We have exciting news about how to participate in the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) using eBird! Whether you’re a long-time contributor to the CWC, use CWC protocols in eBird, or are just getting started with waterbird surveys in the Caribbean, there’s now a better and easier way to ensure your data is added to this incredible long-term program!
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has launched a powerful new feature, eBird Projects, that makes it easier than ever to take part in targeted data collection efforts like the CWC. If you’ve contributed to our amazing 16-year citizen science database using the CWC protocols in eBird in the past, the process has now changed slightly in eBird.
You no longer need to search the dropdown menu for CWC protocols in the “Other” options. Now, simply join the CWC project in eBird and select “Caribbean Waterbird Census” from your projects when starting a new checklist. This ensures your counts are properly tagged and included in the official CWC database. Read on for step-by-step instructions for both the eBird app and website. You can also learn more about eBird Projects here.
How to join the CWC Project
Great news—if you’ve ever submitted a checklist using a CWC protocol—you’ve likely been automatically added to the project! Check out the CWC project pages here to confirm you’ve joined, explore CWC stats, see the latest checklists, and meet our “Top CWC eBirders.” If for some reason you’ve not been joined, just go to the ‘about’ section on the project page, scroll down, and click “Join Project.”
New to CWC? No problem! Just visit the CWC Project Page and click“Learn how to join.” Review the info about the project, scroll to the end and then click “Join Project.” If you are not logged into eBird you will be prompted to “Login to Join Project.”
Anyone can join—we welcome new contributors!
Survey team in Cuba searching for Piping Plovers during CWC2023. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Never too young to start CWC! Counting waterbirds with the EAG at McKinnon’s Salt Pond, Antigua. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Make sure your checklists count as CWC!
Once you’ve joined the CWC project, it’s easy to add your CWC lists to our database on the eBird app or on the website. Here’s how:
CWC in the eBird Mobile App
IMPORTANT: Projects are only supported in version 3.1.3 or later of the eBird app. If you’ve joined a Project but are not seeing it on eBird Mobile, go to Settings>Check for updates in the app—you may need to update in the Google Play Store (android) or App Store (iPhone). Project options will not appear immediately after the update, you will need to wait for a few minutes before you see this.
Once updated:
Launch the app.
Tap “Choose projects” above the “Start checklist”’ button.
Select the CWC project, and, if you like, ask the app to remember this choice for future submissions. If you do this CWC will appear automatically above the “Start checklist” button next time you use App.
Tap “Continue” and do your count (it’s that simple!)
Next time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, select “Caribbean Waterbird Census” above the “Start checklist” button.
CWC on the eBird Website:
Go to the Submit page.
Use the “Choose a Project” dropdown to check the box next to “Caribbean Waterbird Census.”
Then follow the steps below to add your list details as normal.
For your CWC lists, be sure to:
Do a complete checklist of all birds you were able to identify by sight or sound (to the best of your ability). Check out why this is important and best practices for ebird here.
Select the appropriate protocol (Traveling or Stationary) before submitting.
Now that you’ve joined the project, you can easily identify which of your eBird checklists are part of the CWC! Just view your checklists in eBird—those included in any eBird project will display a small green circular icon in the upper right corner.
Click on the list to see details, including which project it is associated with.
What happened to the CWC Area Search Protocol?
The CWC Area Search protocol was previously available for counts where it was possible to move through the habitat on a predetermined route to count all the birds in the area. Now that eBird allows you to enter the survey area size manually as part of a Traveling Count, this separate protocol is no longer needed. If you previously used Area Search, we recommend switching to the CWC Traveling Count—especially for sites with trails, boardwalks, or navigable waterways. Just be sure to enter the Surveyed Area (in hectares or acres) in your checklists!
Black-crowned Night Heron with nesting material. (Photo by Diana Robinson)
A Willet feeding. (Photo by Jesse Gordon)
Female Blue-winged Teal in flight (Ray Robles)
Where in the Caribbean does the CWC take place?
The CWC Project Region*includes:
Bermuda, The Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago
Providencia, San Andrés, Swan islands
offshore islands and cays of Venezuela.
*Only checklists from within our region can be added to the CWC Project in eBird.
What habitats should be covered by CWC counts?
Any accessible wetland in the CWC region can be surveyed using CWC protocols, including:
Mangroves, salt ponds, freshwater swamps, marshes, lagoons
Carla Montalvo and Alexia Morales look for waterbirds at Natural Reserve Punta Cucharas, Puerto Rico. (Photo by De Pajareo Puerto Rico)
Flooded ricefields, like these ones in Trinidad, can be great places to look for waterbirds
Salt being produced at Belmont. (Photo by Radio Grenadines)
Hiding in the mangrove, Bahamas. (Photo by Martha Cartwright)
Zapata Swamp, Cuba. (Photo by Margaret Kinnaird)
Need help?
For general help with eBirds projects (joining/ leaving projects, editing checklists, etc.), visit the help page on eBird.
If you have questions specifically about joining the CWC project, using the CWC project pages, or the CWC program at large, reach out to our Waterbird Program Manager.
Why your participation matters
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is a long-term region-wide initiative to track birds using Caribbean wetlands, identify the threats they face, and raise awareness. Your data plays a critical role in shaping conservation actions and priorities across the Caribbean.
The CWC has compiled thousands of checklists—thanks to YOU! Visit our CWC eBird Project Page to explore the impressive stats and see the top contributors.
While the annual regional count takes place from January 14 to February 3—providing a valuable winter snapshot—CWC counts areimportant year-round, especially during fall and spring migration. Whether you’re monitoring resident or migratory species, every count matters.
If you’ve never done a CWC count before, now is the perfect time to start. Just remember to select the CWC Project in eBird every time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland.
Antigua and Barbuda’s EAG step up their CWC efforts with a training event. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Cheers to our Sweet Sixteen! That’s how many years we’ve been tracking waterbird populations across the Caribbean with the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC)! Our 2025 regional count took place from January 14th to February 3rd, and as always, we were thrilled to see so many of our partners, friends, and colleagues jumping in to contribute to this invaluable long-term dataset by counting waterbirds in their local wetlands!
Keep reading for some exciting 2025 CWC highlights, from the wonderful birds seen to the dedicated survey teams who ventured out to their favorite Caribbean wetlands. Each and every survey contributes to a meaningful impact—thank you to everyone who helped make our 2025 CWC a success!
Training for success in Antigua
To kick off a successful CWC regional count, the team at the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) began by recruiting andtraining new citizen scientists. They brought together a diverse group of participants—from complete beginners to seasoned birdwatchers—and equipped them with the skills to collect vital data at various wetland sites across Antigua! This inclusive approach ensured that all participants, regardless of their experience level, were empowered to gather accurate, valuable data that will support conservation efforts and guide effective management.
Shanna explains bird ID at Mckinnons Pond. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Yellow-crowed Night Heron. (Photo by Miquel Garcia)
Time for a group selfie at McKinnons Salt Pond. (Photo by Auriel Horsford Hunte)
Identifying waterbirds at CWC counts on Antigua. (Photo by Shanna Challenger)
Ruddy Turnstone. (Photo by Miquel Garcia)
It’s never to early to start learning waterbird ID. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
The training began with a classroom session, on January 29th at the Antigua State College (ASC) Conference Room. New birders were introduced to the basics of bird identification while experienced members of the Wadadli Warblers Birding Club enjoyed a helpful refresher. Led by Offshore Islands Conservation Programme Coordinator Shanna Challenger, the session focused on key features for identifying common waterbirds and seabirds. This was followed by three days of outdoor birding sessions where participants learned to use binoculars and identify different shorebirds and seabirds at the McKinnon’s Salt Pond. Not only did this initiative strengthen the incredible Wadadli Warblers club, but it also contributed valuable data to the eBird database! Welcome to the CWC team!
Wide participation in Puerto Rico
From San Juan in the north to Jobos Bay in the south, participation in the regional count was stronger than ever in Puerto Rico! The amazing coverage and number of CWC lists we have gathered over the years is a testament to the power of citizen science! Don’t believe us? Check the hotspot map of Puerto Rico in eBird for wetland areas! Here are some highlights from Puerto Rico’s 2025 count:
San Juan Bay: In February, SOPI (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc.) collaborated with Comunidad Peninsula de Cantera to organize a CWC survey within the Estuary of the San Juan Bay, with logistical support from the San Jose Fisherman Cooperative. The count covered the easternmost mangrove forests of the San Jose Lagoon and Pinones Lagoon, with 10 participants, including SOPI members, taking part in the survey.
Surveying in San Juan estuary. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
San Juan Bay. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
The SOPI survey team. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
It’s important to keep your strength up on waterbird counts. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
Emilio Font, executive director or SOPI, shared that “even as these lagoons continue to experience the unregulated discharge of pollutants and the inadvertent presence of alligators from the pet trade, there was a significant presence of avian species now absent or reduced in other coastal areas in the island.” It’s good to hear that the birdlife of this area is still thriving, but these ongoing threats underscore the importance of continuing CWC monitoring to track these populations.
Jobos Bay: Heading south Carmen Maldonado and her sister Erika Enid volunteered with SOPI to carry our CWC counts at Cayo Caribe and Jobos Bay, in the towns of Guayama and Salinas. The counts were conducted by boat, allowing them to spot a wonderful variety of shorebirds, seabirds, waterbirds, and endemics; including Lesser Yellowlegs, Clapper Rails, several tern species, and both the Puerto Rican Woodpecker and Flycatcher.
Out in the bay doing CWC surveys by boat. (Photo by Carmen Maldonado)
At Cayo Caribe. (Photo by Carmen Maldonado)
Vegetation around Jobos. (Photo by Carmen Maldonado)
Cabo Rojo: In the southwest, Cabo Rojo is a vital haven for shorebirds and is a designated site of regional importance within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN)! Luckily, Nahíra Arocho-Hernández and her team were on hand to carry out CWC counts at both Cabo Rojo and Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). As Nahíra points out this monitoring is not just important for understanding the birds and their habitat use, but it also provides “a great opportunity for our volunteers to participate in the surveys and learn to identify the different species of waterbirds, shorebirds, and seabirds”.
Pelicans seen during surveys at Cabo Rojo. (Photo by Nahira Arocho Hernandez)
Counting shorebirds. (Photo by Nahira Arocho Hernandez
The elusive Wilson’s Snipe. (Photo by Luis Ramos)
Alongside volunteers Eduardo Cardona and Luis Ramos from the Gulf Restoration Office, Nahíra recorded 26 species at Cabo Rojo, including migratory birds like Black-bellied Plover and Ruddy Turnstone, as well as nesting Brown Pelicans (23 adults and 10 juveniles). At Laguna Cartagena, exciting sightings included a Sora, Limpkin, and the elusive Wilson’s Snipe!
Looking for shorebirds, Campaña, Vieques (Photo by Daphne Gemmill)
Vieques: Covering the east, Daphne Gemmill of the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, shared news of the CWC surveys on Vieques. While CWC counts have been regularly conducted on Vieques, this was the first year observers in Vieques have actively participated in the regional count. They put in a phenomenal effort with 15 observers carrying out 30 water bird surveys!
In a fantastic showing, they counted an impressive 71 species, including 32 waterbirds. Overall, 1,800 birds were counted, with over 1,000 of them being shorebirds, underscoring Vieques’ importance for both migratory and resident shorebirds. Highlights included the uncommon Least Grebe with young, 63 Brown Pelicans in their breeding colony, rare Sora Rails, and five extremely rare White-tailed Tropicbirds.
Small but mighty in Statia
The story from St. Eustatius is another example of a small island making a big impact! Jethro van ‘t Hul shared that the STENAPA team conducted counts around the island at the 15 sites they established in 2024. CWC counts are regularly carried out at these sites year-round, reminding us that CWC monitoring extends beyond the regional count period from January to February! During this year’s regional count, they also took part in a boat tour around the entire island to see what seabirds were encountered and to survey nesting habitats for Red-billed Tropicbirds. They confirmed several roosting sites for Brown Pelicans, Brown Boobies, and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Additionally, the team spotted a Peregrine Falcon perched in a remote cave!
Nesting Red-billed Tropicbird. (Photo by Jethro van ‘t Hul)
A Brown Booby. (Photo by Jethro van ‘t Hul)
A vagrant who might be ready to settle down?
Northern Pintail spotted on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Down on Bonaire, Susan Davis shared some fascinating sightings from the regional count. She mentioned that Bonaire was home to a remarkable variety of ducks, many of which were overwintering rather than just passing through on their way to South America. Among the highlights, Susan spotted a rare Northern Pintail, marking the first sighting in over 20 years! She also observed large numbers of Lesser Scaups, Northern Shovelers, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Interestingly, breeding White-cheeked Pintails were also spotted—an unusual occurrence for Bonaire, as they typically breed later in the year.
Greater Ani spotted by Susan with a twig in December last year. (Photo by Susan Davis)
But one bird, in particular, had Susan really intrigued. During her counts she caught sight of a Greater Ani. This odd looking member of the cuckoo family is a rare vagrant on Bonaire with only a handful of previous sightings. This wasn’t the first time Susan has seen a Greater Ani recently. Back in December she also saw this species. Could her ‘CWC’ bird be the same individual? Back then, the Ani was carrying a twig! Was it building a nest?
The Greater Ani has never been known to breed on Bonaire, but seeing one transporting nesting material to a prime location—deep foliage overhanging water—is a promising sign. Does this mean there are other Anis on Bonaire? Or is this individual simply optimistic about future arrivals? Ani’s breed cooperatively and share nests, so it might be a while before enough birds show up for them to become a breeding species on the island. But stay tuned to Susan’s blog, where she is sure to provide any updates on this out-of-towner!
A Greater Ani
Although not strictly a ‘waterbird’ we think this beautiful pale eyed, black bird with its blue-green sheen deserves to be an ‘honorary waterbird’ due to its preference for river, lake and mangrove areas. Find out more about this species here.
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort that provides important data that helps us keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand the threats they face, and raise awareness. We are incredibly grateful for every single CWC count completed during the annual three-week regional census in January and February. 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 conduct a CWC count at any time throughout the year! CWC counts at Caribbean wetlands are valuable year-round and add to our knowledge of the resident and migratory birds that use them. Just be sure to use a CWC protocol in eBird Caribbean when entering your data every time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, and do your best to do a complete count, i.e., record all the birds you see and hear.If you need help with your shorebird and waterbird ID you can check our resources page and take a look at our short ID videos on YouTube!
Find out more about the CWC program HERE and stay tuned for exciting developments on how to take part in the CWC on eBird- coming soon!
WE enjoyed seeing your posts on social media! here are a few hightlights
What a year it’s been! 2024 was a whirlwind of excitement, challenges, and growth, and we’re thrilled to share some of the highlights with you. From record-breaking events to building new partnerships, we’ve had quite the ride—and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazing community. Here’s a round-up of our most unforgettable moments from the year. Thank you to all our volunteers, members, donors, and everyone who believes in the future of Caribbean birds!
Fantastic fifteen for the Caribbean Waterbird Census
2024 started with us celebrating an amazing 15 years of the Caribbean Waterbird Census. From January 14th to February 3rd, over 200 birders across 14 islands helped us document over 300 CWC checklists! Highlights from this year’s count included a Baird’s Sandpiper spotted in Guadeloupe—a very rare Caribbean visitor!
A volunteer uses a Shorebird ID card at a Caribbean Waterbird Census count. (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario OPAS)
A group of Lesser Scaups at East End Pond. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
Carrying out CWC surveys on St. Eustatius. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Sanderling – X19 stopped on another winter visit to Jamaica. (Photo by Damany Calder)
Baird’s Sandpiper (Photo by Caio Osoegawa ML628469580)
Big Day got even BIGGER!
On Global Big Day, May 11, birders around the world got out and about to join in the fun. In the West Indies, we shattered our records for both participation and bird sightings! Big Day birders in the region saw 551 West Indian species, thanks to the amazing efforts of 710 eBird observers—up from 511 last year! But wait there’s more: there were more species sighted (1,354 total, 208 more than last year) and a huge leap in the number of checklists submitted—2,755 total, nearly 1,000 more than last year—phenomenal!! We’re proud of this fantastic win for citizen science in the West Indies!
Dominica’s Imperial Seekers seeking out the magnificent Imperial Parrot for GBD 2024. (Photo by Garry Auguiste)
Members of Wadadli Warblers in Antigua got in on the early birding action for GBD 2024. Photo by Shanna Challenger
A subgroup of the Gundlach Team in Cuba ready to dominate the competition on the morning of GBD 2024.
Big Day wasn’t just about ticking off the birds though, our fun ‘Teams competition’ and annual fundraising efforts were back—this time to enable Caribbean conservationists to come together and strategize to protect our birdlife. We raised over $25,000, an amazing effort that helped bring many deserving Caribbean nationals to our 24th International Conference in the DR! Speaking of which…
We made BirdsCaribbean history in the Dominican Republic!
A record-breaking 338 delegates from 32 countries and islands flocked to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, making our 24th International Conference our largest gathering ever! Conservationists from all walks of life came together, united by a shared mission: protecting the incredible birds that define our region. Centred on the theme: “From Mangroves to Mountains: Safeguarding our Avian Treasures,” the conference featured expert-led presentations, roundtable discussions, training sessions, networking opportunities, fundraising initiatives, and birding trips to observe Hispaniola’s diverse bird species, including its unique endemics. From mangrove conservation to Hispaniola’s endemics to habitat restoration—the conference was a hub of knowledge sharing, networking, collaboration, and inspiration.
Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi, Executive Director of Haiti National Trust, speaks about ecosystem restoration in Haiti, during the Hispaniola Day symposium.
Problem tree being analysed and turned into a results tree by participants.
First time BC Conference attendee Soraya proudly stands next to her poster.
Delegates birding at Ebano Verde.
Palmchat. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Traditional Dominican dancers at the opening reception.
In collaboration with researchers from Virginia Tech, BirdsCaribbean learned more about one of these threats—human disturbance. Early in 2024 we published a report based on a survey of those who do CWC counts, which showed that they perceive human disturbance to be the most significant threat to shorebirds in our region. The report highlighted the need for more social and biological research on human disturbance, and how to tackle this threat.
As we get ready for the 2025 CWC regional count we hope Caribbean birders head for the coast to observe and record shorebird sightings! If you would like to support shorebirds and their threatened habitats, please click here.
Birds and bugs: A perfect pairing for conservation!
Are you Team Insects or Team Birds — or both?! (Photo by TTBO)
Male Puerto Rican Mango. (Photo by Rafy Rodrguez)
Posters about insect types and functions, created by STENAPA staff. (Photo by STENAPA)
Youth enjoying bird games offered by the University of Havana Bird Ecology Group. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)
Completed birdhouses. (Photo by BarbudanGO)
Group birdwatching at Hope Botanical Gardens. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
Six more reasons to celebrate Caribbean endemic birds
This year, we welcomed six newly-recognized Caribbean endemics, bringing the total to an impressive 185! Meet the latest members of our avian family: Grenada Wren, St. Vincent Wren, St. Lucia Wren, Kalinago Wren, Martinique Thrasher, and the St. Lucia Thrasher. More birds to celebrate, more species to protect!
The St Vincent Wren has a notably long wing chord. (Photo by David Hollie ML600921241)
The St Lucia Thrasher has dark brown plumage overall and white underparts. (Photo by Blake Matheson ML214222511)
New resources to keep you informed and inspired
We’ve been busy behind the scenes, launching new resources to keep you in the loop on all things bird conservation. Our first-ever Endemic and Threatened Species Working Group (ETSWG) newsletter debuted this month, packed with the latest research and happenings in the field. Click here for an insightful and enjoyable read! For the latest news and research about our birds farther from shore, dive into our Seabird Working Group newsletter. Both are available in English, Spanish, and French. As always, we welcome your feedback.
And by the way, have you checked out the latest edition (#37) of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology? It includes research articles and notes, as well as conservation reports, book reviews, perspectives, and opinions. Even more exciting? Volume #37 is a JCO Special Issue!—featuring the contributions from the 24th International BirdsCaribbean Conference! Check out this amazing compendium to rediscover all the fantastic insights shared at the conference!
This year’s edition of “Birds Connect our World” featured stunning coloring pages by masterful Cuban illustrator Arnaldo Toledo.
Always released in English, Spanish, and French, the annual Seabird Working Group is the perfect resource to stay up-to-date on the latest in Caribbean seabird conservation.
From Mangroves to Mountains – Explore JCO Special Issue Vol. 37!
It’s a first edition! Dive right into the newly launched Endemic and Threatened Species WG Newsletter – in English, Spanish, or French, of course!
Training champions for birds and conservation
In October, BirdsCaribbean collaborated with a local NGO, WIRRED (Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research and Design) to conduct a week-long Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Workshop on the island of Barbados. Home to the endemic Barbados Bullfinch, the island’s wetlands and coastline harbour critical stopover sites and wintering habitat for migratory species. The training covered not only bird identification and guiding techniques, but also how to tell stories and make connections to the island’s rich cultural, historical, and ecological heritage through the art of environmental interpretation. Congratulations to the 21 newly trained bird guides and conservation champions from Barbados, Antigua, Sint Eustatius, and Cuba!
BirdsCaribbean is pleased to present our Caribbean Birding Trail 2024 cohort! (Photo by WIRRED)
In the US Virgin Islands, 22 educators from three islands learned to engage students with nature and science through birds! Two BirdSleuth Caribbean workshops were held in June, in partnership with SEA (St Croix Environmental Association), the USVI Dept of Environment and Natural Resources, and Horsley Witten Sustainable Environmental Solutions. Over two days, each group explored the BirdSleuth Caribbean curriculum and discovered how to bring birds into the classroom. Birds are excellent for teaching scientific skills as well as gaining appreciation of the islands’ wonderful bird life.
Our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Program continues to build regional conservation capacity!
This year our 3rd annual bird banding workshop (as part of the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Program) migrated down to the Lesser Antilles in St. George, Grenada. From March 7 – 11 participants learned all about songbird banding at scenic locations like the Blue Horizons Resort (featuring views of the white sand Grand Anse Beach) and in the dry forests of Mount Hartman National Park (featuring views of the critically endangered Grenada Dove). With collaboration from Klamath Bird Observatory, participants received training from internationally recognized and North American Banding Council (NABC) certified trainers on all the banding basics from how to properly handle birds, how to extract birds from mist nets, and an introduction to the topic on every bander’s mind, molt. We welcomed 18 participants from 9 different islands and at the end celebrated the certification of two more Caribbean NABC trainers: Daniela Ventura of Cuba, and Zoya Buckmire of Grenada. Congratulations!!
Daniela Ventura instructing participants during the CBB workshop in Grenada. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
We returned to the scenic mountains of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic for our third annual Landbird monitoring Workshop from 22-26 February, 2024. This year we were ecstatic to welcome 25 participants from 14 different islands. Participants learned the ins and outs of how to set up PROALAS landbird monitoring on their islands, how to enter data using eBird, and how to train people on basic bird identification, featuring some endemic birds of Hispaniola! No workshop would be complete without excursions into the field to practice these monitoring techniques, and participants got to wander the rolling hills around Jarabacoa, finishing with a field trip to the Scientific Reserve, Ebano Verde for chances at finding a Hispaniolan Trogon! Thanks to our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Small Grant initiative, participants are already making an impact! Six new monitoring programs have launched in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Cuba, putting skills into action to protect Caribbean birds.
Weathering the Storm: Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
2024’s hurricane season started early, impacting several of our islands to varying degrees. Climate change fueled extreme weather is no doubt becoming the “order of the day.” Hurricane Beryl (the earliest hurricane ever to reach Category 5 intensity) arrived in early July, and wreaked havoc on Union Island, destroying the 13 year-long Ashton Lagoon project, where the office of Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren) is located. Fortunately there were no casualties, but the entire island was devastated. Now, SusGren’s Executive Director Orisha Joseph is determined to “build back better and stronger.” If you would like to contribute to the restoration of Ashton Lagoon, click here. Beryl also devastated the small sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, near Grenada, and went on to cause destruction and flooding in parts of Jamaica.
The charming SusGren office before it was destroyed by Hurricane Beryl. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Ashton Lagoon mangrove littered with littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
We recognized and celebrated our committed conservation community!
The BirdsCaribbean Awards were celebrated with rousing applause on the final night of our conference in the Dominican Republic.
Winners of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award were Christopher Rimmer, Emeritus Executive Director of Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE)—the “Bicknell’s Thrush man”; and Dr. Steven C. Latta, Director of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary of the Dominican Republic.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Christopher Rimmer with BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Lisa Sorenson, BirdsCaribbean President Adrianne Tossas and Andrea Thomen.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr Steve Latta with BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Lisa Sorenson, BirdsCaribbean President Adrianne Tossas and Andrea Thomen.
President Dr. Adrianne Tossas handed out the coveted President’s Awards to four exemplary organisations on the island of Hispaniola: The Peregrine Fund Dominican Republic, Grupo Jaragua, Grupo Acción Ecológica and Action pour la Sauvegarde de l’Écologie en Haïti. Meet our full roster of awardees here! Congratulations to all—you inspire us to keep pushing harder everyday!
We proudly supported 12 projects through the David S. Lee Fund for Caribbean Birds and the James A. Kushlan Research and Conservation Fund. These projects advanced avian research and conservation in seven Caribbean countries: Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico (offshore islands), St. Eustatius, and The Bahamas. Projects ranged from establishing bird diversity data in The Bahamas, to evaluating education campaigns for the Endangered Jamaican Blackbird, studying the role of urban parks for birds in Cuba, tracking Puerto Rican Orioles, and enhancing Red-billed Tropic Bird conservation in St. Eustatius. We are thrilled to support the dedicated researchers and conservationists in our BirdsCaribbean community.
Without a doubt, we are #StrongerTogether
Giving Tuesday was a huge success, exceeding our $15,000 target! With the theme “Stronger Together: Empowering People, Saving Birds” we are continuing our fundraising efforts with a new target of $60,000! Our team members have raised just over $51,000 so far—we’ve got 18% to go and it’s not too late to help us reach our goal! View our fundraising page here—where a generous match from the BirdsCaribbean board means that any help you give is doubled to continue our work with the people and birds of the Caribbean!
Farewell to some true bird conservation legends
This year we said sad farewells to beloved champions of Caribbean birds. They will be missed…
Wayne Burke at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge. (Photo by Yves Aubrey)
Wayne “Doc” Burke of Barbados who passed away on November 19, tackled the issue of hunting shorebirds, establishing the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge, a former shooting swamp that became a haven for shorebirds. His pioneering efforts spurred a change in attitudes and practices among Barbadian hunters, and led to the establishment of more shorebird refuges. Read more here.
John Fletcher walking along the beach during a visit to Yallahs Salt Ponds, a place where he was always very happy. (Photo by Emma Lewis)
London-born John Fletcher, who died at the age of 95 in Kingston and adopted Jamaica as his home at a young age, became a successful businessman, a coffee producer—and most of all an avid birder and a President of BirdLife Jamaica. He was a revered and loved “guru” for bird watchers of all ages, conducting countless bird tours across the island. Read more here.
Simón Guerrero was a founding member of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds. An engaging teacher and speaker with a great sense of humor, he influenced many to become fans and defenders of nature over several decades.
We remember an extraordinary environmental educator, Simón Guerrero, who passed away earlier this year. His research on urban ecology focused on making cities more habitable for wildlife, including birds. Simón had a remarkable ability to bring the wonder of birds into classrooms, captivating both students and teachers. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, he founded a birding group for blind Dominicans and emphasized the importance of ensuring that birds “know” our actions are in their favor.
Orlando Garrido was a tireless explorer of the Cuban archipelago. Garrido has to his credit the discovery of four mammalian taxa and the description of: 58 insects, 21 birds, 37 reptiles. 78 new records among birds, reptiles, and fish, and 23 taxa have been dedicated to him, and in total he has 298 publications. (Photo by Susan Jacobson)
We also said goodbye to a giant in Cuban ornithology on June 24, Orlando Garrido—an exceptional scientist, naturalist, colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend to so many. Orlando was dedicated to his work until the very end, discussing ornithology and measuring birds for another publication the evening before his passing! We are grateful to have celebrated Orlando’s numerous accomplishments with a Lifetime Achievement Award at our International Conference in Cuba in 2017 and a wonderful article with many photos on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
Looking ahead: Big things are coming in 2025!
With our focus remaining on our threatened shorebirds, we are looking forward to the 16th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census regional count (January 14 to February 3, 2025), which includes the global World Wetlands Day (February 2, 2025). With a long-term database of over 27,000 CWC lists, your participation will add to a valuable resource for bird conservation across the region. Don’t forget that we have a wealth of handy bird ID materials on our YouTube channel to help you in your quest—and you can conduct waterbird censuses at any time of the year, of course.
Speaking of shorebirds, in 2025 we will be working to have Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic designated as a key site in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Some 20,000 birds stop off at Monte Cristi annually during their migration.
Building our banding network will also be a 2025 priority, as we seek to equip conservationists with those important skills. Applications for our upcoming workshop in the DR are now closed but keep an eye out for future opportunities!
Aerial view of the Motus station installed at Walkers Reserve Barbados. (Photo by Shae Warren)
More Motus! We hope to install more Motus stations across the region, to track our precious migratory species.
We’re off to the bird haven that is the beautiful island of Cuba for what promises to be two amazing bird tours! (January 23 – 31 and March 19 – 30, 2025). Both tours are fully booked, but you can still browse the itineraries and join the waiting list for 2026 by clicking here.
Thank You for an Incredible Year!
2024 was a year to remember, and it was made possible by you—our dedicated members, partners, and supporters.
Stay up to date with us in 2025 with the latest news from the field, BirdsCaribbean programs and events, and opportunities to get involved—free to your inbox, by signing up for our monthly newsletter. Cheers to a fantastic 2025!
The Lesser Yellowlegs, a medium-sized shorebird widespread in the Caribbean, has suffered a population decline of 30 to 49%. Its IUCN threat level has been raised from Least Concern to Vulnerable. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
BirdsCaribbean is sounding the alarm over the significant declines in shorebird populations, highlighted in a recent update to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The report, released during the COP16 UN Biodiversity Conference in November, reveals that 16 shorebird species have been moved to higher threat categories, with some populations plummeting by least 30% over the past three generations.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean. “The Caribbean is a lifeline for migratory shorebirds, providing critical stopover and wintering sites along the Atlantic Flyway. When these habitats are lost or degraded, or disappear, these birds face severe challenges.”
Many of the reclassified species are familiar visitors to the Caribbean, reflecting the region’s vital role in their life cycles. Among the newly listed species are the Lesser Yellowlegs, now classified as “Vulnerable,” and the Greater Yellowlegs, listed as “Near Threatened.” Other widespread species like the Ruddy Turnstone are also in decline, facing threats such as habitat loss, disturbance, and climate change-related impacts. The Short-billed Dowitcher has also experienced worrying population declines.
The Role of Coastal Habitats
Coastal wetlands, including mangroves, swamps, ponds, beaches, sand flats, and mud flats, are essential for shorebird survival, yet they are disappearing at an alarming rate. According to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), 12% of the world’s global mangroves are found in the Caribbean, but nearly 7,000 square kilometers were lost between 1980 and 2010. At this rate, the CBF surmises, “the Caribbean’s mangroves could disappear in the next 60 years.”
Over 20,000 shorebirds rely on the wetlands at Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic during migration every year – making this a regionally important site and a critical lifeline for shorebirds. (Photo by GAE)
Shorebirds feeding at Cargill, which is designated as Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of regional importance, and holds important number of shorebird species such a Red Knot and Short-billed Dowitcher. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Over 100 Piping Plovers, classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, along with many other wintering shorebirds, were counted on Andros and nearby cays in The Bahamas during our 15th Caribbean Waterbird Census. (Photo by Chris Allieri)
Mangroves across the region are experiencing degradation from multiple pressures, including pollution, unsustainable development, and the effects of climate change. (Photo by Maria Paulino)
A Call to Action
“The destruction and degradation of Caribbean coastal habitats from increased tourism, housing and agricultural developments, pollution, and extreme weather events has devastating consequences,” Sorenson noted. “We must act now to protect these vital ecosystems and the shorebirds that depend on them.”
A volunteer uses a Shorebird ID card at a Caribbean Waterbird Census count. (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario OPAS)
Counting waterbirds at Las Salinas, Zapata Swamp.
A flock of Willets and Short-billed Dowitchers take flight in Las Salinas mangroves, Zapata Swamp, Cuba (photo by Ernesto Reyes)
BirdsCaribbean is urging governments and citizens alike to step up:
Governments can lead the way by prioritizing wetland conservation and enforcing policies that safeguard mangroves and coastal habitats from pollution and unsustainable development practices.
Citizens can contribute by supporting habitat protection and restoration efforts, joining cleanups, participating in bird monitoring programs like the Caribbean Waterbird Census—essential for tracking bird populations and habitat use—and reducing pesticide use to protect waterways from pollution.
Together, these actions can create a lasting impact, safeguarding our birds and the vital habitats they depend on.
Timed with the global migration of shorebirds from breeding to overwinter areas, World Shorebirds Day is celebrated every September 6th! This special day highlights these incredible birds and the amazing journeys they make. It also brings attention to the threats they face and actively promotes shorebird monitoring and conservation through the Global Shorebird Count (GSC). Over the week-long GSC, people all over the world come together to monitor shorebird populations and protect the vital habitats these birds depend on for shelter and food. In the Caribbean, we enthusiastically joined the count, showing our love for these remarkable birds. Here are highlights from around the islands!
Sargassum draws shorebirds in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Rondel Smith, a Terrestrial Warden with the National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), headed out to survey shorebirds across Anegada’s wetlands. He was surprised that of all the wetland habitats he visited the beaches proved to be the hotspot for shorebirds. Perhaps because of their thick beds of sargassum? Rondel said “the beached sargassum seemed to be very popular as hundreds of sandpipers could be seen foraging through it.” You can learn more about how beneficial sargassum is to wildlife from the free e-book ‘Suddenly Sargassum’ by Les Fruits de Mer linked at the ned of this blog. Rondel also spotted Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, Short-Billed Dowitchers. The highlight of the count?—A Piping Plover! This small globally near-threatened shorebird is a fairly common winter visitor in parts of The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Cuba, but it is a much rarer sight in the BVI. This shows that once you are out monitoring waterbirds you never know what you might find! Rondel’s efforts also revealed an unexpected discovery—an active Brown Pelican nesting colony, the first ever recorded nesting on the island!
Enjoy Rondel’s beautiful photos from his shorebirds surveys:
Western Sandpiper BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
Shorebirds feeding on sargassum, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
A Semipalmated Sandpiper enjoying the sargassum, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
Young Brown Pelicans, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
You can also find out more about birds and sargassum in this great book on the topic “Suddenly Sargassum”
Ailen Anido Escalona shared some amazing finds from her shorebird surveys in Cuba with us. During their week of surveys, Ailen and her team counted many wetland birds in addition to shorebirds. Their efforts led to the discovery of a previously undocumented colony of American Flamingos—an exciting find! They also managed to visit the lagoons of the Las Balsas wetland, a site monitored with BirdsCaribbean’s support. Alien reflected on the importance of their work: “It was a unique experience, as we continue to build knowledge about our birdlife.”
Ailen and the survey team.
American Flamingos (Photo by Ailen Anido Escalona)
Engaging youth in St. Eustatius
Jethro and group enjoy a walk and bird survey along Zeelandia Beach for World Shorebirds Day. (Photo by Jethro van ‘t Hul)
Small islands with small wetland areas are still important for shorebirds on the move, so we were delighted to hear about the monitoring effort of Jethro van ‘t Hul of STENAPA on St. Eustatius. As part of their celebration, Jethro hosted an afternoon walk along a local beach on September 6th, World Shorebirds Day itself! Seven participants, including curious youngsters, joined in the fun. They spotted 17 bird species, 10 of which were shorebirds, including Short-billed Dowitchers and Wilson’s Plovers. This hands-on experience inspired participants to connect with nature and appreciate the importance of shorebird conservation.
Puerto Rico celebrated World Shorebirds Day with impressive results. Biologist Nahíra Arocho-Hernández along with volunteers, Julián Rivera and José (Cheo) Vargas, surveyed the Salt Flats of the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. Their efforts paid off in a big way! They identified an impressive 22 shorebird species of shorebirds, with a total of 2,540 birds counted! The Salt Flats were teeming with Stilt Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Nahíra and her team also encountered several individuals of the larger shorebird species, such as Whimbrels, Willets and striking American Oystercatchers, adding more excitement to their GSC. Their dedication highlights the incredible biodiversity of Puerto Rico’s wetlands.
The local organization De Pajareo Puerto Rico also joined in, sharing their shorebird adventures during the Global Shorebird Count. Follow along on their shorebird-counting adventures here:
World Shorebirds Day is more than a celebration of amazing shorebirds — it’s a tribute to the beautiful wetlands they rely on to survive and the love and dedication shown to them by all the Caribbean shorebird monitors. We thank everyone who participated in this year’s event. Together, we’re making a difference!
Mark your calendars for next year’s Global Shorebird Count and World Shorebirds Day. Bring your friends and family, and let’s make it another unforgettable celebration as well as grow the move to monitor and protect shorebirds and their habitats.
In case you missed them from earlier in the year, BirdsCaribbean made some great ID videos to help you separate the Peeps and Spotted Sandpiper from Solitary Sandpiper. You can find all our shorebird ID videos here, and all of our great shorebird ID and outreach resources can be found here.
BirdsCaribbean visiting Woodbourne in 2022 during our Wetlands Education Workshop in Barbados. L to R: Lisa Sorenson, Wayne “Doc” Burke, Alex Sansom, Ian “Bolt” Alkins. (photo by Michele Kading)
With deep sadness, we share the news of Wayne Burke’s passing on November 19th, in Barbados. Affectionately known as “Doc,” Wayne was a tireless advocate for shorebird conservation and a visionary leader in transforming Barbados into a safer haven for migratory birds.
In 2008, Wayne began his journey with BirdLife International to address the unsustainable hunting of shorebirds. Together with two former hunters, he helped secure the lease for the abandoned shooting swamp at Woodbourne. Following restoration, the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge welcomed its first southbound migrants in 2009, becoming a vital sanctuary for a remarkable diversity of shorebirds and waterbirds year-round.
Wayne’s 2009 publication in the Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society beautifully documents Woodbourne’s establishment and highlights the site’s immense ecological value. To ensure its long-term protection, he co-founded the Shorebird Conservation Trust, a registered charity in Barbados.
Wayne Burke at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge. (photo by Yves Aubrey)
Wayne’s influence extended beyond Woodbourne. His efforts, in collaboration with the Barbados Wildfowlers Association, helped shift hunting practices in Barbados, leading to self-imposed bag limits by hunters. The Wildfowlers Association and many hunters and ex-hunters actively supported the work Wayne and the Shorebird Conservation Trust did to restore and improve the habitat for shorebirds at the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge. There are now several swamps in Barbados, including Congo Road and Fosters—where habitat is still managed for shorebirds but no shooting takes place, provide important shorebird refuges alongside Woodbourne.
In recognition of his tireless dedication, Wayne received the Pablo Canevari Conservation Award in 2017. You can read more about this award as well as his life and contributions to shorebird conservation in this article published when he received this award, and also in this tribute from Manomet.
Wayne with Ian “Bolt” Alkins at Woodbourne in 2022. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
For many years, Wayne managed the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge with support from USAID, ensuring it remained a haven for shorebirds, students, researchers, and bird enthusiasts.
In recent years, as Wayne has faced health issues, Ian “Bolt” Alkins has taken up this work, continuing Wayne’s legacy with equal passion and commitment.
Last month, during our 8th Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Workshop in Barbados, Woodbourne was a highlight for participants. Its incredible diversity of shorebirds and waterbirds made for an unforgettable experience, reinforcing the importance of Wayne’s work.
Participants at our Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Guide Training Workshop in Barbados last month enjoyed the huge diversity of birds at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (photo by WIRRED)
Our deepest condolences go out to all who knew and worked alongside Wayne. His unwavering dedication to protecting shorebirds has left an indelible mark on conservation in Barbados. We are profoundly grateful for his hard work, humor, and passion, and we are honored to continue supporting his vision for a thriving Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge.
We invite anyone with memories or stories about Wayne to share them with us and we will add them to this tribute (see below).
Find out more about the history of hunting in Barbados and the work Wayne and other did to change hunting practices and establish Woodbourne as a no-shooting refuge here.
You can read more about Wayne’s pioneering shorebird conservation efforts and Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge in this feature published in “Ins and Outs of Barbados” in 2013.
If you would like to know more about threats to shorebirds in the Caribbean and Wayne’s contribution to their conservation see this post:
From Brad Andres: “Wayne “Doc” Burke worked tirelessly for the conservation of shorebirds, and other species, on Barbados. He gave me a thorough education about the history of shorebird hunting on the island and was a constant source of information on the changing politics and attitudes towards shorebird hunting. His efforts helped form the first Shorebird Harvest Working Group that engaged hunters and practitioners across the Caribbean Basin. I appreciated Wayne’s frank perspectives on what was best for conservation of shorebirds on Barbados. He conducted work at Woodbourne and elsewhere for mediocre wages and even suffered personal injury for his conservation efforts. I hope the trade winds will carry his soul to a place of painless tranquillity.”
From David Wege:“Wayne was a unique conservationist. A surfer birder who’d settled in Barbados after surfing the Americas. Passionate about Bajan birds and their conservation, he was probably the only person able to bridge the divide between the Bajan shorebird hunters and an international conservation community that was in part anti-hunting. Wayne showed that there was a way that benefitted shorebirds by working with the hunters. A way that he was so passionate about that he was often knee deep in mud, literally “getting his hands dirty” to ensure the vision of a shorebird refuge became a reality. When not moving mud or birding at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge, he would often be on the porch of a swamp hut sharing stories with shorebird hunters. His legacy lives on across the swamps of Barbados – long may they be filled with fall shorebirds and other wildlife.”
David also shared these photos with us:
Wayne showing a group Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge. (Photo by David Wege)
Golden Plover decoys, used by hunters, Wayne contributed to this species no longer being hunted on Barbados. (Photo by David Wege)
Wayne speaking about shooting swamps. (Photo by David Wege)
John Fletcher holds his gift book prepared by his birding family at his 90th birthday celebrations in April, 2019. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
We are saddened to share the recent passing of John Fletcher, a true pioneer of birdwatching in Jamaica. Emma Lewis—an influential blogger, environmental advocate, and longtime BirdsCaribbean member—has written a heartfelt tribute to John, honoring his remarkable legacy of inspiring Jamaicans to appreciate and protect their island’s birds. Emma, also a valued member of our Media Working Group, originally posted this tribute on her blog, Petchary, on November 3, 2024. We extend our gratitude to her for allowing us to share it here.
The birdwatching community has become quite close-knit over the past few years. It is small, but growing. Last month was a sad one, however, as we lost a beloved member of the older generation of birders. I penned this obituary; please feel free to share. As you can tell from the tributes at the end of this piece, we all miss John very much – but we are reflecting on the many good times we shared with him.
He was a teacher. He was a mentor. He was an expert bird guide. He was a friend. And he was never happier than when he had a pair of binoculars slung round his neck.
John was all about business and birds
Former President of BirdLife Jamaica (BLJ) and revered “elder statesman” of the island’s birding world, John Oliver Fletcher passed away in Kingston, Jamaica on October 11, 2024 at the age of 95, after a short illness. He leaves behind his two sons, Andrew and Mark, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, shared her condolences with Jamaican birders: “John was amazing, such a huge and positive influence on the birding community in Jamaica and a mentor and friend to so many. A life well-lived for sure and he will be missed. His spirit lives on in our memories—and in every joyful moment spent with binoculars in hand. Our condolences to all of you.”
President of BLJ Justin Saunders shared: “The significance of John to BLJ was evident from my first day as a BirdLife member over two years ago. The outpouring of love since his passing only confirms the beautiful stories I’ve heard about him since. I was not fortunate enough to have met and gone birding with John, something I expected would have been a memorable and fun experience; but I’m inspired every time I see one more picture and hear one more person speak about their favorite ‘John moment’. Even though John’s passing is a sad moment I think it’s also a beautiful reminder of the family we have here in BirdLife Jamaica.”
In a Facebook post, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica conveyed its sincere condolences, noting that John was a dedicated member for many years.
Born in Balham, south London on April 5, 1929, John arrived in Jamaica in 1948 as a nineteen year-old, to do his second year of required National Service in Jamaica. He worked in the Army Ordnance Depot on Princess Street, downtown Kingston. He fell in love with Jamaica, met and married a Kingstonian (Kitty Paxton), and started work with the Citrus Company of Jamaica as an assistant chemist. John worked in a management position in Stann Creek, Belize (then British Honduras) for a short while; however, Belize did not suit the Fletchers, and they returned to Jamaica. They lived in Bog Walk for twelve years, where John was Managing Director of Jamaica Citrus Growers. In 1970, he formed his own company, Fletcher Bowman Ltd., in Yallahs, St. Thomas. John was elected President of the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) in 1980. Following an illness, he sold the company in 1984. After serving as Managing Director of Salada Foods from 1986 for nine years, he retired at 65 and decided to join his son Mark’s company, Country Traders, where he started his own roastery – Coffee Roasters of Jamaica – an enterprise he enjoyed.
Somehow, despite all his responsibilities, John balanced his business career with his love for the environment – and birds in particular.
John Fletcher walking along the beach during a visit to Yallahs Salt Ponds, a place where he was always very happy. (Photo by Emma Lewis)
While living in Yallahs in the 1970s, John had started bird watching in the fascinating wetland area of the nearby Salt Ponds in the evenings; it remained one of his most beloved birding spots. He became a member of the Gosse Bird Club (now BirdLife Jamaica) where he served as Treasurer from 2005 to 2010 and then as President, until 2014. Besides his birding activities, he was Honorary Consul for Sweden from 1983, for 17 years; and wrote a fortnightly column in the Daily News on business and environmental issues from 1978. In 1990 he was appointed to the Appeals Tribunal of the National Resources Conservation Authority and became Chairman, resigning in 1996 from this and other posts.
John threw himself into his activities as an expert bird guide for locals and overseas visitors, conducting tours all over the island from 2001 onwards. Birding with inner city children, as part of a project with Jamaica Environment Trust, and talking to groups of schoolchildren about birds were among his most rewarding experiences – besides, of course, numerous field trips with BLJ.
Indeed, John loved life, laughed readily and easily, and “connected” with people of all ages and backgrounds. He even got on well with bird hunters. It was noticeable that birdwatchers would gather round him during field trips, to gather up his wisdom.
John adjusting the scope for young birders. (Photo by Doris Gross)
John helping a new birder identify a bird by using a field guide. (Doris Gross)
John helping a group of birders identify a bird. (Doris Gross)
John lived life to the fullest, and was very much a family man. His ninetieth birthday was celebrated in style with friends, family and birders at the Pages Restaurant in Hope Gardens, where he was presented with a book created by BLJ members in celebration of his life with birds, among other gifts. It was a joyous and at times emotional occasion.
John on his 90th, after a birding session at Hope Gardens, with the BirdLife “crew.”
While staying at Silver Sands in late July this year, John “really enjoyed his early morning swims,” according to his son Andrew. He had celebrated his 95th birthday with a party at a restaurant in Golden Spring, St. Andrew.
John gave so much to Jamaica’s birding family. He was much loved and appreciated as a colleague and teacher, and he will be greatly missed.
Other BLJ members and birders shared their fond memories:
“John Fletcher will live on in the hearts of birders in Jamaica. He has taught many about the birds of Jamaica and also how to be a superb bird guide…You have taught and shared so much information about birds to so many people, including me. On behalf of the birding community in Jamaica, we would like to send condolences to your family at this time. You were such a birder and you will live on in our hearts – even in our binoculars.” ImmediatePast President/BLJ Executive and Biologist Damion Whyte
“John and I have shared many birding moments, especially at Parrottee Ponds, St. Elizabeth. I chant that JAH grants all those who are connected to him extra strength in this time of bereavement. May his soul rest in the arms of the Ancestors. John, you have stepped into the next realm and the JAH of the birds are with you all the way. Live on Birding Brother.” – Wolde Kristos, BLJ Executive and Bird Guide
“John was serious about birds. He was always ready to share his knowledge with us all. His enthusiasm was truly infectious. He was a very kind and thoughtful man. I will always remember the steaming hot coffee that he would bring on bird trips and share with us; for example, at the top of a cliff in Hector’s River, as we watched White-tailed Tropicbirds sailing by.” – Emma Lewis, BLJ Executive and blogger
“It was so easy to take beautiful photos of John Fletcher. Because he was a beautiful soul and that showed on the outside…I always told him he is our inspiration for aging gracefully. Fly high with the birds John!” – Doris Gross, BLJ member
“I was honoured to have John Fletcher as a friend for over 30 years. John was remarkable not only for his extensive knowledge of birds, but for his amazing memory of people, places and events in Jamaica over the past seven decades. John was not only a birder, but a ‘hasher’ – a member of the running club, Jamaica Hash House Harriers (‘JAH3’) – and because he was an Englishman with a lifelong interest in birds, he earned himself the cheeky Hash name of ‘Tit Pincher’. It was always a pleasure having John on a birding trip: he brought his bird expertise, his stories of bygone times in Jamaica, and his delicious coffee. Farewell, John – fly with the birds you loved so much.” – Wendy Lee, Conservationist and Bird Guide
“I met John about 2002 through the late Dr. Peter Vogel when I was first introduced to BirdLife Jamaica.
I affectionately look back at the fact that John has always been an old man, even seeing pictures of him from years before he always looked the same…sort of how no one can conjure up a picture of a young Santa Claus. He automatically and effortlessly commanded the room as he immediately got the respect and undivided attention whenever he opened his mouth. He always spoke calmly, never overly excited – but still able to convey his passion for the subject at hand…birds.
Since I was studying birds at the time, John immediately knew I needed his help without me ever asking. So he became my unofficial mentor, keeping me grounded in the local and cultural aspects of birding while I was otherwise building up my technical knowledge. He guided me in how to be a bird guide, which is much more difficult than it seems. The one takeaway I always held on to is that he told me to remain calm and not get too excited when I find the bird, thus not robbing the birders I’m guiding of that experience. In that way he taught me how to let the other birders “discover” the birds themselves, even if it meant I should pretend that I’m not sure of what I am looking at. I understood the assignment.
From there he encouraged me to help train other guides and got me into the commercial aspect of birding to the point where I formed Arrowhead Birding Tours in 2012.
In my eyes, John lived the perfect life. We all knew this day would come when we bid him farewell, but we would never be sad about it.” – Ricardo Miller, Past President of BLJ and Bird Guide.
Note that the same proposal cannot be submitted for more than one award in a given year.
BirdsCaribbean’s general Grant Application Guidelines are available here.
Learn more about the eligibility criteria of each program by visiting their respective websites.
Seeking Donors
BirdsCaribbean encourages others to consider endowments or other large awards to ensure that our grants programs continue indefinitely. You may also make a donation to support our work. BirdsCaribbean is a tax-deductible organization in the United States.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2024! This year’s theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, interesting facts, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Pectoral Sandpiper
If you’re out birding in marshy, wet, grasslands during migration season, and you see a shorebird’s head pop up — with a slightly down-curved bill — chances are you’ve just spotted a Pectoral Sandpiper! As the medium sized shorebird obligingly steps out of the vegetation you will observe its distinctive, boldly-streaked brown breast. One more stride into the open reveals that this streaky breast pattern ends abruptly — in a stark line marking the start of the white belly and underparts! Pectoral Sandpipers also sport streaked heads and necks, while the feathers on their back and wings are brown with rufous edges. They have shortish yellow-green legs, and are often seen in shallow water or at the water’s edge in grassy vegetation. You might spot them with American Golden Plovers who like similar habitats, and sometimes form flocks with Pectoral Sandpipers.
We all know that many shorebirds are great travelers during migration, but the long-distance journey of the Pectoral Sandpiper is especially amazing! They breed in the high arctic tundra through Siberia and North America, and most of their population winters in South America. Their winter range includes Peru, south Bolivia, south Brazil, Uruguay, south to central Chile, all the way down to southernmost Argentina. This means that some individuals, leaving from the northernmost parts of the breeding range and flying down to the southern tip of Argentina, are making round trip migrations of up to 30,000 km! This is similar to the journeys made by another epic long-distance migrant, the Arctic Tern, and is amongst the longest migrations for a shorebird in the Americas. Pectoral Sandpipers fuel up for these long trips by chowing down on wriggling midge and crane fly larvae.
In fact, Pectoral Sandpipers feast on different types of insects year-round, underscoring our WMBD theme “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”. During fall and winter they can be found in their favorite grassy wet areas — freshwater marshes, pond edges, and flooded agricultural areas. Their love for these environments have earned them the nickname “grasspipers” among birders. They use their down-curved bills to peck at insects at the water’s edge and probe the soft mud, feeling for aquatic insects such as diving beetles, insect larvae of midges and flies, as well as mollusks and worms.
Pectoral Sandpipers are listed by the IUCN as ‘least concern’, but like many shorebirds, their population is unfortunately in decline. Although this shorebird was extensively hunted in North America in the past, this is unlikely to be the cause of the current population decline. The reasons for this present decline are not well understood and need further study, however, it is thought that the loss of freshwater wetlands needed during migration and on their wintering grounds could be part of the problem. Wetland areas supporting thriving insect and invertebrate populations provide essential food for so many of our migratory and resident birds. Keeping wet, grassy areas full of the insects that birds like Pectoral Sandpipers need to thrive can help them on their way during their long migrations! Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Alex Sansom for the text and Arnaldo Toledo for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Pectoral Sandpiper
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2024Carib
Listen to the calls of the Pectoral Sandpiper
The calls of the Pectoral Sandpiper is a low, sharp “churt”. This call is quite distinctive and can help identify Pectoral Sandpipers when flushed or in flight.
Enjoy these photos of Pectoral Sandpipers
Pectoral Sandpiper in its typical setting during winter and migration. You can often find this shorebird in small flocks feeding in freshwater grasslands, marshes, and pools. (Photo by Jesse Gordon)Pectoral Sandpiper. Did you know that although this species mainly winters in the southern part of South America? A small proportion of the population however migrates to Australasia to spend the winter!
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Have you ever wondered how migratory birds like the Pectoral Sandpiper know which direction to go when they hit the skies for their long trips south? And why it is they they hardly ever get lost (unless they get blown off course)!
We don’t yet fully understand how it is that birds are so good at finding their way to their winter homes. But they know that birds can use different senses to help them navigate as they migrate. They can help set their direction using the position of the sun and stars. They can also use landmarks, just like we do, to help them know where they are. One other special way birds can navigate is to use Earth’s magnetic field. Just like birds we can navigate using this magnetic field, unlike birds we cannot sense this ourselves but we can use a magnetic compass.
Ready, set—BIRD! It’s time to flock together for the season’s biggest day of birding!
A male Magnolia Warbler in breeding plumage, with his bright yellow underparts and heavy black streaking, forming a necklace band on its upper breast.
Get ready for a spectacular October Big Day! This annual event, falling on Saturday, October 12, 2024, coincides with World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) and is a thrilling celebration of our feathered friends and the vibrant birding community.
At BirdsCaribbean, we eagerly anticipate October Big Day. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to unite with fellow bird lovers to share in the joy of birdwatching and the beauty of Caribbean wetlands, forests, botanical gardens, and neighborhoods. This is our chance to celebrate our passion for birds, support science, and strengthen our conservation efforts. Whether you’re enjoying a quiet morning from your balcony or heading to a prime birding hotspot with your birding crew, October 12 is your moment to puff out your chest and rack up those eBird checklists!
And there’s more! Global Bird Weekend runs from October 11 to 13, offering even more opportunities to engage and possibly set new world records. Last year, we saw record-breaking participation during Global Bird Weekend—36,332 people from 191 countries submitted 83,735 checklists with eBird, and we’re aiming to surpass that achievement this year. Let’s make birdwatching history together!
Where are the birds, and what are they doing?
Dive into the excitement—track the birds, observe their behaviors, and discover their favorite spots. Early mornings are perfect for spotting warblers, while raptors soar as the day heats up. Seagulls and shorebirds are ever-present, and you might catch tanagers and bullfinches at their most active.
Make your birding count—submit & share your data!
Participating is easy with the essential tool, eBird, where you should record all the birds you see (and even hear) on Saturday 14th October via the eBird website or mobile app. If you’re in the Caribbean, be sure to choose the eBird Caribbean portal in your eBird app settings on mobile. If you do not already have one, it’s easy to sign up for a free eBird account—here’s a quick guide on how to use eBird.
Birders should aim to spot as many birds as they can from midnight to midnight in their local time zone on October 12; or bird anytime during the weekend of October 11-13 for the Global Bird Weekend. The handy mobile app allows you to keep and submit lists while you’re still out birding, perhaps exploring nearby hotspots. It will even track how far you have walked while watching birds. Remember to submit eBird checklists before October 15, 2024 to be included in the initial results announcement!
Make connections: Birdwatching can be a peaceful solo activity, like a serene stroll through the forest punctuated by bird sightings. But it’s also a fantastic social experience, and there’s so much to learn from fellow birders. They can help with spotting and identifying birds. Connect with your local environmental or birding club—there’s a good chance someone is organizing a birding event for October Big Day on your island, and they’d be thrilled to have you join in!
Don’t wing it: Make a to-pack list and use a backpack. Remember to pack your field guide, stylish and functional BC buff, medicine, water, and food too! If you’re birding in an unfamiliar place, make a trip plan. Be sure to consider where you might park your car, the amount of time you plan to spend birdwatching, how far you want to walk, and tell your friends and family about your plans and where you will be.
Embrace being a beginner birder: If you’re a newbie don’t let anxiety keep you from discovering the wonderful world of birds. Birding groups love it when new members join their flock; they will share their scopes and field guides and work with you to identify the birds you see. They’ll even help you navigate the eBird app and submit your very first eBird checklist!
Find your flock! Birding in a group can be rewarding and fun. (Photo by Edward Hernandez Lara)
Show off your bird sightings and let us in on the birding blast!
Don’t forget to share your birding stories and photos with us on social media. Follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram @birdscaribbean and tag us in your posts. If social media isn’t your thing, join our discussion group with over 950 members to share your October Big Day experiences.
May we remind you that BirdsCaribbean membership has so many benefits; you will receive discounts on our products, workshops, and conferences; meet and network with fellow birders, scientists, educators and conservationists across the region; and keep in touch with birding trends and news through our monthly newsletters (free sign-up here). Join us today to help protect Caribbean birds and their habitats!
Let’s make October Big Day 2024 unforgettable. Have a blast, remember to stay hydrated, and tag @BirdsCaribbean in all your birding adventures. We can’t wait to see the incredible migratory birds that have arrived in the Caribbean!
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2024! This year’s theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, interesting facts, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Semipalmated Sandpiper
Meet our first ‘Migratory Bird of the Day’ for 2024, the Semipalmated Sandpiper! Despite being pint-sized and gray-brown in color, this bird is anything but boring! For a start do you know why it has such a curious name? ‘Semipalmated’ refers to the bird’s partially webbed toes—amongst the other small sandpipers this trait is only shared with the Western Sandpiper!
Semipalmated Sandpipers belong to the exclusive ‘peep’ club, a group of small, tricky-to-identify sandpiper species. Semipalmated Sandpipers can be separated from their cousins, the Least and Western Sandpipers, by a few subtle details. Least Sandpipers have yellow legs, a thin slightly down-curved bill, and their upperparts are a warmer brown hue, while Semipalmateds sport dark legs, straighter, slightly thicker bills, and are more gray-brown in color.
Separating Semipalmateds from Westerns can be challenging even for experienced birders since both have gray-brown upperparts and dark legs. Start by looking at bill length and shape. Semipalmated Sandpipers typically have shorter, blunter and straighter bills compared to Western Sandpipers, whose bills are typically longer and curve down slightly at the tip. Western Sandpiper can also look ‘chunkier’ and more ‘front-heavy’. You can find some more great ID tips for separating peeps in our video here (be sure to read the caption too!).
Though tiny, Semipalmated Sandpipers are mighty when it comes to migration! They travel thousands of kilometers from their breeding areas in the Arctic to their wintering grounds in South America with the Caribbean serving as an essential pit stop to refuel. On migration they are often found in flocks (sometimes of thousands of birds), and often with other ‘peeps’. They feast on aquatic invertebrates that live in the surface layer of the muddy habitats they prefer. You can spot them on mudflats, beaches, on the edges of ponds and lagoons, and even in muddy agricultural areas!
Sadly, Semipalmated Sandpiper populations are in decline, and they’re currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Habitat loss, hunting, and changes in their food supply pose threats to these birds during the course of their long journey. That’s why it’s crucial to protect wetlands across the Caribbean and ensure that these tiny travelers have safe places to rest and feed on their amazing journeys south each year. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Alex Sansom for the text and Arnaldo Toledo for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Semipalmated Sandpiper
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2024Carib
Listen to the calls of the Semipalmated Sandpiper
The calls of the Semipalmated Sandpiper include a strident “jer-jer-jer-jer-jer” as well as softer chirping calls made when in flocks and sometimes in flight.
Enjoy these photos of Semipalmated Sandpipers
Semipalmated Sandpiper. These small sandpipers build up and store fat reserves before migrating. This means they make amazing non-stop trips, with some individuals probably migrating over 4000km directly from New England in the US to South America! (Photo by Anthony Levesque Macaulay Library-ML67930001)Semipalmated Sandpiper (left) and Western Sandpiper (right). You can see the shorter, straighter bill of the Semipalmated Sandpiper. This feature can be great for ID but there is an overlap in bill length between both species, so also take note the ‘heavier’ appearance of the Western Sandpiper and the slight ‘barrel chested’ look. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Test your shorebird ID skills with our “Spot the Semipalmated Sandpiper” challenge! Small sandpipers or ‘peeps’ can look very similar to each other. As well as their small size, they share other similar features—both have plumage that is brown or grey above and white below, pointed black-coloured bills, and a habit of feeding in muddy wetland areas. You can pick out Semipalmated Sandpipers if you look very carefully. You need to pay special attention to their leg color, back color, and bill size and shape. Read the text above, watch our handy ID video, and look closely at the pictures we have shared. Once you’ve done this take a look and see if you can pick out the Semipalmated Sandpiper! (there are some extra tips for you on the second page if you get stuck). You can find the correct answer here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Semipalmated Sandpiper in the wild! This bird is on the mud feeding on ‘biofilm’. This is made up of microorganisms living on the surface of the mud that are stuck together. They eat this by slurping the biofilm into their bill!
With Migratory Shorebirds already arriving in the Caribbean we are getting ready to celebrate World Shorebirds Day on September 6! This year we’re asking you to show some love to our shorebirds and join the Global Shorebird Count, which runs from September 2 to 8. BirdsCaribbean has everything you need to help you take part. Read on to find out how to take part, and why you (and your friends!) should join the count this year!
World Shorebirds Day is held every year on September 6. This day celebrates shorebirds, their amazing migration journeys, and most importantly, raises awareness of the threats they face and actively promotes their monitoring and conservation. The key event associated with this day is the Global Shorebird Count (GSC), which this year runs from September 2-8.
Whether you’ve never taken part in the GSC before, or you are a seasoned shorebird counter—make sure that this fall migration you Show Some Love to Shorebirds in the Caribbean!
How do you join in?
First, and most importantly—get out to your local wetland sites and get counting! Remember to record all the species you see and/or hear (including other non-shorebird species), and to note how many individuals of each species you spot. Take your time and scan the habitats carefully for birds, but be extra careful to stand and walk only in places where you won’t disturb the birds you are trying to count!
Counting shorebirds on the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Photo by Simon Busuttil)
Make sure to record what you are seeing, and to start a new bird list for each location. The best way to do this is using the eBird app on your phone. If you’re in the Caribbean, use the eBird Caribbean Portal. To check or change the portal you are using, go into your settings on the app and look for “Portal” then select “eBird Caribbean.” If you are recording your birds in a notebook be sure to note the start and finish time of your count and add your list to the eBird website once you are home.
Any counts you do at Caribbean wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches at any time of year can be Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) counts. If you are in the Caribbean, please choose one of the CWC protocols when you add your counts in eBird.
Finally, to contribute to the Global Shorebird Count, share each list on eBird with the eBird user ‘worldshorebirdsday’. This will ensure that your checklists are included in data analyses for the Global Shorebird Count. If you are new to checklist sharing, check out this quick tutorial on how to do it.
The answer is that our migratory shorebirds are more vulnerable than ever—they are threatened by human activities such as destruction of their habitats, pollution, disturbance, and climate change. Recent analyses show that shorebirds in North America are declining more than any other group of birds; in fact, more than half of 28 species studied were estimated to have lost more than 50% of their abundance in the last 30 years.
The Caribbean is an important region for migratory shorebirds. They rely on our mangroves, salt ponds, beaches, sand flats, and mud flats to rest and refuel as they continue on their long migrations. Some shorebirds may even spend the entire winter with us!
Semipalmated Plover (Photo by Gary McHale)
Black-bellied Plover (Photo by Ray Robles)
Greater Yellowlegs (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The striking Black-necked Stilt has long legs for wading into deep water to find food. (Photo by Dan Pancamo)
The Global Shorebird Count helps to both map the distribution of shorebirds during migration, and to record their numbers. Data from citizen science initiatives like this and our Caribbean Water Bird Census are essential to help us identify and protect the key stopover and/or wintering habitats that shorebirds use. Protecting these habitats benefits people too because healthy coastal areas provide vital ecosystem services such as clean water, food, sustainable livelihoods, protection from storm surge, and much more.
Show double (or triple) the love!
The more information we have about shorebirds using Caribbean wetlands the more we can learn about their populations and which places are most important for them. So, if you want to show some extra love to the shorebirds, and increase our ability to conserve Caribbean shorebirds consider carrying out several counts at the same wetland(s) during migration season (August-October).
TCI’s extensive wetlands provide essential refuge for Near Threatened Piping Plovers during migration – this flock was spotted feeding at South Caicos. (Photo by Craig Watson)
If possible you can try to do 2 or 3 counts at your local shorebird hotspots per month during fall migration(August-October). More frequent counts can help us better understand important aspects of shorebird migration in our region—like how many individuals use Caribbean wetlands, the timing of migration, and how long they stopover at different sites.
Need some help with shorebird ID?
We know that Shorebirds can be tricky to identify, with some being especially difficult to tell apart. BirdsCaribbean is here to help with some useful tools! We have a Shorebird Poster and “Quick ID Guide” to get you started as well as handy Shorebird ID cards that you can download and print featuring common shorebirds of the Caribbean. Go to our shorebird resources page to find everything you need. Of course, don’t forget to take your favorite bird ID guide with you when you do your shorebird counts!
You can brush up on your CWC survey skills, waterbird ID, and shorebird ID before you go out on your surveys by watching our fantastic CWC and Shorebird ID webinars on YouTube. We also have series of shorebird ID shorts pointing out key features to help you distinguish between those tough-to-tell-apart species. Check our latest video all about peeps below, and see them all on our social media accounts or our YouTube Shorebirds Short Videos Playlist.
If you can get photos or even sound recording of the birds you see, these can be looked at/ listened to later. If you encountered any birds that were difficult for you to identify in the field, visual (or sound) evidence can be shared with birding colleagues and experts for ID support!
Where to find shorebirds?
The simple answer is: anywhere there is water. This means that, as their name suggests, you can find them at the beach and on other types of shorelines. However, some shorebirds will be further inland, including in salt ponds and salinas, freshwater pools, agricultural fields, and at brackish marshes and ponds. Shorebirds will also gather on mud flats, in mangrove areas, and on tidal flats.
Martha Cartwright and Cesar Montero searching for Wilson’s Plovers at Barbery Beach, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Shorebirds on a dike at Cargill Salt Ponds.
Flamingos and shorebirds share the mud and water at Monte Cristi in the northern Dominican Republic. (Photo by GAE)
You may not be quite sure of the best places to look in your area. If so, why not take a look for ‘hotspots’ at your local wetlands on eBird. Just take a look at the eBird hotspots map. Zoom in on your local area and then click on a hotspot to see what types of birds have been seen there recently.
What should you do if you spot a banded bird?
While counting shorebirds you may see birds with colourful bands on their legs. Do your best to record the band colors and any numbers or letters paying special attention to the location of the band or bands on the bird’s legs. Binoculars or zoom photography may allow you to clearly see the band colors and the numbers engraved onto the band—if you get a photo you will be able to send it along with your sighting. You can report your sightings and send any photos you have to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab, which oversee all banding in the United States.
Spotted a banded Piping Plover?
There are several projects that have banded Piping Plovers. The Caribbean is one of the wintering areas for these cute plovers (they are mainly found in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cuba, but are also recorded on other islands), so it’s always possible you might spot one! This 1-page guide which details what to do when you see a banded Piping Plover is available to download as a pdf here. We also have 2-page version with more information for you to use and share here. You can find out more about reporting banded Piping Plovers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at this link.
Be social with your shorebird counts
Survey team in Cuba searching for Piping Plovers during CWC2023. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
We love looking at photos of shorebirds, your local wetlands, and your smiling faces; so please share the highlights of your shorebird counts with us! Use a phone or any other camera that is available, but remember to tag @birdscaribbean and use the hashtags #WorldShorebirdsDay #GlobalShorebirdCount #ShowSomeLoveForShorebirds when sharing on social media. We look forward to seeing and sharing your amazing photos and reading your stories!
Birders, brace yourselves for some exciting news! Jennifer Valiulis, Executive Director of the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA), made an incredible discovery at St. Croix’s Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in St Croix, US Virgin Islands. She spotted a White Tern—only the second recorded sighting of this species in the West Indies!
A Serendipitous Discovery
On Sunday August 11th, Jennifer set out for a routine sea turtle track patrol along the southwest shore of St. Croix. She had just wrapped up a morning bird survey when something unusual caught her attention. Hovering above her dog, a completely white bird floated gracefully, following them along the beach. The bird’s shape suggested that it could be a tern, but this behavior was unlike anything Jennifer had seen before, especially compared to the Least Terns commonly found in the area—which typically fly with quick wingbeats and dive aggressively to defend their nests and chicks.
White Tern spotted by Jen Valiulis at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (photo by Jennifer Valiulis)
The White Tern following Jennifer along the southwest shore of St Croix at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (photo by Jennifer Valiulis)
Note the completely white body and head and black bill (photo by Jennifer Valiulis)
“I first assumed it was a Least Tern,” Jennifer recalls. “But as I looked closer, I realized the markings weren’t right.” The Least Tern is small, with a grayish back, yellow bill, white forehead, and black cap. This bird however was larger, entirely white, and had large striking black eyes. Jen’s keen observation skills and a bit of luck led her to take several photos with her phone, capturing this unique moment before she continued her turtle patrol.
White Tern in Hawaii. It’s a medium-sized tern with entirely white plumage, a slightly forked tail, and glittering inky pools for eyes. The bill is black with a blue base. (photo by Cameron Rutt ML2863700)1
The White Tern is graceful and buoyant in flight. It sometimes flies very high in pairs or trios. (photo of White Tern in Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean, by Eric VanderWerf ML42169701).
Piecing Together the Mystery
Once home, Jennifer struggled to match her photos with any local bird species. Eventually, she shared her images in a U.S. Virgin Islands birding group chat, where her fellow birders, including BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director and ornithologist, Lisa Sorenson, began to weigh in. After some research, Lisa suspected it was a White Tern, a bird typically found in the Pacific Ocean, especially around Hawaii and around several islands in the south Atlantic.
A White Tern chick on Midway Island. White Terns have been recorded breeding in trees and both natural and artificial ledges on coral islands. (photo by Caroline Pott)
Caroline Pott, a former St. Croix resident now working as a Wildlife Biologist on Midway Island in the Pacific, confirmed the identification. “I live with White Terns—they’re everywhere here—on my windowsill, in the trees like Christmas decorations, on my shed roof,” Caroline said. “That is most definitely what it is. They love to follow, floating as you describe, like the birds in Cinderella.”
A Rare Visitor in a Safe Haven
This sighting marks only the second time a White Tern has been recorded in the West Indies, with the first being in San Salvador, The Bahamas, in June 2010. Jennifer’s discovery is a testament to the importance of wildlife refuges like Sandy Point, which provide a sanctuary for lost and exhausted birds that have strayed far from their normal habitats.
Jennifer reflected on the significance of refuges like Sandy Point, noting, “It’s a safe place for them to rest and refuel so they can hopefully find their way back to where they would normally be found. Although we have not seen anything quite so unusual at Sandy Point before, it is not uncommon to see tired, hungry birds that have strayed from their migratory routes.”
How did the White Tern end up in St Croix?
The White Tern (Gygis alba) is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, with its normal range spanning the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including Hawaii, where it is commonly known as the “Fairy Tern,” and a handful of islands in the South Atlantic. The sighting in the US Virgin Islands is extraordinary because the species rarely strays to the North Atlantic.
eBird range map for the White Tern clearly depicting its abundance in the Pacific Ocean.
Seabird expert Rhiannon Austin, who studies seabirds in the Turks and Caicos Islands, commented, “This individual bird could have been blown off course during a storm or strong winds, a phenomenon known as “vagrancy,” where birds end up far outside their usual range.” She also explained that changes in weather patterns, possibly linked to climate change, can disrupt traditional migratory routes, movements, and food availability. These shifts can force birds to stray from their typical habitats as they search for suitable conditions. This makes the sighting both exciting and a poignant reminder of the broader environmental changes impacting wildlife globally.
The White Tern nests on islands throughout tropical and subtropical oceans of the world. In the Hawaiian Archipelago, it is a common breeder in northwestern refuge islands, with a small population also on O’ahu Island. (photo by Tony Palliser ML63353901)
A Message to Fellow Birders
Jennifer’s experience serves as a reminder to all birders: trust your instincts and always document unusual sightings. “Even if it isn’t something very rare, the observation is still valuable,” she advises. She also emphasizes the importance of slowing down and taking in the natural world, rather than just focusing on data collection. “Once in a while, those cool anomalies turn out to be something really unusual and exciting—like a White Tern on St. Croix!”
This incredible sighting has not only thrilled the birding community but also highlights the critical role of conservation areas in protecting wildlife, even those far from home. Keep your eyes peeled—you never know when you might spot something truly extraordinary!
Jen Valiusus doing a waterbird count in St Croix. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Editor’s Note: Jennifer returned to Sandy Point to try and spot the White Tern again, but with no luck. With Tropical Storm Ernesto bearing down on the US Virgin Islands, she had to shift her focus to hurricane preparedness. She and her fellow birding enthusiasts will continue to search for the White Tern, an exciting opportunity to add an extremely rare bird to their life lists. However, the recent storm may have carried the bird off to another island. West Indies birders: keep your eyes peeled for an all-white tern with a pointed black beak!
Whether you’re passionate about landscapes, birds, or wildlife in general—our photo contest is your chance to gain recognition and inspire others to protect Caribbean biodiversity. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to win incredible prizes. See below for more details.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce our 5th Digital Photography Contest at the BC Conference in the Dominican Republic—we invite you to participate!
BirdsCaribbean se complace en anunciar que celebraremos nuestro 5º Concurso Anual de Fotografía Digital en la Conferencia de República Dominicana – ¡Te invitamos a participar!
BirdsCaribbean est heureux d’annoncer son cinquième Concours Annuel de Photographie Numérique à la conférence BC en République dominicaine et vous invite à y participer !
The Vortex Viper HD spotting scope is a high-end scope with incredible optical performance bringing even the finest distant details in for a closer look. It is built to withstand rugged terrain and harsh weather.
Adjusting a spotting scope for participants during a Bird Guide Training workshop in Turks and Caicos. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Students learn to use binoculars and a spotting scope to look at birds at Hope Gardens, Jamaica.(photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)
Participants learned about spotting scope set up and management – especially when dealing with the needs of a large group!
In addition to the Grand Prize, the following prizes will be awarded in each category:
First Place: $100 Amazon Gift card
Second Place: $50 Amazon Gift card
Third Place: $25 Amazon Gift card
Photos must be taken during the time of the conference, including the pre- and post-conference field trips and workshops, in the Dominican Republic between the 15th and 25th of July 2024. Photos can be submitted online starting July 16. (See the full contest rules and submission details below)
The deadline for submitting entries is 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, August 25th, 2024.
Winners will be announced by Thursday September 12th, 2024.
The BirdsCaribbean 2024 Photography Contest is open to ALLphotographers (aged 18 and over), except board members of BirdsCaribbean and the judges of this contest and their immediate families. The contest is open to all participants of the conference regardless of residence or citizenship, so long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation. Review the rules for entering below.
Contest Categories
Our Conference Photography Competition is all about showcasing the beauty of Caribbean birds, ecosystems, and people. That’s why we have included a variety of submission categories that provide a wide range of opportunities to capture rare endemic species and vibrant habitats. We are also excited to see passionate individuals dedicated to preserving our unique biodiversity. Our ultimate goal is to find compelling digital photos that embody our 2024 theme, From Mountains to Mangroves: Safeguarding Our Avian Treasures.
Here are the photo contest categories that you can enter:
“THE ENDEMICS”: Hispaniolan and regional (West Indies) endemic birds found in the Dominican Republic
“FUN WITH BIRDS AND PEOPLE”: Fun with birds, nature, and human interaction* (including photographs of people during conference activities, people experiencing and enjoying nature)
“BIRDS AND NATURE”: Natural habitats and landscapes in the Dominican Republic, including close-up photography, and birds that are not endemic to Hispaniola
Please do not include photographs of pets or domestic animals, nor images of captive animals.
*If you choose to include people in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary (verbal) releases from the individuals depicted. Entrants must not submit images that involve human nudity, or the willful harassment of wildlife.
All photos must be submitted via the photo-sharing site Flickr. Here’s how:
Log on: To submit your photos via Flickr, use your Yahoo! ID, Google, or Facebook account to login to http://www.flickr.com. If you do not have an account, you can sign-up for FREE.
Join the BirdsCaribbean Flickr group: go to the home page for the group and click the button that says “+ Join Group”
Upload your images: Click “Upload” in the top near the search bar and upload your entries.
VERY IMPORTANT – Tag your photos: Browse to the image you wish to submit for the contest and add tags (there is a tags section below the image in the right column). Please add the following tags: BCPhotoContest2024, and the category you are entering (Endemics, FunwithBirdsandPeople OR BirdsandNature), so each photo should have two tags total. Type the tags exactly as you see them here (or copy and paste). Please include your name, the location where the photo was taken, and the subject or title of the photo. Adding a descriptive caption in the title or comments about your photo is also helpful also!
Submit the image: Use the “Send to Group” function above the image to add your photograph to the BirdsCaribbean group.
The deadline for submitting entries is 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday August 25th, 2024.
You can check to see that your photos are uploaded and properly tagged by making sure they are there when you type in the overall contest tag BCPhotoContest2024 in the search bar at the upper right. Check that they are in the proper category by typing in two tags for each category, for example:
BCPhotoContest2024 Endemics
BCPhotoContest2024 FunwithBirdsandPeople
BCPhotoContest2024 BirdsandNature
Rules, Eligibility, and Judging:
This competition is open to all registered participants (full time and part time) of the conference.
All submissions must have been taken during the time of the conference, including the pre- and post-conference field trips and travel between 15th and 25th July, 2024 inclusive.
To ensure eligibility for the contest all entries must have a resolution of 2MB or greater.
Color, black & white, and edited formats are accepted.
SIX entries are allowed per participant for EACH CATEGORY, thus you can submit as many as 18 photos total.
The welfare of the bird always takes priority. Please keep your distance and do not disturb birds!
No audio playback.
No flash or other artificial lights may be used.
Any still photography method is acceptable, including digiscoping, SLR, point-and-shoot, mobile phone, etc.
BirdsCaribbean reserves the right to adjust any deadline(s) as the result of causes beyond its immediate control.
Winning Photos and Prizes
First, second, and third prize winners will be selected in each category and there will be one grand prize winner. Photos will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. All decisions made by the judges are final.
The judges are a selected panel of birders, photographers and scientists. Winning photos will be featured online on the BirdsCaribbean website, social media and Flickr site.
Read the Fine Print—Rules, Terms, and Legal Conditions
By entering, participants agree to indemnify BIRDSCARIBBEAN and its representatives, from any and all third party liability for any injuries, loss, claim, action, demand or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the competition .
Each entrant in the Contest is responsible for ensuring that he or she has the right to submit the photos that he or she submits to the Contest per these rules.
BIRDSCARIBBEAN is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information.
BIRDSCARIBBEAN assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, of entries.
If, for any reason, the photo competition is not capable of completion as planned, BIRDSCARIBBEAN reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the photo competition.
By entering, participants agree for BIRDSCARIBBEAN to use all submitted images for their purpose online and in printed matter. The participants do retain the ownership of the photos submitted, and when used, all photographs will be credited to the photographer.
Questions and inquiries about contest rules or issues with submitting your photos can be emailed to Lisa Sorenson: Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org. You must read the following rules, terms, and legal conditions before submitting any photos!
Your photographs help BirdsCaribbean raise awareness of how important it is to protect the Caribbean’s amazing diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats. Thank you for helping to further our mission through your photography.
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing the best of Caribbean nature photography!
A look back at past winners
2022 Grand Prize Winner – Red-legged Thrush by Edward Hernández-Lara
Back in May 2019, BirdsCaribbean joined other guests to celebrate the opening of the lovely office of Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren), perched on the edge of Ashton Lagoon on Union Island in the Grenadines. It was a joyful occasion—the result of 13 years of planning and sheer hard work which transformed an old, abandoned, and failed marina development into a beautiful place for local residents to enjoy—as well as the birds and other wildlife nestling in its restored mangroves and lagoon waters. Read more here. On July 1, 2024, this brilliantly successful project was dealt a catastrophic blow by the major Hurricane Beryl, sweeping away the SusGren office building and most of Ashton Lagoon’s infrastructure, and causing widespread devastation.
Here SusGren’s Executive Director Orisha Joseph talks about her devotion to the project and her determination to “build back stronger.”
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
If you would like to assist, please donate at the link below, and help Ashton Lagoon, Union Island and its residents—both human and animal—get back on their feet! Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
I first visited Union Island as a young reporter in 2009, on a trip to the world famous Tobago Cays Marine Park. Instantly, I fell in love with this small beautiful island. Soon after, I was introduced to the non-governmental organization Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren).
Who knew that this introduction would lead me to migrate from Grenada to Union Island in 2012, where I began work as Administrative Officer with this amazing organization!
At SusGren, I used my communications skills to further reach audiences across the Transboundary Grenadines, in the region and further afield, sharing the impactful work we do in conservation, sustainable livelihoods, youth engagement and policy development.
Orisha Joseph speaking at the opening ceremony for the successfully restored Ashton Lagoon.
Fast forward to 2024. As Executive Director of SusGren, looking back at our journey, I wouldn’t change a thing—no regrets, at all!
However, on July 1st, 2024, Hurricane Beryl “changed everything.”
In 2019 we completed restoration work in the largest mangrove ecosystem on Union Island: the “Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project”. It was one of our flagship projects, to rehabilitate a failed marina area, which had caused significant ecological and socio-economic impacts with both long-term and short-term consequences for Union Island.
Twin suspension bridges over breached gaps in failed marina causeway in the Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Birdwatching tower in Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Ashton Lagoon trail. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Our achievements after restoration saw the construction of a two-storey office space and welcome centre, twin bridges at Ashton Lagoon to provide access—which became the main attraction on Union Island—restoration of red mangroves, construction of wildlife viewing towers, trails and interpretive signage, and a swale system for water exchange in the mangrove forest.
Sadly, since Hurricane Beryl visited us on that fateful day, we have lost everything.
Ashton Lagoon trail destroyed by Hurricane Beryl, the earliest hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
I was with one of my team members, her partner, my landlord, and 10-year-old grandson. As Hurricane Beryl displayed her strength, hurled broken glass at us, and lifted our roof, we held a mattress in front of us for protection. As the roof began to cave in, we realized we were not safe and needed to get to another house on the property.
Once I thought it was “safe,” I ran across the yard to the next house, then called for the others to do the same. We made it! We were alive! We are all together!
We stayed there until Hurricane Beryl decided she had done enough, and it was calm enough to go outside. I looked around in total shock, I could not believe this was the second time I am experiencing a devastating hurricane—my first being Hurricane Ivan, which destroyed Grenada in 2004. I cried….
Hurricane Beryl damaged or destroyed more than 90% of homes on Union Island. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
My mind went to my two other team members. Were they OK? Were their families OK? Was the office OK? Was the bridge OK? What about other infrastructure? My heart sank as I started to walk through the island, witnessing the utter devastation, people with bewildered looks on their faces, homes destroyed.
SusGren employee Kisha McFarlen and other residents of Union Island survey the damage around them. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Then it all sank in, as I got to the office. It was completely gone, except for the stairs and two walls on the first floor. The mangrove was littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. Birds were just hanging around and fiddler crabs were trying to find shelter.
The charming SusGren office before it was destroyed by Hurricane Beryl. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Sustainable Grenadines office was completely destroyed when Hurricane Beryl passed through Union Island on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Ashton Lagoon mangrove littered with littered with chairs, desks, filing cabinets, papers. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Despite the devastation, there was an overwhelming sense of relief. We had survived. Hurricane Beryl tested our resilience and reminded us of the power of Mother Nature.
But more importantly, Hurricane Beryl showed us the strength of our community and the unyielding spirit of Union Island. In the face of such adversity, we discovered that together, we could weather any storm.
As we pick up the pieces from here, to build back better and stronger, we welcome your support! If you are able to help, please go to our fundraising page here. Any gift, no matter how small, will be gratefully received!
Global Big Day 2024 was an electrifying celebration of birding, fundraising, and phenomenal photography! We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who participated and shared their incredible photos with us. We are thrilled to announce the winners of our annual Global Big Day Photography Awards. This year’s photos beautifully capture the splendor of Caribbean birds and the unifying spirit of our community.
If you missed our Global Big Day 2024 report—click hereto catch up on the teams’ performances and find out who the new reigning champ is!
When great people, birds, and art converge, extraordinary achievements are within reach! A massive thank you to everyone, especially our exceptional team leaders and generous donors, for propelling Global Big Day 2024 to unparalleled success. With a record-breaking 29 teams participating, we soared past our $25,000 fundraising goal to support Caribbean nationals attending our 24th International Conference this July—absolutely amazing! We’re stretching our ambitions and raising our goal to $30,000 to support as many dedicated Caribbean conservationists as possible! If you’d like to contribute to these travel scholarships, please visit: https://givebutter.com/BCGBD2024
Photography Award Winners 2024
We especially congratulate this year’s First Place Best Bird Photo winner, Northern Mockingbird by Jose Alberto (Cuba).
The Second Place Best Bird Photo goes to Rufescent Tiger-Heron by Jerome Foster (Trinidad and Tobago).
The Third Place Best Bird Photo goes to White-cheeked Pintail by Rondel Smith (British Virgin Islands).
The photos we received were outstanding and we couldn’t not share more stunning photos from the competition. Along with the winning photos, the judges selected the three honorable mentions below.
Puerto Rican Tody. (Photo by Edgardo-Cruz)
Semipalmated Plover, St Lucy, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Snowy Plover, Anegada, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
Photographers from almost every team and corner of the world are recognized for their stunning photos in the following categories.
Best Endemic Bird
There were teams named after warblers, ducks, and even cuckoos. The Trinidad and Tobago team decided to mix it up a bit by adding a guan. But not just any guan—one that is endemic to the island and quite restricted in its range, the Trinidad Piping-Guan, locally known as the “Pawi.” Josh Bajnath, a member of the reigning GBD 2024 team—the Piping Pawis—submitted this photo of the Pawi and secured another victory for his team. We imagine that the moment Josh snapped this photo and exquisitely captured the rare and elusive Pawi must have felt like magic—his stunning shot certainly looks like it!
Trinidad Piping-Guan, locally known as the “Pawi”, Bajnath’s Estate, Trinidad. (Photo by Josh Bajnath)
Best Camouflage
Rondel Smith, a member of the BVI Birders team, didn’t just come to play; he came to hide, and he did so well, ultimately helping him to capture some amazing shots of birdlife in the British Virgin Islands.
Rondel Smith decked out in camo gear for GBD 2024.
A well hidden Killdeer. (Photo by Ancilleno Davis)Red Knots resting on Playa del Chivo, Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
When Watchers Become the Watched
Sometimes you do the bird watching, other times you’re being watched!
Click the arrows to scroll through the images.
Youngest Global Big Day-er 2024
We love to see when young people connect with the incredible bird communities in their home countries and we hope to see more young naturalists participating in next year’s GBD! Perhaps, we should add a ‘Junior Birderwatchers’ team to the competition next year?!
Marjel Morales Jr., member of Club de Observacion de Aves Holguin, in Mayabe, Cuba.
The Calming Effect
Science suggests that viewing pictures of nature and seascapes can induce relaxation. Take a look at the photos below and let us know if the science holds true.
St. James Farm. (Photo by Steve Constantelos)Freshwater Lake, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Sublime Silhouettes
Silhouettes are a beautiful way to play with light and add variety and drama to your photos.
Double-crested Cormorants, Tommy Thompson Park, Canada. (Photo by Nicole Gutierrez)
Worst Camouflage
This bird needs to figure out if it wants to be seen or not!
Killdeer, The Bahamas. (Photo by Ancilleno Davis)
Spectacular Shorebirds
Spotting these great travelers might be easy, but getting great photos of shorebirds is a real challenge! However the following photographers have captured their beauty almost effortlessly!
Killdeer, Bayamón, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward-Hernández Lara)Least Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers, Playa del Chivo, Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
Maritime Masterpiece
While some of our teams birded by land, other birders took to the seas and left the shore behind—far behind! Backyard birds, forest birds, waterbirds, and even seabirds were all accounted for during the Global Big Day count in the Caribbean. We certainly have the most dedicated and thorough community of birders!
South Polar Skua off the coast of Guadeloupe. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Photographer spotlight: Jose Alberto
Cuban photographer and our First Place Best Bird Photo winner Jose Alberto knows how to perfectly frame a moment, an especially impressive feat when dealing with erratic and challenging subjects—birds! Our judges were awed by Jose’s keen eye for “the little things”—the subtlest movements, changes in posture, and the way light gracefully illuminates the colorful feathers of the birds. Enjoy more of his photos below.
Click the arrows to scroll through the images.
Best Selfie
We couldn’t just choose one! See who you can spot.
Members of Flying Pintails birding in the Chicago suburbs. (Photo by Steve Costantelos)
Grand Bahama Island Birders team. (Photo by Charmaine Francis)
Members of Havana’s Bird Watchers Club, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
Members of Havana’s Bird Watchers Club at Playa del Chivo, Cuba. (Photo by Samuel Núñez)
Marjel Morales and Marjel Morales Jr.. members of Club de Observacion de Aves Holguin, in Mayabe, Cuba.
Noelia Nieves Colón and José Colón López birding in Puerto Rico.
Cuban photographer-Samuel Núñez getting a photo of a Stilt Sandpiper.
A member of Team Gundlach, in Santiago de Cuba. (Photo by Alexander Coronado Torné)
Members of Imperial Seekers in Dominica stop to take a selfie before beginning their GBD count. (Photo by Jeanelle Brisbane)
LGBT team members en route to count birds on La Désirade, Guadeloupe. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
Members of The Palmchatters taking a break from birding in the Dominican Republic.
Members of Wadadli Warblers in Antigua got in on the early birding action for GBD 2024. Photo by Shanna Challenger
One Love Jamaica Birders team leader Justin with his team at Hope Botanical Gardens, Jamaica. (Photo by Justin Saunders)
Subgroup of the Whistling Warblers taking a break from birding at the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown St Vincent. (Photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
A young member of the Piping Pawis team birdwatching in Brasso Seco, Trinidad for Global Big Day. (Photo by Giselle Ragoonanan)
A subgroup of the Gundlach Team in Cuba ready to dominate the competition on the morning of GBD 2024.
Members of Gundlach Team in matching birding kit. (Photo by Yaro Rodriguez)
Members of The Palmchatters. (Photo by Andrea Thomen)
Our President, Adrianne Tossas, in her favorite birding spot in Puerto Rico.
Members of President’s Perch birding in Bermuda. (Photo by Andrew Dobson)
Flying Pintails leaders Mike and Lisa Sorenson birding in Boston. (Photo by Mike Sorenson)
Our eBird guru Jeff Gerbracht.
Xavier Ragbir birding in Trinidad.
ENJOY THIS GALLERY OF BIRD AND SCENERY PHOTOS TAKEN ON GLOBAL BIG DAY BY VARIOUS TEAM MEMBERS IN THE CARIBBEAN, US, AND MORE!
Caribbean Elaenia in nest, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Cuban Tody, Holguín, Cuba. (Photo by Freddy Cobas Agilera)
Roseate Tern, Bonaire. (Photo by Steve Schnoll)
Montana, USA. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Grasshopper Sparrow, Bonaire. (Photo by Steve Schnoll)
Long-tailed Hawk, Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Jesús Molina and Alejendro Sautié)
Green Heron, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward Hernández Lara)
Black-necked Stilts, Holguín, Cuba. (Photo by Freddy Cobas Agilera)
Female Hooded Merganser with chicks, Huntley Meadows, Virginia. (Photo by Ducky Nguyen)
Greater Roadrunner, Hagerman NWR, Texas. (Photo by John Thomlinson)
White-beared Manakin, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Horse Back Ridge, Kalinago Territory, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Adrianne’s favorite birding spot in Puerto Rico.
Caribbean Martin, Layou, Dominica. (Photo by Garry Auguiste)
Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Mangrove Warbler, Cuba. (Photo by Jesus Molina and Alejendro Sautié)
Hagerman NWR underwater, Texas. (Photo by John Thomlinson)
Cattle Egret, Anegada, BVI. (Photo by Rondel Smith)
Juvenile Little Blue Heron, McKinnons Pond, Antigua. (Photo by Nick Hollands)
Black-necked Stilt, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves-Colón)
Black-bellied Plover, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Maria Irizarry González)
Loggerhead Kingbird, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edgardo Cruz)
Scotts Head, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Northern Lights, Montana. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Short-billed Dowitcher, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Purple Gallinule, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Tundra Swan, Corey Marsh, Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Jacob and Dave Ewert)
Yellow-faced Grassquit building a nest, Holguin-Cuba. (Photo by Marjel Morales)
Trumpeter-Swan, Tommy Thompson Park, Canada. (Photo by Nicole Gutierrez)
Burrowing Owl nest, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas. (Photo by Charmaine Francis)
Semipalmated Plover feeding with peeps, Fosters, St. Lucy, Barbados. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Ruddy Turnstone, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Dimaris Colón Molina)
A rare spring visitor to Barbados- a White-rumped Sandpiper. (Photo by Julian Moore)
Common Gallinule chick, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Puerto Rican Woodpecker. (Photo by Noelia Nieves Colón)
Eastern Meadowlark, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. (Photo by Alexander Coronado Torné)
Gray Kingbird feeding, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edgardo Cruz)
Kalinago Barana Aute, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Pinnated Bittern, Trinidad. (Photo by Jerome Foster)
Kalinago Territory, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Loubiere, Dominica. (Photo by Derzan Peltier)
Tundra Swan landing, Corey Marsh, Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Jacob and Dave Ewert)
American Oystercatcher, Cataño, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward Hernández Lara)
We are pleased to share with you the new edition of the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba, number 7, 2024, 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 increasing number of bird-watching tourists on the island as well as more bird monitoring by Cuban biologists and the rapidly-growing Cuban birding community are contributing to an increase in the number of previously unrecorded species entering the list every year. Furthermore, the influence of climate change is producing altered patterns of migratory movements in many species.
The new list has been enriched with 6 new records—3 of these were added to Cuba’s main list to bring the new Cuban total to 404 species. The other three records comprised two exotic species, and another which is currently classified as ‘dubious.’ Beyond the numbers though, splits announced in the American Ornithological Society 64th Supplement to the Checklist of North American Birds means that Cuba now boasts 3 more Cuban, rather than West Indian, endemic species! Cuba welcomes the Cuban Nightjar ( Greater Antillean Nightjar split to Cuban Nightjar and Hispaniolan Nightjar), the Cuban Palm-Crow (Palm Crow split to Cuban Palm-Crow and Hispaniolan Palm-Crow) and the Cuban Bullfinch (split from the Cuban Bullfinch into the Grand Cayman and Cuban Bullfinches, making the Cuban Bullfinch a true Cuban endemic!).
This year’s cover features a captivating photo of the beautifully plumaged Western Spindalis, Cuban subspecies (Spindalis zena pretrei), taken by Yadiel Veunes, in the Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt. The Western Spindalis belongs to the Spindalidae family which is a recognized family of songbirds endemic to the Caribbean. Spindalises were formerly classified as members of Thraupidae (or “tanagers”) but have since been reclassified as a separate family based on genetic studies. There are five subspecies of Western Spindalis one of which is the Cuban subspecies!
The 2024 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 64th 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.
Ruddy Turnstone, Port Royal, Jamaican. (Photo by Damany Calder)
Our 2024 Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) marked 15 years of data collection about birds at Caribbean Wetlands—a fantastic milestone! As always, many of our partners, friends, and colleagues took the chance to contribute to this amazing long-term dataset by heading out to their local wetlands to count waterbirds!
Read on for some 2024 CWC highlights featuring just a few of the wonderful birds seen, and exciting events held in celebration of our wetlands. Every single survey makes an important contribution—we are so grateful to everyone who took part in our 2024 CWC!
Kicking off the Count in Antigua and Barbuda
Over on Antigua and Barbuda, our wonderful partners, the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) adapted our colorful 2024 CWC graphic and took to social media to start off this year’s CWC! They encouraged birders to be citizen scientists and head out to their local wetlands—a great way to spread the word about this year’s count!
People Power in Puerto Rico
As always, we had great participation for the CWC regional count in Puerto Rico. The information that has been gathered there on shorebirds and other waterbirds as part of ongoing CWC efforts is an excellent resource!
This year, Daylene T. Quiñones Pérez, Favián D. Acevedo Caro, and Gabriela Hernández Torres teamed up to take part. They headed out on an impressive three CWC surveys looking especially for our coastal waterbirds! The group carried out two surveys to monitor the Brown Pelican population in Puerto Rico—one in Rompeola, Aguadilla, and the other at Parque Colon in Aguada. Their third count was on the cliffs of Parque Los Merenderos in Quebradillas, where they were monitoring the White-tailed Tropicbird population.
Surveying Puerto Rico’s coastline. (Photo by Daylene T. Quiñones Pérez)
A Magnificent Frigatebird. (Photo by Daylene T. Quiñones Pérez) T. Quiñones Pérez
Meanwhile, Dayamiris Candelario, of local nonprofit Organización Pro Ambiente Sustentable (OPAS), shared with us about the event that her organization coordinated. Teachers, students, and parents from Escuela Brígida Alvarez, led by staff of OPAS, completed their waterbird census in Puerto Nuevo Beach on February 2, World Wetlands Day. This beach is next to Cibuco Wetland Nature Reserve, a wetland in which the Cibuco river meets the sea.
Birding in spite of the weather, the group counts waterbirds at Puerto Nuevo Beach. (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario/OPAS)
Dayamiris says they headed out on a cloudy, damp, and slightly windy morning ready with their binoculars, bird guides, and ponchos. Undeterred by the weather, they counted 137 birds representing 14 different species! Students learned about CWC protocols, the importance of the CWC to further the conservation of wetlands, different techniques to use when carrying out surveys, and how to spot birds with binoculars. This exercise taught them first-hand about the vast biodiversity that can be found in coastal environments. These areas are highly regarded by locals and visitors to Puerto Rico for their recreational value.
A volunteer uses a Shorebird ID card at a Caribbean Waterbird Census count. (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario OPAS)
Celebrating World Wetlands Day! (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario OPAS)
Puerto Nuevo is a public beach awarded with a Blue Flag, an international program that recognizes beaches for, among other things, their environmental management and education efforts. You can find more out more about the work of OPAS on their Instagram or on LinkedIn pages. Learn more about Blue Flag certification here.
Volunteers of Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge continued their participation in the CWC with counts at Las Salinas and Laguna Cartagena. Check out their exciting Facebook posts about these visits!
Glorious Glossy Ibis
Jackie Cestero, the founder of Nature Explorers Anguilla, visited salt ponds and beaches all across Anguilla. This small island has an amazing 16 important bird areas (IBAs), most of which are wetlands or highly coastal areas. Jackie recorded an impressive 63 different species of birds during her CWC efforts! This included a Little Blue Heron, some smart looking Lesser Scaups, and a few very cute grebe chicks!
A juvenile Little Blue Heron at East End Pond Anguilla. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
A group of Lesser Scaups at East End Pond. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
A group of Pied-billed Grebe chicks. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
Another highlight was sightings of the Glossy Ibis at two different locations! You can read more about Jackie’s CWC counts in her blog post. Enjoy her video of Glossy Ibises below!
Shorebirds in St. Eustatius
Jethro van’t Hul, from St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), told us about his team’s ‘big census day’. The group headed out and about in St. Eustatius and covered a whopping 14 sites with their CWC efforts! Jethro says they had quite a few interesting sightings including the Belted Kingfisher, Green Heron, Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Great Egret, 11 Pelicans in one flock, and four different shorebirds in one group! Jethro says they actually encountered quite a few shorebirds, including some they weren’t expecting. Their shorebird sightings included Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, a Spotted Sandpiper, as well as Killdeer. He also let us know that, “This was a first survey for us, and the group generally felt very positive about it.” Let’s hope that this is the first of many CWC outings for the team!
Carrying out CWC surveys on St. Eustatius. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Semipalmated Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones on the beach. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Tourism meets science in Cuba
Participants in BirdsCaribbean’s January Bird Tour to Cuba combined ecotourism with citizen science! The group conducted CWC counts in many of the wetlands and coastal areas in the western half of Cuba! Yet again, shorebirds were stars of the show! The group had their best counts at Las Salinas De Brito where shorebird counts included 800 Black-bellied Plovers, 200 Short-billed Dowitchers, 52 Willets, and 15 Red Knots!
American Flamingos at Las Salinas De Brito, Cuba (Photo Andrew Dobson)
Reddish Egret at Las Salinas De Brito, Cuba (Photo Andrew Dobson)
A rare Great ‘White’ Heron, the Great Blue Heron white morph at Las Salinas De Brito, Cuba (Photo Andrew Dobson)
Connecting with an ‘old friend’ in Jamaica
BirdLife Jamaica members visited the historic fishing village of Port Royal, where waterbirds enjoy a friendly relationship with fishermen, often begging scraps. Amongst the birds seen was a Sanderling wearing some bands! This bird, ‘X19,’ is well-known in Jamaica now—it has been spotted in 2021, 2022, and now in 2024! This Sanderling was banded in Saskatchewan, Canada, which is over 4000 km from Jamaica! When birds get their bands, researchers estimate their age based on their plumage characteristics, species, and age at first breeding. When this Sanderling got banded in 2019, it was estimated that it hatched in 2017 or earlier, so we know that X19 is at least seven years old! Here’s hoping it makes many more winter trips to Jamaica in the future.
Sanderling – X19 stopped on another winter visit to Jamaica. (Photo by Damany Calder)
At a World Wetlands Day event organized by the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), local residents and students were taken on tours, by boat and on foot, of the pristine mangrove forest surrounding the Discovery Centre in Salt River. Although the wetlands were enduring a drought period, larger waterbirds, including flocks of White Ibises and Tricolored Herons, were observed. At another World Wetlands Day event at the Mason River Nature Reserve, a host of youngsters from local schools (kindergarten age upwards) learned about wetland birds and Jamaica’s endemic birds, engaged in bird bingo, and received posters.
Enjoy some photo highlights from CWC in Jamaica!
Students with posters of seabirds and endemic birds at Mason River. (Photo by NHMJ)
Brandon Hay, Science Officer at Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, explains wetland birds to a group of students at Mason River Nature Reserve, Clarendon. (Photo by NHMJ)
Snowy Egret looks for scraps at Port Royal. (Photo by Damany Calder)
Lesser Scaup at Bushy Park (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
Magnificent Frigatebirds at Whitehouse, Westmoreland Jamaica. (Photo by Wolde Kristos)
Blue-winged Teal and Common Gallinules spotted at Bushy Park, Jamaica. (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
A Blue-winged Teal show us its ‘Blue-wings’, Bushy Park Jamaica. (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
Spot the Northern Shoveler! (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
Kids learning about wetlands and waterbirds at Mason River. (Photo by NHMJ)
Rare Sandpiper Spotted in Guadeloupe
Saving the best till last? Anthony Levesque tells us that on Saturday 3rd February, the last day of the CWC regional count, he was with a group of people at Gaschet reservoir in Guadeloupe. Here they had quite the surprise from a very unexpected visitor—a Baird’s Sandpiper!
Anthony says that the bird was “completely unexpected at this date—it is supposed to be far away in South America.” This shorebird is also very rare in the Caribbean, and Anthony notes that it was only the 2nd record of this species for Guadeloupe!
An unexpected Baird’s Sandpiper in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
This lovely long-winged, long-distance migrant normally takes a more westerly route on its trip south for the winter. It also has one of the longest and fastest migrations of all bird species! The Baird’s Sandpiper breeds in the high-arctic and winters in South America. On their epic journeys south, they normally travel via Mexico and Central America, bypassing the Caribbean completely, making them a rare sight in our region! You can find out more about their migration in Birds of the World.
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort that provides important data that helps us keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand the threats they face, and raise awareness. We appreciate every single CWC count that gets done during the annual 3-week regional census in January and February. 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! CWC counts at Caribbean wetlands are valuable year-round and add to our knowledge of the resident and migratory birds that use them. Just be sure to use a CWC protocol in eBird Caribbean when entering your data every time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, 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 practising for next year’s annual census!
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology publishes peer-reviewed science on Caribbean birds and their environment that is critical to informing conservation work. In this annual blog feature, JCO’s staff is proud to show off the amazing research from scientific teams around the Caribbean. Volume 36 demonstrates the wide range of research conducted by our authors; from population and habitat use studies, to documentations of behavior, to methods-centered papers on bird monitoring. About ten articles focus on land birds, while three concentrate on waterbirds.
The JCO is immensely grateful for its dedicated team of editors, reviewers, copyeditors, translators, proofreaders, and production specialists that have worked together so well again this past year to produce high-quality publications. We also thank the 57 authors behind the 16 Research Articles and Notes for their trust in the JCO to publish their open-source work in the best form. The JCO and our non-profit publisher, BirdsCaribbean, continue to emphasize support for early-career researchers, trilingual content, open access, and a comprehensive archive going back to the very first volume from 1988.
Map depicting research locations of studies published in Volume 36.
A few glimpses behind the scenes of JCO’s operations in 2023:
JCO has welcomed Dr. Susana Aguilar, our Birds of the World (BOW) Coordinator for Cuba. Susana has an intimate knowledge of Cuban ornithology and we are very happy that we could recruit her to facilitate the revision of BOW accounts from the largest Caribbean island. Our Production Assistant and Designer since 2019, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes is pursuing another professional opportunity. She has tremendously helped with typesetting and, being an Adobe InDesign wizard, has optimized several “under the hood” features. Our Associate Editor team expanded with Yvan Satgé of Clemson University and Dr. Kathryn Peiman, from Ontario, Canada joining the team. Sadly, we learned that one of our Associate Editors, Dr. Virginia Sanz D’Angelo (Centro de Ecología, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela) has passed away. Her dedication to JCO leaves a big gap.
It took a little longer than hoped, but our (all part-time!) staff finally pulled together a voluminous (94 pages) Special Issue with Caribbean-themed conference contributions from the AOS-BC conference in San Juan in 2022. Because it sometimes takes authors a while to fully publish research, these conference presentations and poster abstracts provide a more timely glimpse into what’s happening in Caribbean bird research and conservation.
We hope to see many of our readers, authors, editors, and team members in July at the BirdsCaribbean 2024 Conference in the Dominican Republic!
— Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr., JCO Editor-in-Chief,
— Stefan Gleissberg, JCO Managing Editor
— Zoya Buckmire, JCO Lead Copyeditor
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 a monthly contribution of $5 or more!
Like humans, birds are susceptible to parasitic infections, including avian malaria, and similarly, variations in hemoglobin structure 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 and 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.
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 century, with a whopping 68 species, 3 of which are Bahamian endemics.
As human influence over the environment increases, so too does the distribution of artificial materials in natural spaces. More and more birds are encountering human debris in their habitat and interacting with these materials in various ways—whether mistaking them for food or becoming entangled in them. In this research note, Madden and Danielson-Owczynsky document landbirds in St. Eustatius using human debris in an interesting but dangerous way, a fascinating discovery that hints at the pervasiveness of our impact on the world around us.
Anderson Jean, Maxon Fildor, Marta Curti, Eladio Fernandez, Christine D. Hayes, and Thomas I. Hayes
Few things are more exciting than the rediscovery of a once-extirpated species, and the case of the Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is no exception. This Hispaniolan endemic was once well-distributed across the island, but had not been recorded in Haiti since 1962. A chance encounter in 2019 prompted hope and follow-up studies in subsequent years as the authors sought to confirm sightings of the species. In this research note, Jean et al. document their rediscovery of this unique hawk in Haiti.
Joshua LaPergola, C. Justin Proctor, Hodali Almonte, and Kate J. Wallace
Birds eat bugs—or at least, that is how it’s supposed to go. The roles are sometimes reversed in the natural world, with one noteworthy example being parasitism. Philornis sp. larvae are a well-known parasite for birds, but we are still figuring out which species are affected by these parasites. In this paper, LaPergola et al. document the first record of Philornis sp. larvae parasitizing a swift, in this case an Antillean Palm-Swift (Tachornis phoenicobia) in the Dominican Republic. This expands our understanding of parasitism by this genus and adds to the ever-growing list of threats to Caribbean birds, especially aerial insectivores like swifts.
Nicholas Bergen, Christopher C. De Ruyck, and Nicola Koper
Citizen science provides a seemingly obvious solution to the various logistical and resource challenges of data collection in the Caribbean, but it is not without its own challenges. How does observer experience affect detectability of birds in the field? And do observers perform differently depending on who they are paired with? Bergen et al. conducted an experiment in Grenada to answer these questions and more, involving 34 different observers in over 400 surveys across the island. In this paper, the authors present the results of their study, along with several practical recommendations for the design and implementation of citizen science-based monitoring programs in the region.
Louise M. Soanes, Devon Carter, Laurel B. Symes, Jennifer C. Daltry, Holger Klinck, Clarissa Lloyd, and Farah Mukhida
If we as scientists had unlimited time and money, then long-term monitoring of bird populations would be a breeze. In the real world, however, monitoring efforts are limited by funding, access, and personnel, especially on remote islands and cays. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is an emerging tool with the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of monitoring efforts, and a recent pilot project in Anguilla aimed to test the utility of this tool in the Caribbean context. In this paper, Soanes et al. describe the results of their pilot, with recommendations for the best use of PAM throughout the region.
Samantha J. Hagler, Kara Abbott, Christine D. Hayes, Thomas I. Hayes, and André A. Dhondt
The Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is a charismatic species that has received lots of conservation attention in recent years, but there still remain major gaps in knowledge about this species’ life history and behavior, especially pre-breeding. In this research article, Hagler et al. present their results from tracking 3 established breeding pairs of Ridgway’s Hawks in the Dominican Republic, adding critical information to the body of knowledge about this endangered and endemic species.
Yaroddys Rodríguez Castaneda y Nils Navarro Pacheco
The wild bird trade is a growing threat to Caribbean birds, with species targeted for their bright plumages and/or beautiful songs. This industry is especially prevalent in Cuba, with over 3,000 birds trapped in one month (October 2021). Dozens of species are trapped and sold, including species that may not have been previously recorded for the island. In this Spanish-language paper, Rodríguez Castaneda and Navarro Pacheco document a new species for Cuba, discovered through the ongoing bird trade, suggesting that Cuba’s true avian diversity may be even higher than estimated.
El tráfico de aves silvestres es una amenaza creciente a las aves del Caribe, con las aves elegidas para sus plumajes brillantes y/o sus bonitos cantos. Esta industria es especialmente frecuente en Cuba, con más que 3000 aves capturadas en un mes (octubre 2021). Docenas de especies son capturadas y vendidas, incluyendo unas especies que quizás no eran reportadas para la isla. En este artículo español, Rodríguez Castaneda y Navarro Pacheco documentan una especie nueva para Cuba, descubierta por el tráfico continuado de aves, sugiriendo que la verdadera diversidad de aves de Cuba puede ser aún más alta que la estimada anteriormente.
Ramon J.T. Williams, Miyako H. Warrington, and Nicola Koper
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are subject to unique ecological pressures, and the bird populations on these islands are no different. How are birds using and responding to natural and anthropogenic habitats on these islands? In what ways does this use differ from the well-studied continental regions? And importantly, how does this inform conservation and management measures here, in the Caribbean? In this paper, Williams et al. explore all these questions and more using resident landbird species in Grenada.
Kara L. Lefevre, Elizabeth Forys, Adam DiNuovo, and Adam D. Smith
Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) are a charismatic—and admittedly odd-looking—colonial seabird distributed throughout the coastal Americas. Populations in Florida (R. niger niger) are under threat, and to inform conservation measures, Lefevre et al. set out to track the dispersal and movements of skimmer chicks from breeding colonies in Florida. In this paper, the authors describe their use of various tracking methods, some more successful than others, and present important recommendations on how to design future studies.
Parrots and parakeets (Psittaciformes) are some of the most widely introduced species in the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico is no exception. There, the White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus) was introduced in the late 1960s and has since become “the most successful invasive psittacine species on the island”. However, until now, not much was known about their life history or population status in Puerto Rico. In this article, Falcón and Tremblay report on the status of two breeding populations with estimates of their growth rates, as well as other critical information including the species’ diet and nesting habits on the island.
Paige A. Byerly, Susan Zaluski, Daniel Nellis, Judy Pierce, and Paul L. Leberg
Effective management of bird populations requires quality data, but quality data is often difficult to come by. Where studies do exist, methods may vary greatly based on differing research questions, objectives, and priorities, but as Byerly et al. demonstrate here, it is not impossible to form a cohesive picture from various disparate surveys. Comparing data from surveys in the early 2000s with their own in 2016-2018, the authors produce up-to-date trends on the populations of 7 seabirds in the Virgin Islands—and none of them are good. In this paper, Byerly et al. present these timely population status updates, a call for action, and a great example of how to make the best of the limited data we have in the Caribbean to conserve and manage our birds.
Nils Navarro Pacheco, Roberto Jovel Lara, Wisdenilde Navarro Méndez, Juan Carlos Lobaina Montero, Noel Coutín Lobaina, and Carlos Hernández
The Cuban subspecies of the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus fringilloides) is relatively understudied, with no documented nesting records for Cuba—until now. In this Spanish-language article, Navarro Pacheco et al. present the first record of a nest found in Guantanamo, Cuba, with detailed descriptions of the nest, eggs, breeding behavior, and other aspects of the reproductive biology of this endemic subspecies.
El Gavilancito Cubano (Accipiter striatus fringilloides) es relativamente poco estudiado, con ningunos registros de nidificación documentados para Cuba—hasta ahora. En este artículo español, Navarro Pacheco y otros presentan el primer registro de un nido encontrado en Guantánamo, Cuba, con descripciones detalladas del nido, los huevos, el comportamiento de reproducción, y otros aspectos de la biología reproductiva de esta subespecie endémica.
Avery Young, David Aborn, Steven C. Latta, and Jennifer Nagel Boyd
The way wildlife interacts with food systems is an increasingly important topic as food production expands and encroaches upon habitat. In the Dominican Republic, a major driver of habitat loss is the conversion of forests to avocado farms to meet demand. How does habitat differ between the natural forests and these farm systems? How are birds responding to these differences? And does avian response vary depending on whether the birds are endemic, resident, or migratory? In this research article, Young et al. answer these questions and more, and offer recommendations to balance habitat preservation with our food production needs.
Malo Braquier, Anthony Levesque, Jérémy Delolme, and Charlotte Francesiaz
How long do birds live in the wild? Lifespan of course differs by family and species, and even within species as birds face varying threats within their habitats, migration routes, and from the humans they encounter. Shorebirds like plovers can live into their teens, and for the Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia), the previous longevity record was 10 years. In this research note, Braquier et al. report a new longevity record for this species from their resightings of a previously banded Wilson’s Plover in Guadeloupe.
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 Editor JCO
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.
Demonica Brown and Maya Wilson assembling the Motus antenna. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Our Motus stations are multiplying! Twostations were recently installed in The Bahamas, bringing the total to six stations in just over a year—starting with two in Puerto Rico, followed by one each in Jamaica and Barbados. You may ask, “Remind us what Motus is?” The Motus Wildlife Tracking System, often abbreviated to “Motus” from the Latin word for movement, is an international collaborative research network that uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. Put simply, it tracks the movements of small animals and birds in flight.
The Caribbean Motus Collaboration (CMC) aims to fill the geographical gap in the network in the Caribbean. As more stations are added, we will be able to learn more about the movements of migratory birds throughout the islands. It is exciting work! We look forward to a future filled with Motus stations to help us learn more about how to preserve these remarkable species on their journeys. Here, Demonica Brown, Science Officer at The Bahamas National Trust, shares her story of how the first two Bahamian stations were installed, and the impact they will have.
Wildlife backpackers on the move
Flying animals such as birds, bats, and insects are safely captured by trained professionals and “tagged” with tiny, lightweight transmitters that look like miniature backpacks. When these animals fly within the range of receiver stations, detection data is transmitted and added to the database. Motus is a powerful tool that allows researchers to gain a greater understanding of how these species, especially birds, move around.
Kirtland’s Warbler fitted with a lightweight nano-tag. This tiny transmitter lets researchers track the movements of tagged birds, bats, and even large insects with precision across thousands of miles. (Photo by Scott Weidensaul)
The various types of Motus tags that can be attached to animals to track their movement. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
The islands of The Bahamas are popular wintering grounds for many migratory bird species. Similarly to tourists that travel to the Caribbean to escape the cold in their home countries, winter migrants from North America make their way down the eastern coast of the US to our beautiful islands, where many of them remain throughout their non-breeding season (fall through early spring). For some migrants, our islands serve as a stop-over location along their migratory pathway as they make their way further south. Over 300 species have been recorded in The Bahamas, with migratory species accounting for more than half of them.
A male Green-winged Teal ventures across the mud. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Palm Warblers were named based on a specimen collected on Hispaniola, but this is far from a ‘tropical’ bird year-round. They are one of the northernmost breeding of all warblers (only the Blackpoll Warbler breeds farther north). (Photo by Ryan Schain Macaulay Library- ML223997711)
A Willet feeding. (Photo by Jesse Gordon)
Four stations slated for three Bahamian islands
Through the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, four new Motus stations will be installed across the country. Two stations will be set up on the northernmost island of Grand Bahama (described here). In the coming months, a third station will be installed on Eleuthera in the central Bahamas and finally, a fourth station on Great Inagua in the south! The installation of these stations is a big step towards better understanding how migratory, resident, and endemic species move throughout our islands and the Caribbean at large. I had the opportunity to assist with Motus tower installations on Grand Bahama, a first for myself.
Cesar and Todd attaching the antenna to the Motus tower at Rand Nature Center. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
Cesar and Todd attaching the antenna to the Motus tower at the Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
Since I reside in Nassau (the capital of The Bahamas), located on the island of New Providence, I first needed to get to Grand Bahama. Fortunately, this only required a quick 30-45 minute flight. Upon arrival, I was picked up by Lisa Wildgoose (Rand Nature Center Office Administrator) and headed to drop off my bags at my host home for the next few days. There I met my host Martha Cartwright, a Grand Bahama resident and fellow birder, who graciously welcomed me into her home.
Getting started on Grand Bahama, still feeling Hurricane Dorian’s effects
Lisa and I then made our way to The Rand Nature Center (RNC), one of three national parks on the island. This park protects 100 acres of pine and coppice forest, as well as a freshwater pond, making it a hotspot for birds. There I met with the rest of the Motus installation team, which consisted of Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean Executive Director), Maya Wilson (BirdsCaribbean Landbird Monitoring Program Manager), Todd Alleger (Northeast Motus Collaboration Installation Expert), and Cesar Montero (Caribbean Motus Collaboration Trainee). Also on hand to assist were two BNT Park Wardens, Bradley Pinder and David Claire. Director of Parks, Ellsworth Weir, provided crucial assistance with procuring supplies and getting all of the shipped Motus equipment out of customs—no small feat!
Grand Bahama Motus Installation team: Lisa Sorenson, Todd Alleger, Bradley Pinder, Cesar Montero, Maya Wilson, Demonica Brown and David Cooper. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
After catching up for a bit, we reviewed plans for the remainder of the week. To get started, Maya, Bradley, and I would start the work at Lucayan National Park (LNP) while the remainder of the team worked on getting additional supplies from the hardware store.
The scenery on the drive along the Grand Bahama Highway was somber. In 2019 Hurricane Dorian had ravaged this island for two full days. Winds of 185 mph, storm surge (up to 23 feet) and salt-water inundation drastically damaged pine, coppice, and mangrove habitats on both Grand Bahama and Abaco. These serve as vital habitats for many bird species, and their destruction resulted in the decreased population of many species including endemics such as the Bahama Swallow, Bahama Warbler (potentially extirpated on GB), and Bahama Nuthatch (potentially extinct). Though this is my second time visiting Grand Bahama post-Hurricane Dorian, it is still a sight to take in, with miles and miles of trees snapped in half. However, it was encouraging to see continued signs of regeneration, especially young pine growing, amongst the vast stretch of dead pine stands.
New pine trees and poisonwood growth after the devastation by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
It was hard labor—shovels, buckets, and mixing cement!
After a 25-30 minute drive, we finally arrived at Lucayan National Park (LNP). Established in 1982, this park protects both marine and terrestrial habitats, including one of the world’s longest-charted underwater cave systems. There we were joined by Delores Kellman (BirdsCaribbean Administrative Assistant) and Bob Davies (BNT volunteer), who generously offered to assist. The station was going to be located on the back of the rebuilt LNP Gift Shop, and our first task was to dig the hole for the base of the station. Pickaxes and shovels in hand, the team quickly got to digging.
Taking turns to dig the hole for the base of the tower behind the Lucayan National Park Gift Shop. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Delores Kellman helps Maya to dig the hole for the base. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Demonica and Bob Davies digging the hole for the base of the tower at the Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
About a quarter of the way down, we were met with a slight issue—our hole quickly started to fill with groundwater! This resulted in us needing to bail out buckets of water multiple times throughout the morning. After reaching an acceptable depth, the team worked on creating the frame that would hold the concrete when poured. With a few fittings to the hole, leveling, and other necessary adjustments, the frame was finally set and the 5-ft Rohn section (first section of the tower) was added and stabilized.
Water in the hole! The hole for the base of the tower filled with water. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Delores bailing water from the hole. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
We returned to LNP the following morning to continue working on the station. While waiting on the equipment needed to complete the base, the team worked on assembling the antennas for the tower and preparing the cables. Three antennas for each of the 2 standard radio frequencies used by the Motus network were assembled, for a total of six antennas. This process was simple and went by quickly with everyone helping out. As the Motus expert, Todd gave each antenna a final look to ensure that everything was in place! Once complete, we resumed work on the base of the tower. With the 5-ft Rohn base section secured in place, it was time to add cement to set it in place for good. Mixing cement by hand can be a laborious task, but thankfully we had the help of a mixer which made the process easier. Many bags of cement later, we were ready to pour!
Bob and Maya constructing the base frame. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Many bags of cement are needed to build a sturdy base for the Motus tower. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Pouring cement into the mixer. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
“Many bags of cement later, we were ready to pour.” (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Todd and Cesar ensures the tower is placed at the center of the base. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Lisa and Maya assembling one of the antennae for the tower. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
Todd and Cesar check the antenna before it is attached to the tower. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Base beautifully decorated with flowers and plants. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
While the rest of the team finished preparing the base, Lisa and I worked on collecting leaves and flowers of native plants, which were gently pressed into the top of the wet cement. With the cement successfully poured, and beautifully adorned, all it needed was time to dry. We finished off the remainder of the day at the Rand Nature Centre, where we prepared for the station installation the following day.
Demonica and Lisa with the various plants they collected to adorn the tower base at Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Demonica Brown)
A birding break…
I started my final day with the team with one of my favorite hobbies: birding! Martha planned a morning tour and led us to a few birding spots on the island, including Dover Sound and Barbery Beach. Perfect weather allowed us the opportunity to record about 27 species in total, including an unexpected lifer sighting for myself (Purple Martin). Overall, the morning was a success! We also were fortunate enough to spot five Bahama Swallows near a cell tower along the Grand Bahama Highway on our way to LNP to pick up supplies. Eventually, it was time to get back to work and continue work on the RNC station.
The group pauses to take a selfie while birdwatching at Barbery Beach, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Martha Cartwright and Cesar Montero searching for Wilson’s Plovers at Barbery Beach, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Martha, Cesar, Demonica, Maya and Todd birding at Barbery Beach, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Bahama Swallow swoops low to the ground. (Photo by Brendan Fogarty)
…Then, back to work!
At RNC, I assisted with preparing the remaining antennas and cables for the station. Once assembled, colored coordinated electrical tape was added to antennas of the same frequencies and then down the cables for ease of reference when installing them to the mast and connecting to the receiver. Finally, it was time to erect the Rohn tower onto the base plate that was secured onto the existing concrete near the main entrance of the building. Once set in place and secured with bolts, it was then bracketed to the building for extra security. The next steps would then be to attach the antennas and coaxial cables and connect them to the receivers.
Entrance to the Rand Nature Center, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Maya and Todd checking cables. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Motus station receiver with attached cables. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Motus tower set up complete at Rand Nature Center, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
And the work continued…
Eventually, my time with the team came to an end and it was time to return home. The Motus team, however, kept hard at work and completed both installations before departing that weekend!
It is exciting to have these towers set up. I am looking forward to the data that will be collected and the research they will help to advance. In fact, the station at Lucayan National Park has already detected a migratory shorebird—a Semi-palmated Sandpiper that was tagged in Quebec, Canada! I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to assist with this amazing work and to have the ability to see first-hand the work that goes into these installations. I would like to give a special thank you to BirdsCaribbean for including me in this work and to Martha Cartwright for her hospitality!
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Photo by Sipke Stapert)
Demonica Brown is an early-career environmental scientist serving as a Science Officer at the Bahamas National Trust. In her current role, she focuses on avian and terrestrial matters in which she executes multiple bird-related projects involving monitoring migratory and resident birds. Understanding the importance of protected areas to these species, she is passionate about conservation and collecting valuable data that can also further aid in their management. She hopes to pursue a master’s in wildlife and environmental conservation and to conduct much-needed research on local threatened, endangered, and endemic bird species.
Acknowledgments
BirdsCaribbean thanks our members and donors who made the installation of these two Motus stations possible, including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Action Fund and American Bird Conservancy (ABC). A huge thank you to Cesar Montero, and to Todd Alleger and the Northeast Motus Collaboration for their ongoing support (Todd now works as the Atlantic Flyway Motus Technical Coordinator with ABC). Thanks also to Martha Cartwright, Delores Kellman, and the BNT staff and volunteers who assisted in getting these stations up. Finally, much gratitude to Ed Gates and the late Erika Gates for supporting our crew on this visit with accommodations, transportation, and delicious meals. We dedicate these two new stations to the memory of Erika Gates, who was always striving to advance bird knowledge, awareness, and conservation in Grand Bahama and the Caribbean.
Children birdwatching at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Every year thousands of migratory birds make epic journeys south. Many stop over in the Caribbean to rest and refuel; others arrive and spend the entire winter with us. Throughout Fall 2023 and on World Migratory Bird Day, we celebrated these beautiful visitors. We recognized and highlighted the amazing ways in which they adapt to endure such lengthy and dangerous journeys, and called attention to the importance of water to the survival of these birds. Check out the fun and creative ways in which Caribbean organizations got involved. Laura Baboolal, Caribbean Coordinator of World Migratory Bird Day for Environment for the Americas (EFTA), tells the story…
Water conservation for migratory birds and people
Every year we eagerly await the arrival of migratory birds as they flock to our shores, wetlands, forests, parks, gardens, and even backyards! This year’s theme was “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”; “Agua: vital para las aves” in Spanish;and in French, “L’eau: Source de vie pour les oiseaux.”
Birds need water as much as we do! They need to drink water to help them regulate body processes and use water to keep themselves clean and cool. And many migratory birds depend on healthy wetland habitats such as ponds, marshes, mangroves, rivers and coastal areas to safely rest during their long journeys south and to feed and replenish their energy.
The wetlands of Monte Cristi in the northern Dominican Republic are a fantastic place for waterbirds, including many migratory shorebirds. (photo by Maria Paulino)
This year’s theme highlighted the the impact of the growing water crisis on migratory birds. This theme resonated in the Caribbean, where islands have been enduring longer-lasting and more severe droughts. It is not only farmers and householders who are feeling the effects of lower than normal rainfall patterns. Birds are, too! Drought causes wetland habitats such as ponds, salinas, marshes, and rivers to shrink and dry up, thus impacting the amount of water available for birds to drink, feed and bathe, particularly those that rely on wetland habitats. Water scarcity also impacts people— we need clean water to drink, bathe, and grow our food.
The good news is that there are easy, everyday ways for us to reduce our water use and keep our natural supply of water flowing. Find out how our dedicated and passionate Caribbean educators throughout the islands used WMBD events to build and support coalitions of people to advocate for the protection of critical wetland habitats and water conservation.
Here are some highlights from this year’s WMBD events held in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Sint Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe and Trinidad and Tobago. Many more islands are still hosting events, activities and celebrating this special time for migratory birds!
The Bahamas
EARTHCARE, an environmental education NGO that works across the islands of The Bahamas, celebrated WMBD by hosting a birdwatching trip for children at Princess Park on Grand Bahama Island. The children were excited to see and learn about the different birds at the Park. For many it was their first time using binoculars (provided by EFTA) and they were eager to find the birds using this fundamental tool for birders. Children love using binoculars and the first time using them is always a revelation! Gail Woon and Jill Cooper (EARTHCARE representatives) also visited the Eco School at Bishop Michael Eldon School (BMES) and made a presentation on the importance of water to birds, with special emphasis on migratory birds, and people.
EARTHCARE celebrates WMBD with a birdwatching trip for children at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Common Gallinule at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Getting the hang of using binoculars to look at birds. A child adjusts her binoculars while birdwatching at Princess-Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Princess Park. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Children birdwatching during EARTHCARE’s WMBD event at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
An immature Common Gallinule makes its way to the pond at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Celebrating migratory birds with the Eco School at Bishop Michael Eldon School, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Students making bird masks during WMBD activities at the Eco School at BMES. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Students enjoying art and craft activities during EARTHCARE’s WMBD event at the Eco School BMES, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)
Jamaica
The Natural History Museum of Jamaica moved its popular “An Afternoon with a Scientist” from online and into nature at Hope Botanical Gardens, with the esteemed speaker being Ricardo Miller. Ricardo is a longtime member of BirdsCaribbean, veteran Jamaican birder, and Environmental Coordinator at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). Following this talk, students of Mona Preparatory School, Rollington Town Primary School and Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory School in Kingston were treated to a birdwatching trip across the Gardens. Out in the field the youngsters had great fun using binoculars and bird ID cards to find and identify any birds they could spot!
Ricardo Miller speaks to students about migratory birds and water conservation at Hope Gardens, Jamaica. (photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)
Ricardo Miller leads students and teachers on a birding trip around Hope Gardens, Jamaica. (photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)
Students learn to use binoculars and a spotting scope to look at birds at Hope Gardens, Jamaica.(photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)
The session was a collaborative effort among the Hope Botanical Gardens, NEPA and Jamaica Environment Trust to commemorate this year’s World Migratory Day under the theme “Water and its Importance for Migratory Birds”.
Cuba
In Cuba, Biblioteca Municipal de Bauta (Bauta Municipal Library) in collaboration with the Bauta Birdwatchers Club, Faculty of Geography and Bird Ecology Group (University of Havana) hosted a migratory bird watching activity with 4th and 5th grade school students. The children learned about bird identification and the importance of protecting birds in their country.
Bird ID cards in hand and they are excited to go birdwatching. (photo by Bauta Municipal Library)
Students of 4th and 5th grades head outside to watch birds. (photo by Bauta Municipal Library)
Group photo with library staff and students at the library. (photo by Bauta Municipal Library)
Dominican Republic
During the month of October, Grupo Acción Ecológica (GAE) (Ecological Action Group) carried out several activities to celebrate migratory birds. The group ventured to different birding spots in the Dominican Republic to carry out bird counts, and uploaded their birding checklists to the eBird Caribbean online database.
GAE also partnered with the Department of Education to assist students with planting trees at the National Botanical Garden, thus increasing the number of endemic plants at the Garden. These plants will no doubt provide shelter and food for birds, and other wildlife for many years to come! The man-made lagoons at the Garden were the perfect setting for a live demonstration of the importance of water to birds.
A young girl models her bird mask. (photo by GAE)
Group of students birdwatching at one of the man-made lagoons in the National Botanical Gardens. (photo by GAE)
‘What’s that bird?’ Two girls use a field guide to Identify birds at the National Botanical Gardens. (photo by GAE)
In Jarabacoa the hands-on approach to learning, birding, and conservation continued. Students of the Doulos School went on bird walks and learned about different methods to survey bird abundance and species diversity. They also drew and painted the birds they saw and submitted their artwork to a WMBD contest organized by GAE. The festivities ended in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo with a talk, tree planting activity, and birdwatching, where they had the opportunity to see more migratory birds!
Lecturer at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (Autonomous University of Santo Domingo), and long-time member of BirdsCaribbean,Simón Guerrero, introduced primary school students to migratory birds through a riveting presentation on common migrants. They learned about ‘Moonbird,’ a male Red Knot celebrated for its epic 10,000 mile annual migrations and for being the oldest known member of its species! Simón told us, “I always plant some trees to be sure birds will know we are doing something real for them, not just talking.” After the presentation and WMBD activities, firebush or hummingbird bush (Hamelia patens), a plant whose flowers and fruits are very attractive to native, endemic, and some migratory birds, was planted on the school’s compound.
Students captivated by the birds and art on the WMBD 2023 brochure. (photo by Simón Guerrero)
The students were especially excited to learn about the Red Knot called ‘Moonbird.’ (photo by Simón Guerrero)
Students plant the firebush plant in their school’s garden. (Photo by Simón Guerrero)
Puerto Rico
Conservation Opportunity got their hands dirty to help migratory birds! The NGO celebrated World Migratory Bird Day by cleaning the waterways in Charco Dos Bocas, Ciales, Puerto Rico. Approximately 150 pounds of trash were collected in one day. Over 50 people showed up to lend a hand and learn about birds. They also installed a new sign, reminding their fellow Puerto Ricans and visitors to the river to keep the environment clean.
River in Charco Dos Bocas Ciales after spectacular cleanup effort by volunteers. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Approximately 150 pounds of trash were collected. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)
A community representative speaks about actions taken by residents of Toro Negro to preserve the area.(photo by Conservation Opportunity)
A volunteer ensures no trash is left behind. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
‘Job well done!’ Conservation Opportunity members and volunteers after the amazing cleanup effort.(Photo by Alexia Morales))
Members of Conservation Opportunity take a photo by their newly installed sign. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Volunteers receive instructions before the start of the clean-up. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)
River cleanups provide a-safe spot for migratory birds and help intercept garbage before it reaches our oceans. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)
WMBD pins, stickers, bracelets, and more were distributed at Conservation Opportunity’s event. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
Meanwhile, Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc. (SOPI) headed to EcoExploratorio (Science Museum of Puerto Rico) to talk about water conservation for birds and how to identify some of the more common winter migrants on the island.
‘Let’s talk Birds!’ Visitors to the museum learns about Puerto Rico’s feathered migrants. (photo by SOPI)
SOPI’s booth at EcoExploratorio.
St. Martin / Sint Maarten
This year Laura was able to visit St. Martin to attend a WMBD event hosted by Les Fruits de Mer and to share educational materials with both Les Fruits de Mer and Nature Foundation Sint Maarten.
WMBD Caribbean Coordinator, Laura-Baboolal with Mark Yokoyama and Jennifer Yerkes of Les Fruits de Mer.
Educational books on the wildlife of St Martin written by Jenn and Mark, were given to children during the event. (photo by Laura Baboolal)
‘Hi Mark!’ Mark eagerly awaits the arrival of participants. (photo by Laura Baboolal)
This Migratory Bird Festival included art activities for children, educational activity books developed by the organization, and nature walks.
Guadeloupe
Our partner, outstanding guide, and skilled biologist Anthony Levesque gave a talk on the on the birds of La Désirade. It is one of the islands of Guadeloupe and is better known for its white sand beaches and coral reef. It is also a sanctuary for birds looking to rest and refuel during migration. The following day Anthony led a birdwatching tour with 20 participants, who recorded some notable species such as the Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Bobolink.
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (Photo by Anthony VanSchoor)
Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Photo by Jesse Gordon)
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Photo by Linda Petersen)
Male Bobolink in breeding plumage. (Photo by Ryan Sanderson- Macaulay Library-ML342377131)
Bobolink females. Male and female Bobolinks have similar plumage in the non-breeding season. Look out for flocks of these sparrow-like birds during migration. (Photo by Karalyn Lamb-Macaulay-ML4702854910)
Trinidad and Tobago
WMBD was celebrated in May on the same day as Global Big Day and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), at the ARC Conservation Field Station in Brasso Seco in Trinidad. You can read about the “Protect the Rivers, Save the Birds” event in our CEBF wrap-up blog.
In October, local school teacher Sabira Ali, who hosts private birding activities for children, celebrated WMBD with her students. The activity included a presentation on migratory birds—by the students themselves! Students were asked to select a migratory bird and give a short presentation on the bird to their classmates. This was followed by decorating bird masks and a fun quiz to recap all the feathery facts learned.
One of Sabira’s-students puts her personal touches on her bird mask. (photo by Sabira Ali)
‘It’s time for a WMBD quiz!’ Sabira tests the participants knowledge of migratory birds in a fun and short quiz.
Sabira’s students stops to take a photo with the colorful WMBD 2023 brochures. (photo by Sabira Ali)
We applaud the tremendous efforts of our educators who plan and execute educational and fun activities to ensure an unforgettable WMBD and inspire a love for birds and birdwatching. We extend a massive thank you to our ambassadors, who selflessly deliver educational materials to Caribbean islands. Environment for the Americas and BirdsCaribbean extend our greatest thanks to all of you and we look forward to seeing what you have planned for WMBD 2024!
Birds Connect our World—Fifteen new species shared on BirdsCaribbean’s website
BirdsCaribbean recognized WMBD by featuring new migratory birds in our virtual campaign– Birds Connect Our World. Each migratory bird profile was accompanied by a beautifully drawn coloring page by Christine Elder, stunning high quality photos and videos, online puzzles tailored for different levels (between six and 1,024 pieces), and bird calls. Fun, free and engaging activities were also provided for both kids and adults, including downloadable coloring pages, experiments, up-cycle crafts, and more. We also created short videos to help birders identify shorebirds that show up every fall in the Caribbean—for example, the Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper,Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers and the small and adorable, but confusing, plovers too!
Flying, hopping, wiggling, and crawling towards WMBD 2024
The WMBD theme for 2024 is Insects! While some people may shriek at the sight of these tiny creatures (and rightfully so because our brains confuse fear with disgust, and some insects are actually harmful to us) they are an important delicacy for birds. In fact, insects are so important to birds that migratory birds will literally fly halfway around the globe just to have an ample supply of insects to eat! Insects and bugs are a high protein food. Protein is essential to birds for keeping up energy and body mass and for growing baby birds.
A study published in the Journal of Biological Conservation reported that 40% of all insect species are declining globally. Loss of natural areas like forests and grasslands that have been converted or degraded by intensive agriculture and urban development, and climate change, have all contributed to this downward population trend. A scarcity of this protein-rich food source can hinder bird migration and breeding, leading to weakened immune systems, reduced reproductive success, and increased mortality rates for both adult birds and their offspring.
The WMBD campaign in 2024 will thus stress the need for proactive conservation measures like reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, switching to organic farming, and maintaining and connecting areas of natural vegetation in agricultural landscapes.
If you are interested in celebrating WMBD in your country, or if you can deliver materials to a Caribbean country, we encourage you to visit the WMBD website for more information; or contact the Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Laura Baboolal, at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org. If you have an event planned, you can register it and put the Caribbean on the global events map.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Short-billed Dowitcher
Sometimes bird names can be confusing—and in the case of the Short-billed Dowitcher, frankly, misleading! This medium size migratory shorebird most definitely has a LONG bill. So how did it get its odd name?
Dealing with the “Short-billed” part first, this bird has a closely related and very similar looking relative—the Long-billed Dowitcher. They have a very slightly longer bill than the Short-billed Dowitcher—a difference so subtle that it is hard to spot. Yet, these names were meant to distinguish between the two birds! In fact, the calls of these two cousins are actually the best way to tell them apart, especially when in non-breeding plumage. The Short-billed Dowitcher gives a soft “tu-tu-tu” call in contrast to the strident “keek” of the Long-billed. But it seems that the “Tu tu Dowitcher” wasn’t considered a suitable name.
Moving on to the “Dowitcher” part of the name, this is also a bit of a mystery—what does Dowitcher even mean? In the late 19th century, this bird was being hunted in North America. It seems as if Dutch and German immigrant hunters perhaps referred to them as “Deutscher” or “Duitsch” snipe (i.e. “German” or “Dutch” snipe). This may have then become “dowitcher” or “dowitch”.
Short-billed Dowitchers do have a snipe-like appearance with long straight bills, short-ish legs and a somewhat plump appearance. In breeding plumage they have mottled brown snipe-like plumage above, with pale cinnamon-brown below. In non-breeding plumage they are brownish-gray above, with a paler belly and greenish yellow legs.
Short-billed Dowitchers breed in boggy areas at the margins of boreal forests in northern Canada. They travel thousands of kilometers in Fall, stopping along the way to molt and mainly sticking to the coastline as they head south. In the Caribbean, they can be spotted in a wide range of habitats from beaches, to tidal mudflats, to flooded agricultural areas. Look out for their distinctive “sewing-machine” feeding motion, as small groups of dowitchers with their heads down plunge their bills up and down into the water and mud looking for worms and mollusks.
Short-billed Dowitcher populations are declining and the species is on the USFWS list of “Birds of Conservation Concern”. Protecting our Caribbean wetland habitats and reducing the use of insecticides (which will reduce their food sources) can help us provide places for this oddly-named bird to thrive during its migration. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Alex Sansom for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Short-billed Dowitcher
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Short-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitchers make a soft “tu-tu-tu” call, often as a contact call when flying together.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Even though dowitchers are a very common bird in North America , it was not until the 1930s that scientists began realize that there were two different species there! (Photo by Dorian Anderson Macaulay Library-ML187630851)
Unlike the Long-billed Dowitcher, Short-billed Dowitchers migrate in stages, first moving to intermediate areas to complete their molt, then moving on to their ultimate wintering areas. (Photo by Dorian Anderson Macaulay Library-ML116188411)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: What facts can you remember about today’s migratory bird—the Short-billed Dowitcher? Test your knowledge by filling in the missing words in our Short-billed Dowitcher facts! We have given you all the correct words to use but can you put them into the right places in these fact-filled sentences?
You can re-read the information about this bird above, or search on the BirdsCaribbean webpages or online for more information about the Short-billed Dowitcher! You can also look at the photos, illustration and videos on this page to help you. When you have completed all the sentences, you can check your answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Short-billed Dowitchers in the wild! The first video shows bird feeding with their typical “sewing machine” foraging action, plunging their bills into the mud for worms. In the second video, you can see a flock of Short-billed Dowitchers in flight.
Learn all about how to tell a Short-billed Dowitcher from a Willet: Shorebirds can be tricky to identify, especially as they migrate through the Caribbean in their non-breeding plumage (which is often less distinctive than their breeding plumage). Short-billed Dowitchers and Willets are both commonly seen in the Caribbean in Fall, and both are long-billed and gray-ish brown—so how can we tell them apart? Find out in this blog post from bird guide Allison Caton from Grenada, who got the low-down whilst attending a week-long BirdsCaribbean, Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Interpretive Guide Training Workshop on Union Island in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Wilson’s Phalarope
Each summer, west of the Mississippi, the Wilson’s Phalarope gathers in enormous flocks on the salt lakes of the western United States. Birders and conservationists are captivated by the species’ distinctive field marks, habitat preferences, feeding habits, and interesting natural history—including a departure from normal breeding habits!
The Wilson’s Phalarope is a small (22–24 cm in length), aquatic shorebird, with a needle-like bill and a white rump and underparts. Wilson’s Phalaropes exhibit sexual dimorphism (where males and females look very different from each other). Interestingly, females are larger and much more colorful than their male counterparts. In breeding plumage, females display a beautiful reddish-brown neck and back, contrasting with a white belly. Males, on the other hand, are more subdued in appearance, featuring a drabber overall coloration. Regardless of sex, both genders boast a distinctive white stripe running down the center of their long necks and black eye masks. During the non-breeding season, both males and females sport a more subdued plumage, of pale gray above and white below.
The Wilson’s Phalarope has a diverse and widespread distribution; its breeding range spans from western Canada down to the western United States. They breed in a range of wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, and marshes. After laying eggs, the female typically departs, leaving the male to incubate the eggs and care for the young. This unique reversal of traditional gender roles, called “polyandry,” is an intriguing aspect of their breeding biology.
During the non-breeding season, these remarkable birds undertake impressive migrations that lead them to coastal areas of South America, particularly along the western coast. As part of their migratory route, they may also travel through the Caribbean. Our islands thus provide essential stopover points where these birds can rest and feed before continuing their long migrations.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Wilson’s Phalarope is its feeding behavior. They are adept at foraging in shallow waters, using their long, slender bills to peck at the surface. One can observe them swimming in small, rapid, circular motions. This unique swimming behavior creates a small vortex, or a whirlpool, that brings up aquatic invertebrates from the depths, providing a rich food source. Terrestrial invertebrates are also consumed.
Currently, Wilson’s Phalaropes are classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that they are not currently facing significant conservation threats. However, like many bird species, they are not immune to potential threats. Habitat loss due to urban development and agricultural expansion remains a concern. Additionally, disturbances to breeding and foraging areas, pollution of wetlands, and climate change induced shifts in their preferred habitats could potentially impact their populations.
You can help conserve Wilson’s Phalaropes and other wetland-dependent bird species by:
Supporting wetland protection and sustainable land use in your region.
Participating in citizen science by joining eBird! The more information that is available to researchers, the better they can help protect these precious birds.
Helping raise awareness and let people know about the importance of wetlands for birds and people!
Thanks to Susan Davis for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Wilson’s Phalarope
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Wilson’s Phalarope
Wilson’s Phalaropes make abrupt nasal-sounding calls to each other. These are made both as courtship and contact calls.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, and all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The colorful female Wilson’s Phalarope in her breeding plumage.Male Wilson’s Phalarope in breeding plumage, he is less colorful than the female. ( Photo by John van Dort Macaulay Library-ML565008391)Wilson’s Phalarope in nonbreeding plumage. Wilson’s Phalaropes are one of only two species of shorebirds that stop to molt during migration rather than at their breeding grounds. (Photo by Gutierrez Maier Macaulay Library ML451123731)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Wilson’s Phalaropes make epic journeys south every year on migration! They start heading towards the Caribbean and South America in July, before the weather gets too cold and food becomes hard to find. They don’t make this trip all in one go; they make some stops along the way to rest, molt out of their breeding plumage, and take on more food. They can eat so much on some of these stops that they double their body weight!
Why not ‘Follow the Phalarope’ in our fun activity? You will learn how to map the migration routes of three Wilson’s Phalaropes all the way from North America to islands in the Caribbean! You can find the instructions and worksheet here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos, by Don DesJardin, of Wilson’s Phalaropes foraging in the Wild! In the first video you can see the different plumages of the brightly colored female and duller male. In the second can see the ‘spinning’ technique these birds often use when feeding.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Lesser Yellowlegs
With their long bright-yellow legs, you might spot these elegant shorebirds at the water’s edge searching the shallows for food. Lesser Yellowlegs are mottled grayish-brown above, with pale underparts. These slender-looking, long-billed birds can be easy to pick out from the crowd with their distinctive leg color. However, take care as this shorebird has a ‘cousin’—the Greater Yellowlegs!
Greater Yellowlegs are much larger and more heavily built. If you spot the two together, you’ll be in no doubt as to who is who. But you can also pick out Lesser Yellowlegs from its relatively shorter bill-length compared to Greater Yellowlegs. Lesser Yellowlegs also have a distinctive whistled “tu-tu” call, typically one or two notes, while the Greater Yellowlegs call is a stronger “tu-tu-tu!” of 3 to 4 notes. You can find more ID tips in our video here.
Lesser Yellowlegs breed in the Boreal forests in the far north of North America. They head south after breeding, making amazing migratory journeys of thousands of kilometers. They can start to arrive in the Caribbean from July and August. Some Lesser Yellowlegs will continue on to South America, but others will spend the winter here. Lesser Yellowlegs can be found in wetlands, both freshwater and on the coast. They show up on mud flats, ponds, lagoons, and on mangrove edges. They will also use agricultural areas, with flocks of thousands of individuals sometimes using flooded rice fields.
Lesser Yellowlegs are one of the most common shorebirds using the Atlantic Flyway. They are currently listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. Sadly, however, Lesser Yellowlegs populations have declined by a shocking 63-70% since the 1970s! Loss of habitat, climate change, and unsustainable hunting and trapping at several non-breeding locations have all contributed to this decline. Conserving our Caribbean wetlands will help Lesser Yellowlegs and many other species. They provide food-rich havens for birds to refuel on migration or to spend the winter.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Color in the Lesser Yellowlegs
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Lesser Yellowlegs
The calls of the Lesser Yellowlegs are a whistled “tu-tu” with one or two notes, often repeated rapidly.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Lesser Yellowlegs. Did you know that despite their similar appearance, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are not each other’s closest relatives? The Lesser Yellowlegs is more closely related to the Willet! (Photo by Franz Delcroix)
Lesser Yellowlegs mainly feed on invertebrates including snails and flies, beetles, and dragonflies. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Birds, like the Lesser Yellowlegs, that are typically found at the shore and other coastal habitats like mudflats and lagoons are called shorebirds.
These birds come in different sizes and shapes. They are always on the move, checking the shoreline for food. They have special bills that help them poke into the mud or sand and in between rocks. Their bills and leg lengths are different depending on what they eat and where they find their food. All of this can help us to identify them!
Why not go Birding at the beach? Or at any other wetland! We have made some suggestions of who you can look out for whilst you’re there. You can also download and print out our handy guide to help you identify the different types of shorebirds we find in the Caribbean. You can find more helpful tips, activities and video on our Shorebird Resources page.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Lesser Yellowlegs
Read all about the fascinating work tracking Lesser Yellowlegs: Biologist Laura McDuffie has tracked the movements of these long distance migrants as they travelled to and from their breeding areas. Find out more about Laura’s work, the amazing journeys that Lesser Yellowlegs make each year and the threats they face along the way!
Calling all Caribbean bird lovers! Let’s be on the alert, and scan the skies for our migrating birds!
World Migratory Bird Day 2023 poster featuring artwork by Nicaraguan artist Augusto Silva.
October 14th, 2023 marks the official date for World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in the Caribbean and Central and South America; it’s celebrated in May in North America. It’s one of the most exciting times of year for birdwatchers and reflects the awesome nature of bird migration—the exact timing of which varies between the northern and southern hemispheres. It’s the time when migratory birds appear, as if by magic, in Caribbean gardens, forests, coastlines, and hillsides—returning to their favorite spots where food and shelter are plentiful.
While we welcome our wonderful warblers, shorebirds, landbirds, hawks and others back “home” to spend the winter months on our islands, we also recognise that WMBD is a global campaign. It is a platform for citizens worldwide to learn more about migratory birds, to realize their value—and, most importantly, to understand the need to conserve them.
This year’s WMBD theme highlights the impact of the growing water crisis on migratory birds. This theme resonates in the Caribbean, where islands have been enduring longer-lasting and more severe droughts. It is not only farmers and householders who are feeling the effects of lower than normal rainfall patterns. Birds are, too! This October, 2023, the Caribbean will be a part of the worldwide campaign—adopting the theme “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.”
Here is the WMBD 2023 theme in other regional languages:
Agua: vital para las aves
L’eau: Source de vie pour les oiseaux
As the saying goes, “Water is life.”
Water is essential for the survival of all living organisms on this “Blue Planet.” Migratory birds depend on watery places for resting, breeding and feeding. These include rivers and streams, swamps and wetlands, ponds and gullies; and of course, coastal waters.
The wetlands of Monte Cristi are a fantastic place for waterbirds, including many migratory shorebirds. (photo by Maria Paulino)
Zapata Swamp in Cuba is an incredibly important place for waterbirds and people. (photo by Garry Donaldson)
The world famous Bonaire salt ponds support large numbers of many species of migratory shorebirds, including the Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Red Knot, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plover, and Sanderling.
The Layou River in St. Vincent is an important freshwater site. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
The Anasco River in Puerto Rico provides 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)
Wetlands are wonderful places for birds, recreation and learning. View of the Twin Bridges, Ashton Lagoon, Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
As Caribbean residents may have noticed during this intensely hot summer, birds have flocked to bird baths, drains, and water sources of all kinds to quench their thirst and preen their feathers, especially in more urban areas. However, the extreme heat and drought, fueled by climate change, are not the only challenges facing migratory birds. The quantity and quality of freshwater supplies are declining. Pollution (pesticides, chemicals, sewage, and plastic pollution) threatens many bird habitats. With ongoing tourism and housing developments, especially along the coast, the demand for freshwater for human use is growing.
A huge diversity of waterbirds and shorebirds call the Mt. Hartman wetlands in Grenada home, including both resident and migratory species. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
We can all help our migratory birds
This WMBD join us in spreading the message that water conservation is important for all life on Earth, including birds! You can also help birds by planting native trees that require less watering and provide food and habitat, disposing of your garbage properly, lending a hand to clean up critical bird habitats, and making water conservation part of your daily routine by taking shorter showers, immediately fixing leaking faucets and pipes, and washing full loads only.
A homemade birdbath is another great way to provide birds with a reliable source of clean water. Every bird-friendly garden needs a spot for birds to drink from, clean themselves, or to just cool down on a hot day! These are so easy to put together and can be made from materials around your house and yard. This is also a great way to attract birds that don’t eat seeds or drink nectar to your garden—talk about a win-win!
Gray Catbird “Yo Bath needs refilling”. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Clear the runway because coming in for landing is..
Every year, Environment for the Americas focuses on ten “special” species to feature in promotions. For this year’s WMBD the ten focal species selected are:
Northern Shoveler*
Male Northern Shoveler in breeding plumage. Note the huge, spoon-shaped bill.
Female Northern Shoveler also has the distinctive spatulate bill but she is buffy-brown.
Male Northern Shoveler in nonbreeding plumage. (photo by Steve Metchis ML291848121)
American White Pelican*
American White Pelican in breeding plumage. A yellow plate forms on the upper bill of breeding adults. (photo by Gerrit Vyn ML192450401)
American White Pelican in nonbreeding plumage.
Wilson’s Phalarope*
Male Wilson’s Phalarope in breeding plumage. It lacks the neck stripe seen in the female.
Female Wilson’s Phalarope in breeding plumage. Note that she is more colorful than the male!
Wilson’s Phalarope in nonbreeding plumage. (photo by Josh Fecteau ML58365021
Northern Waterthrush*
Northern Waterthrush. Look for this migratory bird along the water’s edge.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo*
Yellow-billed Cuckoo having a drink at a bird bath. (photo by Edward Plumer ML103092191)
Barn Swallow*
Barn Swallow, male. (Photo by Daniel W. Glenn)
Rufous Hummingbird
Dickcissel*
Male Dickcissel in breeding plumage. Note the black V on the throat. (photo by Martina Nordstrand ML232134471)
The female Dickcissel has a pale yellow breast and eyebrow. (photo by Mike Cameron ML156064841)
Magellanic Penguin
Osprey*
Osprey with a fresh catch of fish in Bonaire. (photo by Gérard Cachon)
Some of these birds are quite familiar to us in the Caribbean; at least eight of them—those with an asterisk—occur on Caribbean islands, though they are not all common. The region is significant for these traveling birds who move to, from, across, and through the region.
WMBD celebrations would not be complete without some spectacular artwork!
This year’s artist, Augusto Silva of Nicaragua, is well known for his geometric and colorful style. In aquatic blues and greens, Augusto’s art perfectly captures the WMBD 2023 theme. His work is influenced by the traditional life of the Afro-Caribbean indigenous community and pre-Columbian petroglyphs—and inspired by Nature.
WMBD 2023 artist Augusto Silva.
Free WMBD resources for educators and conservationists
So, how can we continue to raise awareness on the importance of water (agua, l’eau) for our migrating birds? The good news is that you, our Caribbean educators, are helping to do just that. As you join the WMBD campaign, you may request WMBD educational materials by contacting Laura Baboolal, the WMBD Caribbean coordinator at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org.
EFTA provides posters, stickers, fact sheets, and art and craft materials and more to coordinators hosting WMBD events across Latin American and the Caribbean.
Track Your Migration Miles is a fun activity that helps both kids and adults to learn about wildlife migration. Click on the photo to download the activity.
If you are planning a WMBD event or two (and we hope you are!), you will find useful digital educational resources at: https://trello.com/b/mmiiYE3A/wmbd-2023
BirdsCaribbean will also be featuring WMBD bird species that occur in the Caribbean on our Migratory Bird of the Day webpages (Birds Connect Our World). Our drawings this fall are featuring the art of Christine Elder – naturalist, educator and biological illustrator extraordinaire! Be sure to check out her website and follower on social media!
As in past years, we will provide free downloadable resources, including coloring pages, natural history information, puzzles, photos, videos and activity sheets—we invite you to check it out!
We also encourage you to add your events to the interactive map, so we can see where WMBD activities are taking place throughout the Caribbean: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/events-map
Add your event to the WMBD 2023 Events Map and let the world know how you will be celebrating in the Caribbean!
How you can celebrate and help migratory birds . . . & we want to see your bird baths!
Celebrate WMBD this fall!
Go birding with your family and friends and see how many migratory birds you can spot. If you’re at a wetland or beach, do a Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Count. Don’t forget to upload your checklists to eBird or eBird Caribbean!
Learn more! Look for a WMBD event happening near you and try to attend. Enjoy and download the many free online resources about migratory birds – see above links. Share what you learn with your friends and family.
Thank about the ways that you can help conserve water – see the handy infographic above and do your part by taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets and running toilets, planting a drought-friendly native plant garden, supporting conservation of wetlands, and much more.
Finally, since this year’s theme is Water: Sustaining Bird Life we want to see the best bird baths in your backyards! We’re looking for pretty, funky, fun, and functional watery oases. Bird baths may be ready-made or DIY.
Snap a pic or record a short video and email it to Laura at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org and/or tag us, @birdscaribbean and @environmentamericas, on social media.
Be sure to include your name, country, and a few sentences about your bird bath—for example, the household materials that were reused to make it, and the variety of birds that visit the bird bath!
All suitable submissions will be shared on the BirdsCaribbean and Environment For The Americas websites and social media accounts.
Hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds are already on the move, and we are getting ready to celebrate World Shorebirds Day 2023! Diverse habitats and food supply make the Caribbean an attractive destination for shorebirds and a veritable birders’ paradise, so why not take part in the Global Shorebird Count this year? BirdsCaribbean has everything you need to help you #ShowUpForShorebirds (and show out!) in the best possible way.
World Shorebirds Day is held every year on September 6. This day celebrates shorebirds, their magnificent migration journeys, and most importantly, raises awareness of the threats they face and actively promotes their monitoring and conservation. The key event associated with this day is the Global Shorebird Count (GSC), September 1-7.
Across the Caribbean (and the entire globe!), groups of birders will be out looking for and counting shorebirds and recording what they find on eBird Caribbean. Some birders will go out in ones and twos; others in small groups. Wherever you are, whoever you are with, or even if you are on your own—we welcome your participation and contribution to citizen science.
This year, we have a special mission for you: we are asking you to do more than one count if possible. Read on to find out why.
Why should you #ShowUpForShorebirds?
The answer is that our migratory shorebirds are more vulnerable than ever, threatened by human activities such as destruction of their habitats, pollution, disturbance, and climate change. Recent analyses show that shorebirds in North America are declining more than any other group of birds; in fact, more than half of 28 species studied were estimated to have lost more than 50% of their abundance in the last 30 years.
Least Sandpiper – a common migrant to the Caribbean; this one has stopped for a rest in St. Maarten (photo by Binkie van Es)
The Caribbean is an important region for migratory shorebirds. They rely on our mangroves, salt ponds, beaches, sand flats, and mud flats to rest and refuel as they continue on their long migrations, or they may spend the entire winter with us.
The Global Shorebird Count helps map the distribution of shorebirds during migration and record their numbers. This data is essential to help us identify and protect key stopover and/or wintering habitats that shorebirds use. Protecting these habitats benefits people too because healthy coastal areas provide vital ecosystem services such as clean water, food, sustainable livelihoods, protection from storm surge, and much more.
Thanks to the great work you all are doing in gathering data through the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) and the Global Shorebird Count, the importance of this region for waterbirds and shorebirds is becoming better understood at a rapid rate. However, scientists are telling us that to further document numbers and long-term trends, more frequent monitoring data are needed, especially during migration. Thus, this year we invite you to visit your nearby shorebird sites and carry out 2 or 3 counts a month during migration season (August-October), ideally a week to 10 days apart. If you’re able to do this, bravo, and thank you! Your efforts will help us learn much more about shorebirds in the Caribbean—you’ll be doubling or tripling your impact for shorebirds.
We can’t do it alone
Individuals, groups and communities must come together to conserve shorebirds and the habitats we both depend upon. This is why we need you to join the GSC to help count shorebirds, invite others, and share how awesome shorebirds are. You may even discover new or rare birds on your islands! Feel free to use our cool graphics to promote World Shorebirds Day (see below), and invite your friends and family to count shorebirds too.
We’ll be here to help you every step of the way.
Grupo Acción Ecológica members counting shorebirds in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino).
Fernando Simal surveying shorebirds. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Proyecto Reverdece tu Comunidad-Working on bird ID during a bird count.
Orisha Joseph and her team counting waterbirds at Belmont Salt Pond, Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Where to find shorebirds?
Where should you look for shorebirds? The simple answer is: anywhere there is water. This means that, as their name suggests, you can find them at the beach and on other types of shorelines. However, some shorebirds will be further inland, including in salt ponds and salinas, freshwater pools, agricultural fields, and at brackish marshes and ponds. Shorebirds will also gather on mud flats, in mangrove areas, and on tidal flats.
Wild Cow Run Beach, Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands (Photo by Craig Watson)
You may not be quite sure of the best places to look in your area. If so, why not take a look for ‘hotspots’ at your local wetlands on eBird. Just click on ‘Explore’ on the eBird Caribbean site, and find ‘Explore Hotspots.’ You can open hotspots on a map and then click on a hotspot to see what types of birds have been seen there recently.
A view across the newly created wetlands and coastline at Walkers Reserve in Barbados. (Photo by Shae Warren, WIRRED)
How to participate in the count
Have an eBird account
eBird Caribbean is a critical tool for tracking and understanding bird migration and population changes—never more so than for our shorebirds. If you do not have an account, it is easy to register—here’s a quick guide to enter eBird data online.Check out our helpful video here on how to use eBird and Merlin.There is even a free eBird Essentials course to get you fully oriented. Download the free mobile app for recording your data in the field. Recording your findings on eBird is not only satisfying and enjoyable, but you are directly contributing to the global knowledge base of birds—what, when, and wherever they are to be found.
If you need help with or have questions about eBird checklists or with setting up an eBird account, do contact Alex Sansom: waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org
Count shorebirds
Visit your local sites where shorebirds occur and do a count. Record all the species you see and/or hear (including other non-shorebird species; see below) and how many individuals of each species. We recommend spending a minimum of 6 to 10 minutes at each site (longer if there are a lot of birds) and scanning the entire area carefully with your binoculars to detect birds, which can easily blend into their surroundings (mud, water, vegetation, etc.). Be sure to record the start time and duration of your count if you’re using a notebook (the ebird mobile app will do this for you). Start a new checklist each time you change locations.
A mixed shorebird flock seen during Roots & Shoots CWC survey, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)
Count shorebirds on as many different locations as you can during the Global Shorebird Count period (1-7 Sept). Then, if possible, repeat your counts at these same sites 2 or 3 times a month during fall migration (August through October). Repeated counts will greatly add to our knowledge of shorebird movements and migration patterns!
Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird. So, any counts you do at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches at any time of year count as Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) counts. When you do your counts please choose one of the CWC protocols in the eBird app or when you submit or edit your data online. When you are using the mobile app make sure that you are using the eBird Caribbean Portal. To check or change the portal you are using, go into your settings on the app and look for “Portal” and select “eBird Caribbean.”
Each time you complete a checklist, be sure to share it with ebird username worldshorebirdsday. This will ensure that your checklists are included in data analyses for the Global Shorebird Count.
Coral Aviles listing birds on eBird, Blassina Canal Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)
Rinse and repeat
As mentioned above, we ask that, if possible, do 2 or 3 counts at your local site or sites per month during fall migration(7 to 10 days apart is ideal). Scientists are telling us that we need more data on shorebird migration through the Caribbean, including which species pass through, how many individuals, the timing of each species’ migration, how long they stopover, where they go next, etc. The best way to get this local and regional data is through repeated counts!
Shorebird ID and FREE resources for the field
We know that Shorebirds can be tricky to identify, and some are especially difficult to tell apart. BirdsCaribbean is here to help you with some useful tools! We have a Shorebird Poster and “Quick ID Guide” to get you started as well as handy Shorebird ID cards that you can download and print featuring common shorebirds of the Caribbean.
Shorebird identification can be tricky but with practice and our ‘Quick ID Guide’ it gets easier. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
We also have a list of some best practice tips to help make your count go as smoothly as possible. You can download and share this infographic with your fellow birders. When you go out on your survey, a spotting scope or a camera with a good zoom lens, as well as binoculars, will make for very helpful tools. They will help you get a closer look to pick out the identifying features of the birds, without disturbing them. Photos can be looked at and shared later if you have any birds that were difficult for you to identify in the field. Birding colleagues and experts can explain further if they have visual evidence of the bird! (Did we say some are quite tricky to tell apart?)
Promotional graphic templates – feel free to modify for your counts
Promotional Graphics for World Shorebirds Day 2023 are available in English, Spanish and French. We also have ‘Global Shorebird Count Tips’ graphic formatted for Facebook or Instagram . You can add your own logos or event information. Click on each image in the gallery below to enlarge then right click on an enlarged image and ‘save image as’ to download. You can also use these links to Canva to use our promotional graphics as a template (each link contains graphics in all three languages):
While counting shorebirds you may see birds with colourful bands on their legs. Do your best to record the band colors and any numbers or letters paying special attention to the location of the band or bands on the bird’s legs. Binoculars or zoom photography may allow you to clearly see the band colors and the numbers engraved onto the band – if you get a photo you will be able to send it along with your sighting. Look out for bands especially on Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings. You can report your sightings and send any photos you have to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab, which oversee all banding in the United States.
Keep a sharp eye out for Piping Plovers, including banded birds!
There are several different projects banding Piping Plovers and if you see a banded Piping Plover you can report it to the correct person using the information below. This also provides a guide to reading the bands and the information that will be useful to send when you report a banded bird. The tips in this guide are useful for any banded birds you see, not just Piping Plovers! You can find out more about reporting banded Piping Plovers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here. This 1-page guide is available to download as a pdf here. We also have 2-page version with more information for you to use and share here. And a square infographic that you could share on social media here.
Share your shorebird stories
A Cuban birder takes a selfie with his bike at the beach.
Tag us in your photos on social @birdscaribbean and let us know how your counts are going and what you’e finding!
Use the hashtags #ShowUpForShorebirds #WorldShorebirdsDay2023 #GlobalShorebirdCount2023 #CaribShorebirds #DoubleTheImpact
We love looking at photos of shorebirds, your local wetlands, and smiling faces. We will be excited to share your photos and findings on our Global Shorebird Day wrap-up blog! See our 2022 blog here.
If you’ve got little explorers, be sure to download the following activity* sheets and take them with you to the beach:
Beach Scavenger Hunt. This activity is suitable for children ages 4 to 7 years old. They are asked to find plants and animals at the beach.
Beach Bird Bingo. This activity is suitable for children ages 8 to 12 years old. They are asked to find items on the list four in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. They do not need to touch or collect any of the items on the list.
Talk about this with your children before beginning any of the activities. They should not touch or collect items on the lists. When observing birds they should speak softly. They do not need to get close to the birds but if they need to, ask them to do so slowly and quietly. You can check off the items (with a pencil or pen), as they are located. When everyone has had a chance to look for the items listed, come back together to chat about what they were able to find or see. For example, why is the bird’s beak long and straight?
*These activities were not designed to teach a child how to name and identify shorebirds but rather to give them space to explore and feel connected to their natural environment. Parents and guardians, you will not need to worry about your own knowledge of birds or plants. All you need to do is accompany and participate with your child in these activities.
At the unveiling of the information sign featuring a Spotted Sandpiper, at Shell Beach, Antigua. (Photo by wadadliunplugged.com).
Illegal dumping of trash is a problem at some of Antigua’s wetlands, including those that are Important Bird Areas (IBAs). These places are vitally important for migratory shorebirds, who, after traveling thousands of kilometers, need a winter home that is safe and clean, not full of trash! Wildlife Officer, Joshel Wilson from the NGO ‘The Environmental Awareness Group’ (EAG) tells us about efforts by EAG and the ‘Wadadli Warblers’ Birding Club to use shorebird themed signs to reduce this problem and make these important wetlands havens for wildlife as well as more enjoyable for people to visit.
The Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) is Antigua and Barbuda’s oldest non-governmental environmental organization and has been at the forefront of conservation work for over 30 years. From restoring offshore islands and saving species from extinction to education, community engagement, and influencing environmental policy, the EAG works collaboratively to enact environmental change in Antigua and Barbuda.
Core to our work is our aspiration to have “a society with individual and collective responsibility to care for and value biodiversity and ecosystems for the long-term benefit of people and wildlife.” To do that, we stand strongly on integrity and the belief that environmental work should not only be worthwhile but also interesting and satisfying, with a hint of adventure.
Silver Linings During the Pandemic
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EAG promoted a virtual bird identification training that would allow participants, specifically Antiguans and Barbudans, to enjoy birding in their backyards. Following the six intense training sessions, the ‘Wadadli Warblers’ Birding Club was formed in May 2020. The club now has 35 members who participate in monthly birding expeditions across the island, regularly sharing bird photos, bird calls, and videos in their WhatsApp group. Once fully trained in Bird ID and survey methods we thought that the Wadadli Warblers would be the perfect partners to assist with conducting the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) surveys. As such, they have collaborated with the EAG in 2021 and 2022, assisting with monitoring and data collection and allowing individuals from the club to contribute to citizen science, which will lead to better management of IBAs on the island.
The Wadadli Warblers birding group out on a waterbird survey in Antigua during the Caribbean Waterbird Census 2022. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)
Wetlands with a Problem
During the EAG’s Caribbean Waterbird Census survey and Trash Challenge initiative (our country-wide wetland clean-up days), it had been noted that there is significant illegal dumping at IBAs in Antigua, despite potential fines of EC$3000-$15,000 for littering. This issue poses threats to the resident and migratory birds that live in and visit these important areas.
Wilson’s Plover, Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)
Illegal dumping is a problem at Antigua’s important wetlands. (Photo by Joshel Wilson)
A Whimbrel flies over a salt salt pond on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)
But what could be done to reduce this illegal dumping of trash? During this project we aimed to tackle the issue by raising awareness about the importance of shorebird protection in Antigua and Barbuda, thereby increasing public participation in conservation efforts. We also aimed to reduce illegal dumping at IBAs through the development of informative shorebird signs, working with the Wadadli Warblers to make this happen!
Shorebird Signs Show the Way
I am excited to share with you the success of this project, led by the Wadadli Warblers Birding Club and supported by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), aimed at improving shorebird habitats and discouraging illegal dumping in Antigua and Barbuda. As part of the project, six signs were designed and installed at Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas where shorebirds are found and illegal dumping is an issue.
Five of the six signs featuring shorebirds and waterbirds in situ at their wetland sites in Antigua. (Photos by Deri Benjamin and Joshel Wilson)
We successfully achieved our project objectives by implementing several activities, starting with selecting suitable sites that met specific criteria. Data collected during previous Caribbean Waterbird Censuses (CWC) was used to identify sites with high shorebird presence, illegal dumping issues, and easy public access. The Wadadli Warblers formed a sign committee comprised of eight members, five men and three women, to assess the areas and select the six major site locations that met the criteria.
During the sign-planning process engaging with landowners was a crucial aspect of the project to ensure that the signs were in maximum view of the public. We also developed a plan that outlined the benefits of installing the signs for landowners, such as increased awareness of the importance of shorebirds and their habitats and reduced illegal dumping in the area. The landowners were visited to discuss the benefits of the signs and address any concerns that they had.
Shorebird Sign, discouraging illegal dumping and featuring a Whimbrel. (Sign by Patrick Joseph aka Stooge Co.)
Once the sites were identified and landowners were on board, the Wadadli Warblers’ Sign Committee was tasked with developing the content for the signs. They worked with a graphic designer, Patrick Joseph, principal of Stooge Co., to create unique signs. Once the designs were finalized they were created by sign printer, Select Signs and Graphix, using high-quality materials. This is important as these new signs need to withstand the high winds and salty conditions at the sites where they are installed.
Cleaning Up and Raising Awareness
A Wetland clean-up during “Trash Challenge” on Antigua. (Photo by Sherrel Charles/ EAG)
In addition to installing the signs, we conducted clean-ups at some of our target wetlands, including Darkwood Beach, Shell Beach, Ffryes Beach, Fitches Creek Mangrove, and Johnson’s Point. Our clean-ups were a collaboration between the Wadadli Warblers Birding Club, EAG members, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Youth Today, and the Parham Alliance for the Beautification and Revitalization Organization (PABRO), in a local effort to reduce waste along our coasts. This activity helped raise awareness of the impact of illegal dumping on shorebird habitats while also keeping the areas clean and free of waste.
To ensure the public was aware of the newly erected signs, an unveiling was held at Shell Beach on February 6, 2023, accompanied by a birding session with the Department of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, members of the Wadadli Warblers Birding Club, EAG Board members, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, and media personnel from Antigua/Barbuda Broadcasting Services and Wadadli Unplugged.
A Brighter Future for Wetlands and Shorebirds
Looking out for Shorebirds! Birdwatching at the sign unveiling, Shell Beach, Antigua. (Photo by wadadliunplugged.com)
The project’s success was further cemented by partnering with the Ministry of Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Unit to promote avi-tourism as a viable option in Antigua and Barbuda. Bird tourism could potentially be used by the EAG as sustainable financing, increasing our ability to manage more areas for shorebird protection in the future!
I am thrilled to have been part of a project that successfully achieved its objectives, and I commend the Wadadli Warblers Sign Committee, the Ministry of Tourism, and all those involved in making it a reality. This project’s success shows that with dedication, hard work, and collaboration, we can make a positive impact on our environment and promote sustainable tourism.
This project was made possible with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada via a BirdsCaribbean grant to EAG.
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.
The magnificent white morph of the Great Blue Heron (photo by Susan Davis)
Flamboyant flamingos displaying during the breeding season on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Reddish Egrets – Adult being followed by two juveniles. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Birders enjoying their waterbird experience on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis).
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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)
White Ibis spotted near the mangroves in Jamaica. (photo by Vaughan Turland)
A Brown Pelican has a stretch. (Photo by Emma Lewis)
A pair of Least Sandpipers in Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
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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.
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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)
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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)
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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).
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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)
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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!
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.
We are tracking where Piping Plovers have been seen during CWC 2023. Send us your sightings as you make them and we will update the map. This means you can track our progress in finding Piping Plovers live during the survey. You can check back to this post to see map updates or follow them on our Caribbean Piping Plover Survey page.
Zoom in or out to view your region or the whole Caribbean. Click the icon in the top right corner to see a larger map. You can share your sightings, including a grid reference and your count of Piping Plovers at that location (if more than one was seen) with waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org or on the BirdsCaribbean listserv.
NOTE: If you are not within the Caribbean but have seen a Piping Plover during the CWC survey period you can still share your sightings and we will add them to the map! And we will continue to add all sightings of Piping Plovers in 2023 to this map, so please continue your CWC counts and send us your eBird Caribbean checklists. Remember that although we have one annual 3-week regional count period (14 Jan-3 Feb), we encourage everyone to carry out CWC counts year-round, especially during fall and spring migration. We need much more information on all the habitats that shorebirds and waterbirds use throughout the year. Thanks!!!
Why Join the Survey?
This small, round shorebird is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN with an estimated global breeding population of just 8,400 birds. They breed in restricted areas of North America but migrate south in fall with some birds spending their winter in the Caribbean. It’s vital that we continue to learn more about the numbers and distribution of this rare shorebird in our region.
We already know about some of the main islands and areas where Piping Plovers spend the winter in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos Islands. We also know they have been spotted in smaller numbers in other countries, including Puerto Rico and its offshore islands and cays, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the US and British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Guadeloupe, Anguilla, and Bonaire (there are just one or two records for some of these countries). But in the ‘right’ habitat there are likely more Piping Plovers to be found, both in ‘new’ locations on islands where they have been seen before and perhaps some islands where they haven’t been seen yet. We need more people out there looking for them!
Share Your Survey Experience
As well as sharing your Piping Plover locations with us we’d love for you to send us any photos or videos from your CWC surveys! These can be of the birds you see or the amazing places you visit during your surveys or of you and your survey buddies taking part in CWC! You can share your photos and videos with us on social media, tag us @birdscaribbean in your posts and use #CWC2023 or share with waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org or on the BirdsCaribbean listserv.
We look forward to finding out where you spot Piping Plovers during CWC2023!
Resources to Help With Surveys
ID Resources
Piping Plovers are small, round shorebirds with ‘stubby’ black bills and orange legs. Their upper parts are pale brown, the colour of dry sand, and they are white below. We have made a handy ID guide to help you pick out Piping Plovers from some of the other small plovers that winter in the Caribbean.
They also have a unique two-note high to low pee-too call that you can listen out for.
Piping Plovers can be quite vocal, even during the winter. They often give a mellow two-part whistle, that drops in pitch, pee-too. Sometimes they only give the first part of this call as single, repeated with several seconds between each call: pee … pee … pee.
Don’t forget to scan the legs of any Piping Plovers you see for colour bands. Finding and reporting these bands can help us learn more about where different breeding populations spend the winter. You can find out how to report bands in our helpful guide (above). More information and different versions of this guide to reporting banded Piping Plovers are available to download on our Shorebird Resources webpage.
Guide to Piping Plover Habitats
Piping Plovers in the Caribbean are often seen in small flocks resting and feeding on sand flats. Even here, out in the open, they can be tricky to spot with their ‘dry sand’ coloured plumage blending with their surroundings. Be sure to also check any seaweed (wrack) on the beach as this is another favourite haunt of theirs. Other places Piping Plovers might be found include mudflats, mangroves, and along rocky areas of shoreline, where again they blend in beautifully, especially if they are resting. Check out and share our handy graphics, with artwork by Josmar Esteban Márquez, to remind you where to look.
Click on each image to enlarge then right click to “save as….” a jpeg. Use these links to download each image in higher resolution as a pdf: Sand Flats, Mangroves, Beach Wrack, Rocky Shore
We want as many people as possible to join in our effort to look for Piping Plovers during the 2023 CWC regional count period. Be sure to watch Sidney Maddock’s webinar before you plan your surveys. You can also use and share these survey tips to get the most out of your Piping Plover surveys.
When you do your surveys please treat them like all your other CWC surveys. This means you should count all the bird species that you see (in addition to any Piping Plovers). Make sure you enter your data in eBird Caribbean using one of the CWC protocols on Step 2 of data entry (online). If using the eBird app, set your portal to eBird Caribbean to access the CWC options for your checklists.
We have exciting news about how to participate in the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) using eBird! Whether you’re a long-time contributor to the CWC, use CWC protocols in eBird, or are just getting started with waterbird surveys in the Caribbean, there’s now a better and easier way to ensure your data is added to this incredible long-term program! 
