Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Red-necked Parrot
Looking over the rainforests of Dominica, one may think that trees have learned to fly as large green objects take to the sky. But as if they have read our curious minds, the birds begin to speak, letting out loud, shrill “chur-lu-weeek” calls to let everyone know that it is indeed the Red-necked Parrot (Amazona arausiaca) moving over the island’s sweeping valleys.
Locally called the Jaco Parrot, these birds are one of two endemic parrot species found on the island of Dominica (Waitukubuli) with the only other Caribbean Island hosting two endemic parrots being Jamaica. What sets the Jaco apart from its cousin – the Imperial Parrot (Amazona imperialis) or Sisserou – is its bluish head, yellow tail band, and bright green body with a dash of orange-red on its upper chest and wings. When they take flight though, their blue underwing is revealed, almost as if to blend into the blue sky like they do when perched in the green rainforest.
Jaco Parrots feed mainly on seeds, nuts, and fruits of various forest and cultivated species, but are occasionally seen foraging on the young shoots of certain plants. They are as messy of an eater as they are loud with the forest floor littered with half-eaten fruits. It’s almost as if they are leaving a trail of breadcrumbs behind for the avid birder! One thing they certainly share with the Dominican people is their love for seeded fruits like citrus, guava, and passion fruit.
While the parrots are said to have an exceptional palate, their desire to forage on cultivated crops has created human-wildlife conflicts as they sometimes damage crops and thus a farmer’s harvest and income. However, the Jaco Parrot is listed as a specially protected bird in Dominica due to its cultural, economic, and ecological significance and its Vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List.
Despite the numerous disasters that have plagued Dominica’s forests and parrots in recent history, including hurricanes and poaching, the Jaco’s ability to lay four eggs and adapt to coastal and inland vegetation types have allowed their numbers to bounce back each time. Thanks to this, they can still be seen in flocks of up to 15 birds loudly calling over Dominica’s mountains as if to issue a daily reminder to their wildlife neighbors saying, “Hello, hello, I am still here!”
Thanks to Jeanelle Brisbane and Stephen Durand for the text!
Colour in the Red-necked Parrot
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Red-necked Parrot
The calls of the Red-necked Parrot include a shrill “chur-lu-weeek” with the final note louder and high-pitched, as well as “cureeek” call.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
A Red-necked Parrot, locally know as a “Jaco”. (Photo by Jenny Craddock)
A Red-necked Parrot enjoys a tasty meal. (Photo by Stephen Durand)‘Jaco’ Parrot Perched in a tree. (Photo by Paul-Reillo)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Red-necked Parrots love to eat fruits and seeds! Why not try making this passion fruit cup feeder? You can can fill it with seeds or pieces of fruit, and hang in your garden to keep the parrots well fed. Not in Dominica – the home of these beautiful endemic parrots? No problem, any parrots that live near you and many other types of wild birds, will love this feeder! Hang it up, fill it with food, and see who comes to visit for lunch.
Remember that this activity involves using scissors and knife, you will need an adult to help with making this.
Even if you don’t get any parrot visitors to you feeder you can enjoy this video of Red-necked Parrots in the wild! The video shows these beautiful parrots feeding on flowers.
Sadly the charismatic endemic parrots of Dominica have been subject to the controversial export of several individual birds after the 2017 hurricane season and the highly damaging passage of Hurricane Maria. You can read more details of what happened below, including links to a detailed investigation carried out by ‘The Guardian’ newspaper (UK).
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Ashy-faced Owl
The Ashy-faced Owl (Tyto glaucops) is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic). It is a close relative of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba), but it is much darker and smaller. Its adorable heart-shaped face is ash gray which gives rise to its common name.
It is easy to distinguish a night owl from a daytime owl by the color of its eyes. The Snowy Owl, the owl featured in “Harry Potter,” has yellow eyes and is a good example of a daytime owl. The Ashy-faced Owl has black eyes and is a night owl or nocturnal hunter. It feeds mostly on small mammals (rodents and bats), but its diet includes more than thirty species of birds, plus reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Although the Ashy-faced Owl is considered abundant on the island, and is not threatened (Least Concern) its population is considered to have declined since 1930. This is due to the destruction of its habitats and the scarcity of nesting cavities. It is also suspected that its close relative, the Barn Owl, may be competing with it for nesting sites. Unfortunately, owls are also persecuted and often killed because they are believed to be omens of death. This is a quite common, but unfounded superstitious belief in the Caribbean.
Ashy-faced Owls live in many types of habitats: open fields, both dry and wet forests, scrub, cave areas, agricultural plantations, palm plantations, and abandoned buildings, but they prefer dense wooded areas. Their calls consist of a harsh “shaaaaaa” sound that looks like a whistle and rapid clicks like those of insects.
They breed from January to June, nesting in natural cavities such as hollows in trees, in caves, in limestone cliffs, and in artificial places. They lay 3 to 4 white eggs. The eggs of birds nesting in dark cavities are almost always white, perhaps because in the dark they cannot be seen by predators. Only females incubate the eggs. Incubation lasts from 30 to 32 days.
Females are much larger and stronger than males—they weigh more than 500 grams, while males weigh between 300 and 350 grams. Therefore, in cases of “domestic disputes” between a nesting pair, the male is the most vulnerable. But there is an advantage to being smaller. Males, being smaller and more agile, hunt different prey from females. Their diet is more varied and this helps reduce competition for food between the sexes.
In captivity a pair with three chicks consumes on average a dozen mice per night, which proves their importance as biological controls. Perhaps whoever kills an owl should be condemned to eat twelve mice a day for several weeks! Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Simón Guerrero for the text!
Colour in the Ashy-faced Owl
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Ashy-faced Owl
The calls Ashy-faced Owl are include a harsh and hissing “shaaaaaa” call as well as rapid, high-pitched clicks.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
Ashy-faced Owl spotted in 2023 in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Joshua Covill, Macaulay Library-ML527553631).An Ashy-faced Owl with it’s small mammal prey, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Ross Gallardy- Macaulay Library-ML26038361)Ashy-faced Owl in the Dominican Republic. Note the ash-gray face and buffy underparts, which distinguish it from the Barn Owl, which has a white face and underparts. (Photo by Jay McGowan, Macaulay Library-ML162362421)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: How much do you know about the life-cycle of our featured bird the Ashy-face Owl? Why not test your knowledge and complete our “Life Cycle of an Owl” activity?
First spend some time learning about owls on the internet or at your school library. Then carefully cut the ‘missing’ images and paste in the correct order to complete this owl’s life cycle! Don’t forget to label each stage.
You can check your completed life cycle against the correct one, which can be found here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of an Ashy-faced Owl in the wild!
Find out more about the Ashy-faced Owl in the article from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, published in 2018. In this article, Curti et al. provide the first detailed description of an Ashy-faced Owl nest, providing vital information about the biology of this secretive species.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Fernandina’s Flicker
Walking in the Cuban countryside you may find an extraordinary bird, busy among the grass and leaves of the ground—the Fernandina’s Flicker! You may be wondering “on the ground?!” And rightly so! When we think about woodpeckers, we don’t expect to find them on the ground, but this is one of many ways that this woodpecker is unique.
Endemic to Cuba, the Fernandina’s Flicker (Colaptes fernandinae) is the largest woodpecker in the country, with an impressive size of 33-35cm (the Ivory Billed Woodpecker is larger, but sadly it may be extinct). Its plumage is mustard yellow with fine black barring that becomes thicker on the upperparts. Its head is cinnamon tan with fine barring from forehead to nape; the eye is dark brown, and it has a strong black beak. The male has a solid black stripe of feathers in the malar (cheek) region, this is absent in the female. It is the only woodpecker on the island that lacks red color.
Specially adapted to open vegetation ecosystems with few trees, the Fernandina’s Flicker prefers savannas with palms and open forest. The soil offers the main source of food, and our flicker does not hesitate to get some dirt on its beak! It excavates the ground or searches through the leaf litter for insects, larvae, ants, and any other juicy delicacies. It will also examine trunks and bark of trees for food.
As with all woodpeckers, they have very long tongues that they keep rolled around their skull. The tongue has a special tip, serrated, sharp, and really sticky, which they use to probe under bark and in holes to reach their meals. Locally they are called Ground or Dirty Woodpecker, and Ant-eater.
In the mornings and during the breeding season the Fernandina’s Flicker constantly repeats its unmistakable call “kía-kía-kía-kía-kía” and a long sputtering “kirrrrrrrrr.” They become very active and it is common to see them defending their territories and chasing each other. Sometimes pairs will perch on branches and trunks, raising their heads up and down in courtship while making their typical sound “flíck-flíck-flick.”
The breeding season is from February to June. They excavate cavities almost exclusively in palm trees and lay 4 to 5 white eggs. Sometimes they form loose colonies of a few pairs on palmettos, and even share palms with other cavity nesting birds like the Cuban Parakeet or Cuban endemic owls.
The Fernandina’s Flicker is one of the rarest woodpeckers in Cuba. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, it is restricted to small areas and its population size is declining. Its presence strongly depends on the native Cuban palm savanna ecosystem, which has been reduced or lost due to causes such as cattle ranching, invasive species, and logging.
In addition, due to a scarcity of palm trees and consequently nesting sites, the flicker faces strong competition from the West Indian Woodpecker. The woodpecker is very territorial and will harass flicker parents, destroy their eggs, and take over their territories and nest sites. Thus, it is very important to preserve Cuba’s palm savanna habitats. This is the best way we can help this majestic woodpecker to continue soaring through the skies of the Cuban countryside.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Fernandina’s Flicker
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the call of the Fernandina’s Flicker
The calls of the Fernandina’s Flicker include a loud and rhythmic “flick, flick, flick, flick…”and “kía-kía-kía-kía-kía” and a long sputtering “kirrrrrrrrr.”
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
A male Fernandina’s Flicker – note the black “malar” (cheek) stripe, which is unique to the male. (Photo by Aslam Ibrahim Castellon)A female Fernandina’s Flicker, the black malar (cheek) area is heavily streaked with white. (Photo Dubi Shapiro-Macaulay Library-ML205141591)
A Fernandina’s Flicker pair engaged in a head-weaving courtship in Matanzas, Cuba.(photo by Robert-Lockett, ML439669801)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Our Caribbean Endemic birds are beautiful and fascinating – why not take inspiration from these birds and make you own ‘Zine’ to be included in our BirdsCaribbean Zine library?
What is a Zine? Zines (pronounced zeen) are simple, self-published booklets. They are an easy and fun way to share your ideas with the world. If you are passionate about something and want to make your voice heard, zines are a great way to do this!
For this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival why not create a zine based on our 2023 theme? Water: Sustaining Bird Life. We encourage you to do some research on your topic through online searches, reading books in the library, your own personal experience with the bird, and speaking with local experts. BirdsCaribbean will also feature an endemic bird each day on its website and social media accounts. You can find more information, suggested topics, a list of the materials you will need and ideas for the best way to create your Zine in our downloadable, detailed instruction sheet.
You can also take inspiration from this beautiful Zine all about today’s Endemic bird created by Arnaldo Toledo from Cuba. This was the winner of our Grand Prize for adults (ages 16 and older) of our 2021 Zine competition. “Apuntes de campo Carpintero Churroso” (Field Notes Fernandina’s Flicker).
See all the winners from 2021 and find links to more Caribbean endemic bird Zine here:
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of a Fernandina’s Flickers in the wild! You can see a female foraging on the ground; A male calling at a nest-hole and a male and female together at a nest-hole.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Scaly-breasted Thrasher
Some birders have a really hard time trying to find today’s bird, especially novice birders! The Scaly-breasted Thrasher is built like a thrush and looks a lot like it’s cousins, the Spectacled Thrush and Pearly-eyed Thrasher. This handsome bird belongs to the family “Mimidae” – which includes mockingbirds and thrashers.
Scaly-breasted Thashers might be considered by some to be a bit on the drab side. They have a dark gray-brown head, tail, and upper parts. This lack of “field marks” could put even an experienced birder in a frenzy. But look closely and you will see the scaly breast that give this bird its name really stands out, distinguishing it from other similar species! Scaly-breasted Thrashers also have a short dark bill, thin white wing bars, a hint of scarlet on the rump, and a yellow iris.
These thrashers can be found in the Lesser Antilles, from Anguilla all the way down to Grenada. They use a wide variety of habitats, from mangroves and coastal scrub to semi-open woodlands and humid forests. Scaly-breasted Thrashers are also commonly seen in and around human habitations on some islands. They love to forage high in the canopy in Dominica and Guadeloupe, but will be seen feeding much lower in Montserrat and St. Kitts.
These birds are not fussy and eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits and berries, although they are thought to favour fruits. Their breeding season is in May to June, when they raise 2 to 3 chicks.
Scaly-breasted Thrashers sound similar to mockingbirds, but their voice is softer and slower…be sure to take a listen to for their beautiful warbling song. And listen out for the “dew-quip!” given often when foraging.
Scaly-breasted Thrashers are listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, but with habitat loss and land-use change they could become less common in the future. For example, birders in Grenada already find it hard to spot Scaly-breasted Thrashers. There is still a lot to learn about this Caribbean endemic and it’s important to make sure we protect its habitats to ensure its future is secure. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Quincy Augustine for the text!
Colour in the Scaly-breasted Thrasher
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Scaly-breasted Thrasher
The song of the Scaly-breasted Thrasher is a series of high-pitched squeaks and lower-pitched whistles.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
A Scaly-breasted Thrasher calls from a tree in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Judd Patterson)
A Scaly-breasted Thrasher perched on an African Tulip, Saint-Kitts. (Photo by Steven Mlodinow)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Do you know what the different parts of a bird are called? Knowing them can help you to learn how to describe and identify birds, as well as colour them in. Learn the names for the parts of a bird by checking out the diagram in this page.
Then test your knowledge on today’s endemic bird by matching the correct names to the correct ‘parts of a Scaly-breasted Thrasher’ and completing this sheet.
Want to check your answers? You can see where all the words matched up to here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Scaly-breasted Thrasher in the wild!
The Scaly-breasted Thrasher is endemic to much of the Lesser Antilles. If you want to find out more about the birds to be found across this group of islands we have good news for you, there is an amazing guide to birds of the Lesser Antilles now available! This field guide allows readers to easily identify all the birds they could possibly find, from Anguilla in the north of the chain down to Grenada in the south. Find out more here:
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Martinique Oriole
Orioles in the Lesser Antilles have black heads and necks, but not the Martinique Oriole! It stands out from the others by having a dark cinnamon hood. Its underparts, rump, and epaulets (shoulders) are a burnt-orange, and wings, back, and tail are black. Looking at the base of the lower bill you will notice that it is actually pale bluish-gray in color. Sexes are alike but the female is a bit duller.
Even though it is brightly colored the Martinique Oriole is still easy to miss. This is because it spends its time foraging in the canopy above for insects, flowers, and fruits. Additionally it has a restricted distribution on the island. Its main habitats include mangroves, dry forest on limestone soils, humid forest, gardens and tree plantations below 700m. Listen out for its song of clear whistles and soft warbles as well as harsh, scolding calls “cheeu.”
Breeding generally occurs from February to July, but has been reported in December too. They weave palm fibers into a shallow pendant basket nest usually 2–4 m above the ground. The nest is attached or stitched to the underside of a large leaf of tree, e.g., seagrape or trumpet tree, to a palm frond, or to the leaf of banana or Heliconia plant. Clutch size is 2–3 eggs that are white to pale bluish with brown spots and blotches. The incubation period lasts a minimum of 14 days. Both male and female feed the chicks and defend the nest.
Its restricted distribution, as well as population decline, have been attributed to brood parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird and deforestation. The Shiny Cowbird will lay her eggs in the nests of other birds and let the other mother bird, in this case the Martinique Oriole, do all of the hard work of incubating and rearing the young cowbirds.
The Martinique Oriole is considered Vulnerable with a decreasing trend in population size and small global range. However, a recent decrease in cowbird numbers has allowed a slight recovery. The species will also benefit from the protection of its preferred habitats from being destroyed and replaced by agriculture, housing, resorts and other businesses.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Martinique Oriole
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Martinique Oriole
The song of the Martinique Oriole is a series of clear whistles.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
A Martinique Oriole, perched. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix-Macaulay Library-ML61978751).A Martinique Oriole searches for food. They eat both insects and fruits. (Photo by Bussier Romain-Macaulay Library-ML136544221)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Can you find the words in our Martinique Oriole word search? Remind yourself of some of the interesting facts about this endemic bird as you look for all 15 hidden words! Remember the words appear forwards and backwards, as well as horizontal, vertical and diagonal! Need some help? Or want to check your answers? You can see where all the words were here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Martinique Oriole in the wild!
The BirdsCaribbean family is once again beaming with pride!
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) has announced that Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, Dr. Lisa Sorenson, is one of two recipients of the prestigious Ralph W. Schreiber Award, which honors extraordinary conservation-related scientific contributions by an individual or small team. Dr. Sorenson will receive her Award at this year’s AOS Joint Conference with the SOC (Society of Canadian Ornithologists–Société des ornithologistes du Canada) in London, Ontario, to take place from August 8-12, 2023.
“I am extremely impressed not only by the quality but also by the breadth and depth of this year’s AOS award winners,” commented AOS President Colleen Handel. “These scientists are being honored for their stellar accomplishments in research, conservation, publications, and service, but they also each exemplify the utmost in dedication to fostering the next generation of ornithologists. They embody the value of a true community.”
Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr., involved with BirdsCaribbean since its first year (1988) and currently serving as a Board Member and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO), praised Dr. Sorenson’s extraordinary energy and dedication: “As a founding member and early officer of the Society for Caribbean Ornithology (SCO) and now BirdsCaribbean (BC), I could never have imagined in the 1980s the breadth of bird conservation activities initiated and instituted by BC under the tireless leadership of Lisa Sorenson.”
Natalya Lawrence receiving an Educators’ Award from Lisa Sorenson and Sheylda Diaz-Mendez, and Natalya’s son Jordan, already an avid birder! (BirdsCaribbean Conference in Guadeloupe, July 2019)
“As Executive Director of BC, Lisa has expanded the diversity of activities and opportunities in support of Caribbean bird conservation and ornithology to strengthen the region’s bird conservation capacity. The Caribbean’s unique birdlife and those who appreciate this birdlife have greatly benefited from Lisa’s dedicated efforts and we congratulate her for her justly deserved Ralph Schreiber Conservation Award.”
From the country of Antigua and Barbuda, BirdsCaribbean Board Secretary Ms.Natalya Lawrence confirmed Dr. Sorenson’s influence on her life when she wrote to Lisa: “Everything said about you in the award is true. You were the one that got me hooked on birds, and you are one of the greatest educators I have ever been honored to know. And your calm and passionate spirit, your diligence and patience make everyone you interact with want to learn more and do more. Congratulations to you on an honor that is well-deserved!”
Lisa Sorenson, who is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Boston University, conducted research on the behavioral ecology of White-cheeked Pintails in the Bahamas for her Ph.D. She served as Vice President and President of the Society for Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (now BirdsCaribbean) from 2005 – 2012, and as its Executive Director since 2012. Through her pioneering work, she has greatly increased awareness, appreciation, and conservation of the Caribbean region’s remarkable avifauna among Caribbean island residents – and beyond.
More on our Executive Director’s work and achievements
Lisa’s work over 35 years includes capacity building; outreach and education; fostering an active network of Caribbean conservationists; and reaching Caribbean audiences through community and youth education, science and the teaching of conservation methods. She is an inspiration to many young Caribbean conservationists, providing guidance and encouragement.
She is particularly focused on the need to train Caribbean nationals and empower local partners, educators, and communities to conduct their own research and conservation. Since 1997, she has initiated 150 international and local training workshops, reaching more than 5,000 people. This is of critical importance, as hitherto most bird research on the islands had been conducted by visiting scientists from overseas, often with little local involvement. Moreover, she has nurtured an appreciation of nature and of the joy of birding, working with and supporting numerous Caribbean partners on almost every island.
Lisa has received five awards for her work in the region, including a Partners in Flight Leadership Award. She has also authored or co-authored numerous bird education resources, including school curricula and monitoring manuals for the region, as well as publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has been an AOS Elective Member since 1998 and an AOS Fellow since 2011. She helped to organize the 2022 joint American Ornithological Society & BirdsCaribbean Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serving on numerous committees.
Lisa and Lourdes in the field together in Cuba. (photo by Martin Acosta)
Dr. Lourdes Mujica Valdes, Auxiliary Professor in the Faculty of Biology at the University of Havana, Cuba, described the impact of Dr. Sorenson’s work on the people (and birds) of the Caribbean: “Lisa is the kind of person that makes the world a better place. She has really made a difference in the Caribbean. People in the region have received and shared her passion, commitment, and love for birds and nature during the last 25+ years. She has developed many conservation and education projects, gathered together many people from different cultures, and provided training, encouragement, and tools to those that needed them most.
“Lisa has been the heart and soul of BirdsCaribbean, and with her leadership, we have become, all of us, a huge and committed Caribbean family working together for bird conservation. We need more Lisas to save our biodiversity and our planet!”
Our deepest thanks and appreciation to you, Lisa, for doing so much to create a truly Caribbean family of bird conservationists across the islands!
Lisa Sorenson birding with youth at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Lisa and Caribbean colleagues at the AOS-BC Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 2022.
Lisa and fellow educators at a Wetlands Education Training Workshop in Dominica.
Lisa with Eric Carey (BNT Executive Director, retired), Martin Acosta, Lourdes Mugica and other colleagues at the BirdsCaribbean Conference, Jamaica 2015.
Lisa Sorenson and guide Ernesto Reyes showing a young boy some birds in Cuba. (photo by Tania Pineiro)
Comments from lisa’s Colleagues:
“It is an awesome experience to be part of a team with someone with such a high work ethic. Lisa’s commitment, passion, and dedication extend to all projects and programs of the organization. And, she is not only an advocate of Caribbean birds, but of our people too, since she makes sure to provide everyone with opportunities for learning and engaging. Under her leadership, BirdsCaribbean has grown to higher levels. Lisa is an inspiration to all of us!” – Adrianne Tossas (BirdsCaribbean President)
Lisa Sorenson is an amazing, passionate, conservation professional. Lisa looked beyond the borders of her home country and embraced our many island nations of the Caribbean as her platform to effect conservation. And she did so, stretching every dollar and through synergies, increased many-fold the impact of her work. This is a well-deserved award and I feel so fortunate and honoured to call her my friend. Congratulations, Lisa!– Eric Carey (Bahama National Trust, retired Executive Director)
“Well deserved my friend! Congratulations on this distinguished recognition of all you do for birds!” – Jane Alexander (Actress and Conservationist)
“The American Ornithological Society selected Lisa to receive its highest conservation honor for her BirdsCaribbean leadership. We all know without a doubt how deserving she is!” – Franci Cuthbert (Ornithologist)
“Perfect award for the perfect awardee. No one has done more for conservation in the insular Caribbean, especially during the past decade when it has been so hard to maintain focus in the face of accelerating effects of social and climate change.” – Bruce Potter (Island Resources Foundation)
Dr. Sorenson has increased awareness, appreciation, and conservation of the Caribbean region’s unique avifauna through targeting research, conservation, and public engagement programs for Caribbean island residents and beyond. Building from her PhD research on the behavioral ecology of White-cheeked Pintails in the Bahamas, Lisa’s efforts over 35 years include capacity building, outreach and education, fostering an active network of Caribbean conservationists, and teaching of conservation methods, community and youth education, and science to Caribbean audiences. Her leadership while Vice-President and President of the Society for Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (2005-2012) (now BirdsCaribbean), and more recently as Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean (2012-present), has inspired, motivated, and energized island residents as well as others to contribute to island conservation efforts.
Lisa has demonstrated tremendous skill bringing people together from different island cultures, seeking funding (raised > $3 million since 1997), and personally encouraging and mentoring so many to become involved in and support bird conservation. To advance conservation in the region, she has had to overcome many of the realities and challenges for island conservation including: limited or no conservation funding within the region; diverse cultures; poor communications among islands; and a lack of conservation ethic and trained conservation professionals on many islands.
Historically, much of the research on island birds was conducted by visitors from North America, often with little local involvement, thus limiting the opportunity for growth of indigenous conservation and capacity. Dr. Sorenson’s leadership has helped to overcome these challenges by addressing the need to train Caribbean nationals and empower local partners, teachers, and communities to carry out their own science, education, monitoring, and conservation. Since 1997, she has facilitated the delivery of over 150 international and local training workshops, reaching over 5,000 people.
In all of BirdsCaribbean’s programs, Lisa has been a champion of increasing appreciation of the region’s endemic and migratory birds and the value of nature through experiencing the joy and fun of birding and bird education programs. This has, in turn, resulted in greater engagement in and successful NGO and community-led actions to monitor, restore, and conserve threatened species and habitats, as well as more young people pursuing careers in conservation. Without Lisa’s sustained dedication, Caribbean bird conservation would be far less advanced.
Lisa has received 5 awards for her work in the region, including a Partners in Flight Leadership Award. She has also authored or co-authored numerous bird education resources, including school curricula and monitoring manuals for the region, as well as publications in peer-reviewed journals. The multiple diverse Caribbean conservation initiatives, programs, and activities initiated, inspired, and/or facilitated by Dr. Sorenson’s leadership can be found on BirdsCaribbean’s website: https://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/about-us/ These include the West Indian Whistling-Duck and Wetlands Conservation Project, BirdSleuth Caribbean, Caribbean Waterbird Census, Caribbean Birding Trail, Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, Caribbean Seabird Conservation, and Caribbean Landbird Monitoring, among others. Lisa is an Elected Fellow (2011) of the American Ornithological Society and helped organize the joint American Ornithological Society & BirdsCaribbean Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico in June 2022, serving on numerous committees.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life,” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
Old Man Bird, as the local admirers call it, is a stunning bird endemic to Jamaica. This large cuckoo stands at 48cm (19in) and is distinguished by its thick, dark gray decurved bill, creamy white throat fading into pale gray on the breast, and contrasting chestnut belly and underparts. Its broad, long, dark gray tail is tipped with large white spots, while its legs are gray.
The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo (Coccyzus pluvialis) is found in moist woodland, wooded cultivation, or open thickets in the hills and mountains of Jamaica. During the winter, it descends to lower elevations but is only found near the coast in the wettest places. It runs along branches like a large rat or sails silently on extended wings from one tree to another.
The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo feeds on lizards, mice, insects, caterpillars, nestlings, and eggs.
Even though the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is known for its hoarse quak-quak-quak-ak-ak-ak-ak-ak call, which is most frequently heard from April to June, it makes a very quiet landing in trees. Its nesting period is from March to June, and the nest is an untidy platform made of sticks in the middle or upper canopy of tall mature trees.
While the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is fairly common and widespread in Jamaica, it is still important to conserve this species due to threats such as habitat loss, predation by non-native invasive animals, and climate change. To help conserve this bird, individuals can support organizations that protect and restore bird habitats, advocate for conservation policies, and participate in citizen science programs that monitor bird populations.
Overall, the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is a unique and fascinating bird that adds to Jamaica’s rich biodiversity. Its distinctive appearance, behavior, and call make it a remarkable species worth observing and protecting.
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the call of the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
The call of the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is a low, growling “aahhhh” or long “quah-quah-aahh-aahh-aahh-aahh-aahh.”
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
A beautiful Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo perched in a tree. (Photo by Dominic Sherony)
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Trelawny. Jamaica. (Photo by Michael Warner- Macaulay Library-ML510000521)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: This year our theme for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.” We want to highlight the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds.
We often see birds flying, preening, and feeding, but rarely do we see them drinking water. This does not mean that water is not important to birds.
Birds need water just as much as we do. Drinking water helps them regulate body processes like digestion. Water also keeps birds clean and cool on hot days when they take a splish-splash in a puddle, gutter, or backyard bird bath. Many birds also rely on wetland habitats, such as our ponds, salinas, marshes, mangroves, rivers, and coastal waters.
In our activity you can create your own poster to show how important water is to birds. Draw in the various ways birds use water!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo up high in a tree.
The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is endemic to Jamaica – it is one of many birds that can only be found on this Caribbean island and nowhere else in the world! Discover more about the endemic birds of Jamaica in our blog article about the launching of a new poster featuring beautiful illustrations of all these special birds. You will also find a link to download a pdf of this lovely poster.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2023 is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life” highlighting the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Bahama Mockingbird
In The Bahamas, when we hear the “trashers” singing, we know spring is upon us. Their rich soulful song is very pleasing to the ears of birders and nature lovers alike. But, there is more to love about these amazing birds than just their song! Here are some fascinating facts about the Bahama Mockingbird.
The Bahama Mockingbird is slightly larger than its Northern Mockingbird cousin and lacks the large white patches on the wings. It has grayish brown plumage with streaks on its sides and a thin white band on the base of its tail feathers. Females are slightly smaller and have a shorter tail. Juveniles have more densely spotted underparts. Their song is rich and melodious, though not as varied as the Northern Mockingbird. Bahamians locally refer to both species as “Trashers.”
The Bahama Mockingbird, Mimus gundlachii, was named after the German Ornithologist Johannes Christoph Gundlach who spent most of his working life in Cuba (1810-1896). If you’re wondering why the Bahama Mockingbird was named after a German ornithologist living in Cuba, that’s because this bird is not just endemic to The Bahamas.
Their current distribution is mainly in the Lucayan Archipelago (The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands), the Camagüey Archipelagoof Cuba (Cayo Coco Cays) and a small area in Southern Jamaica. Historically, this species was also found in Puerto Rico. Genetically, the Bahama Mockingbird is more closely related to Galapagos Mockingbirds than the Northern Mockingbird. But, Bahama and Northern Mockingbirds do sometimes inter-breed!
In The Bahamas, the Bahama Mockingbird is found throughout the archipelago but appears to have its highest concentration in the central Bahamas, especially on Cat Island. Throughout its range, it prefers arid areas and is found in dry forests and scrub habitats. Unlike its northern cousin, it is mainly found in intact native habitats and tends to avoid urban areas.
Bahama Mockingbirds are omnivorous; this means they feed on arthropods, small vertebrates, and fruit. They forage mostly on the ground, sifting through leaf litter and turning small stones with their bills.
Like the Northern Mockingbird, the Bahama Mockingbird builds a cup-shaped nest out of twigs and plant fibers. Both male and female participate in nest building. Clutch size is between 2-3 creamy to pinkish-white eggs with reddish brown speckles. Both parents raise the chicks. Nests are usually located between 0.5m and 4.5m off the ground but they will sometimes even build their nest on the ground.
Whilst not a threatened species, the Bahama Mockingbird has a restricted range, making it highly susceptible to habitat loss caused by climate change and unsustainable development. In The Bahamas the population may be declining due to competition with the Northern Mockingbird for resources like food and nesting sites.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Scott Johnson for the text!
Colour in the Bahama Mockingbird
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below 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 #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Bahama Mockingbird
The song of the Bahama Mocking bird is a series of phrases, each repeated several times.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image 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!
Bahama Mockingbird spotted on South Eleuthera, the Bahamas. (Photo by Noam Markus -Macaulay Library-ML188561091)
A Bahama Mockingbird on Cuba. (Photo by Arturo-Kirkconnell Jr- Macaulay Lirbrary-ML93392851)A Bahama Mockingbird perch in a tree at Portland Ridge Jamaica. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)A Bahama Mockingbird with nesting material, spotted on Abaco, the Bahamas, during Global Big Day 2022. (Photo by Elijah Sands)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: With lots more Caribbean endemic birds to enjoy and colour in during the coming weeks take a look at our colouring-in guide. This will give you some hints and tips on how to make your endemic birds look even more beautiful! Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Enjoy this video of a Bahama Mockingbird foraging in the wild!
If you want to find out more about our conservation work and BirdsCaribbean’s bird banding program you an read all about our bird banding workshop – which was held in the Bahamas in 2022.
We’ll be participating in this year’s Global Big Day (GBD)—the biggest birding day of the year—on Saturday, May 13, 2023, and raising funds to grow our Caribbean Bird Banding Network.
We are bringing back our popular teams competition, and celebrating together the bird diversity, excitement, and camaraderie that’s associated with Global Big Day.
Last year, Global Big Day virtually brought together more than 51,000 birders from 201 countries and submitted 132,000 checklists with eBird. This is the current world record for a single day of birding.
For BirdsCaribbean, the event was also successful—15 teams with members from 29 countries reported a total of 1,078 species and raised $13 734. We had so much fun doing this. Together we can make this year even better! Learn more below and on our Global Big Day GiveButter Teams page – join the fun here!
24 hours of learning, counting and sharing
During peak migration time in the spring, birders around the world head out to their favorite birding spots, or venture into new areas, to see, hear and record as many bird species as they can in a 24-hr period of time. This event helps scientists understand global bird populations and raises awareness of issues affecting them—and we need your help to do it!
No matter where you are, you can submit important data, via eBird checklists, about the birds around you. You don’t need to be an expert birder or spend the entire day looking for birds. Just 10 minutes of birding in your backyard or from your balcony will count too.
But birding is more enjoyable when done with a friend or a group. We are again calling on our community to bird together in virtual teams (you can decide if you want to join your national team or not) during Global Big Day. And engage in friendly competition to see which team can:
1) collectively see the most species of birds, and
2) raise the most funds.
Funds raised by BirdsCaribbean GBD participating teams will be used to grow our Caribbean Bird Banding Network by providing bands and other resources to Caribbean banders, providing more training opportunities and supporting bird banding projects across the islands.
The ‘Join a Team’ button is located just below the header graphic.
If you choose to create a team, personalize it with a fun name, photos and your own lingo. NOTE: if you are outside the US or Canada, we will need to assist you with the first step of creating your own team; after this you will be able to manage the team (email Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org and she will get you set up pronto!)
All team leaders and members should then invite family, friends, colleagues, and members of your birding community to join your team and/or donate to your team. It helps to set your own personal fundraising goal to help your team reach its overall goal!
By inviting people to your team, you are
(1) raising awareness for BirdsCaribbean and the Caribbean Bird Banding Network,
(2) helping to raise funds for Caribbean bird research and conservation, and
(3) promoting Global Big Day, citizen science, and the importance of conserving birds and their habitats.
By doing so, you will have (1) helped advance knowledge of Caribbean birds through bird banding which gives us a more detailed look at birds’ life histories, and (2) encouraged that team to give it their all on Global Big Day.
and/or . . .
3. Committing to spending some time (or the entire day!) birding on Global Big Day (May 13), being sure to keep track of what you see and then entering that information into eBird. We hope everyone will do this, whether or not they join a team or fundraise.
Group of birders in the Dominican Republic. Photo by Zara Palmer.
This will be a fun event to fundraise for and get excited about birds! Be ready to visit birding hotspots or set yourself up in a safe place* and bird for as much of the day as possible, knowing that all of your teammates, friends, and BirdsCaribbean community members are doing the same!
If birding from the Caribbean, you should plan to submit your observations to eBird Caribbean. Then we’ll tally them up and see how we all did! We will send out more information about this as the event draws closer.
Why this is Important
The insular Caribbean is a critical region for birds. There are 176 species that occur here and nowhere else in the world! In addition, the islands provide a winter home for numerous migrants—many stay 6 months or longer while others rely on the islands as stopover sites to rest and refuel during their long journeys north and south.
The development of a strong regional conservation community, through capacity-building training and career development opportunities at the island level for local people, is critical to ensure the sustainable preservation of island birds and their habitats.
How your Donation Will be Used
This Global Big Day fundraiser will support the Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network, allowing us to continue providing bands and other resources to Caribbean banders, host more international training workshops , support Caribbean banders to attend internships (read about Zoya’s incredible internship at Klamath Bird Observatory) or other opportunities to practice and develop their skills, and grow and expand this network to more Caribbean islands.
Bird Banding Training Workshop participant David Walters placing a band on the leg of a Palm Warbler. Photo by Josh Covill.
The first webinar, ‘Banding Together – Creating the Caribbean Bird Banding Network, Part 1’ will be held on Friday, April 21 at 2 PM EDT. Join the BirdsCaribbean Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network live and learn what bird banding is, its applications and how it can change the future of Caribbean bird conservation.
The second webinar “Banding Together—Creating the Caribbean Bird Banding Network, Part 2” will be held on Thursday, May 4th at 4 pm EDT. Several Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Network members, including Daniela Ventura del Puerto (Cuba), Zoya Buckmire (Grenada), Hector Andujar (Dominican Republic), and Dayamiris Candelario (Puerto Rico), will share what they have gained from being part of this initiative, and exciting plans for expanding bird banding in the Caribbean.
As with everything in the Caribbean, we will be successful when our whole community pitches in, so let’s do this together! We need your help to do this!
Team Up to WIN
Prizes will be awarded to
the team that raises the most funds
the team with the most creative name and stylish fundraising page
the team that sees the most bird species on Global Big Day
the “country/island team” that sees the highest proportion of their birds on Global Big Day (to control for differences in the number of species on each island!)
the team with the best “find” of the day (unusual, rare, plumage aberration, etc.)
the team with the best bird photo of the day (must be posted on eBird along with your list)
We are happy and proud to congratulate our President Adrianne Tossas, who has received an Outstanding Women in STEAM award from the University of Puerto Rico for contributions to scientific research and education.
Adrianne Tossas giving an acceptance speech for her award.
Adrianne was nominated by her peers to be part of the 4th Power of Women in Science symposium that took place at the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras on March 31, 2023. The event celebrated the achievements of 25 women professors who excel in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). In a special ceremony, the Vice President for Research acknowledged the nominees representing the 11 campuses of the University of Puerto Rico, with a special recognition that was prepared and presented by young women from different local schools.
Adrianne has been a professor of biology at the University of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla since 2008. As part of this position, she has led about 200 students in their first research experiences through the Bird Ecology and Conservation Project. Through the course Introduction to Research she engages undergraduate students in bird monitoring and mentors them to apply for graduate programs. Every semester, small groups of 10 to 15 students receive training in bird identification techniques, surveying protocols, experiment design, scientific writing, and skills for oral presentations.
Recognition for Outstanding Women in STEAM program invitation.
Adrianne with faculty of UPR Aguadilla after receiving her award.
Adrianne Tossas with fellow award recipient and woman in science Brenda Ramos during the event.
Both women and girls received awards for their contirbutions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths.
Here is more on our President’s work and achievements:
Landbird monitoring
In 2009 Adrianne Tossas started monitoring the avian community of Guajataca State Forest, a natural reserve in the northern karst region of the island. Point counts are conducted every spring, allowing for the assessment of 37 bird species, including 12 of Puerto Rico’s 18 endemic species. This 15-year comparison has shown population changes related to an extreme drought in 2015 and the passage of Hurricane María in 2017. The combined effects of both events caused a 10-20% difference in overall bird abundance from 2016 to 2018 compared to 2009-2015. Almost five years after the hurricane, the average number of individuals per count was still lower than baseline estimates.
Audiomoth Automatic Recording Unit (ARU) set up on a tree to record songs and calls of forest birds. (photo by Lisa Sorenson).
A new monitoring project with AudioMoth digital recorders began in this forest in 2022, to assess the singing activity of bird species. Approximately 3,000 minutes per month were recorded in February, May, July and August 2022, and January- March 2023. The open-source software ARBIMON was used to analyze the findings of the most abundant species. The top-five most frequently detected were the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiquus) Puerto Rican Vireo (Vireo latimeri), Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Melospiza portoricensis), and Adelaide’s Warbler (Setophaga adelaidae). Ongoing data collection will permit comparing patterns over time.
Since the forest trails were inaccessible for almost a year after the passage of Hurricane María, Adrianne designed new projects in coastal areas to engage students in bird monitoring.
White-tailed Tropicbird
White-tailed Tropicbird egg. (Photo by Mary Gillham)
Since 2018 the group has been assessing the size and annual fluctuations of populations of the White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaeton lepturus) when they return from the sea to breed in the rocky cliffs of Quebradillas in northern Puerto Rico. This is the species’ only breeding site on the main island, since it is mostly known to nest on cays off the eastern coast. Biweekly surveys were conducted during the reproductive season, which extends from December to July, detecting a yearly average of 70 tropicbirds (range of 0 – 94 individuals). These data suggest that the population consists of approximately 50 breeding pairs; however, this number could be larger because the cliffs provide potential nesting sites beyond the study site. A count conducted along a broader extension of the cliff in February 2023 recorded a total of 206 individuals.
Brown Pelican
Adrianne and Brown Pelican on a boat during the 2023 Caribbean Waterbird Census.
Since 2019 the group has been assessing the population status of the Caribbean Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis) on the coast of Aguadilla. From 2019 to 2021, up to 49 individuals were counted in 38 monthly surveys, including adults with reproductive plumage and juveniles. In October 2021 the group found an active breeding colony with 53 nests in a steep cliff bordering the seashore. A second nesting season is currently under study. No surveys have taken place in this area since 1993, even though this is one of the only three pelican breeding sites in Puerto Rico. These data are helping local conservation groups to promote the creation of a new nature reserve in coastal Aguadilla.
We congratulate Adrianne on her inspiring work in science and education and on her well-deserved award!
Are you passionate about Caribbean bird conservation and want to make a real difference? And do you have expertise that will help us to grow and become a stronger and more effective organization?
Consider joining our dynamic and dedicated team! We currently have openings for a Communications Manager and an Operations Manager.
Learn more about these positions and how to apply at the links below.
Applications for both positions must be received by 30 April, 11:59 PM EDT for consideration. More information and instructions on how to submit your application for each position can be found at the links below.
The Communications Manager oversees communications, marketing, and public relations efforts to raise awareness and support for BirdsCaribbean’s mission, projects, and programs. This role will provide strategic and tactical guidance to BirdsCaribbean to help our organization communicate effectively with our partners, members, and donors, and build awareness and engagement around our various programs. This is a full-time employee or contractor position with benefits and can be worked remotely from any location. Learn more and apply here.
Caribbean Nationals residing within the Caribbean are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Operations Manager will support our day-to-day operations and strategic growth decisions that support our mission, projects, and programs. This position requires the highest level of trust and confidence. Primary duties and responsibilities include bookkeeping, financial tracking/ budgeting, policy creation and compliance, and administrative support for multiple projects. This is also a full-time employee or contractor position with benefits and can be worked remotely. Learn more and apply here.
Note that due to the need for experience and knowledge managing a 501 c 3 nonprofit under US tax and banking laws, applicants must be US citizens residing in the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands.
Please share these job opportunities with others in your networks – THANKS!
Are you an experienced marketing and communications professional? Do you want to help us tell the world how amazing Caribbean birds are and why we should protect them? Then consider joining our team!
BirdsCaribbean (BC) is seeking to hire a full-time Communications Manager.
Position Overview:
The Communications Manager oversees communications, marketing, and public relations efforts to raise awareness and support for BirdsCaribbean’s mission, projects, and programs. This role will provide strategic and tactical guidance to BirdsCaribbean to help our organization communicate effectively with our partners, members, and donors, and build awareness and engagement around our various programs. This position will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean and other staff, including members of our Fundraising, Media, Education, and Program leaders and teams. This is a full-time employee or contractor position with benefits and can be worked remotely from any location. Caribbean nationals residing within the Caribbean are strongly encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities:
Overseeing BirdsCaribbean’s external communications with members, partners, donors, the public, and media sources
Overseeing all content creation and messaging, as well as online engagement growth, including:
Overseeing and developing materials to convey the organization’s mission and work
Keeping our website up-to-date with organizational news, events, and educational resources for our partners and members/followers
Managing and helping to create content for our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube) together with our small team
Producing and overseeing all printed and digital marketing, promotional, and educational materials (e.g., one pagers, brochures, reports, promotional graphics for upcoming events, e.g., bird festivals, conferences, training workshops, webinars, contests, etc.), including graphic design needs
Executing clear and engaging copywriting for emails, blogs, press releases, and other promotional materials; coordinating and editing the work of other authors on our team
Drafting and sending out our monthly newsletter, and other email communications with members, donors, partners, etc.
Editing and approving press releases, articles, graphics, announcements, etc.
Helping to develop and manage fundraising and membership campaigns
Analyzing and documenting the effectiveness of all executed marketing and communications
Managing a calendar of organizational priorities and weekly tasks for internal coordination with the team
Managing photography and videography needs for events (e.g., conferences), activities, online, and print publications, as well as social media
Ensuring consistency of messaging across all marketing and communications channels to convey the organization’s brand, mission, vision, and values
Working in partnership with the Executive Director, and Fundraising, Media, Education, and Program Committees
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field strongly preferred
Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 to 7 years of demonstrated experience in marketing/communications/public relations, including marketing and managing communications across a diverse set of platforms
Outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills; understanding of science grammar is a plus
Graphic design skills – Adobe Creative Suite and Canva strongly preferred
High proficiency with MS Office and WordPress strongly preferred
Advanced proficiency with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Ability to prepare and edit audiovisual materials (including videos) for social media posts or brand content
Knowledge of the media industry and ability to stay on top of market changes and relevant media opportunities
A passion and curiosity for environmental science and conservation in the Caribbean; strong interest and/or experience with Caribbean birds or ornithology/ecology is a plus
Strong attention to detail and the desire to deliver high-quality work without exceptions
Ability to prioritize tasks, simultaneously manage multiple projects, and set/meet deadlines
Capacity to oversee a small team that develops communications and educational content
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, focused, and ambitious; creative and innovative thinking
Professional demeanor, team player, and a consistent positive attitude
A reliable internet connection that supports Zoom video meetings without a problem
Ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with a highly diverse audience
Desired Knowledge and Experience:
Experience or working knowledge of Caribbean birds and environmental conservation issues
Experience with non-profit communications, marketing, and fundraising strongly preferred
Excellent oral communications skills
Professional working proficiency in Spanish and/or French language
Familiarity with Mailchimp
Employment Parameters
This is a full-time position (40 hours/week on average). It will require the flexibility to be available outside of normal working hours (i.e., 9 am – 5 pm) in certain cases, depending on the timing of specific deliverables and project deadlines. Pay will be commensurate with experience and local wage/cost-of-living considerations, and a benefits package will be developed in consultation with the candidate.
The Communications Manager works in a changing environment that adjusts to the needs of the day, including developments in our various programs. The environment may, at times, be fast-paced with interruptions, distractions, and deadlines. The Communications Manager needs to be flexible and be able to adjust to changing assignments or activities.
A cover letter (1-2 pages max) that expresses why you are interested in this position and summarizes your qualifications and experience
Current copy of your Resume or CV
Include a portfolio with samples of any of the following of your work: newsletter or blog articles, public relations or promotional materials, and/or social media posts that you have written.
Application period: April 5th to April 30th, 2023
About Us: BirdsCaribbean (BC) is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean (including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all islands within the Caribbean basin). Our mission is to raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve, and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems. We are a non-profit membership organization based in the U.S. With 33 years of experience, BirdsCaribbean has built an extensive and active network of more than 60 partners across 31 countries, which include environmental organizations, government agencies, institutions, businesses, tour guides, educators, and individuals.
BirdsCaribbean is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. BirdsCaribbean makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.We look forward to hearing from you!
Are you experienced in managing operations of an organization? Do you have a passion for finance, efficiency, and organization? Would you like to work with a small non-profit comprised of dedicated staff, and help them to grow and prosper? Then consider joining our team!
BirdsCaribbean is seeking to hire a full-time Operations Manager.
Position Overview
BirdsCaribbean is a small but growing U.S. non-profit organization, funded by multiple income streams and running programs throughout the Caribbean region. We are seeking an Operations Manager to join the team who will support our day-to-day operations and strategic growth decisions that support our mission, projects, and programs. This position requires the highest level of trust and confidence. Primary duties and responsibilities include bookkeeping, financial tracking/budgeting, human resources, policy creation, compliance, and administrative and strategic support for multiple programs, memberships, and fundraising. The Operations Manager must maintain a collaborative and supportive relationship with BC’s Executive Director, its Board, and paid and volunteer program managers. This is a full-time employee position with some benefits that can be worked remotely from any location.
Note: Due to the need for experience and knowledge managing a 501 c 3 nonprofit under US tax and banking laws, applicants must be US citizens residing in the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform financial activities and maintain appropriate financial records.
Manage bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll.
Work on the organizational budget with the Executive Director and Treasurer, and specific project budgets with program managers.
Manage registrations and returns necessary for the organization’s financial transactions and compliance with regulations.
Document financial policies and procedures in the organizational manual and implement best practices and financial controls.
2. Oversee operational/administrative functions of the organization.
Assist in monitoring the general inquiries inbox online (Info@birdscaribbean.org).
Research, monitor, and purchase supplies, systems, and policies for administrative and operational activities.
Organize and maintain personnel files.
Document operational, administrative, and personnel policies/procedures in the organizational manual.
3. Support programs of the organization.
Assist program staff in obtaining necessary information or tools.
Complete monthly and ongoing review of program files/records to ensure compliance.
Assist in program activities (e.g., correspondence, administration of MOUs, project budgeting/reports, purchasing, tracking small grants, and proposals) as appropriate and applicable.
Assist in the organization and delivery of events, such as webinars, meetings, fundraising, workshops, conferences, or others, as assigned.
EDUCATION
Undergraduate degree required, advanced education such as a master’s degree in a relevant field and/or certifications are strongly preferred.
QUALIFICATIONS
Proficient computer skills including use of financial accounting systems (QuickBooks experience preferred), standard Office programs, maintaining spreadsheets and databases, and navigating websites.
3-5+ years of employment related to business administration, ideally of a nonprofit organization or academic institution.
Knowledge of nonprofit operations and ability to stay on top of regulations, requirements, and opportunities.
Strong attention to detail and the desire to deliver high-quality work without exceptions.
Ability to prioritize tasks, simultaneously manage multiple projects, and set/meet deadlines.
Professional demeanor, team player, consistently positive attitude, and ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with a highly diverse audience.
A strong, reliable internet connection.
A passion or strong desire to support and advance conservation in the Caribbean; an interest and/or experience with birds or other environmental fields is a plus.
Employment Parameters
This is a full-time position (40 hours/week on average). It will require the flexibility to be available outside of normal working hours (i.e., 9 am – 5 pm) in certain cases, depending on the timing of specific deliverables and project deadlines. Pay will be commensurate with experience and local wage/cost-of-living considerations, and a benefits package will be developed in consultation with the candidate.
The Operations Manager works in a changing environment that adjusts to the needs of the day, including developments in our various programs. The environment may, at times, be fast-paced with interruptions, distractions, and deadlines. The Operations Manager needs to be flexible and be able to adjust to changing assignments or activities.
A cover letter (1-2 pages max) that expresses why you are interested in this position and summarizes your qualifications and experience
Current copy of your Resume or CV
Personal References (3) and Background Check Consent.
Application period: April 5th to April 30th, 2023
About Us: BirdsCaribbean (BC) is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean (including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all islands within the Caribbean basin). Our mission is to raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve, and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems. We are a non-profit membership organization based in the U.S. With 33 years of experience, BirdsCaribbean has built an extensive and active network of more than 60 partners across 31 countries, which include environmental organizations, government agencies, institutions, businesses, tour guides, educators, and individuals.
BirdsCaribbean is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. BirdsCaribbean makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.We look forward to hearing from you!
BirdsCaribbean is bringing you some highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our new feature “Just Published in JCO.” Here Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, tells us all about a research note documenting the use of manmade materials by birds to build their nests.
Black-faced Grassquit nest with linen and cotton twine, and strands of plastic interwoven with natural materials. (Hannah Madden)
As human influence over the environment increases, so too does the distribution of man-made materials in natural spaces. More and more birds are encountering human debris in their habitat and interacting with these materials in various, often life-threatening, ways, such as mistaking them for food or becoming entangled in them. In this research note, Hannah Madden and Hailley Danielson-Owczynsky document landbirds in St. Eustatius using human debris in an interesting but potentially dangerous way. Their observations shows how pervasive our impact is on the world around us.
But how did this study come about? Our authors found the first nest almost by accident. As they were doing some yard work at Hannah’s property, the two came across a Black-faced Grassquit nest with plastic woven through it. Though they didn’t think much of it at first, a few days later they regrouped and decided to intentionally search the surrounding areas for more nests to see how common the phenomenon was.
They found a total of 19 nests, two which contained man-made debris, including linen, cotton, and polyester fibers and twine and pieces of white and clear plastic bags.
The second nest (shown in the photo below), belonging to a Bananaquit, wasn’t even found by the authors! Hannah’s daughter Lalia takes the credit for that, as she tagged along to the field visit. “She has a very sharp eye,” commented Hannah. “She helped us find the second nest, located along a fairly busy road, that I had overlooked entirely.”
Bananaquit nest with white and gray polyester fibers interwoven with natural materials. (Hannah Madden)
The biggest challenge to this research was the vegetation—acacia and other thorny plants provided many a hazard in the field. The authors were also discouraged by the “depressing amount of garbage in the vicinity, which of course, only makes this study that much more important.
The authors noted that the light-colored man-made materials may increase their visibility to predators leading to higher predation rates, but this needs further study. Their hopes are that their work “will encourage more people in the Caribbean to look out for man-made materials in landbird nests and conduct their own simple study,” said Hannah. “There is so little published literature about this phenomenon, yet it is likely a pervasive issue in the region.” Indeed, plastic pollution is severe throughout the Caribbean. Only through studying its many impacts on bird populations can we begin to understand – and address – this issue.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology is a peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of ornithology within the Caribbean region. We welcome manuscripts covering the biology, ecology, behavior, life history, and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats. This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
Get ready to embrace the color of springtime and honor the Caribbean’s finest and most unique birds with us during the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) 2023!
The festival begins on April 22nd (Earth Day) and runs through to May 22nd (International Biodiversity Day).
This regional event happens across the Caribbean every year and highlights and celebrates the amazing birds that live only in the Caribbean—their natural history, threats, and how we can help reduce these threats.
This year the theme for the festival is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.”
We are using the same “water” theme as World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) for our CEBF to unify our messages about the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds. (note: we will celebrate WMBD in the Caribbean with this theme in the fall).
Birds need water too!
We often see birds flying, preening, and feeding, but rarely do we see them drinking water. This does not mean that water is not important to birds.
In fact, birds need water just as much as we do. Drinking water helps them regulate body processes like digestion. Water also keeps birds clean and cool on hot days when they take a splish-splash in a puddle, gutter, or backyard bird bath.
Many birds also rely on wetland habitats, such as our ponds, salinas, marshes, mangroves, rivers, and coastal waters. With growing human populations and relentless development, there are growing demands for water and continued destruction of our remaining wetlands.
Pollution, erosion, and prolonged droughts are also directly impacting the quantity and quality of water resources and habitats available for our birds.
This CEBF join us in spreading the message that water conservation is vital for all life on earth, including birds!
More iconic endemic birds to be featured for Endemic Bird of the Day!
The CEBF team has been busy preparing for another stellar line-up for Endemic Bird of the Day! Follow this page during the festival as we share 25 new species! It’s a bit of a struggle for us to not reveal this year’s selected species just yet, but we can tell you this: expect beautiful bird artwork by the talented Josmar Marquez who will once again create our coloring pages. These will be accompanied by natural history information, range maps, puzzles, photos, videos, and activities, all designed to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and enjoyment for both adults and children.
A Key West Quail Dove enjoys a drink. Bird Baths can be a great place for birds!
Be sure to follow BirdsCaribbean on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up to date with our ‘birds of the day’ and to find out about webinars and activities during the festival.
In addition to these online activities our amazing CEBF island coordinators and educators will be celebrating with festivities on their respective islands through in-person events. Birdwatching trips, presentations, arts and crafts, bird fairs, habitat clean-ups, and “birdscaping” of home gardens, schools and parks with native plants are just a handful of the events that will take place across the region this year.
We encourage you to get in touch with your local conservation organizations to find out what events are taking place near you, this includes forestry departments too! You can also get together with your friends and family, or community groups and plan your own event. We have lots of activities on our website and YouTube: quizzes, ‘Learn to Sketch’ and origami tutorials, bug hunts, upcycled crafts, outdoor games, and many more that you can do in small or large groups.
Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and videos @birdscaribbean with #CEBF #FromTheNest #WaterSustainingBirdlife
CEBF Small Grants – Apply Now
BirdsCaribbean will once again offer small grants to help cover some CEBF expenses. To apply, send a short proposal via this form, no later than 10 April, 2023. Remember to include in your budget any in-kind funding you can offer: such as volunteer staff time, other materials, etc. You may also send your proposal to CEBF Co-Coordinators: Eduardo Llegus (CEBF@BirdsCaribbean.org) & Aliya Hosein (Aliya.Hosein@BirdsCaribbean.org), and Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org) with the subject line: CEBF Small Grant Proposal 2023. Please contact Eduardo Llegus if you have any questions or doubts about this. We are looking forward to hearing about the many exciting activities you will be organizing this year.
We call on people of all ages to join us for this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival as we celebrate the diversity and endemism of bird species in the region and come together to raise awareness and nurture environmental stewardship.
You can use our beautiful graphics to promote your events for the CEBF – use them as they are (click in each image then right click and choose ‘save as’) or follow the links to use access a Canva template and add you own logos and information!
Bananaquits have a wide distribution and are found throughout the Caribbean, making them a perfect species to use in this study. (Photo by Carlos Henrique L.N. Almeida)
BirdsCaribbean are bringing you some highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our new feature “Just Published in JCO”. Here Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, tells us all about an article exploring the topic of Avian Malaria using data from Bananaquits.
Like humans, birds are susceptible to parasitic infections, including avian malaria. Similarly, they show variations in hemoglobin structure (a protein contained in red blood cells that is responsible for the delivery of oxygen to tissues) that may influence their susceptibility to these infections. Using one of the most widespread West Indian species, the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), Humphries and Ricklefs aimed to relate variation in hemoglobin structure to avian malaria infection across several islands. In this paper, they present the results of this fascinating study, with suggestions for appropriate markers for further biogeographic analyses.
Figure 2 for the article in JCO shows the locations that the samples came from, reflecting the wide distribution of Bananaquits in the region
This study came about from Humphries’ general interest in the varying distribution of avian malaria parasites and infections across the Caribbean. Bananaquits were a great focal species for this study, being so widespread throughout the region and with documented variability in their parasites among populations, even on the same islands!
The existence of a long-term dataset of Bananaquit blood samples, collected from 2004 to 2017 by Ricklefs and numerous former students of his graduate lab, perfectly set the scene for Humphries to dig into her questions. As the samples were already collected, Humphries was able to skip the field work and jump straight into data analysis. Humphries comments “Although I prefer being in the field in general, data analysis for this project was an adventure!”
She was able to design and optimize the protocols to analyze the blood samples, looking for a link between the structure of specific blood markers and infection by avian malaria parasites.
A Bananaquit in the hand (caught for banding). (Photo by Holly Garrod)
While the authors intended to study the structure of both alpha and beta globin (two key components of hemoglobin), they could not isolate the beta globin, they say “This is especially unfortunate because in humans, it is the beta globin that enables malaria resistance”. This important link may have had implications for human health and further studies of the disease in birds. For the alpha globin, the results were still not ‘significant’, as they did not find any relation between it and susceptibility to avian malaria.
Even though the study results were not as expected, there is always an opportunity to learn. Humphries still felt it was important to publish their results, and we agree. “Publishing null results is a good thing to do! This will save the next researcher the effort of asking the same questions I did and may stimulate someone else to track down that beta globin after all!” Plus, the alpha globin has potential as a genetic marker for further biogeographic studies, and this sets the foundation for a better understanding of population variation, avian malaria, and by extension, malaria in humans.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology publishes the peer-reviewed science on Caribbean birds and their environment that is so important to inform conservation work. All of the publications are free and open-access.
More featured articles from “just published in the jco”
A pair of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi) constructing a nest atop one of the higher cliffs on the north end of Booby Cay, The Bahamas, on 25 October 2015. (Photo by Shelley Cant-Woodside)
BirdsCaribbean are bringing you some highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our new feature “Just Published in JCO”. Here Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, tells us all about an article characterizing the birdlife of Conception Island National Park in The Bahamas, read on to find out more about this paper, including an exciting story from the field.
In the midst of the central Bahamas archipelago lies the tiny Conception Island National Park. This multi-island park is designated as an Important Bird Area, but until now, its bird diversity was poorly documented. In this paper, Reynolds and Buckner present the first avifaunal list for this park in over a 100 years, with a whopping 68 species, three of which are Bahamian endemics.
Although this is a much-needed update to the bird list of the park, it was not birds that first drew the authors to Conception Island. Reynold and Buckner’s numerous visits to the area, between 1994 and 2017, focused rather on lizards and snakes. But they made the most of each visit by recording everything else they observed, including the birds.
Years later, as Reynolds compiled their collective data from over the decades, the team decided to collate and publish the bird list as they noticed a glaring knowledge gap. “All the other islands surrounding Conception Island had published bird lists, but Conception did not. Conception Island is one of the most important National Parks in the Bahamas, so we felt that we needed to characterize the bird fauna there.” And what an important characterization it is! The last bird lists for the area were published in the late 1800s and did not exceed 13 species; the new estimate of 68 species is a fivefold increase and a testament to the ecological value of the National Park.
A Cape May Warbler. (Photo by Dax Roman)
As is often the case with nature, nothing can be studied in isolation, and in 2015, the authors’ herpetological (reptile-based) and ornithological (bird-based) interests collided. Reynolds gives the following anecdote: “My favorite moment was in 2015 when I found an endemic Critically Endangered silver boa stalking a sleeping Cape May Warbler in the middle of the night. The boa stalked it for about 10 minutes, then lunged to grab it and missed! The boa ended up with a mouth full of primary feathers, and the bird escaped.The boas were only discovered in 2015, so before that we had no idea that a large predator might be hunting the birds on the island. It turns out that the boas hunt the migratory birds as they rest on the island!”
It is always fascinating to witness nature in action, and we only wish that he had gotten a video of that moment!
This study was not without its challenges, of course. The difficulties of conducting research in the Caribbean are only amplified on remote islands. Expenses were a major limitation for Reynolds and Buckner. Trips to and stays on Conception Island were limited by their budget, so they had to maximize each visit. They did this by spreading their efforts over as many locations and at as many different times of day as possible. This produced bird data that was not systematically collected nor suitable for in-depth analyses, but perfect for the inventory presented here.
The brackish pond on the east end of Booby Cay in 2016. This brackish pond is not permanent and is sometimes completely dry. (Photo by R. Graham Reynolds)
The bulk of new bird records were waterbirds and shorebirds from this pond. Including Yellow-crowned Night Heron (pictured). (Photo by Heron-Hemant Kishan)
As for main takeaways, Reynolds and Buckner want to emphasize that “Conception Island is a tremendously important island for Bahamas wildlife, [and] it is hard to overstate how important it is,” both for seabird breeding colonies and as a stopover for migratory birds.
They are hopeful that this research highlights the value of the Conception Island National Park and the need to both study and protect it. The authors themselves have not been back to the area since 2018 due to changes in The Bahamas’ scientific permitting process, but hope that this paper serves as a step in the right direction. Conception Island National Park is a treasure, and further research will be critical for its continued management and conservation.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology publishes the peer-reviewed science on Caribbean birds and their environment that is so important to inform conservation work. All of the publications are free and open-access.
Big Year Cuba 2022 was a year-long birdwatching extravaganza, with birders—old, new, and in-between—across the largest island in the Caribbean competing to observe and record the highest number of species. Our Executive Director, Dr Lisa Sorenson, attended the Awards Ceremony in January. Here we share the amazing results of the competition and its likely impact upon the Cuban population and bird conservation.
The Big Year Cuba 2022 poster featured the charismatic and endemic Cuban Tody.
Together, Cuba’s pandemic crisis and the rise in the access to and use of social media, escalated the local tradition of keeping wild migratory and endemic birds in cages into a likely harmful and unsustainable illegal bird trade. Songbird capture and sales increased dramatically in Cuba over the period 2020-2022 and traffickers smuggling birds from Cuba have been seized at airports in Miami. Both Cuban and international conservation NGOs were alarmed by this dramatic increase. In response, they organized a ‘Big Year Cuba’ in 2022.
The year-long competition encouraged Cubans to don their Citizen Scientist caps and explore their island, while enjoying the birds in their natural habitats rather than in cages. Cuban birder and conservationist, Yaro Rodriguez, came up with the idea for Big Year Cuba. It was his hope that this competition would increase the number of birdwatchers in Cuba and birding hotspots on the island. Most importantly, however, Yaro’s goal was to strengthen and unify the position of the Cuban community of birdwatchers in their role as conservationists.
A small organizing committee was formed in Fall 2021 to plan the rules and guidelines for the competition. This included Yaro, Nils Navarro (Cuban artist, ornithologist and bird guide), Vladimir Mirabel (editor, The Cuban Birder magazine), Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) and Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean). Generous sponsors (BirdsCaribbean, Optics for the Tropics, Environment for the Americas, and Caribbean Conservation Trust) kindly stepped up to offer cash and other prizes for the winners as well additional prizes for all who competed.
The contest was shared widely via social media on active and growing Cuban Birding Facebook pages and through The Cuban Birder magazine. Competing birdwatchers were required to submit their observations, via checklists, to eBird.
It was an intense year of fraternal competition among the Cuban birdwatchers to register the highest number of species, and the results were amazing. A total of 79 birders from 13 provinces (out of 15) were registered for the competition; 13 were women. Five birdwatchers recorded more than 200 species during the year and more than half of the competitors reported 100 species or more. Today almost the entire island is covered by active observers, contributing to eBird checklists daily.!
Awards Ceremony of the Big Year Cuba 2022
The Awards Ceremony was held at the ranch of the Monte Barreto Ecological Park on January 28, 2023, and attended by Cuban birdwatchers, ornithologists, and conservationists, along with colleagues from Optics for the Tropics, Environment for the Americas, and the Caribbean Conservation Trust. BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director, Dr Lisa Sorenson, was also present at the ceremony to celebrate this historic achievement and help with awarding of prizes.
BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Dr. Lisa Sorenson congratulating the Organizing Committee and all birdwatchers for making it a highly successful event.
Renowned Cuban artist and ornithologist Nils Navarro opened the ceremony, sharing some of the challenges and rewards of organizing a competition of this magnitude. He highlighted the importance of joining other conservation projects in Cuba to make it a success. He also expressed his pleasure in seeing the genuine enthusiasm among Cuban birdwatchers. As a result of this initiative, areas that no one had observed before can now be explored, as in the case of Media Luna, in the south of Granma. Nils said that his colleague Ricel Polán was able to document, for the first time in the history of Cuban ornithology, the presence of the Caribbean Swallow (Progne dominicensis) nesting in that area!
Members of the organizing committee with winners of the Big Year Cuba competition.
Following this introduction, the highly anticipated winners of the Big Year Cuba 2022 were announced. Alejandro Llanes Sosa won 1st Place with a record of 261 species observed, Carlos Hernández Peraza came in 2nd Place with 242 species, and Sergio Luis del Castillo took home 3rd Place with 223 species. Their full testimonies can be found in the February 2023 issue of The Cuban Birder. Special Mentions were given to other birders who observed and recorded over 100 species. Lastly, Muhammed Halim Machado was recognized for having registered the 400th species in Cuban avifauna: the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus).
First Place winner Alejandro Sosa.
Second Place winner Carlos Peraza.
Third Place winner Sergio del Castillo.
The ceremony ended with old and new friends mingling over delicious Cuban food and drink, including mojitos.
Invited guests mingle over mojitos at the Awards Ceremony.
The truth is in the eBird data
First place winner Alejandro Llanes in the field making sure he does not miss a bird.
According to eBird statistics, during 2022 Cuba showed a sustained growth in the number of uploaded checklists – placing it, for several months, among the most dynamic countries in the world. For example, in November 2022 the number of checklists grew by 145% compared to November of the previous year; in August, by 126%; in April, by 338% and in March, by 185%.
Between 2015 and 2018, only 30 Cubans signed up for eBird. This number rose to 161 between 2019 and 2022. There has been a significant increase in the number of active Cubans on the platform in the last 4 years!
With respect to participation in Global Big Day, from 2018 to 2020 only 43 observers participated. However, between 2021 and 2022 the participation was significantly higher with a total of 193 birdwatchers.
The number of birding hot spots also increased in Cuba from 237 in June 2021 to 361 at the end of December 2022. The number of reported species also grew in the same period from 361 to 375.
The future of birdwatching and conservation in Cuba
Big Year Cuba 2022 was met with great enthusiasm and commitment by Cubans to expand their knowledge of the incredible bird diversity on the island. The Organizing Committee is already thinking about the next Big Year Cuba competition in 2024, but until then they will continue to foster respect for wild birds and their habitats, across the island.
As a result of Big Year Cuba, many new birding clubs have launched in a number of individual provinces, encouraging more Cubans to enjoy watching and studying wild birds rather than trapping and keeping them in cages. Cuban Birding Facebook pages, including Club de Observadores de Aves Cuba and Aves de Cuba and others, have also seen a dramatic increase in their membership during the last 3 years, with many people sharing their sightings and actively following the pages. BirdsCaribbean and our partners will continue to support these efforts, such as recent grants to our Cuban colleagues through our ongoing grant programs.
Ultimately this effort has helped spark a passion for birding and bird conservation and is helping to raise awareness of threats birds face and the irreversible damage the illegal bird trade can have on wild populations. The Committee is hopeful that, through these initiatives, Cuban society will become well informed to make pro-bird conservation choices, including reporting of illegal wild bird sales and refusing to buy wild birds. We shall keep you updated on our collective efforts!
Big Year Cuba winners, after receiving their awards, took photos with their fellow birders. From left to right: Alejandro Llanes Sosa, Carlos Peraz, Vladimir Mirabel and Sergio del Castillo.
Thank you to the Organizing Committee for your hard work on this initiative and congrats on the overwhelming success of your first Big Year Cuba! Many thanks to our partners who sponsored cash and other prizes and donations of educational materials to Cuban birders. And huge thanks to our members and donors, whose generous support helped to make the Cuba Big Year and our other programs to support Cuban bird research and conservation, possible.
We are pleased to share with you the new edition of the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba, number 6, 2023, by Nils Navarro Pacheco.
The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba is an annual publication that constitutes the most complete and updated official list of Cuban avifauna. It is the result of a deep and thorough bibliographic review and updating from the field. It serves as a basis for generating regional and global listings and is standardized for use with eBird.
The main objective is to provide up-to-date annual listings of Cuban birds, including reference information on each new report and general statistics about Cuban birdlife, and to serve as a reference platform for ornithological studies in the country. The new list has been enriched with 8 new records for Cuba for a total of 402 species.
This year’s cover highlights the Cuban Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus fringilloides), which could be separated at a specific level very soon. The photo of this beautiful bird was taken by Nils; it is the second most endangered raptor in Cuba.
The 2023 checklist is now available in PDF for free download from the BirdsCaribbean website (see below). The printed version is available on Amazon at a good price. It is not intended to be a field identification guide but is a checklist, updated in accordance with the 63rd supplement of AOS. Nils and the publisher, Ediciones Nuevos Mundos, hope this publication fulfills its role and is useful to all persons interested in Cuban birds and ornithology. Nils welcomes questions or suggestions about the checklist (Nils Navarro).
This checklist edition is dedicated to the memory of Jim Wiley, a great friend, extraordinary person and scientist, a guiding light of Caribbean ornithology. He crossed many troubled waters in pursuit of expanding our knowledge of Cuban birds.
If you are looking for a Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, you can purchase it here or on Amazon.
Past checklists are all available for download, click on the images below to download a pdf of each.
Whether it’s the regal tropicbird in a crevice, the boisterous Sooty Tern overhead, or the Brown Booby sitting defiantly on its nest, it’s exciting to be among seabirds of all kinds. This year we encourage you to join the excitement during the 2023-2024 Caribbean Seabird Census! (or CSC23/24).
WHO can take part? This groundbreaking effort relies on participants to get out and count seabirds locally. Whether you manage a seabird nesting island as part of your professional duties, are an avid amateur ornithologist or birder, or are new to the seabird world but keen to get involved, you can take part in CSC23/24!
WHEN will CSC23/24 take place?It has already started but will run until the end of 2024! And a bit longer for species that nest over December-January. The best time to census nesting colonies of tropical seabirds is during the peak nesting period. The timing of this peak depends on species and can vary between islands – have a look at our Species Hours webinars (below) to learn more.
HOW to get involved in CSC23/24? Plan and carry out a count at one or more of your seabird colonies! Chances are that if you are a wildlife professional, you are already involved with the Caribbean Seabird Working Group! If not, we encourage you to join our email listserv and our Facebook page for regional information. At the island level, we encourage you to reach out to your local environmental NGOs: most of them already have plans to survey seabirds during CSC23/24 and would welcome any help. Once you have collected census data, you will be able to share it with the Seabird Working Group (more on this below).
Your data will contribute to a regional update of the health of our region’s seabirds, allowing us to determine if historical nesting sites are still active and whether populations are increasing or decreasing compared to previous estimates. We will also be collecting information on localized threats, which can inform conservation actions.
We have put together some great resources to help you get on your way to being a part of this important regional study. Use the links below to find what you need.
Thanks to funding from SPAW-RAC, all of these webinars are available with French subtitles! Spanish translations are on the way. Thanks to Hannah Madden, Frantz Delcroix, and Juan Carlos Fernández-Ordóñez for help with the translations.
Recently we have begun a new series called Species Hours, which covers groups of seabirds; it’s an open forum for experts to share their wisdom and answer questions so you are prepared to go in the field and study seabirds.
Test your knowledge of Caribbean seabirds and field methods with our quizzes, which are linked to our webinar topics! Watch the webinar series to find all the answers (follow the links below for each quiz).
This page is also where you can find the Caribbean Seabirds Monitoring Manual! The manual is a great place to start and is available in English,Spanish and French.
Our Census Data Sheet
We have prepared standardized data sheets which can be used either in the field or as a guide for the types of information the census should include. You may already have a form you use or a well-worn notebook; any format is fine as long as it includes the key elements found in the standardized data sheet.
It’s important everybody collects the same types of information found in the data sheet, such as GPS points, names of observers, species, and number of apparently occupied nests. Using standardized information will allow for easier and more relevant comparison of results across the region.
Once you’ve collected your field data, you’ll need to enter it into our standardized reporting database so we can easily compile and compare everybody’s data.
Your data will then be referenced into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a free online, publicly available open-source repository of datasets that will ensure that you remain the full owner of your datasets. Once all CSC23/24 data have been collected, we will reach out to data owners and to Seabird Working Group members for interest in participating in data analyses. If you are keen to be involved in the regional analyses, you can already reach out to us at caribbeanseabirdsurveys@gmail.com. We will also strive to turn the regional analysis of CSC23/24 data into a learning opportunity for all. Once analyzed, the results of the surveys will be shared with the public. We are excited to share what the data tells us about the health of seabirds in the region!
Let’s start surveying!
Grenadines Seabird Guardian citizen scientists (Photo by A. Ollivierre)
The year has already started so we encourage you to get out there and survey year-round breeding seabirds, such as pelicans, frigatebirds, tropicbirds, and boobies which can be found now. The next big surge in nesting will be when migratory seabirds like gulls and terns return.
You can also join the Working Group’s Facebook page to hear about other people’s projects and share about your surveys. We are ready to help make your survey dreams a reality!
Graphics for the 2023-2024 Seabird Census are available in English, Spanish and French. Click on each image in the gallery below to enlarge then right click on an enlarged image and ‘save image as’ to download.
The 2023 Caribbean Seabird Census is jointly organized by BirdsCaribbean and EPIC, with support from SPAW-RAC and individual donations.
Dayamiris holding a bird during a banding session. (Photo by Omar Monzón)
Dayamiris Candelario and her husband Omar traveled from their home island of Puerto Rico to the Willistown Conservation Trust in Pennsylvania for a one-month bird banding internship. As someone new to bird banding it was a steep but rewarding learning curve for Dayamiris. Find out more about her experiences in her blog post below.
“In my hand I held the most remarkable of all living things, a creature of astounding abilities that eludes our understanding, of extraordinary, even bizarre senses, of stamina and endurance far surpassing anything else in the animal world. Yet my captive measured a mere five inches in length and weighed less than half of an ounce, about the weight of a fifty-cent piece. I held that truly awesome enigma, a bird.” (A. C. Fisher Jr.)
My work as an environmental educator at Centro Ambiental Santa Ana, a nature center located in an urban forest in Puerto Rico, involves many activities in bird education. As a member of staff for more than twelve years, I have presented many Endemic and Migratory Birds Festivals and birdwatching workshops for urban residents of the island.
Dayamiris offering a guided hike to Girl Scouts about Puerto Rican birds. (Photo by Yaritza Bobonis)
It is here, while preparing for these activities, that my interest in birds peaked. I was often in awe at how these tiny and fragile beings could face so many perils throughout their lives. My daily tasks as an interpretive guide emphasize birds as a key to get my audiences hooked in our Puerto Rican nature. But before the experience that I’m about to narrate, a question always lingered in my mind: “How many secrets do birds hold to overcome their life’s obstacles and still live amazing lives?”
A beautiful setting for bird banding
A Gray Catbird, well known for its catlike “meow” calls and “orange underpants” (cinnamon undertail coverts).(photo by Alan D Wilson)
It was a serendipitous invitation that brought me closer to getting answers to my questions about birds. I was invited to release a live Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) on September 1st of 2022, just after arriving at the Rushton Woods Preserve Bird Banding Station in beautiful Pennsylvania, a natural protected area managed by the Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT).
I was beginning my one-month bird banding training internship with my husband, Omar, hosted by the Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT), in collaboration with BirdsCaribbean, the Powdermill Avian Research Center of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Northeast Motus Collaboration.
We stayed at the beautiful historic house located next to the Rushton Farm, part of the Preserve. We felt the chilly autumnal breeze in the grasslands, bushes, and meadows. I let the sweet scent of the goldenrod flowers fill my lungs, while listening to the soft rocking of tree branches as the wind commanded their movement. Whenever we walked towards the bird banding station at dawn, we heard the lively chirping and tweeting of the birds. We wanted to learn as much as we could. After participating in the bird banding training activities, which started very early in the morning until almost midday, we would work remotely in our respective jobs. And in the evenings, we would devour all the literature that the Bird Band Station uses for their activities.
The farmhouse at Rushton Woods Preserve, Willistown Conservation Trust
From a beloved pet bird to a wild bird
I still remember what I felt when Blake from WCT put the bird in my hand to let me release it after it was banded. I have held a live bird before: my dear Chuqui, a Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) that taught me that her dearest person EVER was my husband. He died at fifteen years of age in the hands of her beloved. I learned about Chuqui’s juvenile and preformative plumage; how to correctly sex her (we thought she was a male until she started laying eggs!); her molt once per year (and the mess of feathers that would follow); and how to not expose her to artificial light to avoid her laying eggs. I remember feeling her tiny bones and observing carefully the differences of her body feathers from the wings and tail.
Dayamiris at Powdermill. (Photo by Omar Monzón)
Our experience at WCT was different, however, because I was touching for the first time a bird that faces the daily challenges of being wild and free—the “Green Fire,” as described by Aldo Leopold in the film, “A Land Ethic Of Our Time.” I remember feeling the vibration of the Gray Catbird’s body, the warmth of its belly, and how it grabbed my fingers tightly with its toes. That was my first encounter with the daily work of education, research and conservation of this bird banding station, which has been operating for 14 years, as part of the WCT’s Bird Conservation Program.
How (or how not) to extract a bird
In the following weeks, Lisa Kiziuk, Director of the Bird Conservation Program, and her staff introduced me to the station’s inner workings as well. I learned the proper timing and setting up of mists nets and their location; how to extract birds from nets ;the different bird banders’ grips to ensure birds are handled safely ;the most common species banded; species that are selected for radio tags to detect migration patterns; and the different sizes of bands used. Measurements were taken to determine population health, habitat preferences, and to detect changes that could signal a threat. Some of these measurements are: the wing chord, weight, fat deposits, molt, and aging, which was the most challenging for a novice like me.
Dayamiris and her husband Omar band birds at WTC. (Photo by Blake Goll)
I remember how frustrated I was the first time I tried to extract birds because I was fearful that I might hurt them. I later realized that bird extraction is a puzzle with a time limit—you need to figure out in a short time how to free wings, head, legs, and feet from the thin and entangled fibers of the nets. In particular, I had some delightful moments of laughter from my encounters with the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). After several failed attempts at the net to extract them, they escaped and looked at me triumphantly from a nearby branch! In the end I did extract one, but it still got away when I was about to band it! Thanks to the patient training, supervision, and guidance of Lisa and her staff, my final bird banding tally was 41 birds from at least eleven different species – most en route to their southern journey, and some not commonly seen wintering in Puerto Rico.
The meow of the Gray Catbird and the blue of the Blue Jay…
One of the most common species at the station, the Gray Catbird, was very memorable because it is not as common in Puerto Rico. Therefore, whenever this bird is spotted in the island, a generalized buzz from birders would follow in order to watch and hopefully listen to this bird’s peculiar “meowing” while wintering in the Caribbean. I proudly banded 16 of them (comprising 40% of my first bird banding training batch) – which created envy among my local fellow birders!
The Northern Cardinal also left a memory and some bite marks in my fingers too!! I was told this species was a “biter” and I can proudly declare that I survived its powerful beak. Also, I was in awe when I had the pleasure of banding a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) – a beautiful and HUGE bird that stayed calmly in my grip while I banded it. I did observe its exceptionally long feathers (resembling silky hair) as I blew on its head, breast and belly looking for molt and fat deposits. I have never seen a blue so magnificently blue!!
A stunning male Northern Cardinal – not a bird seen in the Caribbean!
A gorgeous Blue Jay – a treat for Daymi to see and hold up close!
…And a very special bird
But I have a special place in my “bird bander’s” heart for the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). I will never forget how I often peeked at the bird bag to take hold of it. I always found a beautiful large eye looking at me. Next, I would feel the warmth of its round belly, while its bright brown and streaked plumage seemed as if it was painted on the bird. Some other species that I banded included: Swainson’s Thrush (Catahrus ustulatus), Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus), and Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens).
“A very special bird” the Wood Thrush
A striking black and white, female Hairy Woodpecker
Motus installations and wild apples: A great learning opportunity in Vermont
Dayamiris helping to assemble the Motus station. (Photo by Omar Monzón)
We also learned from WTC about efforts through the Northeast Motus Collaboration to promote bird conservation through research, especially by installing antennas to track the movements of birds in the northeast of the U.S. We accompanied the antenna installation team in their task of installing three antennas in the beautiful state of Vermont: one at Bennington College, another at Wolcott Research Station at the University of Vermont, and the last one in Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville. Assisting them in installing these antennas with their metal tubes, cables and bolts served as a reminder of the amount of background work involved in installing all this infrastructure, all to aid ornithologists and researchers as they seek to understand bird movements.
On a funny note, I also discovered that you could easily find wild apples to eat in many places in Vermont!
Thanks to WTC, we had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay for a few days at the Powdermill Nature Reserve to learn about the operation of its Avian Research Center, part of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History of Pittsburgh (CMNH). We observed a major bird banding operation at one of the oldest bird banding stations in the U.S., 60 years in operation. We were amazed at the number of mist nests they could operate with a small staff. We also learned about the research being carried out onsite to determine the best glass window materials to prevent bird collisions. We got to know many of the staff from the station and some other personnel from the Museum, who invited us to visit their avian specimen collection. We took a good look, and asked a million questions.
Kindness and support for a “newbie” bird bander
For me, a newcomer in bird banding, I have to say that I was very fortunate to be able to answer my existential question about birds because of all the kind, patient, and warm people that offered us their best skills, knowledge, guidance, food, coats, places to stay, opportunities to meet new people, jokes and laughter, making us feel at home and ready to learn while being away from Puerto Rico. From the WTC there was Lisa, Fred, Allison, Blake, Aaron, Shelly, Kirsten, Todd, Phyllis, and Holly; and at CNMNH Cheyenne, Cullen, Annie, Lucas, Loren, Mallory, Rose, and Serina.
Birds inspired me, and brought us together
Our farewell to WCT’s staff. Dayamiris (center) with Aaron Coolman (Northeast Motus Collaboration crew), her husband Omar Monzon (Para la Naturaleza), Holly Garrod (Caribbean Bird Banding Network Coordinator, BirdsCaribbean), and Lisa Kizuik (Director, Willistown Conservation Trust).
As I write this article, I am in the middle of my second opportunity to train in bird banding – this time in my home island, learning with resident species and Holly Garrod, Project Manager of BirdsCaribbean’s Bird Banding Program, which is working hard to build capacity for banding in the region through workshops, providing bird bands, and banding internship opportunities, like this one.
I thank all of the people who inspired me to want to become better at this new skill. Fingers crossed that in the near future I will become a certified bander. This will help me amplify my capabilities and skills as an Environmental Scientist and Educator, furthering the conservation of birds as a gateway to the conservation of all Nature.
The birds’ wings, molts, beaks, songs and amazing journeys did much more than just existing. The birds succeeded in uniting people from different backgrounds, languages and cultures, who continue to work, in awe of their amazing superpowers.
Rushton Woods Preserve garden and barn, Willistown Conservation Trust, Pennsylvania
Dayamiris Candelario is an Environmental Manager that works currently as an Environmental Educator for Centro Ambiental Santa Ana, a nature center located in an urban forest in the island of Puerto Rico; and as a Coordinator for the Blue Flag Program for Organización Pro Ambiente Sustentable. Daymi is also a Certified Interpretive Guide from the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), and uses these skills to provide meaningful experiences to Puerto Rican children about their local nature. Her experience involves environmental education initiatives, many focusing on endemic and migratory birds, in outdoor informal settings, community projects, and research on air pollution and karst ecosystems. In her free time, she enjoys birdwatching, drawing and painting nature, traveling, writing, and hiking in natural areas.
New and returning members of BirdsCaribbean Board 2023-2024
We closed the 2021-2022 term with a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. Our organization has accomplished much in promoting the conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats. Our new board of directors are looking forward to helping to make 2021-2024 just as successful!
Particular highlight from last year include launching our new program- the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Program which includes our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network, Caribbean Bird Banding Network, and the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, as well as the many achievements of our ongoing projects (e.g., Caribbean Waterbird Census) and multiple, dedicated Working Groups.
We also co-hosted a major in-person international conference, and capacity -building workshops in different islands, all while maintaining active awareness campaigns through our website and social media, and continuously fundraising to support much-needed educational efforts throughout the region.
We want to express our immense gratitude to outgoing officers, Vice President Justin Proctor (two terms) and Secretary Emma Lewis (one term). It is impossible to describe just how much these two individuals have contributed to BirdsCaribbean over the last few years. Briefly, Justin served as Managing Editor of JCO and worked hard to transition our peer-reviewed journal into a first-class well-respected online journal, that serves our community even more effectively. He also was the organizer-in-chief for our epic 2019 conference in Guadeloupe and a key member of the team organizing AOS-BC in San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 2022. Emma is an incredible writer and editor and also keeps an eagle’s out for new developments of any kind related to birds and the environment in the Caribbean. She is a wonderful advocate for all kinds of environmental and social justice causes and has provided terrific guidance and input to our programs. Thankfully, Emma will stay on as Chair of our Media Working Group, continuing to assist us with our media work, including press releases, blog articles, social media.
Now, we are delighted to present the new Board of Directors to the organization, and to our community. This broad group brings unique talents and backgrounds, as well as representation from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominica, and the United States.
We also welcome back several members of the previous Board, who are eager to help guide the transition and continue their hard work on behalf of BirdsCaribbean. As a reminder to our member base, an election was waived this year because all candidates ran unopposed. Below you can meet the new faces in this great team. Along with the returning Board members, they are ready to help steer BirdsCaribbean into the next phase—which will again be packed full of new and exciting projects.
Vice-President
Andrea Thomen, Ph.D. candidate
Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Andrea presented her graduate work in the 2015 BirdsCaribbean’s conference in Jamaica. Since then, she has attended conferences in Cuba and Guadeloupe, describing these experiences as life-changing. Andrea worked as the in-country coordinator for the Caribbean Birding Trail initiative from 2015 through 2017, where she oversaw capacity-building activities regarding birding tourism and improved environmental interpretation at Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve. She has also planned over 50 education and outreach events for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and Migratory Bird Festival.
Experience: Andrea is a B.A. in Environmental Studies and International Studies from Manhattanville College in Purchase and an M.Sc. in Conservation Biology from SUNY ESF in Syracuse, New York. She is currently part of a long-distance, part-time Ph.D. program based at Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. regarding the conservation of the Hispaniolan Parrot and Parakeet. Since 2015, Andrea works as the Projects Manager for Grupo Jaragua, a nonprofit that seeks to promote biodiversity conservation on the island of Hispaniola. As a researcher, she is mainly interested in threatened bird ecology and understanding population responses to changing forest landscapes. Andrea actively participates in advocacy campaigns for Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and is a great believer in social media conservation messaging.
“As the Vice-President of BirdsCaribbean, I want to focus on inter-island knowledge-sharing and strengthening bonds between BC Members. I would like to do this by creating new networking, leadership, and capacity-building opportunities during the biennial conference experience.”
Secretary
Natalya Lawrence
Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Natalya began to work with BirdsCaribbean in April, 2011 leading the local effort to create the Landbirds of Antigua and Barbuda Bird ID Card. It was a huge learning curve since at the time, she knew very little about birds, or local birding experts. Since then, she has received extensive training from BirdsCaribbean to identify and monitor Caribbean endemic and neotropical migratory birds. She has also attended and made presentations at every conference held from 2011 to 2019. Natalya for several years led local activities for region-wide efforts, including the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, World Migratory Bird Day and BirdSleuth Caribbean. Following the passage of the devastating super-storm Hurricane Irma, in 2017, Natalya coordinated and participated in emergency assessments for birds on Barbuda, particularly the Magnificent Frigatebirds and the country’s sole endemic, the Barbuda Warbler. The ecological assessments were done with the support of the Department of Environment, in collaboration with BirdsCaribbean, the Environmental Awareness Group, and Fauna & Flora International.
Experience: Natalya has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Tourism, and a Master’s degree in Project Management. She has ten years’ experience and training in offshore island restoration and invasive alien species detection and management. She has successfully managed projects to conserve resident and neotropical migrant avian species, and their habitat, to conserve critically endangered reptiles and their habitat and to connect residents to nature, through conservation education.
“One of my favourite themes for a past Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival is Connecting People to Nature Through Birds. I hope to support the continued expansion and diversification of the BC membership, connecting people and grassroots organisations to connect to nature, through our beautiful endemic birds. I hope to encourage them to understand how nature and humans are interdependent, and to take small actions to effect positive change in our natural world.“
Directors at Large
David Ewert, Ph.D.
Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Dave has attended four BirdsCaribbean conferences: two in The Bahamas; Guadeloupe; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has assisted with the development of the James Kushlan Endowed Fund.
Nationality: USA Residence: East Lansing, Michigan, USA
Experience: Dave’s dissertation was on the song of Eastern Towhee. He was on the faculty of Central Michigan University for 3 years. He then spent 35 years with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in science roles in Iowa, Michigan, the Great Lakes region, and The Bahamas. Following his tenure with TNC he joined American Bird Conservancy where he has continued to focus on Kirtland’s Warblers, especially on the Bahamian wintering grounds. With Robert Askins (retired from Connecticut College), he has worked on overwintering migrants in the Virgin Islands National Park including the response of migrants and resident species to hurricanes.
“I plan to (1) focus on the application of science to conservation programs while building conservation capacity in the Caribbean region and (2) encourage the establishment and maintenance of protected areas and programs that sustain both migratory and resident species, especially endemic species.”
Greg Butcher, Ph.D.
Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: I started attending BirdsCaribbean conferences in 2013 in Grenada and haven’t missed since. I started bringing my wife Linda Fuller with me in 2015 in Jamaica, and she hasn’t missed since. I am pleased that U.S. Forest Service International Programs has been able to support BC consistently over the years, and I’m glad I was able to be part of that.
Nationality: USA Residence: Reston, Virginia, USA (near Washington DC)
Experience: Greg was the Migratory Species Coordinator with the U.S. Forest Service International Programs (retired in December 2022). As part of his role, he worked on a diversity of projects throughout the Western Hemisphere, including grassland and forest bird, shorebird, and waterbird research and conservation. In his ornithological career he collaborated with the National Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Birders World magazine, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and was part of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, and Partners in Flight. Greg is a recognized public speaker and interpreter for bird conservation and ecology worldwide. He welcomes the opportunity to contribute his vast knowledge of avian ecology to promote the conservation of resident and migratory bird species of the Caribbean region.
“BirdsCaribbean is my favorite bird conservation group by far. We are working so hard to diversify conservation in the United States, but diversity is a natural in BC: not just race or gender, but nationality, language, interests, approaches, and personality. My goal is to help empower Caribbean residents to achieve their personal and conservation goals.”
You can find information about the full BirdsCaribbean Board 2023- 2024 here
BirdsCaribbean is pleased to announce the 2023 cohort of grantees under our three named awards, the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds, the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund, and the new James A. Kushlan Research and Conservation Fund.
These are ten exciting projects that promote the study and conservation of avifauna in six different Caribbean countries. A total of $74,500 was awarded to these projects through the three funds. Learn here about each recipient’s proposed plans, and stay tuned for results and accomplishments featured in future Journal of Caribbean Ornithology and blog articles.
Congratulations to these outstanding researchers and conservationists from our BirdsCaribbean community, we wish you all the best and can’t wait to hear about your results!
Ridgway’s Hawk Conservation and Education Project in Haiti
Anderson Jean, Action pour la Sauvegarde de l’Ecologie en Haïti (ACSEH)
The Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi), found only on the island of Hispaniola, is one of the most endangered raptors in the world. It is estimated that there are fewer than 400 individuals remaining. Only two populations were known from the Dominican Republic, until 2019 when Anderson and biologists from ACSEH discovered the hawks on Petite Cayemite Island, located off the coast of southwestern Haiti. Since then, they have found more individuals and breeding pairs. These funds will allow the extension of surveys to the larger island of Grand Cayemite. To address anthropogenic threats to this Critically Endangered species, the team will initiate an educational campaign directed at local communities, especially schoolchildren and farmers. Outreach materials will be distributed in the communities and a special curriculum will be presented in two local schools. The project will also organize, for the first time, a Ridgway’s Hawk Festival in May, in collaboration with the mayor and government officials of Les Cayemites.
Birdwatching movement in Cuba as a way to improve the knowledge of Cuban avifauna and promote conservation efforts based on citizen science
Yaro Rodríguez, Cuba Birders Club
Illegal trapping and trafficking of wild birds in Cuba have long been a serious problem in Cuba. However, due to the rise of social media and economic problems caused in part by the pandemic, it has recently reached a crisis point, with tens of thousands of residents and migratory birds captured every year. Yaro along with partner Nils Navarro plan to address this critical problem through growing a nascent bird watching movement in Cuba. These new birders will a) help to put pressure on the authorities to enforce laws protecting wild birds, and b) provide valuable citizen science data to eBird Caribbean, thereby increasing our knowledge of the status and trends of Cuban birds, including further identification of hotspots for endemism and migration stopover sites. The project will provide binoculars and training to community and group leaders that will engage in bird monitoring and share the data through eBird Caribbean. The teams will grow local birding clubs and raise awareness in communities throughout Cuba of the need to protect birds and their habitats through community education and social media. They also plan to increase the interest of participants in birdwatching by organizing a second Cuban Big Year for 2024.
Promoting conservation of birds and nature on St Maarten through education, birding, and bird guide training
Kevin Sammy, Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSM)
Many of the local population on St Maarten did not receive education in relation to local flora and fauna, and therefore feel little responsibility to protect the environment. Conservation and preservation efforts have proven to be challenging when community members are not in touch with the importance of a balanced ecosystem, and therefore don’t value local natural resources. Introducing and connecting others to and educating them on the beautiful bird populations on the island form the foundation on which to build preservation efforts. Nature Foundation Sint Maarten will recruit and train local people to become birdwatchers and bird guides with the goal of increasing awareness of the importance of protecting bird species and their habitats as well as supporting sustainable livelihoods. The trainees will participate in an intensive workshop, led by trainer, Binkie Van es, (graduate of our Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Program) to learn about the island’s flora and fauna. In addition, trainees will receive birding equipment and educational resources to help them in their work as guides and to conduct annual bird counts. Participants will be able to practice their skills in a new bird observation deck planned to be built this year. In addition, a public awareness and education campaign will be launched that includes talks and field trips with youth and communities.
Facilitating community involvement in Pawi (Trinidad Piping-Guan) research and conservation
Mark Hulme, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago
The Critically Endangered Trinidad Piping-Guan or Pawi, is Trinidad’s only endemic bird. Its population has been estimated at only 77 to 231 individuals, restricted to moist forested habitats. The main threats to the species are illegal hunting, disturbance, and habitat destruction through quarrying, logging, agriculture, and construction. Mark’s project aims to recruit members of communities in and close to the habitat to participate in the first species survey in 20 years, and foster enhanced awareness of the Pawi and involvement in its conservation. Community members will receive training in Passive (remote) Acoustic Monitoring, a technique that works well for sparse and cryptic arboreal birds. In addition, the recordings will provide them with a soundscape of all the wildlife in their landscape for other research projects, to develop a sense of pride, and for other uses, such as education and ecotourism.
Bird Conservation in the Botanical Garden: Publication of a new field guide
Lourdes Mugica, University of Havana, Cuba
Cuba’s National Botanical Garden is a crucial institution to promote bird conservation in Havana city since it receives 300,000 visitors annually. In surveys initiated in 1983, members of the Ecology Group of the University of Havana have reported 125 bird species in the garden’s diverse landscape that covers almost 500 ha. This funding will cover the printing costs of an exciting new field guide, Aves del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba (The Birds of the National Botanic Garden of Cuba), and other educational materials, including a bird identification card, a checklist, and a map of the trails. With this project, Lourdes and her colleagues want visitors to experience birdwatching firsthand, learning about the many endemic, resident, and migratory birds that live in or visit the garden seasonally. Their ultimate goal is to increase awareness and appreciation of Cuba’s incredible avifauna, to help reduce local threats such as trapping and keeping wild birds in cages as pets.
Does Los Roques Archipelago continue to be a safe place for breeding colonies of seabirds of Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, and Audubon’s Shearwater in the Caribbean?
Josmar Márquez, AveZona
Los Roques Archipelago, off the coast of Venezuela, is an important breeding site for seabirds, including the Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, and Audubon’s Shearwater, with more than 12,000 nesting pairs reported overall. However, the sustainability of these breeding colonies is threatened by a growing tourism industry. Josmar, along with partners from AveZona and other Venezuelan NGOs, proposes to conduct intensive seabird surveys to determine the population sizes and reproductive success of these species, with the aid of camera traps in nests and drones to reach remote areas. Moreover, they will be engaging people from the local communities in the counts, by providing educational materials, training on seabird identification and conservation, and even reaching out to hotels and inns to provide birdwatching opportunities as an income source.
Reproductive management with artificial nests and its effect on the populations of Psittacidae in the Pico Cristal National Park. Cuba
Inés Fernández, Flora and Fauna Enterprise, Santiago de Cuba
The Cuban Parakeet and Cuban Parrot are two threatened endemic species confined to small remnant forest fragments mainly in protected areas in Cuba. However, they maintain their degree of threat, due to all the negative actions to which they are subjected. These include loss of their natural habitats, and illegal hunting and capture for the pet trade. Inés will work on the implementation of an Artificial Nests Program to collect information about the breeding biology of both species in Pico Cristal National Park in eastern Cuba. The project will include a strong educational component for the communities surrounding the park, including the preparation and dissemination of brochures, manuals, and posters, and the recruitment of local residents to be monitors and technicians that will oversee the protection of these ptsittacids. A national awareness campaign will extend through mass media, including TV, radio, and newspapers, to discourage the illegal capture of these birds.
Establishing a long-term bird banding station in the National Botanical Garden in Havana, Cuba
Daniela Ventura del Puerto, University of Havana
Neotropical migrants have shown steep population declines since the 1970s. These include a diversity of migratory passerines that spend the winter months in the Caribbean region. In addition, the current status of resident bird populations in Cuba is poorly known, and there are no reliable demographic estimates due to very few marking and monitoring methods and their integration into a system that allows large-scale analysis. This makes it difficult to assess impacts on bird populations from loss and damage to habitats, illegal hunting and trade, and many other threats. Daniela proposes to establishing a permanent bird banding station in the National Botanical Garden in Havana. Her objectives are to 1) evaluate the migration phenology of Neotropical bird species that stop over or winter at the gardens, 2) describe the molt strategies and assess the physical condition, survival, and demographic parameters of both migratory and resident birds, 3) describe the reproductive phenology and population dynamics of the resident and endemic birds, and 4) build capacity among undergraduate and graduate students and volunteers in Cuba through their participation in the bird banding and monitoring activities. Daniela recently completed BirdsCaribbean Monitoring Training and Bird Banding Training workshops and is an active member of BirdsCaribbean’s new Bird Banding Network. The banding and monitoring data will provide invaluable quantitative data to evaluate species population trends and fill gaps in our knowledge of natural history and migration and breeding ecology of many resident and migratory birds.
Investigating male and female vocalizations of an understudied endemic Caribbean songbird
Michelle Moyer, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The Caribbean has eight endemic species of orioles, with half of them considered globally threatened. The Puerto Rican Oriole, is one of eight species of Icterids endemic to the Caribbean, but its behavior, ecology, and conservation status are understudied. In addition, this species and others are threatened by human-caused habitat loss and degradation, introduced invasive species, and climate change, including increasing severe hurricanes and drought. This study intends to compare the singing behavior of males vs females, to understand aspects of its breeding behavior, including pair-bond maintenance, and territoriality in Hacienda La Esperanza, northern Puerto Rico. Individuals from different territories will be identified with the aid of colored and aluminum leg bands, to allow a quantitative analysis of their songs using the software Raven Pro. Knowledge of song rates (both males and females) has the potential to vastly improve population estimates, since point counts are based largely on auditory detection of songs.
First Field Inventory of the Avifauna in Los Colorados ́s Archipelago, northwestern Cuba
Ivalut Ruiz, Managed Resources Protected Area, Cuba
Los Colorados, north of the province of Pinar del Río, is the least explored of the four Cuban archipelagos. Its 28,260 ha were designated as a protected area as recently as September 2021. Ivalut proposes to determine the bird species richness and distribution, and identify the most important nesting, roosting, and feeding areas. This pilot study will help design a long-term monitoring protocol emphasizing the breeding season of species that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, like the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), whose nesting areas are determined by modifications to sandbars. The data will also allow the development of conservation strategies that can be used by the Protected Area Managed Resources agency and the selection of the best site for the establishment of a field station. The project will engage local residents, particularly by increasing their awareness of the need to protect bird species and their habitats, and how to generate income from nature tourism.
Are you working on or planning a research or conservation project with Caribbean birds? The next call for proposals will be advertised in the fall of 2023. Members of BirdsCaribbean conducting research and conservation work are eligible to apply. Stay informed and don’t miss our announcements by subscribing to our monthly newsletter, joining our listserve and following us on social media (@BirdsCaribbean on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Linked In).
BirdsCaribbean thanks the scientists and conservationists that provided thoughtful and constructive review of the proposals. We are also indebted to our generous donors for making these awards possible. We are pleased and proud to be able to support a diversity of projects in the Caribbean that advance the development of young Caribbean wildlife professionals and contribute to the conservation of Caribbean birds.
If you would like to help us support future projects, please click here to donate. We also encourage you to consider endowments or other large awards to ensure that our grants programs can continue long into the future.
If you prefer to donate with a check, please make the check out to “BirdsCaribbean” and in the memo section, note the fund you are donating to. If you have questions or to make other arrangements for donating, please feel free to contact Jennifer Wheeler, BirdsCaribbean Financial Officer (jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org)
Checks can be mailed to: BirdsCaribbean, 841 Worcester St. #130, Natick, MA 01760-2076
Survey team in Cuba searching for Piping Plovers during CWC2023. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
2023 is the 14th year of our annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) regional count. Many of our dedicated friends and colleagues got out and about in our wonderful wetlands, all across the Caribbean, to count waterbirds! This year we asked people to make a special effort to find wintering Piping Plovers. Many of you did just that and plenty of other beautiful birds were encountered during the three-week count period. Read on to hear about where Piping Plovers were seen (or not!) and for some highlights from around the islands. Every single survey makes an important contribution and we are so grateful to everyone who took part in our 2023 CWC!
Waterbirds delight both visitors and locals on Bonaire
In Bonaire Susan Davis tells us that the amazing waterbirds of this island did not disappoint. During the CWC 2023, bird enthusiasts who flocked to Bonaire were treated to a breath-taking sight. At the famed “Flamingo Island” visitors got to witness the awe-inspiring breeding colony of American Flamingos from afar. The magnificent birds were in the midst of their breeding season, building mud nests and raising their single chick. Although the breeding area is strictly off-limits, birders had plenty of opportunities to observe other coral-colored flamingos up close and appreciate their beauty.
Flamboyant flamingos displaying during the breeding season on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Birders enjoying their waterbird experience on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis).
Reddish Egrets – Adult being followed by two juveniles. (Photo by Susan Davis)
The magnificent white morph of the Great Blue Heron (photo by Susan Davis)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
Visiting birders were also thrilled to spot the rare Great White Heron, which has become something of a celebrity on the island. Fondly referred to as “Big Bird” by local birders, the white morph of the Great Blue Heron is considered quite rare outside Florida or Cuba. Susan tells us that it has been on Bonaire for a year now!
As if that wasn’t enough, local birders had been keeping a close eye on a nesting site of Reddish Egrets since early September. During the 2023 CWC two chicks now 14-weeks old were present. The chicks had learned to forage on their own, but they still acted like “children” whenever one of their parents returned to the nest. The entire experience was a joy to behold, and birders left Bonaire with memories that will last a lifetime!
A migratory Peregrine Falcon visits Bonaire during CWC. (Photo by Steve Schnoll)
Caren Eckrich, who is a Biologist with STINAPA on Bonaire, carries out CWC counts quarterly through the year. She tells us that during this past year there has been more rain than normal and that the salinas were incredibly full. CWC surveyors noticed the difference this made in the species and abundances of birds in the different salinas. Highlights during the regional count included some rare finds and several birds of prey. Merlins, Ospreys, Crested Caracaras and, best of all, Peregrine Falcons were all seen hanging around the salinas in Washington Slagbaai Park. Caren’s favorite find during her CWC counts, was a shy Sora spotted in Salina Tam where she had never seen this bird before!
Flocking together and flying solo in Jamaica
Several small groups of BirdLife Jamaica members counted waterbirds during the CWC, and others did solo counts at several sites across the island. Jamaica is currently entering a drought period; nevertheless, the birds of Port Royal, at the entrance to Kingston Harbour, were enjoying life with the fisherfolk and begging for scraps. These included Snowy Egrets, Brown Pelicans, Ruddy Turnstones, and Black-bellied Plovers. On the Harbour itself, Royal Terns and a host of Laughing Gulls were seen; one Royal Tern was banded. On the North coast, at the mouth of the White River Fish Sanctuary, there were night herons, egrets and Common Gallinules a-plenty.
A Sanderling taking a rest. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
A pair of Least Sandpipers in Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
White Ibis spotted near the mangroves in Jamaica. (photo by Vaughan Turland)
A Brown Pelican has a stretch. (Photo by Emma Lewis)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
One intrepid birder, in search of more unusual species, was rewarded with a Grasshopper Sparrow and West Indian Whistling-Ducks in two wetland locations, a Yellow-breasted Crake, Masked Duck, and three species (Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck and Lesser Scaup) were at Montego Bay Sewage Ponds. Sewage ponds are a favorite spot for waterbird spotting!
“Birders just want to have fun!” – the BirdLife Jamaica members during CWC 2023
Picking up a Pelican in Puerto Rico
BirdsCaribbean President Adrianne Tossas shared some of her CWC 2023 experiences on social media. She carried out waterbird surveys at the mouth of the Anasco River.
On their way to survey Aguadilla Bay the survey team picked up a feathered friend on their boat-ride to get to the survey site!
Adrienne Tossas and her-students at Aguadilla-Bay, PR
Mouth of Anasco River, PR (photo by Adrienne-Tossas)
Magnificent Frigatebird soaring over Aguadilla Bay, PR (photo by Adrienne Tossas)
Adrienne Tossas and her-students boat for CWC2023, PR
Adrienne, Luis, Fernando, Victor, Jose at Anasco River, PR
The Anasco River in Puerto Rico provids a home to species like the West Indian Whistling-Duck and it is a source of fresh water on the island. (photo by Adrienne Tossas)
Flock of birds at mouth of Anasco River, PR (photo by Adrienne Tossas)
Adrianne and Brown Pelican on a boat during the 2023 Caribbean Waterbird Census.
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
Celebrating wetlands in the Dominican Republic
In northwestern DR Maria Paulino and her team from Grupo Acción Ecológica (GAE) continued their long-term CWC monitoring of the wetlands of Monti Cristi National Park. GAE’s repeated visits to this important wetland complex are vital, not just to count the birds but also to continue to identify threats to these wetlands. As part of their work in this area the group continue to remove illegal snare traps. These are set to capture flamingos, which are then sold to hotels, but are of course a threat to many other wetland birds.
The GAE team count waterbirds a Monte Cristi. (Photo by GAE)
Flamingos and shorebirds share the mud and water at Monte Cristi in the northern Dominican Republic. (Photo by GAE)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
As part of GAE’s outreach work to raise awareness about wetlands and the special birds that use them, Maria and the team celebrated World Wetlands Day (February 2nd) with the children of Jose Garbriel Garcia Primary School in Monte Cristi. The children learned all about wetland birds and were then delighted to venture out to see them for themselves at the Estero Balsa wetlands.
Maria Paulino teaches a group about waterbirds and wetlands. (Photo by GAE)
Children in Monte Cristi enjoying the birds during World Wetlands Day. (Photo by GAE)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
In search of Piping Plovers in Cuba
Members of the Grupo de Ecología de Aves (GEA) from Havana University went in search of Piping Plovers, to contribute to the regional survey of this shorebird during CWC. Daniela Ventura tells us that they headed to Playa del Chivo, a small but important stopover and wintering site for waterbirds just in the outskirts of Havana Bay. This area has been greatly modified by people and is a site with lots of disturbance. But one member of the team reported a Piping Plover just last September, so hopes were high! The team surveyed the area twice for this CWC. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find the “most wanted plover in town,” but they did count more than 20 different bird species and encountered two of the CWC 2023 featured birds: Little Blue Heron and Brown Pelican! Daniela and the team also manage to capture an idyllic picture of some pelicans, chilling with a stunning view of Havana city to their backs.
Pelicans chilling at Playa del Chivo with the Havana city skyline behind. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
A young Little Blue Heron, one of our CWC 2023 featured birds. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Short-billed Dowitchers resting at Playa Las Canas. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
Not giving up, GEA members Lourdes Mugica, Martin Acosta, Saul González, Susana Aguilar, and Daniela Ventura, headed to Playa Las Canas, south of Pinar del Rio province. There have been historical sightings of Piping Plover in this location. No luck again, but at least they could marvel at a large flock of Black Skimmers, and a most varied gathering of shorebirds, including Dunlin, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitchers, Least and Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated and Wilson’s Plover and many others. Daniela says “It was an amazing opportunity to share with ornithologists and colleagues from other Cuban institutions, like Zaimiuri Hernández from Flora y Fauna Group, and for kids to enjoy the joy of birdwatching!”
Black Skimmers spotted during CWC counts in Cuba. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Kids enjoying the birds and joining in with CWC surveys in Cuba. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
Cuba´s contribution to this CWC were also added to with surveys conducted by two other GEA collaborators: Rodolfo Castro in Los Palacios, Pinar del Río, and two additional counts made by Zaimiuri Hernández at Playa Las Canas.
Making connections on US Virgin Islands
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife of the US Virgin Islands participated in the 2023 CWC joined by community birders on the islands of St. Croix and St. John. Some highlights of these surveys included sightings of the rare and vibrant Purple Gallinule and immature Little Blue Heron on St. Croix and a beautiful Scarlet Ibis on St. John! These efforts were made for the conservation of native and migratory waterbird species of the USVI and to strengthen the connection with the larger birding community throughout the Caribbean and beyond.
Jahnyah Brooks, a DFW Wildlife Biologist on St. Croix carries out a CWC survey.
Community Birders on St John.
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
Searching for waterbirds in St Vincent
CWC counts were also conducted in the gorgeous mountainous country, St Vincent and the Grenadines. A BirdsCaribbean crew was there during the week of January 22nd to deliver a Landbird Monitoring Workshop in partnership with St Vincent Forestry and SCIENCE. They managed to sneak in a little time to visit several wetlands and coastal areas to conduct several counts before the workshop started. And on the final day of the workshop, all the participants enjoyed visiting the same wetland sites and were thrilled to identify and count many waterbirds! The groups spotted Royal Terns, Brown Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Spotted Sandpipers, Brown Pelicans, Common Gallinules, Little Blue Herons, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, and much more.
CWC birding crew in St Vincent showing off their Piping Plover Census 2023 shirts.
Identifying waterbirds for CWC2023, St-Vincent. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
Workshop participants enjoy early morning CWC count at Buccament Bay, St. Vincent (photo by Mike Akresh)
CWC birding crew on-bridge at Buccament Bay (photo by Lisa-Sorenson)
St Lucians, Jeanette Victor and Aloysius Charles count waterbirds at Buccament Bay (photo by Aliya Hosein)
The Layou River in St. Vincent is an important freshwater site. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Little Blue Heron eating-a very large fish (photo by Mike Akresh)
Enjoying road-side barbecue corn en route to the next CWC site in St Vincent!
Resting Royal Terns (photo by Mike Akresh)
Plover Patrol! Joanne Gaymes, Lisa Sorenson, Maya Wilson, Ingrid Molina at Buccament Bay for pre-workshop CWC count.
Plover Patrol
In addition to the efforts Daniela described above to find Piping Plovers in Cuba during our CWC2023 Caribbean Piping Plover Survey, several people sent us their plover sightings from around the Caribbean.
In Anguilla during her CWC surveys Jackie Cestero from Nature Explorers Anguilla looked for Piping Plovers at a site where a single bird has visited in previous winters. During her visits Jackie actually spotted two Piping Plovers hanging out with small group of Semipalmated Plovers on the beach. So her lone wintering bird seems to have found a friend! Jackie carried out several survey during the CWC period and 58 species of birds including a Lesser Scaup, White-cheeked Pintails, a Sanderling that had been banding in New Jersey, as well as spotting an elusive Mangrove Cuckoo! You can read more about Jackie’s CWC efforts on her blog post here. And check out her wonderful video is this post.
Green-winged Teal spotted during CWC in Anguilla. (Photo by Jackie Cestero)
Two Piping Plovers on Anguilla, hanging out with a small group of Semipalmated Plovers. (Photo by Jackie Cestero)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
In Puerto Rico a special effort was made to carryout CWC surveys at wetland sites around the island with the hope of finding wintering Piping Plovers. With the help and coordination of Dimaris Colon, survey teams were assembled who covered a total of 23 sites! These consisted of a range of wetland habitats; many of the sites surveyed were in places where Piping Plovers had been recorded in the past. Only a single Piping Plover was seen at one site—Arroyo Lighthouse! This bird was on the beach amongst seaweed. However, the effort was not wasted, the surveyors across the many sites recorded a wide range of wetland birds, including an impressive diversity of shorebird species such as American Oystercatcher, American Avocet, Least Sandpiper, and Snowy Plover.
Shorebirds perched at sunset, Punta Cucharas, Puerto Rico.
Greater Yellowlegs seen during CWC surveys at Punta Cucharas
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
Over on the Caribbean coast of Mexico we got an exciting Piping Plover update from the team at Green Jay Bird Conservancy. Juan Flores let us know that during their waterbird surveys they spotted several Piping Plovers. Amongst the group of 38 at Isla Blanca they spotted an old friend – a banded Piping Plover “H54” has spent the last 8 winters in the area, having been banded 2014 in the Great Lakes!
“H54” has been wintering in Isla Blanca for 8 years! (Photo by Green Jay Bird Conservancy)
The survey team in Mexico. (Photo by Green Jay Bird Conservancy)
Hover over photos for captions & click to enlarge the images
In the Bahamas Chris Allieri of the NYC Plover Project took the same journey as the migratory Piping Plovers and traveled south to take part in our 2023 CWC Piping Plover Survey on Andros! Chris was rewarded for his amazing efforts by some thrilling sightings, including counting over 100 Piping Plovers in one little spot in the Joulter Cays! Dozens of Piping Plovers and many other wintering shorebirds were spotted and counted in the other places they surveyed on Andros and nearby cays. You can enjoy the wonderful video Chris made whilst doing his CWC surveys.
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort and provides us with important data that helps to keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand threats, and to raise awareness. We appreciate every single CWC count that gets done during the annual 3-week regional census in winter. Thank you to all those who sent us highlights and all those who led or joined a CWC survey this year. If you missed this year’s regional census don’t worry – you can do a CWC count at any time of year! Counts are valuable at any time of year and add to our knowledge of the resident and migratory birds using our wetlands and beaches. Just be sure to use a CWC protocol in eBird Caribbean to enter your data and do your best to do a complete count, i.e., record all the birds you see and hear.Find out more about the CWC and how to participate here: https://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/caribbean-waterbird-census-program/count-waterbirds-in-the-caribbean/ and get practicing for next year’s annual census!
Enjoy some more posts shared by our Partners on Social Media during CWC 2023!
What would entice a small-island girl from Grenada to fly all the way to southern Oregon to live in a cabin in the woods for 3 months? Birds, of course! Seeing birds, hearing birds, and the coolest opportunity of all: getting up close and personal and banding birds. Here is how it all went down:
Last summer, at the end of July, I ventured out to Oregon to join the Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) for a 3-month long bird banding internship. This internship was a follow-up to BirdsCaribbean’s Bird Banding Workshop in The Bahamas, which I was fortunate to attend.
Zoya checking the tail pattern of a Townsend’s Warbler. (Photo by Claire Stuyck)
This was where I finally—after years of being interested in banding and having witnessed several banding operations—finally began to understand the fundamentals of molt (the process by which birds replace their feathers in a predictable pattern). The Bahamas was great, but needless to say, one does not become a proficient bird bander in 5 days. At the end of that workshop, molt was only just beginning to click for me, and I was eager to learn more and get more hands-on practice with birds.
From Tropical Heat to…Oregon Heat!
So off I went. After a 24-hour-long journey, of which about 12 hours were spent in the air, I arrived in Medford, Oregon, in the midst of a massive heatwave. I definitely did not expect it to be hotter in high-elevation, high-latitude Medford than it was in my tropical home I’d left the day before, but temperatures were indeed over 40°C. The drive to my home for the next few months—a literal cabin in the Upper Klamath woods—was scenic, with sprawling ranches and beautiful forests along the mountain roads. Along the way, I also got glimpses of the Klamath Lake, a small aquatic consolation for this island girl. I settled in quickly, getting to know my housemates and new colleagues over the weekend as we prepared for banding in the coming week.
Views of the Upper Klamath Lake.
Banding, Day One: A Quiet Start
August 2nd was my very first day of banding, and we were off to a busy start. In some ways, I was thrown into the deep end—immediately incorporated into the crew and put to work as we set up nets and ran the station each morning. However, in other ways, it was a slow burn before I started to get the hands-on practice I craved. My first few weeks consisted of mostly scribing as others banded, observing the operation and flow of the station carefully, and assisting with tasks like set-up and takedown. I flipped a lot of pages looking for reference material in Pyle, the “Bird Bander’s Bible”, and was always ready to shine the spotlight when needed to skull a bird (“skulling” is the process of checking how well-grown a bird’s skull is to figure out its age).
Ready for the banding day. Table with all the tools neatly arranged. (Photo by Claire Stuyck)
Hands on banding! Holding is Believing…
On August 17th, I banded my first bird at KBO, a Nashville Warbler, and from then, the pace certainly picked up. By October 14th, our last official day of banding, I had been privileged to handle just under 280 birds, whether I extracted them from the net or banded them myself. These 280 birds were of 45 different species, many of which I had never even seen before going to Oregon. I had previously visited the west coast when I briefly lived in Vancouver, B.C., during the pandemic (summer 2020) and did some socially-distanced birding where I saw the usual suspects like Bushtits, Steller’s Jays, and House Finches.
But still, observing the strange behavior of a Northern Flicker on a lawn is very different from holding one in the hand and noticing amazing details like their heart-shaped belly pattern. Nor does seeing a majestic Cooper’s Hawk soar overhead compare to holding it like an ice-cream cone and launching it (safely) into the air after banding it. I feel truly honored to have been so “up close and personal” with so many different birds – and to learn something new and interesting about each of them during my time there.
A bit of love from a Red-shafted Flicker.
The many skills I learned
Before going to KBO, I had handled and processed a few dozen birds (< 50 total), of tropical species like the Bananaquit, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Spectacled Thrush, and Caribbean Dove. These opportunities were primarily in Grenada with the Koper Lab of the University of Manitoba, and more recently, in the Bahamas at the March 2022 workshop. However, I had applied bands to very few of those birds (less than 10) and was only vaguely familiar with proper application technique and the process of aging and sexing.
Throughout my 3-month internship, I learned so much about mist net setup, extraction, proper handling technique and modifications for various sizes of birds, band sizing and application, assessment of molt limits, aging and sexing of birds in the hand, and data management. Since I plan to establish my own banding station in Grenada, these skills are invaluable for me to have as primary bander. KBO also filled the knowledge gaps I had about aging birds, particularly molt, molt limits, and the use of WRP—an updated system of terminology for aging birds based on cycles. The most valuable skill I learned, in my opinion, is skulling, which will be incredibly useful in aging my resident birds in Grenada that potentially have year-round breeding seasons. I am very excited to put that skill into practice at home.
Checking crown patch of a Wilson’s Warbler. (Photo by Claire Stuyck)
A wooden canoe, and nerdy indoor games
The internship was not all work, thankfully. My crew mates and I had a few opportunities for fun, including making the most of our grocery runs to the nearest town 30 minutes away by thrifting to our hearts’ content—my field wardrobe has nearly doubled, and everything was secondhand! We were granted the use of a nearby cabin on the Klamath Lake, affectionately called “Boathouse,” where we could go kayaking and canoeing through the marsh. Regrettably we only went once before the weather got too cold for unnecessary outdoor adventures, but my first time in a real-life wooden canoe was magical, even though I failed in my quest to see beavers. More often, we huddled up at home in the cabin and played games; one of my crew mates brought quite the collection with him, and nearly every week we had a new board or card game to try out.
Zoya out canoeing on the lake. (Photo by Yuly Caicedo Ortiz)
“Wingspan” was an instant favorite, to no one’s surprise, and we adapted the game to double as study time. Each time we drew a bird card of a species that we caught at KBO, we went around the table giving “fun facts” about the species including its band size, molt strategy, and aging/sexing criteria (nerdy, I know!). All of these moments of downtime went a long way in helping the crew to bond and breaking up the monotony of fieldwork with a bit of fun.
An International Flavor, and Some Language Learning
Our crew was also quite diverse. The three Americans—from Illinois, Texas, and South Carolina—were joined by Colombian, Mexican, British, and Grenadian interns, making us one, big, happy international family. For me, the coolest part was hearing all about everyone’s banding adventures in their home countries and states, and all the other places they had worked, from Alaska to Ontario to New York to Costa Rica. It was amazing to know that, even with these varied backgrounds, we had all come to KBO with the common purpose of learning more about birds and banding, and hopefully, getting certified to do what we love.
I grew especially close to the two Latin American interns, who taught me not only about molt in tropical birds—which differs in important and fascinating ways from temperate, migratory birds—but also, so much Spanish. We spoke often as we tried to learn each other’s languages, and while I would not claim to be fluent in Spanish (yet), I do definitely know a lot more about “la muda y la vida ahora.”
Smoke, Bears, Rattlesnakes, Oh My!
Of course, the internship was not without its challenges. Southern Oregon is fire country, and we often had to adjust our plans around fires in the area, and sometimes, work through some degree of smoke. One of the sites is located atop a mountain, and the mile-long hike to get there did not always agree with my arthritic knees. We had to be mindful of bears everywhere—and the crew did have a few close encounters—and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes at one site. I took more than one fall in the field and I have the scars to show for it.
Banding continues, even in mild smoke.
The hours were long, mornings were often cold (sometimes with 0°C starts), and the work was exhausting at times, but the good always outweighed the bad. Not only did we get to work with birds and collect important data for their conservation, but we also got to share that with the public. We had several outreach opportunities, most of which were at the Crater Lake National Park in partnership with the National Park Service, and people of all ages were excited to see us in action and especially excited to help release a bird. I remember my own first time releasing a bird in 2017 with the Koper Lab, and that obviously sparked an interest in me that has brought me here all these years later..
Zoya helping a visitor release a bird. (Photo by Claire Stuyck)
Plus-Delta-Plus: Assessing Our Day
One KBO tradition that I grew quite fond of was our daily check-in of Plus-Delta-Plus (or High-Low-High as our British crewmate sometimes called it). At the end of each banding day, after summarizing our effort and captures, each of us had to identify two things that went well (our pluses); and one thing that maybe did not go so well or an area for improvement(our delta).
Pluses often included progressing in or mastering a certain technique (skulling, anyone?), noteworthy team dynamics and communication, good banding flow and keeping up with the pace of the day. Extra-cool captures of birds, such as the one day we caught and banded a Pileated Woodpecker, were definitely Pluses! Deltas were equally varied, from breakdowns in communication or teamwork to physical stresses or injuries. Deltas often included areas for improvement, such as realizing that we didn’t understand an aspect of molt quite as well as we thought we did. Having a space to reflect on the day, and sandwiching the “bad” with the “good”, was a great way to not only check in with ourselves but also with our teammates. This is definitely a ritual that I would like to incorporate into my own banding station going forward.
Testing, Testing…Certification!
I gained so much knowledge over my 3 months in Oregon, but knowledge is often intangible. One of the few tangible and recognized measures of banding competency (in this Hemisphere) is a certification from the North American Banding Council (NABC). At the end of October, our entire crew got certified as either Banders or Trainers! In full transparency, I did not expect to be able to pass the certification when I started my internship in July, as the big end-of-season evaluation was daunting. I thought I would be at a disadvantage since I was the least familiar with the birds in the area.
The NABC certification process typically includes a written exam, specimen exam, and an intense field session, where you are observed banding-in-action. This system has worked for years, but is prone to inducing nerves and failure, as a lot of pressure rests on just one day in the field. Thankfully, KBO recently implemented a programmatic certification process, which changes the traditional model of testing everything at the end to testing bits and pieces as you go. We used the “Bander’s merit badge checklist” to evaluate important knowledge and skills throughout the fall. Individual skills—like ability to measure a wing formula or correct application of a band—were checked off by demonstrating competence in the field.
These practical tests were spaced over several weeks, and allowed us time to improve and incorporate feedback if we did not succeed on the first try. We still had to complete the written exam, but having continuous evaluation rather than one field test really took the pressure off. Our performance was then independently reviewed by Trainers at the Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory during our visit, and voila, everyone passed! I am very proud to be one of the first NABC-certified Banders from Grenada, and also one of the first under this BirdsCaribbean Landbird Monitoring Program – which is sure to build a lot of capacity throughout the region.
Zoya after receiving her bird banding certification at HBBO. (Photo by Axel Rutter)
A Weekend in Humboldt Bay
The weekend at Humboldt Bay was the perfect end to the season. It is the banding station of field ornithology legend Dr. CJ Ralph, and our visit coincided with his famed end-of-year party. We arrived on Thursday 20th October after a five-hour drive from southern Oregon to northern California. We spent the day on Friday banding at their station, followed by a bonfire barbeque. The next day there was a mini-conference, where we all presented on various topics related to banding; the keynote was a fascinating presentation on the results of a long-term banding dataset in Brazil. We ended the day with an award ceremony of sorts, and the much-anticipated end-of-year party where we mingled with banders from both observatories.
Zoya and her crew mates at the end of year party. (Photo by Victoria Langham)
On Sunday, we drove back to the Upper Klamath, but not before stopping to sightsee along the way. Several stops at the redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean later, we got back home to several inches of snow on the ground. Our last week at the cabin was cozy; we kept the fire roaring out of necessity, but were also incredibly busy as we scrambled to pack up our things, pack up the cabin, complete data entry, and overall wrap up the banding season.
Goodbyes…And Appreciation
We began saying goodbye to various crew members, starting in California and ending at the airport where I bid adios to my Colombian friend and started the equally long journey home. All in all, my time at KBO was an incredible learning experience where I learned about myself as much as I did about banding; made lasting bonds with people I may have never encountered otherwise; and gained amazing insight into the world of banding and bird conservation.
KBO, a human logo. (Photo by Claire Stuyck)
KBO was so welcoming, both the place and the people, and I look forward to going back someday; as they say, we are all KBO “famigos” now. Our trainer, Claire, was exactly the tough but compassionate teacher I needed. She has really helped me to be the best bander I can be. I’m especially excited to be home and to start applying everything I’ve learned to the study and conservation of my local birds. I have BirdsCaribbean to thank for this opportunity. Words can hardly express how grateful I am for the chance to intern at KBO last year, and I am so excited to see what comes next with this evolving Caribbean Bird Banding Network. Thank you, BirdsCaribbean and KBO!
Zoya is a conservation biologist with varied passions, including birds, the beach, and writing/editing. She recently completed her Master’s in natural resource management and has a love for coastal ecosystems, especially mangroves. Zoya is excited to use her bird banding experiences at KBO and elsewhere in the Caribbean to learn more about the understudied resident and endemic species in her home country, Grenada.
We are very proud of Zoya for successfully passing the rigorous NABC (North American Banding Council) exam and becoming a certified Bander. She is just one of three persons in the Caribbean who are now certified. All three received certification in 2022, as part of our new Landbird Monitoring Program which aims to build capacity for bird monitoring, banding, and MOTUS in the Caribbean. We thank the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Fund for support for this project.
On the island of St. Martin, the Les Fruits de Mer association recently released the book Suddenly, Sargassum! The book digs into the sudden arrival of this floating seaweed, which is a threat to ecosystems and livelihoods. But sargassum is also a resource and habitat for many kinds of life both in the sea and on the land. The book, full of beautiful photos and informative text, is available in English and French on the association’s website as a free download – check it out and feel free to share with others.
Birds and Sargassum
Wherever there’s sargassum, you will probably find birds. Many different kinds of birds look for food in and near sargassum. The sargassum can help them find food in several ways.
When sargassum is floating in the water, schools of small fish hide underneath it. Birds like the Royal Tern and Brown Pelican dive into the water near sargassum patches to catch these fish.
When sargassum collects in shallow bays, long-legged birds like the Great Egret stand in the water and pick food out of the sargassum. Sargassum Swimming Crabs are probably one of the things they hunt this way.
When sargassum is on the shore, shorebirds are often picking through it to find amphipods and other small animals to eat. Most of the shorebirds in the Caribbean are long-distance travelers that spend the fall and winter months here, and the summers in North America.
There are even a few land birds that use sargassum. Barn Swallows are small birds that eat flying insects. When sargassum is rotting on the beach, it often has clouds of flies above it. Barn Swallows will fly just above the sargassum to catch them. The Gray Kingbird, which usually isn’t near the beach, will sometimes catch flying insects by sargassum, too.
The sargassum that washes up on Caribbean beaches is a free-floating seaweed.
A Feast for Guests
Migratory birds spend their summers up in North America, sometimes as far north as the Arctic Circle. That’s where they nest and raise their chicks. When it gets colder up there, they fly south to the Caribbean and South America. Most begin to arrive between August and October.
Shorebirds usually live near beaches and ponds. They mainly eat little animals living in water, mud or sand. They often have long legs for standing in mud or water. They have long bills for digging around to find insects, crabs, snails and other foods. After the long flight to the Caribbean, they must rest and eat. They seek out coastal areas and shallow ponds where they can live and find food until they fly back north in the spring.
Spring is usually our hottest and driest time of the year, and it usually gets rainier over the summer. This makes the ponds healthy and full of food by the time these birds arrive. However, in recent years summers have been very dry. Some ponds have been drying out completely and don’t refill until rain comes in the fall. When the shorebirds arrive, they are empty.
Over these same years, sargassum has been arriving in the spring and summer. It piles up on the beach and is full of tiny creatures these shorebirds can eat. If the ponds are dry, these birds go to the beach to find food in the sargassum.
Migratory shorebirds have found amazing ways to live their lives. They travel thousands of kilometers north each year to find a safe place to raise their chicks. They cross seas and avoid hurricanes to travel back south. They know which places make the best stops in between. As climate change has made the summer drier, they have adapted again, finding food in the sargassum when the ponds are dry.
Sargassum washed ashore by waves.
Sargassum Bird Guide
Wherever you see sargassum, you will probably see birds. There are more than 30 kinds of birds that hunt for food in sargassum. Many of them are birds we normally see at sea or on the beach. Others are usually found inland or on ponds. In just a few years, all of these birds have learned to use the sargassum.
In this guide there are sixteen kinds of birds that are commonly seen around sargassum on the island of St. Martin. Scientists are still learning which birds use sargassum and how. If you write down your observations of birds using sargassum, you can contribute to this research.
A mixed group of shorebirds forages for food on a sargassum-covered beach. In this photo there are dowitchers, plovers, sandpipers and turnstones.
Seabirds
Some seabirds hunt for fish near sargassum in the open ocean like the Sargasso Sea. The sargassum attracts fish because it provides food and shelter for them.
The Royal Tern and the Laughing Gull are birds that hunt near sargassum in the open ocean. The Brown Pelican is a bird that stays near land. It learned to fish near sargassum when the seaweed started arriving.
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) – This tern (below) hunts near sargassum in the open ocean and near the shore. It dives for fish around the edges of sargassum mats in the water. It catches one fish at a time in its bill, so it doesn’t accidentally eat sargassum.
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) – Diving into the sea, Brown Pelicans catch fish in their giant throat pouch. They drain water from the pouch before swallowing, but they may also eat a lot of sargassum. We don’t know if this is bad for them.
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) – These gulls migrate. They live here from April to October. They feed in sargassum on shore and in the water. On land, they stomp on sargassum, perhaps to expose small animals that they can eat.
Herons
Herons are birds with long legs and pointed bills. White-colored herons are often called egrets. Most herons live near water. On St. Martin, they are usually found by ponds and mangroves.
Herons are very smart and quick to adapt. When fish are trapped in a drying pond, they will gather to eat them all. If their pond dries up, they will hunt for lizards and insects.
Herons and egrets hunt in the sargassum in the water and on shore. It can be an important place for them to find food when ponds are dry.
Great Egret (Ardea alba) – With its very long legs, this egret often wades out to hunt for fish and crabs in the sargassum mats floating near the shore.
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) – Flocks of Snowy Egrets (below) are common around beached sargassum. They pick through fresh sargassum to find crabs and shrimp that have washed up with the seaweed.
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) – Normally seen around ponds or streams, the Green Heron will go to the beach to forage around sargassum.
Land Birds
Most land birds are not attracted to sargassum. For birds that eat seeds, nectar or fruits, sargassum has nothing to offer.
A few insect-eating birds can be found around sargassum. They don’t spend most of their time there, but it is a reliable place to find insects.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) – Barn Swallows fly around catching tiny insects. When there are piles of sargassum on shore, swallows fly low over them to catch the flies and midges that are there.
Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) – The Gray Kingbird usually sits on a high branch, flitting off to snap up insects that fly nearby. One with a broken upper bill (photo below) was seen catching insects in sargassum, perhaps because it couldn’t do it the normal way.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – House Sparrows mostly eat seeds, but they are also very adaptable. These House Sparrows were probably eating insects or sand fleas in the sargassum.
Shorebirds
There are many kinds of shorebirds. They usually live around ponds, wetlands or beaches. They often have long legs and long bills. They eat foods like crabs, snails, fish and insects.
They have flown hundreds of kilometers or more and they are hungry! When they arrive, the beaches are often covered with sargassum, and full of small animals for them to eat.
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) – The Black-necked Stilt lives on many islands in the Caribbean all year. Usually it is found on ponds, but when there is a lot of sargassum, it will go to the beach to look for food.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) – The Killdeer lives on many Caribbean islands year-round. It is most common on sandy areas near ponds, but it also lives on beaches.
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) – This plover is a migrant. Unlike many shorebirds, it has a short bill. It picks insects and amphipods off the surface of the sargassum.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) – This small sandpiper picks through sargassum on shore. It is also light enough to land on sargassum mats in the sea and hunt through them for shrimp and crabs.
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) – This migratory shorebird is usually seen picking through sargassum on the beach. It will also walk on floating mats of nearshore sargassum and feed.
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) – The Short-billed Dowitcher has a long bill designed for probing into the mud. It can also use this bill to dip into sargassum mounds and remove small animals to eat.
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – This bird flips stones to find insects and other food underneath. It does something similar in sargassum. It sticks its bill in, flips a clump of sargassum over, and then eats what it has uncovered.
Les Fruits de Mer is a non-profit French association based in Grand Case, Saint Martin co-founded by Mark Yokoyama and Jenn Yerkes. Their mission is to promote awareness of ecology and culture through discovery, inspiration and education.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology publishes the peer-reviewed science on Caribbean birds and their environment that is so important to inform conservation work. In this annual blog feature, JCO’s staff is proud to show off the amazing research from scientific teams around the Caribbean. Let your curiosity lure you into exploring:
Warblers eat lizards and fish? What is the preferred snail diet of the Grenada Hook-billed Kite? How can nesting success of terns be improved? There was once a Giant Barn Owl roaming Guadeloupe?
Look back and discover how James Bond, a pioneer of Caribbean ornithology, relied on the expertise of little-known Caribbean experts. Or look forward and reflect on the future prospects for bird conservation in our age of unprecedented human impact on Caribbean nature.
As JCO’s Managing Editor, I am immensely grateful for a dedicated team of editors, reviewers, copyeditors, proofreaders, and production specialists that have worked together so well this past year to produce high-quality publications. And of course, our fabulous authors that do the work on the ground to help us better understand the biodiverse Caribbean and the challenges it faces. With the non-profit BirdsCaribbean as our publisher, JCO emphasizes access: trilingual content, support for early-career researchers, and open access–from the latest article to the very first volume from 1988.
While our 100% open-access publication policy is the most prominent and public-facing feature of our work at the journal, there has been a lot going on “behind the scenes” as well.
In 2022, JCO welcomed Caroline Pott, our new Birds of the World (BOW) Coordinator, and huge thanks to our outgoing first BOW coordinator, Maya Wilson! Caroline works with authors and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to produce BOW accounts of Caribbean bird species. Zoya Buckmire took the reins as the new JCO Lead Copy Editor, and helped to recruit Laura Baboolal and Kathryn Peiman to the copyediting team. Dr. Fred Schaffner will join us for editorial help with English manuscripts from authors for which English is not their first language. Joining our Associate Editor board were Dr. Virginia Sanz D’Angelo, Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Jaime Collazo, North Carolina, and Dr. Chris Rimmer, Norwich, Vermont. We are looking forward to hearing from you, our readers and supporters, and working with the JCO team in 2023!
With Volume 35, JCO introduced the assignment of a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to each article, making it easier fo the scientific community to locate an author’s work in the published literature.
Map depicting research locations of the studies published in Volume 35.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO. Consider being a sustainer with monthly contributions of $5 or more!
The Cueva Martín Infierno protected area in Cuba is well-known for its cave and stalagmite formations, but what about its bird community? Located in the Guamuhaya Mountains, one of Cuba’s biodiversity hotspots, this protected area is sure to support a thriving bird community, but this aspect is previously undocumented. In this paper, Montes and Sánchez-Llull present the first comprehensive record of birds in Cueva Martín Infierno, including several endemics and species of conservation concern.
Monica Gala, Véronique Laroulandie, and Arnaud Lenoble
What has two talons, feeds on large rodents, and used to roam the Caribbean night sky? Giant owls! Giant barn owls (Tytonidae) once inhabited the Caribbean in precolonial times, as evidenced by recent palaeontological research. In this paper, Gala et al. describe a bone fragment of an unspecified giant barn owl found on Guadeloupe, the second such record for the Lesser Antilles.
Plastic waste is an increasing source of pollution worldwide, especially in marine environments. Seabirds are particularly vulnerable to marine litter, as they can ingest, become entangled in, or incorporate this waste into their colonies and nests. In this research note, Coffey reports on two Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) interactions with marine litter in the Grenadines, one instance of nest incorporation and another of entanglement and mortality.
Fernando Simal, Adriana Vallarino, and Elisabeth Albers
The hypersaline lagoons of northern Bonaire are home to several populations of seabirds, making it a regionally significant nesting site in the southern Caribbean. Among the species that breed there are the Eastern Least Tern (Sternula antillarum antillarum), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), and Cayenne Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis eurygnathus). In this paper, Simal et al. quantify breeding success for the terns at these sites in Bonaire, and provide timely recommendations for increasing tern populations, such as island creation and predator exclusion.
Andrew Fairbairn, Ian Thornhill, Thomas Edward Martin, Robin Hayward, Rebecca Ive, Josh Hammond, Sacha Newman, Priya Pollard, and Charlotte Anne Palmer
How are hurricanes affecting Caribbean landbirds? Like other native species in the region, birds likely evolved under the threat of hurricanes, but as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, this question becomes increasingly important. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, Fairbairn et al. sought to compare the bird community on Dominica to that pre-hurricane. In this paper, they present those results, including the disproportionate effects on some functional groups that may predict which species fare better long-term.
Arnaud Lenoble, Laurent Charles, and Nathalie Serrand
It’s a well-known fact that Hook-billed Kites eat snails- their wonderfully adapted bills tell us that much. But, will any old snail do, or do these high-flying molluscivores have a preference? In this paper, Lenoble et al. present their observations on the diet of the Grenada Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus mirus), with prey availability and distribution having the potential to inform conservation planning for this endemic subspecies.
Ezra Angella Campbell, Jody Daniel, Andrea Easter-Pilcher, and Nicola Koper
How is the Antillean Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus antillarum) faring habitat loss and degradation across its small-island ranges? Campbell et al. aim to investigate the status and distribution of this species in Grenada, comparing its distribution by habitat, elevation, and season. In this paper, they present their results as well as recommendations for the conservation of this species that are applicable both to Grenada and across its Caribbean range.
Michael E. Akresh, Steven Lamonde, Lillian Stokes, Cody M. Kent, Frank Kahoun, and Janet M. Clarke Storr
Wood warbler (Parulidae) diets are varied and interesting, from arthropods to fruits and sometimes even nectar. Occasionally, wood warblers may also consume vertebrate species, primarily Anolis lizards, but these instances are not well documented and have not previously been compiled. In this paper, Akresh et al. present a comprehensive literature review on wood warbler vertebrate consumption throughout the Caribbean and USA, and also describe three new observations from The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Florida.
Jeffrey V. Wells, Elly Albers, Michiel Oversteegen, Sven Oversteegen, Henriette de Vries, and Rob Wellens
The Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is a stunningly charismatic seabird without many documented or published records in the southern Caribbean until recently. To shed light on this species’ distribution and trends over the decades, Wells et al. sought to compile records from near the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. This review accompanies an erratum note in this issue, and details all previous sightings of the species, with records as far back as 1939.
James Bond, renowned ornithologist of the 20th century and the namesake of 007, contributed dozens of publications to the field of Caribbean ornithology. Throughout his decades of work, he established a network of scientists and laypeople alike, without whom his work would not have been possible. In this Perspectives and Opinions piece, Aubrecht compiles the biographies of Bond’s most important contributors, highlighting the importance of collaboration and networking in advancing scientific study across the region.
The Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot is well-known for its avian diversity, with over 700 species! Of which more than 180 are endemic. Unfortunately, the wellbeing of these avian populations is often constrained by the inherent challenges of small island developing states, increasing effects of climate change, and colonial histories. In this piece, Nelson and Devenish-Nelson explore these challenges, with concrete examples of endemic birds across the region, and describe a possible way forward for regional conservation of our species as we navigate the Anthropocene.
The annual compilation of the most important articles that appeared elsewhere, annotated by Steve Latta.
Article by
Zoya Buckmire – Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology
Stefan Gleissberg – Managing and Production Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology
TheJournal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO.
Have you spotted a Little Blue Heron during CWC 2023? (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.
Today is the last day of #CWC2023 and our featured waterbird helped Jerome Foster win third place in our Global Big Day Photo Contest back in 2021. This handsome bird, the Little Blue Heron, can be blue-gray, white, or something in between.
The Little Blue Heron is a small heron with a slender neck and long legs. It has rounded wings with a long straight bill. Adults have a rich purple-maroon head and neck and dark slaty-blue body, yellow eyes, greenish or dark legs, and a bill that is pale blue at the base and black at the tip. They may be mistaken for the Tricolored Heron but lack the white on their neck and belly. Juveniles are entirely white with yellowish legs, and immatures molting into adults have both white and blue-gray plumage as seen in the photo captured by Jerome (see our gallery below).
If you’re heading to your local estuary, mangrove, salt pond, or swamp for this year’s Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) keep an eye out for these birds. Here they forage for fish, grasshoppers, dragonflies, crabs, and shrimps. And unlike the Tricolored Heron which uses a variety of tactics to capture prey, the Little Blue Heron is a stand-and-wait predator. This means they stand and look, watching the water for prey, or walk slowly.
They are more frenetic, however, when it comes to defending food or nesting sites, actually chasing and attacking other Little Blue Herons, by striking and jabbing at each other with their bills.
Like all waterbirds, Little Blue Herons are vulnerable to pollution and risk eating prey contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals. They will also abandon nests, eggs, and chicks if disturbed by humans resulting in low breeding success.
Adult Little Blue Heron perches above the water. (Photo by Steve Oxley)
Little Blue Heron perched in a mangrove in Cuba. (Photo by Roberto Jovel Macaulay Library-ML255148881)
Little Blue Heron, Brazos Bend State Park, Near Needville, Texas
Immature Little Blue Heron, perched. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Little Blue Heron in white juvenile plumage. (Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar)
Little Blue Heron with a vantage across the water. (Photo by Dario Sanches)
The striking purple-red and slate gray plumage in close-up. (Photo by Becky Matsubara-Macaulay Library-ML216411061)
A patchwork of white and gray—an immature Little Blue Heron molting into adult plumage. (Photo by Alejandra Pons Macaulay Library- ML299124311)
A small flock of Little Blue Herons comes in to land. (Photo by Matthew Addicks Macaulay Library-ML189076771)
Little Blue Heron in flight. (Photo by Brad-Imhoff Macaulay Library-ML472120011)
binary comment
A Little Blue Heron walks along the water’s edge. (Photo by Cole Schneider)
We would love to know if you spotted any Little Blue Herons, with their moody hues of blue and purple, during your #CWC2023. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and more importantly add them to your eBird Caribbean checklists!
CWC 2023 starts on Saturday January 14th and runs through Friday February 3rd. 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!
A dapper dabbler who spends the winter in the Caribbean. (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.
Do you know this dapper dabbler? Our Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) 2023 featured bird today is the Green-winged Teal!
Green-winged Teals actually breed in the forest wetlands and river deltas of Alaska and Canada. But they migrate south during fall and some of them spend the winter with us in the Caribbean! So if you’re heading to a wetland for your #WaterbirdCount keep an eye out for them.
Males are recognized by their coppery orange head with a metallic green stripe through the eye, and a slate gray body with a buffy booty. Males also have a vertical white shoulder stripe. Females look similar to other female dabbling ducks – mottled brown – but they have an overall darker dappled plumage and a darker, thinner bill. From the right angle, or in flight, these birds display an emerald green speculum or wing patch from which they get their name.
You may also be treated to one of their many courtship displays, since male Green-winged Teal court females and form pair bonds on the wintering grounds. Often, males will surround one or more females in social courtship, performing ritualized robot-like displays such as the “Burp,” “Grunt-whistle,” “Head-up-tail-up,” and “Turn-toward-female.” These displays are accompanied by whistles and grunts. Females choose a mate from amongst these suiters. Males follow their mates back to the breeding area and defend her from advances by other males during egg-laying and early incubation.
A Male Green-winged Teal, resplendent in the sunshine. (Photo by Doug Greenberg)
A male Green-winged Teal ventures across the mud. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
A Male Green-winged Teal performs a courtship display, Mexico. (Photo by Juan Miguel Artigas Azas- Macaulay Library-ML306358661)
Green-winged Teals in flight, their green wing-patches clearly visible. (Photo by Andrew Reding)
A female green-winged Teal. (Photo by Andrew Reding)
Male Green-winged Teal in flight. (Photo by Matt Misewicz Macaulay Library- ML501469651)
A pair of Green-winged Teals. (Photo by Dana Siefer Macaulay Library- ML283065691)
CWC 2023 starts on Saturday January 14th and runs through Friday February 3rd. 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!
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.
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
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
Trainer John Alexander shows participants some knots for setting up mists nets
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.
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.
Juan Carlos Fernández Ordóñez in a presentation aboout the Bander´s Bible: Pyle´s Identification Guide to North American Birds
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 street mural
“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
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.
Looking over the rainforests of Dominica, one may think that trees have learned to fly as large green objects take to the sky. But as if they have read our curious minds, the birds begin to speak, letting out loud, shrill “chur-lu-weeek” calls to let everyone know that it is indeed the Red-necked Parrot (Amazona arausiaca) moving over the island’s sweeping valleys.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Red-necked Parrots love to eat fruits and seeds! Why not try making this passion fruit cup feeder? You can can fill it with seeds or pieces of fruit, and hang in your garden to keep the parrots well fed. Not in Dominica – the home of these beautiful endemic parrots? No problem, any parrots that live near you and many other types of wild birds, will love this feeder! Hang it up, fill it with food, and see who comes to visit for lunch.
