“Almost daily, we learn more about what astonishing creatures shorebirds are, but at the same time how their populations are disappearing,” said Dr. Charles Duncan, Former Director of the Shorebird Recovery Project and BirdsCaribbean Director-at-Large . “World Shorebirds Day celebrates their wonder and brings attention to their plights. And in that celebration, we are reminded of our connectedness to one another and all life on this good green planet.”
World Shorebirds Day 2018 – Thursday, September 6 – is about more than raising awareness of these beautiful, sometimes elusive birds. Sadly, we also need to recognize that around half of our shorebird species are in decline globally. Critical habitat is shrinking – in particular the stopover sites where the migratory birds take a pause, or spend the winter. These include the remarkable Cargill Salt Ponds in Bonaire, recently designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Regional Importance, Cabo Rojo Salt Flats in Puerto Rico, the first WHSRN site in the region, and many more.
World Shorebirds Day is an opportunity to learn more about the birds and their lifecycles. Moreover, citizen scientists can take action and participate in the Global Shorebird Count. You never know what unusual birds may appear in your binocular lens! Last year, a female Common Eider showed up in Bermuda. This year, a BirdsCaribbean birding tour in Cuba came across a leucistic Willet in the Zapata Swamp in March, as well as a banded Piping Plover, spending the winter in the Cayo Coco Cays on the north coast.
Caribbean birders can register their chosen birding site via Google Maps hereand then do their shorebird count on the weekend of September 5-11, 2018, submitting findings on eBird Caribbean. If you’re new to eBird, check out this Quick Start guide. Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird and any counts you do at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches count as Caribbean Waterbird Census counts. To increase the value of your count to science, be sure to count ALL birds at your site, including seabirds, herons and egrets, land birds, etc. This year, Bermuda Audubon Society will participate in the count by exploring Spittal Pond on September 8th.
To make your submitted data visible to World Shorebirds Day, please be sure to share your checklist with worldshorebirdsday eBird username of World Shorebirds Day (WorldShorebirdsDay) or add shorebirdsday@gmail.com email address, to your contact list, and share all your related checklists with us (only checklists made during the World Shorebirds Day count period between 1–7 September 2017 are eligible). Guidelines for sharing checklists are here.
Participate in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS)!
Some of our birds are already on the move. BirdsCaribbean invites all shorebird lovers to schedule some extra counts during the migration season (August to October and March to May) by volunteering for the International Shorebird Survey, a year-round initiative organized by Manomet since 1974. On eBird Caribbean simply do a Caribbean Waterbird Census entry, choosing the “CWC Point Count” or “CWC Area Search” on Step 2 of “Submit observations” in eBird Caribbean. After uploading, share the checklist with username “ISSData.”
Depending on the timing of migration, you may see a lot of birds or just a few at your site(s). Don’t be disappointed if you only see just one. Remember that very effort counts and adds to our knowledge of shorebirds and waterbirds and their habitat needs in the Caribbean!
Good luck and we look forward to hearing about your findings and seeing your photos! Please share on our BirdsCaribbean Facebook page.
Banded Birds
Be sure to be on the lookout for banded birds! Especially Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings. You may report your sightings to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab which oversee all banding in the United States.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 was a terrible day for the British Virgin Islands.
With peak-sustained winds measured at 185 mph and momentary gusts exceeding 225 mph, Hurricane Irma caused catastrophic damage, turning the once vibrant green islands into a dull brown mess.
As conservation professionals, much of our time is spent on convincing people not to encroach upon or damage our important mangroves. I never dreamt that in just one day a “non-human” named Irma could deliver such a devastating blow to the BVI’s entire mangrove forest.
Salt-tolerant plants that grow in or near the water’s edge, mangroves provide countless benefits to nature and humans. Mangroves provide habitat and nursery areas for fish, playing an important role in fishery and coral reef health. Additionally, they help maintain good water quality by providing a catchment area for runoff from higher ground. They also act as a buffer for storm surge – wind and waves – protecting coastlines.
Conservation starts with scientific information and planning
In April, with the financial support of the BirdsCaribbean Hurricane Recovery Fund, the Jost Van Dykes (BVI) Preservation Society carried out a rapid assessment of the hurricane-damaged mangrove areas in the British Virgin Islands. The Society also received technical assistance from Dr. Gregg Moore, a restoration ecologist from the University of New Hampshire with vast experience in evaluating post-hurricane mangrove systems in the Caribbean,
Land and boat-based rapid assessments were combined with UAV (drone) based aerial surveys. Dr. Moore compiled the results of the surveys into a report, which was provided to key BVI government agencies and non-governmental organizations. This report serves as a useful tool for informing future mangrove restoration.
The report confirms what we might have already guessed: about 90% of mature red mangrove trees that form the coastal fringing system have been defoliated and are dead, with very few exceptions. The damage to BVI mangroves is a serious ecological blow to the system, but the storm also took with it the flowers and fruits that we would expect to be the next generation of mangrove trees.
Nevertheless, the study offers some optimistic findings and some important lessons for the BVI and other Caribbean islands that may suffer serious storm damage. The “take home” lessons include:
Lesson 1: “Learn to See the (Mangrove) Forest Through the (Dead) Trees”
Let’s repeat together! DO NOT CUT DOWN THE MATURE DEAD MANGROVE TREES.
There are many reasons to support the recommendation to not cut the standing mangrove deadwood whenever possible:
Mangroves provide valuable habitat for wildlife such as birds and invertebrates;
As dead mangrove trees decompose, they release energy and return essential nutrients and carbon to the system;
Mangrove’s physical structure is mainly intact and still buffers wave and storm energy, and helps hold peat and sand in place along fragile coastlines; and
That structure also protects animals and helps trap and protect mangrove seedlings that will regenerate the forest naturally.
Any cleanup of debris should be limited and very carefully managed to avoid further damage. Foot traffic and the hauling of cut wood can trample fragile seedlings.
Even if most of the mature trees are dead, the mangroves are still a forest. Since Gregg’s visit, we have carried out monitoring of as part of a UK Darwin Initiative-funded ecosystem resilience project. During each visit I see perching birds, which help spread forest seeds, resting on the tops of dead trees; herons stalking the crabs that live around the prop roots; and seabirds foraging in nearby marine systems that are supported by our mangroves.
The mangrove forest and the environment are damaged, but the ecosystem is still alive, and needs a chance to recover.
Lesson 2: “The Children are the Future”
Despite severe damage to the mature canopy, virtually every site visited in the BVI had a significant understory of live, rooted seedling plants. Albeit quite young and short today, these young plants are the future of BVI’s mangroves and should be carefully protected.
We should get young humans involved. They will be the future stewards of this important ecological resource, and should play an important role in mangrove restoration work.
Lesson 3: “Think global, but Act/Grow Local”
There is a wide body of literature on mangrove and coastal habitat restoration available. Learn from others around the world about what works (and what does not) in mangrove restoration. Find seedlings that are available locally, or as close to your degraded site as possible. Importing plants carries the risk of introducing invasive species, diseases and other potential calamities.
Lesson 4: “It Takes a Village”
Involve everyone. Or as many people as possible.
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest the stories about our mangrove work in local news publications and on social media generated in the BVI. Undoubtedly, some of the conservation community’s messages about the importance of mangroves have gotten through over the years!
Mangrove restoration across the BVI is going to be an enormous effort. We are excited to be partnering with the Rotary Club of Road Town. The Club plans to help turn mangrove conservation and re-planting activities into a territory-wide effort, involving individuals, community-based organizations and businesses.
We sometimes feel isolated on our tiny, individual islands, but we need to think in terms of broader landscape or seascape-level management. Our BVI-wide rapid mangrove assessments were useful in identifying mangrove sites within the BVI that can be used for the sustainable recruitment of plant stock for restoration and conservation efforts. The slogan “stronger together” is more than just a catch phrase.
Many thanks to generous donors to BirdsCaribbean’s Hurricane Relief Fund for supporting our mangrove restoration and education efforts! In October, Dr. Moore will return to Jost Van Dyke, BVI to assist the JVD Preservation Society and Rotary Club of Road Town in hosting a Mangrove Restoration Workshop. JVD Preservation Society is working to establish a small mangrove nursery site on the island of Jost Van Dyke.
By Susan Zaluski, Director, Jost Van Dykes (BVI) Preservation Society.
The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a bitter and painful one for sections of the Eastern Caribbean – in particular during the peak month of September, when Hurricanes Irma and Maria raged through several islands. Some Caribbean nations were still not fully back on their feet as June 1 ushered in the start of the 2018 season.
Everyday life was turned upside down on more than a dozen islands – and that included their precious birds. BirdsCaribbean came to the rescue, with all speed, to help partners and birds struggling to cope in the aftermath of the storms. Stories poured in of pigeons and doves standing in the road, weak, dazed and exposed; hummingbirds trying to feed on brightly-colored pieces of trash since no flowers were left; and surviving parrots descending into towns from the forest in search of food. The birds were as traumatized as many of the islands’ human residents.
Food, Glorious Food
Food was the most immediate need. BirdsCaribbean sprang into action, reaching out to U.S-based bird feed suppliers, who responded generously. Lizzie Mae Bird Seed donated 5 tons of bird seed. Classic Brands, Songbird Essentials, Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Aspects Inc., among others, donated high quality nectar feeders and nectar concentrate or provided them at a discount.
The needs were great, so BirdsCaribbean started a fundraising campaign on MightyCause (formerly Razoo). “Over 500 amazing donors from around the world responded to the call for help and we raised about US$126,000,” said Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “We used some funds to buy and ship the bird feed supplies, but follow up work is equally important; most of the funds have been used to award grants to partners for hurricane restoration activities.”
It was an enormous task. In total, BirdsCaribbean, along with partners, volunteers and with the support of generous donors, coordinated shipments of 4,201 nectar feeders; 5 tons of bird seed; 1,850 bottles of nectar concentrate; and 100 tube feeders. These supplies were delivered to no less than 18 islands or countries impacted by one or both hurricanes.
From Miami to the Islands
The logistics were complex and time-consuming. Using five different sea freight companies — Tropical Shipping, Four Star Cargo, ECU Worldwide, Hassle Free Shipping, and King Ocean Services — BirdsCaribbean battled with seemingly endless paperwork, customs forms, emails and phone calls to arrange the multi-island shipments. Volunteers in Miami (where FEMA kindly provided temporary storage) worked hard. Some shipments had to be sorted and repacked. Thanks to their efforts, the items reached each island within a few days of leaving Miami. On each island, they were cleared and unpacked by our amazing Caribbean partners, who worked hard at the receiving end. Despite a number of ports being either damaged or overloaded with relief supplies, our shipments got through. Truly, it was a labour of love by all!
Then, the distribution began, with numerous non-governmental organisations, government agencies and volunteers pitching in to help on the ground. All held giveaway events in the weeks and months after the hurricanes. Many schools also received feeders.
The response to the outreach events was heart-warming. Many island residents realized for the first time how important their birds were, and learned to love them. Despite struggling with their own post-hurricane problems (no roof, for example, or lack of utilities such as electricity and water) the islanders were delighted to help their hungry birds, who flocked to the feeders and quickly emptied them.
Bringing Hope and Happiness to Birds and Humans
Hurricane Maria transformed the landscape on the once lush island of Dominica. Colleagues at the Forestry Department struggled to recover, after losing much of their infrastructure and equipment. Director of Forestry, Wildlife and Parks MInchinton Burton thanked BirdsCaribbean for their donation of field equipment and bird feed: “Your very timely and generous support assisted us in being able to respond in a tangible manner to some of the urgent needs of the birds, particularly our two endemic parrot species, whose habitat and food sources were severely impacted by this monstrous storm.”
The U.S. Virgin Islands suffered considerable damage to bird habitats, as well as infrastructure. The supplies were welcomed with open arms. On St. John, Phyllis Benton and Sybille Sorrentino from VI Ecotours reported on the distribution of supplies in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay: “People love them!! They’re so excited to be able to do something immediately helpful for the birds. Thank you and the group again so much for…bringing a little happiness and hope.” They noted “many hungry hummingbirds and Bananaquits at feeders!”
On St. Thomas, Renata Platenberg, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Management at the University of the Virgin Islands expressed it well: “From the ocean to the sky, the natural world is struggling to cope in the aftermath of the storms.” She noted that residents were anxious to help birds such as the Scaly-Naped Pigeon, which were “largely unable to find any food and so they’ve just been collapsing where they stand.” She noted the importance of this species, which feeds on fruit. This species is critical for seed dispersal and thus the revival of the forests. In many ways, the supplies that followed the storm brought people closer to nature. One St. Thomas family put up feeders by the window. “The grandmother sits and watches the birds all day long, and it makes her so happy,” said Professor Platenberg.
Caribbean Youth Get to Know (and Feed) the Birds
The donations increased Caribbean citizens’ bird knowledge and conservation awareness. One young Anguillan, first-former Tahena Polanco-Hodge, was enthusiastic: “I was so excited to set up the hummingbird feeder. We had hummingbirds visiting our backyard before the hurricane but had hardly seen any after. But my mom and I put our feeder up and we’ve already had six hummingbirds flying around it and feeding from it!”
On Tahena’s island, the give-away of 200 hummingbird feeders, nectar concentrate and over 350 pounds of bird seed sparked tremendous interest, noted Executive Director of the Anguilla National Trust Farah Mukhida. “The island’s birds now have a much higher profile,” said Ms. Mukhida, with residents dropping by her office to talk to her about their bird sightings.
In Guadeloupe, BirdsCaribbean partner AMAZONA collaborated with garden suppliers Jardiland, distributing feeders at Abymes Town Hall. This was a valuable opportunity to teach schoolchildren greater environmental awareness.
Appreciating the Beauty of Nature in Puerto Rico
In hard-hit Puerto Rico, BirdsCaribbean’s shipments brought hope and a degree of comfort. Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc (SOPI) worked hard to provide hummingbird feeders for at least 27 municipalities. SOPI’s major partner was Para La Naturaleza, whose properties served as distribution centers. “These feeders were not only beneficial to the birds but also the people that could find a little solace in the beauty of nature,” mused SOPI’s Nathaniel González. “In these trying times we can always turn to nature to know that everything shall pass and that we can look forward for a better future,” he added.
“There is no doubt that the feeders and seed provided a boost to many native birds,” commented Sorenson. “This helped them survive a serious food shortage. The birds, in turn, lifted people’s spirits and brought them closer to nature.”
A Huge “Thank You!”
Post-hurricane assistance was a monumental effort coordinated by BirdsCaribbean. It was only made possible by close teamwork and collaboration across the region with literally hundreds of partners, donors and volunteers, including governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses.
We are tremendously grateful to all those who supported our effort (see a partial list of companies and organizations below). However, the work is not over! Recovery projects and surveys are ongoing, taking place across the region with BirdsCaribbean’s financial support, thanks to all the donors. You can still donate to this effort by clicking here. Further updates will follow.
Last but not least, the birds were thankful for the lifeline, too!
We invite you to enjoy the gallery of photos below. Hover over each photo to see the caption or click on the first photo to see a slide show. See our acknowledgments below.
St Thomas US Virgin Islands feeder giveaway. (photo by Renata Platenberg)
Adult Eared Dove with chick in Grenada – Mt. Hartman Estate. (Photo by Greg Homel)
School students in Barbuda prepare seed and nectar for the birds. (Photo by John Mussington)
Forest Ranger Eugene explains the importance of bird feeders to students in Dominica.
Zenaida Dove (photo by Glenroy Blanchette)
Feeder giveaway in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
Recipients learned how to clean and fill feeders in St. Martin. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Volunteers on the ground in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Para la Naturaleza)
A Pearly-eyed Thrasher visits a feeder in Dominica.
Volunteers in Puerto Rico ready to distribute feeders and bird seed.
Volunteers Raul (left) and Craig (right organize 25 pound bags of bird seed to go to different islands. (photo by Judd Patterson)
A Bullfinch at a feeder made by the Forestry Dept. in Cabrits National Park, Dominica.
Para la Naturaleza staff in Puerto Rico were happy to receive bird feeders.
Students hang up bird feeders in Barbuda. (Photo by John Mussington)
Feeder giveaway in Anguilla. (Photo by Farah Mukhida)
Principal Ellis and students of Bethel Methodist School with feeders in St. Eustatius. (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc (SOPI) volunteers distribute feeders in Puerto Rico.
Setting up the bird feeding stations in Dominica.
Forest Ranger Eugene demonstrates to the students of the Morne Prosper Primary School in Dominica how to set up the bird feeders.
Pallets of bird seed wrapped and ready for shipping! (photo by Judd Patterson)
Bamboo feeding station installed at Cabrits National Park, Dominica.
Bird feeding station in Dominica. Thanks to the Forestry Dept for making these awesome feeders!
Zenaida Dove- one of many doves and pigeons helped with bird seed. (Photo by Ted Eubanks)
Princlpe and students from the Tete Morne Primary in Dominica with their bird feeders.
Blue-headed Hummingbirds are found only on Dominica and Martinique (Photo by Paul Reillo)
Feeder giveaway in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Feeder giveaway in St. Maarten. (Photo by Binkie)
Antillean Crested Hummingbird trying to get nectar from a brightly colored piece of trash in St. Martin following Hurricane Irma. There were no flowers available for weeks following the storm. (photo by Mark Yokoyama)
The Scaly-naped Pigeon is one of the many species of pigeons and doves that benefitted from the bird seed. (Photo by Canter Photography)
Boxes of bird feeders arrive in St. Thomas, USVI. (Photo by Renata Platenberg)
By Emma Lewis, writer and social media activist, member of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group.
BirdsCaribbean is extremely grateful to the following companies and organizations for providing funding and/or in-kind donations for our “Operation Feeder Rescue” Project; thanks also to many individual donors to our Hurricane Relief Fund and to our many partners and volunteers in the U.S. and across the Caribbean islands.
Chirp chirp I cried
Flapping my wings from the sky
To see all my siblings from another egg
Black, white, and even red
From the quit of the banana
To that of the dowitcher
Terns and herons
Plovers and flycatchers
Doves and even the belly yellow elaenia
Nice how we diversify
The lagoon who’s gravity we defy
Flapping our multi-colored wings
And showing off our different bills
Come one, come all
Short and tall
To the Ashton Lagoon
Where restoration has placed us
In the showcasing mood
Thanks to those nice people
At SusGren, Inc.
This poem was written by Lloyd Joseph, a recently participant at BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop on Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He described his experience in poetry as well as prose. Lloyd works at Palm Island Resort, another island in the Grenadines. Although he had little experience in ecotourism prior to the workshop, he called himself a “fast learner and very interested in wildlife.” The training took place from May 28 to June 1, 2018 and was hosted by Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren, Inc), a local non-governmental organisation based on Union Island and a long-time partner of BirdsCaribbean.
On the last day of the training, each participant was required to give a five-minute presentation, incorporating what they had learned about environmental interpretation. “Lloyd Joseph blew us away with a dramatic reading of a poem he had written about the restoration of Ashton Lagoon, which was taking place while we were there,” said Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, who was one of the trainers. Susgren Inc is carrying out the Lagoon restoration. View his inspiring presentation below about Ashton Lagoon, where he gives a voice to the lagoon, and his reading of the above poem.
He simply described the workshop experience—and birding in general—as “a fun and educational way of studying and interacting with these amazing creatures called birds.” The fun part was simply enjoying the birds; the learning part was, as he realized:
FUN: Picture not having any family time and always being too busy to enjoy the simple things of life with your family or even on your own. Allow me to introduce you to an enjoyable activity that will blow your mind away and will definitely relax you. The workshop was the most fun and relaxing time I have had in a long time. Using binoculars and even a telescope to view these birds in their natural habitat and watching them feed was great – not to mention the friendliness of the entire class and the instructors. A week well spent, I must say.
LEARNING: One is never too old or too intelligent to learn something new. It is my honest opinion that our biggest challenge as humans is being malnourished in knowledge. To be honest I was so malnourished that I was a bit afraid to attend the workshop! Then attending the workshop my mind was opened and blown away with the vast amount of information that was passed on to me by the instructors. Interpretation skills were taught in the simplest forms so we all could understand. Skills like poetry and the hierarchy of needs (Maslow) emerged when taking a group out on a hike. Also, learning about a jaguar’s mating call, which our instructor Rick gave as an example of an interpretive story (complete with a drum to make the roaring sound), brought the power of the interpretive message home.
What do I think about birdwatching? Why did it take me so long to attend such a program?
The experience is amazing. The beauty of the birds astounding. And yes, the different bird calls—both normal calling and mating sounds—are fascinating.
I would most definitely want to attend such a workshop again. Thanks to BirdsCaribbean, SusGren, and all other participating agencies for making it possible for persons who were so malnourished in knowledge to be nourished. Thanks to Lisa, Rick, Beny, Aly, and all the other information sharers for a time well spent and a great experience. I must say, after this program, that birdwatching has become a part of me and I can’t help but observe, count, and keep track of birds wherever I go, from now on.
By Lloyd Joseph. Check out additional fun articles on the guide training here and here.
To learn more about the restoration of Ashton Lagoon:
A big thank you to all of the sponsors of this workshop for their funding and/or in-kind donations:
Sustainable Grenadines Inc.
Marshall Reynolds Foundation
KfW German Development Bank through Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
US Forest Service, International Programs
Optics for the Tropics
Palm Island Resort
Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, Disaster Management and Information
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
Ridge to Reef Project Grenada
Carefree Birding
Private donors
Kings Landing Hotel
Its local name is “Little Devil.” But not much is known about this elusive bird, either on land or at sea. An intrepid group of conservationists go on an expedition in the mountains of the Dominican Republic to find out more about the Black-capped Petrel.
A Seabird in the Mountains
We park the pickup trucks at the park ranger’s hut and unload our gear and supplies. I climb the flimsy wooden stairs of the nearby fire tower, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunset. We have arrived on the ridge of the Sierra de Bahoruco, the Dominican Republic’s southernmost relief and the eastern end of the De la Selle mountain range. This is the backbone of Hispaniola’s southern peninsula. Below me, the forest of Occidental pines unfurls in a deep green velvet. To the north, I can see the dark plains surrounding Lago Enriquillo, already in the shadow of the mountains. To the southwest, the glistening waters of the Caribbean Sea. Further to the west, below the setting sun, Haiti is already disappearing in the fog that has started to accumulate against the escarpment. From atop the fire tower, I try to imagine what might happen in a few hours. Not far from our camp, a small silhouette will pierce the night clouds, crashing through the trees before rushing to its burrow. It’s a Black-capped Petrel – the region’s only endemic seabird and one of the most endangered seabird species in the Atlantic Basin. The petrel is returning to feed its single chick after a week at sea.
For the next two weeks, we will stay in the mountains of the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park to try and gather more information about how this elusive bird behaves at sea. Our team consists of Ernst Rupp, senior researcher and project manager at Grupo Jaragua, the Dominican conservation NGO monitoring the petrel’s nesting sites in the country; Pirrín Jairo Matos, Gerson Feliz, José Luis Castillo and Ivan Terrero, indispensable field technicians with Grupo Jaragua; Patrick Jodice, lead scientist at USGS – South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (SC CRU); and myself, Yvan Satgé, early career biologist at the SC CRU – Clemson University. As the temperatures drop with dusk and the wind picks up, I join my colleagues huddled around the cooking fire. At 2,000m above sea level, even a mid-April evening in the Caribbean can get cold.
The Mysterious “Little Devil” – What We Know
Black-capped Petrels (Pterodroma hasitata), like most gadfly petrels of the Pterodroma genus, are famously hard to study on land. As pelagic seabirds, they spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to nest from mid-January to mid-June. They were once more common in the Greater Antilles. They are locally known as Diablotin, the little devil. They are night birds and their eerie calls during the mating season give them their name. The bird’s breeding sites have been especially hard to find. They were only re-discovered in the 1960s in Haiti, and the 1980s in the Dominican Republic. As recently as last year, Ernst and his team found a new nesting area in the central mountain range of the Dominican Republic. There is hope that Black-capped Petrels might also be nesting in the Sierra Madre of Cuba (where they are known as brujas, the witches) and Dominica, but none have yet been found there.
Although better-studied than breeding sites, the marine habits of Black-capped Petrels also remain vague. Until recently, they were thought to fish the waters off the southeastern United States year-round. However, our 2014 satellite tracking study of three adults showed that they might in fact forage off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela while raising chicks. During this expedition, we plan to track a dozen nesting petrels with lightweight GPS loggers and to study their diet. Once we know where they go and what they eat, we will better understand the secrets of their travels and the threats they face at sea.
“Como una aguja en un pajar” – The Proverbial Needle in a Haystack
Before we can study the petrels though, we need to catch them. This is where the knowledge of Grupo Jaragua’s field technicians comes into play. The expression “a needle in a haystack” translates well in Spanish, and applies particularly well to their mission. In a haystack of dense mountainous vegetation, they are experts in finding the petrels’ burrows—underground “needles” hidden among rocky screes or under thick layers of leaf litter. Pirrín’s skill is in locating the nest entrances among the rocks and vegetation. He confirms his findings with the presence of a fly that seems to favor active nest sites: “Pirrín’s fly”. José Luis is in charge of the borescope. Maneuvering the thick cable of optical fibers as far as 2 meters underground, he inspects every corner of the burrow for signs of recent activity: a well-defined nest cup, an adult incubating the pair’s single egg, or a sleeping chick. Gerson, the team’s memory, can remember every burrow Grupo Jaragua has ever monitored. Knowing how to use rock-climbing equipment, he is also the group’s de facto safety officer, were the terrain to become too abrupt and exposed. Ivan is still a trainee; but if he learns as fast as he walks through the thick vegetation or climbs up and down the steep ravines, he will be finding new nesting sites very soon.
Small but Helpful Gems Found in a Burrow
At each active burrow, I collect as many samples as I can. The first nest brings me beginner’s luck: just in front of the entrance a petrel dropping awaits. It is shiny and fresh from the previous night. My colleagues joke as I collect the dark part of the poop as if it were a golden nugget (the white part, urea, is useless for our testing). As insignificant as it looks, this little sample can tell us a lot. Thanks to my fellowship with the Dave Lee Fund, I will use DNA found in the sample and others like it to identify the species of prey eaten by Black-capped Petrels. Dave Lee himself had studied the petrel’s diet off the coast of North Carolina and showed that they favored squid. The technique available at the time, however, tended to put heavier focus on prey species that took a long time to digest (such as squid, whose beak fragments tend to build up in the digestive tract). With the molecular analysis of fecal DNA, I’m hoping to refine our knowledge of the diet of Black-capped petrels. This will help us better understand their life at sea.
José Luis hands me a few breast feathers left behind by adult petrels when they enter or exit the tunnel. Feathers can tell us about the broad diet of the bird through an analysis of stable isotopes. We can also use them to measure the bird’s exposure to mercury, which Black-capped Petrels are prone to bio-accumulate. Finally, if we are lucky, DNA left in the quill will inform us on the genetics of the local population. We are also interested in collecting remnants of eggs. If the egg has hatched, the remaining shell can be tested for contaminants. It can also provide clues to the diet of the female when she produced the egg. If the egg proved infertile, we will collect it with great care to bring it back to the Dominican National Museum of Natural History for their specimen collection.
More Finds for the Test Tube
In an active burrow, I find an insect that seems to use the discarded feathers to make its cocoon, a black tube with protruding white barbs of the petrel’s feather. Could it be Pirrín’s fly? I plop the fly into a test tube; each sample joins our growing collection in a freezer, until we have enough funding to analyze them. Then Ivan comes back to me with good news. The team found a group of four nearby nests, with a chick in each burrow. To limit disturbance, we will be using GPS loggers that remotely send their tracking data to a base-station. Due to the dense vegetation and the steep surroundings, the range of the base-station is limited to a radius of about 300m. It is therefore crucial that we choose nest sites close to each other. Under Pirrín’s supervision, we set chicken-wire traps at the entrance of each tunnel to capture the adults as they return at night. After carefully concealing the traps’ openings under the rocks, sod, or pine needles surrounding the burrow, we take a deep breath and hike up to the nearest ridge. We are hoping for success when we come back at sunrise.
By Yvan Satge. Yvan is a Research Associate in the Lab of Dr. Pat Jodice, at the South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University. He has been studying various aspects of seabird ecology for the last few years.
Join BirdsCaribbean, the Caribbean Birding Trail and acclaimed Cuban bird guide, Ernesto Reyes Mouriño, on the adventure of a lifetime in January or March of 2019.
Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. According to the new Endemic Birds of Cuba: A Comprehensive Field Guide, 371 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 26 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.
Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful birding locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay mainly in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality. We will also have the opportunity to meet and have discussions with local ornithologists and conservationists that have been working with BirdsCaribbean for many years.
BirdsCaribbean is offering two tours in 2019: an 8-day trip in January and a 12-day trip in March. Find detailed itineraries for both trips below. Traveling with us helps Caribbean birds as a portion of the proceeds from the trip supports our bird conservation programs and partners in Cuba and the Caribbean. See some of the world’s most beautiful and memorable birds, knowing you are helping ensure their welfare by supporting the people who study and protect them. Read testimonials and see photos from past trips in the gallery below.
Our 2019 tours are now full, but do email us to get on the waiting list or to be the first on the list for our 2020 trips.
Send an email to Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org
Check out the report and photos from our January 2016 trip here and from our July 2017 trip to Havana and Zapata Swamp here. See testimonials and photos from past trips below. Purchase the new Endemic Birds of Cuba Field Guide here.
NOTE: The recent policy changes in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations do not affect BirdsCaribbean’s birding trips or the requirements of US citizens traveling with us. Their birding trips consist of group travel under the general license that authorizes travel transactions that support the Cuban people (also known as the people-to-people general license.) The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requires that (1) all people-to-people travel be conducted under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact (BirdsCaribbean), and (2) such travelers be accompanied by a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction who is a representative of the sponsoring organization (the BirdsCaribbean trip leaders). While you are on the trip, BirdsCaribbean will ensure that you have a full-time schedule of activities that engage private citizens (e.g., local guides, Cuban biologists, private business owners), and avoid transactions with the State Department’s List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated with Cuba (“the Cuba Restricted List”).
It was back in my university days on Antigua. I was studying for an undergraduate degree in Tourism. I remember spending every spare moment traversing the globe virtually, via GoogleEarth. One afternoon, I could visit the Louvre, and on another, discover the archaeological zone of Choquequirao in Peru. I was learning the world, one tiny part at a time – and not spending more than my monthly internet fee doing it!
On one of my virtual adventures, I decided to visit the Grenadine Islands, so close, yet quite unknown to me. I was blown away by the many tiny islands that connected Saint Vincent to Grenada. Some are reserved for unique plants and animals; some are tucked away as a private getaway for the rich; and others are home to regular people, just like me.
Anyone who knows me is fully aware that I’m addicted to budgets. Having explored the Grenadines online, I quickly set about costing out my actual trip there. I knew that, when reality hits you, sometimes your dreams are put on hold.
A Virtual Trip Becoming Reality
Fast forward eight years, and I am fully enjoying my career in endangered species conservation, specifically my work with birds. I receive an unexpected invitation to join an Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop – in where else but Union Island (Grenadines)! Though the training was targeted to people living in the Grenadines, Carefree Birding, a company that supports BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail, stepped forward to support two Antiguans to attend the workshop. I was one of them! So on 26th May, I began my journey to Union, to learn how to lead nature tours, and how to make them fun, exciting and meaningful to my clients.
Apart from the normal jitters that plague me when I soar through the sky in an aluminium tube, my heart skipped several beats on my journey to Union. I could see in real time images just like those I had carefully tucked away and cherished in my mind. GoogleEarth was pretty good at teaching me how a place looked. However, it could never help me experience the smell of an island, or feel the gentle Caribbean breeze. It could not make my emotions of awe well up, as I observed one Grenadine island literally kissing the coast of another. My virtual journey could not greet me with the welcoming smile of the Unionites. GoogleEarth could not offer me the mouth-watering coconut bakes that I was introduced to. These made me promise to definitely return to the Grenadines!
Learning and Birding on Union Island
The workshop began bright and early on Monday 28th May. BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Sorenson, officially opened the workshop. The Executive Director of Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren), James Lorde, and Programme Officer, Orisha Joseph, welcomed us. We were introduced to our two main facilitators, interpretive guides, Rick Morales and Beny Wilson, both from Panama. Besides their obvious love for their work and positive, high-energy presentations, something struck me almost from day one: Beny and Rick knew each participant by name and by country and they even knew our interests. They easily conversed with each us, making us feel like old friends.
Beny, Lisa and Rick’s numerous anecdotes during their presentations made them all the more interesting for us. Between Beny and Lisa, we learnt the necessity of properly marketing ourselves, how to identify birds, how to adjust our binoculars and how to set up our spotting scope to view birds. Beny taught us how to position ourselves before the group, how to lead the group and how to ethically use playback and a laser pointer to show the bird to clients. Beny strongly emphasized the need to ensure that all guests had a fair chance of using the bird-watching equipment.
Rick’s focus was on the actual interpretation during a tour. He taught us how to meet the needs of our clients by first getting to know them and assessing their knowledge levels. He showed us how to create a tour that was an unforgettable experience – not by doing fancy or audacious things, but by simply knowing your product and being passionate about it. Your client becomes drawn in by your knowledge and enthusiasm. Between theory, personal experiences and field exercises, he encouraged us to ensure that our tours were relevant, engaging and personal.
During the classroom sessions, the group was also introduced to eBird, a virtual platform that allows users to upload their bird observations. These data are analysed by scientists and converted into graphs and models, such as bird migration models. It’s a wonderful tool for the user and allows us all to contribute as “citizen scientists.”
In between learning about our product and meeting the needs of our clients, there were mornings and afternoons of birding. Yes, getting to know our product! Our group was comprised of people from Grenada, Carriacou, Petite Martinique, Union Island, Saint Vincent, Palm Island and Antigua. We were all in closely related fields, but we were not all birders. Our facilitators took baby steps, teaching us to identify birds. Tests in the classroom, games, and actual birding in the field all helped us to hone our skills. It was heart-warming to see the group birding. We all had different interests and different personalities, yet when it came to birding we all connected, even the shyest of us. We all wanted to identify the new bird, the one we hadn’t seen the day before.
I remember being overwhelmed with amazement when I observed Scaly-naped Pigeons (or Ramiers for the Grenadine people) everywhere! In Antigua & Barbuda, I’ve positively identified it only twice. I also saw two species for the first time in my life: the Grenada Flycatcher and the Yellow-bellied Elaenia. One participant, Lystra Culzac, ably guided us through the minute details that would enable us to differentiate between both birds.
One of my favourite birding sites was the Ashton Lagoon, particularly because of the story behind it. The government of Saint Vincent approved the conversion of the wetlands to a marina in the 1990s but the project went bankrupt and the investors left. What remained was a destroyed lagoon with dead zones created by the water’s inability to circulate. SusGren worked with local residents and partners (including BirdsCaribbean) and after several years, got approval from the government to restore the area. It’s already a beautiful spot to enjoy nature and no doubt, as SusGren continues to work on its rehabilitation, it will shine even more as an area of outstanding natural beauty, supporting the health and well-being of the people.
Showing Off What I Had Learned, Despite Nerves
As the training drew closer to its conclusion, even the bravest of hearts were tempted to faint. We had one final test: our own interpretive tour. We had to show that we had learnt to apply techniques and knowledge gained throughout the week. This challenge was taken so seriously that half the group opted out of an evening hike to go back to our rooms to practise our tour. I was absolutely torn between hiking to Union’s heights with my new-found friends, or working out my tour in preparation for the last day. My decision later haunted me. I opted to return to my room, working feverishly on my tour and later lost my notebook with all my points!
In the wee hours of Friday morning I rose to practise my newly planned tour – as I still hadn’t found my notes. I wanted to prove that the workshop did have an impact. I wondered if other participants were doing the same. I went over my handouts and practised away and day broke. The time drew close.
Starting off our presentations in the Ashton Lagoon and making our way to other wetlands and beaches, we were treated to “boat” tours, walking tours with mangoes falling from the sky, poems, songs, skits and games. I shook like an earthquake and sweated bullets throughout my presentation. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice but me! We did well, we had paid attention all week, and I think we made our facilitators very proud that day.
On 2nd June, we non-Unionites begin the journey to return home. It was bittersweet. I have attended many workshops. Indeed, this was one of the most useful, memorable, and fulfilling trainings I’ve ever been fortunate to receive. Our entire group bonded extremely well, working together to get our activities done. We socialised, explored, birded, trained and played together. As I boarded my plane out of Union, I looked back and thought of my week’s experience. I got to my seat, sat down and smiled. It was a great week. The plane started up. Then there came the butterflies!
By S. K. Natalya Lawrence. Natalya has worked at the Environmental Awareness Group in Antigua and Barbuda for the past eight years, restoring offshore islands that are a refuge for globally significant and in some cases rare plants and animals. She primarily focuses on reptile and bird conservation and is passionate about educating Antiguans and Barbudans about the natural world which surrounds them. She often leads tours with schools, government ministries and community groups.
Editor’s Note: Natalya is too humble to mention this in her article but she won an award for delivering one of the best presentations (about the value of mangroves) on the final day! Natalya was one of 24 participants in BirdsCaribbean’s 6th Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training Workshop, held in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, May 27 to June 1, 2018. The workshop was hosted and organized locally by Sustainable Grenadines Inc. Workshop topics were related to building a sustainable tourism market focused on birds, nature, and heritage, including bird identification and guiding, environmental interpretation, and marketing. Check out entertaining blog posts by 2 other participants: Allison Caton and Lloyd Joseph.
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show. To see more workshop photos, visit our Flickr page.
Whimbrels at Belmont Salt Pond, Union Island. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Participants listening intently to a presentation.
Caribbean Elaenias are found across the region, including Union Island. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Birding at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Studying shorebird identification in the field with Lisa Sorenson. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
Facilitator Rick Morales talks to the participants about guided interpretive walks. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Natalya consulting her field guide. (Photo by SusGren)
Participants recording their bird observations at Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
Spotting birds in the field.
Natalya (second from right) with facilitators Rick Morales, Lisa Sorenson and Beny Wilson. Natalya won an award for best presentation, incorporating what she learned into an entertaining tour with a clear message. (photo by Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
Birding at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Looking at American Oystercatchers in Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Akeisha Clarke)
Participants enjoy a morning of spotting birds in the field.
A big thank you to all of the sponsors of this workshop for their funding and/or in-kind donations:
Marshall Reynolds Foundation
KfW German Development Bank through Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
US Forest Service, International Programs
Optics for the Tropics
Palm Island Resort
Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, Disaster Management and Information
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
Ridge to Reef Project Grenada
Carefree Birding
Private donors
Kings Landing Hotel
I recently attended BirdsCaribbean’s week-long Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training Workshop on Union Island in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. I learned many things, including bird identification, guiding techniques and the importance of conveying a message on your tour. One of the highlights of the training for me, however, was learning to identify shorebirds.
Most shorebirds have long, skinny legs and long bills, allowing them to wade and feed on insects and other food in the shallow water and mud. Their long, pointed wings help them to fly quickly over long distances—many migrate each year from the Arctic to South America and the Caribbean. As an amateur birder, I am fascinated by the variety, similarities and subtle differences that exist between shorebirds.
During the training, we had the opportunity to visit Ashton Lagoon, Belmont Salt Pond and Richmond Bay on Union island, as well as the Salt Pond on the island of Mayreau. We observed a large variety of birds including plovers, turnstones, sandpipers, dowitchers, yellowlegs and Whimbrel and American Oystercatcher. The Willet, which belongs to the sandpiper family, and the Short Billed-Dowitcher initially posed the largest challenge for me to tell apart.
At first glance through my binoculars, I recognized the Willet as large and stocky with long legs and a thick, straight bill. The Short-billed Dowitcher bears a striking resemblance but is speckled which gives the appearance of nutmeg sprinkled along its back. The Short-billed Dowitcher also has a distinctive football-shaped tummy. Time and again, I had trouble with the ID. Once the Willet took flight, however, the black and white stripe along its wings became easily discernible and all confusion vanished from my mind!
The facilitators were very knowledge, insightful, and patient with the participants. They were willing to share and there were many opportunities to ask questions during coaching sessions in the field, as well as birding quizzes in the classroom. They motivated us by explaining that it was normal to make identification errors in the early stages of birding. They then highlighted subtle tricks that can be used to distinguish similar species such as the call, the way the bird moves, size and shape of the bill, and color patterns in the plumage.
As one of the leading nature-based personalized tour operators on the Island of Carriacou, I found immense value in this training workshop. My certification as a Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide provides me with a unique selling point and will significantly improve my ability to provide my guests with biologically and ecologically sound information on the birds we encounter.
Despite my significant improvement in shorebird identification, my biggest “take home” is the fact that I am a novice birder – and that I should not be afraid to tell a client that I cannot identify a bird we may encounter. I may be accompanying a very accomplished bird watcher, who would be able to identify the species and provide me the opportunity to learn from their experience. We can learn so much from each other—I am looking forward to this!
By Allison Caton. Allison is the Managing Director of Isle of Reef Tours in Carriacou, Grenada. She has worked as a guide for 4 years. Allison was one of 24 participants in BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Workshop, held in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, May 27 to June 1, 2018. The workshop was hosted and organized locally by Sustainable Grenadines Inc. Workshop topics were related to building a sustainable tourism market focused on birds, nature, and heritage, including bird identification and guiding, environmental interpretation, and marketing. With the training she has received, Allison is excited to start offering bird watching tours to her customers.
Editor’s Note
We thank Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) for sponsoring Allison’s participation in the workshop. EPIC notes the need for bird guides in the Grenadines: “The remote islands of the Grenadines archipelago are home to thousands of breeding seabirds, with some islands classified are regional or global Important Bird Areas. Unfortunately, these nesting sites suffer from poaching, introduced predators, and other threats. That’s where the Grenadines Volunteer Patrol comes in. This group of fishers, tour guides, and concerned citizens conducts seabird surveys to monitor populations and advocates on behalf of these crucial nesting areas.
One repeated request we receive from trainees during our workshops is to learn how to be a bird guide. This year EPIC was able to sponsor Volunteer Patrol members to attend a 5-day Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training Program hosted by Sustainable Grenadines and BirdsCaribbean. Participant Allison Caton noted that “the facilitators were top notch and the information was delivered in a serious, yet fun way.” She and others can now integrate this crucial knowledge, whether they currently run tours or plan to start a new business. Either way, it’s a win-win for the birds and the people who benefit financially from bird conservation.”
A big thank you to all of the sponsors of this workshop for their funding and/or in-kind donations:
Marshall Reynolds Foundation
KfW German Development Bank through Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
US Forest Service, International Programs
Optics for the Tropics
Palm Island Resort
Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, Disaster Management and Information
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
Ridge to Reef Project Grenada
Carefree Birding
Private donors
Kings Landing Hotel
To read more about this workshop, check out entertaining blog posts by 2 other participants: Natalya Lawrence and Lloyd Joseph. See more photos in an album on our Flickr page.
“We’re so excited to have an event in Haiti this year!”
Ingrid Flores is delighted to add a new country to her map of events. She is the coordinator of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), organized every year by BirdsCaribbean. Partners across the region host events as part of the festival each spring. Its focus is on the types of birds that are unique to each island, or to the Caribbean itself. This year, events took place in at least 16 islands and involved over 2,000 people. Activities take place between April 22 (Earth Day) and International Biodiversity Day (May 22). This year, celebrations took place in at least 16 territories and involved more than 2,000 participants. Events ranged from lectures to bird walks, arts and crafts, tree plantings, exhibitions, and more.
For the first time, partners in Haiti joined the celebrations. The Société Écologique d’Haïti saw the CEBF as “the perfect opportunity” to boost nature education in Haitian schools. 290 students in Forêt des Pins and Les Cayes learned how hunting and caging birds is harmful. They also enjoyed planting trees and learning how trees help birds and people.
In neighboring Dominican Republic, The Peregrine Fund led activities in five places during Ridgway’s Hawk Week. This beautiful hawk lives only on the island of Hispaniola. Listed as “Critically Endangered,” its numbers are falling. Over 300 schoolchildren and residents went on bird walks. They were thrilled to see a live hawk at one event.
On Jamaica’s south coast, the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation visited children from toddlers to age 11 years at four local schools. At one school, teachers hung bird art made by the children from classroom ceilings. To the east, 50 members of BirdLife Jamaica visited the Source Farm Foundation and Ecovillage. They joined residents for guided bird walks in the nearby hills.
On the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten, groups worked to restore wild spaces. The island still shows damage from Hurricane Irma. Les Fruits de Mer launched a new nursery to provide native tree seedlings at their Endemic Animal Festival. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) hosted visits to the Little Bay Pond bird watching hut, which was rebuilt by with hurricane relief funds raised by BirdsCaribbean.
Many BirdsCaribbean partners in Puerto Rico were busy in 16 locations, including schools. Here they spread the word about endemic birds. Students at a science high school in San Juan were full of questions. They expressed a wish to conduct their own bird counts next year.
In Antigua, the Environmental Awareness Group, Dept. of Environment and Ministry of Education hosted a Bird Fair for 3 primary schools. Shanna Challenger, dressed as a colorful Barbuda Warbler, shared information with the students about the country’s only endemic bird. Through arts and crafts, birding, and other fun activities, the students also learned why birds are important in our environment. “The students were really into it!” commented organizer Natalya Lawrence.
Some endemic birds are iconic on particular islands. One of these is the splendid Guadeloupe Woodpecker, the island’s only endemic bird. It was among many other birds spotted during a CEBF bird walk in Guadeloupe – the location of BirdsCaribbean’s 22ndInternational Conference in July, 2019.
“As many islands still recover from hurricane damage, we were excited to share local birds and nature with people,” said Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean. “For the 17th year, the festival has reached thousands of people across the Caribbean.”
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Gorgeous Ruddy Quail Dove on the Caribbean Endemica Bird Festival promotional poster in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Franz Delcroix.)
Bird walk in Guadeloupe for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival
Adrianne Tossas giving a talk on Puerto Rico’s endemic birds at a girls Science Summer Camp.
Getting ready for a bird walk and survey at a girls Science Summer camp in Puerto Rico.
Introduction to bird watching in Haiti with Societe Ecologique d’Haiti.
Students in Haiti celebrate CEBF
Birding in St. Martin/ Sint Maarten with Binkie van Es.
The Wildlife Art Station was busy Les Fruit de Mer’s Endemic Animal Festival in St. Martin.
Boy Scouts in Puerto Rico learn all about Puerto Rico’s endemics birds.
Celebration of CEBF at Turabo University.
Arts and crafts for one of the bird festival events in Puerto Rico by Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
A fun celebration of CEBF in Puerto Rico with Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
A student compares her size to the size of various birds at an event in Puerto Rico with Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc. (Photo by Ingrid Flores)
Eliezer Nieves-Rodriguez and the San Juan Bay Estuary Program celebrating GLOBAL BIG DAY in the Piñones State Forest (Puerto Rico) as part of their CEBF.
Sharing information on the fascinating and beautiful endemic birds of Puerto Rico at the Ecoexploratorio (Science Museum).
Birding field trip at Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JOBANERR), Puerto Rico
Youth in Cuba enjoyed learning about endemic birds
Ridgway’s Hawk art activity in the Dominican Republic, organized by the Peregrine Fund and local partners.
Ridgeway’s Hawk Week in the Dominican Republic was a fantastic opportunity to learn about this critically endangered bird.
Birding from the observation tower for Ridgeway’s Hawk Week CEBF Celebration.
Birding Group poses for Global Big Day and CEBF 2018 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Youth spotting birds for Global Big Day, Puerto Rico.
Display at CEBF celebration in Trinidad organized by Lester Doodnath.
Learning how to use binoculars at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Students participating in the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Learning how to set up a bird feeder at Roseau Primary School in Dominica (bird feeder donated by BirdsCaribbean).
Barbuda Warbler Shanna Challenger leads a flock of students for a short flight at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
A student shows off her bird art at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Learning about Caribbean endemic birds and why birds matter at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Junior Prosper shows youth in Antigua how to use a spotting scope
Students from St. Martin Primary School in Dominica planted native plants for CEBF 2018.
Youth birding in Dominica for CEBF 2018.
BirdLife Jamaica members and guests take a bird walk at Source Farm. (Photo by Source Farm)
Sociedad Ornitologica Puerto Rico shares information about birds for CEBF 2018.
High school students in the Dominican Republic planting Hamelia patens shrub a native plant good for birds, organized by Simón Guerrero.
Birding activity with special education group in Puerto Rico by Yogani Govender
Youth learn about birds in Jamaica at C-CAM’s headquarters in Jamaica.
Young students celebrate CEBF in Jamaica with C-CAM (Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)
At Earth Day and the CEBF 2018 start date, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Interpretación y Educación, Inc. (APIE) celebrated our endemic birds as part of their Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. This activity was carried out with the co-host of the U.S. Forest Service and BIRDING PUERTO RICO.
CEBF Educational display @ Portalito HUB: Palmer of The U.S. Forest Service – El Yunque National Forest. (photo by Ingrid Flores)
Presentations on Puerto Rico’s endemic birds at Josefina Marrero Febus Elementary School. (photo by Glenda Lozada)
CEBF activity in PR at Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
Endemic birds of PR poster – Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
Presentation to children CEBF celebration Puerto Rico: Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
Recording data for a habitat assessment activity in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Urban Green Lab. (photo by Laura Hidalgo)
Learning about endemic birds of Puerto Rico, Urban Green Lab activity (photo by Laura Hidalgo).
Materials to learn about the endemic birds of Puerto Rico, Urban Green Lab activity (photo by Laura Hidalgo).
Learning about endemic birds in Puerto Rico with Laura Fidalgo, Urban Green Lab
Enjoying Cuban endemic bird art for CEBF 2018 in Cuba.
The most recent, comprehensive look at Caribbean breeding seabirds is now available at an extremely reduced cost!
This island-by-island inventory of Caribbean seabirds includes colony locations and estimates of the numbers of breeding pairs, the severe threats that seabirds face, and proposals for research and conservation measures.
In the past two decades, global populations of seabirds have declined faster than any other group of birds, yet few conservation resources are expended to counteract this trend, especially among tropical seabirds. This volume includes twenty-five national accounts, written by professional and amateur ornithologists, and illustrated by maps specially prepared by William Mackin and The Nature Conservancy. This inventory brings together the best and most complete set of data on breeding seabirds that nest on the islands throughout the Caribbean, making it invaluable for anyone interested in sustaining seabird populations.
“Represents a major undertaking that is indeed original, significant, and an important contribution toward better understanding and ultimately conserving this extraordinary resource”. – Herbert A. Raffaele, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
“The Caribbean is biologically rich and varied. This book on seabirds ably demonstrates that the Caribbean is much more than just a holiday destination of sun, sea, and sand. I highly recommend it.” – John Chardine, Canadian Wildlife Service”
Originally distributed by University Press of Florida (for US$75), this book is now out of print. BirdsCaribbean has purchased remaining inventory, and is making this valuable book available for US$24.95 (members), $US29.95 (non-members) plus shipping ($4.00 US, $35.00 International).
Patricia E. Bradley, author of Birds of the Cayman Islands, The British Ornithologists’ Union Checklist and contributor to Birdlife’s Caribbean Important Birds Areas, is involved in bird conservation in the Cayman Islands.
Robert L. Norton, a contributor to Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds, and The Birds of North America No. 649, has written about and studied seabirds in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands for the past 35 years.
Jennifer Wheeler shares “postcards” from her recent volunteer vacation in the Bahamas, where she sailed the ocean blue with a crew of dedicated conservationists. She shares stories from a week spent in the beautiful northern Exumas, surveying and banding shorebirds and seabirds, and removing invasive plants.
Dear folks,
I’m recently back from my “volunteer vacation” in the Bahamas. I’m a bit burned, battered and bruised, but that’s the nature of the work we were doing to find and protect some special birds! Similar to last year, Conservian, a non-profit in Florida, invited BirdsCaribbean to share in the chartering of a sleep-aboard sailboat to take us from island to island. This photo was taken on a sunny afternoon, but much of the trip was overcast … too bad clouds don’t keep you from getting sunburned! (Photo by Dawn Rasmussen)
As you know, the Bahamas is made up of a lot of islands (about 700!) and during my week on the boat, the route focused on the Exuma Cays, which begin about 35 miles east-southeast of Nassau and stretch southeast in a gently curving arc for about 90 miles. Over a week, we visited the stretch between Allen Cay and Warderick Wells cay, which includes the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
So what were we looking for? Our primary targets were breeding populations of Wilson’s Plover, White-tailed Tropicbird and Audubon’s Shearwater. We deployed in teams to various cays to search the beaches and cliffs, walking many hours during the day (and sometimes night). We took note of other birds, as well, including American Oystercatchers, Laughing Gulls, and Least Terns. (Photo by Dawn Rasmussen)
Wilson’s Plover is a medium size (about 8” tall) shorebird that forages on the sand and wrack; pairs of plovers set up breeding territories widely separated along beach habitats. To find Wilson’s Plover, teams visited cays with suitable habitat and carefully walked the beach looking for adult birds to call out in warning. One or two adults chirping and/or pretending injury was a good sign that a nest was nearby. (Photo Bella Rooney)
Actually finding the plovers’ simple nest is not easy. The spotted eggs blend perfectly into their surroundings. Careful where you walk! (Photo by Dawn Rasmussen)
The White-tailed Tropicbird is a striking white bird, 14-16” long, not counting its long streaming tail feathers. To find these birds, one must do a lot of stooping and peering, as these beautiful birds nest in the holes and crevices formed in the wind and wave-carved limestone made of ancient corals (very, very sharp, by the way). We found most tropicbirds on a single egg or new chick; the males and females take turns in the burrow, waiting on average nine days until their turn to fly far out to sea to forage for squid, flying fish, and other prey. (Photo by Dawn Rasmussen)
In all, we found about 150 tropicbird nests on three different islands in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. We banded 60 new birds and recaptured more than 10 that were banded in previous years. Though graceful in the air, in the hand these birds are fighters. The White-tailed Tropicbirds were none too pleased to be pulled from their nest holes and each came out screaming and biting. We took care to minimize the stress on the birds when handling and worked quickly to band them. (Photo by Lisa Ferguson)
Audubon’s Shearwater is another bird of the open ocean, which returns to land only in darkness and nests in natural cavities, under rocks, or in burrows it creates; it is a stocky, black and white bird, 12” from bill to tail. Surveying for shearwaters requires working at night. Being smaller, drabber, and more deeply tucked in than tropicbirds, shearwaters usually can’t be seen from the surface. Instead, a recording of courtship calls (or rather, screeches- listen below!) is played to prompt the birds to call out, sometimes from right beneath your feet. (Photo by Lisa Ferguson)
With a sleeping mat to cushion against sharp rock and vegetation, one can reach in to pull out struggling shearwaters, which fortunately are not able to bite nearly as hard as tropicbirds. We banded several, but it seemed as if shearwaters were taking a year off from breeding, something that is not uncommon when spring weather is bad (as it was this year). The good news is that the rodent traps that we set out for a week on Allen Cay yielded no mice! It would appear that the mouse eradication conducted in 2012 was successful. Mice did not directly harm the Audubon’s Shearwaters there, but their presence encouraged Barn Owls to settle on the island, which indiscriminately killed shearwaters. Also, a careful survey in daylight hours revealed very few fresh bird corpses – yay! (Photo by Jennifer Wheeler)
Keeping an eye on bird populations is important to conservation, but our project also involved taking action to help the birds. Caribbean bird populations today are just a remnant of the masses that once called the region home – historically reduced by human harvest, introduction of predators, and development and conversion of habitat to human uses. The small, uninhabitable cays and those in the Park are protected from development, but still threatened by alien species, and some cays are inhabited. In addition to bird sightings, teams recorded the state of the habitat and signs of threats, such as tire prints and footprints indicating human disturbance or predators. (Photo by Dawn Rasmussen)
Introduced mammals are a big problem for island birds. The Warderick Wells tropicbird colony is still recovering from its decimation by dogs several years ago. On this trip, we encountered dogs on Shroud Cay. They were very friendly, and you know I love dogs, but it was definitely not good to see them there! Dogs running free pose a threat to the birds, not to mention iguanas, hutias (native rodents), and other native species. (Photo by Dawn Rasmussen)
Introduced plants can also be a big problem. A prime example is Casuarina, or Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia). The plant was originally brought to the region for landscaping and is now a scourge. Its fast growth and prolific seeding has distributed it to almost every island in the Bahamas, where its thick litter smothers native vegetation and increases beach erosion. We spent a full day killing casuarina on Shroud Cay, using axes to hack girdles and spraying an herbicide into the cuts. The “hack and squirt” method is quite effective, but hundreds of trees in, gets very tiring. Plus, the necessary gloves, glasses, long sleeves and pants makes for very hot work! (Photo by Lisa Ferguson)
All and all a great trip for me – the birds were awesome, my team members were great, the sailboat crew superb, the weather decent and no sea-sickness! It felt good to contribute to our knowledge of Bahamas birdlife and conservation efforts. I’m grateful to Margo Zdravkovic, Director of Conservian, for organizing the trip, Will Mackin, Co-chair of BirdsCaribbean’s Seabird Working Group, for leading the seabird monitoring work, the many volunteers who assisted with the work, and the fantastic captain and crew of the sailboat Avalon (charter them at Lost Island Voyages)! (Photo by Lisa Ferguson)
Love,
Jennifer
Jennifer Wheeler is an avid adventurer and loves volunteering her time to help conservation causes. She was the coordinator of the Waterbird Council for 10 years and is currently a member of the Board and Treasurer of BirdsCaribbean.
This trip was supported by BirdsCaribbean, Conservian, and many partners and donors. For more information about multi-week excursions that Conservian organizes to the Bahamas and the trip sponsors and partners, see the full trip description and visit Conservian’s Facebook page
Planning is underway for the 22nd International Conference of BirdsCaribbean. We are excited to announce that we will be hosted by Parc National de la Guadeloupe from 25-29 July 2019 on the beautiful Leeward Island of Guadeloupe.
Details on the program, logistics, conference field trips, and registration will be coming your way in the coming months. For now we want to encourage you to spread the word and block these dates off in your calendar.
And if you haven’t done so already, please sign up for our monthly newsletter in order to receive up-to-date news and information regarding the conference. We’re looking forward to seeing you in Guadeloupe!
Scott Johnson shares with us his recent experience conducting surveys of Bahama Parrots in the wilds of Great Abaco with Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan— read on to find out more about the challenges these birds face and the results of their work.
The chilly 52 degree breeze stung my face as I headed to our champagne coloured SUV. As the vehicle started and warmed up, I waited patiently for Frank to leave our residence and jump into the jeep. We were staying at the Research Center of Friends of the Environment, a non-governmental organization in Marsh Harbour on the island of Great Abaco, The Bahamas. Once Frank got settled in the vehicle, we began our hour-long drive south to the home of the Bahama Parrots.
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is a non-governmental organization that manages the national park system of The Bahamas. It currently protects over 2 million acres of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in its 32 national parks across the Bahamian Archipelago. Great Abaco is the second largest island in The Bahamas, with no less than six national parks. Abaco National Park is the southernmost, consisting of a 22,500 acre terrestrial park and including the habitat of the second largest population of Bahama Parrots.
The Bahama Parrot, which is currently listed as a sub-species of the Cuban Parrot, has three populations on three islands in The Bahamas: Great Abaco, Great Inagua and New Providence. Population monitoring and assessments are important for the management and conservation of these charismatic birds.
Irma’s Impact
In the destructive fall of 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the southern Bahamas. devastating the Ragged Island chain. Irma also severely impacted the island of Great Inagua, home of the largest population of Bahama Parrots. After Irma had passed, there was great concern for both the parrot and the American Flamingo populations. How were they doing, and how had they been affected? The BNT decided to conduct post-hurricane assessments. Based on information from BNT park wardens on Great Inagua, most of the flamingos flew to other islands prior to the storm. The status of the parrots remained unknown. Because of logistical challenges, the BNT had to postpone the Bahama Parrot surveys on Great Inagua to late summer. They were anxious, however, to determine the status of the Great Abaco parrots, last surveyed in 2016. The BNT enlisted the help of population ecologist Frank Rivera-Milán, who helped me with the search for these lively birds. With financial support from Birds Caribbean and BNT, we travelled to Abaco on March 23rdand spent 10 days surveying the parrot population in the central and southern parts of the island.
Parrots Disturbing the Peace
As we approached Abaco National Park, the cool, calm morning was interrupted by the vociferous squawking of dozens of parrots conversing with each other in the pine trees. I was super excited to see them, particularly because I had never seen Bahama Parrots on Abaco, let alone in the pinelands. As my mind began drift away from reality due to the sheer joy of hearing the birds, the survey point was just 200 meters away.
We stopped and parked the car at the point. We quickly got out, binoculars, range finders, and datasheets in hand (and around our necks) and listened and observed attentively. We were conducting point count surveys. Once a parrot was seen or heard, the information (such as the number of birds heard and seen, the distance from the point, food availability and habitat type) was recorded in our datasheet. We counted parrots at each point for 6 minutes.
Parrots – in Holes?
As we were continued counting, a pair of parrots flew into our survey area. “This pair is looking for a nest site,” Frank said. “The female is on the ground inspecting holes and the male keeps watch.” We watched as the female disappeared in the scrubby understory vegetation as the male remained perched on a pine branch just a few feet above her. Bahama Parrots are devoted couples; they tend to mate for life.
There is something very special about the Bahama Parrots on Abaco. They are the only parrots that habitually nest in solution holes underground – that is, holes or crevices created by rainwater dissolving limestone rock. This is an adaptation to the fire-dependent pineland ecosystem. In their holes, the birds can avoid the heat. No other New World parrot engages in such behaviour. Bahama Parrots feed on a variety of plants, such as West Indian Mahogany, Lignum Vitae, Cinnecord, White Torch, Gum-elemi aka Gumbo Limbo, and False-Mastic.
Dangers Lurk
As we were driving to a survey point, we saw some rustling in the vegetation on the side of the road. It was a feral cat. These creatures are the biggest threats to parrots. Hurricanes are seasonal and of course, do not always hit Abaco. Cats present a different kind of danger – an everyday threat. They kill both chicks and incubating females. During the survey, we saw seven cats – three in areas where Bahama Parrots were known to nest. These cats gone wild have been a major conservation problem for the Bahama Parrot on Abaco. However, BNT Park Warden Marcus Davis and colleagues have been making tremendous efforts to remove this invasive species from the park. As a result, the numbers of parrots have increased from an estimated average of about 5,100 in 2008 to about 8,800 in 2016 – an impressive gain of nearly 60% .
Another regular threat is fire. One morning, as we were driving south to our study site, we noticed smoke in the distance, near the area where we had survey points. As we continued driving, the smoke increased and we saw fire in the pinelands and near the road. This fire had just been lit that morning. People often light fires to clear the understory so that they can hunt wild hogs, another invasive animal found in the pinelands.
Although fire plays its part in rejuvenating the pinelands, too many fires can cause great harm to the pine forest ecosystem. Frequent blazes can kill young pine trees and change the composition of the understory vegetation. Often, after pine fires, invasive bracken ferns move into the newly vacant space, blanketing the entire area. These invasive plants can quickly turn a once diverse understory, teeming with fruit-bearing shrubs that the parrots love, into a monoculture of ferns. Bahama Parrots will avoid these fern-dominated areas, which means that there is less suitable breeding and foraging habitat for them. For the Bahama Parrots, this is not good news.
A Healthy Population
One evening, as we were driving along an old logging road in the pinelands, a flock of parrots flew into view and settled in the canopy of pine trees. Being the “somewhat” impulsive person that I am, I quickly jumped out of the vehicle and ran to the location where I saw the parrots. There they were, dozens of them squawking, their green plumage blending perfectly with the green vegetation, their white faces betraying their presence. The parrots then flew off in unison and headed to what appeared to be their roosting site. As I was observing and thoroughly enjoying the sight of these spectacular birds flying by in a huge flock, the ever-astute Frank was diligently counting. Ninety-three parrots!
After eight days of surveys, we analysed the data, using the program DISTANCE and other statistical software. Based on the survey data collected, we estimated that approximately 8,832 parrots dwell in central and southern Abaco. This suggests that the population appears to be stable and doing well – thanks to the management efforts of BNT’s park wardens. I take my hat off to them!
Conservation Partnerships Are Key
The Bahamas National Trust, BirdsCaribbean and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service continue their partnership to accomplish the mission of managing and conserving wildlife and ecosystems in The Bahamian Archipelago and the Caribbean region. The Caribbean is home to a variety of important species, from endangered Rock Iguanas to American Flamingos. Wildlife management and conservation can be very challenging. It is not just about the animals and birds. It involves people, policy and laws, and the search for the right balance between the needs of humans and the needs of wildlife. As wildlife conservationists, we understand that our work illustrates the importance of biodiversity. We recognize that weare the active voices speaking up for the native and endemic plants and animals that may go extinct if no conservation action is taken.
It is always a joy to see our beautiful parrots flying wild and free. Let’s continue to work together to ensure that our future includes the amazing creatures that also call the Caribbean…home.
By Scott Johnson (Bahamas National Trust) and Frank F. Rivera-Milán (United States Fish and Wildlife Service). Scott is a Science Officer with the BNT; his work focuses on terrestrial fauna in the national parks and he loves Bahamian birds and reptiles. Frank is a Population Ecologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service. He frequently conducts field studies of doves and pigeons. He especially enjoys studying parrots.
Click on the photos below to see a larger version and slide show.
Devoted couple – Bahama Parrots pair up for life. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Lookout! Only in Abaco do you find a parrot crossing sign! (photo by Scott Johnson)
Bahama Parrot surveying his domain. (photo by Scott Johnson)
93 is the count for a huge flock of parrots that flew by. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Scott Johnson getting ready for the next count. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Bahama Parrots perched on a bare tree. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Pine Forest habitat with bracken form understory following fire passing through the area. (photo by Frank Rivera)
Every year, Global Big Day is an all-out effort to get the “big picture” on birds across the planet. This year, it hit a new world record. In one single day (May 5, 2018) 29,866 people ventured outside in 170 countries, finding 6,963 species, These numbers equate to approximately two thirds of the world’s bird species in just 24 hours! 1.6 million bird sightings by citizen scientists and avid birders worldwide were recorded on eBird.
This year was a particularly important one for the Caribbean, since many islands are still in recovery mode after the passage of two hurricanes in 2017, and it was important to check in on how the bird populations are doing several months later. BirdsCaribbean members and partners made significant contributions to the global total from the Caribbean*, with 453 species reported. The weather was not kind on May 5, with stormy and rainy weather across several islands. Nevertheless, 254 participants braved the elements to count birds. They spotted an impressive 102 endemic birds on May 5. A much higher number of checklists was submitted this year: 926, nearly doubling the previous number of 567.
Which Caribbean islands came out on top? Trinidad and Tobago had 178 species (woo hoo!), but of course this is not a level playing field with the rest of the region! The Bahamas and Puerto Rico ended up “neck and neck”, with 136 and 135 species each – some way ahead of third-place Guadeloupe with 83. Cuba and the Cayman Islands rounded out the top five.
Top eBirders Eric Torres-Rivera and Julio Salgado from Puerto Rico spotted 104 species each; Puerto Rican birders submitted a remarkable total of 249 checklists. This was an encouraging result from the island that suffered such destruction from 2017 hurricanes. BirdsCaribbean is also happy to note that Dominica, which was ravaged by Hurricane Maria, recorded 32 species, thanks to Forestry Officer Stephen Durand.
There were some rare and unexpected finds, noted Jeff Gerbracht, eBird’s Lead Application Developer at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Eurasian Spoonbill and Pacific Golden Plover were both seen at the same site in Barbados. It is most unusual for these species to be seen together, especially in the Western Hemisphere.” View the checklist here.
“The Black Kite, a European species rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic, was reported and photographed on the island of Inagua in the Bahamas,” said Gerbracht. “Also, Lisa Sorenson (BC Executive Director) and her husband Mike were on Bermuda with BC President Andrew Dobson, seeing all the local birds, including a robust Bermuda Petrel (Cahow) chick.
We hope everyone enjoyed the day and we thank you for your participation and commitment to our region’s beautiful birds. Next year will be even more fun!
How did your country do on Global Big Day? Find out here.
An overall report for Global Big Day is available here, with nice summaries for each region. The total species list for the West Indies (Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles) is here.
*NOTE: The Global Big Day summary statistics in this article include the islands of the West Indies (Bahamas and Greater and Lesser Antilles), plus Bermuda, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, and Trinidad and Tobago. These islands comprise the region where BirdsCaribbean carries out its mission.
eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders around the world. A collaborative enterprise with hundreds of partner organizations, thousands of regional experts, and hundreds of thousands of users, eBird is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.Submit your birding checklists and join the eBird family! You will find more details on registering and recording your sightings here.
If you bird in the Caribbean, be sure to use our portal—eBird Caribbean. This will give you access to our special protocols for the region (e.g., Caribbean Waterbird Census) and our latest news and updates on birding in the islands.
By Emma Lewis (@petchary), blogger and birder in Jamaica
Imagine a vast expanse of rectangular saline ponds in surreal colors – pinks, turquoises, greens – that reach out towards the horizon, flanked by a collection of enormous, immaculately white pyramids of salt. It’s an extraordinary landscape, with an eerie beauty.
Now, there is something even more remarkable about Bonaire’s Cargill Salt Ponds. BirdsCaribbean is excited to share the fantastic news that this important stopover and wintering site for migratory birds has been designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Regional Importance. This is the second WHSRN site in the Caribbean, joining the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats in southwestern Puerto Rico. This designation will ensure the protection and management of the site for shorebirds. It’s excellent news for the Red Knot, in particular. In addition to this threatened migratory bird, more than 20,000 shorebirds, representing 17 species, have been recorded at the location.
What is the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network?
The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network is dedicated to protecting key habitats throughout the Americas, helping sustain healthy populations of shorebirds. With the addition of Cargill Salt Ponds Bonaire, there are now 103 WHSRN sites covering nearly 15 million hectares (38 million acres) in 17 countries. Sites are categorized as having Regional, International or Hemispheric Importance based on the total number of shorebirds they support annually; or if the sites support a substantial percentage of the population of a single species. The new site, the first for the Dutch Caribbean, also lies within BirdLife International’s Important Bird Area (IBA) Pekelmeer Saltworks, Bonaire. This area includes the 400-hectare Pekelmeer Ramsar site (a designation given to Wetlands of International Importance.
The Big Attraction for Shorebirds at Cargill Salt Ponds
Why do shorebirds thrive at the Salt Ponds? What on Earth could possibly survive in this alien landscape? The answer: brine shrimp and brine flies. These small invertebrates lay the foundation that support thousands of shorebirds annually. Most of them are hungry migrants, taking a much-needed break before continuing on their journey, or spending the winter at this food-rich site. A privately-owned salt production facility at the southern end of Bonaire, owned by Cargill Salt Bonaire B.V., the site comprises 3,700 hectares: 2,700 hectares are artificial wetlands – primarily solar evaporation ponds for salt extraction. Brine shrimp fill the ponds. The dike roads running between the ponds are covered with brine flies. For shorebirds, the shrimp and flies are a delicious food source, right amongst the mountains of salt.
Many are familiar with the extraordinary migratory cycle of the Red Knot: every year, this shorebird flies a roundtrip of close to 19,000 miles, from the Arctic to southern Chile and Argentina. If that wasn’t impressive enough, this bird’s journey includes multi-day stretches (even up to one week!) of continuous flight between stopover sites. These sites that allow the birds to rest and refuel are critically important to the success of the Red Knot’s migration. Without them, this fascinating shorebird would not survive.
Cargill’s Invaluable Support for Shorebird Surveys
Daniel DeAnda Jr., Cargill’s Production Manager, collaborated with Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, on the nomination of the salt ponds for WHSRN status. With Cargill’s support, BirdsCaribbean led surveys, beginning in 2015, to learn more about the species and numbers of birds using the site. Survey results revealed that more than 20,000 shorebirds visit the wetlands annually, qualifying it as a WHSRN site at the “Regional” level of importance. This large concentration of shorebirds includes at least 1% of the biogeographic population of the threatened rufa (American) subspecies of Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) and Short-billed Dowitcher.
Unfortunately, shorebird numbers are declining. Some species have seen dramatic and worrying decreases in numbers. The rufa subspecies of the Red Knot has declined 80% over the last 20 years. The population of Semipalmated Sandpiper, which winters on the northern coast of South America, has shown similar declines over 30 years. This is a global problem: The Spoon-billed Sandpiper, which breeds in Russia and winters in Southeast Asia, may have just 100 breeding pairs left. The greatest threats to shorebirds are habitat loss, predators, hunting, and climate change. Areas such as WHSRN sites, which are preserved and protected for shorebirds, are crucial for successful breeding and migration.
BirdsCaribbean and partners recorded 15 other species during the salt pond surveys, including: Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, and Sanderling. Significant numbers of Snowy Plovers are also found regularly at the location. These are probably a combination of migrants (nominate Charadriusnivosus) and resident birds belonging to the Caribbean breeding subspecies (C. n. tenuirostris). The area is the only known nesting area on Bonaire for the Royal Tern. It also supports one of the most important American Flamingo nesting colonies in the Caribbean.
The Power of Partnerships
BirdsCaribbean was very fortunate to have motivated and passionate international and local partners, who were essential during the survey periods. The partnership included staff and volunteers from STINAPA Bonaire, WILDSCONSCIENCE, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. Survey teams led by Fernando Simal (WILDCONSCIENCE) counted birds at 110 points, over five counting periods. Their findings informed the site’s WHSRN designation.
Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean commented, “We are very grateful for the support we received from Cargill and our partners and volunteers, who enabled us to complete this work. We are especially thankful to Environment and Climate Change Canada for its principal funding support for the surveys, as well as the contribution of the U.S. Forest Service’s Department of International Programs. We also deeply appreciate the encouragement and support we received from Manomet for our nomination.” BirdsCaribbean looks forward to continuing to work together with Cargill and all the partners to monitor and manage the site for shorebirds.
What can we do to help our shorebirds?
What can we do to help our shorebirds and their habitats? The Caribbean is a key link on the Atlantic Flyway. Its beaches, lagoons, marshes, swamps, rice fields, and other wetlands support enormous numbers of shorebirds annually. In order to ensure shorebird survival and mitigate against ongoing population declines, it is critical to identify and protect important sites in the region. One way you can help is by taking part in the Caribbean Waterbird Census, when professionals as well as citizen scientists count waterbirds during a 3-week period from January 14th to February 3rd as well as other times of year. Read more about shorebirds and the efforts to conserve them through the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative.
Acknowledgments
BirdsCaribbean thanks Fernando Simal (WILDCONSCIENCE), Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), Frank Rivera-Milan (US Fish and Wildlife Service) and Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean) for many hours in the field to survey shorebirds. We also thank the following individuals for field assistance: Paulo Bertoul, Caren Eckrich, Herman Sieben, Elise Lara Galitzki, Diana Sint Jago and Luigi Eybrecht from STINAPA Bonaire, Elly Albers from Bonaire Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, and Jilly Sarpong (Biology student at HAS University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands). Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan carried out the data analysis needed to support our nomination of Cargill Salt Ponds as a WHSRN site. Funding support was provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada with additional assistance from the US Forest Service and in-kind support from STINAPA Bonaire, Cargill Salt, STINAPA and Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance.
Least Tern nest with 3 eggs at Cargill Salt Ponds. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Snowy Plover standing on rock salt at Cargill Salt Ponds, Bonaire. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Our first visit to the Cargill Salt Ponds in 2015 with Daniel Deanda, when we discovered the wealth of shorebirds using the site. L to R: Fernando Simal, Michele Kading and Daniel Deanda (Cargill Production Manager). (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
A Snowy Plover with its chick. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Shorebirds in flight over the water at Cargill Salt Ponds. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Shorebirds on a dike at Cargill Salt Ponds.
American Flamingos are a common sight on the salt ponds. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Two Red Knots at the salt ponds. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
On the hunt for invertebrates: Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers wading through the salt ponds. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lesser Yellowlegs and a Semipalmated Sandpiper feeding in the salt ponds. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Red Knots foraging. (Photo by Jeff Gerbacht)
The Cargill Salt Ponds site also supports other habitat types, like these mangroves. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Red Knots and Short-billed Dowitchers at the Cargill Salt Ponds. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Fernando Simal taking part in the shorebird survey. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Fernando Simal counting shorebirds with salt mountains looming in the distance. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
More than just shorebirds use the Cargill Salt Ponds- flamingos also feed on brine shrimp. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Lisa Sorenson surveying shorebirds in the salt ponds. (Photo by Fernando Simal)
Your contributions to the past three Global Big Days have set back-to-back-to-back world records for the most bird species seen in a single day. Thank you. On 5 May, we’re looking for another world record, and we need your help. With over 170 endemic species and many regional specialities, the Caribbean is a great place to get outside and look for birds this Saturday.
Just like past years, you just have to go out and enjoy birds. Here’s our two-step guide:
Watch birds on 5 May: You don’t need to be a bird expert, or go out all day long. Even 10 minutes in your backyard will help. Global Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report birds from anywhere in the world.
Enter what you see and hear on eBird Caribbean: You can enter your sightings via the website or—even easier—use the free eBird Mobile app. You can enter and submit lists while you’re still out birding, and the app will even keep track of how far you’ve walked, so you can just focus on watching birds. While you’re downloading free apps, try out the Cornell Lab’s Merlin Bird ID app for help with identification.
Go birding for 10 minutes around your home, or for 10 hours across your entire county, state, province or country–and submit your sightings to eBird Caribbean. Every Bird Counts. Global Big Day is also a great way to celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, ongoing now!
No matter what you do, have fun, enjoy the birds you find, and share your sightings on eBird Caribbean and our Facebook page. Because in our world, every bird counts.
#BirdYourWorld #CEBF2018 #GlobalBig Day #YearOfTheBird
p.s. Don’t forget to enter your Caribbean bird counts into eBird Caribbean – our own portal. All the data goes to the same place (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) but we have some of our own protocols (Step 2 of data submission), for example, counts conducted at wetlands, ponds, mud flats and beaches can be entered as Caribbean Waterbird Census counts.
It’s springtime in the Caribbean and all across the islands, the landscape will be painted with the vivid colours of the striking yellow and pink poui trees, the gentle blue from the blossoms of the Lignum Vitae, and so many other trees, bursting with colour. This too is the time when our birds settle down to nest and raise their chicks.
This year, 2018, is an extra special celebration of our birds. The year was designated “The Year of the Bird” by the National Geographic Society (NatGeo) to commemorate 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This was (and remains) a powerful document that has lessened the human threats on birds. Some 15 Caribbean countries and 40 organizations will celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), now in its 17thyear. More than 100,000 Caribbean residents, friends and visitors will join in the activities, led by BirdsCaribbean. For 2018, the region’s largest wildlife conservation-focused NGO will support the theme “The Year of the Bird.” April 22 (Earth Day) marks the beginning of the festival, which will end on May 22 – the International Day for Biological Diversity.
In the nearly two-decade history of the CEBF, BirdsCaribbean and its enthusiastic partners across the region have always found fun and creative ways to connect people to our Caribbean endemic birds. The endemics – which are found only in our region and nowhere else in the world – are one way in which people who live in or visit the Caribbean islands can easily appreciate and understand nature more deeply and incorporate these lovely birds into their lives. The birds simply “speak for themselves.” The festival seeks to encourage responsible behaviour in humans of all ages and walks of life to conserve our birds and our natural environment. This is even more critical in the wake of 2017’s devastating hurricanes. The recovery and the resilience of our bird populations must also be recognized in the coming months.
Why is the CEBF important? Well, the Caribbean is well known for its high level of endemism. Of the 565 species of birds in our region, 173 are unique to us. Some may be easier to spot than others; some may be only found in one country. The CEBF is also an expression of who we are and how we connect with the environment. It brings people together, whatever their ages, abilities, nationalities or cultural backgrounds. Learning about our birds takes place in a diverse, harmonious setting. In previous years, church services, radio and television interviews, street parades, fairs, information booths, drama and art competitions have all formed part of the CEBF celebrations.
You do not have to celebrate birds and support conservation through your local organization alone. Earth Day’s philosophy is for individuals to take action. There is a lot that you can do all by yourself, or in small groups, to help birds and the environment. Grab a friend or two and head outside to admire nature, noting the birds you see. Stick decals on your glass doors to reduce bird collisions. Plant a native tree, to add to the beauty of your home. This will also become a home for a variety of creatures – including birds. What other actions can you take that will help our birds?
NatGeo has partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birdlife International and many other organizations for The Year of the Bird. Each month brings a new theme and a new, specific call to action, promoting the conservation of birds: there are inspiring articles, informational features, fun quizzes, photographs and insights into the incredible world of birds to be explored online.
Visit birdscaribbean.org or find BirdsCaribbean on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information about the CEBF, with updates throughout the month. For more information on how to #BirdYourWorld, visit the official site for tips and resources.
By Emma Lewis and Natalya Lawrence, members of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group. Thanks to the US Forest Service, Environment for the Americas and Optics for the Tropics for supporting our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival!
Join Holbrook Travel and BirdsCaribbean for an unforgettable birding tour of Cuba’s foothills, wetlands and coast, November 3-13, 2018.
Cuba’s protected natural areas, geographic isolation, and limited development combine to create an ideal destination for birders. The country’s diverse habitats support over 360 avian species, more than two dozen of which are endemic to the island. Join BirdsCaribbean and Holbrook on this 11-day program, where you’ll have the opportunity to observe specialties like the Cuban Tody, Cuban Trogon, Zapata Wren, and Oriente Warbler, and explore dry scrub, mangrove, wetland, and coastal ecosystems. Gain deeper insight during meetings with Cuban conservationists to discuss projects and governmental policies. During your travels, meet Cuba’s friendly people and discover the rich history and culture for which the country is known.
Program Highlights
Learn how an urban park in Havana is connecting locals with nature.
Watch for target species like the Cuban Grassquit and Olive-capped Warbler and meet with residents at Las Terrazas, a community and reserve that is a model of sustainability and ecotourism.
Go birding at La Güira National Park, several sites in the Zapata Swamp, and on Cayo Coco, where we will have an excellent chance to see most of Cuba’s endemic birds, as well as many regional endemics.
Visit the limestone cave that was Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s headquarters during the Cuban Missile Crisis and an excellent place to spot Cuban Solitaire and Scaly-naped Pigeon.
Our local bird guide will be Alejandro Llanes Sosa. Alejandro is a research ornithologist at the Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática in Havana, where he studies and bands birds. He has expert knowledge of Cuba’s birds and natural history and has guided specialized bird tours for Holbrook since 2015. Alejandro recently completed BirdsCaribbean’s Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop, held in Cuba in October 2017. He received certification as a Level 5 (highest level) Caribbean Birding Trail guide. Alejandro is dedicated to advancing ornithology and bird tourism in Cuba and is a warm and kind person. He looks forward to sharing Cuba’s beautiful birds, landscapes and culture with you!
Our group leader is Lisa Sorenson. Lisa Sorenson is an ornithologist, conservation biologist, and executive director of BirdsCaribbean. She has been working in the region for 30 years, starting with field research on the White-Cheeked Pintail in the Bahamas for her PhD. Lisa coordinates many of BirdsCaribbean’s programs, raises funds, mentors young Caribbean wildlife professionals, develops materials, and facilitates training workshops in conservation education, bird research and monitoring techniques, and bird guide training. She is passionate about the region’s amazing and unique birds and habitats and has dedicated her life to their conservation. She has traveled to and worked with partners in nearly every country in the region and is looking forward to sharing her love of Cuba and its people with you.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce 2018 awards for the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds. Five young scholars will carry out important research that will increase our knowledge of Caribbean birds and the actions needed to conserve them. The 2018 award recipients are Yvan Satge, Janine Antalffy, Juan Carlos Fernandez-Odoñez, Eduardo Manuel Llegus-Santiago, and Holly Garrod.
The David S. Lee Fund was established in 2016 to recognize the scientific and conservation efforts of David S. Lee, a biologist and naturalist dedicated to Caribbean biodiversity. The award funds innovative avian conservation research in the Caribbean. All projects demonstrate a commitment to engaging with local scientists, government officials, organizations and communities, as appropriate, to involve them in the research, share results, and build interest in local birds and their conservation. The projects are described below.
Thanks to support for the fund from a number of generous donors, BirdsCaribbean is able to provide a grant of $1,000 to each of the 2018 recipients. Congratulations to these dedicated and hard-working scholars, who we are confident will make important discoveries that will lead to enhanced conservation efforts and awareness of our amazing birds. Several students (Holly Garrod, Spencer Shubert, Maya Wilson, Paige Byerly) that received support last year have written blog articles sharing their exciting findings. We wish this new flock of Dave Lee award recipients all the best in their upcoming field seasons and look forward to hearing about their results in future articles and publications.
Foraging choices of the Diablotin Black-capped Petrel: using spatial ecology and diet to inform conservation
Yvan Satge, Clemson University
The Diablotin (Black-capped petrel; Pterodroma hasitata) is one of the most endangered seabirds in the western north Atlantic and one of only two extant seabird species endemic to the Caribbean. Although loss of terrestrial breeding habitat is a primary threat to the species, disturbances affecting the marine environment, which have been under-studied, are also likely to impact the survival of the population. Yvan Satge will study the diets of adult and juvenile Diablotin through novel DNA analysis of fecal samples collected at nest sites in the Dominican Republic. Data will inform conservation efforts by the Black-capped Petrel Working Group regarding use of marine resources by breeding Diablotin. The success of this project will be measured by evaluating diet composition and comparing those results to at-sea habitat use by tracked birds to assess the distribution of prey in the marine environment.
Conservation biology of the Bahama Oriole, a critically endangered island endemic
Janine Antalffy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The Bahama Oriole (Icterus northrop) is a critically endangered songbird restricted to the Andros island complex in The Bahamas. Having disappeared from the neighboring island of Abaco in the 1990s, a 2011 study suggested that fewer than 300 individuals remained on Andros. Little is known about life history traits and causes of population decline of this species. Janine’s research will contribute knowledge to inform conservation strategies for the species through addressing three questions about the Oriole, including assessing genetic diversity and connectivity between populations in the Andros Islands, assessing the response of this species to logging (to estimate population size during wholesale clearcutting in the mid 1900s), and distribution modelling to look at past populations on Andros and for the extinct Abaco population. These data will be useful for The Bahamas government to determine if the species should be managed as one or several populations, and to guide the reintroduction of the Bahama Oriole to Abaco.
Updating information about Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri loyemilleri) at Los Roques archipelago (Venezuela)
Juan-Carlos Fernandez Ordoñez, Fundación Científica ARA MACAO
Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) is a small seabird that inhabits warm waters, mostly in the tropics. It breeds in colonies on islands and offshore cays. Once common, it’s status is now vulnerable due to disturbance and loss of breeding habitats. Audubon’s Shearwater is known to breed in the islands of the Los Roques archipelago off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Thanks to its strategic geographical location, the 314 islands, cays and islets of this archipelago provide important stopover and breeding sites for migratory and endemic birds. Juan-Carlos will revisit the remote and unspoiled Los Roques Archipelago to locate and survey nesting populations of Audubon’s Shearwater. JC will also identify and describe threats at the breeding sites. These colonies have not been visited in many decades, thus JC’s work will fill in major gaps in our understanding of of the status of these nesting populations. In his analysis, JC will test occupancy models as a much faster way of monitoring remote populations. He will share his results with local managers to aid conservation efforts in the archipelago.
Restoration and Monitoring of Nesting Areas of Shorebirds in the Punta Cucharas Natural Reserve, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Eduardo Manuel Llegus-Santiago, University of Puerto Rico at Ponce
Eduardo will work to restore and monitor beach-nesting bird habitat in Punta Cucharas Natural Reserve, an estuary ecosystem located at southern Puerto Rico, in the City of Ponce . This community-centered project will rebuild fences that were created to protect birds from invasive dogs, cats, and vehicles during their nesting. The project includes the restoration of the fence and monitoring of the birds with volunteers and an educational program to teach local communities about shorebirds with the production of a bird guide for the area to stimulate bird-friendly tourism. Eduardo will also monitor survival rates of shorebirds in the restored area and compare them with other colonies within the natural reserve.
A tale of two todies: understanding how vocalizations mediate hybridization between two sympatric species
Holly Garrod, Villanova University
Climate change and other human disturbances are causing range shifts in bird populations around the world. In some cases, species that were previously separated may come into contact and hybridize, which ultimately can result in long-term losses of biodiversity. In the Dominican Republic, Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies separate on an elevational gradient, with the Broad-billed Tody (Todus subulatus) in lowland wet forests and the Narrow-billed Tody (Todus angustirostris) in montane cloud forest. Climate change may push Broad-billed Todies upslope, increasing the overlap (sympatry) in the two species’ ranges at mid-elevation. Increased competition and hybridization could disproportionately harm one of the species, most likely the Narrow-billed Tody, because the high-elevation tody has “nowhere to go.” Holly will use playback experiments to investigate the extent to which the two species recognize and respond to each as competitive threats (e.g., for males defending territories) and as potential mates. If species recognition mechanisms are imperfect, this could lead to hybridization. To date, one such hybrid has been documented. Holly’s research will likely yield important insights about different ways in which behavior mechanisms influence hybridization. Holly’s research in 2017 (supported with David Lee funds) examined nesting success of todies in different habitats – read about her exciting results here.
To learn more about the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds, click here. If you would like to contribute to the fund and help support future projects, click here. You can choose to designate your gift to the David S. Lee Fund.
BirdsCaribbean thanks the scientists that provided thoughtful and constructive reviews of the proposals. We are very grateful to all that have donated to the David S. Lee Fund. We are pleased and proud to honor Dave’s legacy with the funding of these exciting projects that will advance the development of young Caribbean scientists and contribute to the conservation of Caribbean birds.
BirdsCaribbean, its members and partners note the controversy surrounding the export of two Sisserou (Imperial Parrots Amazona imperialis) and ten Jaco (Red-necked Parrots Amazona arausiaca) from Dominica to a facility in Germany on March 17th, 2018. Both species are endemic to Dominica, both are globally threatened, and the habitats of both were badly damaged by the passage of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The Sisserou is Dominica’s iconic national bird, appearing on its flag, coat-of-arms, Parliamentary Mace and other national symbols and instruments. The Sisserou has long represented a unique flagship of national pride for Dominicans.
While there is no doubt that disastrous events like hurricanes pose a serious threat to the persistence of endangered species, there is evidence that both species are resilient and recovery in the wild is possible. Dominica’s parrot populations were greatly affected but recovered after Hurricane David in 1979. Their survival has been aided by multiple conservation measures taken in Dominica including parks and protective legislation, community outreach and education events, programs to reduce agricultural conflicts, complemented by research and monitoring.
Despite the confidence of local and international experts (who have been working in Dominica with the parrots since 1981) that on-island efforts to support the recovery of local populations would be successful, some politically-appointed individuals within the Government of Dominica, apparently decided to facilitate the export of these parrots as an “emergency measure” to support the establishment of a captive breeding population in Germany by the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP).
Conservation Issues for Threatened Bird Species
This action raises many issues concerning the conservation of threatened bird species. BirdsCaribbean has engaged with local partners in the region for 30 years, and we support the position of most threatened species specialists that:
Conservation programmes for threatened species should be guided by recovery action planning based on sound science, engagement by all stakeholders, and international laws and guidance.
Conservation programmes for threatened species should focus firstly on recovery of wild populations in the wild, with captive breeding as a last resort.
There are many risks associated with captive breeding, including risks in transport, transmission or exposure to new diseases, acclimation to a new environment, and loss of genetic diversity and natural behaviors. These programs must be carried out in an extremely careful manner and risks increase if the program is in another country.
Captive breeding programs can be an effective and important conservation tool (e.g., as shown for the Puerto Rican Parrot), but they must be based on sound science, be proposed and vetted transparently to the conservation community, and wherever possible, be in the country of origin.
Threatened species programs must involve and empower to the maximum extent possible the local organizations and communities who are ultimately the stewards for the species.
BirdsCaribbean suggests that there are legal, scientific and ethical reasons to question the export of Sisserou and Jaco parrots from Dominica.
The export of globally threatened species is controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to which Dominica and Germany are both signatories. Export permits are granted through the local CITES management authority, which may only license export of threatened (Appendix 1) species under very strict conditions. In Dominica, this is the Environmental Coordinating Unit (ECU). BirdsCaribbean has been reliably informed that the permit for the export of these parrots to Germany was not granted by the ECU and the ECU was not consulted. (see https://goo.gl/dB9SF2). Additionally, Dominica was under suspension of all trade under CITES since January 2018 for failure to file annual reports for three consecutive years. Therefore, no CITES Appendix I species should have been permitted for export.
The Situation Was Not an “Emergency”
Any argument that the export was justified as an “emergency” action is contradicted by the following:
All of the exported animals survived the hurricane;
The female Sisserou at the aviary had lived there for 18 years and successfully reproduced at the aviary in 2010;
Ongoing parrot surveys reveal that both species’ wild populations also survived the hurricane, with the ecologically common Jaco parrot now widely distributed and some sightings of wild Sisserous; known to be shy and difficult to survey in the wild;
The aviaries were in the process of being refurbished, with new enclosures, wire and supplies already sent to Forestry;
The aviary birds were examined and attended to with multiple animal-care teams from IFAW;
The exported Jaco parrots were being prepared for release into the wild;
No proposal for emergency action was presented to Forestry, the personnel responsible for animal-care at the aviary, nor ECU.
BirdCaribbean is surprised that a permit would be granted by any authority, because it would appear that the export is detrimental to on-going local conservation efforts. We are especially concerned about the export of the Sisserou, partly because their local breeding populations are smaller, and partly because two individuals are not sufficient to establish a breeding programme. This calls into question the scientific justification for this export and whether there may be additional requests for exports in the future.
BirdsCaribbean Supports Dominican Experts, Local Partners
In addition, the scientific authority for CITES in Dominica, the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, was also not consulted about the export—no proposal, conservation plan or agreement was shared with the team in charge of parrot conservation on the island. Instead the arrangements were apparently made in secret and the birds taken without the knowledge or permission of either CITES authority on the island.
Our Dominican partners remain committed to the on-island conservation programs and the protective measures it has developed for its parrots over many years. Thanks to generous donors, BirdsCaribbean has assisted in Hurricane Maria recovery by shipping more than US$12,000 worth of supplies to aid recovery of Dominica’s parrots, including bird feeders, bird seed, tools and field equipment. We have long supported outreach, education and surveys conducted by Dominica’s own experts, who have decades of experience and knowledge. We believe that the conservation of Dominica’s parrots is best done in Dominica by Dominicans, – supported, but not undercut, by foreign entities.
We know that the people of Dominica are resilient and proud of their beautiful birds and in particular, their National Bird, the Sisserou. For this reason alone, the recent removal of these birds from the island calls for far more explanation and justification than has been made public.
BirdsCaribbean is one of thirteen signatory organizations expressing concern over the recent export of endemic parrots from Dominica to Germany. We include here a joint communication shared today, April 5, 2018, with the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as well as representatives within CITES, the government of Dominica, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the European Union. Read the UNEP letter.
It is a pleasure to announce the publication of the first issue of the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba by Nils Navarro Pacheco and Ernesto Reyes Mouriño (No 1, 2017). This publication will serve as an official list and platform for work in the field of ornithology within the Cuban archipelago, as well as keeping the ornithological community updated on changes in taxonomy, systematics and new additions to the bird list of Cuba.
Earlier lists or volumes describing the birdlife of Cuba (Garrido and Montana, Catalogo de las Aves de Cuba 1975; Garrido and Kirkconnell, Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, 2000; and Endemic Birds of Cuba, Navarro 2015) provide ample details on species behavior, habitat and range. This new checklist condenses and provides updated and new information on conservation status, endemism, abundance, breeding, and seasonality for 398 naturally occurring species and 15 exotics.
The checklist is beautifully illustrated with color photographs of Cuba’s 28 endemics on the back cover. The authors intend to update the list on an annual basis as verifiable information becomes available. With increased numbers of homegrown birders and professional ornithologists as well as foreign contributions, a “living” checklist under the careful stewardship of Navarro and Reyes makes perfect sense.
Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies and boasts 28 endemics as well as some of the most important habitats found in the region. Cubans, with support from abroad, have responded to the need to protect these habitats especially for endemic birds by developing many national parks and reserves, conducting ornithogical research, delivering outreach and education programs, and monitoring birds, for example, through the Caribbean Waterbird Census. While these efforts may have limited resources, the Cuban people and the conservationists they support are very proud of their birds and significant achievements. That passion bares fruit in this checklist when you look through the references and supporting documentation.
As one who is particularly interested in the ever-evolving state of West Indian avian biogeography, I appreciate the inclusion of a short communications section with articles on recent sightings and banding records and photographs of documented (with citations) recent rarities. I have no doubt that at least two factors—climate change and the increase in knowledgeable observers—are contributing to requisite checklist updates which the authors also recognize. The authors in fact encourage reporting of bird sightings through eBird Caribbean (Cornell Lab of Ornithological Database). Reports are vetted by local experts and contribute greatly to our knowledge of the status and trends of migratory and resident trends and status of species in Cuba as well as the West Indies. Many of you already understand that neotropical migrants, for example, spend only a few months (May-August) raising young on the North American continent before returning to the tropics. As you may have sensed, checklists of birds anywhere are outdated by the time they go to press.
So, in the tradition of James Bond’s Supplements to the Checklist of the Birds of the West Indies (1956-et seq.), this checklist is expected to provide intermittent updates founded by substantiating evidence and hopefully commentary by two of the leading field biologists in Cuba. I have worked with both Nils and Ernesto on reviving Christmas Bird Counts in Cuba since 2012 and can attest to their depth of knowledge and commitment to preserving the natural patrimony of Cuba. This and subsequent updates to the checklist should be a part of any West Indian ornithological library, both private and public, as a resource to measure changes in status of both resident and migratory Cuban birdlife in this hemisphere.
The checklist, published by Ediciones Nuevos Mundos, is a 40 page booklet, 8.0 x 11.5 inches in size, illustrated, with saddle stitch binding. The first print run is in English. The checklist can be purchased from the publisher for $12.00 (plus $3 shipping) at this link. A downloadable version is available here.
Robert Norton is a founding member of BirdsCaribbean (then the Society of Caribbean Ornithology); initiating author of the West Indies Region report (1980- ) North American Birds, American Birding Association; West Indies regional editor Christmas Bird Counts, National Audubon Society; eBird reviewer, Virgin Islands, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; coauthor w/ Patricia Bradley, Inventory of Breeding Seabirds of the Caribbean, 2009.
What year is it? Well, last time we checked, 2018 was already well under way. So, is there anything special about it?
Yes, for bird enthusiasts there is. The National Geographic magazine has declared 2018 the Year of the Bird, recognizing the centenary of the historic Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Over the years, this Act has extended its influence across the Americas, helping to save the lives of literally billions of birds.
Encompassing twelve months of storytelling, science research and conservation efforts, the Year of the Bird is a partnership between the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BirdLife International and dozens of other partners. Participants will examine how our changing environment is driving dramatic losses among bird species around the globe and highlight what we can do to help bring birds back.
Participating organizations include nonprofit and conservation groups, state and federal agencies, zoos, nature centers, and ornithological societies that are working together to raise the visibility of birds and inspire action (don’t forget the hashtags #BirdYourWorld and #YearoftheBird) throughout 2018. And BirdsCaribbean is a part of the project, too.
So, how do we in the region go about “birding our world” in 2018? What should we be doing to celebrate this special year?
Firstly, if you have not already done so, sign up at www.birdyourworld.org – not only for monthly updates, but for a Call to Action. For example, February was the month for the Great Backyard Bird Count – four days of tallying our bird observations and recording them on eBird, to give scientists a picture of what’s happening globally.
The month of March will focus on a topic that is dear to our hearts in the Caribbean: Native Plants for Birds.
In post-hurricane islands in particular, this theme is especially appropriate. Our environment is changing, with particular challenges for our birds. By making sure that we grow native plants in our gardens and backyards, in containers and on verandahs, we are providing birds with the food and shelter they need – and helping them to adapt and survive. We can create a natural sanctuary for our birds.
BirdsCaribbean has already produced materials that will definitely help you to focus on native plants and birds during the month of March. Some visits to your local plant nursery may be necessary, or you may be able to propagate plants and trees that are in your neighborhood.
A very useful guide is our free eBook, Heritage Plants: Native Trees and Plants for Birds and People in the Caribbean. You can download this in English here, and it is also available in Spanish. This beautifully illustrated book focuses on both native and migratory birds in the Caribbean, and the plants and trees that attract them. For example, did you know that the slow-growing Lignum Vitae tree is a favorite of orioles, mockingbirds, tanagers, grackles and more; and that hummingbirds, bananaquits, and orioles are particularly fond of cactus flowers?
Another online resource is our free webinar, co-hosted in 2015 with the Bahamas National Trust, on bird-friendly gardening: Native Plants for a Bird-Friendly Yard. You can tune in here.
“Birds and native plants are made for each other thanks to millions of years of evolution,” says Dr. John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation for the National Audubon Society, which has its own Plants for Birds online public database.
“With our changing climate and rising temperatures, there is an even greater need to nurture our beautiful birds,” commented BirdsCaribbean President Andrew Dobson. “Across the Caribbean, birds face many threats, including spreading urbanization, which is eating into bird habitats. So, let’s make the effort to focus on our native plants and trees – for the sake of the birds. They will feel right at home.”
By growing native plants, you can help protect birds while turning your home into a private wildlife paradise. It’s a “win-win,” for you and the birds.
By Emma Lewis, Blogger, Writer, Online Activist, and member of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group, based in Kingston, Jamaica. Follow Emma at Petchary’s Blog—Cries from Jamaica.
The fall of 2017 was a tumultuous one for the Caribbean. Hurricanes beat relentlessly on our islands, destroying homes, toppling trees and darkening cities. The storms hurt both people and nature, damaging forests, wetlands, and the animals that live in them.
Despite the challenges, bird enthusiasts across the region rallied to learn about migratory birds. At events all over the region, people young and old took time out from rebuilding to connect with nature. It brought people together with each other and with local birds.
These events were part of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). IMBD focuses on the natural enchantment of birds and uses this to motivate a passion for their conservation through an annual conservation theme. In 2017, this theme highlighted the importance of stopover sites, those places where migratory birds rest and refuel before continuing their journey. IMBD takes place all over the Americas, and is coordinated by Environment for the Americas. Caribbean events are organized by BirdsCaribbean, and take many forms.
Dr. Adrianne Tossas involved students at the University of Puerto Rico in a study that will examine whether Hurricane María changed the numbers and diversity of birds in mangroves, coastal native forests and the seashore. Ingrid Flores, the Puerto Rico IMBD Coordinator, taught the value of wild spaces to migratory birds with school children at Instituto Las Américas of Caguas, Puerto Rico.
In Haiti, Anderson Jean from Société Écologique d’Haiti took 150 guests to Les Cayes to learn bird identification. In Cuba, a team led by Alieny Gonzalez visited schools to explain why stopover sites are key to migratory birds. Youth were amazed to learn that some birds can use wind gusts in their favor to “ride out” a tropical storm and survive. Grupo Jaragua in the Dominican Republic worked with more than 1,000 people during presentations and bird walks.
In the Dominican Republic, Grupo Accion spent two days with students of ABC school – they studied migratory birds and native plants that are “bird-friendly. They also learned how to use binoculars and identified 46 species of birds in a field trip to the Botanic Garden in Santo Domingo.
On islands impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, hundreds of hummingbird feeders and bags of bird seed were given out to help local birds. These were donated by BirdsCaribbean, thanks to generous donations to the organization’s hurricane recovery fund on Razoo. “Food for our birds was in seriously short supply following the hurricanes,” commented IMBD Coordinator Ingrid Flores. “People and schools were happy to receive these items so that they could help birds in their back yards survive through a rough patch.”
“Through International Migratory Bird Day, we work to engage people of all ages to make their homes and towns safe places for birds,” says Susan Bonfield, Executive Director of Environment for the Americas. For many islands in the Caribbean, creating safe spaces for birds can also be part of our recovery.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to all of our Caribbean coordinators for once again organizing amazing IMBD events this year! Thanks also to Lizzie Mae’s Bird Seed for donated “Hurricane Relief Bird Seed” and to Classic Brands and Songbird Essentials for discounted and donated hummingbird feeders. Thank you to Environment for the Americas for help with educational materials. And big thanks to the many donors that supported our Hurricane Recovery Fund on Razoo (still raising funds for recovery projects!).
Additional photos from celebrations around the islands are featured in the gallery below. Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Materials for IMBD celebration in Carriacou Island-Grenada, organized by Keisha Clarke
Schoolchildren excited to learn about birds – IMBD in Carriacou Island, Grenada
Birding Field Trip – Carriacou Island, Grenada, organized by Akeisha Clarke
Youth birding for IMBD-Carriacou Island, Grenada
Special stickers help kids remember lessons learned – Carriacou Island, Grenada
A male Yellow Warbler in the Bahamas
Ingrid Flores presenting Birds of Pterocarpus forest
Children enjoy the migratory bird puzzle, Carriacou Island, Grenada
Ingrid Flores with primary children following IMBD activities
Ingrid Flores with a group of Graduates students of Universidad del Turabo at Pterocarpus Forest.
Bird feeder made at the Shorebird Festival organized by SOPI (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña)
Side 1 of brochure produced by AMAZONA in Guadeloupe – all about the Caribbean Martin
Side 2 of brochure produced by AMAZONA in Guadeloupe – all about the Caribbean Martin
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Birds in Agriculture conference
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Black Friday Bird Count
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Flyer-habitat conservation
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Group Photo – habitat conservation
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Black Friday bird census
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad – Shorebirds sighted on bird count in October.
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad – Oct bird count
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Selfie time during the bird count
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Working on bird ID during a bird count.
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-schoolyard birding
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad – Second graders give feedback on bird ID Workshop.
Sheylda Diaz-Mendez and students at University of PR, Arecibo campus
Students show off materials in Univ. of Puerto Rico, Arecibo campus.
Birding at Shorebird Festival organized by the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña
Shorebird Festival organized by the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society
Ingrid Flores at IMBD information table at Shorebird Festival
Birding at Shorebird Festival organized by the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society
Birding at Shorebird Festival organized by the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña
Learning about birds at the Universitarios Pro Ambiente y Biodiversidad workshop in Puerto Rico.
Urban Green Lab-making bird journals with youth in Puerto Rico
Urban Green Lab-youth with their bird journals-
Urban Green Lab-PRHome-made bird feeder activity with youth in Puerto Rico
Grupo Accion in the Dominican Republic – group photo with students 2017
Students learned how to use binoculars and spot birds with Maria Paulino-Grupo Accion Ecologica, Santo Domingo, DR
Youth birding at Grupo Acción Ecologica IMBD activity in the Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo
Andrea Thomen (Grupo Jaragua) talks with students about migratory birds in the Dominican Republic
IMBD activity at Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR)
Children complete IMBD puzzle at Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) event
Environmental Biology Association of University of Turabo – Festival event for students
Environmental Biology Association of University of Turabo – Festival event for students – showing materials
Education Coordinator for Jobos Bay NERR (JBNERR), Ernesto Olivares gives a talk about migratory birds
Environmental Biology Association of University of Turabo group photo
Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez at San Patricio Forest with Boy Scout Troup 685 getting ready for a bird census.
Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez at San Patricio Forest with Boy Scout Troup 685.
Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez leads students on a bird Census at the San Juan Bay Estuary via boat with Univ. of PR Human Geography students.
Students at Specialized School of Science and Mathemathics of San Juan color in drawings from BirdsCaribbean Migratory Birds of the West Indies coloring book.
Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez and students at Specialized School of Science and Mathemathics of San Juan.
Eliezer Nieves Rodribuez gives a talk about birds and restoration of the estuary at a San Juan Fashion Event.
Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez with students at a workshop and bird census with the San Juan bay Estuarine Program and UPR with the Environmental Interpretation Course
Banding demonstration Bermuda with Bermuda Audubon Society.
Teacher Johannie Mercado and kindergarten students celebrate IMBD in PR.
Teacher Johannie Mercado and kindergarten students celebrate IMBD in PR.
Art activity to learn about birds and celebrate IMBD in PR.
Kindergarten students of teacher Johannie Mercado prepare soil for planting native trees.
Teacher Mayra Ortiz and students in Puerto Rico participate in IMBD for the first time
Teacher Mayra Ortiz and students at Notre Dame Middle School
BirdsCaribbean’s second biennial photography competition took place at our 21st International Conference in Cuba, July 2018. The three judges thoroughly enjoyed looking through 72 photos submitted on BirdsCaribbean’s Flickr (look for tag “BCPhotoContest2017”) by many fine photographers.
This year’s contest featured three distinct categories as well as an overall Grand Prize Winner. The Endemics category showcased the bird species found only on Cuba. Fun with Birds and People highlighted both human-bird interaction and the International Conference itself. Birds and Nature explored birds as well as their habitats and the other animals and plants that make up island ecosystems.
The judges had a challenging time deciding on the winners in each category—they considered composition, focus, colour and overall interest of each photo. After some debate, the judges were unanimous in their decisions for the following prize winners.
First Prize – Captured! by John Webster, with a fun backstory: A local Cuban woman (not attending our conference) was painting a Belted Kingfisher using an illustration from Herb Raffaele’s Birds of the West Indies Field Guide as a reference. Herb, the good birder he is, spotted her working on the painting that was to be sold to the next tourist. Naturally, Herb was intrigued. Not knowing her understanding of copyright, he introduced himself as the author of the book. She was shocked and a little sheepish to be caught copying the artwork. This amazing moment was well captured by John Webster. In the end, to properly honor the author, she presented him with the freshly rendered kingfisher. ¿¡Que suerte?! Second Prize – Zapata Wren Here we Come by David Southall Third Prize – That’s the Bird! by Aly (DeGraff) Ollivierre Honorable Mention – Linda and Bee Hummingbird by Jessica Rozek
Congratulations to all the winners! The grand prize winner will receive a pair of Atlas Optics Sky King Binoculars (10×42) and JBL Flip 3 Splashproof Portable Speaker. First prize winners winners will receive a Woofit Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, second place will get a signed copy of Wildlife of the Caribbean and third place will receive a signed copy of Birds, Beasts & Bureaucrats. Thanks to our sponsors Eagle Optics and Princeton University Press for donating these fabulous prizes.
Thanks also to our three wonderful judges, Andrew Dobson, Skip Glenn, and Ivan Mota, for their time, expertise, and careful consideration of all the photos.
Finally, thanks to all the photographers who participated in the contest! Many excellent shots were submitted, making the decision on the winning photos a real challenge for the judges. To see the entries in each category, follow these links: Endemics, Fun with Birds and People, and Birds and Nature.
Martha (Mandy) Walsh McGehee recalls her experiences with several devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean during the 1980s and 1990s, and the heartening interactions between people and birds in their aftermath.
I have had hurricane nightmares. Once, they were about boy-named hurricanes. Now they are about the girls. My first bad dream was in St. Croix in 1989, when Hurricane Hugo came to visit. My two-story home was demolished. The roof of the top floor and the sea walls on both floors were gone. I was in a downstairs closet for three days – blocked in by debris – before anyone could get to my house in the East End. I was lucky to be on the first flight to the United States. I never returned to St. Croix. Instead, I relocated to the island of Saba in 1990.
On Saba, I had become known as the Bird Lady due to my work with the Rare Center for Tropical Bird Conservation (now called RARE), and my experience rehabilitating birds. My doorbell rang often and I would answer it to find an islander with a cardboard box, which contained an injured or dehydrated bird. I lost some, but was able to rehabilitate many.
In 1992 I met a man from Miami who came to Saba without a dive buddy and we eventually married. His experiences in Florida prompted him to update my home for hurricanes. For example, he immediately made certain that the glass doors and windows had adequate permanent shutters. All went well until my second bad dream in 1998: Hurricanes George (followed a year later by Lenny). We retreated to the laundry room that was a level down from the house and protected from the sea by our cistern. When we emerged and went upstairs to the main house, we found the stone walls were intact but the house was full of water. George even took our fireplace chimney and part of the roof with him!
I walked outside to our courtyard and couldnt believe the number of Purple-throated Caribs and Bananaquits that were waiting on bare twigs near where our feeders had been. We had eight feeders in the fridge that I had removed the evening before George hit, and we took them out immediately.
The first feeder went to a Purple-throated Carib we called Buddy. He dominated the pool area and successfully defended his feeder from all other hummingbirds and Bananaquits. His perch was less than a foot away. We always talked to him and it took him no time to recognize his name. If he wasnt on his perch above the feeder he would come in if we called him. When I removed his empty feeder he would perch outside my front door. When I came out with a full one he would fly to my shoulder and ride to the feeder. I think he chose the shoulder over the feeder to avoid being sloshed with sticky fluid. He was one smart bird!
With Buddy safe it was time to check on our Gray Kingbird named Jeremiah, who we rehabilitated after receiving him as a nestling. We had raised him in our family room, teaching him to catch moths and bugs outside when he was fully feathered and starting to fly. He came immediately when I called. Needless to say, it was such a relief that he had also made it through the Hurricane!
After tending to the birds, I looked around and saw that the elfin forest was completely gone, stripped bare of all leaves, fruits and flowers. I knew what we had to do. We had a satellite phone and called Miami. I managed to get a donation of 250 hummingbird feeders and we ordered four pallets of birdseed to be shipped to the island in the fastest way possible.
The word spread quickly through the island that I had ordered emergency rations for the birds and as a result, our house became a feed and feeder distribution center. Most of the islanders lost their roofs. I can remember blue tarps covering damaged houses everywhere. Yet, in the midst of utter devastation, I would see Sabans out every day filling feeders for the birds.
From my experience, islanders really began to pay attention to their birds after the hurricane. Because the elfin cloud forest was gone, many birds that were primarily seen only there and passage migrants were forced to come halfway down the mountain to the villages in search of food. This excited people and I was constantly identifying birds for curious residents. A Baltimore Oriole was spotted and soon attracted the whole neighborhood!
Saba has no standing water, so water birds were especially exciting. One of the most memorable bird identifications I made was of a Green Heron. I arrived at the home of an elderly gentleman who was standing in his yard waiting for me. He thought the bird was the prettiest bird he had ever seen. He wanted to know everything about it. I always had a bird guide in my car so was able to answer all of his questions. After spending over half an hour discussing the bird and looking at it from all the varying angles, I finally told the man I needed to go home. He gave me a big hug and thanked me with tears in his eyes. He said he hoped the bird could go back to its home, but hoped that if another hurricane came the bird would visit again.
I have had nightmares again, since Irma and Maria. Throughout my career, I traveled to many islands to supervise bird projects we were working on in the Lesser Antilles. My heart breaks for all the islands impacted by the recent hurricanes, and I know many of them- and their birds- well. I am hoping that, by telling my story, maybe those islands can plan ahead and have a repository of feeders and seed on hand at the beginning of hurricane season. They will likely be rewarded, as I was, with an island that truly loves and takes care of its birds.
I would now like to add a postscript. Since writing the first draft of this article I have been in almost daily contact with my very dear friend on Saba who is the current bird rehab person specialist. When she wrote to tell me there was no more seed and few feeders on the island, I arranged for her to get in touch with Lisa Sorenson. Lisa has arranged for a seed and feeder shipment to Saba. I will always be grateful to BirdsCaribbean, and I am very proud to be a member.
By Martha (Mandy) Walsh McGehee, biologist and member of BirdsCaribbean since its beginning in 1988.
Editors note:We thank Mandy for writing about these memories. Her inspiring story, originally told to Lisa Sorenson by phone after Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit in September 2017, motivated us to make sure that all the islands (15) impacted by these hurricanes received shipments of feeders and seed. We’re happy to report we were able to do this, thanks to many generous donors to our Hurricane Relief Fund. We continue to help birds and our partners recover with many restoration activities planned for 2018. The needs are enormous, however, so continued donations to the fund are welcome.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) is excited to announce the release of a Special Issue on the Status of Caribbean Forest Endemics (Volume 30, Issue 1). Inside you’ll find a total of 10 publications, 9 of which focus on different forest endemic birds from central Cuba down to Grenada. The tenth publication provides statistical evidence of the JCO’s invaluable role as a multi-lingual, regional scientific journal that outshines other ornithological journals through its distinct subject strengths, especially in terms of papers published on the distribution and abundance of forest endemic species.
In this Special Issue, we highlight those strengths with a collection of publications specific to forest endemic birds, many of which have become icons and flagship species for their specific island communities. In some cases, there is good news to report, whether it be population growth or range expansion, while in other cases, there are greater causes for concern and subsequent action on our part. The extirpation of the Golden Swallow from Jamaica, for example, is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of some of our forest endemics, and a prime example of the complexities of the problems that island birds face.
As stewards of island bird communities, we know that we must often be two steps ahead when it comes to making informed decisions with local conservation management practices. Islands are filled with diverse fauna and flora that interact in ways that can’t be seen anywhere on the mainland, but simultaneously their populations can often suffer the most from even the smallest disturbances. Our resilience must make up for those species that have such little of it. And here at the JCO we firmly believe that making the most current and impactful research available to our Caribbean community is one of the many critical steps towards doing exactly that.
The following are brief synopses of each publication you’ll find in our Special Issue, which we hope will quickly spark your interest in reading through each in more detail.
Our Special Issue starts off in the forests of Montserrat, a habitat heavily impacted by volcanic activity over the last twenty years. In Bambini et al.’s Current population status of four endemic Caribbean forest birds in Montserrat, current populations of four endemic forest birds are surveyed for, including the Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea), Forest Thrush (Turdus lherminieri), Brown Trembler (Cinclocerthia ruficauda), and Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi).
To the east, on the island of Puerto Rico, Anadón-Irizarry et al. provide us an invaluable update on the Status and recommendations for the recovery of the Elfin-woods Warbler (Setophaga angelae) in Puerto Rico. In light of devastating impacts to forest habitats by recent hurricanes, this work will be pivotal in helping post-hurricane conservation efforts understand the species’ vulnerability and most pressing needs.
Lastly, we set sail back up towards the Greater Antilles, finding our way to the beautiful island of Jamaica, and in particular its Cockpit Country – a region known for its seemingly impenetrable (yet still vulnerable) geography of karst-limestone hills. Herlitz Davis’ publication on Forest disturbance has negative consequences for the persistence of Jamaica’s threatened and endangered bird species in Cockpit Country brings forth evidence of an association between forest disturbance and bird distribution patterns in a globally important area for bird species that is under pressure from all sides by various types of habitat disturbance.
Pulling back to an island-wide view, Proctor et al.’s time censusing the remote corners of Jamaica for aerial insectivores completes an ongoing effort to determine whether any Jamaican Golden Swallows persist on the island in light of there having been no individuals reported since the 1980’s. The Last search for the Jamaican Golden Swallow (Tachycineta e. euchrysea) confirms the local extinction and highlights the importance of using new knowledge to strengthen conservation plans for the subspecies that persists on the island of Hispaniola to the northeast.
The islands of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding marine areas provide essential habitats for many migratory and resident birds, including endemics that occur nowhere else in the world. In September 2017, many islands in the eastern and central Caribbean were ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The impacts on human livelihoods, infrastructure, homes and businesses are being addressed to some extent by governments and the traditional relief agencies. The impacts on natural habitats, species, conservationists and conservation projects are harder to assess and quantify, but no less dire. Thanks to many generous donors to our Hurricane Relief Fund, BirdsCaribbean has established a fund to aid the recovery of birds and bird habitats by supporting conservationists and recovery projects on hurricane-affected islands.
OVERALL OBJECTIVES FOR HURRICANE RELIEF FUND
To provide resources to advance the recovery and ongoing conservation of birds and their habitats on islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
To assist conservationists working on these islands regain capacity lost in the hurricane and necessary to undertake recovery and conservation projects.
WHO MAY APPLY TO THE FUND
Grants from the fund are available to BirdsCaribbean members and partners or individuals/groups undertaking work on the islands seriously damaged by Irma and Maria: Dominica, Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Eustatius, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Saba, St Martin/Sint Maarten, British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cuba. Applicants may be non-government organizations, government agencies, or private individuals, based on or off the islands in question.
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUND
Projects must contribute to the conservation of any Caribbean birds and their habitats affected by hurricanes. Preferred projects are those that will benefit threatened endemic species (island or regional), and local or regionally significant populations or species of conservation concern (migrants and/or residents). Activities that help in the recovery of Important Bird Areas, Key Biodiversity Areas, Ramsar sites, mangroves, or Protected Areas are also preferred.
Other criteria that BirdsCaribbean will consider include:
Does the project address an immediate, short-term conservation issue that was caused or exacerbated by the hurricanes?
Are objectives and activities associated with the expenditure clearly linked?
Is the request realistic and reasonable? Has there been an effort to leverage these funds to raise funds from other sources?
Does the applicant have sufficient experience and organizational skills needed to complete the activities outlined in the request?
Does the request show evidence of thoughtful planning and details?
SIZE AND LENGTH OF GRANTS
The BirdsCaribbean Hurricane Relief Fund is positioned to support small grants – up to US$5,000. Expenditures should be immediate (as soon as funding has been received) and ideally completed within 6-12 months. Larger grants of up to $10,000 may be considered but will require a more detailed application. Matching funds are not required but contributions should be documented where possible.
DATES FOR SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS
Requests may be made of the fund at any time. Requests will be reviewed and granted on a rolling basis (that is, first come, first served) until funds are exhausted.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Recipient will acknowledge receipt of funds and confirm their expenditure. Project recipients will be expected to document their activities with photographs and post updates on Facebook if they have access to the internet. A short blog article describing your activities for BirdsCaribbean’s monthly Newsletter is also requested.
PROJECT ADVISORY TEAM
If you have questions about eligible activities or requests for assistance (e.g., advice on how best to carry out surveys and monitoring), please contact BirdsCaribbean Executive Director, Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org)
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING*
Funding must be used for short-term activities that are directly related to assessment of or recovery from hurricane impacts.
Assessment of impacts and identification of conservation needs for birds and their habitat post hurricanes; e.g., surveys, assessments, and monitoring of high-priority species and their habitats that may have been affected by the storms.
Implementation of conservation/recovery actions; e.g. habitat clean-ups, clearing of trails, and restoration or enhancement work, such as re-planting of mangroves and native trees lost in the storms.
Emergency support for vulnerable species; e.g., feeding programs for endemic parrots in damaged forests.
Provision of shortfalls to pre-existing projects that are facing issues as a result of hurricane damage; e.g., loss of materials, infrastructure or equipment
Capacity restoration; e.g., office and field equipment which was lost or damaged in the storm, such as binoculars, scopes and tripods, computers, cameras, backpacks, GPS units, etc. or materials for community outreach and education.
Restoration of infrastructure that supports nature-based livelihoods damaged by the hurricane; e.g., repairs to boardwalks, blinds, etc., especially in parks and protected areas.
Implementation of outreach and education events that raise awareness about the impacts of storms and climate change on wildlife and ecosystems and how local people can help; e.g., promoting citizen science monitoring using eBirdCaribbean and iNaturalist (especially important in the wake of hurricanes), feeding birds to help them survive post-hurricane food shortages, planting native trees that are beneficial to wildlife, promoting recycling, planting of native trees, and energy conservation, advocacy for properly-planned post-hurricane development, etc.
Other
*The following list is not in order of priority.
BIRDSCARIBBEAN HURRICANE RELIEF FUND – REQUEST FORM
If request is for materials rather than cash (e.g., equipment or supplies, please provide specifics). Note: BirdsCaribbean can assist with the purchase of discounted binoculars, spotting scopes/tripods and some other items).
EXPLANATION OF ACTIVITIES:
What type of activity is associated with this request? See list of Types of Activities above.
Provide a brief explanation of the request, including an explanation of how will the funds be used, your desired outcomes, and expected benefits (to birds, habitats and people).
If the request supports multiple items or activities, please provide a brief explanation of budget, e.g., a simple table. There is no requirement for matching funds but where they exist in cash or in-kind please document them, as this will help BirdsCaribbean raise further funds.
INFORMATOIN ON APPLICANT
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
Email:
Phone:
Briefly note your experience in managing similar projects:
Provide names of other project leads, partners, sponsors, or any mentors who will be assisting with this project:
**Applicants may request funds for materials, travel, equipment, and repairs or restoration work. Stipends may be requested to pay for someone’s time if they are not already employed and volunteers are not available, or to pay persons who lost their primary source of income due to the hurricane and are willing to work short-term on your project for a small amount of pay (please justify). Stipends should be reasonable, e.g., $50-100/day to complete the work)
David S. Lee was a pioneering naturalist and conservation biologist who helped get BirdsCaribbean started nearly 30 years ago, and inspired many naturalists with his work and his writing. He was a man of many interests, and with respect to the Caribbean, published numerous papers and articles in the popular press on seabirds, Bahamian fish, turtles, snakes, bats, and orchids.
Donations from Dave’s wife, Mary Kay Clark and his mother, June Bash, allowed the establishment of the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds that will award money to conservation projects in his honor. The money is being held in a trust and will be used to award an annual grant for innovative projects that protect Caribbean birds and their habitats.
Goal of the Fund: The David S. Lee Fund for Conservation seeks to continue David’s passion for protecting wildlife. The fund will support direct, innovative conservation work in the Caribbean Region for birds and their habitats. The fund will be managed by BirdsCaribbean and used for annual small grants.
Eligibility: Scientists/naturalists working in the Caribbean, in conservation organizations or academic programs, may apply. Applicants should be students or early career ornithologists, conservationists, or wildlife professionals (i.e., not established faculty or senior staff of a conservation organization, less than 7 years post-graduation). A student must be enrolled in accredited Masters or PhD program in ecology, biology, conservation, or related field to be eligible. Applicants must be paid or sponsored members of BirdsCaribbean at the time of application.
Use of Funds: The funds can cover travel to field sites, living expenses in the field, or costs for equipment and supplies to conduct conservation projects. Examples of equipment and supplies include traps, cameras, automated recording units, nest boxes, etc. Ineligible costs include salary or other wages, overhead fees, etc. Projects that foster collaboration between scientists/naturalists in different island groups of the Caribbean, such as joint projects to test conservation techniques for similar species, will be favored.
Application Guidelines:
Proposals may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish. All should have an English version of the abstract
Applications should be emailed as a Microsoft Word document.
The application should include a cover page, proposal (see 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.
Awardees are encouraged to present the results of their work at the biennial International Meeting of BirdsCaribbean and publish in The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology.
But wait! What if you are not eligible to apply for funds, you ask? You can still support this worthy cause by being a sponsor!
This fund will be for the conservation of any bird in the Caribbean as a reflection of Dave’s diverse interests. He was an important part of many projects, ranging from those of the Black-capped Petrel and Seabird Working Groups to the scholarly debate leading to the elevation of the Bahama Yellow-throated Warbler to a full species.
At the moment the fund contains $12,000. Our initial goal is to raise $25,000 so that we can award $1,000 every year to a worthy student or early career ornithologist, conservationist or wildlife professional. Not only will this fund encourage creative field work for projects that make a difference, but it will also help build the knowledge and skills of young conservationists that are urgently needed to make sure that the Caribbean birds and habitats that Dave treasured are still around for future generations to enjoy.
At the 2015 BirdsCaribbean meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, a round of beers was purchased in Dave’s honor, since he always seemed to have a cooler full when people wanted one (and even when they didn’t). Think of this fund like a cooler full of refreshing beverages that Dave would have around if he were here. We owe it to Dave to stock that cooler—to vitalize naturalists and empower them in their work to help wildlife.
Please give a tax deductible donation to the David S. Lee Fund. Give generously. The more we put into the fund, the more we can give out each year. Thanks to all those that have contributed to the fund!
If you prefer to donate with a check, please make the check out to “BirdsCaribbean” and in the memo section, note that it is for the David S. Lee Fund. If you have questions or to make other arrangements for donating, please feel free to contact Jennifer Wheeler, BirdsCaribbean Treasurer (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org)
Checks can be mailed to: BirdsCaribbean, 841 Worcester St. #130, Natick, MA 01760-2076
On September 6th, 2017, a Category 5 hurricane named Irma made landfall on the tiny island of Barbuda, devastating homes, stripping the forest bare, and inundating parts of the island with seawater. We all looked on in shock as the way of life for many Barbudans was destroyed. We also feared another disaster was in the making.
Barbuda is the only home for the small Barbuda Warbler, a close relative of the Saint Lucia and Adelaide’s Warblers. Scientists and conservationists alike feared that Irma may have caused its extinction. Even if the birds survived the ravages of the wind and rain, the food they needed to survive (caterpillars and other insects) would be greatly reduced immediately following the storm. Hurricanes have triggered extinctions in the past, on much larger islands like Cozumel. There the endemic Cozumel Thrasher is now presumed extinct, following a series of hurricanes beginning with Gilbert.
Unsafe conditions and travel restrictions to Barbuda prevented an immediate population assessment but as soon as was possible, several members of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) of Antigua, under the guidance and support of the Department of Environment (DoE), visited Barbuda. The group confirmed that some warblers had survived. BirdsCaribbean, EAG, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the DOE quickly teamed up to organize and carry out extensive surveys on Barbuda, to assess both the Barbuda Warbler and Yellow Warbler populations.
An Exciting Journey
On October 15, less than six weeks after the hurricane, a team of 6 left St John’s, Antigua by boat to cross the 40 miles to Codrington, Barbuda. High seas and heavy rain made it an interesting passage, but we arrived at the Codrington port to be greeted by the team from Guadeloupe: Anthony Levesque, Frantz Delcroix, and Eric Delcroix of Association AMAZONA, a conservation organization in Guadeloupe. They had just arrived by plane (read their story here) to conduct counts at the Magnificent Frigatebird Sanctuary. Though the stormy morning quickly turned to a bright, sunny day, our moods turned somber as we saw first-hand the extensive damage done by Irma. Many homes and businesses were completely destroyed, and rebuilding efforts by the handful of Barbudans on the island were only just beginning.
Our home for the next week was the DoE office in Barbuda, where we settled in, organized the surveys and made some last-minute refinements to the distance sampling protocol for data collection. We conducted observer training for the team members and field tested the protocol, which included a playback of Yellow and Adelaide’s Warbler calls. The Barbuda Warbler is very closely related, and was once considered the same species as the Adelaide’s Warbler of the Greater Antilles and the Saint Lucia Warbler. Recent genetic studies have confirmed that these three should be treated as distinct species, though their vocalizations are very similar. The field test, made on the edge of town, was a success and we recorded our first Barbuda and Yellow Warblers, along with a number of migratory shorebirds (view the eBird list).
An International Team Gets to Work
Shortly after sunrise the following day, the two teams of three observers began the survey with a mixture of excitement, hope and dread. Frank Rivera-Milan (US Fish and Wildlife Service) was joined by Kelvin ‘Biggz’ Samuel and Dwayne Philip (Antigua Forestry Unit). Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) joined Lenn Isidore, (Saint Lucia Projects Coordinator for FFI) and Rudolph Zachariah (Antigua Department of Environment). Nearly as important as the current population assessment was providing that the training and resources to DOE and EAG staff, to ensure that the Barbuda Warbler population can be monitored long term. To this end, we were also joined by Sophia Steele (Fauna & Flora International) and Shanna Challenger (EAG, DOE and FFI), to learn about the methodology and gain the necessary field experience. That first morning both teams observed Barbuda Warblers and Yellow Warblers while surveying 19 points (view eBird list from that first morning). It was a great start but still a long way to go.
Barbuda has about 62 square miles of land and prior to our arrival, Population Ecologist and team member Frank had randomly selected the survey points, which were loaded into our GPS units. Points were at least 400 meters apart. Each team was tasked with covering as many points as possible before late morning arrived, when the warblers became quiet and harder to observe. A typical survey consisted of walking from point to point, covering up to eight miles in a morning. At each point, the team would divide up the tasks. One person would categorize the habitat, food availability and disturbance at each site, while the others would look and listen for Barbuda Warblers. Each observation of a warbler was recorded, along with the distance and direction from the point to each individual bird. “Barbuda Warbler singing between 20 – 30 meters at 110 degrees from North” or “Yellow Warbler seen at 18 meters distance, 35 degrees”. All observations were recorded in detail so that detection probability, occupancy and abundance (density and population size) could be modeled and estimated as precisely and accurately as possible.
Nature is Resilient, But There’s Some Way to Go
During that first morning of surveys, we were all struck by the resiliency of the natural world and how the forests of Barbuda were so well adapted to hurricanes. Weeks earlier the forests had been stripped bare of all greenery; yet the forest was already recovering. Amidst the broken branches and downed trees, life was returning with a vengeance. Trees and shrubs had already put out new leaves and in some cases, flowers and even fruit were in evidence. In addition to the ever-present mosquitoes, we saw lots of other insects and caterpillars, i.e. warbler food. The forest seemed green and alive, in sharp contrast to how it must have appeared just a few weeks earlier.
Unfortunately, other parts of the island weren’t faring nearly as well as the interior. Lowlands on the south of the island were especially hard hit by the storm surge. The forest there was struggling to recover.
To cover as many points as possible, the two teams stayed in different parts of the island. Henry, our driver and guide for the week, made sure that the teams got to where we needed to be. Our daily routine was pretty much the same: Leave for the field early; cover as many points as possible by 10:30; hike back out of the bush to be met by Henry; a quick lunch in town followed by an hour of down time; then back in the field between 2:30 and 5:30. In the evenings, we would review the data collected during the day to make sure everything was in order.
Hopes for Beautiful Barbuda’s Sustainable Recovery
An emotional roller coaster is a good way to describe how I felt throughout the week. Each day we were reminded of the devastation left by the hurricane and the long road to recovery for the Barbudan families. And each day we observed firsthand how the forest is recovering and how well the Barbuda Warbler fared. Barbuda is an island with very little development and miles of natural scrub and forest. The land is communally owned so there are few signs of outside development and that community ownership is reflected in the pride Barbudans feel for their island. I can think of few places where there are still miles of beach or forest with no development or human habitation in sight. This is pristine habitat for the birds. It is also the perfect location for eco-tourism: not only birding, but caving, horseback riding, snorkeling and other pursuits. It’s a rare gem, and the expanse of untouched natural habitat has surely been key in the forest’s rapid recovery.
We had been given permission for one week to conduct these surveys. It came to a close all too soon. With 125 points surveyed once, and 37 points surveyed twice, 50 miles walked and 145 Barbuda Warblers detected, we felt that we had covered as much of the island as possible (eBird list from the final day). Once the numbers are crunched and population models run, we will have a much better estimate of the Barbuda Warbler population (stay tuned!). However, the good news is that all evidence points to a population, which somehow survived Irma’s fiercest onslaught.
As we left the island, we also left part of ourselves there – literally, in the case of the mosquitos and sand flies! In our hearts, there was the sorrow – and also hope – we feel for the Barbudans, their way of life and the island’s natural ecosystems. As more and more of the Caribbean becomes dominated by resort developments, Barbuda is a wonderful and refreshing contrast; a place where the natural world is still evident in abundance. We wish Barbuda a steady, sustainable recovery that will benefit its people and where its beautiful natural habitat will continue to flourish.
By Jeff Gerbracht, lead architect and software engineer at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and co-chair of the BirdsCaribbean Monitoring Working Group. Jeff has assisted Birdscaribbean for many years with eBird Caribbean, and monitoring and training workshops throughout the region.
Frank, Lenn and Jeff would especially like to thank the many individuals who made this population assessment possible, several of whom were also trying to rebuild their own lives on Barbuda:
Kelly Burton and Henry Griffin for ensuring our stay on Barbuda was as comfortable and productive as possible; Wanda for the excellent lunches; and Len Mussington for the exciting boat ride from Antigua to Barbuda.
We also thank EAG, DOE, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Fauna and Flora International and BirdsCaribbean for their practical support, including the following individuals:
Shanna Challenger and Sophia Steele of Fauna & Flora International/EAG;
Rudolph Zachariah of the Department of Environment, Antigua;
Kelvin Samuel and Dwayne Philip of the Antigua Forestry Unit;
Sasha-gay Middleton of the Department of Environment for organizing our meals;
Matt Young of the Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology for putting together the warbler playback; and
Special thanks to Natalya Lawrence of EAG and Dr. Helena Jeffery Brown and Ruleta Camacho Thomas of the Department of Environment, for organizing so many of the necessary logistics.
BirdsCaribbean is grateful to all that have donated so generously to our ongoing fundraising effort for hurricane relief for our partners and beloved birds that has allowed us to send nectar feeders and bird seed to 13 islands and help our partners with surveys, replacing equipment lost in the storm, and other recovery actions.
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
White-cheeked Pintail (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
View from Martello Tower (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Sophia and Frank embark on the ‘March of the Penguins’ on their quest to find the Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Shanna Challanger)
Lenn and Jeff share a light moment in the back of a truck after completing surveys (Photo by Shanna Challanger)
Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Amevia (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lenn Isidore looking out over the coastal scrub near Two Foot Bay (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Departing from Antigua, left to right: Rudolph Zachariah, Lenn Isidore, Captain Len Mussington, Frank Rivera-Milan, Jeff Gerbracht, Dwayne Philip and Kelvin ‘Biggz’ Samuel (Photo by Natalya Lawrence)
Coastal habitat (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Low coastal scrub along the Atlantic coast of Barbuda (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Martello Tower (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lenn Isidore inspecting the habitat (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Scaly-breasted Thrasher, one of three observed together (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
‘Which way do I go?’ Dwayne Philip (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Looking over the forest from the highlands, towards Codrington (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
The destruction in Codrington was heart rending (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Shows unique Barbuda Warbler habit of cocking up their tail, more like a wren than a warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Built to last, Martello Tower (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lenn surveying from the Tower (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
(Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Toppled trees and broken branches are evidence of Irma (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Lenn spotting another Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Sophia Steele)
Team ‘Frank’ returning from a morning of surveys, Dwayne Philip, Kelvin ‘Biggz’ Samuel and Frank Rivera-Milan (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
One of the Rare times when Frank actually sits down (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Male Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
View of the upland forest, beautiful area (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
One of the survey points deep in the highlands where the forest is green and vibrant with flowers beginning to open (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Damage along the south coast (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Sophia Steele surveying from the heights (Photo by Lenn Isidore)
Male Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Coastal areas were especially hard by Irma (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Female/Immature Yellow Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
The pants really take a beating (Photo by Sophia Steele)
Red-legged Tortoise (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
Male Lesser Antillean Bullfinch (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab)
All of us at BirdsCaribbean followed the passing of Hurricane Irma with terror, for the people of Barbuda, and also for its birds. Such is the strength of our community that BirdsCaribbean members from nearby Guadeloupe – Anthony Levesque, Frantz Delcroix, and Eric Delcroix – all members of the organization AMAZONA, offered their help in surveying their neighboring island, alongside a team of ornithologists from the United States, Saint Lucia, and Antigua. Here’s Frantz’s story of their 10-hour expedition to Barbuda.
From Guadeloupe to Barbuda: Our Eventful Journey
The start of our day was scheduled for Sunday, October 15, 2017, around 6:30am. Our transport was a small Piper PA28 airplane, with a capacity of 4 people (the pilot and three passengers). The plane was sturdy enough to transport us, our field equipment, a cooler, and our boots! Despite bad weather for several days—an active tropical wave passing by Guadeloupe and Antigua and Barbuda—our pilot assured us that we could travel. Just before leaving, however, our pilot learned that due to cloud cover, the airport in Antigua (where we had to land first) was closed to all VFR (visual flight rules) flights, and was accepting only flights that can fly under IFR (instrument flight rules). Fortunately, we chose the right pilot; his plane was equipped and certified for this kind of flight!
We took off at 6:50am, landing in Antigua around 8:00am. It was a longer flight than we had anticipated, because we were flying under IFR. After passing through immigration, we went to the control tower to validate the flight plan to Barbuda. As we suspected, we had trouble with the fact that we did not have written authorization to travel to the island. Luckily, with the help of the Department of Environment in Antigua, we had taken the precaution of obtaining the necessary contact information for the authority, Major Michael, in Antigua. After a short discussion, the agent agreed to call the Major, and so was able to validate our flight plan to Barbuda. With a sigh of relief, we took off from Antigua around 9:00am and arrived in Barbuda twenty minutes later.
On Barbuda: The Birds’ Message of Hope
Upon arrival we made our first survey: a few Barn Swallows and a Bank Swallow circled above us and an American Golden Plover wandered around the airport parking lot. We were then greeted by an agent from the airfield, who kindly took us to the port where the rest of the team has just arrived by boat. There we met Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, USA), Frank Rivera (US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA), Lenn Isidore (Flora and Fauna International, St. Lucia), and others and went to the house that served as home base during our trip, as we did some birding around the neighborhood. Jeff, Frank, and Lenn planned to be in Barbuda for a full week to do an intensive survey of the Barbuda Warbler population (stay tuned for their story!). Our assignment was to visit Codrington Lagoon and carry out a survey of the Magnificent Frigatebirds, to see how the population and sanctuary was recovering six weeks after Hurricane Irma hit. We departed at 11:15am for Codrington Lagoon with our boat captain Kelly – and our pilot (who wanted to discover the avifauna of Barbuda with us!)
We arrived at the colony at 11:30am and were delighted to see hundreds of frigatebirds in flight, the bare and brown bushes adorned with bright red gular pouches. Within a 4.5 hectare (11.12 acre) area, we estimated 1,710 Magnificent Frigatebirds and 17 Brown Boobies. In a count of seven bushes of 279 frigatebirds, 83 females (30%) and 196 males (70%) were counted. Amazingly, 90% of the females were on nests and some of the birds were observed courting and mating, even males carrying nest materials.
We returned to home base around 12:30pm for a lunch break and then went back to the field. Having no vehicle available, we decided to visit a nearby pond we had observed on the Barbuda map, to search for West Indian Whistling-Ducks and other waterbirds. Along the way, we made several surveys of the species present. In a scrubby area near town, we spotted our first Barbuda Warblers eating caterpillars! The warblers were active and responded readily to our “pishing.”
Around the pond, we recorded two Lesser Antillean Flycatchers, two Long-billed Dowitchers, a Stilt Sandpiper, some Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, and a Scaly-breasted Thrasher. Unfortunately, no West Indian Whistling-Ducks were seen.
We continued our surveys until around 2:45pm before returning to home base to pick up our belongings and walk to the airfield for our 3:45pm takeoff. Skirting some clouds along the way, we arrived home in Guadeloupe at 4:20pm with a list of 36 surveyed species in hand.
Our Hearts are with the People of Barbuda
Although we were there to conduct a birding survey, our hearts ached when we saw all the damage on Barbuda. Such utter desolation! We felt anguish and sadness for the people of Barbuda, who lost everything in this category 5 hurricane and are now living in Antigua awaiting word on when they can return home and rebuild. Witnessing the power of nature—its ability to inflict such damage, but also how it can quickly rebound—was an extraordinary experience.
Before the hurricane, the 4,000–5,000-strong frigatebird colony had chicks in the nest. Surveys just after the hurricane found no surviving chicks and only around 300 birds. Now, one and a half months later, there are more than 1,700 frigatebirds starting a new breeding period with almost all of the females nesting! Even the mangroves that suffered from salt burn and had lost all their leaves were bouncing back, beginning to sprout new leaves.
So, we did not leave without hope. Nature is resilient! It can destroy almost everything, and yet incredibly allow a bird that weighs only ten grams to survive!
We thank all of our partners and friends from Antigua and Barbuda and BirdsCaribbean for trusting us and for providing funding and support for our survey, despite the challenges and the relatively short time we had to mobilize. We extend a special thanks to Natalya Lawrence of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) in Antigua and Lisa Sorenson of BirdsCaribbean
Frantz Delcroix is the President of AMAZONA, a bird conservation organization in Guadeloupe. She is an avid birder, photographer and conservationist. Thanks to all who donated to our Hurricane Relief Fund which provided funding for this survey. Thanks also to support from the Environmental Awareness Group and Dept of Environment in Antigua, and Fauna and Flora International.
Hover over each photo to see the caption; click on photos to see larger images and a slide show.
Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Counting frigatebirds in the colony (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Pigs and dogs scrounging for food in Barbuda (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Barbuda Warbler (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Courting male Magnificent Frigatebirds (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Damaged building on Barbuda – the entire population has been evacuated. (Photo by Anthony Levesque) (1)
Barbuda Warbler eating a caterpillar (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
A view of the Magnificent Frigatebird colony from a distance. It will take a long time for the formerly lush mangroves to recover. (Photo by Eric Delcroix
Survey boat (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
White-crowned Pigeon (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Guadeloupe Field Team-Frantz, Eric and Anthony ready to begin the survey on Barbuda. (Photo by Herve Pennel)
Male Frigatebirds in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Male Magnificent Frigatebird with Inflated gular pouch (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Female Magnificent Frigatebird on a nest in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Frigatebird Colony in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Frigatebird Colony in Codrington Lagoon (Photo by Eric Delcroix)
Map-Location of nesting area on Barbuda-Codrington Lagoon
Damaged communications building on Barbuda. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
A view of part of the Magnificent Frigatebird colony from a distance. It will take a long time for the formerly lush mangroves to recover. (Photo by Eric Delxcroix)
Long-billed Dowitcher, a rare migratory shorebird in this region (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
White-winged Dove (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Landing Magnificent Frigatebird over Colony (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
List of birds seen or heard on this day (all have been entered in eBird Caribbean)
Helmeted Guineafowl – Numida meleagris
Magnificent Frigatebird – Fregata magnificens
Brown Booby – Sula leucogaster
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
American Golden-Plover – Pluvialis dominica
Semipalmated Plover – Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus
Stilt Sandpiper – Calidris himantopus
Pectoral Sandpiper – Calidris melanotos
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Calidris pusilla
Long-billed Dowitcher – Limnodromus scolopaceus
Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria
Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes
Rock Pigeon – Columba livia
White-crowned Pigeon – Patagioenas leucocephala
Eurasian Collared-Dove – Streptopelia decaocto
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerine
Brown Booby at the frigatebird colony. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica
Zenaida Dove – Zenaida aurita
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Caribbean Elaenia – Elaenia martinica
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher – Myiarchus oberi
Gray Kingbird – Tyrannus dominicensis
Black-whiskered Vireo – Vireo altiloquus
Bank Swallow – Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
Scaly-breasted Thrasher – Allenia fusca
Pearly-eyed Thrasher – Margarops fuscatus
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Yellow Warbler – Setophaga petechia
Blackpoll Warbler – Setophaga striata
Barbuda Warbler – Setophaga subita
Bananaquit – Coereba flaveola
Black-faced Grassquit – Tiaris bicolor
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch – Loxigilla noctis
Carib Grackle – Quiscalus lugubris
Read more about the hurricane impacts on Caribbean birds: