Category: News

January 31, 2023

Becoming a ‘Molt Nerd’ on a Bahamian Beach

Workshop Group photo (with: Eliézer Nieves-Rodriguez, Ancilleno Davis, Gisselle Deane, Shanna Challenger, Esteban Márquez, Maya Wilson, Anne Sutton, Alcides Morales, Juan Carlos Fernández Ordóñez, Johnella Bradshaw, Adrianne Tossas, Daniela Ventura, Omar Monzón, Holly Garrod)

In 2022 BirdsCaribbean ran its first Caribbean Bird Banding workshop in the Bahamas. Get a first-hand account of the highlights of this workshop from Cuban participant Daniela Ventura. Want to know what a ‘Molt Nerd’ is? Read on to find out!

No, surely not! Not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that in 2022 I was going to have the good fortune to visit not one, but two Caribbean other islands. As if that wasn’t unbelievable enough, the trips were scheduled with less than a month apart. But that’s exactly how things went: from learning to monitor landbirds using PROALAS point counts in the rainforest of the Dominican Republic’s misty mountains, I moved to the sunny beaches of Nassau in The Bahamas.

No need to tell you that birds were again the main driver and motivation. This time, I would receive training on banding techniques during the first Caribbean Bird Banding Workshop organized by BirdsCaribbean. The Retreat Garden of the Bahamas National Trust was our training oasis from 8 to 12 March.

Jewelry for birds?

Putting bracelets on birds? Have ornithologists gone mad? No, ornithologists are not crazy; and we do this for very specific and important reasons. It’s not about bird fashion either, though for me they look pretty fashionable.

Scientific banding has been a powerful tool for assessing bird populations for centuries. Nonetheless, I must admit that the first time I heard about banding I also was a bit lost. That happened at the 2017 BirdsCaribbean conference in Cuba. I was a sophomore student of Biology during the first and largest scientific event so far in my career. My mind was swirling! I wanted to absorb everything.

Person holding small bird looking at the wing feathers — Claire explains how to account for feather wear in an American Redstart

One day I entered the conference room and met Alina Pérez. She was giving a talk about her project monitoring migration in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula. I was amazed that such fabulous research was done in Cuba. At that time, I only knew they captured birds with mist nets, put tiny metal rings on their legs and let them go unharmed afterwards. I could not think of anything but the privilege it must be to hold a bird in your hand – and that I wanted to have that experience. After the conference I looked for Alina, introduced myself as an eager and inexperienced bird enthusiast, and told her I would love to volunteer with her project and learn from her. Alina gave me the warmest of her smiles and said “yes” right away.

I cannot thank Alina enough for the mentorship I received. Not only did she give me the opportunity to start learning the skills required to band birds safely and for scientific purposes, but she taught me so much more. During the three seasons I have spent volunteering on her project I still haven’t got used to the wonder of holding a bird in my hands. Most importantly, though, I discovered my obsession. Soon, I knew that I wanted to become a trained bander and to design research that incorporated this technique.

And so it was that, five years after the conference that changed my life, I was in a plane heading to Nassau, with my banding mentor sitting by my side, ready to walk the next steps of my path to become a certified bander. As I expected, the reality would surpass my expectations by far.

Breaking the bias

Setting a mist net — Trainer Claire Stuyck demonstrates best practices for mist net setup. In the background, trainer Holly Garrod explains the procedure.

The first day of the workshop coincided with the celebrations of International Women’s Day. We had plenty of reasons to be joyful. This year’s theme, Break the Bias, highlighted the importance of addressing how our own social and cultural biases influence gender inequalities. The conservation industry in particular has a long history of being mainly male-driven. BirdsCaribbean is proudly breaking the bias as an organization led and carried by strong, committed, enthusiastic, and proficient women in science.

The main workshop organizers and trainers were women: Maya Wilson, Holly Garrod, and Claire Stuyck. Besides, among the participants we had the pleasure of having Anne Haynes-Sutton, one of the most influential conservationists in the Caribbean for her work with seabirds, and one of the pioneers of bird banding in the region. Nearly half of the attendees were also female, many of them young but already with important leadership positions and success stories in conservation to share. Alina Pérez, Adrianne Tossas, Shana Challenger, Zoya Buckmire, Johnella Bradshaw, and Giselle Deane were there to prove that women’s contribution to science and conservation should not be neglected and overlooked anymore.

Eating apples, admiring doves, and tying knots on Day One

Sessions were held at The Retreat Garden, a former private botanical garden and currently a National Park managed by The Bahamas National Trust. The park’s staff are world-class event organizers. They took good care of us by having a steady supply of coffee and snacks. This helped us to keep focus during the intense classroom and field sessions. If it wasn’t for the apples, I wouldn’t have made it! I must acknowledge that I have a serious addiction to apples and I was nicknamed the “Apple Terror” by my Puerto Rican friends. They had no choice but to head first thing in the morning to the snacks table, to grab and put aside an apple if they wanted to have a chance of eating one – before I went to the table and magically made them disappear. Sorry, pals!

The first lesson hadn’t started yet and I already had a lifer to add to my list. A pair of Caribbean Doves, walking unaware of our presence around the classroom facilities made such a pleasant view. Aside from the Cuban endemics, they are the most beautiful doves I have ever seen.

Banders around a table entering data and holding birds — At the banding table, Daniela Ventura studies banding data sheets with Juan Carlos Fernández Ordóñez and Alcides Morales-Pérez. In the background, Holly holds a bird bag carrying the next-to-be-processed bird.

I was lucky to get good views of other notable Bahamian birds, like the stunning male Bahama Woodstar, the Bahama Mockingbird, and of course the ubiquitous White-crowned Pigeon. Definitely, the doves were the dearest to my heart.

Activities began when the trainers, Claire Stuyck and John Alexander from Klamath Bird Observatory, Steve Albert from the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), and Holly Garrod from BirdsCaribbean, greeted and welcomed us to the five-day intense banding schedule. They had barely finished introductions when we were already getting hands-on learning about setting up mist nets, security guidelines, and tying knots. Making knots can be fun as well as stressful, at least for a person like me who doesn’t have a good spatial memory. But it speaks highly of our instructors’ teaching skills that I soon forgot my insecurities and became immersed in tying knots – and even had a lot of fun!

Getting to know (and love) the Birder’s Bible

Lessons comprised a blend of field practice in the mornings and theory talks in the afternoon. These sessions covered the nitty-gritty of setting up an organized and well-planned banding table, with all the tools and the equipment properly set up to meet our needs. There were talks about the Bander’s Code of Ethics; bird and human safety at banding operations; the use of molt strategies to identify ages; education and public outreach; the use of banding for scientific research; and other related topics.

We split our time between banding demonstrations given by the experts Claire and Holly and conducting regular net runs. We had the luck of getting a closer look at resident birds like the Red-legged Thrush, La Sagra’s Flycatcher, Bananaquit, Thick-billed Vireo, Caribbean Doves, and Common Ground Doves, but also common winter migrants like Cape May Warblers, Black-and-White Warblers, and the American Redstart. Although the birds we captured were never enough to please us, everyone had their chance to learn how to extract birds safely out of the nets, and even handle and band them.

Presentation being given — Juan Carlos Fernández Ordóñez in a presentation aboout the Bander´s Bible: Pyle´s Identification Guide to North American Birds

Group in an outdoor classroom — John Alexander explain some molt terminology to the workshop participants gathered at the retreat facilities.

During the low-activity periods, time was well spent learning how to use the Bander’s Bible: The Identification Guide to North American Birds, known simply as “the Pyle”. Diving through the Pyle can be a hard pill to swallow for every amateur bander, but once you realize you can’t have a stronger ally at your banding operations, it becomes as dear to you as an old friend. Helping to make that connection even stronger was the fact that we knew the actual Pyle (yes, Pyle – the “Bander’s God”) knew about us, through his colleague from the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), Steve Albert. We could feel his presence while we struggled to study molt patterns.

The molt obsession

Now – talking about molt. You can’t be a skilled bander without being a molt nerd. No doubt about that. In the beginning, we thought Holly was nuts when she started talking in a weird fashion about three-letter codes. Wolfe-Ryder-Pyle (WPR) codes for aging birds are another jaw-dropper for anyone new to the secrets of bird identification.

At the banding table, more molt talk by Juan Carlos Fernández Ordóñez. Listening attentively: Alina Pérez, Esteban Márquez, Carlos Peña, Daniela Ventura, Alcides Morales, Jose Ramón Fuentes.

But of course, Holly is far from being nuts. She infused us with so much excitement while talking about molt strategies, that we all got enthusiastic about it. Pretty soon, our days became molt-centered – not only during the sessions, but at dinners, night gatherings at the hotel terrace, and even during the short but necessary break at the Orange Hill Beach. Everyone was truly proud at the end to be called a molt nerd.

I know some of you may already be asking, what’s all this for? Are we actually helping birds by showing off our knowledge of fancy letters and metal and colored rings? In fact, we are helping both birds and humans alike. You probably already know that birds are powerful sentinels of change. Studying how their populations respond to and cope with changes to their habitats, and other threats such as climate change, are useful tools for planning conservation strategies. The Caribbean region is home to more than 700 species, 176 are unique to these islands. The region is also one of those places on Earth that are suffering from rapid transformation by humans.

Banding connects us with nature

But we have another problem, and it is that plenty of our birds’ natural history is still unknown, or at least inadequately studied. Banding can be a powerful tool to begin filling those gaps. Birds in the hand provide us with loads of data about population estimates and trends, survival rates, movement routes and timing, disease prevalence, overall health and condition, molt strategies, physiology, breeding phenology, and much more basic data for ornithological studies. Besides, holding banding demonstrations for the public offers a gateway that helps humans connect with nature, an invaluable resource to educate people about wildlife and conservation. I believe that holding a bird in the hand and then watching it fly away can have a profound effect on someone’s life. And I say this from my personal experience! Banding not only helped me discover my passions, but connected me with nature and conservation like nothing else had before.

Red-legged Thrush is examined before being banded. (Photo by Holly Garrod)

The whole aim of the workshop was to create a network of banders across the Caribbean that could employ a series of standardized protocols to begin answering questions still unaddressed about our birds’ basic ecology. The Caribbean is a crucial stopover and wintering area for many declining North American songbirds. For this reason, the workshop also included talks about the collaboration with the MoSI (Spanish for monitoring winter survival) program from IBP and the installation of MOTUS towers. By combining traditional banding and modern tracking technologies we could boost our understanding of the movements of Neotropical birds throughout the Caribbean region and beyond.

But the main step, besides establishing these connections, is training and capacity-building. We need to end the traditional model of “parachute science” and train our next Caribbean generation of banders and trainers. I am so happy that I can brag about being a friend of the brand-new certified North American Banding Council (NABC) trainer: Juan Carlos (JC) Fernández Ordóñez (yes, the humorous Latin team “influencer”). You can tell when JC is talking about bird stuff because it is the only time you will see him with a serious look on his face. And that does not necessarily mean he is not making jokes. JC has been banding for 25 years. He is knowledgeable about molt strategies and bird ID, not only of Neotropical but also European, African, and Asian species. Most importantly, he enjoys teaching and sharing all he knows with everybody. I am sure that with JC’s example and Holly’s magnetism, most of the participants left with the ingrained desire to continue mastering our banding skills and obtain NABC certification in the near future. That will help lift the banding movement in the Caribbean.

Real Bahamian hospitality!

“Welcome to The Bahamas” are not only the letters of a beautiful mural painted on Bay Street, but the greeting me and my friends received everywhere we went: at the hotel, restaurants, and from people driving a car late at night through the Downtown area. If nothing else, I will never forget from this trip the beautiful aquamarine, gold, and black Bahamian flags waving from almost every building, and the kind hospitality of the people. The Bahamians I met during that week were courteous, smiling, spicy-food lovers, and proud of their history and traditions. Our Bahamas National Trust colleague and fellow trainee, Giselle Dean’s organizational skills made the workshop run smoothly, and she would humbly say it was nothing. Bahamian Scott Johnson not only was kind enough to give us a ride every day from the hotel to The Retreat in his car, but entertained and amazed us with his tremendous knowledge of Bahamian natural history and culture. Chris Johnson was quiet much of the time, but surprised us by generously giving each of us a beautiful calendar with his bird photos! Many of the species are shared by Cuba and the Bahamas, so it is nice to flip through the months of the year and recollect the memories from the trip. Ancilleno Davis was a model host, giving us a tour around Downtown Nassau during the last day of our stay, and providing us with a taste of Bahamian arts, architecture, and history.

The “Plus/Delta” of it all

Bird banders around a table — Participants gather at the banding table, while Holly Garrod explains how to take the data (in the photo, right to left Zoya Buckmire, Alina Perez, Alcides Morales, Claire Stuyck, Juan Carlos Órdoñez, Esteban Márquez, Adrianne Tossas, Holly Garrod, Carlos Peña, Ann Sutton, Daniela Ventura)

The “Plus/Delta” was a daily exercise for us at the end of the sessions. We highlighted the most significant aspect of the day for each of us and reflected on the areas where we needed more study or practice. It’s really difficult for me to decide on the overall Plus/Delta of my Bahamian experience. I have many of them. My Plus was the chance to bond with old and new friends; strengthen collaboration networks that will aid in my future professional development; improve my banding and molt ID skills; and widen my understanding and appreciation for other cultures.

And the Deltas? I also have plenty: I am determined to continue growing my expertise in all subjects regarding banding, bird ID, molt strategies, and overall bird ecology. A key step for achieving that goal is to become a certified NABC trainer. With this qualification, I do not want to only band and contribute to the understanding of Cuban resident species. I would also like to share and hopefully instill enthusiasm for these studies in the new generations of Cuban ornithologists. In the long run they will accomplish the visions we dreamed of on the beaches of the Bahamas. My biggest Delta is the hope that soon a large and powerful network of Caribbean banders will be the authors of a new round of success stories in regional bird conservation.

BirdsCaribbean Acknowledgments

This workshop would not have been possible without our dedicated trainers, enthusiastic participants, and funders, including the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service and BirdsCaribbean generous donors and members.

January 27, 2023

CWC2023 Featured Birds: Meet the White-tailed Tropicbird

January 26, 2023

CWC2023 Featured Birds: Meet the Pied-billed Grebe

January 20, 2023

2022: A Trailblazing Year for BirdsCaribbean

2022 was a year of new beginnings. With the COVID era mostly behind us, we focused on moving forward, with a host of activities and projects under way. It was hectic!

Puerto Rico vibes!

Group photo of Caribbean delegates. — Group photo of some Caribbean delegates at AOS-BC Conference 2022 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Our 23rd International Conference in Puerto Rico – co-hosted with the American Ornithological Society (AOS) for the first time – in partnership with Para la Naturaleza, and Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, was a reflection of our upbeat approach. The theme was “On the Wings of Recovery: Resilience and Action,” and the event was packed with symposia, roundtables, workshops, working group meetings…and of course, networking! Over 800 conservation professionals from 34 countries gathered for the conference, from June 27-July 2, 2022. This meeting was much larger than usual, but we didn’t get lost! There were many opportunities to make new friends and expand our horizons for research, collaboration and information-sharing in hundreds of different ways.

Launched: the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network

The Puerto Rico conference included a Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop, as part of our ongoing efforts to build a regional network that will employ standardized methods to monitor and protect our landbirds. In February, we brought wildlife professionals from 16 countries to the Dominican Republic for our first Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop. With 26 enthusiastic participants, this was a refreshing occasion to “reconnect” in person with old friends. The workshop also introduced the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) bird survey protocols, as well as the eBird Caribbean database, to those who were not familiar with it. We will be heading to St. Vincent for another Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop from January 23 – 27. We are grateful to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, the US Forest Service (International Program) and many others for funding and support to develop our Landbird Monitoring Program.

Jeff Gerbracht presents at Landbird Monitoring Workshop. — Jeff Gerbracht presents at Landbird Monitoring Workshop in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Adrianne Tossas).

The entire group at Rancho Baiguate. — The entire group at Rancho Baiguate, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Zara Palmer).

Participants in the Landbird Monitoring Workshop look for birds in the forest. — Participants in the Landbird Monitoring Workshop, Puerto Rico, look for birds in the forest. (Photo by Holly Garrod)

Listening out for the Whistling Warbler

This year, we will be continuing our work to monitor and assess the status of St. Vincent’s charming, endemic and endangered Whistling Warbler (the “Oreo Bird”). A team from Antioch University joined BirdsCaribbean and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Forestry to determine the impact of the island’s volcanic eruption of April, 2021. Find out what the group learned about the status of this bird here.

We’re on a learning curve!

Participant selfie at Bird Banding Workshop. (Photo by Scott Johnson)

These workshops formed part of our renewed thrust towards capacity building in the islands of the Caribbean. We plan to continue training, educating and engaging with students, ornithologists, conservationists, and non-governmental organizations to enhance the skills and increase the knowledge base of our bird conservationists of the future. Last year, we provided skills training, mentoring and materials to over 175 Caribbean wildlife professionals from more than 21 islands! If you would like to support us in our efforts, we would greatly appreciate it!!

Here are some highlights:

In September we hosted a two-day Wetlands Education Training Workshop in Walkers Reserve, Barbados, where participants not only learned about wetland birds but also the importance of protecting this significant habitat. We are grateful for funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada for this program.

Group in classroom at a wetlands workshop — The group at Walkers Reserve learn about different types of wetlands.

In March, we had another “first:” a Caribbean Bird Banding Training Workshop held in Nassau, Bahamas. After the banding training we were able to support three Caribbean conservationists as banding interns, Shanna Challenger, Zoya Buckmire and Chris Johnson. Chris did his Bird Banding Internship in the glorious Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, USA! Supported by Audubon Rockies.

Following our session in Nassau, we were thrilled to announce that the Caribbean Bird Banding Network now has its very own North American Banding Council (NABC) certified banding trainer, Juan Carlos Fernandez. In addition, three Caribbean nationals passed the rigorous exam and were certified as banders in 2022. It’s important for our young Caribbean conservationists to have a certificate in their hand. We are so proud of our trainees, and feel sure they will inspire others. Learning is sharing!

A group observes a bird banding demonstration. — The group observes a bird banding demonstration. Workshop Facilitator, Claire, bands a Red-legged Thrush.

Motus is moving…

Motus station installation in Barbados (Photos by Maya Wilson)

One of the most exciting developments of 2022 is the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, now under way. This dynamic monitoring research network was developed by Birds Canada, using automated radio telemetry to track flying creatures with nano-tags (including birds). The system already includes hundreds of receivers and thousands of tags, across the United States and Canada and more recently in Central and South America. The Caribbean cannot be left out, as it is more critical than ever to track our migrating birds, their flyways and stopover sites.

So, we kick-started our Motus network with the installation of two towers in Puerto Rico in March. It was an amazing learning process for twelve trainees, supervised by experts from our supportive partners, the Northeast Motus Collaboration (NMC). As part of our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network, this is yet another skill that our Caribbean trainees have been working on – and this should develop into a “train the trainers” opportunity across the islands.

On to Barbados, where our trainee needed a good head for heights to learn how to install another Motus tower at Walkers Reserve, a former sand quarry now transformed into new wetlands.

We are keeping up the momentum! You should see more Motus towers going up in the next year or so in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Saba, and several other islands. And birds are already being tracked by the new towers!

Expressing love for Caribbean birds…

The theme of our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (April 22 to May 22, 2022) was “Loving Birds Is Human Nature.” Well, isn’t that true? It inspired all kinds of creativity through our first ever poetry competition and a short story competition. The eloquent and passionately expressed entries, in English and Spanish, were compiled in a beautiful online anthology. Also online, we continued our “From the Nest” series with a focus on Caribbean endemic birds, providing all kinds of information on the very special birds that make up almost one third of the total number of species found in our region.

The World Migratory Bird Day theme this fall was “Dim the Lights for Birds At Night.” Activities across the islands included talks on this subject (light pollution is a growing problem for migratory birds, even in the Caribbean), bird walks, and more. The 2023 theme is already revealed, and it is simply “Water” – that essential for all forms of life!

Global Big Day got bigger (again)

Global Big Day (Saturday, May 14) was nothing short of spectacular for the Caribbean. The numbers literally soared, as observers spotted 473 species, with Cuba coming out on top with 166. Record numbers of observers and checklists were posted on eBird Caribbean. Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Jamaica all saw over 80% of their endemic species. As in past years, BirdsCaribbean’s fifteen teams were in hot competition, while raising funds for Caribbean travel to the AOS-BC conference in Puerto rRicao. We are looking forward to more records being smashed in 2023!

… And Speaking up for Caribbean birds

Phew! What a year – and there is much more to come. On a more sober note: we know that many of our birds are in decline. In fact, about one quarter of the species that live in the Caribbean and nowhere else are in trouble. Additionally, a number of the migratory species that visit our region annually are facing challenges. These include development (housing and coastal tourism), pollution, unsustainable agricultural practices, wildlife trafficking, and a range of impacts from climate change, including extreme weather events, sea level rise, and higher temperatures. BirdsCaribbean will continue to be a champion for our birds. You will hear our voice as we seek greater protection for them.

Mixed flock of shorebirds take flight at a wetland — A mixed flock of shorebirds, including Willets and Short-billed Dowitchers, enjoying a Caribbean wetland. (Photo by Ernesto Reyes)

Despite all the concerns, thanks to our amazing Giving Tuesday and year-end fundraising efforts, we continue to move ahead in a spirit of optimism. We are enormously grateful to all our donors and supporters. Stay tuned for more exciting news – and ways in which you can get involved – in the very near future!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year for 2023!

January 18, 2023

CWC2023 Featured Birds: Meet the Brown Pelican

January 15, 2023

Track Piping Plover Sightings Live!

During 14th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Region-Wide count, from January 14 to February 3 2023 we are asking you to make a special effort to find and count Piping Plovers. If you see any Piping Plovers during your CWC surveys send us their locations and we will add them to our map. Keep an eye on it in the coming weeks to track our progress in surveying and finding these threatened shorebirds in the Caribbean!

We are tracking where Piping Plovers have been seen during CWC 2023. Send us your sightings as you make them and we will update the map. This means you can track our progress in finding Piping Plovers live during the survey. You can check back to this post to see map updates or follow them on our Caribbean Piping Plover Survey page.

Zoom in or out to view your region or the whole Caribbean. Click the icon in the top right corner to see a larger map. You can share your sightings, including a grid reference and your count of Piping Plovers at that location (if more than one was seen) with waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org or on the BirdsCaribbean listserv.

NOTE: If you are not within the Caribbean but have seen a Piping Plover during the CWC survey period you can still share your sightings and we will add them to the map! And we will continue to add all sightings of Piping Plovers in 2023 to this map, so please continue your CWC counts and send us your eBird Caribbean checklists. Remember that although we have one annual 3-week regional count period (14 Jan-3 Feb), we encourage everyone to carry out CWC counts year-round, especially during fall and spring migration. We need much more information on all the habitats that shorebirds and waterbirds use throughout the year. Thanks!!!

Why Join the Survey?

This small, round shorebird is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN with an estimated global breeding population of just 8,400 birds. They breed in restricted areas of North America but migrate south in fall with some birds spending their winter in the Caribbean. It’s vital that we continue to learn more about the numbers and distribution of this rare shorebird in our region.

We already know about some of the main islands and areas where Piping Plovers spend the winter in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos Islands. We also know they have been spotted in smaller numbers in other countries, including Puerto Rico and its offshore islands and cays, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the US and British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Guadeloupe, Anguilla, and Bonaire (there are just one or two records for some of these countries). But in the ‘right’ habitat there are likely more Piping Plovers to be found, both in ‘new’ locations on islands where they have been seen before and perhaps some islands where they haven’t been seen yet. We need more people out there looking for them!

Share Your Survey Experience

As well as sharing your Piping Plover locations with us we’d love for you to send us any photos or videos from your CWC surveys! These can be of the birds you see or the amazing places you visit during your surveys or of you and your survey buddies taking part in CWC! You can share your photos and videos with us on social media, tag us @birdscaribbean in your posts and use #CWC2023 or share with waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org or on the BirdsCaribbean listserv.

We look forward to finding out where you spot Piping Plovers during CWC2023!

Resources to Help With Surveys

ID Resources

Piping Plovers are small, round shorebirds with ‘stubby’ black bills and orange legs. Their upper parts are pale brown, the colour of dry sand, and they are white below. We have made a handy ID guide to help you pick out Piping Plovers from some of the other small plovers that winter in the Caribbean.

Download these graphics as a pdf following these links: Plover ID guide Guide to reading bands

They also have a unique two-note high to low pee-too call that you can listen out for.

Piping Plovers can be quite vocal, even during the winter. They often give a mellow two-part whistle, that drops in pitch, pee-too. Sometimes they only give the first part of this call as single, repeated with several seconds between each call: pee … pee … pee.

Don’t forget to scan the legs of any Piping Plovers you see for colour bands. Finding and reporting these bands can help us learn more about where different breeding populations spend the winter. You can find out how to report bands in our helpful guide (above). More information and different versions of this guide to reporting banded Piping Plovers are available to download on our Shorebird Resources webpage.

Guide to Piping Plover Habitats

Piping Plovers in the Caribbean are often seen in small flocks resting and feeding on sand flats. Even here, out in the open, they can be tricky to spot with their ‘dry sand’ coloured plumage blending with their surroundings. Be sure to also check any seaweed (wrack) on the beach as this is another favourite haunt of theirs. Other places Piping Plovers might be found include mudflats, mangroves, and along rocky areas of shoreline, where again they blend in beautifully, especially if they are resting. Check out and share our handy graphics, with artwork by Josmar Esteban Márquez, to remind you where to look.

Graphic of Piping Plovers on a sand flat

Graphic of Pipinng Plovers amongst mangrove roots

Graphic of Piping Plovers on a wrack strewn beach

Click on each image to enlarge then right click to “save as….” a jpeg. Use these links to download each image in higher resolution as a pdf: Sand Flats, Mangroves, Beach Wrack, Rocky Shore

Complete Guide to Doing Surveys

You can also get a much more extensive guide to surveying Piping Plovers, their habitats, techniques for survey, and ID tips by watching our helpful “Piping Plovers in the Caribbean: Identification, Habitats, and Practical Considerations for Winter Surveys” webinar given by Piping Plover survey expert Sidney Maddock.

We want as many people as possible to join in our effort to look for Piping Plovers during the 2023 CWC regional count period. Be sure to watch Sidney Maddock’s webinar before you plan your surveys. You can also use and share these survey tips to get the most out of your Piping Plover surveys.

When you do your surveys please treat them like all your other CWC surveys. This means you should count all the bird species that you see (in addition to any Piping Plovers). Make sure you enter your data in eBird Caribbean using one of the CWC protocols on Step 2 of data entry (online). If using the eBird app, set your portal to eBird Caribbean to access the CWC options for your checklists.

January 14, 2023

CWC2023 Featured Birds: Meet the Piping Plover

January 10, 2023

CWC2023 Featured Birds: Meet the Clapper Rail

Graphic of a Clapper Rail. Text "Caribbean Waterbird Census 14 Jan- 4 Feb 2023" — Look and listen out for Clapper Rails during CWC2023. (Artwork by Josmar Esteban Márquez)

This year we have featured seven waterbirds in our Caribbean Water Census graphic! Find out more about each of these beautiful birds in our blog posts and on social media.

It’s January, which can only mean… the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) is back! Get ready with us for the CWC2023 and meet this year’s featured waterbirds. First up is a bird you’re most likely to hear before you see it— the Clapper Rail.

The Clapper Rail is one of our larger rails. Their coloration varies across the geographical range, but in the Caribbean they are a dull buffy-cinnamon overall with gray on the face. They have pale-orange down-curved bills. Clapper rails rarely fly, spending most of its time on the ground concealed by dense vegetation, typically mangroves. This makes them hard to spot! You will need to listen for its call which can be a short series of clacking “cac-cac-cac” or grunting notes.

If you’re lucky, you may be able to see it boldly stalking prey like small crabs, aquatic insects, and small fishes, twitching its short tail as it walks, or swimming across a tributary. Although large bodied and abundant across its range, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, and also in the Yucatan and Caribbean, its secretive habits mean its biology remains somewhat a mystery.

Marshes and mangroves are important areas for the Clapper Rail and although not a species of conservation concern, habitat modification can hamper successful nesting. Draining for example causes low marsh plants to be replaced by high marsh or terrestrial plants reducing availability of suitable nesting sites for this rail.

Searching for food in shallow water in Cuba. (Photo by Christoph Moning- Macaulay Library- ML89873881)

Hiding in the mangrove, Bahamas. (Photo by Martha Cartwright)

Clapper Rail in a mangrove, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Dubi Shapiro- Macaulay Library- MLS105126447)

Out on the mud in full view! (Photo by Dubi Shapiro- Macaulay Library- ML495063441))

Clapper Rail amongst mangrove trees. (Photo by Carlos Gomez)

Clapper Rail spotted in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Objio Sarraff)

If you see any Clapper Rails on your #CWC2023 counts this year, don’t forget to tag us @birdscaribbean and share your amazing photos!

CWC 2023 starts on Saturday January 14th and runs to Saturday February 4th. See below for detailed instructions and free downloadable resources to help you make the most of your waterbird counts and don’t forget to keep an eye out for Piping Plovers!

Get Ready for the Caribbean Waterbird Census: Jan 14th – Feb 3rd 2023

Keep an Eye Out for Piping Plovers During CWC 2023

December 22, 2022

Holiday Traditions with Birds

The holidays are here again! It is a special time for togetherness and gratitude, but for many it can also be very demanding—cleaning, entertaining, and gift giving. Exhausted and anxious is not how we want you to experience the holidays. We at BirdsCaribbean have compiled a list of traditional activities that have been adapted to benefit birds and minimize your stress.

We want you to make memories with your family and friends while engaging in activities that increase your knowledge and appreciation of Caribbean birds and help you to inspire others to be more bird-friendly for years to come. No matter which activities you choose, kids and adults alike are sure to have fun, and these activities can be done at any time of the year.

Of course birds will be featured and accompanied by amazing photos, natural history tidbits, and actions we can all take this holiday season to reduce threats to their survival.

A calm and relaxed festive season is on the horizon! Just make sure you’re following us @BirdsCaribbean and check back as new posts will be added until December 31st!

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas—Ways to Decrease your Plastic Use this Holiday Season

With family and friends to host, gifts galore, and huge grocery hauls during the build-up to Christmas, there is extra everything! Our single use consumption goes up this time of year big-time—packaging, gift wrap, decorations, food containers, plastic cutlery, the list goes on. This surge in plastic waste continues to threaten our health, our environment and wildlife. Marine animals are also harmed by plastic pollution.

The Masked Booby, for example, can mistake plastic in the ocean for fish and squid. Once ingested plastic reduces the volume of the stomach which often leads to starvation and other health problems. Seabirds may also feed their chicks bits and pieces of plastic too. Additionally, during courtship males will present females with tokens, traditionally rocks or feathers, but lately this includes plastic debris too, which is later used to decorate their nests.

But there is hope! You can reduce your plastic waste while still making your season merry and bright by following these top tips:

✨Use fabric wraps that can be used again next year. Or follow your grandmother and save the gift bags you receive to put other people’s gifts in.

✨Make your own decorations from biodegradable materials.

✨Ditch the plastic-wrapped veg and fruits and head to your local farmer’s market, don’t forget your market bag/reusable tote!

✨Avoid disposable cutlery. It’s convenient but not good for the environment. Try hosting smaller gatherings or asking guests to reuse their cutlery for different courses and don’t forget to rinse- we don’t think fruit cake and ham would be a good flavor combo!

If you’ve got other fantastic ways we can reduce our plastic use this holiday season, do let us know in the Comments below!

Shop with the Ultimate Bird-friendly Gift Guide—Gift Ideas that are Relatively Inexpensive and Meaningful

With Christmas fast approaching, we wanted to share some gift ideas with you. They are perfect for bird and nature lovers in your life, and even for those that are tricky to buy for. For all of these options, their purchase benefits people, habitats, and birds like the Endangered Whistling Warbler. We’ve provided a handy customizable template in Canva for a gift card for all the gifts below that you can present to your loved one!

✨For some people making a donation in their honor is an extremely meaningful gift. Your loved ones will be happy to know that their gifts will equip Caribbean conservationists with the tools and skills they need to increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of birds in the region. Your generous gift (no amount is too small!) will help BirdsCaribbean achieve our ambitious goals for bird conservation in 2023 – learn more here!

✨Some of the best gifts can’t be wrapped! From verdant mountain ranges to tranquil moments at the seaside, the Caribbean provides ample opportunities for birding, adventure, and recentering. You can buy an experience for loved ones, like a guided bird tour at your local nature reserve. It takes up no space and best of all you’ll help create memories. If you need help finding certified Caribbean guides, do check our Caribbean Birding Trail website guide page.

✨You can also give the gift of community with a membership to BirdsCaribbean or to your local NGO. When you become a member of BirdsCaribbean you become part of an important community committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats. Collectively, members make possible the outstanding programs, research, on-the-ground conservation actions, and educational resources that get people outside and interested in birds.

✨ Give the gift of birdsong and at the same time help to conserve birds! In 2019, Shika Shika produce an album of birdsong inspired music using the songs of endangered species in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. You can purchase the whole album online at this link.

Check out the handy gift card template in Canva for a gift card that you can customize and present to your loved one!

The Whistling Warbler can only be found on the island of St Vincent (St Vincent and the Grenadines). It is quite rare and elusive to spot, restricted to mountainous habitat. Earlier this year, together with the Forestry Department staff and Antioch University researchers, we conducted a two-week pilot survey for this endemic gem and other forest species, to assess the effects of La Soufrière eruption on their population and distribution – catch up on the blog here. Funding for this survey was provided by our donors who gave quickly and generously to our relief appeal for St Vincent. We are continuing our work in St Vincent in 2023 with more surveys of the warbler, a Landbird Monitoriing Training Workshop with the St Vincent Forestry Department, and writing a Conservation Action Plan for this endangered species – you can help us with much-needed funding for this work here.

Get Festive! Plant a Native Tree

We know that one of the many ways people get into the holiday spirit is by putting up their Christmas tree. The twinkling lights and decorations radiate cheer and positivity. However, in the Caribbean there may be more fake than live trees which in the long term may not be the most environmentally friendly or financially sound choice. Instead, we suggest you get a live native plant or tree. Need some help deciding what to plant? Check our free ebook ‘Heritage Plants’ (available in English and Spanish) for ideas.

Backyard birds like mockingbirds, warblers, bananaquits, pigeons, doves, hummingbirds and many other birds will be sure to visit your yard! In this post’s photo a female Antillean Crested Hummingbird can be seen enjoying the nectar from a flower. Hummingbirds in particular are welcome visitors to backyards because their dazzling colors are always a delight to see. More importantly they act as pollinators and control plant pests by eating small insects too.

It’s win-win! You create a landscape that enhances the local environment, and offers shade, flowers, and fruits for you to enjoy. Your local flora and fauna benefits as native plants provide food and shelter for your backyard birds and other wildlife. They also increase the curb appeal of your property, decrease cooling costs (with mature trees), and improve your mental health.

If you don’t have the yard space, you can gift it to someone who does or get a potted native plant for your balcony or porch. You can also support local reforestation efforts in your country by signing up to help replant trees or donating to an NGO.

Peck the Halls with Hanging Bird Feeders

Bringing friends and family together is one of the best things about Christmas and nothing brings people together like a delicious meal. This year you can share the friendship, fun, and food with birds by hanging edible ornaments on trees in your garden. The White-winged Dove is one of many birds that will readily use bird feeders with a supply of millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and other grains.

Choosing a tree is pretty simple because luckily, birds are not too picky. However, you’ll want a tree with plenty of horizontal branches so seed ornaments, other decorative feeders, and hummingbird feeders can hang freely and give the birds space to feed. It would be wise to choose a tree that offers shelter to both the birds and ornaments from direct sunlight and rain.

There are many ways you can use bird food to decorate your tree. You can string chunks of orange, papaya, pine and bananas along the branches. Or you can make birdseed ornaments in festive shapes with your kids! Check out this DIY video from the National Audubon Society. If you would prefer an inexpensive and biodegradable option, check out our Orange Fruit Cup Bird Feeder activity here.

To hang ornaments, use small lengths of natural twine to make loops or bows for each ornament. Holiday-themed or red ribbons can be added to attract the birds’ attention. Do not use thin thread or nylon string which the birds can become entangled in.

Remember to replace as needed, chances are other wildlife like lizards will also visit your feeders.

Lastly, as this is the season of togetherness we encourage you to prepare edible ornaments and decorate a tree for birds and other wildlife with your family, church group, school group, and other organizations too!

Build a Birdhouse for a Family of Birds

Many of us have a tradition to build a gingerbread house but how about building a birdhouse this year? You won’t be able to indulge in a yummy treat once completed but you will be providing a home for a family of birds this spring!

Birdhouses, also known as nesting boxes, provide a place for birds to build their nests, protected from the weather and predators. In return, birds will help out in many ways in your garden by controlling pests and weeds. Since birds eat insects, they will help to eliminate unwanted pests in your yard and use of harmful pesticides. Some birds also love to eat weed seeds, reducing how often you have to clear the weeds away from your garden.

Getting a birdhouse can be as simple as heading to your local garden or hardware store and buying one or building one yourself. Here are 28 free DIY birdhouse plans from The Spruce

Building a birdhouse can be a family activity; adults can cut and assemble the house and children can paint and decorate. Even better, you can host a birdhouse building party and invite neighbors, friends and other relatives to build birdhouses for their own yards. Provide some festive tunes and light refreshment, and you’ll be all set.

In nature, birds will seek tree cavities or woodpecker holes to nest and raise their family. However in today’s world natural cavities can be hard to find. Forests are being cleared for development, and in urban areas old and rotting palms are promptly removed. Wooden fence posts and electricity poles have been replaced with concrete, metal or treated wood. Competition for these limited sites is high especially between cavity nesters, Hispaniolan Woodpeckers and Hispaniolan Parakeet in the Dominican Republic. Learn more about the nest boxes Simón Guerrero installed at his university during this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.

Donate Your Old Binoculars to Your Local Birding Club or Environmental Organization

We hope that Santa was especially good to you this year and gifted you the clearest and latest state-of-the-art binoculars you’ve wanted so badly. Now, perhaps you’re wondering what to do with your old gear. Why not give it a new purpose? This year we’re asking you to support new birders by donating your pre-used or unused binoculars, scopes and bird guides too, to your local birding club or environmental organization. This will allow them to have more enjoyable birdwatching experiences while developing their skills.

Your binoculars, scopes or guides can support education and conservation projects, particularly here in the Caribbean where birding equipment is pricey and somewhat difficult to source. From citizen scientists collecting data as part of a global effort, to children in remote communities seeing close-up views of their island’s endemic birds and undergraduate researchers advancing our understanding of birds, there are many who can benefit from your donation. This way we can all pass on our appreciation and respect for birds and birdwatching to the next generation.

Your binoculars and scopes should be in good working condition. If they are broken, check to see if they’re still under warranty and, if so, whether the manufacturer can repair them.

If you wish to donate binoculars (used or new) to BirdsCaribbean, contact Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean – we’ll make sure we get them to organizations that urgently need them in the Caribbean!⁠

If you’re new to birding or thinking about joining the fun birding community and don’t know where to start, read our blog 10 Tips Every New Birder Should Know.

Feathered Family Fun

While your friends and family are visiting this holiday season, why not host a game night and have some fun together while learning about the Caribbean’s migratory and endemic birds? We have a variety of activities that will help you learn about and explore your natural environment. They have been created for all ages and most can be done at home using materials at hand. This is a great way to bond and build memories.

The activities are free and can be downloaded, and printed if needed: Caribbean endemic birds and migratory birds.

For those who want a more relaxed game night, you will enjoy our timed jigsaw puzzles, word searches, crossword puzzles, memory match games, fill-in-the blanks, coloring pages, DIY crafts, and more activities that can be done individually or in teams, using your phone or laptop. These can be done in between watching the holiday movies and feasting.

On the other hand if you’re looking to help your guests harness their competitive spirit then you would be interested in our bird trivia, scavenger hunt, nest building competition, operation food drop, migration miles, plastic investigator and much more.

Available for download also, in English and Spanish, are coloring books and our graphic novel , which was released in September of this year!

Lift Your Spirits with Birdsongs

Like music, birdsongs have a positive effect on the brain which improves our mental and emotional health, happiness, and wellbeing. But it isn’t just the enjoyment you feel when you hear your favorite birds sing. Researchers have discovered that bird songs and calls have restorative benefits capable of helping people recover from stress, and allowing them to restore and refocus their attention.

Indeed, it is vital that we not allow these birds to be silenced. Climate change, development, poaching, and pollution are just some of the threats plaguing the future of our birds. To raise awareness of the dire situation facing birds, Shika Shika collaborated with local artists to create tracks inspired by Endangered birds in the region. They were then compiled into an album, ‘A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.’

Released back in 2020, the album is a unique blend of electronic music and birdsong giving listeners an immersive experience into the beauty and wonder of the natural songs of the Jamaican Blackbird, Zapata Wren and Bay-breasted Cuckoo among others. Profits from album sales will go to BirdsCaribbean as well as two other bird conservation organizations in Mexico and Central America.

If you’re interested in exploring other regions through birdsongs, listen to their other albums too! A Guide to the Birdsong of South America and A Guide to the Birdsong of West Africa also showcases the diversity of birds and artists whilst supporting local conservation organizations. Learn more about the artists, creative process and purchase these albums here https://shikashika.org/birdsong/

These albums are perfect for the music lovers and bird lovers in your life, at just 12 euros (~$12USD). Or, just treat yourself to some uplifting organic music and at the same time, support organizations working to protect birds and their habitats!

Festive Birding

Looking for an easy way to burn off the Christmas feast? Then put down your phone, get off the couch, and head to the great outdoors to look for birds!

After weeks of cleaning, shopping, entertaining and cooking, birding provides the perfect opportunity to reduce stress, calm your mind, and revive your energy. In addition to your native and endemic birds, you’ll want to keep an eye out for migratory species that winter in the Caribbean like the American Redstart and Cape May Warbler. If you’re heading to your favorite coastal area, you may be lucky enough to see a powerful Merlin catching small shorebirds like Sanderlings in mid-air.

You’ll be delighted to know that birds benefit from being watched too. As people spend more time in nature appreciating its beauty and wonder and reaping the physical and health benefits, they feel a greater desire to conserve nature. They are likely to act upon this desire by actively participating in restoration programs, raising awareness, and lobbying for better environmental laws which protect habitats for birds and other wildlife.

As usual, before you begin any physical activity you must warm-up. You can do some light stretching but we really want you to have an enjoyable birding experience so here are some additional resources to help you prep.

10 tips to get you started

Birding 101 webinar

Warbler identification

Shorebird identification resources

HAPPY BIRDING!

Become a Citizen Scientist

Is one of your New Year resolutions to spend more time outdoors, birding, and/or helping with conservation efforts? Then, join one of the many citizen science programs that rely on the eyes and ears of people who appreciate birds and nature, to make observations and collect data. In these programs scientists and volunteers work together to gather data on bird diversity and numbers to answer real-world questions. The first citizen science program in January is the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC). Now in its 14th year the CWC 2023 begins on Saturday, January 14 and runs until Saturday, February 3.

Learn how you can take part in this region-wide survey in our blog.

Why waterbirds? The Caribbean is home to 185 species of waterbirds. Many are migratory, some are endemic but all face a range of threats, including habitat loss through development, climate change, pollution, and hunting. A structured, long-term census is essential for gathering information on numbers and habitat use in order to protect and manage habitats and conserve this exceptional group of birds.

What will you do? Head to a beach, pond, mangrove or wherever you think there might be waterbirds, observe and tally ALL the birds you see during your count period. Then submit your lists to eBird Caribbean. More detailed instructions as well as many free waterbird and shorebird ID resources can be found linked in the blog above.

What will you need? ID guides (free! on our website) and field guide, binoculars, notebook to record your observations (if you’re not using the eBird mobile app to keep track), a friend or two, and water. Our expert opinion is that it’s always best to bird with a friend or group, they’ll take notes, help with counting and bird ID, and (maybe) even share their snacks.

Thank you for helping us conserve our waterbirds! Have fun, be safe, and do share your lovely photos with us using the #CWC2023 and/or tagging us @BirdsCaribbean

December 22, 2022

Keep an Eye Out for Piping Plovers During CWC 2023

Piping Plover survey promo graphic Help us count Piping plovers during CWC 2023 — Click to download as a pdf

The 14th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Region-Wide count will be taking place at the start of 2023, from January 14 to February 3. This year we are asking you to make a special effort to find and count Piping Plovers. You can do this by planning your CWC surveys in places where Piping Plovers have been seen before (explore their sightings on eBird). Or by doing surveys in places where there might be suitable habitat for wintering Piping Plovers. We have plenty of information and resources to help you plan your surveys and pick out Piping Plovers from the pack!

Track Piping Plover Sightings Live!

We are tracking where Piping Plovers have been seen during CWC 2023. Send us your sightings as you make them and we will update the map. This mean you can track our progress in finding Piping Plover live during the survey. Click on each point for more information about each sighting.

What to look for

Banding-Piping-Plover-Graphic-1Page-letter

Download these graphics as a pdf following these links: Plover ID guide Guide to reading bands

They also have a unique two-note high to low pee-too call that you can listen out for.

These little birds can sometimes be very tricky to spot and blend in to their surrounding so you’ll need to look carefully to find them! If you do find any Piping Plovers don’t forget to scan their legs for colour bands. Finding and reporting these bands can help us learn more about where different breeding populations spend the winter. You can find out how to report bands in our helpful guide (above). More information and different versions of this guide to reporting banded Piping Plovers are available to download on our Shorebird Resources webpage.

Where to look

Thanks to dedicated survey efforts over the past few years, we already know about some of the main islands and areas where Piping Plovers spend the winter in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos Islands. We also know they have been spotted in smaller numbers in other countries, including Puerto Rico and its offshore islands and cays, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the US and British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Guadeloupe, Anguilla, and Bonaire (there are just one or two records for some of these countries). But in the ‘right’ habitat there are likely more Piping Plovers to be found, both in ‘new’ locations on islands where they have been seen before and perhaps some islands where they haven’t been seen yet. We need more people out there looking for them!

Click on each image to enlarge then right click to “save as….” a jpeg. Use these links to download each image in higher resolution as a pdf: Sand Flats, Mangroves, Beach Wrack, Rocky Shore

Be part of the Plover Patrol

Thanks to Environment and Climate change Canada for helping to funding these resources and our efforts to survey Piping Plovers during our 2023 CWC!

December 18, 2022

Helping Birds Fly With Darker Skies: Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day in the Caribbean

December 16, 2022

Birding, Learning, and Exploring the Wondrous Wetlands of Barbados

group photo at a wetland in Barbados — Workshop Participants in Barbados.

With bird migration in full swing September was the perfect time for BirdsCaribbean to head to Barbados for a Wetlands Education Training Workshop! From September 27-28, 2022 30 participants took part in this ‘train the trainers’ event at Walkers Reserve, where they learned all about the wondrous wetlands and wetland birds on Barbados. During the two days of fun-filled and hands-on learning, participants were armed with tools, resources, and inspiration to help them share what they learned with others. Read all about what the workshop was like from the perspective of workshop participant Meike Joseph.

In September I completed a two-day Wetlands and Bird Education Training Workshop held by BirdsCaribbean at Walkers Reserve, Barbados. Initially, when I found out about this workshop, I got excited. I see birds on a regular basis but have not been able to identify them. So now you know why I joined this workshop – I wanted to learn how to identify birds. As it turned out I learnt so much more than that! Considering that this workshop was just two days, the information was extremely useful for my field of work. I did not feel overwhelmed at any point. The facilitators made learning easy, explaining all aspects of each topic in its simplest form so we could easily understand and absorb the information.

Talking about wetlands

On the first day of the workshop we were given a substantial amount of learning materials including bird identification charts, colouring books, and a book, Wondrous West Indian Wetlands: Teachers’ Resource Book, which is packed with information on Caribbean wetlands and birds, including many educational activities that can be done with kids and communities. We were also given a pop quiz as soon as registration was completed. Needless to say, I panicked as I didn’t know much about birds or wetlands! However, this quiz was helpful. As we did the same quiz at the end of the two-day period, it allowed the facilitators and myself to see how much we had learned, and it was a lot!

The group at Walkers Reserve learn about different types of wetlands. — The group at Walkers Reserve learn about different types of wetlands from Michele Kading.

Marvelous mangroves

We gained a significant amount of knowledge on wetlands, including definitions of wetlands and what we would find within these amazing ecosystems, with a focus on mangroves. This intrigued me as I am very passionate about them. We received a booklet on Mangroves of the Caribbean which assisted in mangrove identification, and also learnt about how important they are as homes and protection for all kinds of birds, fish, crustaceans and other organisms.

Learning about the different types of mangroves on Barbados.

Pouring a pond!

We then participated in a demonstration titled Pour-a-Pond (Activity 2-C in Wondrous West Indian Wetlands). This was the highlight of the first day for me. We made a small pond-like structure from a sheet of plastic which was filled with water from the ponds at Walkers Reserve. We were then asked to catch and identify the various organisms that we spotted in the water, using an identification chart that was given to us by Dr. Sorenson and Ms. Kading. This activity resulted in lots of interaction between the students who were all fascinated by the many organisms they found. After this demonstration, we learned a lot about the importance and value of our wetlands, the ongoing destruction of these unique ecosystems, and why we should make efforts to save them.

Next, John Webster, an experienced birder and bird guide in Barbados gave an excellent presentation on Wetlands in Barbados and the many resident and migratory birds that use these sites. I found this riveting! I am a local person, but I had never seen or heard about some of these locations. John pointed out that many of these wetland areas were once used for bird shooting but some are now becoming conservation areas.

John Webster talks about wetlands in Barbados — John Webster talking to the group about wetlands in Barbados

Time to get active

At noon, we separated into six groups to partake in different activities from the workbook. We then demonstrated them to the other participants. The title of my group’s activity was ‘Salty Currents’ where we gathered materials and used them to show what occurs when fresh and saltwater meet, as they do in swamps. We also discussed how water temperature and salinity influence plant and animal habitats in wetlands. All activities were wetland-and bird-focused and resulted in extensive discussions, and even heated debates!

One such activity, called ‘Difficult Decisions,’ was a role-play where participants in the group discussed real-life environmental issues in a Town Hall setting. Each person took on the role of a different stakeholder, all with different interests in the outcome, for example, debating the fate of a mangrove slated for destruction to make way for a new hotel. The development company, environmental minister, tourism minister, fisherman, eco-tourism guide, local restaurant owner, environmentalist, etc. all have different opinions about whether or not the development should move forward. Each passionately argued their case and voiced their opinion, sometimes sounding like well-known local public figures in similar situations! This brought on laughs but the exercise is valuable in that it places students in the position of decision-makers and challenges them to make up their own minds about what to do.

Another important activity, ‘A Hunter’s Tale,‘ addressed the issue of hunting. This was another role play intended to stimulate students to think about the issue of hunting and make up their own minds about it. Barbados provides important stopover habitats for many migratory shorebirds, however, many of these wetlands are private “shooting swamps” managed for hunting. Hunting has a long history in Barbados and in the past, tens of thousands of shorebirds were killed each fall. Thankfully, some of the “shooting swamps” have been converted into shorebird refuges in recent years, now providing vital habitat for birds like the Lesser Yellowlegs that need a place to rest and feed on their long migrations. These refuges are now wonderful places to see hundreds of shorebirds and waterbirds up close – we were grateful to the hunting clubs that allowed us to visit and enjoy the birds on the field trip the next day!

“There were many highlights to my learning experience at the workshop. It was exciting gaining knowledge on birds but also thrilling to learn about wetlands, particularly the mangroves within them.” – Meike Joseph

Birding 101

Following the peer-teaching activities was a presentation on bird identification. Prior to this presentation, many of us had limited knowledge on identifying birds. We learnt about how to identify birds, including observing size and shape, beak size and curvature, color patterns, behavior, habitat, and more. I found it very interesting that birds change their feather colors or plumage, based on the season – the breeding or non-breeding season. This would sometimes make it tricky to identify some birds! This lesson added to my eagerness to observe birds on Day Two.

Lecture on bird ID — Lisa Sorenson gave the group some helpful tips on how to identify birds. (photo by Alex Sansom)

After this presentation, the day ended and we were on our way home, armed with a range of learning materials and a significant amount of knowledge on wetlands and birds.

Day two: On the road we go

Day Two was one of adventure and learning. We headed off to two wetlands to observe and identify the various birds that we saw with our binoculars which had been given, compliments of BirdCaribbean, to be used for continued outreach and education at Walkers Reserve.

Group watching birds through binoculars — Meike (in the foreground) and the group using binoculars to watch birds at Congo Road Swamp and Private Bird Sanctuary, Barbados. (photo by Kierra Clarke)

That relaxing feeling when bird watching

Our first site was Congo Road Private Bird Sanctuary, a former shorebird shooting swamp. We focused on observing and identifying all the birds that we saw. Ms. Kading first led an activity called Sound Mapping (Activity 6-J), which I thought was quite calming. It was a highlight for me at this location. We were asked to sit quietly, to listen to all the sounds around us and also to note the direction of these sounds. This made me realize how long it had been since I quieted down and really tuned in to nature’s beautiful sounds. As I was sitting and listening, I also noticed a bird hunting for food in the water, diving to catch its prey – a fascinating sight.

The second place we went to was one that was unfamiliar to me – a beautiful wetland on the north of the island called Foster’s Swamp, another former shooting swamp, turned bird sanctuary, filled with a great variety of birds. It’s here that I was able to observe a unique bird for me, a juvenile American Golden Plover resting on the grass. This was a beautiful and informative day. We used the knowledge gained from Day One to assist in identifying different wetland birds.

A beautiful American Golden Plover in Barbados, this bird is less common in the Caribbean than the similar looking Black-bellied Plover. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Getting up and active, the group take part in a migration game, Migration Headache, Activity 4-G) on day two of workshop

Later at Foster’s Swamp the group also took part in several of the fun games and activities from the Wetlands Workbook about migration and food webs. Games played included “Migration Headache” which involved ‘migrating’ (running) from breeding areas to increasingly limited wetland habitat (paper plates), learning about the threats faced by migrant birds from habitat loss, pollution, hunting and hurricanes. In “Deadly Links” the participants playing the role of ‘Ospreys’ caused havoc amongst their hapless ‘prey’ – only to discover that they had consumed so many pesticides (accumulated in the food-chain) that their next clutch of eggs wouldn’t hatch. Another intriguing activity was Mangrove Metaphors—learning about the functions and values of mangroves from everyday household objects (e.g., sponge, sieve, cereal box, etc.). Other games involved making a ‘human food web’ and then untangling it, as well as learning about how limited food and habitat resources affect migrating birds in a game called “Habitat Havoc.” Thankfully the weather had cooled during the afternoon and these games got everyone up and active!

Got that Certificate!

The second day of the birding workshop ended with us receiving our certificates stating that we successfully completed the Wondrous West Indian Wetlands Education Training Workshop. Gaining this knowledge on birds was personally satisfying and also assisted me in creating birding tours.

Certificate being given to Meike — Meike gets her certificate from Michele Kading and Lisa Sorenson. (photo by Kierra Clarke)

Meieke Joseph is a Project Officer and Tour Manager for Walkers Institute for Regeneration Research Education and Design (WIRRED) and environmental non-profit based at Walkers. Whilst studying at UWI Cave Hill she completed a research project on Remnant Wetlands on the West Coast of Barbados. This has fueled her passion to work on mangrove restoration on the island and has also motivated her to work towards more regenerative practices for Barbados.

This workshop was made possible with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and additional support from Walkers Reserve, WIRRED, CPRI Barbados, Vortex Optics, US Forest Service International Programs, and Southeastern Printing. Thanks also to Congo Road and Fosters Swamp Private Bird Sanctuaries for kindly hosting us on the field trip. You can learn more about the Wonderful West Indian Wetlands project here.

If you want to learn more about shorebirds in the Caribbean check out our shorebird resources page here, which has downloadable ID resources, outreach materials, videos and information pages.

Wet Work in Jamaica’s Wondrous Wetlands

December 15, 2022

Get Ready for the Caribbean Waterbird Census: Jan 14th – Feb 3rd 2023

November 17, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 55

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2022! This year’s theme is “Dim The Lights for Birds at Night”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.

Migratory Bird of the Day: Brown Booby

The Brown Booby is a smart looking seabird with deep chocolate brown plumage above contrasting with a bright white belly. They have pale dagger-like bills and bright yellow legs. Males and females can be distinguished by the color of their bills, their size and their vocalizations. Females have a pink tinge to their bill, are bigger and make a loud honking sound compared to the smaller males which have a blue coloration to their bill and have a much more high-pitched whistling sound.

Brown boobies can be found all over the tropics. This seabird feeds by plunge diving into the ocean to catch its prey, which primarily includes flying fish, and squid. Boobies often forage in mixed seabird flocks and benefit from sub-surface predators such as tunas which drive fish to the surface. While they don’t make a long-distance migration like some birds, they will disperse away from breeding areas and out to sea during the non-breeding season.

They nest in colonies on hillsides, beaches or rocky cliffs of offshore islands and cays. Both males and females share in the incubation of their eggs and the feeding of their young until they fledge at around 100 days old. Females can lay up to 3 eggs, but only one chick ever survives, if younger chicks hatch in the nest the larger first-born chick ejects them out of the nest and the parents stop feeding it. It is believed that parents lay more eggs than they can actually raise as an insurance policy in case the first egg does not hatch or the chick dies at a very young age.

Brown boobies are listed as least concern by the IUCN, however, as ground nesters they are extremely vulnerable to introduced predators such as rats, cats and mongoose. They do best on predator-free islands. At sea they face threats from entanglement in fishing lines (by-catch) and can also act as indicators of at-sea plastic pollution, as they collect plastics from the sea surface and include them in their nests. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Brown Booby

Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Colouring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2022Carib

Listen to the calls of the Brown Booby

Mainly silent when at sea, at a breeding colony females make quacking “kaak-kaak-kaak” call.

Puzzles of the Day

Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!

Brown Booby perched on a rock — An adult Brown Booby at a breeding colony. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)

Two fluffy white Brown Booby chicks. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: We have reached the end of our 2022 celebration of migratory birds in the Caribbean! We hope you have enjoyed learning all about the fascinating birds that we have featured this year, but…..how much do you remember about migratory birds? Remind yourself of some the birds we featured and some of the ‘key words’ linked with bird migration with our Bird Migration Word Search. We have made it challenging with 20 words for you to seek out! Look carefully and find them all.

Remember that word can be straight across, up and down or diagonally and that words can also be forwards or backward. The Once you think you have found all the hidden words you can check your answer here. If you missed one of our birds, want to tackle another puzzle or activity or want to remind yourself of some of the birds that we featured in 2022 or in 2020 you can find all of our past ‘Migratory Birds of the Day’ here.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Brown Booby

Read all about the amazing transformation of the island of Redonda : This small island is part of Antigua and Barbuda. It is uninhabited but has become an eco haven for many wildlife including seabirds, migratory birds, and an endemic reptile!⁠ Before 2018 the island was overrun by introduced black rats and goats. The now lush and vibrant island is a stark contrast to what Redonda used to look like! Find out how the committed and hard-working team of local and international conservationists was able to transform the island from a barren rock to a green gem.

Redonda Rebounded—Magical transformation spells brighter future for Redonda’s wildlife

November 15, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 54

Migratory Bird of the Day: Worm-eating Warbler

The early birder sees the Worm-eating Warbler! On first appearance these drab warblers appear similar to the skulky Swainson’s Warbler we featured earlier, but be sure to check out their face. Worm-eating Warbler has a black stripe through the eye and another black stripe above the eye, whereas Swainson’s Warbler has more of rusty line through the eye and rusty-brown cap. Worm-Eating Warblers have a buffy-tan colored head and more olive colored body compared to the warm brown tones of the Swainson’s Warbler.

They are well known for their habit of hopping through the understory and probing dead leaves, a technique they employ both on their breeding and wintering grounds. Their favorite food is caterpillars which is what earned them their “worm-eating” name.

Within the Caribbean they can mainly be found overwintering in the Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, and the Greater Antilles, including Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. They have been recorded occasionally on several other islands throughout the region including Guadeloupe, Turks and Caicos, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados and Curacao. So be sure to be on the lookout this fall! They don’t overwinter exclusively in the Caribbean however, as part of the population will overwinter in Southern Mexico and Central America.

Like many other migratory birds, Worm-eating Warblers choose to migrate at night, giving us another reason to turn the lights off during high volume migration periods. They appear to travel long distances when they are on the move, and it seems they have a preference to hug the Mexican coastline down rather than crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The majority of the data about these birds on both their overwintering grounds and migration stopover comes from Mexico and Central America. There is still more to understand about these birds during their overwintering/migration in the Caribbean.

Be on the lookout for Worm-eating Warblers in forest and scrub habitats in the Greater Antilles. Like other drabber warblers, they tend to be more skulky, hiding in the dense understory. Similar to many other migratory birds, these warblers are suffering from habitat loss, especially on their overwintering grounds, though more study is needed. Have you seen a Worm-eating Warbler on your island? Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Worm-eating Warbler

Listen to the calls of the Worm-eating Warbler

The calls of the Worm-eating Warbler are a load “chip, chip, chip“

Puzzles of the Day

Worm-eating Warbler with a caterpillar — Worm-eating Warbler with a tasty caterpillar. Its caterpillar eating habit gave this bird its name! (Photo by Bryan Calk-Macaulay Library- ML54410741)

Worm-eating Warbler perched on the ground. (Photo by Ryan Zucker- Macaulay Library- ML441690171)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Many of the ‘migratory birds of the day’ we’ve met so far make amazing journeys during fall, coming to the Caribbean to rest and refuel or to spend the winter with us. Some of our migratory birds are short and medium distance migrants, like the Black-crowned Night-heron. Perhaps traveling several 100km from their breeding areas to their wintering grounds. Others, like the Worm-eating Warbler are long-distance migrants and might travel 1000s of km during their migratory journeys! Why not try to ‘match’ some of our amazing long distance migrants by taking part in our Tracking Your Migration Miles activity. In this activity we are challenging you to switch some of your journeys from using the car to ‘active travel’ (waking, cycling etc.) to cut your carbon footprint. Don’t worry we are not asking you to run 3,000km, like a Least Sandpiper’s migratory journey! We’ve scaled down our distances (from 3-10km) to make it a fun activity everyone can take part in! Track you progress on our recording sheet here.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Worm-eating Warbler

November 14, 2022

Bird Banding in the Rockies— A Young Bahamian Shares His Experiences

Chris holding a male Western Tanager. (Photo by Zach Hutchinson)

Chris Johnson is a 21-year-old birder, photographer, and conservationist from The Bahamas, and a student at Holland College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In March 2022, he attended BirdsCaribbean’s first Caribbean Bird Banding Training Workshop in Nassau, The Bahamas, where he had his first experiences learning about bird banding as a tool for research and monitoring. After the workshop BirdsCaribbean selected Chris for a Bird Banding Internship, so that he could continue to train and hone his banding skills. Here, Chris shares his experiences banding birds this summer with Audubon Rockies in Casper, Wyoming.

The well-known phrase “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” is true even in the literal sense. The movements of birds during migration, their age, body condition, reproductive status, population trends, and more can all be discovered with birds in the hand. Banding is an important tool for understanding how wild bird populations are faring. I was thrilled at the opportunity to further my knowledge of bird banding in Casper, Wyoming, and especially excited to travel to one of my bucket list locations, the magnificent Rocky Mountains!

My first impression: My mind was blown!

Upon arriving in Casper, I was blown away by the incredible landscapes that I’d never seen before. The sweeping grasslands with picturesque hills and mountains were something I had always dreamt of seeing. I experienced new habitats such as riparian wetlands, grasslands, and subalpine forests, along with the birds that inhabit them, such as Black-billed Magpies, Western Tanagers, and Black-Headed Grosbeaks. This was just the start of an unforgettable experience to come.

The picturesque plains and mountains that greeted Chris on his way to Casper, Wyoming as seen from the bus on a highway. — The picturesque plains and mountains that greeted Chris on his way to Casper, Wyoming. (Photo by Thomas hawk).

A male Black-headed Grosbeak perched on a branch, showing its black and white upper parts, orange neck and black head. — A male Black-headed Grosbeak. (Photo by Alan D Wilson).

A busy banding day

As I woke up on the first day of bird banding, I was excited to begin banding and handling some amazing new birds in a new location. Upon arrival at Edness K. Wilkins State Park, the temperature was 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 degrees Celsius); a wee bit chilly for this Bahamian. While we ended up having to wait an hour or two for the temperature to warm up a bit, our total number of extracted and processed birds at the end of the day was close to 60 individuals! In previous banding experiences back at home, more than 20 birds made for an extraordinary day. While it was the busiest banding day I’ve ever had, it was a great way to kick off the start of the banding season in Casper and set the tone for what was shaping up to be a great summer.

View of verdant hills and plains in Wyoming, from Casper Mountain. (Photo by Rich Hermann)

As I had very little experience in extracting, processing, and banding birds, the first few banding sessions helped to refresh my memory on handling birds safely and bird banding ethics. I had the pleasure, during my internship, of working closely with Zach Hutchinson (Community Science Coordinator of Audubon Rockies). I learned how to run an effective banding station and the “ins and outs” of processing the data collected from migratory and resident songbirds.

More local banders needed in the Bahamas

I am currently studying wildlife conservation at Holland College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. I hope to return home to The Bahamas to start a banding station and begin collecting data on our resident and migratory bird species. The Bahamas does not currently have any active bird banding stations run by a local person. . While some birds have been studied in The Bahamas by US and Canadian scientists, it is crucial to have more Bahamians with intimate knowledge of the local birds and their behavior to lead this research and advance Bahamian bird conservation.

Zach has had many years of experience operating the bird banding stations in Casper. He has a thorough, comprehensive knowledge of how to run an effective bird banding station, extract and process various bird species, and train volunteers.. As the Casper stations are quite small, it was easy for Zach to share his knowledge with me. I learned more about bird banding in the past three months from Zach and the folks at Audubon Rockies than I would have learned in a year back at home!

A giant leap in banding experience

I had the opportunity to band at Keyhole State Park and at a site on Casper Mountain, besides Edness K. Wilkins State Park. The primary training I received was in banding songbirds but I also got great practice with hummingbirds and Mourning Doves. Before this internship, I had only extracted a total of two birds from mist nets and banded one. After this internship, I can say that I have extracted approximately 105 birds and banded approximately 99! While I’m just starting my bird banding training journey, this internship has given me knowledge in extracting birds from mist nets, identifying molt stages of different birds, sexing and understanding the health of birds in hand, and using the new Wolfe, Ryder, Pyle (WRP) codes to accurately determine the age of a bird.

Chris holds a Rufous Hummingbird in his hand. Only the bird's head and bill can be seen in the photo.

Hummingbirds were banded too, like this tiny Rufous Hummingbird. (Photo by Chris Johnson).

A Mountain Chickadee perched on top of a rock.

A Mountain Chickadee. (Photo by Alan D Wilson)

While we extracted and banded many common Wyoming birds like Yellow Warblers, Common Grackles, and American Robins, some of my favorites for practicing extractions and processing were House Wrens, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Bullock’s Orioles, and Black-headed Grosbeaks.

Not all banding stations are the same

While the BirdsCaribbean Banding Workshop back home served as an incredible introduction to the world of bird banding, every station operates a bit differently. Each will use slightly differing methods for station setup, net setup and extraction, and for processing birds, to operate at the highest efficiency. Banding equipment in The Bahamas differs quite a lot from the banding equipment that we used in Casper. The methodology for setting up an effective bird banding station was also quite different. Nevertheless,I cannot wait to utilize some of these new methods and tricks to enhance bird banding when I return to The Bahamas.

Although the training was the main purpose of my internship, I also grabbed the opportunity to see much of Wyoming on days off! A personal favorite would have to be the jaw-dropping Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I also truly enjoyed attending my first ever BioBlitz in Guernsey State Park, documenting the incredible fauna that Wyoming has to offer. A BioBlitz is a fun but intense event where students, teachers, volunteers, and scientists collaborate to survey as many species of flora and fauna in a particular area over the span of 24 hours.

Chris is sitting in front of the Grand Teton National Park sign. — Chris stops for a photo in front of the Grand Teton National Park sign, during the bioblitz. (Photo by Chris Johnson)

After attending this internship, my appreciation of bird banding has grown exponentially. I hope to continue practicing my bird banding skills before returning home to The Bahamas. My goal is to eventually start my own MoSI (Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal/Monitoring Neotropical Migrants on their Wintering Grounds) stations, while studying migratory, endemic, and range-restricted Bahamian bird species.

I know I still have a lot to learn when it comes to bird banding. But now I am inspired, and eager to see what the future holds for bird research in The Bahamas. I want to contribute to it back home, in some way.

I’d like to thank Zach Hutchinson and all the folks at Audubon Rockies for all of their support and training over the summer, and Nate and Jenny Edwards for their incredible hospitality and welcoming me into their home for 3 months. I’d also like to thank Ellis Hein and Stacey Scott for their efforts during the banding season and showing me around Casper, and getting some new lifers along the way. Lastly, I’d like to thank Holly Garrod, Maya Wilson, and everyone at BirdsCaribbean for making this summer possible. Without their support I wouldn’t have had this incredible opportunity and experience to band birds in this remarkable location.

BirdsCaribbean would also like to thank Zack Hutchinson and others with Audubon Rockies for supporting this training. Chris’ internship was funded in part by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Fund.

November 11, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 53

Migratory Bird of the Day: Roseate Tern

Roseate Terns might be one of the Caribbean’s most elegant fliers, flitting about like bats as they swoop down to catch tiny silver baitfish. They are so good at finding schools of baitfish that in some parts of the Caribbean they are known as “Bonito birds” because fisherfolk know that if they cast lines under where Roseate Terns are diving, they are likely to catch bonitos and tuna that are also in the area to catch small bait fish prey!

In the spring when Roseate Terns arrive in the Caribbean to breed, they have solid black beaks and a light rosy blush across their white chests, which gives them their name. As spring progresses, Roseate Tern beaks start to turn dark orange and they lose their pink coloration. By the time they leave the Caribbean for their wintering grounds in South America in the fall, they look very different then when they arrived!

Roseate Terns have a restricted range in North America, meaning they only breed in certain areas. In continental North America, they primarily breed only in a few large colonies in Massachusetts, New York, and Maine. In the Caribbean, they are scattered across the region, with breeding colonies in Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, to name a few. Wherever they are found, breeding Roseate Terns nest only on tiny cays and islets, where they are better protected from predators. They nest right on the ground, and usually only have one chick per year. By September, all breeding Roseate Terns in North America head south to the Brazilian coast, where they will spend the winter eating fish and resting on beaches. They will start arriving in the Caribbean in late April to mid-May, so look for them then!

Terns can be very difficult to identify, so you will need a lot of practice to tell Roseate Terns apart from other Caribbean terns like Sandwich Terns and Royal Terns. In spring, good clues are their all-black bills and bright orange legs. Roseate Terns may be in flocks with other terns, but are distinguished by their longer forked tails and elegant flying style. They are usually found only over ocean water, but tend to stay close to the coastlines, so look for them in the mouths of bays and sandy-bottomed shores, where they like to fish. Their call is said to sound like ripping paper, so keep your ears open as you look! Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Roseate Tern

Listen to the calls of the Roseate Tern

The calls of the Roseate Tern include a high-pitched “keek”

Puzzles of the Day

Roseate Tern in breeding plumage. (Photo by Tim Melling)

Roseate Tern in flight. (Photo by Karen Gallo)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Today why not imagine that you are a Roseate Tern and take part in our My Migration Journey creative writing activity! We have provided a template for you to write a short story about a migration journey. Pretend that you are a migrating Roseate Tern flying from the US to warm and sunny Brazil. Imagine getting ready to make this epic journey- how would you be feeling having to fly so far? Think about the places you will see along the way and perhaps about other migratory birds you could ‘meet’ on the way. This is a long journey so you should also think about challenges you, as a Roseate Tern, might face!

As well as writing about the journey you might also want to add some pictures to your story. Perhaps you could add a map of where you would be traveling or you could add some pictures of the other migratory birds on the route, of a particular challenge you might face or of a ‘rest stop’.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Roseate Tern preening and taking a rest on the beach.

Read all about Dr. Paige Byerly’s research investigating genetic diversity among Roseate Terns in the Virgin Islands !

The Vampire Diaries: Searching for Seabird Blood in the Sunny Caribbean

November 8, 2022

A New Adventure for a Motus Tracking Trainee: An Eventful Journey and a Climbing Lesson in Barbados

Motus team in Barbados, standing by the sea with palm trees in the background — Cesar (second from the right) in Barbados with the Motus team- Lisa Sorenson and Maya Wilson, from BirdsCaribbean and Todd Alleger from the Northeast Motus Collaboration. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Cesar Montero is a nature tour guide based in Vieques, Puerto Rico. After a fortuitous meeting at the 2022 AOS-BC conference in Puerto Rico, where Cesar attended a Motus workshop, he is now in training as an installation expert for the Caribbean Motus Collaboration! This effort by BirdsCaribbean and our partners will expand the Motus Wildlife Tracking system in the Caribbean. Here he recounts his experience installing a Motus station on the island of Barbados… and his complicated journey to get there!

Finally, the day had come. As I started my journey to Barbados, Fiona, then a Category 1 hurricane, had made landfall in Puerto Rico the day before. The storm had triggered floods that destroyed roads, homes and disrupted the island’s power supply. I had an inkling that this trip was going to be an adventure.

Trying to get there: the frustrations of inter-island travel

Part One of my journey began with taking a 7:45 A.M flight from the island of Vieques to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is a 30-minute flight in a small plane, which scares me because you can feel every bit of turbulence. But the view of the beautiful waters of Puerto Rico to your right and being at eye level with the peak of the El Yunque to your left, truly makes the flight one of a kind. From the smaller airport in Isla Grande, I took a taxi to the international airport in Carolina, where I would take the next flight to Miami.

View across beach at Bathsheba Barbados — It was a long journey full of delays, but the team woke up to a beautiful view on the north coast of Barbados (Bathsheba). (Photo Lisa Sorenson)

But not so fast! The flight was delayed. To kill some time, I bought some fast food at the airport. In Vieques we don’t have any fast food restaurants, so eating it is almost like a delicacy for me. I regret it every time afterwards!

After landing in Miami, I made my way to the terminal and waited for my flight to Barbados. What did I do in the meantime? You guessed it – I got more fast food!

At Miami Airport I met Todd Alleger, the Motus expert who would be guiding the team through the installation process. First Maya and then Lisa saw us and we all caught up with each other. The last time we met was at the AOS-BC conference in Puerto Rico in June. As the airline started to call the groups to board the plane, I was in the last group; everyone was already on the plane. I walked up to the counter and presented my passport. This was my first time traveling outside of the U.S. or its territories, so I was excited. But… there was another delay.

My heart sank. The team was on the flight already but I was now put on standby. It was a full flight but some people had not shown up yet. Then a family came running up and were able to board. Then another family. I began to get a little worried. When another person on standby boarded the plane, I was sure I was doomed. Then at last I heard my name being called, whew! I boarded and the fourth and final leg was under way.

Getting down to the basics at Walkers Reserve

I was in Barbados at last!

The next day, we headed to Walkers Reserve in northeastern Barbados, a former sand quarry now transformed into a nature reserve, where we would be erecting the first Motus station on the island. Shae Warren, the Director of Projects at Walkers Institute for Regeneration Research Education and Design Inc. (WIRRED) greeted us and gave us a tour of the reserve. We walked through the potential sites for the station and at each location we visited, the landscape was stunning. It was amazing to see all of the progress they had made in creating a thriving ecosystem, where there had once been a large sand mine. I suggest learning more about its history and the organization’s mission here.

Drone image of Walkers Reserve, Barbados looking across wetlands out to sea — A view across the newly created wetlands and coastline at Walkers reserve. (Photo by Shae Warren)

Motus stations need to be installed in places where the antennas will have a good ‘view’ of the target area that birds are expected to use or pass through. In this case, a good view of the coast and coastal wetlands that migratory shorebirds use was needed. After finalizing the location for the station, the digging began – fortunately, for us, they had an excavator! The next step was to fill the hole with concrete. The WIRRED staff were amazing, helping every step of the way. They made a base box to pour the concrete and also mixed the concrete using their machinery. We all worked together on getting the concrete poured little by little. We made sure to keep it flat and level, as this would form the base of the Motus tower.

The excavator, ready to dig the hole for the station base. (Photo by Maya Wilson)

Todd and Shae watch as the excavator gets to work. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)

Rain didn’t stop us…

On day two the forecast was: rain! We were worried that the concrete would not dry, but the Caribbean sun is no joke and quickly dried it. As it rained Maya, Todd, Shae and I worked on getting all of the rest of the components of the tower together. We assembled the antennas and prepared the wiring and receiving station, as well as the solar power system. Later in the afternoon, the rain had let up. Off we went to fix the tower to the base. It was a matter of adding screws and bolts where they needed to be to make it secure.

Cesar sets to work helping pour the concrete. (Photo by Maya Wilson)

Todd shows Cesar how to connect up the solar panel. (Photo by Maya Wilson)

The antennas were added next. As a trained climber, it was Todd who added the antennas to the tower. The sun was starting to set and the colors in the sky were spectacular. There were even bats flying overhead taking care of the mosquitoes for us. But this also meant we had to work quickly as we were running out of precious sunlight.

Up on the tower…

Todd had attached all of the antennas but he just needed an extra hand to secure the mast full of antennas to the base of the tower. So up the tower I went. The higher up the tower I climbed, the more windy and scary it became. Todd was walking me through the climb every step of the way and made sure I was clipping on to the tower, using his climbing gear he loaned. This calmed my nerves. The sun was setting and there was no time to hesitate, but the sunset and the view of the ocean from the top of the tower, made me feel like I was at the top of a majestic castle. While at the top I helped Todd push and pull the mast into place and also handed him tools to secure it. We were able to finish installing the tower before it was completely dark. The tower was up and the antennas attached!

Cesar Montero and Todd Alleger install the antennas on a Motus station in Barbados (Photo by Maya Wilson)

Todd and Cesar get ready to attach the solar panel. (Photo by Maya Wilson)

And up again…

On the final day of installation we connected the wires from the antennas to the receiving station and set up the solar system. It was decided that I would benefit from more climbing experience, so up the tower I went again, with Todd guiding me every step of the way. This time I was a lot more relaxed and not as scared. There wasn’t much wind and best of all, it wasn’t getting dark! I didn’t have to spend much time up at the top because I was just binding the wiring to the tower. After everything was connected we tested it to make sure the tower was working and receiving data. Everything was in working order. Mission complete!

Aerial view of the completed Motus station. (Photo by Shae Warren)

Cesar, Shae, Maya, and Todd (R-L) at the completed Motus Station. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)

But the adventure was not over just yet. The day before flying back to Miami, Ian, a large and destructive Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Florida and devastated the town in which I grew up, Fort Myers.

My mom and brothers all still live there, so I was very worried. Thankfully I was able to keep in contact with my mom and my flight was not delayed. Fortunately, my family withstood the storm with minimal damage. So back to Vieques via Miami, I went, to continue to advance my knowledge of bird conservation and to eagerly await the next installment of the Caribbean Motus Collaboration project.

It was an exciting start!

I would like to personally thank BirdsCaribbean for choosing me to be a part of the CMC project. This would not have been possible without the support of the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust (VCHT ) Bird Committee every step of the way, leading up to being on this team. Since starting out, there has been an abundance of support for my development that is continuing to grow. Hopefully in the future I will get to meet and personally thank everyone that has made it possible for me to travel to and from this amazing country of Barbados. I am grateful to be able to contribute to advancing our knowledge of migratory birds in the Caribbean through MOTUS and am looking forward to becoming a MOTUS expert!

About Motus and The Caribbean Motus Collaboration

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a powerful collaborative research network developed by Birds Canada. Motus uses automated radio telemetry using a network of Motus stations to study the movements and behavior of flying animals (birds, bats, and insects) that are tagged and tracked by Motus receivers.

In an exciting update, the new Motus station at Walkers Reserve detected its very first tagged bird on the 27th of October! It was a Semipalmated Plover that had been tagged in Canada at the end of September, over 3000 km away from Walkers Reserve!

The new Motus station on Barbados was made possible with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada and advice and support from the Northeast Motus Collaboration (NMC). Big thanks also to Todd Alleger (NMC) for his help in installing this new station. We are also very grateful to Shae Warren and WIRRED staff for their help and support. Barbados provides an important stopover site for migratory shorebirds as they pass through the Caribbean. This is now one of two stations operating on Barbados that are part of the Caribbean Motus Network. You can find out more about Motus in the Caribbean and our Caribbean Motus Collaboration here:

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

Two New Motus Stations in Puerto Rico Jumpstart Our Caribbean Motus Collaboration Program

November 7, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 52

Migratory Bird of the Day: Black-crowned Night-Heron

While birdwatching at your local wetland, you are most likely to see the Black-crowned Night-Heron perched on trees near the water during the day. As the sun sets, it becomes active searching for food and calling out “Woc” or “Quock.”

Scientists think they feed at night when competition for food is low, since other herons and egrets feed during the day. But they are not picky eaters and will feed during the day in the breeding season. They eat a variety of foods including leeches, earthworms, insects, crayfish, clams, fish, frogs, snakes, eggs, carrion, plants, and even garbage from landfills!

The Black-crowned Night Heron is a medium-sized stocky heron with a short neck and legs – giving it a hunched appearance. Adults have a white head with a distinctive black cap and upper back. Wings, rump, and tail are gray with white to pale gray underparts. Eyes are red and legs yellow-green. During the breeding season, their yellow-green legs turn pink, they develop long white head plumes, and the black on the head and back acquires a blue-green gloss. Juveniles are noticeably different – brown all over with white flecks and yellow eyes.

There are resident populations of Black-crowned Night-Herons on many Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and possibly Barbados. The breeding season varies from as early as January to as late as August. Like many herons they nest in colonies. Males choose the nest site up in a tree and begin to build the twig and stick nest, which they then advertise to prospective mates. Colonies in good locations, free from predators and other disturbances, may be used for 30-50 years!

During fall and winter Black-crowned Night-Herons from colder climates migrate south. Some will travel from as far as Massachusetts or Alberta to spend winter in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. Mudflats, shallow ponds, creeks, swamps, and marshes are important areas for this bird and should be protected. Black-crowned Night-Heron may even be able to tell you how healthy these areas are. Because they are high-up in the food chain, have a widespread distribution, and are colonial nesters, they make excellent environmental indicators of contamination. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Black-crowned Night-Heron

Listen to the calls of the Black-crowned Night-Heron

The calls of the Black-crowned Night-Heron include a croaking abrupt “Woc“

Puzzles of the Day

A Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron skulks low down in vegetation. (Photo by Alan D Wilson)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: What facts can you remember about todays migratory bird – the Black-crowned Night-Heron? Test your knowledge by filling in the missing words in our Black-crowned Night-Heron facts! We have given you all the correct words to use but can you put them into the right fact? You can re-read the information all about this bird above, or search on the BirdsCaribbean webpages or online for lots more information about the Black-crowned Night-Heron! Then, when you have completed all the sentences, you can check your answers here.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Black-crowned Night-Heron in the wild! You can see this bird in the classic ‘hunched over’ posture that this species adopted. Watch it as it hunts for food using a ‘stabbing’ motion with its sharp pointed bill- and eventually catches a fish!

November 4, 2022

The Story of Alonso and Sami: The Puerto Rican Boy and the Plover

Boy holding a model of a Wilson's Plover at a nest — Alonso with his wonderful model!

Following the publication of BirdsCaribbean’s new graphic novel, “Sami the Snowy Plover: Stories of Survival,” its author and illustrator Josmar Esteban Márquez learned how Sami’s story has inspired one Puerto Rican boy! Keep reading to find out more.

The creative arts reach people in different ways, lighting a spark among adults and children of all ages. They can also take children on a voyage of discovery – including birds. Recently, Josmar Márquez received this delightful message from Antoni Arce Quiñones in Puerto Rico:

“Hi Josmar! My child was inspired by Sami’s story. He made a plover for his school presentation and named it Sami. Thanks for your drawings.”

Supported and published by BirdsCaribbean, Marquez’ graphic novel “Sami the Snowy Plover,” (available in English and Spanish), had inspired Quiñones’ young son, Alonso. So much so that he, with help from his Dad, had created a beautiful sculpture of another member of the plover family, the Wilson’s Plover! This shorebird is more common than the Snowy Plover in Puerto Rico where Alonso lives, but faces many of the same conservation challenges as ‘Sami’. He presented this beautiful and detailed model to his classmates at the Montessori School EENUAM (Ecological School for Children Uniting the World), sharing the message of plovers as an example of shorebird migration.

A Snowy Plover. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)

A close up of Alonso’s beautiful model of a Wilson’s Plover at a nest. The detail is amazing and so life-like!

A real Wilson’s Plover. (Photo by Hemant Keshan)

Sharing a love for shorebirds

Quiñones recounted that his son has always been an animal lover, but his particular love for birds grew from around the age of six. More recently, he has become fascinated by plovers and other shorebirds. His father has encouraged his interest, buying books for him and taking him on regular birdwatching and shorebird counting trips. Alonso printed out and read Sami’s story, and decided to name his Wilson’s Plover creation after him.

A group bird watching at a wetland — Alonso looking at birds with others in the group, including shorebird expert Jose Colon. Yes, learning can be fun!

Alonso’s interest in animals and birds was fostered at his school, in his fauna and flora class. José Salguero-Faría, a biologist and ornithologist at the University of Puerto Rico and and member of the local birdwatching organization SOPI (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña), encouraged Alonso and his classmates’ interest in birds in general during a shore-birding field trip.

Further fun, facts, and activities to be had

According to his Papa, Alonso has been enjoying the drawing tutorials video series, also from Josmar Esteban Márquez , on the BirdsCaribbean YouTube channel and the coloring books and other online activities. from BirdsCaribbean. This includes our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival’s “From the Nest” series, which features fun facts about our endemic birds, as well as coloring pages, puzzles, and activities for kids! These products are all available free of cost; we encourage our members and followers to share them with younger family members and the young at heart!

Recently, plovers have become Alonso’s passion. We hope that the love of a child will help raise awareness and bring hope for Sami and other endangered shorebirds!

resources from BirdsCaribbean for children:

Meet Sami the Snowy Plover: a New Graphic Novel for World Shorebirds Day Tells his Survival Stories

New Coloring Book: Color and Protect the Snowy Plover – English and Spanish!

Hot Off the Press! Our New “Endemic Birds of the West Indies” Colouring Book

(English)

Printing now! The Spanish Version of our Endemic Birds Coloring Book

(Spanish)

And the Winners Are…The BirdsCaribbean Zine Contest Produces Beautiful Work!

The BirdsCaribbean Zine Library can be found here:

https://www.flipsnack.com/birdscaribbean/new-shelf.html

(in English and Spanish)

October 28, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 51

Migratory Bird of the Day: Peregrine Falcon

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the fastest bird in the world – the Peregrine Falcon! Dropping out of the sky at 240 mph Powerful and fast-flying, the Peregrine Falcon is a large crow-size falcon, dark gray above, and cream-colored with dark barring below. Pointed wings, long, narrow tail and rapid pigeon-like flight identify it on the wing. When perched, its mask-like head pattern is distinctive. Immatures can be identified by a brown back with a cream-colored belly with heavy brown streaking.

The Peregrine is an uncommon to rare migratory bird in the Caribbean. It can be found throughout the islands primarily from October to April in coastal areas, offshore cays and rocks, woodlands, forests and cities. One breeding record exists for Cuba and another for Dominica. Peregrines are one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica and on many oceanic islands.

Peregrines eat mostly birds, especially flocking doves, waterfowl, songbirds, waders, and pigeons. They take birds on the wing, usually while flying low to the ground and surprising their prey from behind as they take off. Peregrines also dive on prey from high above, striking with their feet. They are said to be the fastest animal in the world, reaching speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph) or more during hunting dives!

Peregrine populations crashed in 1950-1970 due to the use of pesticides, especially DDT, and it was declared an Endangered Species. Following the ban on DDT in the early 1970s as well as protection of nesting places and releases of captive-bred birds to the wild, the species recovered enough to be removed from the Endangered Species List in 1999 – a conservation success story! Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Peregrine Falcon

Listen to the calls of the Peregrine Falcon

The alarm call of the Peregrine Falcon are series of harsh “kak, kak, kak.” calls

Puzzles of the Day

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon — A young Peregrine Falcon spreads its wings. (Photo by Chuck Hantis)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Peregrine Falcon’s are fascinating birds, with loads of interesting facts out there to be discovered! Like where they live, what they eat, their nesting behavior and migration. So why not get started on todays activity and make your own Peregrine Falcon fact sheet! Follow our instructions, gather together your favorite Peregrine facts and then use the template we provide. You can get your Peregrine facts from the information above and you can also look this raptor up on eBird, or on “All About Birds” from the Cornell Lab. Once you’ve found all the interesting and fun facts you need go ahead and make your fact sheet.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this beautiful video of a Peregrine Falcon in the wild!

Video by Don DesJardin.

Read all about Raptor Conservation in the Caribbean!

Fostering Raptor Conservation in the Caribbean Through Environmental Education

October 28, 2022

Birding by Ear: Making Birding Accessible for Blind People in the Dominican Republic

Simon Guerrero plays bird calls for participants of a birding event for blind people — Simón Guerrero plays bird calls for participants of a birding event for blind and visually impaired people.

Simón Guerrero, is a lecturer at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (Autonomous University of Santo Domingo) and long-standing member of BirdsCaribbean. Below he shares his remarkable experiences birding with the National Board of the Blind in Santiago and how they celebrated the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival this past June.

The idea of introducing blind people to birds through song occurred to me in the early nineties when I attended a bird monitoring course sponsored by the US Forest Service in La Amistad International Park, a cross-border park created by the governments of Costa Rica and Panama. Among the attendees of the workshop were prominent American ornithologists such as C. J. Ralph and Greg Butcher. One of the course instructors was incredibly good at identifying birds by song. His ability to recognize a bird just by listening to a couple of notes was impressive.

Upon witnessing such skill, I commented to him, with some irony, “But the work you do could be done by a blind person!”

“It could be,” was his short reply.

From that moment, I began to consider the possibility of organizing a bird workshop for the blind using bird song as a basis for identification. As soon as I returned to Santo Domingo, I met with the National Board for the Blind to make arrangements to give a talk on several Dominican birds that live in urban areas, since these species were most accessible to our intended participants.

Putting ideas into action

I have been teaching since I was 18 years old and thought I had already experienced the vast range of rewarding experiences offered by this profession. But I never would have imagined anything like this. I had never seen the level of enthusiasm or interest in learning as that shown by the blind children. What impressed me most was that every time they heard the song of the bird whose song they were familiar with they would exclaim, “Oh, the Mockingbird!” as though they were experienced ornithologists and those birds were part of their daily routine.

As a child I learned to produce a cooing sound by cupping my hands together, and blowing through this hollow space, allowing me to imitate with relative fidelity the songs of the three most common doves in the city of Santo Domingo: Common Ground Dove, Mourning Dove, and White-winged Dove. When the blind children learned how I was able to reproduce these calls they were dazzled. They asked me to teach them to use their hands to imitate bird calls too. I was a little unprepared, because it was my first time teaching blind students and the truth is that I was not trained in their learning techniques. They forgave my clumsiness and tried to help me. They lined up and took turns touching my hands while I imitated the song of the doves. It was an indescribable experience! It certainly made me feel needed and useful as a teacher.

A blind woman learns how to use her hands to mimic bird calls with Simon Guerrero. — A blind woman learns how to use her hands to mimic bird calls with Simón Guerrero.

A Mourning Dove, one of the birds Simón taught children to imitate. (Photo by Carlos Gomez)

Celebrating Caribbean endemic birds and their songs

For this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, my team and I scheduled several activities with the goal of highlighting the fascinating lives of birds, including those that can only be found in the Dominican Republic. We created several small wildlife refuges where birds and other wildlife could find food and shelter in the city. We also installed artificial nests specifically for endemic species, like the Hispaniolan Parakeet, that nest in cavities. But the most rewarding activity was with participants from the National Board of the Blind.

Artificial nest boxes built by Simón and his team. (Photo by Simón Guerrero)

Hispaniolan Parakeet pair at a nest cavity, UASD. (Photo by Carlos Gomez)

During the first event, when we met with the Board of Trustees, we played audio recordings of the songs of several of our native and endemic birds so that those taking part could identify the birds by their calls. It was unclear who was more impressed, the participants or me. The possibility of identifying birds by song and learning about their behavior was more exciting than they expected. In addition to their enthusiasm and interest in the subject, I was surprised by how much they knew about wildlife and a wide variety of ecological and conservation issues. One of the participants shared with me that she was a fan of nature documentaries and that she listened to them frequently. Vianny, one of the most enthusiastic participants, suggested creating a WhatsApp group named “Cuidemos las Aves” (Let’s take care of birds) and asked my permission to record the meeting to share on her YouTube channel.

Mingling bird songs with music

People enjoying one of the birding events for blind people held during the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.

For the second event, we went to the University Campus to bird by ear. We used the audio recordings again to encourage the natural song of the wild birds that live in the city and attract those that may be too shy to come into the open. We were also treated to a violin concert performed by Luis Alfredo Morales, one of the members of the Board of Trustees. Luis spent a year studying music at the University of Missouri in America. It was a fantastic event for both students and teachers. Following this, we planted a native bush (Hamelia patens) in the university garden. This plant attracts hummingbirds and many other birds. Gabino Ortiz, one of the participants, asked me for a bush so that he, too, could attract birds to his home garden.

The third and last activity- another bird by ear, was held at the Botanical Garden of Santiago in collaboration with the Board of Trustees for Santiago (the second largest city in the Dominican Republic) and members of the Education Department of the Botanical Garden. We worked with about twenty participants in a much more favorable habitat with a great variety of birds. Members of the Education Department played an active role from conception to execution. They took the opportunity to explain to the participants the objectives of the institution and the services it provides to the community.

I am excited to share that another event, which will take place in Bonao, has already been planned. Also, the Board of Trustees has let us know that they will repeat this birding activity at its headquarters across the country!

Loving birds is human nature

Hispanionlan Woodpecker — A Hispaniolan Woodpecker, a noisy endemic that everyone can enjoy! (Photo by Carlos Gomez)

The reaction of the participants made me realize, in retrospect, that the theme of this year’s Festival, “Loving Birds is Human Nature,” is not simply a beautiful phrase.

It asserts the notion that human beings certainly have the innate ability to cherish and respect these fascinating creatures!

Bird activities are an inexpensive and enriching pastime that can be done at any age and help to increase the self-esteem of those who practice it. It is a fun way to learn and make friends while contributing to conserving valuable species that only exist on our island. It is encouraging to know that the National Board for The Blind plans to include this activity with the birds in its regular program of activities. The conservation of endemic birds is a citizen’s duty, but it is, at the same time, a right that assists all people, with no one excluded. Initiating the blind into birdwatching and conservation activities is a meaningful and relevant inclusion.

It is the first time that blind people have participated in this Festival in the DR, and I hope it will not be the last. I hope that this initiative will be adopted by the 20+ countries in which the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival is celebrated every year.

Learning bird songs and calls can be fun and rewarding as well as helping with your bird identification. Here are the calls of some of the birds participants in Simón’s events might have heard for you to enjoy!

Hispaniolan Parakeet:

Northern Mockingbird:

Mourning Dove:

White-winged Dove:

You can find out more about BirdsCaribbean’s Endemic Bird Festival here:

Join us for the 2022 Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival!

https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2022/08/caribbean-endemic-bird-festival-celebrates-human-connection-to-birds/

And find out more about Caribbean Endemic Birds in our From the Nest series of blog posts, celebrating our Endemic Birds with fascinating facts, puzzles and fun activities.

October 26, 2022

One of a Kind: The First Field Guide to Birds of the Lesser Antilles is Released!

Front cover of the 'Birds of the Lesser Antilles' — The brand new ‘Birds of the Lesser Antilles’

It’s here at last! We are thrilled to announce the recent publication of the highly anticipated, one-of-a-kind Birds of the Lesser Antilles field guide.

The author, Ryan Chenery, is the Barbados-born director of Birding the Islands – a locally owned and operated birding tour company specializing in organizing and delivering both single and multi-island bird tours throughout the Lesser Antilles.

Popular holiday destinations such as St. Lucia, Dominica, Barbados, Guadeloupe, and the other islands dotted along this south-easterly region of the Caribbean now have a comprehensive bird field guide dedicated exclusively to them. Previously these islands have tended to be incorporated into all encompassing Birds of the West Indies field guides. Drawing on over twenty years of experience, the author focuses solely on species that can be seen in the Lesser Antilles. By excluding species unique to other islands in the wider Caribbean region – this field guide allows readers to easily identify all the birds they could possibly find, from Anguilla in the north of the chain to Grenada in the south.

Some important features of this exciting new book are:

- The full list of islands covered is as follows: Anguilla; Saint Martin; Sint Maarten; Antigua and Barbuda; St. Kitts and Nevis; Montserrat; Guadeloupe; Dominica; Martinique; St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Grenada.
- Each of the field guide’s more than 400 stunning photos has been carefully selected to highlight the key identifying features of each species. Photos include perched birds and those in flight, and importantly also depict notable differences in gender, age and breeding status.
- Special attention has been paid to endemics, near-endemics, and the host of regional specialties unique to the islands of the Lesser Antilles – with notable attention even being paid to detailing differences between subspecies on various islands.
- With the region such a rich area for migratory birds, the publication includes every migrant species likely to be seen, along with the most commonly recorded vagrants and introduced species.
- In clear and helpful language, the key physical characteristics of each species are described to assist with accurate identification. Vocalizations are also included in each species account, along with the island where the bird can be seen.
- The best birding locations, key habitats to focus on and the likely species to be encountered in each location are also detailed. From marine and coastal habitats to wetlands and montane forest – this book covers them all.

click each image to enlarge

A sample page of birds of the Lesser Antilles — A sneak preview of the guide showing two endemic parrots from the region.

Sample page showing maps and habitat guide — The book contains maps, a guide to types of habitats for birds and much more!

Sample page from book showing flycatchers — The guide includes multiple photos of the same species to best show their ID traits.

The islands of the Lesser Antilles are rapidly becoming more popular in the birding community, as well as with holiday visitors. If you are planning a trip to any of these remarkable small islands, whether for a holiday or any other reason, you just have to pack this highly portable guide in your bag!

If you find yourself on an island in the Lesser Antilles, staring at a bird….odds are you’ll find it in the pages of this book!

About the author: Born in Barbados, Ryan (aka the Bajan Birder) has been leading birding tours in the Caribbean for nearly two decades and is Birding the Islands’ head birding guide. Before starting the company in 2017, Ryan combined leading his birding excursions with a full-time career in conservation. During this time, he was employed as Chief Naturalist and Eco-guide Manager at Graeme Hall Nature Reserve in Barbados; Environmental Consultant for PAA Management Ltd, Barbados; Field Researcher with Global Vision International in the Ecuadorian Amazon; Development Officer with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) at one of its flagship reserves in the UK; and finally Parks Officer with North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire, UK. Ryan leads Birding the Islands’ Every Endemic trips through the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad, as well as Endemics of the Solomon Islands tours, but still enjoys branching off to do other projects – including authoring this guide book, and writing episode scripts for a US Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service Nature Documentary on shorebird migration through the Lesser Antilles.

We encourage you to visit Birding the Islands website and consider signing up for one of their amazing tours (or build your own tour). Ryan and Birding the Islands are an official partner of our Caribbean Birding Trail program and he donates a portion of the proceeds to BirdsCaribbean from every tour to help conserve Caribbean birds and habitats.

How to get your copy of Birds of the Lesser Antilles:

Available now in stores across the US and Canada. It can be purchased online and delivered worldwide on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Lesser-Antilles-Wildlife-Guides/dp/1472989619

If you are a Kindle reader, the Kindle eBook is available for purchase now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app.

The field guide is also now available in stores across the UK and for purchase online on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birds-Lesser-Antilles-Wildlife-Guides/dp/1472989619

Or directly from Bloomsbury Publishing here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/birds-of-the-lesser-antilles-9781472989611/

October 21, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 50

Migratory Bird of the Day: Swainson’s Warbler

Swainson’s Warbler isn’t known to be one of the brightest or more eye-catching warblers. In fact on first appearances it’s a pretty plain little bird with a brown back, buffy-white chest, rusty cap, and white eyebrow. However plain this bird may be it is still an exciting find for many birders due to their very secretive nature.

Their affinity for swamps and marshes originally earned them the name “Swamp Warbler” when described by Audubon in 1833. He named it after his friend and fellow ornithologist, William Swainson. And while Audubon is credited with the discovery of this warbler, evidence suggests Georgia artist and naturalist, John Abbot, made paintings of the bird as early as 1801.

These swamp warblers are medium-distance migrants. They breed in the Southeastern US and spend winter in the Caribbean, Southeastern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Within the Caribbean, in winter most birders find them in Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands. But, keep an eye out for them during migration in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and occasionally Aruba! In the Caribbean you can find them in many types of forest, including mangroves and montane forests, as long as there is a dense understory for them to hide in.

We still have a lot to learn about their overwintering range, as their skulky nature means they often go undetected. Fortunately BirdsCaribbean’s Landbird Monitoring Team will be deploying 10 motus tags on Swainson’s Warblers in Jamaica to better understand both their migratory routes and overwintering ecology. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Swainson’s Warbler

Listen to the calls of the Swainson’s Warbler

The calls of the Swainson’s Warbler sharp, loud repeated “chips” given by both males and females.

Puzzles of the Day

Swainson's Warbler on the ground — Swainson’s Warbler. This little brown warbler can be very hard to spot as it skulks in the undergrowth (Photo by Peter Brannon)

Swainson's Warbler perched on a twig — Swainson’s Warbler. The male and female look the same and this migrant does not change it’s plumage colouration between the winter and breeding season. (Photo by Matt Felperin- Macaulay Library- ML439968381)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Swainson’s Warblers catch insects to eat. They feed in the forest canopy and on the ground. Sometimes, in dry weather, they dig under the leaf litter in search of insects. Imagine you are a Swainson’s Warbler in search of food and find out what bugs there are in your backyard in our fun bug hunt! Follow our instructions and see how many different types of bugs you can find! Perhaps you will spot a butterfly or a bee flitting past? Remember just to look at the bugs and not to touch or collect them. You can check the ones you see off on our list and perhaps take some photos of them?

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Swainson’s Warbler in the wild! We aren’t likely to hear this little bird singing whilst they are migrating through the Caribbean, but you can enjoy their loud cascading song here. During the breeding season males will sing defending their territory, whilst the females build the nest.

October 21, 2022

Call for 2023 Proposals Now Open: BirdsCaribbean’s Grants for Research and Conservation

October 20, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 49

Migratory Bird of the Day: Red-footed Booby

If you were asked to name one of the most colorful birds of the Caribbean, would you choose a seabird? Probably not, but think about it. There is a seabird in the Caribbean that has black piercing eyes surrounded by a ring of ultramarine blue skin and a patch of cobalt blue (sometimes iridescent lime green in males). Its pointy bill looks like it was dipped in a rainbow, going from velvety black at the base, to orange, then blue and pale blue at the tip! If that wasn’t enough, there is one another touch of color in this bird, some say the most important splash of color: its feet are bright red.

Say hello to the Red-footed Booby, the most colorful seabird of the tropics. These colorful seabirds have even more variation, with a “white morph” that is the most common and a less common “brown morph” that has chocolate-brown feathers all over.

Red-footed Boobies are pelagic seabirds, which means that they travel far offshore to fish. They feed by plunge diving from great heights, targeting mostly flying fish and squid. Although these birds do not technically migrate they will disperse out to sea after nesting. This means you can see Red-footed Boobies at sea year-round, you will have better luck enjoying their colorful features on land – it is best to do so with binoculars, from a respectful distance.

Of the three booby species in the Caribbean (the others are the Masked Booby and the Brown Booby), the Red-footed Booby has the most restricted range. It breeds on a limited number of small islands and cays, mainly in the Lesser Antilles and the offshore islands of northern Venezuela, though an internationally-important population can be found in the Cayman Islands. During the breeding season, from October to May, Red-footed Boobies form colonies of up to a hundred nests in trees or shrubs.

The construction of the nest is part of the Red-footed Booby’s courtship ritual. Once he is joined by a female, the male starts collecting nest material. After he finds a good stick, he flies back to the nest with the stick in its bill, then presents it to his mate who may, or may not, accept it. If she does take it, the male watches her place the stick – sometimes he may grab one end of it and work with the female. Needless to say, for Red-footed Boobies, building a nest can take some time! They lay a single, white egg which they incubate for a month and a half, and raise their chick for three and a half months.

As for many seabirds, the biggest threat affecting Red-footed Boobies on land is the destruction of nesting habitat for human development. The first step to better conserve this magnificent species (and all the other Caribbean seabirds) is to record the location of its colonies. In fact, in 2023, seabird conservation partners are planning to count nesting seabirds across the Caribbean. So, if you know of a colony of Red-footed Boobies near you, you can help by informing your local conservation group! Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Red-footed Booby

Listen to the calls of the Red-footed Booby

Red-footed Booby’s will be mostly silent during the non-breeding period. The make several sounds during the breeding season including a series of guttural “karuk” calls.

Puzzles of the Day

Red-footed Booby - brown morph — The dark morph of the Red-footed Booby. (Photo by Doug Greenberg)

Red-footed Booby white morph — The light morph of the Red-footed Booby. (Photo by Andrew Wright)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: The Red-footed Booby feeds on fish and squid. They dive into the water to pluck out prey with their long, pointed bills . Like many of our seabirds Red-footed Boobies can be harmed by plastic in the seas and oceans. In an ocean full of plastic, it can be difficult for the Red-footed Booby to tell a fish and a plastic cup apart!

You can help seabirds by reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean, and by becoming a Plastic Investigator! For this activity, we want you and your family to become aware and informed about the various types of plastics that are in your house, and how many can be recycled. You can download out activity sheet here for more information and instructions on how to take part. Try to find an example of each type of plastic around your house. Record your examples in the Plastic Investigator Record sheet (included with the activity sheet).

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a light morph Red-footed Booby in the wild! These birds nest in trees along coasts and on offshore islands in the Caribbean. During migration and in winter you will see them plunge diving into the sea for fish.

October 18, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 48

Migratory Bird of the Day: Prothonotary Warbler

Who’s that spot of sunshine in the swamp? It’s the Prothonotary Warbler! These bright wood warblers were named for their dapper plumage, as the yellow is reminiscent of the robes of papal cloaks or “prothonotaries” in the Catholic church.

And would you believe that these warblers assisted with the conviction of a spy? When alleged spy, Alger Hiss, denied his affiliations, those same affiliations came forward with knowledge of his recent amateur birding expeditions – including an exciting find of the Prothonotary Warbler! When Alger Hiss admitted to recently adding this warbler to his life list, his secret was out and his affiliation exposed!

These sunny wood warblers are the only warbler to nest in cavities, breeding in the southeastern U.S. In the Caribbean, Prothonotary Warblers are considered an uncommon migrant in both spring and fall. The best chance at spotting them is likely in Cuba, Grand Cayman Islands, or the Bahamas, though unusual vagrants have been reported in Bermuda. We don’t typically see them as often in the Caribbean because they take a trans-gulf route, crossing over the Greater Antilles to arrive in Mexico and continue further south.

During migration, Prothonotary Warblers expand their habitat selection from their usual preference of woody swamps. Though we still lack information on their habitat use during migration and overwintering, look for them along coastal areas like marshes and inland watercourses.

These little balls of sunshine often move together in small flocks. In the spring, males will head north sooner than females (to set up a territories on the breeding grounds), though no differences in sex or age have been noted in the fall. Prothonotary Warblers are fairly well studied in their breeding range, but we still lack a lot of critical information, especially how habitat loss has affected migratory and overwintering populations. These warblers have been heavily impacted by deforestation. Like many other songbirds, they migrate at night, making it extra important to turn off your lights so as to not disorient these and other birds. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Prothonotary Warbler

Listen to the calls of the Prothonotary Warbler

The Prothonotary Warbler makes a loud, piercing series of repeated “tsweet” calls.

Puzzles of the Day

Male Prothonotary Warbler perched. (Photo by Hemant Kishan) — A bright yellow Male Prothonotary Warbler perched. He will sing during the breeding season to hold his territory. But it’s not just his song that helps, males that are brighter yellow gain access to better nest sites than less colorful males! (Photo by Hemant Kishan)

Female Prothonotary Warbler, perched — Female Prothonotary Warbler. She is slightly less bright than the male, with a greenish crown and nape. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Make sure that you have read the information given above. The facts here will help you with todays activity. Use what you read and the clues on the sheet to untangle our our word scramble – all about the Prothonotary Warbler- our Migratory Bird of the Day! You will be finding words that are about where this small yellow bird lives, what it eats and how it behaves. Once you think you have found or the words, or cannot work out any more clues you can find all the answers here.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Prothonotary Warbler in the wild! This bird is bringing nesting material, it is one of the very few warbler species that builds its nest in cavities. They breed in wet forests, mainly in the southeastern U.S. So although you won’t see this little bird nest building in the Caribbean you can look out the small ‘sunny’ birds during their fall migration.

Find Warblers difficult to identify? Don’t worry we are here to help you out!

Identifying Warblers in the Caribbean

October 13, 2022

Birds Connect Our World – Day 47

Migratory Bird of the Day: Ruddy Duck

A common member of the stifftail family, the Ruddy Duck is a small, compact duck with a scoop-shaped bill. This duck has a long, stiff, spiky-looking tail often held upright. The Male has a black cap and bright white cheeks. During the breeding season, he sports a bright sky-blue bill and chestnut-coloured upperparts. He pairs this ‘ensemble’ with unusual but entertaining courtship displays. In the non-breeding season males are a bit less flashy with -brown upperparts and blackish bills. Females and immatures are brown overall with a dark cap and a distinct dark stripe across the pale cheek.

When breeding males perform a ‘bubbling’ display, the male will hold his tail straight up while striking his bill against his inflated neck. Bubbles are created in the water as air is forced from the feathers. A courting male may also drop his tail and run across the water, making popping sounds with his feet. Males also utters a nasal “raa-anh” call during courtship displays, but outside the breeding season these small ducks are mainly silent .

Ruddy Ducks are resident in parts in the Caribbean, found in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Virgin Islands and Barbados. Here they use open fresh-water and brackish ponds and lagoons. They feed mainly on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, as well as small amounts of aquatic plants and seeds. They forage almost exclusively by diving, but are occasionally seen skimming food from the water surface. During fall and winter the Caribbean population is swelled by migratory Ruddy Ducks that breed in the Prairie Pothole region of North America. After breeding they head south to the Caribbean as well as the Gulf Coast, Mexico, and East Coast of the US to spend the winter.

Since Ruddy Ducks depend upon wetlands for their survival, they are directly impacted by threats to these areas such as pollution, habitat loss, and invasive species. It is vital to conserve and protect our wetlands. They provide habitats for the Ruddy Duck and many other species.They also provide invaluable services to humans such as flood protection, improved water quality, natural products, recreation, and so much more! Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.

Colour in the Ruddy Duck

Listen to the calls of the Ruddy Duck

Outside the breeding season Ruddy Ducks are often silent, but you might hear a nasal “raanh” call

Puzzles of the Day

A male Ruddy Duck during the breeding season performs his display. This involves him raising his tail and making the a distinctive sound and causing the water to bubble by slapping his bill against his chest. (Photo by Rick Evets)

A female Ruddy Duck. She does not have the distinctive bright blue bill of the breeding male but her small size and stiff up-pointed tail are characteristic of this species. (Photo by Gordon Johnston-Macaulay Library-ML354838041)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Ruddy Ducks can be found on ponds, reservoirs and in other wetlands all teaming with life! Ruddy Ducks like to feed on invertebrates and small crustaceans as well as plants. But within a wetland ecosystem all sorts of interactions take place as each animal living there looks for enough food to eat. A food web represents how living animals and plants gain energy from their environment. Take a look at our wetland ecosystem, including the Ruddy Duck, and see how many different links you can find! Think about what types of foods the different animals will eat to get energy. Use lines to make individual food chains. You can find some answers here.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a male Ruddy Duck feeding in the wild! He is diving down to find food, perhaps he is looking for some aquatic vegetation or invertebrates? Notice that now the breeding season is over this male has a black bill (rather than the blue one he has when breeding).

October 11, 2022

Uncovering the Story of F54 – One Osprey’s Journey to Bonaire

Ospry holding fish in its talons — Osprey catching a fish. (Photo by Bernie Duhamel)

Susan, a certified bird guide from Bonaire, was out birding when she spotted a newly arrived Osprey perched on a post. Only when she looked back at her photos did she spot something different about this bird. Read on to find out more about this bird and its amazing migration from Susan.

Fall migration is an exciting time of year in the Caribbean! This is when those of us birding on Bonaire begin to see the arrival of many migratory species, and one of those is the majestic Osprey. Although we do observe Ospreys year-round, the population greatly increases during fall migration and over the winter months.

Many of the Ospreys that spend winter on Bonaire have a highly refined site fidelity. They actually return to the same tree limb, or other favorite perch, each and every winter. For other arriving Ospreys, Bonaire is quite likely to be the first land they encounter on their southern journey. They will rest and recover from a long flight across the Caribbean Sea, before continuing southward to overwintering grounds in South America.

Two bands are better than one…

Banded Osprey perched — The ‘mystery’ banded Osprey photographed on Bonaire. (Photo by Bonaire Bird Tours)

On September 12, 2022, I was birding down in the southern salt flats of Bonaire. Along the way to the southern point, I noticed that one Osprey had just arrived and was perched on its favorite hunting tree. As I continued birding, I spotted a second Osprey perched on a post. Here was a great photo opportunity, I thought, as I snapped off several images. However, it wasn’t until I looked at the images the following day, that I noticed this Osprey wore two bands.

One was a color band and was mostly readable. The number 54 was clearly discernible, but a toe partially obscured the initial letter on the band; it appeared to be an F. Unfortunately, the second band was not readable in my images. Finding a banded bird makes it an individual – it is no longer an anonymous bird among many other anonymous birds. I was curious about this special bird, and so I began my Internet search for registries of banded Osprey to try to find out more, with what little information I had.

But my efforts fell flat- I came away empty handed!

The BirdsCaribbean network: a fountain of knowledge

Every birder needs to be part of a bird network. Since there is just so much to learn about our feathered friends, it’s impossible to know everything. A birder needs a support network–somewhere he or she may go with questions, and, for me, there is no better bird network than BirdsCaribbean. It’s an incredible resource that delivers again and again!

When my initial Internet searches didn’t help, I turned instead to my trusty bird network. And, hey presto! Within just two hours, I learned that Dr. Scott Rush, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Mississippi State University, was mentoring a Ph.D. research assistant, Natasha Murphy, who was banding Ospreys as part of her doctorate program. Now in touch with the person in the know, I learned the backstory of Osprey F54.

Osprey F54: a long-distance traveler who makes it look easy

Osprey getting banded — F54 gets his band as a chick. (Photo by the Rush Lab)

Natasha was able to provide me with the who-what-where-when details I sought! Natasha and her technician, Sage Dale, with help from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and USDA personnel, banded Osprey F54 and his sister, F55, on June 20, 2022. Their nest was at Guntersville Lake (lat/long: 34.659337, – 85.944116) in Alabama, on a structure that acts as a navigational marker in Jones Bar, on Guntersville Reservoir. When banding took place blood was also drawn for research purposes, which also provided DNA-sexing: Osprey F54 was a male. On that same day, Natasha and Sage banded 30 Osprey chicks in the area!

Based upon measurements taken when banded, it was estimated that Osprey F54 was 36 days old at that time. Along with his color band, he was also outfitted with a U.S.G.S. band with the number 1218-10018.

Less than three months later, this Osprey was sighted here on Bonaire. This means that F54 had covered a distance of over 3,000 kilometers, or about 1,900 miles! It would take nearly seven hours in a plane to make that trip. We humans might consider it a long flight, yet this young Osprey made an equivalent trip and arrived in Bonaire looking healthy and fit after his long flight. Zero jet lag!

Only time will tell if Osprey F54 will join the ranks of the many human “snowbirds” who fly to Bonaire to spend the winter (I am talking about the tourists escaping the chilly weather up north, of course). Or, will Osprey F54 be a short-stay “stopover visitor” as tourism officials say, who visits for a week or two for some rest and relaxation, before moving onward? It’s his first migration, and perhaps he will decide he likes Bonaire. Like many other overwintering Ospreys, we are likely to see him back year after year. And he will find his favorite branch or perch, too.

Now all F54 needs is a name!

Bird banding tells a story

With the information I received from Dr. Rush and Natasha Murphy, I was able to report banded Osprey F54 to the Bird Banding Laboratory at the U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center. Each reported sighting adds a data point to this individual’s history and will provide further insight as to his movements and migrations.

The world’s birds need us now more than ever. Recent studies have shown that an alarming number of birds have declining populations. Research projects, such as Natasha Murphy’s, provide insight and knowledge, allowing for better-managed conservation and preservation efforts.

Making the most of banded birds

How can we maximize the value of banded birds, and learn more from them?

A BirdsCaribbean group enjoying birds and photography in Viñales Valley, Cuba (photo by Lora Leschner).

Get photos if you possibly can. It really doesn’t matter if you are using a point-and-shoot camera, as I do, or if you have the fanciest camera that today’s technology can provide. The point is to document your observations with images. Sometimes we only get a brief glimpse of a bird, and we don’t have time to take in all the details, such as bands. Even if we identify the bands, we might not have the luxury of time with the bird to be able to read them. By taking images, you have a record and can review them for additional details you might not have discerned in the field.

I would also suggest that you become part of a birding network! Knowledge and information can only add to the enjoyment of your birding experiences. In the case of Osprey F54, I would never have been able to find out the bird’s history without my birding network. It added so much to the pleasure of seeing this splendid bird; it is now a unique individual to me. If you can find birders in your area with similar interests, you can discuss your observations. Learning from each other is so rewarding!

Susan has lived on Bonaire for 30 years, she is a graduate of the Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Course run by BirdsCaribbean. Susan is a bird guide and a wildlife photographer. You can read more of her Bird Blog posts on her webpages here and get some useful photography tips here.

Find out more about the Caribbean Birding Trail On Bonaire and throughout the region!

If you spot a banded bird, do your best to record the band colors and any numbers or letters, paying special attention to the location of the band or bands on the bird’s legs. 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. Report your sightings of to the USGS Bird Banding Lab which oversee all banding in the United States, and you can report sightings of color banded shorebirds to BandedBirds.org.

You can find out more about Ospreys as a migratory bird in the Caribbean on our ‘Migratory Bird of the Day’ page all about Osprey! This contains interesting facts, puzzles, videos and photos and more!

Birds Connect Our World – Day 24

October 10, 2022

Taking Care of Your Mental Health: Bird Therapy is the Best Kind

Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided for general information only. Please, always obtain professional or specialist advice when seeking to address your personal mental health issues and concerns.

“The bird will see you now…”

World Mental Health Day, recognized by the World Health Organization since 1992, takes place on October 10 every year. On this day, social media posts, events, and activism on and offline help raise awareness of mental health problems and solutions. This year’s World Mental Health Day theme is

‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’

So, how do birds help to improve our wellbeing? Well, birds can be our very best therapists, if we give them the chance. They can help us through the tough times.

The BirdsCaribbean community knows this! Watching, photographing (Birdlife Jamaica member Stuart Reeves shares his photography experience, and tips, during the COVID-19 lockdown) and attracting birds to one’s yard are truly enjoyable experiences that support a healthy and happy lifestyle. Walking through nature – your backyard, neighborhood park, a national park or botanical garden – in search of your favorite bird offers many benefits. We have listed five below.

1. Community and Togetherness

Birdwatching does not have to be a lonely pursuit. It can be a way to bond with family and friends. You might even meet new people along the way! Being a member of the birding community satisfies our very human need to belong. Members of a birding group share knowledge and experiences with each other. In some cases, birdwatching with others helps us to define our sense of self and social identity, and to achieve goals that might be harder to reach if we worked alone. A bird that a companion points out to you might be one that you would never have seen otherwise – even a “lifer,” perhaps!

A group of bird watchers — Find your flock! Birding in a group can be rewarding and fun. (Photo by Edward Hernandez Lara)

Regardless of gender, age, socioeconomic status, ability and experience, birding can be enjoyed by all. It’s an inclusive experience, when you have company. You can discuss the birds that you have seen, the places you have visited, and especially those birds you so badly want to see in the wild. If you’re planning a solo birdwatching trip soon, remember: you don’t have to do it alone. You can contact your local birding group or ask a relative or neighbor to see if they would like to join you. Birding can help strengthen relationships!

2. Time away from screens

We are bombarded with media on all sides; isn’t that true? It’s not always very good for our mental health and can actually increase our anxiety.

On the other hand, birdwatching can be a very reflective activity, almost like meditation. It is an opportunity to spend time in a quiet place, removed from distractions like social media and movie streaming service providers (you know exactly what we’re talking about! We all experience it these days). The different colors, scents, and sounds found in nature can occupy the mind and push out, if just temporarily, worrying and stressful thoughts. Find out how people found comfort in birds during the pandemic in our recently published booklet Loving Birds is Human Nature: An anthology of short stories and poems in English and Spanish. Immersing oneself in nature for a few hours can also help us “reconnect.” Hearing a familiar birdsong or spotting a particular plant, for example, can help people recall fond memories from their youth. We sometimes tend to forget how much our natural environment was, and remains, part of our human experience. It’s always good to remember.

A Common Gallinule on a pond — A Common Gallinule reflected in the water. (Photo by Dorian Rose)

3. See new places

It is so easy to fall into a comfortable daily routine. Get up, go to work, return home, and repeat. Seeking out birds in their natural habitats is a great way to snap us out of the monotony of our normal routines. Birdwatching can also be enjoyed from inside the house, it is true; but getting out and about is a better choice. A short trip to a nearby park will provide a change of scenery, and it is even better if you can visit a nature reserve. Make a point of exploring new places, where new and different bird species may be waiting for you!

View from Belair lookout point Carriacou, Grenada — Belair lookout point Carriacou, Grenada

Watching the sunrise over a mountain, going out into the forests or swamps to look for potoos, even going to a reservoir to see a rare waterbird—all of these are bound to take us on a welcome detour from our everyday experiences. Once they have become familiar with the birds in their immediate area, for many birders there is an insatiable curiosity about species elsewhere in the world. Birding can be the motivation to move out of your comfort zone and be rewarded with new travel experiences.

4. Exercise for the brain and body

The brain is like a muscle. It needs exercise!

Keeping our minds active and alert is important for our overall well being. If you are new to birdwatching, identifying the birds you see can be a challenging mental puzzle. Take shorebirds, for example, which are notoriously hard to identify! Give your brain a good challenge. Experienced birders can still learn new things every day about bird behavior. There is no end to the bird knowledge we can acquire. Researchers have reported that new neural paths are formed from these kinds of brain activities and can help fight back against diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, as well as Parkinson’s.

Antillean Nighthawk on a nest — An Antillean Nighthawk on it’s nest in the Bahamas. These birds are well camouflaged and can be tricky to spot! (Photo by Scott Hecker)

Some birds are harder to find than others. Without even realizing it, you can walk for several miles while actively looking and listening, before you find the bird you’re looking for. Some species remain higher up in hills and mountains, forcing birders to really do some uphill work for the prize! You can go at your own speed, though. Birders always pace themselves. There is always enough time to catch your breath and notice the beautiful biodiversity that surrounds you: butterflies, fungi, lizards, ferns and wildflowers. This can improve your cardiovascular health. You will be soaking up the sun’s vitamin D, which helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus. Just remember to stay hydrated!

Small Green Iguana — Keep your eyes open and who knows what you might spot! A Green Iguana amongst the leaves. (Photo by Karla Kelly)

5. The amazing variety of birds

As we mentioned already, life can get dull. Sometimes it’s good to add some variety. Monotony encourages boredom and fatigue, which have a negative impact on our mood and our mental health. Birds offer a ridiculous amount of variety, don’t they? An array of colors, shapes, sizes, calls and behaviors awaits you on the birding trail. You can research and make a list before heading out to a birding spot – but always be prepared for some totally unexpected birds to pop up. Birds literally keep you on your toes, open to new possibilities. Birds’ remarkable variety – no two birding trips are ever the same, even if you visit the same birding site – can encourage a more energized and positive mindset.

The Cuban Parrot. (Photo by Gerlinde Taurer)

Northern Potoo perched — A Northern Potoo in Jamaica. (Photo by John Webster)

Antillean Crested Hummingbird. (Photo by Xianoni Xu)

Male Indigo Bunting. (Photo by Stephen Buckingham)

So give yourself a mental “booster” this month

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it was estimated that one person in eight was living with a mental disorder. The pandemic worsened the global crisis for mental health, fueling short- and long-term stress and anxiety. Growing social and economic inequalities, conflicts, violence and public health emergencies decreased skills and funding available for mental health, especially in low and middle income countries. However, we are hopeful that the ability to reconnect in-person this year will provide everyone the opportunity to revitalize their efforts to protect and improve their mental health.

Group of birders — Everyone can join in, birding in a group can help you learn new things. (Photo by John Webster)

And now, as we emerge from the COVID-19 period, it’s definitely time to give yourself a healthy dose of birding. It’s October, which means migratory birds are making their way to the Caribbean. We encourage you to reach out to a trusted friend, relative, or local birding group and plan a birdwatching trip. A walk along the seashore will reveal that many migratory shorebirds are already enjoying the warm weather and pottering along at the water’s edge in search of food. Check out our shorebird resources for help with identifying these marvelous migratory shorebirds birds. If you’re hoping to spot some warblers, here is a blog to help with warbler identification. But if you’re completely new to birding and don’t know where to begin, we’ve got 10 tips to get you started and a Birding 101 webinar.

So, relax and enjoy some good bird therapy!

Jewelry for birds?

Breaking the bias

Eating apples, admiring doves, and tying knots on Day One

Getting to know (and love) the Birder’s Bible

The molt obsession

Banding connects us with nature

Real Bahamian hospitality!

The “Plus/Delta” of it all

BirdsCaribbean Acknowledgments

Puerto Rico vibes!

Launched: the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network

Listening out for the Whistling Warbler

We’re on a learning curve!

Here are some highlights:

Motus is moving…

Expressing love for Caribbean birds…

Global Big Day got bigger (again)

… And Speaking up for Caribbean birds

Wishing you a very Happy New Year for 2023!

Why Join the Survey?

Share Your Survey Experience

We look forward to finding out where you spot Piping Plovers during CWC2023!

Resources to Help With Surveys

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas—Ways to Decrease your Plastic Use this Holiday Season

Shop with the Ultimate Bird-friendly Gift Guide—Gift Ideas that are Relatively Inexpensive and Meaningful

Get Festive! Plant a Native Tree

Peck the Halls with Hanging Bird Feeders

Build a Birdhouse for a Family of Birds

Donate Your Old Binoculars to Your Local Birding Club or Environmental Organization

Feathered Family Fun

Lift Your Spirits with Birdsongs

Festive Birding

Become a Citizen Scientist

Track Piping Plover Sightings Live!

What to look for

Where to look

Be part of the Plover Patrol

On a learning curve in Puerto Rico

A swampy experience in Trinidad and Tobago

Birding delight in the Dominican Republic

Light can be a bad thing for birds…

World Migratory Bird Day 2023—Announcement of the theme!

Talking about wetlands

Marvelous mangroves

Pouring a pond!

Time to get active

Birding 101

Day two: On the road we go

That relaxing feeling when bird watching

Got that Certificate!

Why the CWC?

Help is at hand! Become a Waterbird expert!

2023 Piping Plover Alert

Don’t forget to eBird!

Migratory Bird of the Day: Brown Booby

Colour in the Brown Booby

Listen to the calls of the Brown Booby

Puzzles of the Day

Activity of the Day

Migratory Bird of the Day: Worm-eating Warbler

Colour in the Worm-eating Warbler

Listen to the calls of the Worm-eating Warbler

Puzzles of the Day

Activity of the Day

My first impression: My mind was blown!

A busy banding day

More local banders needed in the Bahamas

A giant leap in banding experience

Not all banding stations are the same

Migratory Bird of the Day: Roseate Tern

Colour in the Roseate Tern

Listen to the calls of the Roseate Tern

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span>

Puzzles of the Day

Activity of the Day

Trying to get there: the frustrations of inter-island travel

Getting down to the basics at Walkers Reserve

Rain didn’t stop us…

Up on the tower…

And up again…

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>