This year is different—very different. BirdsCaribbean, like many other organizations, has had to “rethink” and restructure many of its regular activities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), celebrated each spring by diverse groups and partners throughout the Caribbean, moved into the online world for 2020. It transformed into a …
We have all had to adapt to a drastically different way of life in a very short time. One of our partners, the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) in Antigua and Barbuda, has risen to the challenge and made the best of a difficult situation. They organized an online “Birding for Beginners” course to encourage more …
Seabird Conservation Seabirds (and waterfowl) are the only animals that have conquered the sea, land and sky. Over twenty species of seabirds live in the Caribbean, and many more visit every (see the West Indian Breeding Seabird Atlas). Seabirds spend most of their lives on or over the sea, foraging, feeding or resting. They are …
Magnificent Frigatebirds soaring like big black kites overhead are a familiar sight throughout the Caribbean. These birds are also commonly seen harassing and stealing food from other seabirds—a behaviour known as kleptoparasitism—earning them the reputation of being ‘Pirates of the Skies’! These days, a careful watcher might also see a Magnificent Frigatebird fitted with a …
BirdsCaribbean is excited to finally announce all of our Global Big Day 2020 prize winners! It was an action-packed day with so many unique adventures unfolding around the world. To everyone that participated — thank you, and we hope you had a great time! Without further ado, let’s give a big congratulations to the following …
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us in our virtual “From the Nest” edition! Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home. Endemic Bird of the Day: Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo The Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo …
Josmar Marquez, from AveZona, has lead bird monitoring projects on Coche Island in Venezuela since 2018. In addition to data collection, his work involves mentoring young conservationists and promoting nature-friendly behavior changes in the local community of the island. Here, Josmar describes his most recent Snowy Plover monitoring season and some exciting firsts for shorebird …
Looking back on 2019, the year provided us with a range of experiences. There was excitement, success, tragedy, and hope. When we reflect on all that we have accomplished this year, in both the good times and the bad, there was one common theme: collaboration. Sometimes it took the form of official partnerships and other …
Ashton Lagoon has re-awakened! The local non-profit conservation organization Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren) welcomed guests to the lagoon’s (re)birthday celebration at its welcoming eco-friendly building on Union Island in the Grenadines on May 31, 2019. The building adjoins Ashton Lagoon, the largest natural bay and mangrove ecosystem in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This area was …
Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines is an innovative new avian field guide by co-authors Juliana Coffey and Alison (Aly) Ollivierre for the Grenadine archipelago shared between the countries of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean. This is the first guide to specifically cover these transboundary islands, which are geologically, ecologically, …
March 28th, 2019: A year and a half after Category 5 Hurricane Irma smashed into the beautiful island of Barbuda. A survey team is on the local ferry, returning to conduct follow-up population assessments of the endemic Barbuda Warbler and the Magnificent Frigatebird colony. The Barbuda Warbler was last evaluated by the IUCN in October, …
“I honestly finally feel like I can tackle shorebirds, with some level of comfort and confidence. I am so excited to get back out and practice!” Natalya Lawrence, Coordinator of the Offshore Islands Conservation Programme at Antigua’s Environmental Awareness Group, said this just after she returned from the Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and Their Habitats International …
Our 30th Anniversary celebration of BirdsCaribbean continues! We’re delighted to share another short fun video of our members and partners describing the work they are doing with us to conserve birds and sending messages of congratulations. Thanks to you all for being part of our community, and enjoy! Starting us off is Scott Johnson, Science …
It was back in my university days on Antigua. I was studying for an undergraduate degree in Tourism. I remember spending every spare moment traversing the globe virtually, via GoogleEarth. One afternoon, I could visit the Louvre, and on another, discover the archaeological zone of Choquequirao in Peru. I was learning the world, one tiny …
It’s springtime in the Caribbean and all across the islands, the landscape will be painted with the vivid colours of the striking yellow and pink poui trees, the gentle blue from the blossoms of the Lignum Vitae, and so many other trees, bursting with colour. This too is the time when our birds settle down …
A peek into the sometimes elusive world of the Caribbean’s Piping Plover and the challenges of finding them on their wintering grounds. Elise Elliott-Smith reports Caribbean results for the 2016 International Piping Plover Census, held every 5 years. I’ll never forget the excitement, relief, and wonder I felt in seeing a group of ten Piping Plovers …
Insightful and humorous, Justin Proctor offers some convincing reasons to look for the Caribbean’s ‘Big Five’ aerial acrobats and tips for how to identify them. Are you tired of really crisp, up-close views of beautiful Caribbean birds? Are you repulsed at the idea of having an extended period of time to view a bird, jot …
I’ve been on a Warbler-fest. I am very fortunate to have recently observed several endemic Caribbean warblers, from the Elfin-woods Warbler of Puerto Rico to the Plumbeous Warbler on Guadeloupe. I also watched dozens of North American migrants as they island-hopped northward from the tropics. And, I just returned from Magee Marsh on the shore …
The first internationally coordinated waterbird count was organized in January 1967 by Wetlands International. Now entering its 50th year, the International Waterbird Census has become a vital source of information for the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds around the world. Seven years ago, the Caribbean Islands, under the auspices of BirdsCaribbean, formally began …
Say “Dominican Republic” and almost instantly the image that appears in one’s head is that of a long, straight and blinding white-sand beach on which an infinite stream of foamy crests come to end their journey across the blue-green Caribbean canvas. This mental picture has been implanted in our brains by thousands of magazine articles …
Every two years, bird educators, scientists and conservationists from throughout the Caribbean and beyond gather for BirdsCaribbean’s International Meeting. At this year’s meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, over 220 international and local delegates gathered to share the latest in Caribbean bird science, conservation and education. Birds—Connecting Communities and Conservation was the theme for the meeting, the …
Seabird Working Group We are a group of managers, researchers, conservationists, and educators working to help understand and protect populations of breeding and migratory seabirds that use the Caribbean. The aims of our group are to: CONNECT PEOPLE: Bring together people working on, and interested in, Caribbean seabirds SHARE KNOWLEDGE: Share information about research, monitoring, …
Welcome to BirdsCaribbean! BirdsCaribbean, formerly the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, is the largest regional organization dedicated to the conservation of wild birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean (including Bermuda, the Bahamas and all islands within the Caribbean basin). Founded in 1988, it is a non-profit (501 (c) 3) …
Outreach and Education Outreach and education is a vital part of what we do at BirdsCaribbean. We annually organize two major celebrations to raise public awareness, knowledge and appreciation for the region’s many resident and migratory bird species. The Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival celebrates the high number of endemic birds in the region—species that exist …
