saphira Hunt, Conservation Assistant at the Saint Lucia National Trust and Durrell’s Project Officer. Saphira has been working to raise people’s awareness to conserve this endangered bird for a number of years. Surprisingly, she has never seen a thrasher in the bush. On that day, however, while checking the cameras, she would come across the Endangered White-breasted Thrasher for the very first time in her life.

Saphira was thrilled with the opportunity and she vividly recalls her excitement: ‘We were trekking into Fer de Lance (Saint Lucia pit viper) territory with two tasks at hand. One was to check on the camera traps placed in the thrashers’ nesting sites and the second task was to see a White-breasted Thrasher live in its habitat—a first for me. Adorned with knee high snake gators, rubber boots, machetes, and snake hooks, we set off on the first trail ever, vigilant for any Fer de Lance along the way. The first camera trap was 5 meters ahead. Guided by a GPS unit, we walked single file; I strategically placed myself between two Forestry Officers each wielding a machete. I figured this positioning would decrease my chances of encountering the venomous Fer de Lance. As much as I was excited to see the White-breasted Thrasher in the wild, it would also be my first time seeing the Fer de Lance in the wild.’

Saphira Hunt, Conservation Assistant at Saint Lucia National Trust and Durrell’s Project Officer, ready for work and moments before spotting a White-breasted Thrasher in the wild. (photo by Durrell Wildlife)

The Sound of Silence (and the Thrasher’s Call)

As we trotted on, we kept our ears and eyes peeled, looking to the ground in hope of seeing the bird thrashing in the leaf litter or calling out to a mate. The lead Forest Officer spotted the first camera trap, while our team got ready to check the SD card for photos of potential predators. The area was scanned for any presence of Fer de Lance. We checked the first camera, and then another one. While we were on the move, a member of our team spotted the thrasher. Everyone stopped to admire, and then silence ruled: we heard nothing but the thrasher’s call.

Saphira describes her first sighting: ‘Onward, forward we went, checking two more camera traps along the trail. Suddenly, we heard the distinctive call of the White-breasted Thrasher. Pius Haynes (Senior Wildlife Conservation Officer of the Forestry Division) moved slowly forward, trying to spot the pair. There they were, perched on a low hanging branch. Everyone moved aside to allow me to quietly walk up to meet Pius where he pointed out the White-breasted Thrasher to me. Oh, what a sight! With their dark topcoats and blinding white under bellies, they were a stunning pair. I stood there in total silence letting the sounds of the forest fill my senses as I watched in awe.’

Pius Haynes sets up a camera trap at the correct height to take photos of our target mammal species. The camera is triggered by motion and will take a photo when an animal passes by (Photo by Jennifer Mortensen)

The team getting prepared to check camera traps in White-breasted Thrasher territory. (photo by Durrell Wildlife)

An Action Plan Took Shape in 2014

Saphira experienced a unique moment; the view of a rare and magnificent bird is something hard to forget. The White-breasted Thrasher was once more widespread in Saint Lucia, but the population is thought to be declining due to fragmentation of dry forest, the thrasher’s habitat, and increased depredation by non-native invasive species, such as rats, domestic cats, and mongoose. Our collaborator, Jennifer Mortensen from the University of Arkansas has been studying the ecology of the White-breasted Thrasher since 2006 and co-wrote the Species Action Plan (produced in 2014). Jennifer describes with great satisfaction how it feels to see a conservation plan being put forward for this species:

“I remember the day. It was 2014. A beautiful February afternoon. This was my 8th trip to Saint Lucia, but the ﬁrst time visiting during the “winter.” Clear skies, slight breeze, low humidity, few mosquitos. Why had I always come during the “summer” rainy season? Well, for one, the mangoes. But more importantly, I suppose, the rainy season is the breeding season for the White-breasted Thrasher. And I love that bird. They are kings of the dry forest. They are spunky. Some say they have an understated elegance that is unrivalled across the Caribbean. And they are Endangered, which is why we met that afternoon in Dennery in February of 2014 to hash out the species’ ﬁrst conservation plan. This plan, called the Gòj Blan Plan after the thrasher’s local Kwéyòl name, leads directly to the work we are doing now, six years later. To see those discussions and all that planning turning into conservation action is really exciting.”

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). (photo by Durrell Wildlife)

Jennifer recently returned to Saint Lucia to support implementation of our White-breasted Thrasher project. She was a little nervous to return to Saint Lucia after six years away. She recalled, “While I’d kept in touch with friends and colleagues, and often thought about thrashers (still analysing ﬁeld data), I didn’t know what to expect. However, seeing the Pitons as we approached the island, the colourful roofs of Vieux Fort, the faces of friends at airport arrivals, and then ﬁnally, being back in the bush with the thrashers—it felt, at once, like no time and all the time had passed. Birds we banded in 2012, now 8 years older, were still thrashing about in the leaf litter only 60m from where we last encountered them.”

Betty Petersen Grant Supports Predator Study

We are working with a wide range of collaborators, partners, and funders to save and protect this endangered bird. With the support of BirdsCaribbean’s Betty Petersen Conservation Fund, our current work is looking into nest predation and investigating the abundance and activities of invasive predators like the mongoose. Predation is considered the primary cause of White-breasted Thrasher nest failure. It is also suspected to be the most important cause of juvenile mortality. Data we collect on non-native predator abundance and locations via our camera trap network will serve as a baseline and will assist us in the design of a non-native predator control programme, which is the next step of the project.

Non-native mammal predators caught on our network of camera traps. Starting bottom left and moving clockwise: mongoose, opossum, rats, cat. (photo by Durrell Wildlife)

These activities are based on the Gòj Blan Species Action Plan and will help determine if directed non-native predator control is a viable management strategy to improve nesting success of the White-breasted Thrasher or whether efforts should be focused on other management strategies. We have a dedicated team comprised of wildlife oﬃcers, naturalists, and conservationists from the Saint Lucia Forestry Department, Saint Lucia National Trust, and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Together, and with BirdsCaribbean support, we are ready to promote the conservation of the White-breasted Thrasher in Saint Lucia. We look forward to reporting back after our next field season!

COVID-19 UPDATE

First case of Covid-19 in Saint Lucia was recorded in March 2020, followed by the government announcement of restricted rules to contain the spread of the virus: international flights were prohibited, a curfew was imposed, only essential shops remained opened, and schools were closed.

Our 2020 project goals of beginning the non-native predator control program and schools-based outreach activities could clearly not go on as planned. With schools closed, awareness activities will be postponed until the next academic year. Given the major disruption in international shipping, the equipment needed to implement the invasive species control program could not be delivered, causing us to shift this activity to next year as well. However, all was not put off… Ahead of us was the challenging task of completing another season of White-breasted Thrasher nest monitoring, initially proposed to start shortly after the predator control program in May 2020.

A Safe and Successful Nest Monitoring Season

Field activities were on-hold until July 2020, which is when the government granted permission to start reopening businesses and offices, following specific guidance and safety measures. Since outdoor activities such as fieldwork were considered safe, our team could proceed with nest monitoring. Bela Barata, Programme Officer for Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, said ‘of primary concern was the health and safety of our local staff, who are essential in delivering fieldwork and collecting all the data that underlie our efforts to save and protect the White-breasted Thrasher’.

In Saint Lucia, White-breasted Thrashers may breed between April and September, so we had to act quickly if we wanted to get a good sample of nests to monitor this year: ‘we had to adapt to the current scenario, make appropriate changes to deploy a reasonable survey effort and also ensure this could be done in the safest way possible’, said Bela. To safely deliver this activity, we reduced the field team to two people to ensure social distancing and used trail cameras to ‘watch’ nests. The cameras allowed us to reduce site visits to only once per week where we simply retrieved camera data, limiting contact between team members.

Camera traps were successfully installed in July 2020 and deployed for 1½ months. We recorded a total of 19 White-breasted Thrasher nests during this period, with nests occurring across each of our four field sites. Most importantly, by the end of the monitoring season, our team was well and healthy. We are now working to share the dataset, which contains thousands of photos. With this data our team will be able to calculate nest success, stages of nest failure, nest visitation by potential predators, and depredation events.

The success of this season survey under a global pandemic scenario was only made possible due to a well-coordinated response and the support of multiple partners. Saint Lucia National Trust and Durrell Project Officer, Saphira Hunt, was able to put together all equipment needed for field work in a noticeably short time. Saint Lucia Forestry Department staff was on stand-by, ready to install the cameras at any moment. Our White-Breasted Thrasher expert, Jennifer Mortensen from the University of Arkansas, worked quickly to provide a revised and updated monitoring protocol, setting a step-by-step guide that supported our field team without in-person supervision. From all lessons learnt, the delivery of the nest monitoring this year proved that we have a terrific in-country capacity, which is the bedrock of a relationship of trust and crucial for the long-term sustainability of this project. Together, we are working to achieve one shared goal: saving the White-breasted Thrasher from extinction.

By Bela Barata. Bela is Project Officer with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. She coordinates this project, providing logistic support to the team in the field to deliver project activities, and she provides regular updates on the activity plan.

Close-up of the White-breasted Thrasher (Photo by Hank Tseng and Adams Toussaint)

October 29, 2020

Relax, Unwind, and Contemplate the ‘Birds of Yoga’ – an Online Series of Classes for Birders

Yes, you read the headline right. We already know that birds enhance our well-being in so many remarkable ways. Now we are partnering with Spinning Arrow Yoga on a creative new series of classes that has a special new “twist” – a bird twist.

COVID-19 continues to have a major impact across the globe, and like everyone else we at BirdsCaribbean recognise the pandemic’s negative effects on our physical and mental health. Many of us still have restrictions on our movements, and on the number of people who can gather together. With all of these limitations in place for at least the foreseeable future, it is more important than ever to find a dynamic and welcoming online fitness class that will give us a little ‘me’ time.

Alex – finding some balance in Eagle pose (Garudasana)

We recently introduced you to our new well-being partner Spinning Arrow Yoga. We are collaborating with Founder Alex on our innovative range of rejuvenating Yoga & Birding Tours through the Caribbean. We are very excited about our first tour – scheduled for 10-19 March, 2022 – where we will practise yoga and go birding daily; visit places of cultural, historical and spiritual significance; cruise with whales; swim with turtles; and so much more on the stunning islands of St. Lucia, Dominica & Barbados. The tour has taken its first bookings! Click here to find out more about this incredible journey ‘Back to Nature…Back to Yourself’.

Birds of Yoga Online Classes – 15 Nov 2020, 10 AM EST

Now Alex – Founder of Spinning Arrow Yoga – is delighted to offer a series of online Yoga classes catering specifically to the birding community and to all those who love and appreciate birds. Each class in the ‘Birds of Yoga’ series will feature a gentle flow towards a different bird-themed ‘peak’ pose and a short talk from Birding the Islands’ Director, Ryan, about some of the fascinating species of birds that the poses are named after, and the Caribbean islands where you can find them.

If you’ve never participated in a live online Yoga class before, there’s no time like the present to try something new! The classes will be live-streamed on Zoom (which is free for individual users) and on Spinning Arrow Yoga’s Facebook page (also free).

The first class in the series, themed around the majestic Heron (Krounchasana) will be going live at 10am EST on Sunday 15 November. Practicing yoga in a live class from the comfort of your own home has never been so fly 😉

Register here: http://bit.ly/BirdsofYogaClass1

The classes are being offered on a donation basis with 100% of the proceeds going directly towards supporting BirdsCaribbean’s conservation efforts throughout the Caribbean region. Thanks in advance if you are able to help out!

Looking forward to seeing you on the virtual mat!

A Green Heron finding some balance of its own at Graeme Hall mangrove swamp, Barbados (photo by Alex Chenery)

To find out more about the Birding and Yoga Tour, and book your place, click here or contact Alex at spinningarrowyoga@gmail.com.

October 8, 2020

BirdsCaribbean Welcomes Renewed Support for Dominica’s Native Parrots

BirdsCaribbean approves of Dominica’s plans to launch new efforts to protect the Sisserou and Jaco parrots. Both species are rare and live nowhere else in the world. A recent letter from the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment, attached here, reaffirms Government’s pledge to help these birds locally, with the help of long-term international and local partners. This includes the return of parrots secretly taken to Germany in March 2018. Other measures include parrot surveys, further repair of the Parrot Centre, and more.

Sisserou or Imperial Parrot of Dominica. — The Sisserou, or Imperial Parrot, is a national symbol found only on Dominica and is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. This bird was photographed in the wild feeding after Hurricane Maria. (Photo by Stephen Durand)

On March 18th, 2018, a few months after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) took rare parrots from Dominica. This included two Sisserou (Imperial Parrots, Amazona imperialis) and ten Jaco (Red-necked Parrots, Amazona arausiaca), all hatched in the wild. Claiming this was an “emergency measure,” ACTP took the parrots to a private facility in Germany. All the parrots had survived Maria and had been rehabilitated.

The export was not approved by Dominica’s management or scientific authorities for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Dominica’s Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division was not consulted or warned. BirdsCaribbean expressed its deep concern and was among thirteen groups that wrote a letter to the United Nations.

On May 1, 2018, over forty well-known scientists from around the world wrote to Dominican and German authorities. They urged the return of the birds and an investigation into ACTP. ACTP was the subject of two investigative reports in the Australian Guardian later that year. They were also featured in an in-depth article in Audubon Magazine’s Summer 2020 issue, among others. These revealed that the group also had removed hundreds of rare parrots from Australia and Brazil, and rare parrots from St. Lucia and St. Vincent. The articles also revealed that ACTP’s director was convicted of kidnapping, extortion and other crimes, and has no scientific credentials.

Jaco (Red-necked Parrots) at the aviary in Dominica. — Rescued and rehabilitated Jaco (Red-necked Parrots) at the aviary in Dominica in 2018. (photo by Stephen Durand)

BirdsCaribbean stands ready to support its members and partners across the region, who work hard to protect and support threatened species such as the iconic Sisserou – nurturing them within their own native ecosystems. We continue to urge the immediate return of Dominica’s parrots (as well as any offspring) to the Parrot Conservation and Research Centre in Roseau, Dominica after first transferring them to a reputable zoological facility to ensure the birds are disease-free. We welcome plans to renovate the Centre in Roseau to enable it to continue its work in wildlife rehabilitation and research under a parrot monitoring program and for increased capacity-building and training for Forestry staff and other scientists on the island.

Building on partnerships, this kind of empowerment of local expertise will provide for a hopeful future for these birds. BirdsCaribbean supports the government’s Wildlife Conservation Partnership plan. We look forward to hearing more about these positive developments, a welcome ray of light in these hard times.

Minister’s Letter

October 7, 2020

Bird with us on October Big Day and Receive a Discount on your BC Membership!

Join us for OCTOBER BIG DAY on Saturday, October 17th!

OCTOBER BIG DAY is a 24-hr period for all of us to commit to going out and safely birding. No matter where you are in the world, we invite you to carve out some time on October 17th to go birding, record all of the birds you see, and then submit that information to eBird.

For those of you that are new to eBird, it’s a fun and easy (and very powerful!) platform to record your bird sightings, find the best places to bird, and more. And your data helps scientists better understand and conserve birds. To get started and create an account, follow the quick instructions here.

We know that you don’t need even more incentive to get outdoors and birdwatch (it’s already so much fun and a welcome distraction from everything else!), but we’re going to give you one anyway! Send us the link to your eBird checklist(s) from October 17th, and we’ll send you back a special coupon for 25% off a BirdsCaribbean annual membership, or membership renewal if you are already a member with us. BirdsCaribbean is a big supporter of eBird as well as creating opportunities for all of us to get excited about connecting with nature and birds, so the membership discount is our thanks to all of you for getting involved!

For more information on the event, click here.

So, here’s what you need to do:

Friday, October 16th: Take a few minutes to sketch out a plan for where you are going to go birding the next day. Even just 10 minutes observing and recording birds in your backyard would be a great contribution to citizen science, once you enter your sightings into eBird. Make sure that you choose a safe place to do so. And don’t forget to start piling up the snacks that you’ll take along with you (a critical detail for successful birding).

Saturday, October 17th: Go birding! Have a great time! Take pictures and good notes of what you see. Don’t forget to look for owls and other nocturnal birds that night — the big day goes until 11:59pm in whatever time zone you are in!

Sunday, October 18th: Upload your checklist(s) to eBird (feel free to do this on Saturday if you have the time) via the website or mobile app. Then, send the link to your completed checklist(s) by email to: Justin Proctor at justin.proctor@birdscaribbean.org. We’ll send you back a coupon for membership, and easy directions on how to use it! Please send us any great pictures from the day as well!

Keep in mind that a membership* with BirdsCaribbean is a great value — there’s a lot included!

• FREE subscription to Birds of the World — the most comprehensive online resource about birds — a $49 value!
• Immediate access to our quarterly newsletters, packed to the brim with great information on birds and all of the projects we have going on around the Caribbean
• Meet and network with scientists, birders, educators, and conservationists across the region
• Receive discounts on our products, conferences, and workshops
• Be a hero to Caribbean birds! — Through your BirdsCaribbean membership, you are directly helping in our urgent fight to save critically important habitats from destruction and birds from extinction.

*Because our annual memberships run from January 1st thru December 31st each year, participants of October Big Day will receive a complimentary membership for the remainder of this calendar year, AND a full membership for the entirety of 2021!

To our monthly donors, Life, Benefactor, Corporate, Sponsored, and Comped members — we can’t thank you enough for your continued support of BirdsCaribbean and our mission. We will be reaching out to you over the coming weeks with more information about your membership status and benefits. In the meantime, we hope that you join us for OCTOBER BIG DAY!

We are looking forward to birding “with” all of you on Saturday, October 17th.

Mark your calendars now, and get excited!

If you wish, you can RENEW your membership now at this link or JOIN for the first time here.

PS. OCTOBER BIG DAY is part of the first Global Bird Weekend. If you’d like to be a part of this bigger event, you can join for free as an individual or join a group. Once you are registered, you will be eligible to win some great prizes. Don’t forget to also send BirdsCaribbean your eBird checklist(s) to receive your membership coupon. There are a lot of great opportunities this weekend, so make sure you get out birding and record your observations.

We look forward to birding “with” you on Saturday!

Please share this invite with your friends and family, and encourage them to allocate some time for birdwatching, too!

September 29, 2020

Free, Fun Activities for the Caribbean Show How Birds Connect Our World

The Caribbean is celebrating World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) this fall! Hundreds of different birds migrate to spend part of their year in the Caribbean. To honor them, BirdsCaribbean is sharing fun stuff for the whole family. Enjoy Migratory Bird of the Day activities every day for free, from the safety of your home.

BirdsCaribbean has fun activities for kids and adults that will teach you about migratory birds. You can learn to draw and colour birds. Caribbean scientists will read stories about nature. You can learn how to do bird origami on our YouTube channel. In addition to daily coloring pages and activities like puzzles, we will host online talks on the incredible journeys these birds make. Check our BirdsCaribbean Live page and Bird Day Live for a schedule of upcoming events, including 3 days of fun virtual events from October 8 to 10. This is hosted by Environment for the Americas, who organizes World Migratory Bird Day in the Americas. There will be a special focus on the Caribbean on October 8th!

This year’s WMBD theme is “Birds Connect Our World.” Migratory birds cross countries, seas and national borders. They depend upon on sites all along the way for food, rest and shelter. They can be found along our shores, in wetlands, in forests, cities, and even in our yards.

One migratory bird is the Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis). It breeds in Canada and part of the United States, then heads south to spend the winter in warmer areas. These ducks wait until there is ice on the lakes in North America before they travel. During November some will arrive in the Caribbean. They are most common in the Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. They can be found in other islands too. They are usually seen on ponds or in the sea near the coast. These ducks connect Caribbean ponds and Canadian lakes, teaching us that we are all connected.

Migratory birds face threats like climate change, habitat loss and hunting. Global action is needed to protect their habitats. For migrants, these can include wild spaces in several different countries. Also, the current pandemic proves that the destruction of wild areas can help the spread of diseases. Urgent action is needed to better protect and sustain wildlife and their habitats.

Visit our Birds Connect Our World page for access to our Migratory Bird of the Day series, including natural history information, coloring pages, online puzzles, games, videos, activities for kids, and more. And be sure to follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and YouTube for the latest posts!

Lesser Scaup-male-female — One migratory bird that comes to the Caribbean is the Lesser Scaup. The male in breeding plumage is shown on top, the female is below. (Photos by Rick Evets and Matt Grube)

September 27, 2020

Connecting with Birds, Nature and Our Inner Selves—Birding and Yoga Tour 2022

BirdsCaribbean has been collaborating with Birding the Islands Ltd for the last two years, offering outstanding birding tours to the Lesser Antilles. Now, we are thrilled to announce that from 2022 a new partner will be joining us as we expand our offerings to include a fresh, innovative selection of trips. We have teamed up with Spinning Arrow Yoga & Holistic Healing to offer you the chance to escape the everyday—through one-of-a-kind birding and yoga trips to some of the most beautiful and rejuvenating islands in the Caribbean. Read on to learn more about both aspects of the trip!

Introducing…Spinning Arrow Yoga & Holistic Healing

We specialize in providing a range of well-being offerings including in-person and online yoga classes, energetic healing practices and heart-centered yoga holidays. BirdsCaribbean’s mission is to: “raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems.” Spinning Arrow Yoga & Holistic Healing aims to help you to “find your true direction” in life by raising your awareness and appreciation of your own divine nature; promoting the ancient sciences of Yoga and energetic healing practices such as Reiki, Nada Yoga and Shamanic Healing; and empowering you to bring the benefits of these profound practices into your daily life in order to conserve your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being within the ecosystem of your own body.

Our founder, Alex Chenery, who will be co-leading our trips through the islands, is an RYT®200 yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance; Usui Reiki Master; Nada Yoga & Yoga Nidra Facilitator; Restorative & Yin Yoga Teacher; Adaptive, Trauma-Informed & Chair Yoga Facilitator; Pregnancy, Post-Natal & Mother and Baby Yoga Teacher; and Shamanic Practitioner.

“I’m extremely excited about embarking on this new adventure with two partners who share my love of the natural world. Our collective intention for you during these trips, is that you truly and deeply experience that beautiful connection with nature, and take a step down the life-changing path towards finding a way back to your true authentic self.” – Alex Chenery

Experience the therapeutic benefits of practicing yoga in nature…

Our inaugural heart-centered yoga and nature tour ‘Back to Nature…Back to Yourself’ departs in March 2022. We will be inviting you to discover the natural, cultural, and historical treasures of St. Lucia, Dominica and Barbados, while taking time to re-center and absorb these experiences with a variety of daily yoga and well-being practices.

During this epic 10-day adventure, we will take inspiration from the islands to rebalance our vital energies through practices designed to free you from your inhibitions—and give you that ‘aaahhhh oooohhhh mmmm’ (OM) feeling!

We will take our yoga practice into the heart of Dominica’s lush tropical forests to connect with the primal energy of our Sacral chakra; to the lofty windswept cliff tops of St. Lucia where with Red-billed Tropicbirds whistling by, we will root down into the earth, finding that pure connection to nature through our Root chakra; and on to the tranquil azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, where aboard our privately chartered catamaran we will raise our voices by way of our Throat chakra to experience the uplifting effect of Kirtan. While our daytime yoga sessions will have the calls of nature as our backdrop, our evening sessions will be accompanied by the harmonic sounds of fellow BirdsCaribbean partner Shika Shika’s “Guide to the Birdsong” series. These tracks will create the perfect atmosphere to relax and recharge.

Red-billed Tropicbird (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Keith Clarkson)

The Birding Experience

Your guide to all things nature—founder of Birding the Islands Ltd. Ryan Chenery (the Bajan Birder)—will introduce you to the eclectic mix of flora and fauna found in this tropical paradise (and in some cases nowhere else on Earth).

Dominica and St. Lucia are renowned for their spectacular wildlife. These two islands are home to three majestic Amazon parrots, every hummingbird in the Lesser Antillean region, an array of endemic and near endemic warblers, tremblers, thrashers, nightjars and pewees, and a wondrous variety of regional specialties from tropicbirds and frigate birds to solitaires and quail doves.

Purple-throated Carib (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Mark Greenfield)

You will wind down the tour in Barbados, exploring peaceful coastal enclaves to seek out Caribbean Martin and Black Swift. Go birding along the glistening white beaches and mangroves for close encounters with terns, herons, waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. End the tour by stepping away from terra firma and submerging yourself in the most breathtakingly beautiful turquoise waters in the region—where you snorkel with turtles and find yourself surrounded by the many colorful inhabitants of the island’s coral reefs.

Green Turtle coming up for air in Barbados (Photo by Ryan Chenery)

And yes, there’s more…

In St. Lucia, you will also have the chance to learn about traditional Rastafarian herbal remedies and discover the island’s influential connection to the sea. On Barbados, we explore the history of the sugar industry in the Caribbean, at one of the island’s oldest working rum distilleries. In Dominica, we spend time with the Kalinago people, the island’s original inhabitants. We will gain insight into their rich culture and visit the sacred site where these indigenous people first landed on the island from their original settlement in South America. Here, we also take a breathtaking cruise off the Atlantic coast in search of whales!

Take some time to reconnect…

There is no purer connection to the natural world than remembering that we are all part of the cosmic consciousness. By practicing yoga in some of the most ecologically rich and pristine habitats in the Caribbean, you have the opportunity to experience a deep connection to the powerful healing energies of the natural world. Along the way, you will experience different yoga styles, develop (or begin) your pranayama and meditation practice, immerse yourself in a Sound Healing Journey, perhaps indulge in an optional private Reiki treatment and even try your hand at SUP (Stand-up Paddle) Yoga!

But I’m a birder, not a yogi (or vice versa)!

Yoga is for everyone—and so is birding! Each part of this retreat into nature has been specifically created to meet you where you are at. Learning is an important part of the mission of our organizations, and you are invited to join us with as much or as little experience in either yoga or birding as you currently have.

Ryan Chenery "Practicing Flying" with an Immature Great Blue Heron — Ryan Chenery “Practicing Flying” with an Immature Great Blue Heron

We are hopeful that these tours will serve to introduce birders to the profound therapeutic benefits of yoga, and yoga practitioners to the wonderful world of birding. They will be voyages of discovery—connecting with birds and with our inner selves.

Alex Practicing Yoga on the Beach at Sunset

How do I find out more?

Our 2022 tour will run from 10th–19th March and above is just a snapshot of the incredibly exciting journey that lies in store for you. To find out more, and for a full itinerary please click here.

We look forward to welcoming you to the islands in 2022!

To express your interest, contact Lisa at lisa.sorenson@birdscaribbean.org, Alex at spinningarrowyoga@gmail.com, or Ryan at thebajanbirder@gmail.com.

Note: Birding the Islands and Spinning Arrow Yoga are generously donating a portion of your tour fee to support our bird conservation programs in the Caribbean. In addition, our tours support local livelihoods, including guides (our partners, some have received training through out Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Program) and small businesses, in the islands.

To see other tours offered by Birding the Islands, visit our Caribbean Birding Trail website and Birding the Islands website.

August 31, 2020

A Carefree, but not “Careless” Birding Cruise Planned for March 2021

In 2014, BirdsCaribbean forged an exciting partnership with Carefree Birding, a group of fun and relaxed birders that offer unique birding trips for cruise line passengers. Carefree Birding has developed opportunities for passengers to observe native birds and wildlife while experiencing all the fun and relaxation of cruising.

Owners Ken Burgener and Linda Warschauer are the hosts on each cruise, and their Carefree Birding concept looks something like this:

“Board cruise ship, unpack gear, get a full night’s sleep, disembark when the ship reaches port, spend no more than five or six hours birding, return to ship and relax, meet to discuss the following day’s excursions, have dinner with other birders, repeat next day.” (2013 Porthole Cruise Magazine)

On select cruises, expert birding guides are invited to join the group. Carefree Birding, with the help of local environmental organizations, arranges birding field trips at each port of call. 100% of the money collected for the tours is routed directly to these local groups. The excursions are slow paced, short, physically easy, and fun-filled.

Carefree Birding owner, Ken Burgener, having a lot of fun “on the job” with Adams Toussaint, local birding guide on St. Lucia. (photo by Carefree Birding)

BirdsCaribbean recently conducted an interview with Ken and Linda about their company’s plans for launching their first birding cruise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us for a conversation on what the cruise will entail, and whether or not it’s a good fit for you!

BirdsCaribbean: We are betting that Carefree Birding is excited to start making plans for 2021, after a very quiet and challenging year for your business. Tell us about the trip that you have slated for next March?

Carefree Birding: Yes—we are very excited to get back out on the water in March of 2021, following strict safety guidelines of course. As you can imagine, with the shutdown of the cruise line industry, we are holding our breath. We have been very lucky as we did not have any cruises planned until Feb 2021. We did have to cut this year’s Peru trip in March a week short (though we did finish our Amazon Cruise), but we all got back safe and sound. The March 2021 trip will be aboard the Celebrity Reflection, departing out of and returning to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The 11-night cruise will visit the islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, and Grand Cayman with a stop in the South American city of Cartagena, Colombia.

One of the best aspects of going on a Carefree Birding cruise is the great people that you get to meet along the way. Not only will you get to know your fellow birders, but we also work with some of the best guides in the Caribbean. Since teaming up with BirdsCaribbean (BC), we have been introduced to an entirely new suite of local birding talent, several of them trained in BirdsCaribbean’s Guide Training Program, as part of the Caribbean Birding Trail initiative. We are always excited to reconnect with our skilled and personable bird guides each time we go back to their islands. And thanks to these new relationships, we have also been able to expand our itineraries.

During our time on the Celebrity Reflection, we will have group meetings during our days out at sea. We take advantage of this sailing time to show you short presentations on the destinations coming up next, as well as videos and photos of the birds we hope to see there. And if you so desire, you can eat with the group during dinner where we have tables reserved. We have selected an area off the main dining room, where it is much quieter and easier to talk. We suggest that you sit with different people in our group during the evening meal, that way you can meet more people and learn about their birding experiences. Remember this is Carefree, so if you have other plans no problem!

Carefree Birding group in Barbados, with expert local guide, John Webster (far left). (photo by Carefree Birding)

BirdsCaribbean: This sounds excellent. You mentioned safety guidelines. What will 2021 look like in terms of cruise ship safety precautions?

Carefree Birding: We are hoping that the cruise industry is on stable grounds (make that stable water!) and it will be safe for all the passengers and the crews around the world. Celebrity Cruises has developed a Healthy Sail Panel—11 expert doctors, scientists, and health specialists—that will be guiding our way to safely cruising the new world. As things change, these top medical and science experts will make sure that we and the staff on the ship stay safe. They know that for the boat to continue sailing, protocols need to prioritize safety, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure our health, even if that means canceling the cruise.

BirdsCaribbean: It sounds like Celebrity Cruises has a good plan in place. However, if the Caribbean islands are not ready to receive tourism by that time, what will happen?

Carefree Birding: If the cruise cannot be safely done, Celebrity Cruises will cancel with 100% money reimbursed or put on deposit for any cruise with them in the future. Our travel agent—Travel Services—will take care of your booking and explain your options with the cruise line. Carefree Birding only collects money for your Birding Package, which consists of the shore excursions and our administration fees. If the cruise is canceled we will refund all of your Birding Package money.

BirdsCaribbean: And what if the trip is deemed safe, but an already signed-up passenger doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea any more?

Carefree Birding: No problem at all, Carefree Birding will accept cancellations—no questions asked—up until 30 days of departure, with 100% of your Birding Package money reimbursed. We don’t want to pressure anyone. Currently, when you put a deposit down for your cabin onboard the Celebrity Reflection ($900), that deposit is totally refundable up until the moment you complete your final payment for your cruise cabin. If you have paid the final payment, Travel Services will inform you with the most up-to-date information about their cancellation and refund policy with Celebrity.

White-cheeked Pintail in St. Martin. This is an endemic subspecies in the Caribbean (Anas bahamensis bahamensis). (photo by Binkie van Es)

BirdsCaribbean: We are sure that a lot of people will be put at ease knowing that all of these safeguards and money-back guarantees have been put in place. So, can you tell us a bit more about the fun that awaits?

Carefree Birding: Absolutely! Imagine getting off the cruise ship with our small birding group and having a local islander come to personally pick us up and guide us around their home island for several hours! Not only does the guide know the local birds and birding hotspots really well, we get to learn about local history. The guides enjoy answering questions about life on their island. Our group comes away knowing more about the islands and their culture and people. This is a great way to make new friends throughout the Caribbean.

BirdsCaribbean: Sounds like a perfect way to connect with the local culture and birds in a sustainable and respectful way. And it also sounds like an island experience that nobody else on that cruise will get!

Carefree Birding: You got it—that’s the spirit of Carefree Birding! By using local guides, our birders get to experience the real island, and visit more “off the beaten path” sites. And of course the birding experience is excellent: small groups, lots of one-on-one interaction with the guide, and a built-in flexibility to go wherever the best birds are that day—not where they were three weeks ago. As you know, birds can and do move a lot, but our guides scope out the best spots the days just before we arrive. We have gone to private houses and farms, where the birds are thriving, and often observe many other types of wildlife. Ever been birding on a goat farm? Been there done that! How about on an almost deserted beach, with a cold drink in your hand? If not for our local guides, we never would have access to such unique experiences. Once a guide even arranged to have a private Portajohn sent out to the beach where we were birding. Talk about personal service!

Carefree Birding embraces the local culture (including local transportation) at every port-of-call. It’s all about having fun, meeting new people, seeing some great birds, and supporting smaller towns and businesses along the way. (photo by Carefree Birding)

BirdsCaribbean: Your trips sound amazing. How does someone go about signing up, and are there any restrictions?

Carefree Birding: Anyone on the cruise is welcome to sign up for a Carefree Birding trip. If you have a SOB (Spouse of Birder), they can also come on the cruise for the same price, and they do not have to pay the Birding Package with Carefree Birding. They will also be able to eat with us and enjoy a great cruise while you are away looking at birds. We can help you get set up for both the cruise and our birding trips. Please reach out to us [Ken and Linda] at: carefreebirding@aol.com, 954-766-2919

After you visit our website, go to the registration page, fill out the big yellow box at the bottom of the page and send it. Travel Services will contact you and help book your cruise. Travel Services helps you select the type of cabin, and answer any of the other important questions you might have about the cruise and how to book it. Ken and Linda will answer any questions about the field trips, and any other non-ship questions. Booking the cruise seems to be the hardest part of the entire trip. Once you get on the ship, all is well!!! Carefree Birding will send you tips on how to get ready for the cruise.

We have done over 40 cruises, and we can’t wait for the next one! Join us!

Birding group in St. Maarten — A Carefree Birding group enjoys spotting waterbirds in beautiful Sint Maarten / St. Martin with Binkie van Es, BirdsCaribbean member and Caribbean Birding Trail trained guide. (photo by Carefree Birding)

Hudsonian Godwit — one of the many migratory shorebirds you can see in the Caribbean. (photo by Binkie van Es)

August 30, 2020

NAOC 2020: An Extraordinary Online Experience for the Caribbean and Beyond

It was a bit of a gamble. The speakers were all ready to speak. The agenda was set.

But…would anyone show up?

Well, they did, in the thousands. The North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC) 2020, originally scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 10 to 15, had switched gears. It took the brave decision to go virtual in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a tremendous, complex undertaking – and the organizers pulled it off, in style. Hundreds of live, oral presentations took place in general sessions and in symposia, while 80 “lightning talks” and 3 minute poster presentations added excitement. Round tables, workshops and networking opportunities were all well attended by participants from far and wide, under the appropriate theme: “Flight paths addressing global challenges.”

The Caribbean Presence: Island Treasures

NAOC 2020 commented on its website: “The virtual format of the conference attracted particularly high attendance from students and colleagues in Mexico, Central and South America, and Caribbean countries.” In total, nearly 3,000 attended the conference from countries as far-flung as Australia and China.

BirdsCaribbean hosted a symposium called “Island Treasures: Lessons learned from 30 years of avian research, education, and conservation,” which drew a substantial audience from the region and beyond. Sixteen outstanding presentations showcased the exciting conservation work being carried out across the islands, ranging from restoration of key habitats to saving endangered species to wildlife trafficking (see list of talks and presenters in the image gallery below). We had a stimulating panel discussion at the end of the symposia where presenters answered questions from the audience and shared their opinions and expertise on a range of challenging conservation issues.

Island Treasures Symposium Panel discussion on Zoom at the end of the Symposium where presenters answered questions from the audience and shared their opinions on conservation challenges facing the Caribbean region.

An additional symposium organized by Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr. (the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology) focused on the impact of hurricanes on birds called “Birds and hurricanes: effects, responses, resilience, and conservation.”

If you missed the conference or wish to view any of the talks in the above symposia, stay tuned, we will be posting the presentations on our YouTube channel!

The Socializing Side: Virtual Cocktails or a Cup of Tea

The “Caribbean Meet and Greet” session on August 12 was a resounding success. Around sixty guests gathered, cocktails in hand (or in some cases a cup of tea), to chat and get to know each other. It was a time to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones. We answered fun trivia questions about Caribbean birds and gathered in smaller chat rooms for 10 minutes at a time for more intimate chats.

BirdsCaribbean Meet and Greet – some of the folks that stopped by for our Zoom cocktail hour. It was great fun to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones!

Of course, there was no final banquet – and was it really necessary, one participant wondered, when one could just go to the kitchen and fix oneself a peanut butter sandwich? Perhaps virtual banquet menus could be submitted next time, she suggested.

Could Virtual Conferencing be the Way of the Future?

Conference goers, including BirdsCaribbean members and partners, were impressed not only by the quality of the presentations, but also by the fact that the technology smoothly facilitated them. For some, like conservation ecologist Ann Sutton Haynes in Jamaica, it was a new experience:

“This was my first experience of an online conference and I was surprised how well it went. The good things were the low cost, the flexibility to attend when it was convenient and even the online questions and responses went well. There was even a weird pleasure in attending real time sessions…If it’s affordable I think it would be great if all our conferences in future could be both in person and virtual.”

Science Officer at the Bahamas National Trust Scott Johnson was also enthusiastic about the benefits of virtual conferencing:

“My experience participating in the NAOC online symposium was most enjoyable. I had the opportunity to meet up with old friends and some of my mentors as well as listen to some amazing talks including bird smuggling, hurricanes and its effects on birds, and more. I think this is a great alternative to expensive travelling and the logistics associated with it and would like for an online conference like this to continue moving forward.”

3 panelists island treasures Symposium NAOC 2020 — Scott Johnson (bottom), Science Officer at the Bahamas National Trust, talking with 2 fellow panelists, Stephen Durand (left), Forestry Officer, Dominica, and Dr. Ancilleno Davis (right), Science and Perspective, at the BirdsCaribbean Island Treasures Symposium.

Biologist Quincy Augustine, staff at the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF), St. George’s University in Grenada was also pleased with his experience:

“Despite the unforeseen challenges we are currently experiencing, I must commend the organizers for putting together such a great conference – hats off to you! It was one of the best conferences I’ve ever attended with a twist and additional perks – could you imagine what it would have been like if this conference was face to face! The topics, presentations, and the opportunity to build a network are so needed, especially for researchers like myself.”

A Key Focus on Diversity and Inclusion

Colombian ornithologist and Professor Andres Cuervo stressed the significance of the conference, enthusing on the conference Slack channel: “I want to highlight the diversity, quality, and great composition of the keynote plenary speakers of NAOC 2020. I’ve loved every single one of them, and they have been so different in approaches and people. Thank you for that. Today’s Daniel Cadena’s plenary was truly outstanding. His closing remarks are important messages for ornithology and for this meeting.”

Diversity and inclusion was a particularly important aspect of the conference for BirdsCaribbean. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee – including BirdsCaribbean’s Jessica Cañizares and Environment of the Americas’ Sheylda DÍaz-Méndez – worked hard to help “increase the awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in ornithology and to help cultivate an ornithological community that is committed to the recruitment, retention, and support of all of its members at and beyond NAOC 2020.”

Participants also expressed appreciation for the English and Spanish translations and subtitles in presentations. The organizers were pleased to note: “Many people who would not otherwise have been able to attend were able to do so, due to a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation and sponsorships from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and other partnering organizations, through generous underwriting for free registration for students and greatly reduced registration fees for everyone else.” BirdsCaribbean thanks the US Forest Service International Programs for providing scholarships for Caribbean nationals to attend the conference.

Hope for the Future…and Trinidad?

twitter post about CBT — Social media and our @BirdsCaribbean twitter feed were hoppin’ during the 5 days of the conference as people shared what they were learning. #NAOC2020

BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Lisa Sorenson concluded that the online event filled her with optimism.

“We were thrilled to make such a substantial contribution to what is one of the largest ornithological conferences in the world,” she noted. “We were happy with the positive feedback we have received; this encourages us and our partners, who are doing really worthwhile and inspiring work in the region.”

“Yes, challenges and threats are unrelenting, but we have many more active projects, with people and partners working on research, monitoring, engaging with the public to change the culture, and carrying out successful conservation initiatives to save and restore species and habitats.”

Registered attendees will have access to all recorded presentations through the EventPilot app through Wednesday, September 9.

Meanwhile, we are keeping our fingers crossed for our planned International Conference in Trinidad. We hope to see all our friends and collaborators, old and new, in late July 2021! If you are a new friend of BirdsCaribbean, don’t forget to sign up to our monthly newsletter here for further updates.

BirdsCaribbean was one of nine partner organizations hosting the NAOC 2020 Conference. We thank the US Forest Service International Programs and other sponsors for providing generous support to allow our Caribbean delegates and others to attend the virtual conference at no cost or a reduced fee. #NAOC2020

The gallery below shows the 16 presentations in our Island Treasures Symposium. No worries if you missed the talks, we will be uploading them to our YouTube Channel.

BirdsCaribbean Meet and Greet – more of the folks that stopped by for our Zoom cocktail hour. It was great fun to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones!

August 28, 2020

BirdsCaribbean Expresses Deep Concern Over Three Damaging Developments in Grenada

BirdsCaribbean is expressing deep concern over three areas of Grenada — critical bird habitats and ecosystems — that are now being damaged from development: Mt. Hartman, La Sagesse, and Levera. This includes the island’s only Ramsar site (Levera) and other wetland and forest areas harboring a wide variety of wildlife, including endangered species of sea turtles, and the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove.

Projects underway in these three areas include large resorts, a marina, waterpark, and golf course, all of which will have wide-ranging and permanent negative consequences on the local ecosystems.

BirdsCaribbean is calling for the immediate cessation of destructive activities, pending the completion of proper Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and approvals, mitigation plans, and full and transparent consultations with stakeholders. See links below for how you can help.

Wilson's Plover — Wilson’s Plover (female) at Mt. Hartman wetland in Grenada. It is one of many species of resident and migratory waterbirds and shorebirds that depend on Grenada’s wetlands (including beaches, mangroves, salt ponds ,and mud flats) as breeding and wintering habitat. This species is resident in Grenada and breeds here at the Mt. Hartman wetlands. (photo by Gregg Homel).

BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director Lisa Sorenson urges Grenada not to destroy or damage its last remaining wetlands. “Not only are these significant habitats for many vulnerable species of birds and endangered wildlife, wetland areas perform myriad important ecosystem services that improve the safety and health of local communities. These services are increasingly important and economically valuable in the face of climate change.”

Sorenson notes that Grenada is a leader for environmental conservation. It has recently embraced the concept of the “Blue Economy.” In 2013, Grenada went beyond its Caribbean neighbors’ commitments, pledging to protect 25% of its near-shore marine and coastal environment by 2020 under the Caribbean Challenge Initiative signed in 2013. Sadly, these developments and the failure to designate a majority of the protected areas proposed under its Protected Areas Systems Plan, make it increasingly unlikely that Grenada can meet its international obligations and national targets.

Sorenson pointed out that it appears that vegetation has been removed before an approved EIA/plan for all three projects, which would be in direct violation of Grenada’s Physical Planning Act of 2016. Moreover, the developments and the way they are being carried out does not seem consistent with Grenada’s own Blue Growth Coastal Master Plan, whose Guiding Principles and Goals call for Sustainability, the Precautionary Principle, Good Governance, and Equity.

We stand with our local partners and call for action from the leaders of Grenada’s government to protect Grenada’s invaluable natural assets from destruction. You can help – SIGN THE PETITION HERE and see more ways to help below.

Grenada map showing developments — Map of Grenada showing National Parks and Protected Areas and the locations of the 3 developments at Levera, La Sagesse and Mt. Hartman. (note that not all protected areas in Grenada are included on this map).

Local conservation groups and partners of BirdsCaribbean in Grenada are alarmed at the recent deforestation of these areas. Jane Nurse of the Grenada Land Actors Platform (GLAP) commented: “We have engaged with decision makers, including the developers and the Physical Planning Unit, but have encountered mostly disappointing negligence. In rectification, we demand that our communities and civil society are consulted before development projects of such a scale are undertaken.”

Other members of the GLAP questioned whether Grenada could accommodate these mega-projects, from water, sewerage, and solid waste treatment, to road infrastructure and airlift, particularly at a time when the world is heading towards one of its biggest recessions. Jody Daniel-Simon of Gaea Conservation Network added: “There are numerous examples of our lands being cleared with no considerations of the ecological impacts; sadly, many of these projects fail because of insufficient funds, leaving behind them only a trail of debts and destruction.”

Mt. Hartman: Last Refuge for the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove and Vital Wetlands

In the Mt. Hartman Estate, dry forest habitat is in the process of being cleared for a new resort and marina that will be developed by the Hartman Resort Group Ltd (formerly Grenada Resort Complex LTD); this Chinese company now owns the property. Communications with the Grenadian Government’s Physical Planning Unit indicate that they are apparently unaware of the project and have not given any permission. There is no known EIA in progress.

The Mt. Hartman National Park was set up to protect habitat crucial to the survival of one of the rarest birds in the world, the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove, unique to Grenada. So special is the dove (there are only about 110 adults remaining) that it is recognized as Grenada’s National Bird. Over 90 other bird species have been recorded throughout the area, including the Grenada Hook-billed Kite, an Endangered subspecies, also endemic to Grenada.

Grenada Dove on nest — The Grenada Dove on its nest at Mt Hartman. The Grenada Dove is a Critically Endangered species endemic to Grenada. The Mt. Hartman National Park and Dove Sanctuary were set up to protect the dove. The development is adjacent to the park. Without careful mitigation, the long-term survival of the dove is in jeopardy. (photo by Greg Homel)

Although the development falls just outside the National Park, it will be directly adjacent to it. Grenada Dove Biologist, Bonnie Rusk, indicated: “Development that is not done carefully, with sufficient mitigation to support the site’s ecosystem and species, will significantly impact the National Park and the purpose for which it was established—the conservation of the Grenada Dove.”

With its unique dry coastal scrub ecosystem and associated biodiversity, Mt. Hartman is internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) of the Lesser Antilles by BirdLife International, the world leader in bird conservation, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

The Mt. Hartman Estate also encompasses the largest expanse of black mangroves on the island, as well as red mangroves, providing an important “nursery” for fisheries stock to the Woburn fishing community. The mangroves and wetlands act as a buffer zone for land-based pollution, and a natural filter for water. Mangroves have repeatedly been shown to provide protection from storms, hurricanes, and floods. The two wetlands provide critical habitat for numerous species of resident and migratory shorebirds and waterbirds, including many species of conservation concern.

Mt Hartman before and after forest and mangrove clearing — Mt. Hartman wetlands in June 2014 (left; photo by Greg Homel) before vegetation was cleared for Grenada Resorts (2015) and Mt. Hartman Resorts Group (2020). Mt. Hartman wetlands in August 2020 (right; photo by Reginald Joseph), following the removal of dry scrub and mangrove forests without the knowledge of the Physical Planning Unit.

An artistic rendition for the resort (see image below) shows that one of the two vital wetlands and the adjacent mangrove in the Mt. Hartman Estate will be destroyed to create a Marina in Secret Harbor; the other one will be severely impacted by the development. “We successfully protected these wetlands from prior proposed developments,” commented Dr. Sorenson. “It would be a sad loss for one of Grenada’s last remaining wetlands to be destroyed. It is difficult to understand how this can happen when the Government has pledged to protect its vital coastal resources for the benefit of the Grenadian people.”

Artist rendition of the Mt. Hartman resort development and marina within the Mt Hartman Estate. The development is adjacent to the Mt. Hartman National Park and Dove Sanctuary, which was established to protect this Critically Endangered endemic species. Grenada Doves also live in the Mt. Hartman Estate where the development is taking place. One of the wetlands will be completely destroyed for the marina. This is inconsistent with Grenada’s pledge to protect 25% of it marine and terrestrial environment.

La Sagesse: Destruction of Habitat for Endangered Turtles (Six Senses/Range Developments)

At La Sagesse—listed as a Natural Landmark and Area of Cultural and Historical Interest—there has been extensive clearcutting of mangroves and other vegetation on the headland and around the salt pond, to build the 100-room, Six Senses Resort (tagline “Sustainable is not something we do; it is who we are”). Permission to do the clearing was given by the Physical Planning Unit. Phase II, separate from the Six Senses Resort, adds a 185-room Luxury Hotel, catering to families. Both projects are managed by Range Developments through the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme.

La Sagesse Pond Before and After-small — La Sagesse Pond in May 2019 (left), before the Six Senses Resort and Luxury Hotel development plan was approved. La Sagesse Pond in August 2020 (right), four months after there was extensive clear cutting and bulldozing to accommodate the first phase of construction (photos by Reginald Joseph).

While the EIA and project plan have been approved, only one Town Hall style community meeting was held last week after clearing had already taken place, contrary to the recommendations made in the EIA. Further consultations with the local community are apparently in the works following public outcry. Following a review of the EIA and development plans by scientists from Gaea Conservation Network, the developers have since promised to work with them to develop a mangrove and pond restoration plan; they also claim to have harvested mangrove propagules for restoration purposes. In their 9-page review, Gaea Conservation Network highlighted a litany of environmental concerns that should have been addressed in the EIA, based on the Terms of Reference provided by the developer.

Photo showing the complete deforestation around the La Sagesse Salt Pond this spring. (photo by Reginald Joseph)

Before the extensive clear cutting, La Sagesse Pond supported white and buttonwood mangrove, providing cover for Critically Endangered hawksbill sea turtles. It is also a nesting site for the Endangered leatherback turtle. A diverse array of some 89 bird species attracts birding tours to this site. Under an older National Parks and Protected Areas plan, the area was proposed as a Protected Seascape due to its outstanding features including a mangrove estuary, salt pond, 3 beautiful beaches, interesting geological formations, coral reefs, and excellent examples of littoral woodland and thorn scrub cactus woodland.

Levera: Grenada’s Large, Highly Diverse Wetland of International Importance

The Levera Wetland is Grenada’s only Ramsar site, designated as a Wetland of International Importance on May 22, 2012. Despite an EIA still being under way, forest has already been removed to build temporary housing for a one billion dollar resort, to be constructed under the CBI programme by the Singapore Heng Sheng (Grenada) Development PTE LTD company, who now owns the property. The mega-resort will include a water park, golf course, villas, and 500-room hotels (see artistic renditions of the development in the gallery below).

As a Contracting Party of the Ramsar Convention, Grenada has agreed to the wise use of its wetlands. Ramsar describes “wise use” as the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and all the services they provide, for the benefit of people and nature.

The over 500-hectare highly productive ecosystem includes a variety of habitats: woodland, dry scrub forest, mangrove wetlands, beach, brackish pond, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Surrounded by red, white, black and buttonwood mangroves, the large freshwater pond and beach area boast a large diversity of birds, with over 85 species documented on eBird Caribbean from 2006 to date. The site is also a critical area for the survival of the Grenada Hook-billed Kite, an Endangered sub-species endemic to Grenada.

Leatherback sea turtle (an Endangered species) returning to the ocean after laying eggs on the Levera Beach. (photo by Kate Charles, Ocean Spirits)

Moreover, Levera is a critical habitat for numerous species of mammals, snakes and fish. The beach is the third largest nesting site for Endangered leatherback sea turtles in the Caribbean, with 600–1400 nesting activities recorded annually, according to Ocean Spirits (a local sea turtle NGO). Offshore, there are important foraging grounds for Endangered green sea turtles and Critically Endangered hawksbill sea turtles, as well as Critically Endangered elkhorn coral colonies growing in shallow waters close to the coastline.

Although the area is used by local fishermen and Grenadians for recreational purposes, there has been very little consultation with the community and no modification of the plans to address environmental and social concerns. Notably, a recent survey of stakeholders done in 2016 in the communities in and around Levera suggests that less than 15% of individuals support hotel development. More than two-thirds support the establishment of a National Park and Recreational Area and have suggestions for how they would like to see their community involved through a “co-management” approach.

It is unclear if the current deforestation—including for the purpose of building migrant workers’ barracks—was approved by the Physical Planning Unit, or whether an EIA has been undertaken for this development. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that funds for the Levera project have been grossly mismanaged in the past. (see here, here, here, and here). The development company’s website shares information on the Grenada Levera project from the home page, including a short video regarding the vision for this area (see photos in the gallery below) and how one can invest in the project through the CBI (Citizenship By Investment) programme.

Lavera National Park before and after development — Levera Pond in June 2019 before (left; photo by Reginald Joseph) permission was granted by the Physical Planning Unit to clear vegetation. Levera Pond in August 2020 (right; photo by Orlando Romain) after temporary housing and storage containers were built for migrant workers to build the mega-resort, which will include a water park, golf course, villas, and 500 room hotels. Based on a recent survey of stakeholders in the communities in and around Levera, more than two thirds of community persons would prefer that this area is established as a National Park and Recreational Area – only 15% support hotel development.

Protect Grenada from Destructive Land Development – Final Thoughts

We must prevent future generations from wondering how Grenada managed to destroy so much of its natural habitat, a precious resource in which man and nature should exist in harmony. It’s not too late to put a stop to these developments, which are already having a significant damaging effect on the environment. Tourism is a key element of Grenada’s economy, but any new developments must take place within the context of true sustainability and sensitivity to these fragile ecosystems and the needs of local Grenadians.

In an online opinion piece dated August 25, 2020 in NowGrenada, S. Brian Samuel observes: “Naturally, tourism must play a central role in the regeneration of the Grenadian economy, but the crucial question is: What kind of tourism? You can’t fit square pegs into round holes; a country’s tourism strategy has to gel with its natural and human attributes.”

As our planet and people suffer from the global COVID-19 pandemic likely brought on by our abuse of nature, it is time to rethink tourism and development. As pointed out in this excellent NY Times article The Caribbean Dilemma, “Tourism has always been a two-edged sword for the region. It brought money for some, but also brought corruption, environmental degradation, and unchecked development.”

Local economies are best protected by protecting nature. We stand with our local partners and call on the Government of Grenada to immediately cease destructive activities at these sites and plan a way forward that protects Grenada’s natural assets for generations to come.

CALL TO ACTION – Your help is needed right now

Sign the online petition.

Write to your Parliamentary Representative.

Thank you!!!

Note: After signing this petition, change.org will ask for a donation – this is inherent functionality of change.org petitions. The donations are used by change.org as payment to boost the petition, and it is not possible to remove this feature from the petition. All donations go to change.org and not the Grenada Land Actors Platform (consortium of concerned local citizens and groups) – we do apologize for this, and are working on a way for people that wish to do so to support the cause in Grenada directly through donations as well as signing the petition.

Artist renditions of the 3 developments are shown in the gallery below.

Artist rendition of the Six Senses La Sagesse Resort.

Artist rendition of the Mt Hartman resort development and marina. The development is adjacent to the Mt Hartman National Park and Dove Sanctuary, which was established to protect the Critically Endangered endemic species. Grenada Doves also occur in the Mt Hartman Estate where the development is taking place.

Artist rendition of the Lavera Resort development. The resort includes a waterpark, golf course and 500 room hotel.

A sample of the beauty and biodiversity of Grenada at the 3 sites is shown in the gallery below.

Adult Eared Dove with chick in Grenada – Mt. Hartman Estate. (Photo by Greg Homel)

Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Grenada race. Note the crest and yellow belly. (photo by Greg Homel).

Billboard at a parish boundary advertising the Mt Hartman National Park. (Billboard design by Madelaine Smith, photo by Greg Homel/Natural Encounters)

Grenada Dove at Mt. Hartman – Grenada’s National Bird and found only in Grenada at 2 locations. It is Critically Endangered one of the rarest birds in the world (photo by Greg Homel)

A huge diversity of waterbirds and shorebirds call the Mt. Hartman wetlands home, including both resident and migratory species. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

White-rumped Sandpiper, one of the many species of migratory shorebirds that relies on Grenada’s wetlands as wintering habitat. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

A huge diversity of waterbirds and shorebirds call the Mt. Hartman wetlands in Grenada home, including both resident and migratory species. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Aerial view of the Mt. Hartman Estate during the dry season. You can see the 2 salt ponds – the extensive mangrove vegetation is green year-round. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Grenadians that participate in BirdsCaribbean Bird Guide Training Workshop in 2013 practice identifying shorebirds on La Sagesse Beach. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Workshop in 2013 – a group of Grenadians received a week-long training all about birds, birding, the bird tourism market, and how to be a guide. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Blowhole at Levera Beach. (photo by Ted Eubanks)

Levera Boardwalk and observation tower at Levera Pond and Ramsar site. (photo by Ted Eubanks)

Levera Pond, Wetland of International Importance and Grenada’s only Ramsar site. Sadly, this pond will be severely impacted by the resort development.

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)

Grenada’s endemic subspecies of the Hook-billed Kite is considered to be Endangered. (Photo by Andrea Easter-Pilcher)

Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, an endemic bird to the Lesser Antilles. (Photo by Ted Eubanks).

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.

Grenada Hook-billed Kite, an endemic sub-species only found in Grenada.

Red Mangrove prop roots protect the coastline and property from flooding and damage from severe storms and hurricanes, which are increasing with climate change. (photo by Greg Homel).

Mt. Hartman National Park and Dove Sanctuary Visitors Centre and bird sign. (photo by Greg Homel)

Pneumatophores or “breathing roots” of the Black Mangrove at Mt. Hartman wetlands. Mangroves help reduce climate change by absorbing carbon. They also protect coastal areas from storms and flooding. (photo by Ted Eubanks)

Leatherback turtle hatchling at Levera Beach, making its way to the ocean. (photo by Kate Charles, Ocean Spirits)

Stilt Sandpipers are one of many species of migratory shorebirds that rely on Grenada’s wetlands as a winter home. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

August 20, 2020

Announcing a New Book: Birds of the UK Overseas Territories

Birds of the UK Overseas Territories has just been published! The book explores the birds and other wildlife of each of the 14 UKOTs with a particular focus on environmental threats and conservation issues. Six Overseas Territories are within our region: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos. Many BirdsCaribbean members have helped produce the detailed accounts.

The recently (July 2020) published Birds of the UK Overseas Territories includes detailed accounts of the biodiversity of 14 of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) with an emphasis on their avifauna. Although the UKOTs are spread around the globe, of great interest to BirdsCaribbean members will be the chapters on Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In terms of global biodiversity, these territories are remarkably significant. Among landscapes that range from coral atolls, through mangroves and dry forests to the ice sheets of Antarctica, the UKOTs support no fewer than 45 species of birds currently considered to be globally threatened. They are also home to a third of all the world’s breeding albatrosses, and nine of the world’s 17 species of penguin.

In a rapidly changing world, the UKOTs symbolise global crises in climate and biodiversity. Threats faced by their wildlife range from mortality of seabirds at sea through industrial fisheries, and on land as a result of introduced ground predators to the utter devastation of hurricanes in the Caribbean—which provide a stark reminder of our changing climate. The human impact on the wildlife of our planet has been increasing for centuries, but the next few decades promise to be critical.

This book explores the birds and other wildlife of each of the 14 UKOTs, with a particular focus on environmental threats and conservation priorities. Written by authors with a deep connection to the sites, this book represents an important stocktake of the biological richness of these special places in the early 21st century.

Lavishly illustrated with photos and maps it is well worth purchasing especially as all profits go to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) conservation work throughout the UKOTs.

White-tailed Tropicbird by Andrew Dobson — A beautiful White-tailed Tropicbird – a common site on some Caribbean rocky coast lines. (photo by Andrew Dobson)

Birds of the UK Overseas Territories – edited by Roger Riddington.

Published by T & AD Poyser

ISBN: 9781472977267 (Paperback)

ISBN: 9781472977250 (Hardback)

For purchase from the following vendors:

Amazon Smile: Remember to use smile.amazon.com and designate BirdsCaribbean as your charity to support when making purchases from Amazon (a portion of your purchases comes to us – every little bit helps!).

Barnes & Noble: Available here in Paperback and Nook

NHBS (Natural History Book Service): If you’re in the UK or Europe, shop here.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron in Bermuda by Andrew Dobson — Yellow-crowned Night Heron in Bermuda (photo by Andrew Dobson)

Authors of Caribbean UKOT chapters – you may recognize some familiar names. Congrats to our colleagues on this great achievement!

Anguilla – Steve Holliday, Karim Hodge, Farah Mukhida, Clarissa Lloyd, James Millett, Louise Soanes

Bermuda – Andrew Dobson, Jeremy Madeiros

British Virgin Islands – Clive Petrovic, Louise Soanes, Nancy Woodfield Pascoe, Susan Zaluski

Cayman Islands – Patricia Bradley

Montserrat – Steffan Oppel, Gerard Gray, James Daly, Stephen Mendes, Calvin Fenton, Gemma Galbraith, Shawn Daniel, James Millett.

Turks and Caicos islands – Kathleen Wood

July 31, 2020

BirdsCaribbean Elections: The Call for Nominations is Now Open!

A REMINDER OF WHAT’S HAPPENING:

Every two years, BirdsCaribbean (BC) holds an election for its Board of Directors.

This year — 2020 — is an election year, and we need the involvement of our community members!

Serving on the BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of an organization dedicated to conserving the region’s incredible birds and nature. We are a vibrant network and work with many partners throughout the region, including governments, NGOs, educators, tourism interests, communities, students, and more. The BirdsCaribbean Board is an extremely personable, inclusive, and enthusiastic group, and we are eager to bring new ideas and backgrounds to our leadership. Without a doubt, serving on our Board of Directors is an enriching and rewarding experience, and interested individuals should not hesitate to pursue a position.

THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS IS NOW OPEN!

The BirdsCaribbean Nominations Committee is ready to receive nominations.

The nomination period will remain open for two full months, closing on midnight 30 September. During this time, our community’s goal is to develop the best possible slate of nominees to provide leadership and growth for BirdsCaribbean.

Important lingo:

Nominees = individuals that have been nominated to stand for election
Nominator = the person making the nomination
Seconder = an additional person that supports the nominator’s choice

WHAT POSITIONS ARE UP FOR NOMINATION?

We are looking for Directors to join our leadership board.

Additionally we are looking for Directors that will take on operational duties: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

WHO CAN NOMINATE AND WHO CAN BE NOMINATED:

BirdsCaribbean board members and friends at the NAOC (North American Ornithological Congress) in 2016. Joining our board is a great opportunity to contribute to regional bird conservation and work with an amazing network of dedicated conservationists!

Any individual, sponsored, honorary, or life member in good standing* may be nominated and may also nominate or act as a “seconder” (i.e., give a second endorsement) for a nominee. All nominators must make sure that their nominee is willing to stand for election.

Exceptions:

Directors that have served two consecutive terms in a position cannot run again for that same position. These individuals can run for a different position. [This means that Andrew Dobson cannot run for President in the 2020 elections.]
Note that individuals who have been disqualified because they have served 2 consecutive terms may run for election for their previous posts after a break of 1 term (2 years) or more.

Note — If you would like to know if a prospective nominee is a current member of BirdsCaribbean, or if you are not sure of your membership status, please contact BirdsCaribbean’s Administrative Assistant, Delores Kellman. You can easily renew your membership or join BirdsCaribbean. Contact us if you would like to apply for a sponsored membership.

*The Nominations Committee will perform a thorough vetting of each nominee to make sure that they are suitable for candidacy.

HIGHLY DESIRED TRAITS FOR NOMINEES INCLUDE:

Qualified for the post (please read the Terms of Reference for each position)
Prior experience on the Board or another non-profit Board
Enthusiasm and commitment to contributing to the leadership and mission of BirdsCaribbean, a non-profit organization

Any BirdsCaribbean member in good standing can nominate any other BirdsCaribbean member in good standing. All members should be active in seeking out nominations for elected or appointed posts. We encourage you to open up dialogue with individuals that you think would be a great addition to the BirdsCaribbean Board, and encourage those individuals to run for election.

Note — the Nominations Committee will be considering the Board’s need for diversity and representation when developing the list of candidates for election.

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO NOMINATE AN INDIVIDUAL, PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE NOMINATION FORM:

Be ready to provide the following:

Nominee’s name, address, country(ies) of citizenship and residence.
Position the nominee is standing for.
Evidence of the nominee’s willingness to stand for election. This is a brief statement that the nominee must write, and then send to you to be added to the nomination form. This should be a brief statement of interest (describing in about 100 words why the nominee thinks they are eligible for the post and what they will contribute if elected).
Name and contact information of a “seconder” (i.e., another person that agrees with this nomination), who must also be a member in good standing.

The nominations will be reviewed by the Nominations Committee to ensure that the nominees are eligible and that the nomination forms are complete.

**Complete the Nomination Form* here**

*You may nominate more than one individual. Please complete a new nomination form for each individual and each position they seek.

The deadline for receipt of nominations is 11:59 PM, 30 September 2020.

MEET THE BC BOARD WEBINAR

Save the date: 1 September (1pm EDT): — Join us for a 1 hour virtual session where you get to meet the current Board members, hear about their positions, and ask any and all questions you have about what serving on the BC Executive Board entails. More details on this event will be made available soon.

For more information on the entire election process, please visit our Elections blog article:

BirdsCaribbean Elections 2020 — Here’s What You Need to Know

Todies and Trogons plate from Birds of the West indies — The Caribbean is home to so many incredible species of birds. Join our Board of Directors, and help us protect them! Artwork from Birds of the West Indies by Herb Raffaele et al.

July 29, 2020

Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival Takes a Virtual Flight from the Nest

July 20, 2020

BirdsCaribbean Elections 2020 — Here’s What You Need to Know

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Every two years, BirdsCaribbean (BC) holds an election for its Board of Directors. The Call for Nominations is open, and will remain open until the night of 30 September.

This year — 2020 — is an election year, and we need the involvement of our community members!

Serving on the BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of an organization dedicated to conserving the region’s incredible birds and nature. We are a vibrant network and work with many partners throughout the region, including governments, NGOs, educators, tourism interests, communities, students, and more. The BirdsCaribbean Board is an extremely personable, inclusive, and enthusiastic group, and we are eager to bring new ideas and backgrounds to our leadership. Without a doubt, serving on our Board is an enriching and rewarding opportunity, and interested individuals should not hesitate to pursue a position.

Some important vocab and distinctions:

Directors = Leaders of the organization
Board of Directors = Entire leadership group (all officers and directors)
Executive Board = Officers only

Positions on the Board of Directors that are open for election include:

4 Officer Directors (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and
1 Director-at-Large

Basic responsibilities of every Director:

Determine and promote the organization’s vision and mission
Ensure effective organizational planning
Determine and monitor the organization’s programs and services
Ensure adequate resources and manage resources effectively
Select the Executive Director
Enhance the organization’s public image
Participate in Board discussions
Promote BirdsCaribbean
Support BirdsCaribbean financially
Take a leadership role on committees
Reveal conflicts or issues

Directors that take on Operational Duties are called Officers, and are listed here:

President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past-President
Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Caribbean Ornithology

Directors without Officer positions are called At-Large Directors.

HOW WE NEED YOU TO BE INVOLVED:

Over the coming months, BirdsCaribbean’s members will:

nominate good individuals for these Board positions, and then
vote on the individuals put forward for election by the Nominations Committee

This is an important opportunity for our community to shape the leadership and future direction of BirdsCaribbean!

ELECTED BOARD POSITIONS and their CURRENT STATUS:

Leo Douglas showing an endemic bird poster to Jamaican schoolchildren. — Serving on the BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors is an enriching experience, where you can really make an impact. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

The current members of the full Board of Directors may be viewed here.

The following positions are elected positions, and are all open for nominations, no matter the incumbent’s status.

President: Currently filled by Andrew Dobson, not eligible for re-election to this position (has served two consecutive terms). Position must be filled.
Vice President: Justin Proctor, eligible for re-election to this position.
Treasurer: Laura Bambini, resigning. Position must be filled.
Secretary: Hannah Madden, resigning. Position must be filled.
Elected Director-at-Large: Adrianne Tossas, eligible for re-election to this position.

More information on the roles and responsibilities of Directors and Terms of Reference for each of the elected Officer positions can be found here:

BirdsCaribbean Board Orientation Handbook (contains the basic list of Director Responsibilities)
BirdsCaribbean Terms of Reference for Elected Officer Positions

IMPORTANT BY-LAWS (RULES) TO KEEP IN MIND:

Elected individuals will serve a two-year term starting in January 2021 and ending December 2022.
Board members can serve in the same position for two consecutive terms (if re-elected for a second term). They must then take a two-year break or serve in a different position.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

I want to nominate someone that is NOT from the Caribbean, is that ok? Yes, absolutely. Nominees can be from anywhere. However, we do want to strongly encourage nominations of Caribbean nationals.
Do I have to support BirdsCaribbean financially if I am giving my time as a Board member? At a minimum, you do need to be a member, so yes. Your financial support may come in a form other than cash (e.g., assisting with fundraising, grant-writing, membership drives, communications, etc.). Because the Board is responsible for contributing to the financial well-being of the organization, leaders of the organization must help find those funds.
Do I need to be a BirdsCaribbean member to nominate someone or to run for office? Yes, only members in good standing can nominate persons for a position or run for one of the elected positions on the board. If you need to renew your membership, you can do so quickly here. If you would like to join for the first time, click here.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

In order to keep our community engaged with the elections, our goal is to keep you well informed of how and when BC members can be involved. Here is a timeline of what lies ahead:

1 August: Call for Nominations opens.
1 September (1pm EDT): Meet the BC Board Webinar — a 1 hour virtual session where you get to meet the current Board members, hear about their positions, and ask any and all questions you have about what serving on the BC Executive Board entails. More details on this event will be made available soon.
1 August – 30 September: Two months’ time during which nominations can be sent to the Nominations Committee.
1 October: Nominations are closed. The Nominations Committee reviews the nominations and agrees on a slate of candidates that they submit to the Board for approval.
1 November: The President will announce the slate of candidates and release the link to electronic ballots to BirdsCaribbean members.
1 November – 15 December: All BirdsCaribbean members should vote during this time.
20 December: The President will announce the results of the election.
31 December: Terms of Office for previous Board members end.

PART 1: NOMINATIONS

The most important part of the election process is the nomination period, a time during which we as a community seek out the best individuals to serve on our Board. In order to oversee this effort, BC has a Nominations Committee, which for 2020 is composed of the following individuals:

Andrew Dobson – President of BirdsCaribbean
Lisa Sorenson – Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean
Justin Proctor – Vice President of BirdsCaribbean
Hannah Madden – Secretary of BirdsCaribbean
Ancilleno Davis – Director-At-Large of BirdsCaribbean
Ann Sutton – former Secretary of BirdsCaribbean
Howard Nelson – former President of BirdsCaribbean

The Call for Nominations is open, and will remain open until the night of 30 September. During this time, our community’s goal is to develop the best possible slate of qualified individuals to run for election, and ultimately provide leadership and growth for BirdsCaribbean. Some traits of nominees that should be considered include:

Qualification for the post (please read the Terms of Reference for each position)
Prior experience on the Board
Diversity of geographic representation
Enthusiasm and earnest commitment to developing a non-profit organization

Any BirdsCaribbean member in good standing can nominate any other BirdsCaribbean member in good standing. All members should be active in seeking out nominations. We encourage you to open up dialogue with individuals that you think would be a great addition to the BirdsCaribbean Board, and encourage those individuals to run for election.

PART 2: ELECTIONS

On 1 November, BirdsCaribbean will send an electronic election ballot to all BC members. The ballot will contain background information on all of the nominated individuals, though we encourage members to research their choices as thoroughly as possible before casting their votes. Remember that elected individuals will become the next BirdsCaribbean Executive Board, a group tasked with shaping the future of the organization. Make your vote a good and educated one!

Members will have six weeks (until 11:59pm EDT 15 December) to electronically submit their votes. All BirdsCaribbean members should vote during this time.

PART 3: POST-ELECTION

BirdsCaribbean will announce the election results on 20 December 2020. Newly elected Board members will receive specific training on how to fulfill their duties, and will also have the opportunity to connect with and learn from the Board member that previously held their position.

New Board members will officially begin their terms on 1 January 2021.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any queries about the election process, please contact Justin Proctor (justin.proctor@birdscaribbean.org).

If you have any questions about your membership status or that of a prospective nominee, please contact Delores Kellman, BirdsCaribbean Administrative Assistant: delores.kellman@birdscaribbean.org

June 28, 2020

BirdsCaribbean Meets #BlackBirdersWeek: An Online Meetup Focusing on Opportunities, Partnerships – and People

The ongoing Black Lives Matter movement continues to challenge us and to confront deeply-entrenched attitudes and assumptions about race that affect so many individuals and communities negatively. This includes the vibrant and growing communities of Black scientists, naturalists and birders, in the Caribbean and beyond. At BirdsCaribbean, we have been similarly inspired to reach out directly to the organizers of Black Birders Week, who swiftly took action following the Central Park incident – a blatant display of white privilege. We applaud this strong response, because their goals reflect our own: inclusivity, diversity, solidarity, teamwork – and of course, the common love of birds that brings us together.

Here is an article co-authored by three co-organizers of Black Birders Week, Amber Wendler, Alex Troutman, and Chelsea Connor, who met up with Executive Director Lisa Sorenson and other BirdsCaribbean leaders recently on Zoom. We look forward to continuing the dialogue, to building our relationship, to sharing ideas and to working together on concrete plans and actions that will empower Black birders and shine a light on their amazing work. Rome was not built in a day, as the saying goes, but we at BirdsCaribbean are committed to supporting Black Birders Week, fighting discrimination, and bringing hope. We are stronger together!

#BlackBirdersWeek flyer with list of events created by Sheridan Alford and Danielle Belleny. Full text at tinyurl.com/BlackBirdersText

Black Birders Week was created in response to a racist incident in New York City’s Central Park: Amy Cooper, a white woman, called the police on Christian Cooper, a Black birdwatcher, and lied, saying, “There’s an African American man threatening my life,” when he politely asked her to put her dog on a leash in an area that required her to do so by law. Many people do not realize that racist incidents, such as this one, happen every day – they are just not captured on video. The recording of this incident highlighted some of the challenges Black people face when going birdwatching or participating in other outdoor activities. In addition to not feeling safe, many Black people feel as if they do not belong in outdoor spaces predominantly occupied by white people. Black Birders Week was organized by individuals of BlackAFinSTEM, which is a collective of Black birders, nature enthusiasts and scientists. The goal of Black Birders Week was to increase the visibility of Black birders and nature enthusiasts and promote inclusivity in the outdoors.

After Black Birders Week, co-organizers Amber Wendler, Alex Troutman and Chelsea Connor virtually met with members of BirdsCaribbean, so that we could all share our experiences and discuss how the birding community can take action to become more diverse and inclusive. It felt as if we all already knew each other and were friends, catching up after a few years of being apart. It was inspiring to hear everyone’s stories and the projects that they have worked on and plan to do in the future. We’re excited to meet in person next July at the next BirdsCaribbean International Conference in Trinidad, and we’re looking forward to continuing these conversations virtually in the meantime.

Zoom Call: 3 co-organizers of Black Birders Week talked with a few members of BirdsCaribbean leadership team: From left to right. Top row: Chelsea Connor, Lisa Sorenson, Alex Troutman. Second row: Amber Wendler, Jessica Rozek Cañizares, Justin Proctor. Third row: Emma Lewis, Howard Nelson, Ancilleno Davis. Fourth row: Adrianne Tossas — Participants in the Zoom Meeting. From left to right. Top row: Chelsea Connor, Lisa Sorenson, Alex Troutman. Second row: Amber Wendler, Justin Proctor. Third row: Emma Lewis, Howard Nelson, Ancilleno Davis. Fourth row: Adrianne Tossas. BirdsCaribbean Board member, Leno Davis (Bahamas) commented: “Being a scientist can be challenging for some and less challenging for others. Our group spoke of privilege, racism, tokenism, implicit and institutional biases, representation, and shifting cultural perspectives and norms. Being black in the Caribbean is different from the USA or UK experience but they are all valid.”

What does Black Birders Week mean to you?

Amber Wendler is a PhD student at Virginia Tech pursuing research on Puerto Rican Todies.

Amber Wendler: Black Birders Week means a lot to me. It has given me a sense of community. I could not be happier to finally see so many other birders who look like me and have had similar experiences to me. I am blown away by all the support this week has received and it has given me hope for the future.

Alex Troutman: Black Birders Week means freedom, inspiration, and growth. Freedom to immerse yourself in nature. It has been inspiring to see all the people supporting Black Birders Week and saying that they are going to make a stand to make sure birding is inclusive for all people! Black Birders Week means growth, not only because I grew as a birder and individual by telling and hearing other birders’ stories; but also because the birding community is growing stronger in numbers and morally. More people stand to make a change, or call out actions and behavior discouraging others who do not fit the typical birder profile of an older white male.

Chelsea Connor: Black Birders Week meant getting my voice, and the voices of others like me amplified. We had been talking on and off about the struggle we face with the outdoors, but now we were more widely heard, and invited to share. I got to see so many Black people outside, doing what they love and to hear their stories and the inspiration that this event gave them. I’m so proud and that will all stay with me forever.

What did you take away from Black Birders Week and what do you want others to know?

Alex Troutman is a Masters Student at Georgia Southern University studying the dynamics of insect communities and MacGillivray's Seaside Sparrow nestlings in tidal wetlands of Georgia. — Alex Troutman is a Masters Student at Georgia Southern University studying the dynamics of insect communities and MacGillivray’s Seaside Sparrow nestlings in tidal wetlands of Georgia.

Amber Wendler: People too often value biodiversity of nature more than diversity of people. Ensuring that Black people and other under-represented groups have access to and feel welcomed in the birding community and outdoor spaces leads to a diversity of ideas and perspectives, which greatly benefits the community and advances scientific research. I am truly amazed by the BlackAFinSTEM group. Individuals from this group saw an opportunity to bring awareness to an important issue, quickly came together to plan and were able to change the minds of many people.

Thanks to Black Birders Week, we increased the visibility and amplified the voices of Black birders. Individuals and organizations started to take action to make the birding community more diverse and inclusive, and many Black birders who previously felt alone now have a supportive community. However, it’s important to recognize that systemic racism was built up over hundreds of years and thus will not be fixed in a week. There is still a lot more work that needs to be done until all Black people will feel safe and welcomed in outdoor spaces. We all must continue to listen to people’s experiences, learn and take anti-racist action.

Alex Troutman: Black Birders Week has not only encouraged me, but it has also given me a sense of pride. First, I am proud that 30+ Black people in the STEM field who identify as birders could make this happen without ever being in a room together and not ever officially meeting each other besides Zoom sessions. Next, I had a sense of pride and encouragement from all of the support that we have been given from people who participated in Black Birders Week in some way, whether it was following with each day’s hashtag or viewing the live streams.

It has been encouraging to see all of the Black birders and Black nature lovers who are out there. I thought I knew a good bit of them, but Black Birders Week has allowed me to connect with so many others who I probably never would have met if it wasn’t for Black Birders Week. Some people were even within the same state. It has also been encouraging to see the younger generation get excited about birding! Black Birders Week gave me community, support, and encouragement to keep going! I hope that others got as much out of BBW as I did. I want others to see that everyone can and should be welcome to go birding without FEAR, DISCRIMINATION, and LACK of ACCESS. It truly takes everyone to make sure that nature can be used and enjoyed by all.

Chelsea Connor is a herpetologist and science communicator. Birds were her first love growing up in Dominica. She currently is a student in Texas researching anole diets and tweets anole facts and about her island, @ChelseaHerps

Chelsea Connor: I want people to remember that silence is complacency. A lot of the things that happen that are witnessed by someone can be stopped by the simple intervention of a white ally. Allies should use their platforms as much as possible to amplify the voices and experiences of BIPOC (Black and Indigneous People of Color) and to create paid opportunities and spaces for them where they are fully supported. Too often BIPOC get hired, but then they’re left alone to face discrimination and racism from their coworkers and peers.

I feel like Black Birders Week has definitely made that conversation start happening more. It’s so encouraging and heartening to see everyone who participated and still hearing about the effect it had for them. I expected the event to go over well, but the international recognition it got blew my mind. It makes me feel hopeful, like much needed change can start happening. I’ve also gotten to connect with so many great people and institutions and I cannot wait to see them grow. Depending on your background, you may not know what it’s like to not feel heard and then to finally have that – but I can tell you, it’s been quite an experience and I’m so happy to have had it. I can’t wait to see more representation of us outdoors and in the natural sciences. Thank you for being part of this too.

Sincere thanks to Amber, Alex and Chelsea for talking with us and writing this wonderful article! Big thanks also to our colleague, Andrew Rothman (@The_Rothman), for introducing us. We appreciated tuning into #BlackBirdersWeek events and look forward to further discussions, opportunities to partner, and actions we can take together to make sure Black birders are welcome and supported everywhere. We welcome Amber, Alex, Chelsea, and all others to our BirdsCaribbean community, a diverse network of wildlife professionals, birders, tour guides, educators, community members, and more. Stay informed about Caribbean bird news by signing up for monthly newsletter here. Join us here. And follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@BirdsCaribbean).

BirdsCaribbean’s Statement on #BlackLivesMatter

June 27, 2020

The Caribbean Birding Trail Will Help You Make Your Travel Plans

We know. It has been a difficult time, and you might be starting to get “itchy feet.”

You’re probably not quite ready to travel yet, but as soon as it is safe, where would you go?

Think green, forested hills filled with bird song; cool rivers with the splash of waterfalls and deep pools to enjoy; or inviting turquoise bays fringed with silvery white sands. This is the Caribbean, and it’s waiting for you!

Our Amazing Island Guides

BirdsCaribbean has the perfect tool to help you with your future plans: a newly updated Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Guide page! Expert local guides are essential to getting the most out of your travel experience, so we have gathered information on the best in the region—all within one handy directory on the CBT website.

These guides, from 21 islands—and counting—have completed the CBT Interpretive Guide Training Program or have obtained training or certification through other programs. They are trusted partners of BirdsCaribbean and the partner organizations we collaborate with on the islands. These knowledgeable guides will satisfy bird, nature, and adventure tourists of all kinds. From birding, boating, and botanical gardens to mountain trails, waterfalls, and even rum tours … there is something for everybody.

If you fancy a packaged tour or a multi-island tour, you can do that too. Just take a look at our Tours page and make your plans!

Introducing … The Experts

Adams Toussaint, St. Lucia Birding & Wildlife Ambassadors

If you browse through our directory, you will see what an extraordinary range of expertise these local guides have to offer.

Our most recently trained guides in Grenada can take you out to sea, birding on sailboats (Vaughn Thomas at Archipelagics) and in kayaks (Kendon James at Conservation Kayak). Seasoned guides such as Adams Toussaint in Saint Lucia, and Lystra Culzac in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been leading birdwatching tours for years. They know exactly where to take you to find all the unique birds of their islands, including the extra special (and incredibly beautiful) St. Lucia and St. Vincent Parrots.

Lystra Culzac, guide in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

You will also see that our guides offer tours in several languages. Binkie van Es on Sint Maarten speaks four languages, and David Belfan in Martinique speaks no less than five! If they have written a bird guide, this is also highlighted. For example, Erika Gates (Bahamas), Anthony Levesque (Guadeloupe), Ann Sutton (Jamaica), Kate Wallace (Dominican Republic), Roger Neckles (Trinidad and Tobago), as well as Birdy Jno Baptiste and Stephen Durand from Dominica are all published authors of field guides for their countries!

So … Where To?

Cuban Trogon — This beautiful bird, of resplendent plumage, is the National bid of Cuba. It’s colors match the colors of the Cuban flag (Photo by Jose Pantaleon).

Maybe you will opt for the largest island in the Caribbean: Cuba! There are 26 bird species on Cuba that are found nowhere else in the world, from the smallest bird in the world (Bee Hummingbird) to their beautiful National Bird (Cuban Trogon). There you can meet up with Ernesto Reyes, who will introduce you to these birds and so much more. Ernesto is a Cuban biologist with more than 15 years of experience with birds in Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. He offers multi-day birdwatching and bird photography tours (including two tours with BirdsCaribbean) that allow visitors to observe more than 95% of Cuba’s bird species. What riches!

Maybe instead of big, you go small. You might consider putting Anguilla in your plans. This 35-square mile, neatly wrapped package of an island contains a surprising amount of biodiversity. Go with Jackie Cestero of Nature Explorers Anguilla to explore the island’s more than 20 wetlands—once the center of a thriving salt industry dating back to prehistoric Amerindian inhabitants. Today these wetlands provide critical habitat for both resident and migratory species as they travel along the Atlantic Flyway. Be sure to pack your snorkel and fins, because Anguilla’s extensive marine park system is home to a number of species of turtles, colorful reef fish, and corals. Many of the island’s beaches provide nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles and, if you’re lucky, you’ll also spot migrating whales and dolphins.

Make Your Plans Happen

Hopefully by now you’ve got some ideas of where to go, and who to go with. Whatever you decide, just be sure of two things: hire local guides and keep going back to the Caribbean! No two islands are alike.

Beautiful jungle path through the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico beckons you to come visit. (photo by Dennis van de Water)

The Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) is a project of BirdsCaribbean. The CBT has been developed to connect people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. The CBT promotes authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourages the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.

Through our CBT Interpretive Guide Training Program, we are partnering with operators and guides in the region to organize one of the most comprehensive guide training and certification programs in the region. The course is facilitated by National Association of Interpretation (NAI) Certified Interpretive Trainers, and participants learn not only to identify the local bird species and their connection to the environment, but also how to effectively communicate information to audiences in a meaningful and enjoyable way. To date, we have held International Training Workshops in Grenada, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

We would love to have your feedback. Have you been on a birding tour with a great birding tour guide from on or off our page? We’d love to hear about it. If you would like to recommend a great guide we don’t know about, organize a guide training program in your country, or want to know about the next program we might offer, drop us a line at info@caribbeanbirdingtrail.org and—when you do go on the Caribbean Birding Trail (and we hope you will)—let us know how it went for you.

Special thanks to our Caribbean Birding Trail Project Coordinator, Aly Ollivierre, and our website developer, Kathleen McGee, for working so hard to get the site updated over the past six months!

Check out our short video on the Caribbean Birding Trail:

June 18, 2020

Joe Wunderle Comes Onboard as JCO’s New Editor-in-Chief

It is with great excitement that we are finally able to break some very big news — effective today, Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr. will be serving as the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology’s new Editor-in-Chief!

For most of us, Joe is symbolic of Caribbean ornithology. He has lived and breathed it almost his entire life. You would be hard pressed to find a Caribbean researcher out there that hasn’t cited one of Joe’s papers, had the pleasure of working alongside Joe, or most importantly, befriended Joe.

Dr. Joe Wunderle — We’re delighted that Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr. will be serving as the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology’s new Editor-in-Chief.

But what makes Joe an exceptional choice to lead the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) into its fourth decade, goes far beyond his extensive research and academic background. From the beginning, Joe has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the people of the Caribbean. He has taught and mentored numerous students, always sending them off into the world with a greater understanding and appreciation for the natural world around them.

In the world of peer-reviewed journals, we often talk about Impact Factors, which are a measure of how extensively a journal’s publications are cited, and thus a proxy for how important a journal is in its field. If we were to apply that same train of thought to the impact that Joe has had on the people, wildlife, and landscapes around the Caribbean, he would certainly be ranked highly.

And Joe is definitely no stranger to BirdsCaribbean (BC). He has been involved with the organization since its first year, 1988, earning him the Site Fidelity Award presented at last year’s Guadeloupe Conference. He has served as Vice-President of BirdsCaribbean from 1991–1995, and then took the reigns as President from 1995–1997. Joe has also been an active member of the Founders Award Committee (founded by Fred Schaffner) since it first launched at BC’s Grenada Conference in 2013. This committee awards the students who present the best papers in conservation research or management at the biennial conference.

Meanwhile, here at JCO, Joe’s name is a very familiar one. And while it’s true that some of our staff know Joe best in the following format — Wunderle, J.M., Jr., [Year]. [Article Title]. [Journal Name]. — we are all really looking forward to working more closely with the real Joe over the coming months. His leadership for JCO could not be a better fit.

Here are some great links for learning more about Joe:

BirdsCaribbean 30th Anniversary Celebration (1988-2018)

Thirty Years of BirdsCaribbean: The “Founding Fathers” Reminisce

U.S. Forest Service: People Profile (includes education, publications, organizations served, and research)

Research Gate: Publication List

On behalf of all the JCO staff, welcome aboard, Joe! We’re very glad to have you with us.

And to members of the BirdsCaribbean community far and wide, please don’t hesitate to reach out and send Joe a warm welcome to his new position as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology!

— Justin Proctor, Managing Editor of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology and Vice-President of BirdsCaribbean

Joe Wunderle receives the one and only Site Fidelity Award for being the longest running BirdsCaribbean member that has not missed a single conference in 30 years! BirdsCaribbean 22nd Conference in Guadeloupe, July, 2019. (photo by Mark Yokoyama)

June 10, 2020

Tracking Pirates of the Caribbean: An Interview with Dr. Rhiannon Austin

Magnificent Frigatebirds soaring like big black kites overhead are a familiar sight throughout the Caribbean. These birds are also commonly seen harassing and stealing food from other seabirds—a behaviour known as kleptoparasitism—earning them the reputation of being ‘Pirates of the Skies’!

These days, a careful watcher might also see a Magnificent Frigatebird fitted with a small tracking device. These birds are part of an ongoing project, ‘Regional-scale Conservation through Multi-territory Tracking of Frigatebirds,’ for which a workshop was held recently in Anguilla. Following the workshop, one of the attendees, Jennifer Wheeler, caught up with one of the project co-leads, Dr. Rhiannon Austin, in order to talk more about the history of the project and this unique seabird.

Magnificent Frigatebird at the colony on Little Cayman — Magnificent Frigatebird (male) in flight at the colony on Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. (Photo by Rhiannon Austin)

Jennifer, for BirdsCaribbean (BC): Hi Rhiannon. The workshop wrapped up just before COVID-19 shut down international travel. I’m glad you made it back to the UK—first off, how are you doing with coronavirus? I assume it has affected your work schedule?

Rhiannon: Thanks for asking! As in most places, it has changed things notably for us in the UK both professionally and personally, and we are all trying to adapt to the situation. I am currently employed as a Research Associate at the University of Liverpool, which has been shut since just after our workshop in mid-March, and we don’t know when it will reopen yet. Our fieldwork this season has been put on hold for now. However, we are doing our best to keep moving forwards and keep up communications. It is all about supporting each other.

BC: I believe we first crossed paths in mid-2016, when you were developing the proposal for the multi-island Frigatebird Project, but I think you had already started working in the region prior to that. What first brought you to the Caribbean?

Rhiannon: Yes, we corresponded in 2016, but met in person for the first time at BirdsCaribbean’s International Conference in Cuba, in July 2017, which was my first BC meeting. It was such a great experience and a fantastic opportunity to meet and hear from others working in the region. I first started working in the Caribbean in 2011, on a project with the Department of Environment (DoE) in the Cayman Islands that focused on Marine Protected Areas. Although my work on this project wasn’t related to seabirds, I became very interested in the seabird colonies on the islands, and always wanted to write a grant to go back and study them.

Team working at the Booby Pond Nature Reserve (Photo by Jessica Harvey)

I did this after my PhD in 2015, and our grant was funded! At the time of the BC conference in 2017, I was managing our Darwin Plus project in the Cayman Islands, which started as a two-year collaboration between the DoE, Universities of Liverpool and Exeter, and the National Trust of the Cayman Islands. The project aimed to gain essential information on the at-sea movements, population status, and ecology of breeding seabirds in this UK Overseas Territory (UKOT). I was lucky enough to be able to continue working on the seabird populations here after this funding ended—last year was our fourth field season. The hope is that our collaborative group can continue studying these important populations over the long-term to gain a fuller understanding of inter-annual variability in behaviour and population responses to environmental change.

Aerial View of Booby Pond Nature Reserve — Aerial View of the Booby Pond Nature Reserve on Little Cayman (Photo by Rhiannon Austin)

BC: So, your work with Cayman Islands frigatebirds led naturally to thinking about working across several islands?

Rhiannon: Exactly! The DoE and I started working together to tag and track frigatebirds in 2017. We collected some great data that really helped to improve our understanding of the at-sea movements and behaviour of this unique species during the breeding season. These data have also now been used to identify marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) during our Darwin Plus projects. We have discovered some interesting things about how Magnificent Frigatebirds from the Cayman Islands exploit their environment, including the tendency of birds to forage both coastally around reefs and sargassum drifts and within the open ocean. We have also detected sex-based differences in their foraging tactics, with males making more offshore trips than females when rearing chicks (you can check out our open access article in MEPS here).

Protecting this species is a real challenge as their large wingspans means that they have low energetic fight costs (i.e. they don’t have to use a lot of energy to beat their wings!), and therefore can forage over huge stretches of ocean. They don’t respect international boundaries and don’t need a passport(!), so it takes cooperative management from multiple nations to protect them across their entire range. The current project that I lead, along with Dr Jon Green at the University of Liverpool, really developed in response to these challenges. Our team wanted to do something to bring those working in the UKOTs together, to discuss ways to extend networks that will help to protect biodiversity. Frigatebirds are really a tool for helping to achieve this aim, as their unique traits make them a potential indicator species for marine biodiversity hotspots. They require better protection, as do multiple species and habitats within the Caribbean.

Rhiannon holding a tagged Magnificent Frigatebird on Little Cayman (Photo by Federico de Pascalis)

BC: Are all the Caribbean UKOTs involved in the current project?

Rhiannon: Yes, I am lucky enough to be working with partners in all 6 of the Caribbean UKOTs under the current project (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda and Montserrat), as well as BirdsCaribbean who it is great to be partnering with. The recent workshop on Anguilla was attended by partners from all of these territories including the Anguilla National Trust (Anguilla), Department of Environment – Cayman Islands Government (Cayman Islands), Jost van Dykes Preservation Society (BVI), Department of Environment and Coastal Resources – Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (Turks and Caicos), Department of Environment – Government of Montserrat (Montserrat), Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Government of Bermuda (Bermuda), and BirdsCaribbean (see photo). It was great to bring everyone together to discuss the work that we are doing, and how it might help with the large task of addressing conservation issues within marine and coastal environments in the UKOTs.

I’m currently combining and analysing data from multiple Caribbean frigatebird populations to investigate what habitats this species uses at sea and on land (where they like to roost and feed), and to predict suitable habitat across the region (including within areas that we have no data for). The hope is to use frigatebird tracking data in habitat modeling approaches to identify areas of ecological importance relevant to not only frigatebirds but other mobile marine vertebrates. There is another year and a half left on this project and it will end with a large workshop that our project team plans to host during the next BirdsCaribbean Conference in 2021. We hope to open this up to those working in non-UK states and territories in the Caribbean that are interested in seabirds and related conservation issues.

BC: Have you found partners outside of the UKOTs?

Rhiannon: Yes, I’ve recently started a collaborative project with NGOs and Government departments in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. They have large and important populations of seabirds in this area but desperately lack funds for monitoring and conservation. We were due to start preliminary work on this project during the spring/summer, but this had to be delayed for now because of recent events. However, we are committed to seeing this happen once borders open up again and it is safe to proceed. Through the Frigatebird Project, we have also recently started collaborating with some fantastic conservation and research organisations in the States (the Avian Research and Conservation Institute – ARCI) and Canada (University of New Brunswick / NSERC), who have worked on frigatebird populations in the Florida Keys and Barbuda, respectively. I am also always keen to make new connections with those interested in the spatial ecology and conservation of seabirds and other marine vertebrates in the region.

BC: Where are you finding funds for this work?

Rhiannon: This work is largely funded by the UK Government’s Darwin Plus grant scheme, which aims to fund local projects to help protect biodiversity and the natural environment in the UKOTs. The team and I at the University of Liverpool have been lucky enough to have undertaken a number of projects in the UKOTs supported by Darwin Plus, and I really hope that our collaborative group will continue to have success working under this scheme, as our conservation and research activities continue in the Caribbean. My work in Mexico is currently funded by an ‘Early Career Researcher’ grant provided by the University of Liverpool, but we hope to seek funds for longer-term work in the future.

Seabird Workshop Participants from left to right, back row: Tashim Fleming, Aaron Richardson, Susan Zaluski, Eric Salamanca, Jeremy Madeiros, Louise Soanes, Jane Haakonsson (remotely via video!), and Jonathan Green. Front row: Rhiannon Austin, Farah Mukhida, Ajherme White, Clarissa Lloyd, Giovanni Hughes, Jennifer Wheeler (Photo by Rhiannon Austin)

BC: Where would you like to see the project go in the future?

Rhiannon: We really hope that this project, and the outputs that it provides, will help to build new collaborations and working relationships amongst those in the UKOTs (and more widely) that have shared issues and/or knowledge that can be exchanged. The ultimate long-term goal is that this will lead to the development of transboundary management strategies. This a huge task and not an easy one that can be addressed in this project, as it requires involvement of so many nations and organisations. Here, we are starting by identifying training, data and management needs in the 6 UKOTS, and will then undertake supporting activities in these territories (for example, colony surveys or feasibility studies) that will hopefully lead to future funding and longer-term project work. Our final workshop in 2021 will focus on ‘Connectivity and Networks’, and it will be a great opportunity to make steps towards these objectives.

BC: Frigatebirds connect the Caribbean – and beyond. What else makes frigatebirds special?

Rhiannon: Frigatebirds are unique. If I could spend the rest of my lifetime studying them, I would be happy! They are very different from many other seabirds, both in terms of their at-sea behaviour and breeding strategies. Associated with this, they have evolved some intriguing morphological (body) characteristics. For example, they lack waterproofing on their feathers so are constrained to forage at the ocean’s surface. Because they don’t dive under the water, they also lack webbing on their feet, which are adapted for roosting in mangrove trees where they nest. Frigatebirds also have impressive wingspans which allow them to roam huge distances with ease, even when rearing chicks! They also have a very interesting breeding strategy. Females have much greater roles in parental care than males: while the male deserts the chick after only a few months, females may continue rearing chicks for over a year.

Frigatebirds get a lot of bad press because they regularly steal food from other birds. Did you know that the name ‘frigatebird’ and associated nickname ‘Man O’War bird’ refers to the warships favoured and feared by pirates between the 16^th and 19^th centuries? Personally, I think that this foraging tactic is fascinating and actually quite smart in an environment where prey distributions may not be predictable in time or space! Despite my obvious biases towards frigatebirds, we have a diversity of seabirds in the Caribbean (>20 species) that use a range of life history strategies to successfully exploit and breed in this environment. There is so much to learn. In addition to frigatebirds, I spend time working on boobies, gannets, and shearwaters, but the former remain my favourites!

Male magnificent frigatebirds at the colony on Little Cayman — Male Magnificent Frigatebirds at the colony on Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. (Photo by Rhiannon Austin)

BC: You have worked in other parts of the world, including the Mediterranean… how would you compare the two regions?

Rhiannon: I have always gravitated towards warmer climates, and I feel a strong affinity with the Caribbean. It is where I hope to be based in the long-term. I worked in the Mediterranean on shearwaters for 4 years, and the two regions do have some similarities. Both have high levels of biological connectivity between the many coastal habitats that they contain, and both experience high levels of human activity and associated pressures on their marine and coastal ecosystems.

As with the Caribbean, the Mediterranean has many conservation issues to overcome. However, there are a number of initiatives in the Mediterranean that we might be able to learn from to help with the particular challenges faced in the Caribbean. For example, recent efforts to undertake observer programmes onboard fishing vessels are helping to address bycatch of seabirds. Similarly, there are initiatives to identify and designate interconnected networks of MPAs. Spain’s efforts at site protection are a good example of this. Nevertheless, these types of conservation action only work if multiple stakeholders and nations work together in their efforts, which we all know is challenging. One of the reasons that I enjoy working in the Caribbean so much is its people, and the diversity of birds in the region, many of which we still know so little about. There is so much here to discover and protect!

BC: Do you have a favourite memory from the project that you would like to share?

Rhiannon: There are so many to choose from! Some funny and some just magical! I’ll give you one of both. I think one of my favourite ‘amusing’ memories was watching one of my research assistants (who hates fish) being regurgitated on by a frigatebird while in a very precarious position during work at the colony, which he could not move out of for about 10 minutes. He had to grin and bear being covered in half-digested fish while the rest of us tried desperately not to laugh as we worked!

Withholding regurgitates, the Booby Pond Nature Reserve on Little Cayman is one of my favourite places on earth! Working there over such extended periods of the year means that I am lucky enough to get to see sights and behaviour that few in this world observe. These include adults feeding their chicks, scuffles between nest neighbours, juveniles playing with nesting material in the sky, and fledglings finding their wings and taking off the first time! It is a privilege and an honour to work with such amazing creatures. The noise of the colony alone is something to behold! Imagining these sights and sounds is definitely a great way to find peace and calm while in lockdown in the UK (check them out in this video clip!).

What is a Zine?

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HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY ORLANDO GARRIDO!

Tribute video to Orlando Garrido, presented at the BirdsCaribbean 21st International Conference in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July 2017:

Presentation of a lifetime achievement award to Orlando Garrido, at the BirdsCaribbean 21st International Conference in Topes de Collantes, Cuba, July 2017:

Homenaje a Orlando H. Garrido en sus 90 años

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Cleaning Up the Beaches Where Shorebirds Hang Out

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Meanwhile, Out in the Field…Frigatebirds Were a “Hit”

All Went Well With the Student Birders!

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Check out the awesome live interviews of Ajhermae White and James “Scriber” Daley (Montserrat Dept of Environment) for their shorebird education events:

TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT MIGRATING SHOREBIRDS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

THE RICH DIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S SHOREBIRDS

SADLY, SHOREBIRDS IN DECLINING NUMBERS

WHERE WERE WE LOOKING FOR SHOREBIRDS?

WHAT DID THE DRONE SURVEYS SHOW?

ARE SHOREBIRDS LOSING THEIR OLD HANGOUTS?

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