BirdsCaribbean is excited to invite applications to participate in a 5-day training workshop focused on bird banding, an important tool for research and monitoring! Through a blend of classroom and field-based activities, participants will learn about the basics of bird banding, from setting up a mist net to examining molt patterns.
We’ll also discuss and demonstrate some of the benefits of joining our new Caribbean Bird Banding Network. In partnership with the Bahamas National Trust, the workshop will take place at The Retreat Garden in Nassau, The Bahamas from March 8-12, 2022.
Why do we need to band birds?
Bird surveys, like those we will cover in our upcoming Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop, provide valuable information about bird communities. Bird banding is another tool that can give us deeper insight into how our birds are doing. By individually marking and assessing birds in the hand, we can collect data that can tell us about their demography and health, including: looking at fat scores and weights to assess the body condition of birds in different habitats and at different times of the year; aging birds using plumage to investigate demographic patterns; using recapture records to learn about survivorship and longevity; using the presence of breeding characteristics to understand phenology. Over the long-term, banding can also help us understand patterns and trends of bird populations.
Launching the Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network
As part of BirdsCaribbean’s new Landbird Monitoring Project, we are excited to work with our partners to initiate the Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network, which aims to grow and unify bird banding activities in the Caribbean. In addition to training opportunities, the CBB Network will provide:
Caribbean Bird Bands. We are creating our own bird bands to distribute to qualified banders throughout the Caribbean. Our system will be similar to the USGS system, which no longer distributes bands outside of the U.S. The bands will be stamped with contact information so that anyone who finds a band can report it and find out where it came from!
Bird Banding Database. We want to make it easy for banding data to be collected consistently across the islands, and compiled to find recaptured birds. To do so, we are developing a user-friendly bird banding database that can be used by CBB banders.
Connection. We also want to facilitate communication and collaboration among bird banders throughout the Caribbean. We will work with members of the CBB to set up chats (e.g., WhatsApp) where banders can share information and ask questions, whether it be about molt patterns for resident species or sex and age of a rare migratory bird captured We will also include our banding partners on the CBB website (coming soon!) so that those looking to collaborate or volunteer with banders in the Caribbean can easily find this information.
About the workshop
This workshop is designed for Caribbean wildlife professionals and volunteers who are interested in gaining more experience with bird banding. The workshop also officially launches our Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network! This workshop will focus on banding landbirds, although we hope to provide banding training opportunities for other bird groups in the future.
The purpose of the workshop is to:
Provide participants with a basic understanding of bird banding techniques and best practices.
Discuss what it takes to set-up and run a bird banding station.
Prepare participants for additional bird banding training and potential North American Banding Council (NABC) certifications.
Share information about the resources that will be available through the CBB Network.
Our banding trainer, Holly Garrod, banding a Tody in the Dominican Republic for her M.S. thesis research.
Several NABC-certified trainers will share their knowledge in the classroom, at the mist net, and at the banding table, covering topics like:
Proper set-up and placement of a mist-net
Extracting birds from mist-nets using the body-grasp technique
Starting a banding station
Bird first-aid and safety
Bird banding ethics and basics
Using bird banding for education and public demonstrations
Aging birds using both WRP and Howell-Pyle terminology
Molt patterns
Bird banding is a complex skill to learn. This workshop is intended to be a starting point, and participants should not expect to leave the workshop with the necessary qualifications to band birds independently. To become fully immersed and practice what was learned at the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to be considered for a bird banding internship at one of several bird observatories in the U.S. and Canada. Following this, we are aiming for interns to continue working with a trainer in the Caribbean, providing the opportunity to band Caribbean species and include additional local professionals and volunteers in bird banding activities.
In an effort to decrease the amount of time spent in the classroom, some workshop sessions will be held virtually prior to the in-person workshop. These virtual sessions will also be made available to a wider audience. Stay tuned for more information!
Funding and logistics
We are aiming to include approximately 12 participants in this workshop. BirdsCaribbean has limited funding to cover the cost of travel, meals, accommodation, and workshop materials. Participants who are able to contribute all or part of their costs can help us enhance the workshop content and allow us to include additional participants/trainers. Participants should plan to arrive in The Bahamas on March 7 and depart on March 13.
COVID-19 Policy: BirdsCaribbean is committed to the safety of all workshop participants, trainers, and local communities. Proof of full vaccination will be required to participate in this workshop. Additional guidelines (e.g., negative tests, masks) will be provided to participants prior to the start of the workshop based on the most updated information.
Applications
If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out this form by 5 PM EST on January 13th, 2022. (note: this workshop opportunity was posted on our BirdsCaribbean listserve in December; if you are not on this groups.io listserve, please consider signing up to receive announcements about workshops and other opportunities and bird news. Thanks!)
Participants and facilitators enjoying a birding walk at The Retreat, Bahamas National Trust, Nassau, Bahamas.
The Retreat Garden is a national park located in Nassau, The Bahamas. The 11-acre botanical garden was the previous headquarters for the Bahamas National Trust, showcasing a mix of rare native and exotic plants. Resident and migratory birds are drawn to this oasis, making it the most popular birding spot on the island. In particular, participants can expect to see many migratory warbler species (hopefully, in the hand!), such as the Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Worm-eating Warbler.
If you have any questions, please send an email to:
A smiling young man walks through a field, carrying a dozen home-made cages on his back and in his hands, each packed with birds from the wild. A hot urban rooftop is crowded with some fifty cages filled with birds for sale. A child holds up a tiny cage holding a new pet, an Indigo Bunting trapped as it was migrating south. A Facebook page with thousands of subscribers advertises the sale of 39 freshly caught Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. These are some of the images of wild bird trafficking on the island of Cuba.
click on images to enlarge and scroll through the gallery
Young man walking in field carrying many cages, full of wild-trapped birds.
Many bird cages on a hot rooftop, holding birds trapped from the wild.
A young boy holding a Juvenile Painted bunting in a small cage
A Facebook page with thousands of subscribers announces the sale of 39 recently caught Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Community birding groups are vigilant and report illegal trapping activities on social media to the authorities.
BirdsCaribbean is deeply concerned over the illegal capture and trafficking of wild birds in Cuba, which has greatly increased over the last two years. We are appealing to the Cuban Government to do much more to protect their resident and migratory wildlife, a vital piece of their natural heritage and national pride. The international conservation community can help with this vital work; sharing methods to stop illegal trapping that have been been successful in other parts of the world.
Catching and keeping wild birds in cages is a common and widespread tradition in Cuba that dates back to the colonial days of Spanish rule. The birds, including migrants, residents, and endemics, were kept as pets in families and communities. In recent years, however, with the advent of social media in Cuba and especially as economic conditions deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the strengthening of the US blockade of Cuba (causing the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history), the trapping of wild birds has increased dramatically. Trapping and selling birds offers an opportunity for residents to substantially boost their income, including among younger Cuban citizens.
A trapped Painted Bunting (male) in the hand and in a cage. The Painted Bunting, one of the most popular birds for trappers in Cuba, is on the US Fish and Wildlife Service Birds of Conservation Concern List 2021. This means that the species is seriously declining and could become Endangered if conservation actions are not taken soon.
With the rise in social media, the selling of wild birds has expanded dramatically online (via Facebook and WhatsApp), with trappers able to market their birds to a much larger audience. It has also taken a more sinister turn, becoming a part of the deadly but highly profitable global wildlife trade. In other words, Cuba’s trade in trapped birds has gone international. There is great demand for the birds among the Cuban-American community in Florida, and several shipments from Cuba have been seized at the airports in Miami and Cuba. In Miami, high figures (e.g. $500) are paid for a Cuban Bullfinch (Negrito) or a Cuban Grassquit (Tomeguín del Pinar).
According to a May 2021 report published by TRAFFIC, a non-governmental organization that works globally on wild animal and plant trade, the most commonly trafficked animals in Latin America and the Caribbean by air during the last decade were birds – linking no less than 53 countries globally. International bird smugglers not only ply their trade via air. In many cases there are links with organized crime networks that arrange different routes and methods of transportation to avoid law enforcement agencies. Tracking seizures where wildlife was hidden on the trafficker’s body or in their personal effects, at least 77% were live animals. Birds made up 92% of seizures in this category – approximately one third of them songbirds.
Shocking numbers of trapped birds revealed by social media
Moreover, this escalation of the illegal trade comes at a time when the clear and present danger presented by climate change and resulting extreme weather events, as well as habitat loss and other factors, is impacting Caribbean birds’ very survival. The November issue of The Cuban Birder included a list of 36 Facebook groups that are openly selling wild birds – each group composed of from a few hundred up to 49,000 members. Reviewing these Facebook pages shows alarming facts – the birds on sale are often kept in poor and inhumane conditions and the incidents of bird captures very likely adds up to tens of thousands of birds caught each season.
BirdsCaribbean monitored one of these Facebook groups (with 46,000 members) for the month of October 2021, recording the daily catches posted by bird trappers. Our data shows that among the posts uploaded by 356 members, the following birds were trapped: 2,041 Indigo Buntings, 785 Painted Buntings, 235 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and many others – totaling 3,270 birds from 28 different species. This data is from just one month and for one of 36 Facebook groups, and it includes only catches that are posted online. Although we think this is the largest Facebook group, there are 35 other groups across different regions of Cuba.
Undoubtedly, the number of birds trapped annually can be estimated in the tens of thousands – and that is most likely a conservative estimate. Moreover, transactions are also made via WhatsApp groups, which are not easy to track. It should be noted that Facebook groups can be reported for their illegal activities.
“Monitoring a single Facebook group for one month, our data shows that a total of 3,270 birds of 28 different species were trapped.”
A tragically long list of captured species
A line of cages containing Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. These are USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern, meaning populations are declining and the species could become Endangered if conservation actions are not taken.
Ironically, the trappers refer to themselves as “bird watchers” and they are unaware that these migratory birds are also Cuban; they boast of being able to capture them because they are not Cuban. Some of these birds spend more time in Cuba than on the mainland and play an important role in the ecological balance of the island. Other species use Cuba as an important stopover site to rest and refuel during their long migrations to countries in Central and South America. This makes the Cuban archipelago a critical area for the conservation of species, since the survival of each of these birds depends on it.
Trappers prefer the male birds, resulting in an imbalance in the sexes of remaining breeding populations. Birds are caught primarily in mist nets, cages, and lyres. The latter is a stick/ perch smeared with a sticky glue-like Ficus tree resin; when the bird lands it becomes trapped on the resin. Of the birds that are captured, migratory birds are often targeted. Note that migratory bird species make up approximately 70% of Cuba’s total bird population and spend at least half of each year on the island.
Endemic and resident birds are also being trapped; these are iconic species for the island, and an invaluable part of Cuba’s magnificent landscapes and natural heritage. Here is a list of the dozens of species that fall victim to trappers and hunters on the island. We also provide this list in a spreadsheet with more detailed information on the status of each species (residence, abundance, and breeding status in the West Indies from The Checklist of the Birds of the West Indies; conservation status according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service “Birds of Conservation Concern List 2021,” and conservation status according to the IUCN Red List). Data are from the 3 websites that are linked here.
Here is a list of the dozens of species that fall victim to trappers or hunters on the island. Only 3 species are legal to hunt; Blue-winged Teal, Mourning Dove and Wilson’s Snipe. Many birds, like ducks and pigeons, are hunted and trapped illegally (e.g., with big nets) to sell for their meat. Raptors are sometimes killed because they prey on free-roaming chickens, a common issue in many countries.
Among the most popular for the bird trade are migratory songbirds like the Indigo Bunting, a beautiful little bird with a melodious song; the brilliantly colored Painted Bunting, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The Cuban Bullfinch, an endemic species that also sings sweetly is among those most in demand and frequently captured. Other popular captured species include the Blue Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Cape May Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Cuban Grassquit, Yellow-faced Grassquit, and Northern Mockingbird. The colorful Cuban Parrot and the Cuban Parakeet are also popular caged birds. The list is heartbreakingly long.
Many of these birds have been declining and some of the trapped migrants are on the US Fish and Wildlife Birds of Conservation Concern List 2021 (BCC 2021). The BCC 2021 designates species that are the highest conservation priority, i.e., species that are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act if conservation action is not taken quickly.
In the autumn months, many casualties fall due to cruel methods
Criminal trappers use the autumn migration months (September, October, and November), with peak activity in mid-October when large flocks of Nearctic migratory birds arrive on Cuba’s coasts, tired and hungry. Some of these birds will be winter residents while others are passing through Cuba and refueling before heading further south. Unfortunately, they all create an opportunity for these trappers to catch thousands of them each season. The trappers hide in area where the birds come to rest in the early hours of the morning loaded with cages, lures, lyres, and mist nets (which they are able to purchase online). Trapping continues throughout winter and increases again in the spring, to trap migrants returning north for the breeding season.
During trapping birds can get badly injured, this songbird (left) has died, on the right is a trapped Smoot-billed Ani in the hand. Our Cuban colleagues have noticed that many of the bird species that are trapped are declining; even the trappers say there are not as many birds as in the past, although individuals can still catch dozens or more during fallouts.
While the trapping itself removes many live birds from the wild, there is also a considerable fatality rate that occurs during the process. For example, when a strong glue is used and spread along a branch (i.e., lyre trap), many entrapped birds break or lose a leg or feathers in their struggle to escape and are left to die. Those that survive being trapped are still vulnerable to other risks. Testosterone is injected into birds to make them molt and sing for Singing Competitions, which can be lethal. Other inhumane practices have also been documented, including gouging out the eyes of birds to stress them into singing more.
Unfortunately, the sacred rituals of the Afro-Cuban religion, Santería, has added to the problem. In 2018 one authority posted a video showing 175 dead birds, which included 37 species, at least 7 of which were endemic (19 dead Cuban Trogons), confiscated from someone selling the birds to be used in Santería ceremonies.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has himself stated on his twitter feed that eradicating wildlife trafficking is among his environmental goals. Indeed, pursuing this goal will also help to enhance the reputation of the island as a country that seeks to conserve its amazing natural heritage, as it already does with its many National Parks and Protected Areas.
And not all is bad. There are some new domestic laws to be praised, including the recently passed Animal Welfare Decree-Law. In addition, fines have been increased for wildlife trafficking. Along with several other pieces of legislation in earlier years, this should provide a good regulatory framework for the protection of birds and other animals and is certainly a step in the right direction. The local government in Old Havana also banned caged birds in private businesses in September 2019.
However, as is evident from the photos and posts on dozens of social media groups, the laws that protect wild birds are not being enforced nearly enough. Trapping activities are rampant. Trappers and buyers are openly doing business with little or no fear of being caught, or facing meaningful consequences or penalties (e.g, arrest and prosecution). As a contracting party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1990, it is also important for the Cuban Government to show their law enforcement agencies are enforcing international laws protecting birds from trafficking.
The potential of eco-tourism as an alternative
Enjoying a great view of waterbirds at Las Salinas, Zapata Swamp, BirdsCaribbean Cuba Bird Tour, part of our Caribbean Birding Trail Program (photo by Garry Donaldson)
In a positive move, Cuba opened its doors to tourism again on 15 November 2021 and now has a vaccination rate among its population of >84% (as of December 15th). Ongoing and amplified efforts to raise environmental awareness should be extended to visitors arriving to Cuba. Cuba has so much to be proud of in terms of its remarkable biodiversity and variety of natural habitats. Thus, various forms of community-based tourism including bird and nature tours could be expanded as alternative livelihoods, catering to an increasingly environmentally conscious tourism market that is willing to pay for the unique Cuban nature and culture experience. The sight of traffickers swarming the streets with cages of wild birds and caged birds in many homes and businesses has tarnished the image of Cuba in the eyes of international visitors, and will continue to do harm to that image.
Efforts to combat the problem must continue
Education campaign T-Shirts with artwork by Arnaldo Toledo. Thanks to Optics for the Tropics and others for assisting with this initiative and our Cuban colleagues for their dedicated efforts.
We would like to recognize, with gratitude, that a group of dedicated Cuban ornithologists and conservationists have been working diligently on the caged bird issue for many years. The need for an intensive environmental education campaign, not only in schools but also in communities and national media has long been recognized.
More recently, at the BirdsCaribbean 2017 conference in Cuba, a workshop was held on the issue. Strategies and actions to address the problems were discussed and a Caged Bird Working Group was formed.
Since then, some positive actions have been taken. Special artwork by a Cuban artist was commissioned to support an education campaign that included the production of hundreds of t-shirts for children and community members. A brochure and series of attractive posters conveying the message that trapping of wild birds is illegal were printed and distributed and a documentary Aves de Cuba that included information on the caged bird threat was shared on Cuban television. Cuban conservationists have written letters and made phone calls to the authorities reporting trapping activities, and customs officers have been trained and supplied with an identification guide Aves Silvestres más capturadas ilegalmente en Cuba: Guía de identificación. Cuban citizens have also been speaking out against the trapping on social media, helping to promote discussion and raise awareness.
click on images to enlarge and scroll through the gallery
In addition, our Cuban colleagues also participate in BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and World Migratory Bird Day celebrations every year, carrying out their own Festival de las Aves Endemicas del Caribe en Cuba. They also participate in Global Big Day birding and have produced videos for national television and social media, all to promote a culture of bird conservation and encourage citizen science bird monitoring through eBird. All this work, whether by individuals or the group, must continue and education in schools and public awareness efforts must be expanded.
So, why is this not enough?
Trapping of wild birds has become so widespread, with the sale of wild birds taking place openly, that the outreach efforts by our Cuban colleagues are simply not enough to stop or even slow the problem. The shocking implications of our survey of Facebook showing rampant bird captures and sales underlines the urgent need for more concerted efforts to enforce the laws, and to prevent the trappers from continuing (and expanding) their activities without any consequences. For example, local police could be charged with stopping trappers (a common site in Cuba), releasing the birds they’ve caught, destroying their cages, and imposing the fine. (Click on images to enlarge and scroll through gallery)
Two young men on motorbike with lots of cages
A large number of Painted Buntings held in a cage. This species is on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2021 List of Birds of Conservation Concern.
Boys with a juvenile painted bunting in a small box. More and more children are involved in catching birds.
Our colleagues’s efforts to educate about the issue must also be greatly expanded, through environmental education in schools, and through campaigns and public awareness programs in communities, and on radio and television. These will help citizens recognize that birds are essential for myriad ecosystem services that are critical for the health of communities and their quality of life. Cubans of all ages can become better connected with the value of their native wildlife through activities such as planting bird-friendly yards, offering communities and schools connectivity with local birdwatching trips, and making bird feeders to enjoy birds while keeping them wild.
We need to invest in training for alternative livelihoods and activities that provide incentives for protecting wildlife instead of destroying it, such as more community-based tourism that includes bird and nature guides, and bird monitoring and banding programs. The support of the international conservation community and fundraising agencies are urgently needed for all this work.
Let’s protect and enjoy our birds…more free, more beautiful! #MásLibresMásBellas
Artwork by Arnaldo Toledo
While some people like to admire birds in cages, these birds are so much more beautiful when seen wild and free, flying through the forest and in our parks and gardens. Greater efforts are needed to protect them by enforcing the laws that are in place. We do not want these wonderful bird species to reach the “point of no return.” We are urgently appealing to the Cuban Government to express its national pride in its biodiversity by doing more to enforce its environmental laws.
We ask the international conservation community to help Cuba in its efforts to put a stop to bird trapping and trafficking. Efforts to raise the level of education and awareness of Cuba’s beautiful and unique bird species – many of which are seriously declining in numbers – must also continue.
BirdsCaribbean supports ongoing conservation, education and alternative livelihood training efforts in Cuba, and would like to continue doing so. Among other initiatives, there is a plan to establish birding clubs in each province. We also aim to provide more binoculars and educational materials to our partners, to assist them in reaching more communities and youth, and to gather more data on the extent and impacts of trapping. If you would like to help us in this work, please donate here.Cuba’s amazing endemic birds and our shared migrants will be grateful!
click on images to enlarge and scroll through the gallery and see videos below
Group of nine men with their birds in cages
Mist-net purchased online by trapper, shown on his Facebook – these nylon mist-nets are harmful to small songbirds.
Homemade bird cages, almost finished, shown on Facebook.
Young boy carrying many bird cages on his back
An Ovenbird, a migratory warbler, in the hand.
Five male Summer Tanagers illegally captured in Cuba.
“The complete collection of birds of prey that I have at the moment …1 Gundlach’s hawk, 2 Bare-legged owls, 2-3 Red-tailed hawks…”
The Cuban president shares a tweet about bird trapping
Young boy holding a juvenile male Painted Bunting
Two immature Painted Buntings in a cage and a young trapper holding a bird
Painted Buntings for sale in Miami, Florida.
Caption: “It died when I took it in my hand taking it out of the aviary to throw it into a cage until it got wet and everything but nothing, what could have happened? Greetings and thank you.”
A Painted Bunting being held in a plastic bag, December 2021
The sign reads: “It is not an empty cage, it is a free bird!!”
A man walks down a dirt road carrying several cages with birds
Summer Tanager (female) illegally captured in Cuba.
Trapped Painted Buntings being kept in a cage, Spring 2021
Educational brochure – page 2
A Prothonotary Warbler, trapped and held in captivity. This species is on the USFWS 2021 List of Birds of Conservation Concern.
A tweet about some bird hunters who were captured, showing the cages that were destroyed by law enforcement officers.
Two young men on a motorbike carrying mang cages with birds in
Painted Buntings crammed into a tiny home-made cage
American Redstart (male) in the hand of a trapper.
Northern Parula (male), a migratory warbler in the hand of a trapper.
Images of a hormone product that trappers inject into birds to make them sing. Hunters sell it on Facebook to other hunters.
Trapper holding two Black-throated Blue Warblers
Young trapper holding three juvenile Painted Buntings
A male Painted Bunting, suffering from some disease, in captivity.
There are over 50 Painted Buntings in this cage in Cuba in January.
This person is advertising cages, birds and bird food for sale. His property is a business with all the tools needed to manufacture cages in good quantities. He shows the process of making the cages.
There are over 50 Painted Buntings in this cage in Cuba in January.
A young Gundlach’s Hawk, endemic to Cuba and Endangered. This bird was captured by someone who illegally cut down the tree and destroyed the nest. The hawk chick was sold to someone else and is being kept in terrible conditions.
American Kestrel in a small cage.
Young trappers with Painted Buntings in cages
Line of small cages holding Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
Indigo Buntings, Cuban-Grassquits, Cuban-Bullfinches for sale to a private buyer.
Male Painted Buntings and Indigo Bunting being kept in a cage
A post on Facebook advertising birds for sale
A Western Spindalis, a Caribbean endemic, in the hand.
Painted Bunting (male) in a tiny cage.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks for sale
Cuban Parrot chicks, stolen from a nest in the wild, to be sold on the black market. This species is classified as Near Threatened.
Three young bird trappers holding Painted Buntings- two males and one female
Fourteen cages containing trapped wild birds.
Ovenbird, a migratory warbler, in the hands of a trapper.
Educational brochure – page 1
Posting birds for sale on Facebook, February 2020.
A caged Painted Bunting
Cape May Warbler (female or immature). This species is on the USFWS 2021 List of Birds of Conservation Concern.
The Yellow-throated Warbler is a popular bird for hunters, watch the video of more than 130 specimens in a cage.
Young man with lots of cages
Cape May Warbler (male) in the hand of a trapper. This species is on the USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern List 2021.
Father and son with a juvenile Indigo Bunting
A Cuban Grassquit whose feathers have been plucked to apply a chemical product and make it fight.
Cuban Bullfinches for sale.
Trapped Rose-breasted Grosbeaks kept in captivity. This species is on the USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern List 2021.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to invite applications to participate in a 5-day training workshop focused on the monitoring and conservation of landbirds in the Caribbean. Through a blend of classroom and field-based activities, this comprehensive workshop will cover landbird identification, monitoring techniques, eBird data entry, basic data analysis, and more. The workshop will take place at Rancho Baiguate in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic from February 16-20, 2022.
This training workshop is part of BirdsCaribbean’s new project that aims to build capacity to monitor and conserve landbirds in the Caribbean. The long-term goal of this project is to enhance full life cycle conservation of Caribbean landbirds. Working with our many partners, we will build regional networks to increase awareness and appreciation of our landbirds and enable on-the ground conservation actions, including protecting, managing, and restoring important habitats.
We know that this dream can become a reality. We have seen the impact of bird monitoring initiatives like the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC), which has provided novel information and helped designate and protect sites that are crucial to the survival of bird populations.
About the workshop
This “train the trainer” workshop is designed for Caribbean wildlife professionals and volunteers who are interested in expanding or establishing a landbird monitoring program.
The purpose of the workshop is to:
Share information on landbirds in the Caribbean and the threats that they face
Provide participants with the knowledge and skills to train a monitoring team and institute a sustainable, local landbird monitoring program.
Inspire and facilitate landbird monitoring and conservation efforts, including raising public awareness, alleviating threats, and managing and restoring habitats
Build a regional network of people involved in standardized monitoring and conservation of our shared landbirds
Workshop participants will learn about the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) Manual bird survey protocols. Developed in Latin America to target tropical habitats, this manual includes detailed guidance on designing and implementing multi-level survey methods. The manual also incorporates the use of eBird as a user-friendly data entry and storage platform, and outlines occupancy-based analysis of monitoring data.
During daily field trips, we will practice landbird identification and survey techniques. After the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to apply for a small grant (~1k to $10k) to implement or amplify their own landbird monitoring and conservation projects.
The Cape May Warbler a declining landbird that winters in the Caribbean. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Dominican field crew surveying Louisiana Waterthrush. (Photo by Steve Latta)
Broad-billed Tody perched in a tree. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Topics to be covered in the 5-day workshop include:
Overview of the PROALAS Manual survey protocols
Guidance on how to design and implement a monitoring program
Field training to identify and count landbirds
Threats to landbirds and their habitats, and strategies to conserve and manage them
Case studies for successful landbird monitoring and conservation
Data entry and use of e-bird as a data storage platform
Basic analysis of monitoring data
In an effort to decrease the amount of time spent in the classroom, some workshop sessions will be held virtually prior to the in-person workshop. These virtual sessions will also be made available to a wider audience. Stay tuned for more information!
Funding and logistics
We are aiming to include approximately 24 participants in this workshop. BirdsCaribbean has limited funding to cover the cost of travel, meals, accommodation, and workshop materials. Participants who are able to contribute all or part of their costs can help us enhance the workshop content and allow us to include additional participants/trainers. Participants should plan to arrive in the Dominican Republic on February 15th and depart on February 21st.
COVID-19 Policy: BirdsCaribbean is committed to the safety of all workshop participants, trainers, and local communities. Proof of full vaccination will be required to participate in this workshop. Additional guidelines (e.g., negative tests, masks) will be provided to participants prior to the start of the workshop based on the most updated information.
If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out this form by 5 PM EST on December 10, 2021.
Rancho Baiguate is an eco-lodge in the Jarabacoa valley of the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic. At 500m elevation, Jarabacoa is known as the “city of eternal spring,” with warm sunny days and cool refreshing evenings. Rancho Baiguate is located on the Rio Baiguate, where participants can walk through restored riparian tropical forest and mixed edge habitat within sustainable agriculture. Birds abound in these varied habitats, and participants will easily see many of Hispaniola’s charismatic endemic bird species, including the two beloved todies (Broad-billed Tody and Narrow-billed Tody) and the national bird, the Palmchat. The town of Jarabacoa is an easy 5 minute drive from the lodge, and participants can visit any of the three stunning waterfalls nearby. Field trips may include visits to nearby reserves such as Ebano Verde. After the workshop, participants are welcome to extend their stay and try any of Rancho Baiguate’s adventurous activities including white water rafting, canyoning, or horse back riding. Come learn more about landbird monitoring with some of the Dominican Republic’s finest birds!
We are very excited to announce we have a new full-time staff member joining us at BirdsCaribbean!
Meet Tahira Carter who is joining BirdsCaribbean as our new Communications Manager
We would like you to meet our new Communications Manager: Tahira Carter! Tahira is a national of Grenada. She is an award-winning bilingual communications professional with over seven years’ experience in the media industry.
As our Communications Manager, Tahira will oversee BirdsCaribbean’s communications, marketing, and public relations efforts to raise awareness and support for BirdsCaribbean’s mission, projects and programs. Commented Executive Director, Lisa Sorenson, “Tahira has outstanding experience as a public relations specialist and marketing strategist and she has many related skills to support our work. We are thrilled to have her join our staff.”
Tahira holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science from Cameron University and a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations from the Diplomatic School of Spain.
Passionate about the development of the Caribbean region, Tahira’s professional portfolio includes work experience in both the public and private sectors, using her expertise in the areas of strategic communications and public relations to effect change at a policy and grassroots level.
Most recently, Tahira held the posts of Senior Communications Specialist and Acting Head of Communications at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, based in Saint Lucia, where she was an integral partner to government and regional agencies over the past five years.
Tahira is excited to be returning to her home country of Grenada as she begins work with BirdsCaribbean (officially starting December 1st). Environmental sustainability has been at the forefront of Tahira’s interests, and much of her work at OECS. She is very excited to fully dive into this with BirdsCaribbean.
Tahira is also looking forward to learning more about birds, bird conservation, our partners, and the work we’ve been doing within the Caribbean. She commented that she is, “very excited to work with us and meet as many of us as possible in the weeks and months ahead!”
In her spare time, Tahira enjoys exploring her island home, hiking, bird watching, and scuba diving. She also donates her time and expertise by providing volunteer support to environmental conservation initiatives.
Let’s give a warm Caribbean welcome to Tahira! Welcome to the flock!!
Our new video, “Caribbean Shorebirds Under Fire,” is the fourth in our series on the plight of our shorebirds, which are facing a drastic decline in numbers. This video highlights the need for well-regulated, sustainable hunting on several Caribbean islands where it is a traditional way of life. It can be disturbing, but we are looking for the way forward. We owe it to our beautiful shorebirds. We hope you will watch, share, and help us find solutions. Content Warning: Birds that have been shot.
Hunting has a strong tradition in the Caribbean, with shorebird hunting being especially prevalent on the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Barbados.
Map of the west Indies with Guadeloupe, Martinique and Barbados highlighted. These islands are important stopover and wintering sites for hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds, but many are killed by hunters during migration and winter. (map by Aly Ollivierre)
For example, the history of shorebirds harvest on Barbados dates back to the to the mid-seventeenth century, in the early colonial period when Barbados was settled. As shorebirds visit the region on their fall migration and during winter, they use Caribbean wetlands to rest and refuel, take refuge from adverse weather, and as a winter home.
Some hunters – for example in Barbados – provide such habitats, managing small wetlands (“shooting swamps”) to attract shorebirds. The habitat is vitally important for tired and hungry migrant shorebirds but its use comes at a cost to the birds, as many then become the targets of sport hunting. On the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, however, wetlands are more abundant and the opportunities for hunting shorebirds are much broader. Targeted species include Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, and American Golden-Plover. We know that these and other shorebird populations in the Atlantic Flyway and the entire planet have drastically declined in numbers (50-90%) over the past 3 decades.
The Sad Story of Machi and Goshen
Whimbrels using a wetland on Guadeloupe. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Machi and Goshen were two Whimbrels fitted with satellite tracking tags by scientists at the Center for Conservation Biology. We learned that these two sturdy birds took detours around the violent tropical storms of 2011 and made their way further south through the eastern Caribbean. Machi, in particular, had taken some extraordinary trips in his lifetime, clocking many thousands of miles since he was first tagged in 2009.
But in 2011 – just ten years ago now – a sad fate awaited them. News broke that Machi had been shot by hunters at a swamp in Guadeloupe. The news of Goshen’s death, in the same area, swiftly followed. They had weathered the storms, only to end their lives at the barrel of a gun.
A Flood of Letters, and a Change in Guadeloupe
A Hudsonian Godwit as part of a hunters bag on Guadeloupe. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
At the time, hunting in Guadeloupe and nearby Martinique had few or no regulations on which species could be shot, how many could be shot, or the number of days hunting was allowed. With the spotlight on the issue of shorebird hunting, BirdsCaribbean (then the SCSCB – Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds) and partners organized a letter writing campaign. Letters went out in the hundreds – to decision makers in the environmental departments of the French Government, as well as to other key institutions and international organizations. Please, make the harvest of shorebirds more sustainable, the letters urged.
After this campaign, some positive progress was made to Guadeloupe’s hunting regulations. In 2012 and 2013 Red Knot and Solitary Sandpipers were removed from the list of shorebirds that could be hunted. Daily bag limits (20 shorebirds per hunter per day) were introduced and regulations set specific days when hunting was not permitted, giving shorebirds some respite.
On Martinique Red Knots were also removed from the hunting list. However, no bag limits or ‘days off’ were set. It was also clear that on both islands, many declining and threatened shorebird species were still being shot by hunters in numbers that might not be sustainable.
We Must Celebrate the Successes!
So…let’s look at the positives.
Each year in Guadeloupe and Martinique hunting regulations are set by decree (separately for each island). In 2021, besides previous restrictions, shooting of Whimbrels on Guadeloupe was not permitted and the hunting of Hudsonian Godwits was set at two per day. On Martinique shorebird hunting was still allowed for 206 days of the year, with no ‘days off’ from hunting. Although some bag limits were set on Martinique, most were deemed by conservationists to be too high to be sustainable.
A Shooting Swamp on Martinique. (Photo by Yves Aubry)
In the fall of 2021, an alliance of nature protection groups* came together to oppose the 2021-22 decrees in both Guadeloupe and Martinique. They requested the suspension of hunting of the Hudsonian Godwit on Guadeloupe—a species of conservation concern and rare on Guadeloupe. On Martinique, they requested the suspension of hunting of 10 shorebirds and four songbirds, all with poor conservation status on the island. Many BirdsCaribbean members and partners sent in emails (over 1,000) opposing the hunting decree.
Ruling on these requests, a judge banned the hunting of five shorebirds on Martinique (Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Golden Plover, and Black-bellied Plover). Martinique also set a bag limit of 20 Lesser Yellowlegs per day per hunter in 2020/21, the first time a restriction has been put in place for this species! On Guadeloupe the hunting of Hudsonian Godwits was also stopped.
It was not an easy task, but the efforts and passion of non-governmental organizations, their members and supporters deserves a huge pat on the back. This was a “win” for shorebirds!
Some Positive Changes to Hunting in Barbados
Hunting decoys, used to attract shorebirds, at a swamp in Barbados. (Photo by John Webster)
Barbados is a small, low-lying island on the far eastern edge of the Lesser Antilles. Because of its rather far-flung position, many shorebirds land on the island to avoid severe storms. Hunting in the early years when birds were abundant provided an opportunistic harvest of shorebirds for food and sport. Over time, opportunistic harvest transitioned to managing land to make it more attractive to shorebirds.
With few remaining natural wetlands, the shooting swamps developed by hunters on the island provide excellent habitats for shorebirds and many non-target waterbird species, both resident and migrants. They will likely rely on these managed wetlands even more in the future as severe storms and drought increase with climate change.
The good news is that shorebird hunting in Barbados has been in decline since the 1990s. A number of shooting swamps have closed, with only five active today. By the late 2000s harvesting had declined from roughly 20– 30,000 to approximately 10,000 annually. Why is this? Well, this is partly because younger people have lost interest in hunting and the cost of hunting is rising. Also, the Barbados Wildfowlers Association, representing a number of shooting swamp owners, decided to self-regulate. The Association recommended voluntary measures to reduce daily and total harvest using suggested daily and seasonal bag limits.
Refuge from the Storm for Shorebirds on Barbados?
On a small island, land and water are precious commodities. Abandoned swamps get used for other purposes, such as agriculture, reducing wetland habitats for birds. So, to maintain such habitats, shorebird refuges came into being. In 2008, the first shorebird refuge was created: Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge as a haven for shorebirds. The greater awareness and appreciation of the value of these wetlands by some members of the hunting community has also contributed to preserving some non-active shooting swamps for shorebirds. They may not be large, but they are some of the best places to observe a wonderful diversity of shorebirds and waterbirds on the island.
Woodbourne Shorebirds Refuge, Barbados. (Photo by John Webster)
Secondly, we believe that we can make a difference if conservationists and hunters work together to build a well-managed, sustainable hunting program. Historically, hunters have played an important role in conservation; for example, the nonprofit Ducks Unlimited has worked with landowners and federal and state agencies to conserve, restore, and manage millions of hectares of wetland habitats for ducks, other wildlife, and people. The dialogue among all stakeholders must continue. We all know that regulations and monitoring are essential, going forward, or the steady decline in shorebirds, most of which are migratory, will continue with disastrous results. So, enforcement of the laws that already exist, and development of future ones, is vital.
It is all doable!
Barbados Needs More Wetlands – Hunters Could Play a Role
As we have noted, Barbados does not have large natural wetlands. What they do have needs to be protected and maintained. Just as in Canada and the United States today, hunters can, and often do, play a vital role in conserving habitat. Now, will hunting become less popular as a pastime in Barbados? If so, the shooting swamps hunters created could become shorebird refuges. If a network of such wetland refuges, including former shooting swamps, could be gradually developed, how marvelous that would be for the shorebirds, for other wildlife – and for the people of Barbados. They could even be the basis for an expansion of eco-tourism, including birding trails for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Let’s Work Together
On Guadeloupe and Martinique, much work needs to be done to bring a sense of balance to the situation. Working together, conservation groups, the island governments and the hunting community can foster a less confrontational state of affairs. The work must continue, because we are all aware that this year’s ruling does not guarantee the same restrictions will apply to the 2022/23 shorebird hunting regulations.
A mixed flock of shorebirds, including Willets and Short-billed Dowitchers, enjoying a Caribbean wetland. (Photo by Ernesto Reyes)
Our shorebirds are under pressure like never before, and we must stop their precipitous decline. Shorebird hunting can be sustainable, with shorebirds thriving for everyone to enjoy. Please take a look at our latest video on shorebird hunting. We welcome your comments, suggestions and support, as we seek solutions. Please share and “like” our shorebird posts on social media.
We promise we will stay focused on this important issue for our precious shorebirds and will update you on any new developments as we go along.
It’s for the shorebirds of the Caribbean!
We thank Environment and Climate Change Canada, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Atlantic Flyways Shorebird Initiative, US Forest Service International Programs, film maker Esther Figueroa, talented photographers and videographers, and our partners, members, and donors for your generous support to create this video (fourth in a series!) and carry out Caribbean shorebird and waterbird conservation initiatives.
* Organizations asking for changes to hunting rules: AMAZONA, Association pour la Protection des Animaux Sauvages, Association pour l’Étude et la protection des Vertébrés et végétaux des petites Antilles, L’Association Francophone des Soigneurs Animaliers, Le Carouge, and Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux
To learn more about Caribbean shorebirds and our work to conserve them, check out the following articles and links therein:
Cuban birders ready for October Big Day. (Photo by Maikel Canizares-Morera)
October Big Day is a chance for people around the world a get out and count, enjoy, and celebrate birds! In this 24-hour period enthusiastic participants add their bird-sightings to eBird contributing to our knowledge of birds and our ability to help conserve them. Find out how October Big Day 2021 went and how people in the Caribbean contributed to this amazing citizen science project!
October Big Day is always special, happening during the peak of Fall migration, it is an exciting time to be out looking for birds! This year, October 9, 2021 broke records globally. Much larger numbers of birders across the Planet turned out – in total, 33,658 participants spotted 7,293 species, according to ebird.org. In the global rankings, Colombians came in first, spotting a stunning 1,347 species. There was hot competition in South and Central America, with Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia racing to catch up. Argentina, Costa Rica, and Mexico were also among the “Bird Species Top Ten.”
How did the Caribbean do?
In total, Caribbean ebirders reported 353 species and submitted 1,093 checklists. This was an improvement from 2020, when fewer checklists (866) and slightly fewer species (344) were reported. This was likely due to restrictions related to the COVID pandemic in 2020, which have since been eased somewhat on some islands.
We always want to know who beat the competition! Well, in terms of participation Puerto Rico topped the list, with 364 checklists containing 161 species (94 species were recorded in the Cabo Rojo area). Bahamas came in second place with 131 species coming up on 192 checklists. The Cayman Islands came third, just ahead of Cuba (although the Caymans saw fewer species, the number of checklists was an impressive 114).
Caribbean regions on October Big Day ranked by number of checklists
Caribbean regions on October Big Day ranked by number of species seen
Cuban birders spotted an amazing 189 species on the day and rolled in at #52 in the overall global ranking, followed by Puerto Rico at #61. Trinidad and Tobago registered 136 species; Dominican Republic and Caribbean Netherlands did well with 129 and 78 species recorded, respectively.
Who was the top Caribbean eBirder? Well, Cuba’s Rodolfo Castro Alvarez spotted 148 species, while Julio Salgado and Eric Torres-Rivera, two birders from Puerto Rico were extremely busy. Congratulations to all and good work Caribbean eBirders!
What about the birds?
Now, a postscript on the birds. Which species do you think had the highest count? Well, our top Caribbean eBirder in Cuba logged three species of waterbird in the thousands in Pinar del Rio: the Blue-winged Teal, Double-crested Cormorant, and Short-billed Dowitcher. In New Providence, the Bahamas, 400 White-cheeked Pintail were spotted; and in North Side, Cayman Islands, over 300 Snowy Egrets were counted.
Barbados Bullfinch, one of the Caribbean Island endemics spotted. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Red-breasted Merganser, Cuba. One of the less common species spotted during October Big Day (Photo by Maikel Canizares-Morera)
Some migratory visitors. Hudsonian Godwits at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
As would be expected at this time of year migratory shorebirds and warblers featured in many of the eBird lists from the Caribbean. Many of the ‘usual suspects’ were present, such as Semipalmated Sandpipers, Hudsonian Godwits and Yellow Warblers. A few far less common visitors were spotted, such as the Red-breasted Merganser seen at Pinar del Rio in Cuba. On the Cayman Islands, Cayman Birding was 1 of 201 teams that celebrated October Big Day by participating in the Global Bird Weekend with global birding. Their 7 members, who were spread across all three islands, recorded at total of 79 species and submitted 27 checklists! Overall Caribbean Big Day birders spotted a fantastic mixture of migratory birds, residents and of course some of their island endemics! With many birders sharing their birds and birding trips on social media.
October Big Day is a milestone in the year, when migratory birds spread out across the region. The date “sticks a pin” in the calendar. We look forward to another record-breaking year in 2022 – for the Caribbean!
Thank you to all the birders across the Caribbean who took part this year whether exploring across their islands or doing some ‘back-yard’ birding you all contributed to the amazing success of October Big Day 2021! Enjoy some more of the photos and social media posts shared from across the Caribbean during October Big Day below.
Flock of flamingoes at Margarita Island, Venezuela. (Photo by Josmar Marquez)
Children celebrating World Migratory Bird Day on October Big Day Venezuela (Photo by Josmar Marquez)
Children bird watching Margarita Island, Venezuela. (Photo by Josmar Marquez)
Black-necked Stilts Anguilla. (Photo by Anguilla National Trust)
Birding by the roadside, Anguilla. (Photo by Anguilla National Trust)
Birders in action, Anguilla. (Photo by Anguilla National Trust)
Bird banding workshop being held in Venezuela. (Photo by Josmar Marquez)
Bird banding workshop being held in Venezuela. (Photo by Josmar Marquez)
Western Spindalis, spotted in Cuba during October Big Day. (Photo by Maikel Canizares)
Ruddy Turnstones, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Red-breasted Merganser, Cuba. (Photo by Maikel Canizares-Morera)
Puerto Rican birders. (Photo by Adrianne Tossas)
Prairie Warbler, Cuba (Photo by Jorge-Uria)
Early Moring Birding at NorthSound Golf Club, Cayman Islands (Photo by Cayman Birding)
Early Moring Birding at NorthSound Golf Club, Cayman Islands (Photo by Cayman Birding)
Northern Parula, Cuba. (Photo by Jorge Uria)
Maybel Rodriguez-and Daniela Ventura at del Puerto Crocodile Lagoon Peninsula de-Guanahacabibes, Cuba
Juvenile Laughing Gull, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Cuban birders in action. (Photo by Maikel Canizares-Morera)
Cayman Parrots. (Photo by Cayman Birding)
American Avocet, Cuba. (photo by Maikel Canizares-Morera)
All set for October Big Day in Cuba. (Photo by Maybel Maria Rogriguez-Perez)
Adrianne Tossas birding at Hacienda La Esperanza, Puerto Rico
There is no doubt that birding is all about community. We enjoy spending time together, binoculars in hand, sharing sightings and experiences, enjoying birds and nature.
But then, are we leaving some people out?
Birdability is a new non-profit organization founded by Virginia Rose, who fell off a horse at the age of 14 and has been in a wheelchair since then. She began birding 17 years ago and wanted to share her passion and joy with others with disability challenges. Inspired by movements such as #BlackBirdersWeek, Virginia founded Birdability in 2020. Its vision is that birding is for everyone – including those with disabilities and other health concerns.
The first Birdability Week (October 18 to 24, 2020) introduced the organization as not only a celebration of birders with disabilities, but as a sharing of information and resources to encourage the birding community to be more inclusive and diverse. It is supported by National Audubon in the U.S. and many other organizations and businesses.
Birdability focuses on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing, or who have other health concerns.
“At BirdsCaribbean, we welcome this ground-breaking and inspiring initiative,” says Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “Diversity is very important to us – it enhances the birding experience for everyone. We encourage our partners across the Caribbean to reach out to different communities who may sometimes feel left out, including those with disabilities and other challenges.”
“I recall that a number of years ago, SOPI (Sociedad Ornitólogica Puertorriqueña) held a birding program for blind youth, allowing them to “see” different birds through exploring and handling carved wooden birds,” commented Lisa further. “I remember thinking what a great initiative this is, and that we need to do more of this kind of outreach.”
In her introductory talk on October 7, Birdability founder Virginia Rose shared her experiences of birding in a wheelchair, encouraging those with mobility concerns to go out and get into nature. The discussion included some important issues to be explored in more depth during Birdability Week, such as access considerations for birding locations such as making sure that trails are accessible and safe for those in wheelchairs and interpretive signs are a good height for everyone. They will also talk about adaptive birding equipment; and tips for inclusive communication and language use. You can find the full recording here.
So, if you are wondering how to get started, and to learn more about the practical aspects of “birdability,” there will be an opportunity to chat with birders and potential future birders with disabilities and other health concerns at a free webinar on Tuesday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The theme is “Empowering exploration: Birding with an access challenge.” This will be followed by a series of useful, instructive webinars throughout Birdability Week, ending with a guided workshop on “Slow Birding” on Sunday, October 24. You can sign up for all these fun and interesting sessions here.
Birdability Week offers the opportunity for birding groups, non-governmental organizations, and groups of family and friends to host an accessible bird outing. Lisa Sorenson comments: “With a little thought and planning, and using the great resources that Birdability offers, we can create innovative and enjoyable activities that will include more of our citizens. Let’s do it!”
Laura McDuffie, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Management Program, has been tracking the movements of Lesser Yellowlegs on their migration. Find out more about Laura’s work, the amazing journeys that Lesser Yellowlegs make each year and the threats they face along the way! Scroll down to see Laura’s webinar on the Lesser Yellowlegs with much more information on her research. Also check out our NEW short video on Lesser Yellowlegs and hunting in the Caribbean (below and on our YouTube).
Typically, when people think of shorebirds, they envision gangly, long-billed birds probing for invertebrates along sandy or rocky coastlines. But this is not where you are likely to find our study species, the Lesser Yellowlegs! This medium-sized shorebird breeds in the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada. They can be found in a diversity of wetland habitats during migration and overwintering in the Caribbean and Central and South America. This includes salt, brackish, and freshwater ponds and swamps, mud flats, mangroves, and other water edges. They are particularly fond of freshwater swamps and may also be found in large numbers on flooded agricultural fields (especially rice fields) if available, as in Suriname, Cuba, and Trinidad.
Shorebirds in Trouble
Over the past five decades, shorebirds have declined at an unprecedented rate. Factors causing this decline include habitat destruction and alteration, agrochemical applications, climate change, and for some shorebirds, including the Lesser Yellowlegs, unsustainable harvest at several non-breeding locations. Harvest occurs as sports hunting in the Caribbean, as well as hunting and trapping for sale as food, as a source of income in other parts of the flyway. Lesser Yellowlegs populations have declined by an alarming 63 ̶70% since the 1970s!
Keeping Track of Lesser Yellowlegs
Tagged Lesser Yellowlegs. (Photo By Laura McDuffie)
In May 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Management Program began deploying tracking devices (light-level geolocators) on breeding Lesser Yellowlegs in Anchorage, Alaska. Our goal was to determine where the species occurs during the non-breeding season. In 2017, birds returned to the breeding sites. To our dismay, however, they were incredibly difficult to recapture so that we could retrieve the tags and the data. This serious predicament ultimately made us have a “rethink” about our objectives for the Program. As a result, we expanded the range of our study to include collaborations with Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Ft. McMurray, Alberta; Churchill, Manitoba; James Bay, Ontario, and Mingan Archipelago, Quebec.
During the summers of 2018-2021, partners at Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Katherine Christie), USFWS (Christopher Harwood), Environment and Climate Change Canada (Jennie Rausch, Christian Friis, and Yves Aubrey), and Trent University (Erica Nol) deployed Lotek wireless GPS pinpoint tags on breeding adults. These tags record data via satellite so recaptures are not required! The GPS tags are accurate to ~10m, which has allowed us to examine the occurrence of Lesser Yellowlegs in countries where shorebirds are harvested. Since 2018, we have successfully deployed 115 GPS tags on Lesser Yellowlegs!
Amazing Journeys Revealed
Each bird we tag and release has their movements tracked, which mean we can identify the different countries they visit and specific sites they use during migration and overwintering. This information can help us to identify the potential bottlenecks and threats that birds experience each year.
Map showing JP’s Migration.
Here is just one amazing journey made by “JP” who was tagged in Anchorage, Alaska in 2018. The tag revealed that he travelled at least 10,576 km on his southward migration, taking in Alberta and Manitoba, Canada, and Devils Lake, North Dakota, on his way through North America. JP then spent a whole month on Barbuda! This highlights how important the Caribbean can be as a rest and refueling spot for some shorebirds. Finally, JP made it to Middenstandspolder, in Suriname, where his tag went offline in February 2019.
We don’t know why JP’s tag stopped transmitting. It was not uncommon in our study to have incomplete tracklines. For these birds, the battery of the tag may have failed, or the harness could have fallen off and left the tag lying covered in mud, unable to recharge and transmit. However, we do know that some birds don’t survive the long journey.
Thanks to strong collaborations with biologists working in the Caribbean, we were able to receive some shorebird harvest reports. In fall 2020, we learned that two of our tagged birds “O2A” and “A65” were shot by hunters in Guadeloupe and Martinique, respectively. This shows that hunting isn’t only a “predicted threat” to the birds we studied, but also a real and observed threat.
Migration map of Lesser Yellowlegs “A65” wearing a GPS tracking tag. A65 was harvested in fall 2020 in Martinique, French West Indies.
Lesser Yellowlegs with GPS tag “A65” was harvested in Martinique by a hunter on its southbound migration. We are thankful to hunters for reporting tagged birds to us!
Migration map of Lesser Yellowlegs “O2A” wearing a GPS tracking tag. O2A was harvested in fall 2020 in Guadeloupe, French West Indies.
find out more about Lesser Yellowlegs and hunting in the Caribbean in this short video
Globally, Lesser Yellowlegs are in steep decline, with likely only 400,000 individuals remaining. Our research on the species has helped identify several potential threats, but we still need to learn more about the hazards these birds face. So, we must rely on assistance from local biologists, managers, hunters, and the public in the Caribbean and beyond.
The proper management of a species ensures that it will be around for future generations to enjoy and utilize. Awareness and education about the species decline and an understanding of the threats it faces can go a long way! When the general public is aware of an issue, they are more likely to take actions. These might include helping to monitor birds, conserving local wetlands, or ensuring that hunting laws protect vulnerable species. They may even participate in scientific efforts, such as submitting shorebird harvest records to managers. Awareness, information gathering and partnerships are critical components in helping us to protect these unique shorebirds.
Laura McDuffie, in the field, with Lesser Yellowlegs chicks. (Photo by Zak Pohlen)
Laura McDuffie has been studying the breeding and migration ecology of Alaska’s shorebirds and landbirds since 2014. In spring 2021, Laura completed her master’s degree in biological sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Laura’s thesis is entitled “Migration ecology and harvest exposure risk of Lesser Yellowlegs.”
This study would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts of our collaborators. Our gratitude goes out to the following people: Brad Andres, Yves Aubry, Erin Bayne, Christophe Buidin, Katherine Christie, Ken Foster, Christian Friis, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Christopher Harwood, James Johnson, Kevin Kardynal, Benoit Laliberte, Peter Marra, Erica Nol, Jennie Rausch, Yann Rochepault, Sarah Sonsthagen, Audrey Taylor, Lee Tibbitts, Ross Wood, Jay Wright, and all the field technicians that helped with banding. Kristy Rouse, Cassandra Schoofs, and Brent Koenen with Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s 673rd CES/CEIS supported the project from the beginning and were instrumental in the DoD’s recognition of lesser yellowlegs as a Species of Special Concern. Funding sources include the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Bird Studies Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Smithsonian Institution; the 673rd CES/CEIS, U.S. Department of the Air Force; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Learn more details about Laura’s fascinating research on lesser yellowlegs’ migration by watching this webinar, recorded for world migratory bird day, OCtober, 2021.
Save the date for a workshop where we celebrate our successes and plan our future work together!
We all love seabirds: the soaring Magnificent Frigatebirds, the Boobies’ expert diving, the entrancing Tropicbirds. But…what is a Seabird Fest?
Well, it is a half-day workshop, hosted by the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group (SWG) planned for Thursday, December 2, 2021, 12 to 3 pm EST. During this event we want to hear from you with brief updates from the islands on how the seabirds are doing. The SWG will learn more – and share more – on what is taking place across the Caribbean in terms of seabird monitoring and conservation. Be sure to REGISTER HERE!
The purpose of the Seabird Fest is more than information gathering and sharing, however, although that is important. The SWG plans to discuss ways forward for a Caribbean Seabird Census (CSC) programme, modeled on the successful Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC). We hope to introduce the CSC in 2023!
Caribbean Seabirds
The Caribbean is home to over twenty species of seabirds, with many more visiting the region’s marine environment on a yearly basis. Understanding where seabirds breed, and in what numbers, is essential for determining the pressures that they may face. This, in turn, helps managers minimise threats to their populations. However, monitoring seabird populations within our suite of remote and inaccessible islands in the Caribbean is no easy task!
Although great strides have been made in recent years with monitoring populations on some islands (e.g., the Grenadines, Antigua’s offshore cays, Cayman Islands etc.), many islands have not been routinely surveyed, and population estimates that do exist are outdated. Furthermore, formal regional overviews of seabird population information are a decade old (see Seabird Resources). Considering the range of factors with potential to cause change in the marine and coastal environments around our shores, such as large-scale events like Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, there is an urgent need to monitor seabirds.
The initial goal will be to update our knowledge on the status of and threats to seabird populations in the Caribbean. If repeated regularly, seabird surveys will go on to help conservation scientists and managers understand how seabird populations are changing over time in our region, supporting efforts to protect them. By forming partnerships among interested groups and individuals that monitor seabirds, we can better tackle the logistical challenges of surveying hundreds of islands and cays. For this, we need to get as many interested organisations, communities and individuals involved in the effort as possible!
Why count seabirds?
Project Assistant Quincy Augustine and Wildlife Biologist Wayne Smart lead a team of Grenadian biologists conducting seabird surveys at Diamond Rock (Photo by Q. Augustine)
Understanding seabird populations and monitoring changes in the size and health of populations is extremely important for conserving them. On land, many breeding sites are under threat from coastal development, introduced predators, disturbance, and egging. At sea, seabirds contend with threats from fishing activities, pollution, climate change, and offshore development.
Monitoring colonies and understanding population trends is therefore more important than ever. While some Caribbean islands already have active seabird monitoring programmes in place, others are home to large populations of seabirds that are not currently monitored. As such, our Seabird Working Group is working hard to try and secure funding for this programme, which will allow for training, data collection, and community engagement, particularly on islands where there are gaps in capacity for these activities.
Be sure to register for the Seabird Fest here, and keep an eye on our Seabird Working Group webpages, listserv and facebook group in the coming months for updates on Seabird Fest! Our SWG co-chairs are also looking for help to plan the event, as well as other ongoing SWG tasks, so please get in touch with us if you are interested!
Learn more about Seabird activities in the Caribbean below!
They have their flyways, and they bring their songs. Our migratory birds are on the move again, and on October 9, World Migratory Bird Day, they will be “officially” welcomed and celebrated in style in the Caribbean.
For our region, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is on October 9th, 2021 (but we encourage everyone to celebrate anytime during fall migration that works best for you). By this date, gardens, parks, forests, mountains, and seashores are filled with feathered newcomers, who have traveled thousands of miles and are either passing through or settling down for the milder winter months in the Caribbean.
The WMBD 2021 theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar—Like a Bird!” Activities organized by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), BirdsCaribbean, and our partners throughout the region will tap into this lively concept and, focus on some of the eleven featured species selected this year. Some of these, such as the Turkey Vulture, Royal Tern, Yellow Warbler, and Belted Kingfisher, are either resident or fairly common migrant species in the region. Others, such as the Green-winged Teal, Wood Thrush, Upland Sandpiper, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird, are rare. The Sandhill Crane is an uncommon resident in Cuba.
This year, EFTA will be hosting a live online event, or series of events from October 7 to 9, entitled “World Migratory Bird Day Live.” Friday, October 8 will be a special day reserved for youth and schools. Caribbean educators are valuable partners, helping to convey the messages of conservation and protection of birds and habitats. The creative arts – including a “sing like a bird” competition, videos, and art demonstrations, will play a role this year, besides informational speakers and workshops.
A featured WMBD webinar this year will be on the Lesser Yellowlegs, a shorebird that is undergoing an alarming decline. The webinar, hosted by BirdsCaribbean, will be presented by US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, Laura McDuffie. Laura has been tracking these birds on their long migrations and has some fascinating and enlightening results to share with us. The webinar will take place on Friday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Here is the link to register: https://bit.ly/LesserYellowlegs
Most of all, WMBD promises to have a strong element of fun. EFTA is hosting a bird costume party and competition for children up to 12 years old, with the focus on one of the featured eleven species. Costumes should use only recyclable or reusable material – new materials should not be used. The deadline for submission of costume entries is Friday, October 1. Prizes will be awarded on October 9th.
There is also a Bird Song Contest!Submit your song inspired by birds anytime between now and October 8th for a chance to win a cash prize! Winners will be announced on October 9th – See details in the Flyer below.
If you are interested in celebrating WMBD in your country, we encourage you to visit the WMBD website for more information or contact the Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Laura Baboolal, at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org. If you have an event planned, you can register it and put the Caribbean on the global events map.
WMBD 2021 digital materials from EFTA are available in English and Spanish, at this link.
Information on migratory birds in the Caribbean, including colouring pages, activity sheets , photos, videos, and puzzles are available from BirdsCaribbean at this link.
Last, but not least, don’t forget to share your WMBD events and experiences on social media with EFTA and BirdsCaribbean. You can find us on all major platforms. If pandemic restrictions allow on your island, go out and enjoy the birds. Most of all, have fun!
BirdsCaribbean will be holding our General Business Meeting on Thursday October 28th, from 3 to 5 PM EDT – all are welcome! Register here.
Please join us for the latest exciting news and updates from BirdsCaribbean Projects and Working Groups. Members and all others are welcome and encouraged to attend. Our General Business Meeting will provide an opportunity to meet the current BirdsCaribbean Board and dive deeper into our organization’s activities. Our Working Groups, including Seabirds, Bird Monitoring , Endemic and Threatened Species, Media , Black-capped Petrel, Waterbirds, Bird Education, and Invasive Species, have been working tirelessly to protect Caribbean birds and the habitats they depend upon. They will provide exciting updates on what they’ve accomplished during the last two years.
We will also be talking about the progress of current projects in advancing conservation of Caribbean birds and habitats , as well as some exciting new developments on the horizon, including our joint conference in summer 2022 with the American Ornithological Society and Para La Naturaleza in Puerto Rico (June 27-July 2nd, 2021).
You’ll also get the chance to hear about what our partners have been working on and ways to collaborate to protect and celebrate Caribbean birds, their habitats, and the communities that live alongside them. All are welcome to attend so bring a friend or two. Come gain a deeper understanding of how BirdsCaribbean stays a well-oiled machine – and how you can be a part of our important work!
Birders around the world are polishing up their binoculars and scopes as they prepare for one of their busiest weekends of the year. This 24-hour opportunity called October Big Day – Saturday, October 9, 2021 – has been extended for the second time into a Global Bird Weekend (October 8, 9 and 10). The goal is to watch, record, and celebrate birds, whether it is in your backyard, neighborhood park, seashore or woodland. October Big Day coincides with World Migratory Bird Day (October 9). It is hoped that this concerted effort will bring in a record number of bird sightings from citizen scientists around the world, contributing to bird knowledge and a deeper understanding of conservation.
Where are the birds, and what are they doing?
The data collected will be used by birders and scientists to better understand and protect birds. This is also an opportunity for the individual birdwatcher to contemplate birds, their behavior, and the places where they may be found. For example, are there birds you are only likely to see in the late morning or early afternoon? And if so, are they at specific locations? Tanagers and bullfinches are often very active during the morning hours. As the day heats up, you may see raptors soaring above. Seagulls and shorebirds can be observed at almost any time of day. Migratory warblers generally show up in early morning or evening hours, feeding and bathing in suburban gardens and parks.
Make your birding count—submit & share your data!
Participating is easy with the essential tool, eBird, where you should record all the birds you see (and even hear) on Saturday 9th October via the eBird website or mobile app. If you’re in the Caribbean, be sure to use eBird Caribbean (and choose the eBird Caribbean portal in your eBird app settings on mobile). If you do not already have one, it’s easy to sign up for a free eBird account and here’s a quick guide on how to use eBird. Eager birders should spot as many birds as they can from midnight to midnight in their local time zone on October 9th. Or bird anytime during the weekend of Oct. 8-10 for the Global Bird Weekend. The handy mobile app allows you to keep and submit lists while you’re still out birding, perhaps exploring nearby Hotspots. It will even track how far you have walked while watching birds. Remember to submit eBird checklists before October 13, 2021 to be included in the initial results announcement!
In the past year, many Caribbean islands have restricted movements and gatherings in public spaces, due to the pandemic. Since many of these are still in place and vary from country to country, please keep local regulations in mind and observe all protocols. Remember, too, that there is always the option of birding at home.
Share your sightings with us, and join BirdsCaribbean!
We look forward to seeing your stories and photos on social media. You can find us on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram @birdscaribbean. Be sure to tag us! If you’re not on social media, consider joining our discussion group where you’ll be able to share your October Big Day experience with over 850 members.
May we remind you that BirdsCaribbean membership has so many benefits; for a reasonable membership fee you are entitled to a FREE subscription to Birds of the World ($49 value) – the most comprehensive online resource on birds. Additionally, you may receive discounts on our products, workshops and conferences; meet and network with fellow birders, scientists, educators and conservationists across the region; and keep in touch with birding trends and news through our monthly newsletters (free sign-up here). Join us today and help us save our Caribbean birds and their important habitats!
See you on October Big Day 2021 – and let’s see some birds!
Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon mystacea) in the Quill (photo by Hannah Madden)
The Bridled Quail-Dove is a quiet, retiring bird. It has reason to be nervous, because it is facing a doubtful future on the Dutch-speaking island of St. Eustatius (Statia). Hannah Madden, a Terrestrial Ecologist in St. Eustatius, gives us an important update on how this special bird is faring.
Two years ago we shared the worrying news that the Bridled Quail-Dove population had suffered a significant decline on Statia. This was as a direct result of the powerful and destructive Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which followed each other closely, in September 2017. Four years on, has the situation improved?
The Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) is a ground-dwelling species that is endemic to the Caribbean. It spends its day foraging in the forest understory for fruits, seeds and the occasional gecko. Quail-Doves prefer undisturbed forests with a closed canopy. They are very sensitive to changes in their natural habitat. And those changes are happening. Unfortunately the impacts of human-induced climate change mean more intense and more frequent hurricanes, which could spell trouble for this vulnerable species.
The Quill – Before and After
I began surveying Bridled Quail-Doves in the Quill National Park in 2016. The Quill is a dormant volcano that rises to 600 meters with a large, accessible crater. It is the dove’s only home on Statia. Pre-hurricane, Quail-Doves were relatively common and observant birders could almost certainly spot one or two while hiking along the trails. The species breeds in May, when its mournful and unmistakable ‘whooooos’ can be heard echoing through the forest.
Hover over each image to see the caption; click on each photo to see it larger and to view images as a gallery
Hannah Madden during fieldwork in May 2021. Some 100 meter transects took up to 20 minutes to complete due to the steep and challenging environment (photo by Oliver Jones)
Overgrazed understory in the Quill National Park, St. Eustatius (photo by Hannah Madden)
Then there are the goats!
In addition, we have a very serious goat problem in the park—one that has been pervasive for decades. These are non-native, free-ranging goats that graze excessively in areas that are already damaged. This results in a limited food supply and reduced understory cover for the Bridled Quail-Dove (as well as other species that depend on the forest). There is nowhere for the birds to find food and shelter. Feral chickens disturb ground cover and compete for the same food source. Invasive black rats and feral cats, both of which are present in the Quill prey on nests and take eggs and chicks. The Bridled Quail-Dove’s survival rate – and its chances of bringing up a family – are slim. There is no evidence that adult birds have come in from nearby islands. The Bridled Quail-Doves of Statia are physically and genetically isolated. We became concerned for the welfare of the Bridled Quail-Dove. We were grateful for the funds from many generous donors, including BirdsCaribbean, allowing us to conduct our surveys.
In search of the Quail-Dove
I conducted surveys of the Bridled Quail-Dove in the Quill National Park, walking previously established transects (walking routes) within the dove’s range (~150 to 600 m). We surveyed during peak breeding season (May), so that we could hear as well as see the birds. Once I saw or heard a Quail-Dove, I measured the distance to the bird. I also recorded how high up they were, and the height of the forest canopy. Once surveys were complete, I pooled all data from 2016 – 2021 to obtain abundance and density estimates per year.
Map of St. Eustatius showing transects (red lines) in the Quill National Park (440 ha).
Greater effort, disappointing results
As shown in the graph below, we increased the extent of our survey from 1,200 m of transects in 2016 to over 15,000 m in 2021. Our coverage increased 13-fold, and yet we were able to find only around one third of the number of doves that were counted in 2016, before the hurricanes. It was challenging work. As you can imagine, repeating so many surveys is physically demanding.
Number of detections (left axis; red line) and survey effort (right axis; blue line) between 2016 and 2021 (no surveys were conducted in 2020).
Unfortunately, estimates of the numbers of Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius have declined significantly since 2016. The current estimate is just 123 individuals (somewhere between a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 210). This is less than half of the 2019 estimate, and less than 5% of the 2016 estimate. So, numbers have continued to dwindle since the hurricanes.
After assessing the influence of covariates (factors that might influence the presence or absence of the dove, like weather, time of day, elevation, condition of the vegetation, etc.) on Bridled Quail-Dove presence, I found that doves were more likely to be found at higher elevations in habitats with a higher canopy (such as inside the crater, along the rim, and on the upper outer slopes of the Quill). It became clear also that in the years following hurricanes Irma and Maria, doves were less and less likely to be present in the survey area.
Abundance estimates of the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius between 2016 (pre-hurricane) and 2021 (post-hurricane). No surveys were conducted in 2020.
Urgent action is needed to save the Bridled Quail-Dove on Statia!
We are extremely worried about the Bridled Quail-Dove on St. Eustatius. This lovely bird’s ongoing decline is caused by a combination of two factors: the destruction of the places it calls home, and the invasive species that prey on it. Its long-term survival is now uncertain unless urgent action is taken to save it. Even if the dove does keep going, such a small and isolated population faces additional risks, such as inbreeding.
Climate change is here to stay, and this means that hurricanes are likely to become more frequent and more powerful. This could be catastrophic for the Statia population, and others in the region. Recently the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) proposed that the conservation status of the Bridled Quail-Dove be reassessed, based on our work on Statia. This means the classification could be changed from Least Concern to Near Threatened or Vulnerable. However, apart from Statia, data are still lacking from many islands. We encourage enthusiastic birders to conduct their own surveys so that local populations can be evaluated.
An Action Plan for a precious bird
We will be working with local conservation NGO St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) to create an Action Plan for the Bridled Quail-Dove. To effectively protect the species locally, it is likely that we will have to take action on several fronts, Goats, cats and feral chickens will need to be removed from the park and rodent will need to be controlled. For this, we will need the support of the local government and the community.
Monitoring Bridled Quail-Doves on Statia is a tremendous effort. To make life easier, we are suggesting trying out passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) devices during the breeding season. How does this work? Recording units can be placed in the field for up to a month to record and interpret calls. Using these devices will allow us to collect data in less accessible areas, helping us to broaden our study.
The work will continue as we seek to find help for this iconic bird. Hopefully, by combining conservation efforts with field surveys and PAM, we will have better news in the coming years.
Thank you to BirdsCaribbean and all the generous donors who supported BirdsCaribbean’s Hurricane Relief Fund – my survey work on the Bridled Quail-Dove would not have been possible without your support!
Hannah Madden works with the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute, based on St. Eustatius. She is also a member of the IUCN Pigeon and Dove Specialist Group. She also works as a bird and nature guide in her spare time, sharing the beauty and diversity of Statia with visitors. Hannah is an active member of BirdsCaribbean and has participated in several training workshops and conferences. She has published papers on different taxonomic groups, but especially enjoys working on birds.
Outgoing Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) Managing Editor, Justin Proctor, shares the exciting news that Dr. Stefan Gleissberg is the new Managing Editor of JCO. Stefan is no stranger to JCO, as he’s been with the journal since 2019, first in the capacity of Assistant Production Editor, and then as Production Editor. His knowledge of our journal, dedication to its mission, and kinship with our staff makes him a great fit for leadership within the JCO family. Learn more about Stefan below!
In 2016, it was decided that the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) could benefit from the creation of a new role: a Managing Editor. The behind-the-scenes of JCO looked very different then, with just a handful of amazing volunteers working overtime to keep everything afloat. And so when the Editor-in-Chief at the time, Dr. Jason Townsend, reached out to me to gauge my interest in the position, I was excited to accept the offer, join the team, and figure out how best to help.
I ended up making the decision to focus a lot of my effort over the following years on building up a bigger team. We simply needed more hands on deck to ensure a more timely and quality product, and to give JCO the personable touch that we wanted to have. I’m happy to say that those efforts have borne fruit: JCO has gone from an all-volunteer team of ~6 individuals to a team of 10 part-time paid staff and 17 volunteers. Now, thanks to all of these amazing staff and the quality work they produce, JCO has an extensive list of achievements and publications to be very proud of. From submission through to publication, this team has become a cohesive unit that goes above and beyond to support our authors, reviewers, and each other—each and every step of the way. The added capacity has also allowed us to build out other elements of JCO. This will ensure the journal has the foundation and adaptability to remain the #1 ornithological journal in the Caribbean far into the future. I’m feeling really good about the road ahead.
The time has come, however, for me to pass the Managing Editor position into new hands. As much as I’m going to have a hard time letting go of it, I think it’s a healthy move for the journal. What’s exciting is that the change-up will allow me more time to serve the journal’s needs through my Vice-President Executive Board position with BirdsCaribbean, albeit more from the background. We are at an unprecedented time in which the JCO has two representatives on the BC Board of Directors, including me and our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr. This is a great opportunity to build even more positive momentum.
During our preliminary search for a new Managing Editor, we were pleasantly surprised when one of our own staff members expressed interest in the position. We were excited to first pursue that possibility before advertising the position more broadly. And so we did pursue it, and couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. On behalf of the BirdsCaribbean Board of Directors, Joe, and myself, I am excited to announce that Dr. Stefan Gleissberg will be stepping up into the role of Managing Editor. Stefan is no stranger to JCO, as he’s been with the journal since 2019—first in the capacity of Assistant Production Editor and then as Production Editor. His knowledge of our journal, dedication to its mission, and kinship with our staff makes him a great fit for leadership within the JCO family.
Stefan’s previous career as an international researcher in the plant sciences afforded him intimate familiarity with the world of scientific publishing. He has served both as author of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and as peer reviewer of manuscripts for academic journals and book publishers. A life-long birder, Stefan decided to re-engage in bird conservation and the birding community after retiring from his career in plant biology. In 2014, Stefan founded the Athens Area Birders in Ohio, a local community engaged in nature education and birding, and joined the Board of Directors of the Athens Conservancy, a land trust. He currently serves as Vice-President of the Ohio Ornithological Society, as steering committee member of the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, and as a statewide eBird data reviewer for Ohio, among other roles. From 2015 to 2020, Stefan served as the editor of The Cerulean, a print/online newsletter-magazine of the Ohio Ornithological Society. For this member-centered publication, he oversaw all aspects from acquisition, editing, layout, photo-editing, and production. He also contributed editorials and articles. And his more recent work with JCO has immersed Stefan into the world of Caribbean birds, a place where I know he’s excited about spending a lot more time.
Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology. It’s a one-of-a-kind journal that we are fortunate to call our own. To Stefan, I wish you great success in your new position as Managing Editor. It’s a lot of fun, no doubt about it. And while I can’t promise it will be all rainbows and butterflies, I can promise a lot of palm crows and raucous cries!
All the best,
—Justin Proctor
Editor’s note: We thank Justin Proctor for his incredible service and hard work to build the JCO team and make journal the successful peer-reviewed publication that it is today, and we extend a warm welcome to Stefan.
p.s. The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology is in need of financial support! If you are able to make a one-time donation or become a monthly sustainer, know that your gift would be helping to building capacity for science and conservation of Caribbean birds, a core part of our vital mission.
On World Shorebirds Day, Benoit Laliberté, a Shorebird Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, tells us about the connections between the shorebirds that breed in Canada and the Caribbean and shares his thoughts on the main conservation issues for shorebirds in the Caribbean.
Shorebirds are fascinating. Given their size, it can be hard to even try to imagine the incredible journeys they accomplish every year on migration. For example, Red Knots can fly more than 30,000 km annually! It is amazing that these birds weigh only 180g but can fly from the Canadian tundra to the tip of Tierra del Fuego, and back, within 10 months. Because these birds travel to (and stop over in) so many different countries, their conservation requires us to take a multi-national approach.
Enjoy our short video, created in honor of World Shorebirds Day 2021!
Conservation Across Borders
How do we address this cross-border challenge? To do this, the shorebird conservation community has developed flyway conservation initiatives. Flyways are major routes, like ‘migration highways,’ that shorebirds use to travel from breeding to wintering areas and back. Here in the Americas they are: the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Mid-continental Flyways. The Caribbean islands are located in the Atlantic Flyway
Migration routes of shorebirds on the Atlantic Flyway; many other migratory birds follow these same routes. (map courtesy of the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative)
The Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative (AFSI) aims to conserve and protect the 30 or so species of shorebirds that use this route. These birds range from the small Plovers and Sandpipers to the large Whimbrels and Godwits. Unfortunately, the ongoing, ceaseless deterioration of our planet has led to large declines in shorebird populations. Across all shorebird species that occur in Canada – most of which also travel to the Caribbean – this decrease in numbers is estimated at -40% since 1970. However, the drop is much steeper for some species, like the Red Knot (-70% since 2000) or the Lesser Yellowlegs (-65% since 1970). In fact, many shorebirds are at the top of the list of ‘species of conservation concern’ worldwide.
Why are Shorebirds in Trouble?
Lesser Yellowlegs are a common migratory shorebird in the Caribbean; they are also one of the most hunted shorebirds in the Atlantic Flyway. (photo by Hemant Kishan)
The main threats to shorebirds in the Atlantic Flyway are hunting, predators, human disturbance, habitat loss and change, and climate change. Most of these occur in the Caribbean, but the threats of hunting, habitat loss, and climate change are the most relevant for the region.
We know that shorebirds are hunted on Barbados, Martinique and Guadeloupe. If we are able to address the threat of hunting, we in the conservation community can make rapid gains. This does not mean that hunting should be banned. In Canada and the United States, we have more than 100 years of experience working with hunters to develop sustainable hunting policies and working with the hunting community to conserve and restore bird habitats. We need to focus on raising awareness about this threat, measuring its impacts, and developing sustainable hunting policies that will allow birds to thrive and hunters to pursue their hobby – now, and in the future.
Habitat loss is more difficult for us to tackle. Shorebirds use a variety of habitats, whether it is beaches, intertidal sandflats and mudflats, mangroves, or salt, brackish, and freshwater ponds. This means that multiple types of developments and changes, for example those that alter the wetland’s hydrology, can threaten the shorebirds’ homes. Secondly, changes to habitat can ‘creep’ in slowly, with both human developments and the impacts of climate change gradually changing the places where shorebirds live – or removing those places altogether. Damaged habitats can take a long time to recover, so it is imperative to ensure that those that are still relatively intact are conserved for future generations.
What Can We Do the Help Shorebirds?
Red Knot in August molting from breeding plumage to plain winter plumage which is all gray. Red Knots have declined markedly in the last 25 years. Some Red Knots winter in the Caribbean; many use the islands as a refueling stop on their long journeys to South America. (photo by Hemant Kishan)
We need to make sure that key places for shorebirds are identified. To do this we need to carry out surveys such as the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC). Information from these surveys can help identify and increase protection for vital shorebird habitats. Local communities have a key role to play. Anyone can carry out CWC surveys! BirdsCaribbean has provided training for people across the region on Shorebird ID and how to carry out surveys, both online and in person.
Shorebirds need safe habitats with clean water and abundant invertebrate food, when they stop during migration. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of hurricanes, it is possible that the Caribbean will play a bigger role for migrating shorebirds. Shorebirds are migrating through the region during the peak hurricane season. The wetland habitats on Caribbean islands should serve as refuge for these birds. This means local initiatives to restore and clean-up habitats can help shorebirds. Recent projects to restore mangroves in Puerto Rico and increase awareness of shorebirds in Montserrat, through community initiatives like beach clean-ups, will help both shorebirds and people!
Curbing the decline of shorebird populations needs global cooperation. It might seem like an overwhelming task, but every little step helps. To ensure future generations are in a good position to continue the work we start today, we need to spread the word. As a child, I was fortunate to get involved in activities that got me interested in nature and birds, and this inspired me to pursue a career in conserving biodiversity. Outreach and education programs, such as BirdsCaribbean’s BirdSleuth Caribbean, Wondrous West Indian Wetlands, World Migratory Bird Day, and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival help to raise awareness and build a sense of responsibility in our communities. They do have long-term positive impacts, especially among our younger citizens.
As a final remark, I hope that as you read this post you have learned a little bit more about shorebird conservation and are reminded that small actions can make a difference. Learning is knowing. Knowing is loving. And loving is caring.
Ajhermae White helps students of the Grade 5 class of Look Out Primary School with shorebird ID during their field trip at Marguerita Bay. (Photo by Stephen Mendes)
Please enjoy and share our video!
Many thanks to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Atlantic Flyways Shorebird Initiative, US Forest Service International Programs, film maker Esther Figueroa, talented photographers and videographers, and our partners, members, and donors for your generous support to create this video (second in a series!) and carry out Caribbean shorebird and waterbird conservation initiatives.
We hope that you will be able to visit many areas across your island and invite local birders and/or birding groups to get involved. Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird; any tallies you do, whether it is at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches, are also considered as Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) 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, and so on.
Complete instructions on how to do a Global Shorebird Count/ Caribbean Waterbird Census count are available here and here; Shorebird ID resources are available here. Before you head out, it might well be helpful to watch our webinars on Waterbird ID and Shorebird ID to bone up on your ID skills!
Are you looking for a good birding read? We recommend that you log on to “The Cuban Birder,” a quarterly, digital, free magazine, published in English and Spanish. Richly illustrated and packed with information, it is a gem of a publication for birders in all walks of life, and the first of its kind in Cuba. An initiative of Birding Havana, its third issue was released in August 2021, and it is supported by BirdsCaribbean.
The magazine is more than just a substantial and fascinating read. The goal of the publication is simple: to get Cubans – especially the younger generations – excited about birds, so that they can take it up as a hobby. After all, Cuba has the highest number of recorded species in the insular Caribbean (397), of which around 262 are migratory. Once new devotees learn more and become engaged, this will lead to a deeper understanding of how the environment works, as well as a desire to protect and conserve the birds and the places where they live. In other words, it is hoped that the magazine will light a spark of awareness about Cuban birds and the serious, pressing challenges they face. The first issues have already received good readership.
The Cuban Birder has been a long-cherished dream of Birding Havana’s founding director Mr Vladimir Mirabal, former diplomat, lawyer, photographer and passionate birder. He says: “We have needed a magazine like this for a long time. There is great joy in birdwatching, and we want to express this through our publication. It is an educational tool that we hope will support our plans to rebuild a Cuban Birdwatchers Movement. Already, the Cuban Birders Club (Club de Observadores de Aves Cubanas) has experienced growth of over 3,000 new members in the past two months.” All who are seeking more information on Cuban birds and birding activities may join the Club’s Facebook page.
Helping to combat the caged bird threat
The magazine is especially timely as Cuba’s birds and nature face an uncertain future. The threats of climate change and habitat destruction loom large for Cuba, as they do for other Caribbean countries. Another significant threat is capturing and keeping wild birds to sell and keep as pets. Although illegal, this practice, long part of the culture, is growing among the Cuban population. Parrots, parakeets, grassquits, the Cuban Bullfinch, and many songbirds (residents, endemics, and migrants) are trapped, sold, and trained to compete in songbird competitions and kept as pets.
Fall migration is prime “hunting season” for the trappers and private Facebook groups in Cuba show off hundreds of migratory birds for sale, including Painted Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and dozens of warbler species. Even children are involved in the trapping. BirdsCaribbean will continue to assist with efforts to reduce these harmful behaviors by supplying birding gear and educational materials to help promote birding and develop Bird Clubs in each province. Bird watchers are a growing voice in Cuba. Vladimir commented, “With your support we will be able to reach out to a lot more people in our communities as part of our efforts to replace bird cages and traps with binoculars and field guides by increasing the appreciation for Cuban birds and supporting conservation efforts.” Many of our Cuban colleagues and partners have been working hard to educate and raise awareness about this issue for many years, but it remains a huge challenge. If you would like to donate to help us send binoculars and field guides to Cuba, please click here and select “Reducing bird trapping in Cuba” for your gift designation.
“The first bird of the season fell” – August 2021 Facebook post by a bird trapper in Cuba showing a migratory warbler, the Northern Parula.The caption reads “Ready for the hunt.” Painted Buntings in cages for sale – August 2021 Facebook post by a bird trapper in Cuba.Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a migratory warbler in a cage in Cuba, for sale on a private Facebook group.Cuban boy trapping wild birds, posted on Cuban social media.Bird hunters in Cuba heading out with their traps, shared on social media.Painted Buntings in cages in Cuba – this colorful bird is a popular species for the caged bird trade.
The legacy of Juan Cristóbal Gundlach in Cuba
So what will you find, as you turn the digital pages of this third issue of The Cuban Birder? If you love science history, you will enjoy browsing through articles on the life and work of Juan Cristóbal Gundlach (1810 – 1896), who was born in Germany but left a rich legacy in Cuban scientific discovery. The author of the first major work on Cuban ornithology, among other studies, his name is included in the Latin names of no less than sixty animal species – among the birds he discovered, these included the Gundlach’s Hawk and the Cuban Vireo.
According to a 1915 account, the avid collector and descriptor of thousands of species did not drink and was a frugal eater, often departing in the morning with a biscuit and a sandwich in his pocket – which he forgot to eat during the day. He was tall and reportedly had a bit of a limp, but he was quiet and unassuming, traveling from one end of the island to the other. What a dedicated man! You will enjoy getting to know Juan Cristóbal Gundlach better in the pages of the Cuban Birder. This fascinating section of the magazine, about a significant figure in Cuban natural history is illustrated with photographs of some of the birds he discovered, accompanied by his own descriptions.
Don Juan, as he was known, was also the man who first discovered the smallest bird in the world – the Bee Hummingbird, which is the topic of another article in The Cuban Birder. Noting the tiny bird’s mating ritual, Gundlach noted, rather sweetly: “I have also seen the male when he is in love, go up perpendicularly with a non-progressive flight, sometimes singing, others not, stop, hover for a moment at the female, and then drop down.” Unfortunately, it is not as widely distributed as it was in Gundlach’s day, and is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. You can read a detailed description of this exquisite but endangered bird in the magazine. On another page, there is a very useful fact sheet on Hummingbirds; there are some 343 species identified in the Americas, and they are surprisingly aggressive for their size!
This is just a taste of what you can find in the latest issue of The Cuban Birder. It is an absorbing read that also includes helpful advice on the art of birdwatching and the best cameras for wildlife photography; as well as a gorgeous photo feature on the Alexander Humboldt National Park. A section on identifying hotspots using the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird Caribbean includes how to determine the criteria for a hotspot, and how to navigate the website to suggest one. This section also emphasizes the importance of using the portal, which is specially designed for the Caribbean – especially on days when there are special “counts,” such as the eleven-year-old Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) established by BirdsCaribbean. Data on Cuban birds – and our island birds in general – is more important than ever!
Previous issues have featured interviews with well-known Caribbean scientists like the legendary Orlando Garrido, and artist and naturalist, Nils Navarro, author of Field Guide to the Endemic Birds of Cuba. The magazine is also packed with tips on how to photograph birds, how to identify them, and places to visit and stay to enjoy Cuba’s amazing bird life.
We warmly recommend this digital magazine to our BirdsCaribbean members, and to anyone who wants to learn about and protect Cuba’s birds. We congratulate the editorial team and all the contributors, and hope that readers will share the publication widely online – including, of course, on social media. We eagerly look forward to the next issue of The Cuban Birder!
Here are some readers’ reviews:
José Eugenio Martínez González:
I have been very excited about this idea. You have given us a nice surprise. As a birder, which I have practiced alone or in the company of my family, without equipment, but with a lot of desire, I take my hat off to this initiative.
Daniela Ventura del Puerto:
Excellent! I hope this magazine contributes to more people leaving the cages and changing them for cameras and binoculars. Success in that work!
Alejandro Padrón:
Excellent work for Cuban nature. Congratulations to all the members of this Club. I will follow you with attention.
Agustín Dimas López Guevara:
What good news! Graphic showcase and sample of the work of this great team that brings to light, with image, nature; fauna and flora, beauties to appreciate.
Lázaro Ramón Sosa Morell:
Great initiative, something very worthy of the culture of respect in our country and the effort that so many people have made for years to make it so! Congratulations!
September is right around the corner and migratory shorebirds are making their way south. Please join us this World Shorebirds Day to learn more about these fascinating birds and what you can do to help protect them. Take part in this year’s Global Shorebird Count and check out our cool resources for honing your ID skills and count techniques. We also have free, fun activities for kids and the whole family – read on!
Global Shorebird Count 2021
This year’s Global Shorebird Count will take place from September 1 to 7, 2021. All across the Caribbean and beyond, intrepid birders will be compiling checklists from island to island and recording them on eBird Caribbean. BirdsCaribbean urges you to participate! Our migratory shorebirds are more vulnerable than ever, threatened by human activities such as destruction of their habitats, pollution, disturbance, and climate change. In some countries they are hunted. Altogether this has led to severe declines in populations of shorebirds around the world.
Where are these fascinating birds to be found? While you will find them on shores and beaches, some shorebirds use habitats further inland, including freshwater and brackish marshes and ponds. Shorebirds are also fond of salt ponds, mud flats, mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Check out the new video we created in honor of this year’s World Shorebirds Day!
Make Your Shorebirds Count—Submit & Share Your Data!
A Piping Plover – the first seen in Jamaica! (Photo by Ann Sutton).
We encourage you to register to participate in the count and be sure share your eBird Caribbean checklist(s) with worldshorebirdsday – the eBird username of World Shorebirds Day. You can find guidelines for sharing checklists here.
eBird Caribbean is a critical tool for tracking and understanding bird migration and population changes – never more so than for our shorebirds. If you do not have an account, it is easy to register – here’s a quick guide to enter eBird data online. There is even a free eBird Essentials course to get you fully oriented. Download the free mobile app for recording your data in the field.
Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird and any counts you do at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches at any time of year count as Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) counts. When you do your counts Please choose one of the CWC protocols in the eBird app or when you submit or edit your data online. When you are using the app make sure that you are using the eBird Caribbean Portal. To check or change the portal you are using go into your settings on the app and look for “Portal”. 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.
What if you spot a bird with a band on its leg?
While counting shorebirds you may see birds; especially Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings, with colourful bands around their legs. Do your best to record the band colors and any numbers or letters – see guidance in the handy graphic. Binoculars or zoom photography may allow you to clearly see the band colors and the numbers engraved onto the band. Scientists use this information to track bird populations and migrations.
Handout from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that provides information about Piping Plover banding locations and how to read the flags.
Global Shorebird Count 101
After years of participating in the Global Shorebird Count we have created a list of some best practice tips to help make your count go as smoothly as possible. You may download and share this infographic with your fellow birders.
If you do not already have a favorite place to look at shorebirds, before doing your Global Shorebird Counts, you might need to choose your birding spot. Shorebirds can show up in many different types of wetlands from mangroves, to mudflats, saltponds, marshes, and beaches! If you are unsure where to find shorebirds near you why not take a look for ‘hotspots’ at your local wetlands on eBird. Just click on ‘Explore’ on the eBird Caribbean website, and find ‘Explore Hotspots’. You can open hotspots in a map and then click on a hotspot to see what type of birds have been seen there recently. When you visit your shorebird spot be sure to find a good place to count birds from – you need to have a clear view of the birds, but not be so close you disturb them!
Shorebirds can be challenging to identify, and some species are especially difficult to tell apart. If you have binoculars, a spotting scope or a camera with a good zoom lens don’t forget to take them along. These will help you get a closer look to pick out the ID features, without disturbing the birds. Of course, don’t forget to take you favorite bird ID guide with you when you do your shorebird counts. You might want to print out one of our handy Shorebird ID cards! In fact, you could even do a bit of ‘shorebird studying’ before you go using our useful reference guides and our CWC and Shorebird ID webinars. You can find all these free resources here.
Fun activities to engage kids in exploring wetlands and beaches
These activities were not designed to teach a child how to name and identify shorebirds but rather to give them space to explore and feel connected to their natural environment. Parents and guardians, you will not need to worry about your own knowledge of birds or plants. All you need to do is accompany and participate with your child in these activities.
Beach Scavenger Hunt. This activity is suitable for children ages 4 to 7 years old. They are asked to find plants and animals at the beach.
Beach Bird Bingo. This activity is suitable for children ages 8 to 12 years old. They are asked to find items on the list four in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. They do not need to touch or collect any of the items on the list.
Talk about this with your children before beginning any of the activities. They should not touch or collect items on the lists. When observing birds they should speak softly. They do not need to get close to the birds but if they need to, ask them to do so slowly and quietly. You can check off the items (with a pencil or pen), as they are located. When everyone has had a chance to look for the items listed, come back together to chat about what they were able to find or see. For example, why is the bird’s beak long and straight?
World Shorebirds Day 2021 postcard. This activity is suitable for any age. Print and colour the postcard – sides 1 and 2. Then share it with a friend or family member.
Don’t forget to reward your junior birders with a scoop of their favourite ice cream!
They may also enjoy this Snowy Plover colouring book. You can print the colouring book and carry to the beach, just remember to pack the colouring pencils or crayons.
Get Social for Shorebirds
Celebrating World Wetlands day on Jamaica (Photo by Paula-Anne Porter)
This activity is suitable for anyone 12 years and older. Take photos at your local wetland, beach, mud flat, salt pond, or swamp, and share them on social media; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and tag us @birdscaribbean and use the hashtag #worldshorebirdsday2021. The categories are:
Caribbean Shorebirds: snap a pic of a shorebird you saw at your local beach, mud flat, pond or swamp. Please also use the hashtag: #Caribshorebirds
Share the Shore: show us how you are helping shorebirds. For tips on how you can help shorebirds when you visit the beach, check out this blog. Please also use the hashtag: #sharetheshore
My Local Wetland: share a beautiful landscape or seascape photo of your local wetland or if you’re not camera shy, take a selfie in the habitat. Please also use the hashtag: #mylocalwetland and #HumansofBirdsCaribbean
Use a phone or any other camera that is available, but you must tag @birdscaribbean and use the hashtags provided. We look forward to seeing and sharing your amazing photos and reading your stories.
World Shorebirds Day, on Monday, September 6, is just around the bend. In honor of this annual global event, BirdsCaribbean created a new video to celebrate Caribbean shorebirds. From plump plovers to wave-catching Sanderlings to stately Stilt Sandpipers, shorebirds are delightful birds to get to know and love. Enjoy our short video and learn more about how you can help to conserve these treasures of our beaches and wetlands.
It is prime time to learn about and celebrate the diversity of shorebirds in the Caribbean. During late summer and early fall, our resident shorebirds, like the Killdeer and Wilson’s Plover, are joined by long-distance migrants, such as the Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, and many more. These migratory birds have just completed their breeding seasons, hopefully with much success, in the northern U.S. and Canada. Now, many are passing through the Caribbean, stopping to rest and feed as they travel to wintering areas further south. Other bird arrivals may stay with us for the entire winter.
Shorebirds are a diverse group of wading birds that live close to water—you can find them on our beaches, mangroves, marshes, salt ponds, and mudflats. Many can be easily identified by their long legs or unique bills, which are especially adapted to their diet and habitat. For example, the long, thin, probing bill of the Black-necked Stilt is ideal for plucking worms and crabs from sticky mud; while the Ruddy Turnstone, with his short, stubby bill, is adept at flipping over stones and shells to find tasty insects on the beach.
Hover over each image to see the caption; click on each photo to see it larger and to view images as a gallery
A Ruddy Turnstone in winter plumage. This shorebird is easy to identify from its short bright orange legs and stout ‘triangular’ bill. (Photo By Charles Sharp).
The Killdeer is one of our Caribbean residents, and can be found here year-round. (Photo By Lorie Shaull).
The striking Black-necked Stilt has long legs for wading into deep water to find food. (Photo by Dan Pancamo).
Migratory shorebirds make amazing journeys of thousands of kilometres! Beforehand, they need to store enough energy in the form of fat reserves to migrate. These small birds will eat until they are about double their normal weight. You may think that flying at their top weight would slow shorebirds down, but they are the marathon-winners of flight. Incredibly, this group of birds does not do any soaring, they are physically flapping the entire way!
Sadly, shorebird numbers have declined by roughly forty percent over the last 50 years, due to a number of threats. An increase in developments and various types of pollution have resulted in their habitats being degraded or even lost altogether. Human disturbance, hunting, and climate change…All these factors threaten shorebirds. Please join us this World Shorebirds Day to learn more about these fascinating birds and what you can do to help protect them.
Join the Global Shorebird Count, September 1 to 7 – every shorebird counts!
One of the main activities of World Shorebirds Day is the Global Shorebird Count. We encourage bird enthusiasts in the region to go out and count shorebirds from the 1st to 7th September 2021.
Spot the difference! A leucistic Willet seen in Zapata Swamp, Cuba. (Photo By Ernesto Reyes).
Your counts will help us to understand which species (and how many) are stopping to rest and feed in the Caribbean. This allows us to assess the health of populations and to determine whether they are increasing, decreasing, or stable. The data you collect will also help scientists to coordinate follow-up research and conservation actions, such as protecting important sites – or even taking immediate action to reduce threats to shorebirds and their environments, if necessary.
So, grab your binoculars, hat, waterboots, and field guide and head to your favorite muddy, sandy, or watery birding spot! Yes, it might get messy. You never know what new birds you might see, and there have been some remarkable discoveries over the years. Since the beginning of the Global Shorebird Count and the Caribbean Waterbird Census, new species have been recorded in the Caribbean. For example, in 2016 Ann Sutton spotted the first Piping Plover ever seen in Jamaica on Pedro Pond, and in 2018 a BirdsCaribbean birding tour in Cuba came across a leucistic (white) Willet in the Zapata Swamp. In addition, we have also greatly expanded our knowledge and conservation of the habitats and sites that shorebirds use across the region, thanks to our many citizen science shorebirders.
We hope that you will be able to visit many areas across your island and invite local birders and/or birding groups to get involved. Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird; any tallies you do, whether it is at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches, are also considered as Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) 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, and so on.
Complete instructions on how to do a Global Shorebird Count/ Caribbean Waterbird Census count are available here and here; Shorebird ID resources are available here. Before you head out, it might well be helpful to watch our webinars on Waterbird ID and Shorebird ID to bone up on your ID skills!
Be sure to follow your country’s COVID-19 safety guidelines, have fun and definitely tag us, @birdscaribbean, in your photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We look forward to seeing your amazing photos and reading your stories!
Please enjoy and share our video!
Many thanks to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Atlantic Flyways Shorebird Initiative, US Forest Service International Programs, film maker Esther Figueroa, talented photographers and videographers, and our partners, members, and donors for your generous support to create this video (first in a series!) and carry out Caribbean shorebird and waterbird conservation initiatives.
BirdsCaribbean extends heartfelt congratulations to our dedicated partners from the Bird Ecology Group (BEG) in Cuba, led by Dr. Martin Acosta Cruz. The group has received the American Ornithological Society’s (AOS) Ralph W. Schreiber Conservation Award. We applaud BEG members: Lourdes M. Mugica Valdés, Alieny González Alfonso, Ianela García Lau, Alejandro Rodriguez Ochoa, Daniela Ventura del Puerto, and Elio A. Fontes Otero; and former BEG members Orlando Torres Fundora, Dennis Denis Ávila, Ariam Jiménez Reyes Antonio, Rodríguez Suarez, and Jose L. Ponce de León García. Hats off to you all, we are so proud!
Part of the current Bird Ecology Group at the University of Havana, Cuba. Left to right: Elio Fontes, Ianela Garcia, Martín Acosta, Alieny González Alfonso, Lourdes Mugica, Daniela Ventura y Alejandro Rodriguez
Who was Dr. Schreiber?
The annual AOS award, named for Dr. Ralph Schreiber, honors extraordinary conservation-related scientific contributions by an individual or small team. Dr. Schreiber was an ornithologist and curator of birds and mammals at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He is well known for his studies of Pacific seabirds, including the Brown Pelican, and the effects of El Niño on bird and mammal populations. The El Niño phenomenon occurs when the surface of the tropical Pacific Ocean becomes unusually warm, especially at the equator and along the coasts of South and Central America, disrupting the availability of fish populations that these birds feed on.
All about the Bird Ecology Group (BEG)
Drs. Martin Acosta and Lourdes Mugica in the field in Cuba.
Since 1978, the BEG has dedicated its research work to Cuban bird ecology. Motivated by their unwavering fascination for birds, its members have worked hard, overcoming many financial and logistic al obstacles. The BEG has combined university teaching with research, capacity building, and environmental education, to contribute significantly to the knowledge and conservation of Cuban birds.
The group’s research has led to the publication of 128 peer-reviewed papers and 18 books. The most recently published book, Ecología de las aves acuáticas en las arroceras de Cuba (Ecology of Waterbirds in the Rice Fields in Cuba), describes research on the birds that are connected with the second most important agricultural crop in the country, and the importance of the rice paddies for their conservation.
The BEG has proposed two new protected areas in two important coastal wetlands: those south of Los Palacios, and the Delta del Agabama. It has supported the proposal for five Cuban Important Bird Areas (IBAs): CU003 Humedal Sur de Pinar del Río; CU006 Ciénaga de Zapata; CU009 Humedal Sur de Sancti Spiritus; CU014 Río Máximo-Cayo Guajaba, and CU020 Delta del Cauto. The group also recommended the inclusion of the West Indian Whistling-Duck and the Masked Duck in the Red Book of Threatened Species of Cuba and the Birdlife Red Data Bird List. BEG members are engaged in the study of waterbird species; the structure of bird communities in coastal ecosystems; the ecology of birds using rice paddies and shrimp farms; and birds using Havana city ecosystems (mangroves, parks, and botanical gardens).
The BEG: Busy with Piping Plovers
Since 2016, the BEG has annually surveyed between 68 to 180 km of coastline to assess the conservation status of wintering Piping Plovers frequenting the Cuban archipelago. In this same year they reported the highest number of individuals for Cuba:104 plovers! Through many hours of dedicated band resighting (finding and reporting band numbers of plovers that have come to Cuba for the winter) they have also helped to identify the breeding origin of wintering Piping Plovers on Cuban coastlines. And while other islands continue to battle with hunting quotas and regulations, the BEG has successfully banned the hunting of two historical game species in Cuba: the endemic and threatened West Indian Whistling-Duck and White-Crowned Pigeon. The group has also carried out years of vital Caribbean Waterbird Census counts at Cuba’s many important wetlands to learn more about numbers and trends of resident and migratory waterbirds and shorebirds.
A group of Piping Plovers foraging in Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba. (Photo by Martin Acosta)A banded Piping Plover sighted by the Bird Ecology Group at Guanabo Beach, Cuba, east of Havana City (photo by Karen-Aguilar)
BEG has received many awards and plaudits!
Both internationally and locally, the BEG has received significant commendations for its efforts to protect Cuban birds and expand our understanding of bird ecology. In the past 42 years the small team has accepted 48 prestigious awards. Internationally, the BEG received the Whitley Award for Birdlife Conservation in 2002 and the Continuation Award; and the Silver Award from BP Conservation Award in 2002. Dr. Martin Acosta Cruz and Lourdes M. Mugica Valdés have received Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2001 and 2017, respectively, from BirdsCaribbean. Ianela García Lau received the Founders Award from BirdsCaribbean for outstanding student research, while she and Alieny González Alfonso received the Educators Award for their leadership in organizing bird festivals and bird education projects in Cuba. Lourdes was honored with an Honorary Fellowship from AOS in 2020.
The Bird Ecology Group after receiving the National Environment Award from the Cuban government in 2008. From left to right: Antonio Rodriguez, Alieny Gonzalez, Martin Acosta, Lourdes Mugica, José Luis Ponce.
The local scientific community has also recognized their invaluable contributions. Two members have received the Carlos J. Finlay Order (the highest recognition given by the Cuban government for personal outstanding contributions to science). Martin and Lourdes have each received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Havana University President. The BEG remains the only research group to have won the National Environmental Award, given by the Cuban Government. They have also won five Academy Awards from the Cuban Academy of Sciences.
Nurturing the ornithologists and educators of the future
The BEG also places emphasis on training and supporting the future ornithologists of Cuba and beyond. So far, nine PhD theses, 14 Masters theses. and 46 undergraduate theses have been supervised by BEG ornithologists. Three more PhD theses and 2 Master theses are in progress.
In addition to providing quality tertiary education to students, the BEG extends its capacity building to staff from Cuban protected areas and other conservation institutions. Over 127 participants have benefited from these workshops. The group has also provided teacher-training workshops for primary and secondary school teachers – a total of 120 participants, in both urban and rural regions of the island. These workshops have enabled teachers to encourage student enquiry, feed their curiosity, and deepen their understanding of ornithological concepts.
Dr. Lourdes Mugica and the Bird Ecology Group share educational materials on birds with the local community and children, Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.
The thriving Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival in Cuba
For the past 15 years, the BEG has been the Cuban organizers of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, a month-long festival to celebrate birds only found within the region. BEG members have worked to promote the value of and foster respect for Cuban birds and ecosystems among the public, using a mix of traditional (TV, radio, print) and new media (social media and apps). An astonishing 3,622 activities have taken place in the 15 Cuban provinces, with the participation of about 166,000 people, mainly children.
We are extremely proud to support and work alongside the Bird Ecology Group to study, conserve, and educate about Cuban birds and look forward to continuing our vibrant partnership. We wish the team many more years of success!
Alieny Gonzalez shows a young child how to use binoculars to see a bird for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival in Cuba. (photo by Lourdes Mugica)Ianela Garcia (left) and Alieny González (right) during a shorebirds habitat use study in Rïo Máximo Fauna Refuge. (photo by Lourdes Mugica)
Male Hispaniolan Crossbill, one of our featured endemic birds during CEBF 2021. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Over 45 days, the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) 2021 explored the theme of Sing, Fly, Soar – Like A Bird! The festival celebrates the birds found only in the region, highlights the threats to their survival and demonstrates how we can protect them for generations to come. We extend a massive “thank you” to our donors, supporters, and partners for helping us put on another successful Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival!
With many of the 171 endemic birds living only on a single island and being elusive, the events celebrating these one-of-a-kind birds are also unique. In spite of COVID-19 restrictions continuing across parts of the region, our partners and supporters found different ways to carry on with the festivities on their respective islands.
“Birding Bundles” on your doorstep, and learning with a past president!
We recognize and applaud the CEBF organizers on each island, who adapted their events to make them educational, safe, and enjoyable for children and adults. The Environmental Awareness Group on Antigua supplied their participants with ‘The Birding Bundle’– a kit with all the essentials for birdwatching in their backyards. The Natural History Museum of Jamaica created videos of the island’s endemic birds and hosted a bird-themed ‘An Afternoon With a Scientist’ session for students with past BirdsCaribbean president Dr. Leo Douglas. In Venezuela, Ave Zona hosted an art contest focused on birds of the Venezuelan Caribbean (view the gallery here).
Hover over each image to see the caption; click on each photo to see it larger and to view images as a gallery
The EAG Birding Bundle
Screen shot from the “Afternoon with a Scientist” webinar
Art by Estefani Romero from the Ave Zona art event
Students in Cuba kept busy with birds
The CEBF event organizers in Cuba held workshops at schools to teach students about Cuba’s endemic birds through art and poetry competitions, games, and bird identification activities. Similar to The Birding Bundle, games and infographics were also delivered to homes for parents and children to learn about Cuban birds. Some participants also gathered for a beach clean-up titled “Cleaning for the Birds.” They expanded their outreach through the use of traditional media, specifically radio, to introduce the book “Endemic Birds of Cuba” and the annotated checklist of Cuban birds. Online activity was non-stop as well. Each day an infographic of a selected Cuban bird was shared and discussions with local researchers were held using the Telegram app.
CEBF games in Cuba, prepared by La Empresa Flora y Fauna Santiago.
Some even burst into song!
Grupo Acción Ecológica celebrating the start of CEBF
In the Dominican Republic, Grupo Jaragua asked members to record themselves singing like a bird, with sometimes hilarious results! The videos were then compiled and shared on Facebook. On the same island, Grupo Acción Ecológica started with a tree planting event. Afterwards, they took small groups of participants on short birdwatching trips to both urban and forested areas, and followed up with conversations on bird biology and habitat protection.
Endemic birds went virtual…
The St. Lucia Parrot, one of the “Endemic Birds of the Day” during CEBF 2021. A beautiful illustration by Josmar Marquez.
Because many islands were still restricted in terms of gatherings and movements, the CEBF team at BirdsCaribbean worked with well-known birders, researchers, photographers, writers, and artists from the region to present a diverse virtual festival program.
Each day we featured an endemic bird on our website and across the BirdsCaribbean socials. The list of endemic birds was carefully curated to include popular species like the St Lucia Parrot and Green-throated Carib, those with amazing bill adaptations like the Hispaniolan Crossbill and Lesser Antillean Flycatcher, revered species like the Gundlach’s Hawk, and clever birds like the Cuban Crow. You can find the complete list of birds here.
Each endemic bird profile was accompanied by a beautifully drawn image by Josmar Marquez of Ave Zona, stunning high quality photos and videos, online puzzles tailored for different levels (between six and 1,024 pieces), and bird calls. Fun and engaging activities were also provided for both kids and adults, including trivia quizzes (How Well Do You Know Caribbean Birds Pt. 1 and Pt. 2); outdoor games for the entire family; scavenger hunts, bug hunt and Operation Food Drop; crafts (Hummingbird Button Art and Jamaica Rainforest Collage); and cryptograms.
…and weekly webinars were a hit
The CEBF 2021 also boasted a fascinating series of weekly webinars on a range of topics with presenters from The Bahamas National Trust, Rainforest Connection, The Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Project, the University of the West Indies, Science and Perspective, and the University of Maryland. Every Thursday promptly at 4pm, BirdsCaribbean donors, members, and supporters from around the globe listened as our guest presenters shared enlightening information on birds, including recent advances in bird acoustic monitoring technology and its applications to bird conservation; the importance of community engagement in conservation; and how a Critically Endangered raptor in the Dominican Republic transformed the lives of the local team.
Scroll through to see some of the CEFB 2021 webinar topics
Ann Maddock offered a photographic narrative, encompassing behaviors and molting sequences of hummingbirds with a focus on species in the Bahamas, and explaining how to turn your yard into a hummingbird haven, using plant species that are easy to source and care for. The most anticipated was a webinar on bird flight – still the most admired “superpower” of birds. World-renowned author David Sibley used illustrations and information from his latest book “What It’s Like to be a Bird” to explain how nearly every aspect of a bird’s anatomy, physiology, and behavior has been shaped in some way by the requirements of flight. If you missed any of the webinars or just want to re-watch, be sure to head on over to our Youtube channel or check out our Facebook Page.
Zines, videos, social media…Oh my!
We received 33 amazing entries during the CEBF 2021 Bird Zine competition. All are now available for viewing in our BirdsCaribbean Zine Library.
This year we introduced a new activity, a Bird Zine Contest. We received zines from children, teenagers, artists, educators, tour guides, photographers, bloggers and biological illustrators from the Caribbean. The winning zines and all others are now stored in the virtual Caribbean Bird Zine Library. It is the first zine library in the region! We invite you to visit our Caribbean Bird Zine Library to explore and enjoy the amazing bird zines we received. We would love to see this collection of bird zines grow! Please contact info@birdscaribbean.org and Aliya.Hosein@birdscaribbean.org if you would like to contribute a zine – or two – to our library.
We also invited everyone to answer the question “’What does Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!’ mean to you?” We are still in the process of reviewing and editing the lovely video submissions, but we assure you they are truly inspirational, reflecting the diversity of language and culture in the region. These videos will be shared across our social media platforms. Stay tuned!
We may ask for your help…
This year’s CEBF is over – but don’t worry. We still have plenty of bird content for you to enjoy! Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and have joined the BirdsCaribbean mailing list, to ensure you are kept up to date with our latest news via our monthly newsletter.
The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival will return next April 2022 – but we need help coming up with a theme. We would love to hear your ideas for next year’s theme, which should allow us to highlight a critical problem that affects birds throughout the region. Please email your theme and a brief explanation (1-3 sentences) of why it should be the 2022 CEBF theme to CEBF@birdscaribbean.org, info@birdscaribbean.org and Aliya.Hosein@birdscaribbean.org
Thank you to all of our partners and friends across the region for participating so enthusiastically and making this another memorable CEBF. Enjoy the gallery below!
Hover over each image to see the caption; click on each photo to see it larger and to view images as a gallery
Webinar about endemic birds of Puerto Rico. (Photo by DRNA Puerto Rico)
Tropical Screech Owl artwork from Victor Moreno. (Photo by Ave-Zona)
Students participate in CEBF activities in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo Food Drop Game, one of our BirdsCaribbean activities for CEBF.
Observing a parakeet nest on a birding walk for CEBF in the Dominica Republic. (Photo by Grupo Accion Ecologia)
Screen shot from Leo Douglas’ BirdLife Jamaica webinar.
Screen shot from Leo Douglas’ BirdLife Jamaica webinar
Screen shot from Leo Douglas’ BirdLife Jamaica webinar.
Hummingbird art by Izza Huerta. (Photo by Ave Zona)
Male Hispaniolan Crossbill, on of our featured birds during CEBF2021. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Green-throated Carib tweet from Martin Lambdon.
Facebook post about the Purple-throated Carib by Natalya Lawrence.
Facebook post celebrating endemic birds by DRNA Puerto Rico.
The cover of Dayami Rovelo’s Grand Prize winning Zine, in the under 16s category.
Beautiful illustration by Josmar Marquez, featuring one of our ‘Endemic Birds of the Day’
Cuban Grassquit Infographic by CEBF organizers in CUBA
Children speaking about the Hispaniolan Parakeet during CEBF in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Grupo Accion Ecologia)
Children playing a bird ID game in Cuba (Photo by Zaimiurys Hernandez)
Children and parents play games prepared by La Empresa Flora y Fauna Santiago, Cuba.
Children flying their bird kites in Cuba (Photo by Kenia Mestril Cosme)
Children making bird kites in Cuba (Photo by Kenia Mestril Cosme)
Best nest contest rub by EAG. (Photo by Ms Derrick).
Cover of Arnaldo Toledo’s amazing Grand Prize winning bird Zine
We rounded off the BirdsCarbbean daily online activities with a two part endemic bird quiz
The majority of bananaquits in Grenada are of the black morph. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
Did you know that the same species of Caribbean birds can be a bit different on each island? Find out more from Nicky Koper, who visited Grenada with her team, to compare the Grenadian birds with those across the Caribbean.
Every island in the Caribbean has its own feel, vibe, and ultimately, its own ecosystems. It is not surprising, then, that the Caribbean’s bird communities have adapted a little differently to every island they are found on. This makes each island population genetically and ecologically distinct. Our team from the University of Manitoba and Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre (in Manitoba, Canada) wanted to learn more about why this happens.
Recently, the team published two papers highlighting how and why birds on different Caribbean islands are distinct from one another. We paid special attention to land birds of Grenada, because to the best of our knowledge, the unique forms and structures of land birds here have only been studied in depth for one species before (Bananaquits, by Dr. Joseph Wunderle). While we collected lots of primary data from Grenada in our field trips there, these papers represent one of those special projects that really came about through collaborations with and contributions from many scientists, who generously contributed their data from other islands (and Venezuela) to enable this research (see our thank-you*, below!).
Common Ground Doves had longer tarsi on Grenada than on any other island. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
Although we caught 19 species in Grenada in mist-nets from 2015 to 2017, we focused our analyses on just 4 of these, for which we had lots of data (> 400 individuals per species) from Grenada and other islands: Bananaquit, Black-faced Grassquit, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, and Common Ground Dove.
Personally, I found our results extremely interesting, as we found many differences between the populations on Grenada compared with other islands, as published in our recent Journal of Caribbean Ornithology paper. In fact, every one of the 4 species we studied on Grenada differed in at least one way from every other population we studied. In a few cases, the Grenada populations were exceptional; for example, Lesser Antillean Bullfinches were smaller on Grenada than anywhere else, while Common Ground Doves had longer tarsi (lower leg bones) than any other population.
Black-faced Grassquits had relatively long wings on Grenada compared with other islands. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
We also really wanted to find out what might have contributed to the unique adaptations of these species across the Caribbean. In our paper in the journal Ornithology, we show that islands with lower avian diversity have populations with characteristics suggesting evidence of “ecological release” – on islands with fewer species, there is less competition among species, which allows for that population to use a wider variety of habitats or niches. This, in turn, tends to result in morphological characteristics that help birds to successfully use a wider variety of resources.
While ecological release seems to be the most important single driver affecting evolution of physical traits in the species we studied, it’s definitely not the only one. Grassquits had longer wings and ground doves had longer tarsi on islands with mongoose, which might mean that these species have begun to adapt to the recent increase in predation risk from that animal. The stronger they can fly or lever off of the ground, the better they can escape mongoose. Morphology of several species also varied with climatic differences among islands.
We think the key take-home messages from this research are that Grenada’s bird populations – and indeed, the populations on all the Caribbean islands – are ecologically unique. Our conservation and management of these islands shouldn’t focus just on species that are endemic; we also need to recognize that each island population contributes to the diversity of its species, so we really need to conserve the species on every island on which they occur.
Lesser Antillean Bullfinches were lighter on Grenada than on any other island. (Photo by Paulson Des Brisay)
*We sincerely thank these researchers for generously sharing their morphological data with us: Floyd Hayes, Miguel Lentino, Chris Rimmer, Kent MacFarlane, John D. Lloyd, Stewart White, Bob Wilkerson, and The Institute for Bird Populations. Many thanks to George Wallace for directing us to a publicly accessible database compiled from years of research. Many thanks to our volunteer banders and assistants, including Chelsea Enslow, Christoph Ng, Laura Burns, Ezra Campbell, Nicholas Bergen, Marie-Ève Cyr, Hannah Carey, and Alice Davey.
Dr. Nicola Koper is a Professor in the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Manitoba. She studies avian conservation biology in Canada and the Neotropics. Currently, she is focusing on effects of anthropogenic noise, oil and gas activity, and agroecology of birds.
The poster entitled “The Endemic Birds of Jamaica – 31 More Reasons to be Proud of Jamaica” will be distributed island wide, free of cost to all public education institutions. National school distribution efforts will commence on September 1st. The artwork is from “A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies” by Herb Raffaele et al., illustrations by Tracy Pedersen and Kristin Williams.
It was October 2001, a few weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when BirdLife Jamaica launched the first ever poster to illustrate all of Jamaica’s endemic birds at the Public Affairs Auditorium of the United States Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. The newly minted U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Sue McCourt Cobb, attended the launch.
Dr. Herbert A. Raffaele, then Chief of Division of International Conservation at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was scheduled to be the keynote presenter at that event, but was unfortunately not able to attend. All senior-level U.S. federal government employees were on high alert and non-essential international travel had been banned. Despite the stress-filled and unusual atmosphere, the launch of Birdlife Jamaica’s poster and associated booklet, entitled “Birds of Jamaica — A Celebration,” to illustrate all of Jamaica’s endemic birds proceeded and was an immediate success. The 2001 poster, along with copies of the Teacher’s Guide to the Birds of Jamaica and the book “Birds of Jamaica” by Downer & Sutton – which provided full photographic coverage of every resident bird species in Jamaica – was distributed free of cost to almost 600 primary, all-age and secondary schools across the island.
Twenty years later, Dr. Raffaele was again guest speaker on July 25, 2021, when BirdLife Jamaica launched a new, updated poster to illustrate Jamaica’s endemic birds. This time he was able to attend the launch, albeit on Zoom, due to the pandemic. Raffaele applauded BirdLife Jamaica for the organization’s leadership in shedding light on the island’s commonly marginalized natural history. He emphasized that today there was more interest, and greater opportunities to bring Jamaicans face-to-face with the island’s biodiversity and to magnify the local eco-culture. Raffaele said, “This is what conservation is all about! Working with local people to develop respect and pride in THEIR biodiversity.”
He added, “Your success at this will ultimately be reflected in the extent to which future generations of Jamaicans will have prospering populations of local birds to enjoy. This poster can prove a valuable tool in such a process. I and the Cape Cod Bird Club congratulate you on this especially important accomplishment.”
This new poster features thirty one species of birds (download the PDF here). The 2001 edition featured 30 species. So why thirty-one? On the new poster, the Olive-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula nana) which has one subspecies in Jamaica (E.n. nana) and one in Central America (E.n. astec), is now considered by some taxonomists as two full species—the Jamaican Parakeet (Eupsittula nana) and Aztec Parakeet (Eupsittula astec). BirdLife Jamaica President Damany Calder explained:
“As with a number of other birds, whether the Jamaican Parakeet (or Olive-throated Parakeet) is considered an endemic species or not depends on which classification system is used.
During the launch webinar event, BirdLife Jamaica also unveiled their new logo. It pays homage to the original logo but has a new modern look to it.
“The American Ornithological Society, which publishes the AOS Checklist of North and Middle American Birds* does not consider the bird endemic at the species level. It is lumped together with the Central American bird. However, AOS did change the scientific names of a number of parakeets, including Jamaica’s. The Jamaican and Central American population are now Eupsittula nana and the Jamaican subspecies is E.n. nana. In the UK, however, they use a different taxonomy. By the closest of votes, the British Ornithologists’ Union adopted the International Ornithological Council’s World Bird List as its favored taxonomy. So that list too classifies the Jamaican parakeet as a subspecies. A third classification system is that of Birdlife International, which compiled the Handbook of Birds of the World. That is the system used in the recent “Birds of the West Indies” (Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides) written by Kirwan et al. That system splits many more species, including the Jamaican Parakeet as a distinct species, using the same scientific name as above – that is, Eupsittula nana.
“So, it comes down to preferences. The two primary ornithological societies lump the Jamaican population with the Central American population; the UK’s top bird non-profit organization splits it. A paper in Zootaxa by Remsen et al. reviews the genetics of these birds and led to the change in the genus name. For us working in Jamaica, we are inclined to split the bird into a distinct species, because it can be justified by a solid source and it gives us another important selling point to push for the conservation of this widely persecuted Jamaican species, which is perceived as a pest.”
The first poster of the Endemic Birds of Jamaica, published in 2001.
The production of the first poster and informational booklet in 2001 received broad corporate sponsorship and support (from Shell Jamaica Ltd, The Caribbean Cement Company, The Hilton Hotel, and the Jamaica Gleaner Company, among others). The poster quickly became a fixture at major hotels across the island. On this occasion, BirdLife Jamaica took the position not to solicit sponsorship directly from corporations whose values and goals directly conflicted with the conservation of birds and their habitats. BirdLife Jamaica believes this to be a critical issue. Calder noted: “We felt it might be confusing and even counterproductive to add the names and logos of businesses whose existence depended on the continued degradation, pollution and marginalization of the natural world.”
This time around, the Cape Cod Bird Club in Massachusetts is a major sponsor of the new poster. BirdLife Jamaica provided a 100% match to the Cape Cod Bird Club grant through donations from its Board. The Club provides small grants of up to US$1,000 to the Caribbean for projects relating directly or indirectly to the well-being and protection of birds.
In launching this long-anticipated public educational resource, BirdLife Jamaica Calder described the poster as invaluable for school education programs. He believes it will help all Jamaicans learn about the island’s rich and globally significant natural heritage, encouraging Jamaicans to value nature and to acknowledge the public’s right to a clean, healthy environment.
BirdLife Jamaica is the only organization on the island specifically concerned with the conservation of birds and their habitats. Ten species of Jamaican birds are considered globally threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), that is, at risk of becoming globally extinct, and at least two Jamaican species have become extinct since the 1800s. Field-based efforts are ongoing to determine whether the latter two species, namely the Jamaican Petrel and the Jamaican Pauraque, may yet survive in remnant populations within the most inaccessible areas of the island, such as the Cockpit Country and Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park.
The poster is perfect for schools, libraries, and anyone who loves birds. It will be officially available from September 1st, 2021 but you can pre-order yours using this form.
*The AOS Checklist is considered the official source on the taxonomy of birds in North and Middle America, including adjacent islands. It is the checklist used by Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s popular eBird program and Birds of the World – the new comprehensive website on all of the world’s birds, bringing together content from 4 different resources (a subscription to this website is included in BirdsCaribbean membership). Hence, if you are entering your sightings of the Jamaican Parakeet in eBird Caribbean you will not find Jamaican Parakeet, you need to search for Olive-throated Parakeet and enter it as such in your eBird checklists. If, in the future, the species is deemed to merit full species status by the AOS Checklist Committee, then your sightings will be updated to the new name, Jamaican Parakeet. Similarly, note that the Red-billed Streamertail and Black-billed Streamertail are no longer considered two distinct species by the AOS. They are now lumped into one species “Streamertail” (Trochilus polytmus) with two subspecies: Streamertail (Red-billed) – T.p. polytmus and Streamertail (Black-billed) – T.p. scitulus). In ebird you have the option to enter your sighting as Streamertail or Streamertail (Red-billed).
Enjoy the Gallery of Photos below showing presentations of the poster to different agencies and organizations in Jamaica and also a few screen shots from the July 25th poster launch event on zoom. Click on each photo to see it larger and to view as a slide show.
Poster presentation to Gary Allen, RGR Gleaner Communications Group by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica.
Herb Raffaele, keynote speaker, at the poster launch event on Zoom.
Poster presentation to Dr. Tracy Commock, The Director, Natural History Museum of Jamica, Institute of Jamaica by Ricardo Miller, BirdLife Jamaica
Poster presentation to Mr. Ainsley Henry, CEO & Conservator of Forests at the Jamaican Forestry Dept, by Ricardo Miller, BirdLife Jamaica.
Poster presentation to Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, CEO, Jamaica Environment Trust by Damany Calder, BirdLife Jamaica President.
Poster presentation to Dr. Dwight Robinson, Head of the Dept of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, by Ricardo Miller, BirdLife Jamaica & NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency).
During the webinar launch on zoom, Ricardo Miller explained why the new poster has 31 species.
Poster presentation to Heather Pinnock, Urban Development Corporation, by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica
Poster presentation to Ms. Shanique Hamilton, Senior Teacher at Denham Town High School, by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica.
Damany Calder, BirdLife Jamaica President, welcomes viewers at launch webinar on Zoom.
Birding legend John Fletcher is interviewed by Damion Whyte about his life as a birder and how ornithology and birding has developed in Jamaica over the years.
Poster presentation to Mrs. Helen Austin, Vice Principal of Charlie Smith High School, by Damion Whyte, BirdLife Jamaica.
Flock together with us this August for the AOS 2021 Virtual Meeting! The meeting, August 9-13, features a fantastic line-up of keynote and plenary speakers, workshops, symposia, discussions, and social events. The meeting theme, Birds of Many Feathers Flock Together, aims to harness the power of all the individuals who study, conserve, and educate about birds. BirdsCaribbean is excited to be a part of the meeting through several events, including a symposium, and a meet and greet social hour. Mark your calendars, be sure to register, and read more about these events below!
BirdsCaribbean Symposium Will Showcase Caribbean Research and Conservation
On August 11th and 12th, BirdsCaribbean will host a three-part symposium entitled, “Resilient Caribbean Birds—Surviving and Thriving in a Challenging World.” This symposium will highlight lessons learned from recent avian research and conservation projects in the Caribbean that focus on the resilience of birds and people to cope with numerous threats, including storms and hurricanes, invasive species, habitat destruction, and more. Sixteen ornithologists and conservationists will share their work and there will be time for Q&A and discussion. See the full abstract below; the AOS Meeting program and abstracts are available for download here.
Get Social with Us!
BirdsCaribbean will host a Meet and Greet Social Hour on Tues Aug 10 from 4-5pm EDT. We all miss live events and getting to catch up in person. We’re hoping you’ll join us on Zoom, where we can all grab our favorite Caribbean cocktails and see your smiling faces! Our Meet and Greet is a fantastic opportunity for BirdsCaribbean members to reconnect and for new recruits to meet some friendly colleagues. Come mingle with our amazing community and hopefully get inspired to learn more during our three-part symposium over the following two days. We’ll be starting out with some ice breakers (think favorite Caribbean bird and Caribbean cocktail), followed by a fun bird trivia quiz to test how well you know your Caribbean birds (studying encouraged!).
BirdsCaribbean Symposium Abstract: Resilient Caribbean birds: Surviving and thriving in a challenging world
Organizers: Lisa G. Sorenson and Adrianne G. Tossas
The insular Caribbean is recognized as one of the top five global biodiversity conservation hotspots, yet this important region’s wildlife face numerous threats, from destruction of habitats for development to more frequent and extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. The region is of exceptional importance to birds, hosting 171 endemic species. It also serves as a key migratory route for more than 100 migrants, whose journeys between the North and South American mainlands depend on quality habitat throughout the islands. BirdsCaribbean and its wide network of partners across the Caribbean have recognized that in order for birds and their habitats to survive and thrive during these times of rapid change, conservationists and communities must share resources, collaborate, and flock together to stem the tides of avian loss.
During our symposium, members of the BirdsCaribbean community—scientists, conservationists, students, and volunteers—will share their work and lessons learned on building resilience for the region’s resident and migratory bird species. The diversity of research and accomplishments showcased in this symposium is a testament to the region’s tenacious spirit, camaraderie, resourcefulness, and inherent passion for their natural world. It is also a testament to the resilience of birds, demonstrating that many species of birds can survive if we give them the chance to do so, by alleviating threats, protecting habitats, and engaging communities in conservation.
The Bahama Nuthatch is finally declared a full species. Sadly, due to recent hurricanes, it may now be extinct. (photo by Bill Hayes)
The Bahama Nuthatch (Sitta insularis), formerly considered a subspecies of the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), has finally been split from the Brown-headed Nuthatch. This elevates the Bahama Nuthatch to a full species, meaning we now have a new Caribbean and Bahamas endemic!
The Bahama Nuthatch was split from the Brown-headed Nuthatch due to research showing differences in vocalizations. The calls of the Bahama Nuthatch are strikingly different from those of the Brown-headed Nuthatch, including a unique, rapid, high “warble.” In addition, there is a weak response of each species to playback of vocalizations of the other species. In other words, each species does not recognize the other as members of the same species. Additionally, there are some physical differences that distinguish the Bahama Nuthatch such as a much darker brown facial stripe, much longer bill, and considerably shorter wings.
Bahamian Biologist, Scott Johnson commented, “After many years and a lot of research, the Bahama Nuthatch has been elevated to full species status (although many of us knew and recognized it as such for a while now). Sadly, we are not sure if it is still alive. Hurricane Dorian destroyed the only place on Grand Bahama where it was found. I will be keeping an eye and ear out for this species during my next trip to GB.”
More surveys are urgently needed. We hope we can still find this incredibly special bird and find a way to bring it back. In the meantime, conserving its pine forest habitat is paramount!
St. Kitts Bullfinch granted full species status
Since it was first described by George Lawrence in 1881, the St. Kitts Bullfinch was considered a sub-species of the Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Milopyrrha portorinsis). This bird, locally known as the St. Kitts Bullfinch (Melopyrrha portoricensis grandis), was living in St. Kitts with a restricted distribution on the upper slopes of Mt. Misery.
However, the AOS have formally amended the status of the St. Kitts bird from a subspecies to a distinct full species, now officially named the St. Kitts Bullfinch (Milopyrrha grandis). This gives St. Kitts its first and only endemic bird! The catch – this bird has been extinct for almost 100 years!
Thanks to a few specimens and a PhD study on this unique bullfinch, the St. Kitt’s Bullfinch was differentiated from the Puerto Rican Bullfinch by a larger size of about 25%, bigger and heavier beak, and differences in coloration. The St. Kitts Bullfinch has consistent black markings on the undertail coverts that the Puerto Rico birds do not have. In addition, the plumage of St. Kitts birds is more glossy black and the throat and upper breast patch is more extended and darker reddish-brown.
What caused the extinction of this species? It’s hypothesized that the St. Kitt’s Bullfinch likely existed with a very restricted range on Mt. Liamuiga. It was thought to be common in the 1890s but when two large hurricanes struck in 1899, the bullfinch disappeared. You can read more about the St. Kitt’s Bullfinch here and here.
Museum specimens showing the marked difference in size between a male St. Kitts Bullfinch (upper) and male Puerto Rican Bullfinch (lower). (photo by Douglas Wechsler)
Mounted specimen of a St. Kitts Bullfinch. (Naturalis Zoology andGeology catalogues)
Other Caribbean taxonomic updates
Additionally, there were a few interesting broader reclassifications published in the AOS Supplement. The Antillean Piculet (Nesoctites micromegas) is reclassified as no longer belonging to the Piculet subfamily. Recent genetic evidence shows that these unique Caribbean picids are more closely related to woodpeckers (subfamily Picinae) than to the smaller South American piculets. However, the Antillean Piculet still lacks some classic woodpecker features such as stiffened rectrices (tail feathers) and adaptations for drilling, making it unique among both piculets and woodpeckers.
Antillean Euphonia, Puerto Rican Subspecies (Photo by Aldredo Irizarry)
Another Caribbean classic, the Antillean Euphonia (Euphonia musica), has been reclassified with the genus name—Chlorophonia musica. Recent genetic analyses have distinguished Antillean Euphonia as well as its cousin, the Elegant Euphonia, as more closely related to the Chlorophonia finches than the Euphonias (all within Family Fringillidae).
Another generic change—Jamaican Owl has been moved from Pseudoscops grammicus to Asio grammicus.
Finally, Crested Caracara (Caracara cherway) and Southern Caracara (Caracara plancus) have been lumped into a single species Caracara plancus.
We are excited to welcome the two new species of endemics to the BirdsCaribbean family, and hope beyond hope that they somehow still survive. Caribbean birds remain understudied and we hope future research will help us solve some other taxonomic mysteries in the Caribbean.
BirdsCaribbean hosted its first Bird Zine (pronounced zeen) Contest during the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. Now, what is a Zine, you may ask?
A zine is a self-published booklet. Zines tend to be a collage of different images, text, and messages put together by writing, drawing, and/or cutting and gluing content into a booklet. In other words, it’s a hands-on creation utilizing various techniques that showcase informational content. We recognize the value of encouraging this form of expression and acknowledging the talent and knowledge of both novice and experienced birders.
The contest was presented as an opportunity for anyone with a love for birds to dig deep into one of the following topics that fascinates them: Bird Sounds; Bird Flight; Caribbean Endemic Bird Species Spotlight; and Why Caribbean Birds Matter.
We received 33 zines (22 in Spanish and 11 in English) from Barbados, Bonaire, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. Some zines were handmade while others – like Allison Perkins’ zine about the Blue-headed Quail Dove and Alondra Del Mar Norat Pérez’s zine ‘Get to Know Me – the Puerto Rican Emerald’ – were beautifully made using free online design software.
All zines submitted are worthy of celebration! The unique quality of a zine is how its ability to share an idea/s will differ depending on the context and reader. We honour the work of all the zine creators. They were artistically unique and effective at expanding our knowledge of the bird and topic.
Grand Prize Winners
Adults (16 and older)
Arnaldo Toledo, Cuba, was the winner of our Grand Prize for adults (ages 16 and older). Arnaldo Toledo, Cuba- “Apuntes de campo Carpintero Churroso” (Field Notes Fernandina’s Flicker). Arnaldo’s zine explores the amazing adaptations of a Cuban endemic bird, the Fernandina’s Flicker. He beautifully combines art & science with his exquisite drawings and his deep knowledge of the species. One judge commented, “This zine is beautifully designed and packed with information. It reminds me of artwork I would find in The Naturalist’s Library by Sir Jardine Williams (published in the 19th Century).”
We asked Arnaldo what inspired him to create his zine. He replied, “Woodpeckers are among my favorite birds, they are so active and full of cool adaptations. The Fernandina’s Flicker is special for me, I have spent a lot of time observing it and studying its life. It is a Threatened species that needs all the help we can give it. I had a lot of fun creating the Zine. I was able to draw freely about a topic I love, mixing a lot of art techniques and ideas. My hope was to make anyone who opens my zine interested in our beautiful flicker.”
Children (15 and under)
Dayami Ravelo, Cuba, age 9, created a lovely zine on the topic of Why Caribbean Birds Matter. Dayami Ravelo, Cuba- “Por qué importan las aves del Caribe” (Why Caribbean Birds Matter). Dayami’s zine showcases many Cuban endemic birds and why they are important. It is inspirational to both children and adults. Dayami’s zine received great reviews from the judges. One judge commented, “It is visually appealing with the hand drawn photos of all the birds and landscapes. A lot of effort was put into creating this zine and I am curious to learn more about Cuba’s endemic birds.”
Prizes for Each Age Category
After much deliberation, the judges made their selections in the following age group categories:
Adults (ages 16+)
First Place:1st Beatriz Hernandez, Puerto Rico – “Why Caribbean Birds Matter” Beatriz’ lovely sketches and handwritten information on Todies makes this zine an absolute delight to read. Beatriz was delighted to hear that she was a winner and commented, “I was not only making something, I was learning along the way! Creating the zine was an incredible opportunity to think about how to combine art and words to talk about Why Caribbean Birds Matter. By using the iconic todies, endemic and well represented in the Caribbean, I hope to engage others to learn about the importance of birds in our region as well as ways to protect them and their habitats.”
Winner: 13 to 15 years old: Miguel Alejandro, 13, Cuba – “Por qué importan las aves del Caribe” (Why Caribbean Birds Matter)
Winner: 10 to 12 years old: Luis Yaniel, 10, Cuba – “Vuelos de aves” (Bird flight)
Winner: 7 to 9 years old: Iris Garrido, 9, Cuba – “Tesoro de mi país” (Treasure of My Country)
We would like to express our deepest thanks to everyone who entered their zine; and to the judges, who had the undoubtedly difficult task of reviewing all the zines and selecting the winners.
We invite you to visit our Caribbean Bird Zine Library at this link and below to explore and enjoy the amazing bird zines we received. We would love to see this collection of bird zines grow! Please contact Aliya.Hosein@birdscaribbean.org and info@birdscaribbean.org if you would like to contribute a zine – or two – to our library.
Scott Johnson of the Bahamas National Trust bands a Black-and-white Warbler. Banding birds gives us a picture of what condition birds are in. Together with surveys and tracking birds, these monitoring tools can help fill the knowledge gaps we have about landbirds in the Caribbean. (photo by Giselle Dean)
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce that we were recently awarded a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant! With the help of matching funds from our partners, we were awarded US$200,000 to implement a project that will increase capacity to monitor landbirds in the Caribbean!
So the next step, of course, is landbirds! Landbirds spend the majority of their lives over land, and include birds like parrots, hummingbirds, songbirds, woodpeckers, todies, and raptors. Many landbird species are declining, including our resident and endemic birds, as well as over 100 migratory species. Monitoring is essential to filling gaps in our knowledge about the status, trends, and habitat use of their populations.
Our new Landbird Monitoring project will increase capacity to monitor landbirds in the Caribbean using three different, yet complementary, monitoring tools: standardized surveys, bird banding, and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.
Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network
A group carries out a bird survey in Adelaide, The Bahamas, at a past BirdsCaribbean Workshop. Using standardized monitoring protocols means we can compare data from different places and observers and helps build a better picture of how birds are doing. (Photo by Deb Reynolds)
Currently, there is not a standardized set of protocols for observing and recording landbirds in the Caribbean. The Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) Manual was developed in Latin America, and was designed specifically with the tropics in mind. We plan to further adapt these protocols to fit our unique Caribbean ecosystems. The multi-level survey protocols in the manual also incorporate the use of eBird, which will help us get a more complete picture of how our Caribbean birds are faring! Standardized surveys are one of the best ways to monitor landbirds, and entering survey data into eBird ensures its longevity.
These standard protocols will be made available as soon as they are ready, and we will be offering several training workshops to our Caribbean colleagues to get hands-on experience using them.
Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network
Carefully measuring and banding a Broad-billed Tody in the Dominican Republic. Bird banding can provide extra information about birds, like body condition and survival rates, that surveys cannot provide. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Bird banding is a monitoring technique used throughout the world to gain valuable demographic and health information from birds in the hand. While surveys give us a broader picture of landbird communities, banding gives us deeper insights into how these birds are doing, allowing for assessments of body condition, survival, and more. Birds are captured and given bands with unique identifying numbers so they’ll be recognized if they are captured again, no matter where they travel to. There are several ongoing and pending bird banding operations in the Caribbean, and we are hoping to unite them under the Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network!
As part of the CBB Network, we will create Caribbean bird bands and distribute them to permitted and qualified banders in the region. Our system will be similar to the USGS system, which no longer distributes bands outside of the U.S. Our bands will be stamped with contact information so that anyone can report a bird band or banded bird they find. The banding network will also include a database so that banding data can be collected consistently across the islands, and compiled to easily find recaptured birds.
Joining the network will connect banders to the other banding operations throughout the Caribbean, enabling them to discuss, share information, and learn about topics like banding techniques and molt patterns. NMBCA funding will allow us to develop the CBB Network and also offer training workshops and internships so people can learn how to band birds and improve their banding techniques.
CLICK ON EACH PHOTO BELOW TO VIEW LARGER.
A Bahama Warbler in the hand during banding. (Photo by Scott Johnson)
Banding a Broad-billed Tody in the Dominican Republic.
Black-throated Blue Warbler during banding in the Dominican Republic (Photo by Holly Garrod).
Motus Wildlife Tracking in the Caribbean
The Cape May Warbler is a declining landbird that winters in the Caribbean; increased monitoring will help fill gaps in knowledge of the species. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Motus (Latin for movement) is a collaborative research network managed by Birds Canada that allows us to better understand bird migration patterns. The powerful tracking technology uses automated radio telemetry stations to detect tagged birds (and other small flying animals like bats and insects) as they move across the landscape.
Motus stations have been popping up all over the Eastern U.S. and Canada, and the network is starting to expand in Central and South America. The Caribbean is one of the remaining empty gaps in the network – but that’s soon to change! Thanks to NMBCA, we now have enough funding to put Motus stations on multiple Caribbean islands and train local conservation groups to help maintain them! We’re also going to tag some of our shared migratory birds on their Caribbean wintering grounds to get a better sense of where exactly they migrate to.
In addition to the Motus component of our Landbird Monitoring project, we’ve accelerated our efforts to expand the network in the Caribbean through our Caribbean Motus Collaboration. Special thanks to everyone who participated and donated to this initiative during our Global Big Day campaign!
Thank you!
We are very excited to officially launch our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring project in partnership with our widespread collaborators! We look forward to working with you!
If you are interested in getting involved, be sure to join our BirdsCaribbean Monitoring Working Group listserv to receive updates and learn about upcoming training workshops and other opportunities. Simply send an email to MonitoringWG+subscribe@BirdsCaribbean.groups.io (Note: this will also subscribe your email address to our main BirdsCaribbean listserv).
Red Knots are known for their extraordinary long-distance migrations. On the Atlantic Flyway they head north from their main wintering areas in South America to breed in the Arctic, traveling as far as 15,000 km each way! Here in the Caribbean, they winter in small numbers on various islands, and we see them also during Fall and Spring migration. Counts of birds on northward migration are way down from previous years, causing great concern. Did something different happen this year? Where are the missing Red Knots? We need your help to find out!
Target count dates are July 10-20, but counts at any time during July are welcome!
When Red Knots migrate north to their breeding grounds they will stop along the way to refuel, gathering in large flocks at key sites to rest and feed. These sites are vital for Red Knots and other shorebirds to re-build fat reserves before completing their long journeys north to breed. Counting birds at these sites can give us an indication of how the populations of these birds are faring.
You may have heard that this year, on spring migration, a very steep decline in Red Knot numbers was recorded at one such site. The count of Red Knots at Delaware Bay (New Jersey, and Delaware) where knots gather in huge numbers to gorge on the eggs of spawning Horseshoe Crabs, was just 6,800. This is an alarmingly low count compared to the 19,000 seen last year, and 30,000 seen in 2018 and 2019. In fact, this year’s count was the lowest recorded since the 1980s when the population was about 90,000.
Help Us Find Out What Happened: CWC count July 10-20
We are asking for your help in July to try to understand what happened. It is possible that some of the ‘missing’ Red Knots decided not to migrate north and spent the breeding season in their wintering areas or stopped their journeys before reaching this key stopover site. As part of an international coordinated effort, we would like you to carry out a Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) count at wetlands and beaches you know are good for shorebirds, from July 10 – 20. These are the key dates for the coordinated count, but if you cannot make it out during this period doing a CWC count atany time in July will also help.
Red Knots in Trouble
A Red Knot, in in September still showing some remnants of breeding plumage. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
We already know that Red Knots are in trouble, like many other shorebirds. They are threatened by climate change, loss of habitat, reduction in food resources, human disturbance, and hunting. The birds using Delaware Bay as a stopover site are of the Rufa sub-species of Red Knots, listed as Threatened since 2014. This sub-species also migrates through the Caribbean on the Atlantic Flyway and winters in small numbers in the islands. The population of rufa Red Knots is estimated to have declined by 75% in recent years and the USFWS say threats to this sub-species put it “in danger of extinction in the next few decades.” So, it is vital that we try to understand what has happened to Red Knots this year!
Ornithologists report that although horseshoe crab eggs were abundant at Delaware Bay, numbers of some of the other migratory shorebirds that stop there, like Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Sanderlings were also lower than expected this year. One factor that may have contributed to low numbers of knots was poor reproduction on the breeding grounds last year (there is some evidence for this). Or perhaps migration was delayed due to poor weather, or there was abundant food at another stopover site and so not as many birds used Delaware Bay.
It’s also possible that more birds than usual may have stayed in the Caribbean or other parts of their nonbreeding range instead of migrating north—some juvenile Red Knots do not reproduce in their first year and spend the breeding season in different places across the Americas. Or perhaps some unknown factor (e.g., disease, a storm, etc.), caused the demise of a large numbers of birds. We hope that this is not the case!
Red Knot ID Tips – Click on each photo below to view larger.
Red Knot in breeding plumage. (Photo by Rick Evets)
Red Knots molting from breeding to non-breeding plumage. (Photo by Stephen Buckingham)
Red Knot in winter plumage. (Photo by Beth Hamel)
Your CWC Count Data is needed!
We need our CWC monitors throughout the Caribbean to help this international effort to try and understand why numbers of Red Knots and other shorebirds are down this year. Please carry out as many counts as you can during the period July 10-20. When you do your CWC count, remember to keep an eye out for other shorebird species at the same time, and that you should count all the birds you see (of any species, including “landbirds”) on each count—doing a complete count greatly increases the value of your data to science and conservation.
Don’t forget to enter your data in eBird Caribbean using one of the CWC protocols on Step 2 of data entry. If using eBird mobile, set your portal to eBird Caribbean to access the CWC options for your checklists/ counts at wetlands and beaches). Thanks to you, we now have 11+ years of CWC data and counting, and are able to look at status and trends for many species at different sites and in the region overall. Remember that CWC counts can be done at any time of year—whenever you are conducting a count at a wetland, mangrove, salt pond, or beach, make it a CWC count.
Share this special CWC July Count, Red Knot edition, with your networks!
As mentioned above this is an international collaborative effort, thus, we would like people to carry out counts throughout the Caribbean and the Americas! We have prepared promotional graphics (portrait, landscape, square) in English, Spanish, and French for our partners in the Caribbean – you can download them here. If you would like to use and adapt these graphics for your country, you are welcome to do so! Contact Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org.
Please, do remember to follow any COVID rules and precautions in your country when doing surveys.
Thank you for contributing to our knowledge base, as we try to solve the mystery of the missing Red Knots.
Binkie takes kids birding at a nearby sports field. It did not long for the kids to become hooked on birds!
Binkie van Es shares his experience of working with disadvantaged youth in Sint Maarten—introducing them to birds and science through the BirdSleuth Caribbean education program. Was he successful in getting kids interested in birds? Read on to find out!
In 2014 BirdsCaribbean provided me with training to their BirdSleuth Caribbean Education Program. The training venue for the 3-day workshop was in the beautiful Retreat Garden at the Bahamas National Trust in Nassau. I will never forget how I was introduced into a wonderful new world that will be with me the rest of my life. Birding has never been the same since that week.
From the very first training day I was hooked on the program. I enjoyed every aspect of it.
For those of you that are not familiar with BirdSleuth, it is a program geared to young people. It teaches the life cycle of birds, the challenges birds face, their importance for us, and human influences (both positive and negative) on birds. The goal is to reconnect children with nature – and birds.
The program is set up as a classroom curriculum, but is extremely easy to adapt to other settings. Separate sections can be taught outdoors and during daytime events. With a bit of creativity, “birdsleuthing” can take place off grid. Over the years, I have used BirdSleuth in different ways – whether it is training educators, or teaching children in class myself.
How is the BirdSleuth program received? This varies, depending on the group. The greatest challenge is to get it introduced into school curriculums. The teachers are willing, but school boards are not so keen. The best memories, and greatest successes, have been working with children directly.
Bird feeders in the outdoor classroom in Sint Maarten, part of the Player Development Foundation’s afterschool program for youth that now includes bird watching!
In the summer of 2020, I started working with an afterschool program in Sint Maarten, called Player Development Foundation. This foundation had evolved from a sports activity/ baseball little league to after-school experience-based education. The ages of the children range from 6 – 14 years; they come from difficult backgrounds, many with broken families and living in poverty.
I started visiting them one afternoon per week to teach them about birds. Using BirdSleuth Caribbean, they learn about nature, how to help keep our environment healthy, and how they can learn from bird behavior.
In the first lesson I introduced myself and started talking with them about birds, to find out what they already knew. Importantly, I made them realize that they knew more than they thought they did.
Over the course of several weeks, I taught these children how to use binoculars. They got to see birds close up for the first time in their lives and they were mesmerized.
We also made their location more bird-friendly, installing bird feeders (including feeders the kids made themselves), and attracting an ever-growing variety of birds into their outdoor classroom. Now, they get to see Bananaquits, Black-Faced Grassquits, Bullfinches, Carib Grackles, Pearly-Eyed Thrashers, and Zenaida Doves on a daily basis.
Then the community where they all live became a COVID hotspot, and their coach advised me to stay away until the risk was manageable again. They had to shut down twice for a fortnight because of exposure to the virus.
Nevertheless, the children had become thoroughly hooked on bird watching by that time. They continued to observe the feeders and study the bird’s behavior. Whenever they spotted a bird that they could not name, they would send me a picture for identification. On a weekly basis, the coach would post pictures of their bird adventures on Facebook.
Then the most amazing thing happened. The children were asked by the local newspaper if they were willing to write about the birds in their classroom, and willing they were!!!
A bully bird at the feeders – Find out what happened to the quesadilla!
So far, they have published three newspaper articles. Each story covers one bird species—the first one was on Bananaquits, the second on Carib Grackles, and third about Pearly-Eyed Thrashers.
The children are amazing. They observe carefully and they work hard on their research, although they only have access to one laptop with internet access. They observed, for example, the pecking order between the various species and between male and female birds.
I must admit that the children are better story tellers than I am, and the only help they got from their teacher was with grammar.
If you work with children or are planning to work with them, please consider the BirdSleuth Caribbean program if you are not using it already. It will open up a wonderful new world for you also.
A week after writing this blog post, I will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and am already planning my return to the children, who in turn, are also excited to hear that I am coming back to them to continue their bird education.
I extend gratitude to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for developing BirdSleuth and would like to thank BirdsCaribbean for adapting the program for the Caribbean, for introducing me to it and providing all the teaching materials and binoculars. I appreciate all the children and adults who have so far been willing to be taught by me. Most of all, I extend my appreciation to Lisa Sorensen at BirdsCaribbean, who kept me motivated with her boundless energy, and who gave me this new, very rewarding, purpose in life.
By Cornelis “Binkie” van Es is retired from his career in sales and now working full-time on his second “career” as a bird educator, volunteer for several environmental non-profits, and bird tour guide on Sint Maarten/ St. Martin. He is a certified Bird Guide with BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail program. Do visit this wonderful island – you’ll have the best time birding with Binkie!
BirdsCaribbean thanks the US Fish and Wildlife Service, NMBCA (Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act) Program, and our members and generous donors for funding support for our BirdSleuth Caribbean program. We also thank Jennifer Fee and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for their partnership and assistance.
Happy World Rainforest Day! We want to take today to appreciate some of the Caribbean’s beautiful tropical forests and the unique birds residing within them, as well as provide you with some tips to help conserve the world’s rainforests.
Did you know that the poop of these birds helps keeps these forests growing? Birds are some of the most important seed dispersers, especially in the Caribbean where many of the typical tropical mammals such as monkeys and peccaries are lacking. As birds fly around the forest eating many a tropical fruit, they poop out the seeds, planting many future plants. Some studies have even used birds to help reforest areas using perches and feeders to encourage extra pooping!
The biggest rainforest in the Caribbean is the El Yunque Forest in Puerto Rico. Several years ago this forest took a hard hit during Hurricane Maria. Many of the Caribbean rainforests are actually adapted to the annual hurricane season, tropical plants such as Cecropias are some of the first recolonizers. But climate change has made recent hurricanes far more destructive than many rainforests are accustomed to.
Only 25% of the rainforest remains in the Caribbean. And with continuous destruction for agriculture and growing development we might continue to lose the lush, tropical hills of the Caribbean.
Take a look at our infographic for some ideas on how you can make some of your daily habits more rainforest friendly. Feel free to download and share with others!
Are you an experienced marketing and communications professional? Do you want to help us tell the world how amazing Caribbean birds are and why we should protect them? Then consider joining our team!
Position Overview: The Communications Manager oversees communications, marketing, and public relations efforts to raise awareness and support for BirdsCaribbean’s mission, projects, and programs. This role will provide strategic and tactical guidance to BirdsCaribbean to help our organization communicate effectively with our partners, members, and donors, and build awareness and engagement around our various programs. This position will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean and other staff, including members of our Fundraising, Media, Education, and Program Committees. This is a full-time employee or contractor position with benefits and can be worked remotely from any location. Caribbean nationals residing within the Caribbean are strongly encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities:
Overseeing BirdsCaribbean’s external communications with members, partners, donors, the public, and media sources
Overseeing all content creation and messaging, as well as online engagement growth, including:
Overseeing and developing materials to convey the organization’s mission and work
Keeping our website up-to-date with organizational news, events, and educational resources for our partners and members/followers
Managing and helping to create content for our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube) together with our small team
Producing and overseeing all printed and digital marketing, promotional, and educational materials (e.g., one pagers, brochures, reports, promotional graphics for upcoming events, e.g., bird festivals, conferences, training workshops, webinars, contests, etc.), including graphic design needs
Executing clear and engaging copywriting for emails, blogs, press releases, and other promotional materials; coordinating and editing the work of other authors on our team
Drafting and sending out our monthly newsletter, and other email communications with members, donors, partners, etc.
Editing and approving press releases, articles, graphics, announcements, etc.
Helping to develop and manage fundraising and membership campaigns
Analyzing and documenting the effectiveness of all executed marketing and communications
Managing a calendar of organizational priorities and weekly tasks for internal coordination with the team
Managing photography and videography needs for events (e.g., conferences), activities, online, and print publications, as well as social media
Ensuring consistency of messaging across all marketing and communications channels to convey the organization’s brand, mission, vision, and values
Working in partnership with the Executive Director, and Fundraising, Media, Education, and Program Committees
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field strongly preferred
Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 to 7 years of demonstrated experience in marketing/communications/public relations, including marketing and managing communications across a diverse set of platforms
Outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills; understanding of science grammar is a plus
Graphic design skills – Adobe Creative Suite and Canva strongly preferred
High proficiency with MS Office and WordPress strongly preferred
Advanced proficiency with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Ability to prepare and edit audiovisual materials (including videos) for social media posts or brand content
Knowledge of the media industry and ability to stay on top of market changes and relevant media opportunities
A passion and curiosity for environmental science and conservation in the Caribbean; strong interest and/or experience with Caribbean birds or ornithology/ecology is a plus
Strong attention to detail and the desire to deliver high-quality work without exceptions
Ability to prioritize tasks, simultaneously manage multiple projects, and set/meet deadlines
Capacity to oversee a small team that develops communications and educational content
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, focused, and ambitious; creative and innovative thinking
Professional demeanor, team player, and a consistent positive attitude
A reliable internet connection that supports Zoom video meetings without a problem
Ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with a highly diverse audience
Desired Knowledge and Experience:
Experience or working knowledge of Caribbean birds and environmental conservation issues
Experience with non-profit communications, marketing, and fundraising strongly preferred
Excellent oral communications skills
Professional working proficiency in Spanish and/or French language
Familiarity with Mailchimp
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position that will require the flexibility to be available outside of normal working hours (i.e., 9am – 5pm) in certain cases, depending on the timing of specific deliverables and project deadlines. Pay will be commensurate with experience and local wage/cost-of-living considerations, and a benefits package will be developed in consultation with the candidate.
Interested applicants should send an email to Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org) and Adrianne Tossas (Adrianne.Tossas@BirdsCaribbean.org) with the subject line reading “Communications Manager Application.” Within the email, please include the following:
– Briefly introduce yourself
– Attach a cover letter (1 page or less) that expresses why you are interested in this position and summarizes your qualifications and experience
– Attach a current copy of your resume
– Include a compilation of any of the following of your work: newsletter or blog articles, public relations or promotional materials, and/or social media posts that you have written
Application period: June 21, 2021 to July 31, 2021
About Us: BirdsCaribbean (BC) is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean (including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all islands within the Caribbean basin). Our mission is to raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve, and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems. We are a non-profit membership organization based in the U.S. With 33 years of experience, BirdsCaribbean has built an extensive and active network of more than 60 partners across 31 countries, which include environmental organizations, government agencies, institutions, businesses, tour guides, educators, and individuals.
BirdsCaribbean is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. BirdsCaribbean makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to invite applications to participate in a 5-day training workshop focused on bird banding, an important tool for research and monitoring! Through a blend of classroom and field-based activities, participants will learn about the basics of bird banding, from setting up a mist net to examining molt patterns. 
