I wanted to get to know the elusive Whistling Warbler on the island of Saint Vincent — which meant that we needed to go up. Straight up some very steep slopes!
Whistling Warbler spotted on La Soufriere Windward Trail. (Photo by Jonathan Slifkin ML621602299)
The Whistling Warbler (Cathoropeza bishopi) is an endangered, endemic species of bird that lives on the Lesser Antillean island of Saint Vincent. When we say a species is endemic, it means that the species exists nowhere else on the planet other than at a discrete location. This is a common designation for many island species. When a species is endemic and endangered, that can be a ‘code red’ for conservationists — because the species has nowhere else to go to disperse from threats! In the case of the Whistling Warbler, those threats come mainly from deforestation, land use change, hurricanes (exacerbated by climate-change), and the recent explosive eruption of Saint Vincent’s La Soufrière volcano in 2021, the largest to occur in the Caribbean in the last 250 years.
Figure 1. Map of St Vincent showing locations of our PROALAS Point Counts without Whistling Warbler (WHWA) sightings, with warbler sightings, and eBird Caribbean sightings prior to the April 2021 eruption of La Soufriére Volcano.
So where is the Whistling Warbler to be found? Well, this charming bird (whose plumage delightfully brings to mind an Oreo cookie!) appears to require a specific kind of natural forest for habitat: forests growing in steep, wet, montane environments. These mostly grow on the windward (east) side of the island. However, these forests have been experiencing a great deal of “wear and tear” in recent years. Some have been cut to grow non-native tree plantations, or terraced to provide farmland, in some cases for the illegal cultivation of Cannabis. Many of the northern areas were decimated by wind and volcanic ash from the 2021 volcanic eruption. The windward forests also take the brunt of hurricanes moving west across the Atlantic, which can wreak havoc on the essential habitat of the warbler. Hurricane Beryl just recently tore through St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG); the extent of the damage to the mainland forests (and the warbler) is currently unknown, though nearby Union Island has been devastated. These growing and more frequent impacts of climate change cannot be overlooked.
And yet, the Whistling Warbler has so far been able to hold on in small numbers, in the face of these daunting challenges to its habitat. Much of its success is thanks to conservation efforts that protect and restore their habitat. Now, it is absolutely vital that the warbler population is actively monitored to ensure its survival, and to inform future conservation efforts aimed at protecting its habitat. Part of the challenge here is that there is still so little known about this bird. We don’t know much about their habitat requirements; their nest construction; and when and where they breed. It is critical to understand these aspects of the warbler’s life cycle to make effective management decisions. We can only find this information by getting people out into the forest to make these discoveries and to monitor the population.
Preparing for the trip: some homework required
I am a graduate student at Antioch University New England studying Conservation Biology. Antioch Professor Dr. Mike Akresh has been working with Caribbean birds for over a decade, and when he asked if I would like to accompany him on a two-week field study trip in March 2024 to Saint Vincent, I was initially apprehensive. Leaving my young child and a pile of school work at home for two weeks sounded daunting, but I knew there was important work to be done on Saint Vincent as there is not an overabundance of researchers working on the Whistling Warbler. I made the decision to go.
The Vulnerable St Vincent Parrot. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
A pair of Rufous-throated Solitaire in St. Vincent (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Lesser Antillean Tanager on St. Vincent. (Photo by Steven Hunter ML200625941)
Firstly, I went into an intense learning period focussed on the birds of Saint Vincent; it was especially important to learn their calls. With the help of eBird, the Merlin App, and a handy field guide to the “Birds of the West Indies,” I familiarized myself with most of the birds we could expect to encounter on the trip. How were we going to monitor for the Whistling Warbler? Well, we were planning to work with the PROALAS landbird monitoring protocol, which requires us to document every bird seen and heard during a specific period of time at a point or transect. Every bird has a story to tell about the environment; birds are regarded as indicator species. This means that the presence of certain species or lack thereof provides critical insights about the impacts of land use change, climate change, and volcanic activity; in other words, the obstacles and challenges that the Whistling Warbler faces.
The song of the Whistling Warbler consists of an ascending trill of loudly whistled notes.
Our enthusiastic team on Saint Vincent
Our collaborators on the island were the talented and professional members of the SVG Forestry Department. Our point of contact and monitoring collaborator was the energetic Glenroy Gaymes, who has been working closely with the Whistling Warbler conservation efforts. Glenroy is an expert birder and naturalist, whose passion for conservation on Saint Vincent is infectious. With invaluable help from Glenroy and other Forestry staff such as Felicia Baptiste, Romano Pierre, Caswin Caine, and Kishbert Richards, we reached the steep and remote areas where the warbler lives. Glenroy and the Forestry Department have also been monitoring the endemic and endangered Saint Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildingii) and many other non-bird species.
Mike Akresh, Glenroy Gaymes and Christian Carson in Kingstown, St. Vincent.
Our days on Saint Vincent were demanding, but rewarding. We did find the Whistling Warbler!
Mike hiking nearly straight uphill. Accessing the Whistling Warbler’s habitat is not easy. (Photo by Christian Carson)
Primary Forest in St. Vincent. (Photo by Christian Carson)
Every morning we would wake up before sunrise, and head up into the sawtooth-like mountains, shrouded in mist. You may have seen these impressive mountains before if you have seen the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which were largely filmed on Saint Vincent. Fortunately, we encountered the Whistling Warbler several times at various locations. In keeping with previous observations, most or all of our encounters with the Whistling Warbler took place over 300 meters and in steep, wet forests. Did I mention that we had to go up high? The slopes of the misty mountains of Saint Vincent were steep and slippery.
Notes from the field
When studying where Whistling Warblers like to live, we found that they prefer primary forests with lots of moss. Younger and older secondary forests had fewer warblers. Interestingly, palm brakes were about the same as primary forests for warbler sightings, especially near certain trails. Detection was low in elfin woods, which seem to be unsuitable habitat for them. The drier, western side of the island has less of the wet montane forest they prefer.
We noticed that Whistling Warblers really like wetter forests, especially where there’s a lot of moss. For example, at one site – Silver Spoon, where the forest is very wet, we found lots of warblers. However, on the leeward side of the island, the forests were dry and grassy, and we didn’t find any warblers there.
We didn’t look for warblers in the northern part of the island because it’s too dry and no warblers have ever been found there. Tree plantations were the least likely place to find Whistling Warblers because these areas have trees, like Blue Mahoe and Big-leaf Mahogany, that are all the same age and don’t provide enough food or shelter for the birds. Overall, we also noticed that there were fewer other forest birds around areas affected by the volcano. Birds like Bananaquits and House Wrens were common near the volcano, but other species like Cocoa Thrush and Ruddy Quail-Doves were missing. The ash from the volcano may have made it harder for some birds to find food. However, some of these birds are starting to come back now, so we’ll keep studying and monitoring the area to learn more.
Christian and Kishbert surveying for the Whistling Warbler on La Soufrière. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
We still need more information on the mysterious Whistling Warbler!
Over the past few years and during this current trip, we have come across several nests that might possibly be those of the Whistling Warbler, but without a positive ID of a warbler using the nest, we cannot say for sure. Finding a nest is particularly important for conservation efforts because it allows us to better understand the warbler’s breeding ecology and habitat requirements. We also do not know how successful the warbler is in breeding; invasive mongoose or black rat populations may prey on eggs or fledglings. But it must be acknowledged that without more research, we cannot know for sure. There are limited resources available to protect the Whistling Warbler, so the more specifics we have about this species, the better those resources can be utilized to have the greatest conservation impact. We need to know more, so that we can do a better job at protecting this species, which is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
With the data we have been able to collect while on Saint Vincent, we aim to create a conservation action plan (CAP) specifically for the Whistling Warbler. Without the dedicated work of the Saint Vincent Forestry Department, BirdsCaribbean, and donors small and large, this work would not be possible, and the Whistling Warbler would likely be added to the alarming (and growing) number of species lost forever.
We owe it to the Whistling Warbler, up there in the remote rainforest and beautiful mountains of Saint Vincent.
Christian holding a Sphinx Moth. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Christian Carson is a graduate student at Antioch University New England studying conservation biology. He is interested in ways people seek and find meaning in the living world, and how this meaning (or lack thereof) shapes global environmental issues. He lives with his partner and three-year-old son in Western Massachusetts. He enjoys quiet walks in the woods, flying kites, and sitting zazen. You can reach him at ccarson@antioch.edu.
Acknowledgements: BirdsCaribbean is grateful to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for funding our Conservation of the Endangered Whistling Warbler Project, launched in 2022. We are also deeply grateful to Mr. Fitzgerald Providence and his staff at the St. Vincent Forestry Department for their help and support. Special thanks Glenroy Gaymes, who has been working closely with us on the warbler project. Finally, we thank BirdsCaribbean members, partners, and donors for your support, which made this work possible.
The endangered Whistling Warbler, an endemic bird to St. Vincent in need of more monitoring (Photo by Judd Patterson).
In April 2021, La Soufrière Volcano, on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, erupted for the first time in 42 years. Explosive eruptions and heavy ash fall devastated ecosystems, leaving many species without homes and unable to forage in the wild. St. Vincent’s wildlife, especially endemic landbird species like the threatened St. Vincent Parrot and endangered Whistling Warbler, faced grave peril. The conservation community swiftly formed an emergency group, raising funds and providing much-needed assistance to the Forestry Department working on-the-ground in St. Vincent.
As St. Vincent’s forest regenerates, there is still work to be done to assess the impact of the volcanic eruptions on wildlife populations. A historic lack of research and funding means that there is limited baseline knowledge about the ecology and population status for most of the forest birds on the island. Thanks to funding from theCritical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and BirdsCaribbean members, partners and donors, we have launched a project to build capacity and provide the data needed for long-term landbird species protection. Read on for a second update on this vital work to study and conserve St. Vincent’s unique birds!
Human activities are a threat to the landbirds—and then came the volcano…
Landbirds, as their name implies, spend the majority of their lives on land, and include birds like hummingbirds, raptors, doves, flycatchers, and songbirds. They forage and breed in a variety of habitats in the Caribbean, from gardens, parks, open savannas, and cultivated areas, to scrub and many different types of forests at varying elevations. Many habitats have already been lost, and those remaining are constantly threatened by destruction and degradation from land-based development, cutting of trees for charcoal and timber, and also pollution, invasive species, and climate change. These factors mean that landbird populations, already at risk, experienced another blow to their survival with the eruption of La Soufriére in 2021.
Mesopotamia Valley, one of the most cultivated areas on St Vincent. (Photo by Nandani Bridglal)
How are the landbirds doing now? Enter the CLM Network!
Assessing the status and recovery of endangered wildlife populations is now an urgent priority. In collaboration with the St. Vincent Forestry Department and other partners, we launched the “Conservation of the Endangered Whistling Warbler Project” in April 2022 to monitor the Whistling Warbler and other forest birds, build local landbird monitoring capacity, prepare a Conservation Action Plan for the Whistling Warbler, and raise awareness for landbird species. In January 2023, we held a Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop to 1) build local capacity to monitor forest birds using standardized protocols, and 2) establish a long-term monitoring program on St Vincent.
This project is held under the banner of the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network, through which BirdsCaribbean has been building the capacity of Caribbean conservationists to identify and monitor landbirds. Using these data, we can expand our knowledge of how birds use different habitats in space and time, and enable researchers to assess the status and trends of their populations in relation to habitat, climate, and natural and anthropogenic activities and threats.
Post-eruption clean-up exercise in Hermitage, St. Vincent, on April 2, 2021. (Photo by the SVG Forestry Department)
The elusive and endangered Whistling Warbler. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
The Vulnerable St Vincent Parrot. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Ash plume on April 9th at 4 PM, the first day of eruptions (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Valley on the Leeward side of St. Vincent showing severe damage to trees and vegetation. (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Under the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network, BirdsCaribbean has been building the capacity of Caribbean conservationists to identify and monitor landbirds using standardized survey protocols. Using these data, we can expand our knowledge of how birds use different habitats in space and time, and enable researchers to assess the status and trends of their populations in relation to habitat and climate variables. The first CLM Training Workshop was held in the Dominican Republic in February 2022, followed by an introductory workshop in Puerto Rico in July 2022 in conjunction with the AOS-BC meeting. For this workshop, we head to another enchanting Caribbean island, this time in the Lesser Antilles.
Landbird Monitoring takes wing in the Lesser Antilles
St. Vincent (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) is brimming with bird life and is home to legendary species found nowhere else in the world like the St. Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and the Grenada Flycatcher (also endemic to Grenada). Other beautiful regional endemics include the Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Purple-throated Carib, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Lesser Antillean Euphonia, Brown Trembler, and Rufous-throated Solitaire.
The Grenada Flycatcher is a landbird that is endemic to both St Vincent and Grenada. These two were spotted at the Botanical Gardens of St Vincent and the Grenadines. (Mike Akresh)
The workshop’s content and sessions were facilitated by: Jeff Gerbracht and Ingrid Molina (both from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology), Lystra Culzac-Wilson (Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education – SCIENCE), Glenroy Gaymes (Wildlife Unit, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Forestry Department), Dr. Mike Akresh (Antioch University), Dr. Maya Wilson (BirdsCaribbean), and Dr. Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean).
During the workshop, 24 Caribbean wildlife professionals representing NGOs and government agencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Montserrat, and Grenada learned how to use the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) landbird monitoring protocols. These protocols were originally developed in Latin America to survey birds in tropical habitats. We have adopted the methodology (PROALAS Manual, Caribbean version) for our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Program and are training our local partners in its use.
Group photo of workshop participants and facilitators at Montreal Gardens, St Vincent. (Photo by Timothy Vaughn)
Bountiful Birds at the Botanical Gardens
Curator’s House at the Botanical Gardens of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The workshop was held in the Curator’s House at the Botanical Gardens, just outside the capital city of Kingstown. At over 250 years old, it is the oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere, and an important conservation site. This is also the location of the Nicholas Wildlife Aviary Complex, which maintains a captive population of the vulnerable St. Vincent Parrot.
This location was perfect for learning, discovery, and practice. The Botanical Gardens and nearby Anglican Pastoral Centre’s small forest patch support a variety of bird species, allowing participants to quickly step out of the classroom to practice carrying out PROALAS point counts and transect surveys. The lessons entailed estimating distance using both stride lengths and range finders, marking survey areas, and recording count data in the eBird app (Caribbean pack). But perhaps the most intense and highly rewarding process for participants was learning to identify the birds around them.
Landbirds are often small busy birds that perch briefly, usually hidden by leaves, before darting off to another tree. Fortunately, participants were guided by local birding veterans Lystra Culzac (Director of local NGO SCIENCE) and Glenroy Gaymes (Chief Wildlife Officer, St Vincent Forestry Department) for these bird identification sessions. They reiterated the importance of using field marks, with help from the Merlin app and the Birds of the West Indies field guide, as well as songs and calls, to correctly identify the birds they spotted.
Dr Maya Wilson presenting on the importance of monitoring landbirds.
Kayroy Baptiste (Union Island Environmental Alliance) entering data into PROALAS survey sheet during transect survey behind Anglican-Pastoral Centre.
Forestry Officers (St Vincent and the Grenadines) conducting transect surveys behind Anglican Pastoral Centre.
Ingrid Molina explaining monitoring methods to participants.
Practice makes perfect
Following several preparatory sessions, including “Bird ID 101,” “Landbirds of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” and “How to Use Binoculars,” the participants headed out to the Botanical Gardens to practice identifying birds. The group’s concentration and determination were palpable! Those working in small groups whispered to each other about the nuances of colors, bill shapes, tail lengths, and other field marks. Others pointed out the different bird calls, another important means to ID forest birds. Some of the more experienced birders in the group even used the opportunity to take their bird knowledge and identification skills to the next level, mentoring less experienced birders and adding “lifer birds” to their personal lists!
Lystra Culzac-Wilson introduces participants to the landbirds found in St Vincent.
Dr Mike Akresh helping participants identify birds at the Botanical Gardens.
Jeff explaining binocular specs to participants.
Participants practicing using their Vortex binoculars. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Lystra Culzac-Wilson highlighting the differences among species of doves found in St Vincent.
Lystra and participants practice identifying birds in the Botanical Gardens.
Conquering wild terrain and rough weather to master PROALAS in the field
Botanical gardens and reserves in urban landscapes provide refuge for birds and other wildlife. But realistically, most of our poorly studied and threatened species, including the Whistling Warbler, inhabit rugged forested areas. All of the participants are normally tasked in their jobs with traversing rivers and climbing steep hills—often in unpredictable weather. The workshop’s trajectory naturally shifted from practice to on-the-ground application.
Fieldwork over the next several days began with 5 am wake-up calls to catch the bus to the Vermont Nature Trail or Montreal (part of the Central Mountain Range Forest Reserve). Early risers were rewarded with “gram worthy” views of pristine moist forests and lush undulating ridges. At Vermont Nature Trail we were delighted to see and hear St. Vincent Parrots! Here, on narrow slippery trails with dense vegetation on either side, participants had to rely upon their knowledge of the PROALAS protocols and bird identification by sound to yield the best data for their surveys. Participants displayed sheer professionalism and dedication, working together to improve their skills while braving the less than ideal environmental conditions (yes, we had some downpours!). The team discussed survey methods, assigned tasks, and helped each other with bird identification and equipment use.
Stream along the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Amonie Holas (Gaea Conservation Network) using a rangefinder to calculate distance during the survey on Vermont Nature Trail.
Ansaki Roberts (SVD Forestry Department) marking a point count station with flagging tape on the Vermont Nature Trail.
Participants conducting a point count survey at Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Maya-Wilson)
View from the parrot observation deck at Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Participants identifying and recording birds along the Vermont Nature Trail.
St Vincent Parrot quietly perched on a tree, Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Briefing before start of surveys at Montreal Gardens.
Participants identifying birds with Lystra Culzac-Wilson at Montreal Gardens.
A Purple-throated Carib sitting in her nest was spotted by Lisa at Montreal Gardens. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson).
On the last day we headed to the dry forest on the leeward side of the island at Zion Hill. Along the way we stopped at Buccament and Layou to survey waterbirds for the annual, regional Caribbean Waterbird Census, which was ongoing at the time. Bird identification reached a crescendo when Jeff set up the spotting scope for everyone to get a closer look at the shorebirds. The most popular among the group was an American Oystercatcher! We were all jumping back in line to catch a second look at this snazzy bird with its carrot-like beak.
Buccament Bay, St Vincent.
Jeanette (St Lucia National Trust) and Aloysius (St Lucia Forestry Department) looking for waterbirds at Buccament Bay.
Identifying waterbirds for CWC2023, St-Vincent. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
The Layou River in St. Vincent is an important freshwater site. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Caribbean Waterbird Survey at Layou Bay. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
American Oystercatcher using its unmistakeable red-orange beak to forage.
And the CLM Network grows
After a non-stop week of birding and learning, participants returned to their home countries to start the next phase—designing and implementing their own landbird monitoring programs, educating their communities about local landbirds, and contributing information to an accessible online Caribbean landbird monitoring database. This mass Caribbean capacity building is ultimately what these workshops are about. This type of training enables participants to develop sustainable and homegrown programs in their own countries, laying the groundwork for a future where our endemics can be known and protected through deeper appreciation, ongoing monitoring, comprehensive Conservation Action Plans and policy interventions.
In particular, we are excited to see the St. Vincent Forestry Department lead their own landbird monitoring programs to understand and conserve the St. Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other forest birds. In addition, both Forestry and SCIENCE are raising awareness with children and communities about St Vincent’s special endemic birds and how important it is to protect their forest habitats. Stay tuned for further updates reporting on the results of our monitoring and education programs!
Forestry staff and workshop facilitators during a brainstorming session for a landbird monitoring plan for St Vincent, at Montreal Gardens.
Participants shared how their workshop experience would support their own conservation work:
“I am now able to organize a [landbird] monitoring program for my island and use the eBird app.”
“The workshop deepened my understanding of landbird ecology and how to efficiently monitor these birds.”
“I really appreciated being able to connect with other Caribbean conservationists and build my network.”
“The workshop gave us the tools, equipment and knowledge to collect data about landbirds.”
The workshop “provided me with the necessary skills to properly survey a [bird] population.”
“It has increased my understanding of what should and should not be done when monitoring landbirds.”
Acknowledgements: BirdsCaribbean is grateful to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for funding this Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop. We also want to express our deepest appreciation to Mr. Fitzgerald Providence and his staff at the St. Vincent Forestry Department for their help and support, and to Vortex Optics for assistance with binoculars for all participants. Special thanks to our workshop trainers and to all of the participants for an incredible workshop. Finally, we thank BirdsCaribbean members, partners, and donors for your support, which made this work possible.
Behind-the-scenes
BirdsCaribbean has years of experience organizing and executing workshops and each one comes with its own unique challenges and opportunities. Here are some of the behind-the-scenes preparations for this CLM Training Workshop.
Getting there
Even though in some cases islands are miles apart, inter-Caribbean travel is rough. Economy flights are expensive between islands because airlines have to pay high taxes at each airport and each airline has fixed flight schedules. This meant some participants had to overnight on another island before flying to St. Vincent or leave St. Vincent a day later. Maya had to be methodical in selecting flights so that everyone got to St. Vincent on time for the start of the workshop. We suggest that Maya add ‘travel agent’ to her CV.
Field Reconnaissance
Workshop facilitators also have to scout for suitable locations for the field sessions. This entails selecting the site, visiting the site, collecting sample data and vetting for safety. During the recon mission at the Anglican Pastoral Centre, our very own member of the Media Working Group, Aliya, slipped and fell down one especially steep part of the trail. Although Glenroy told us “what happens in the forest stays in the forest,” we think it’s too funny not to share. Aliya admits that she is prone to falling but that this event stood out to her because it was “not an abrupt fall I am used to. I slowly slid down the trail and it felt like I was never going to stop!” We hope that Aliya and her legs have since worked out their differences.
Workshop and outreach materials
Flights are expensive and so is shipping to the Caribbean! Every opportunity to meet in-person is an opportunity to share printed materials and equipment. It really would not be a gathering of Caribbean people if suitcases of goods other than clothes were not brought to the event! We used this opportunity to share field guides, binoculars (again, massive thanks to our donors), rolls of flagging tapes, stacks of waterproof notebooks, nest cameras, Endemic Birds of the West Indies coloring books, and stickers.
Rolls of stickers of birds endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Each roll contains 1000 stickers. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Close-up of the Whistling Warbler sticker with the call to “Protect & Love Our Endemic Birds.”
The beautiful stickers were designed by Josmar Esteban Márquez featuring 11 Lesser Antillean gems; Green-throated Carib, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Bananaquit, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Whistling Warbler, Scaly-breasted Thrasher, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Grenada Flycatcher, Mangrove Cuckoo, and St Vincent Parrot. They were custom-made for use by the various NGOs and government agencies partners during their conservation outreach and education activities at schools and thus bear the name of the bird with a call to “Protect & Love (heart symbol) our endemic birds.”
We underestimated the time it would take to divide and distribute stickers (1000 per roll per species). Since the workshop was coming to an end, we needed all hands-on-deck to cut and package the stickers for each of the NGOs and government agency representatives. Indeed, teamwork makes the dream work! But next time we’ll get a head start.
Workshop facilitators sorting, tearing and packaging stickers for our partners during the workshop.
Stephon and Antwone (Montserrat National Trust) receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Kristy Shortte (Sustainable Grenadines) receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Forestry staff receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Aloysius Charles St. Lucia Forestry Department receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Ajhermae White Montserrat Department of Environment receiving outreach materials from Lisa.
Kayroy Baptiste and Roxanne Froget (Union-Island Environmental Alliance) receive outreach materials from Lisa.
On April 9th, 2021, La Soufrière Volcano, on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, began to erupt for the first time in 42 years. These explosive eruptions left the conservation community gravely concerned about impacts to the island’s wildlife and vegetation. Using funds raised through our volcano recovery campaign, BirdsCaribbean, the Saint Vincent Department of Forestry, and Antioch University were able to begin assessing the effects. Here, we report on field work from our successful two-week pilot season surveying for the endemic Whistling Warbler and other forest species in May of 2022. Field Assistant Kaitlyn Okrusch shares her experiences—read on!
There is something indescribable about witnessing a creature that so few have laid eyes on. Not because it makes you lucky over others. Rather, this creature, this other living thing, has somehow managed to stay hidden from our pervasive (and distinctly) human nature. This thought crossed my mind several times as I glimpsed a view of the Whistling Warbler—a really rare bird found only on one island and restricted to mountainous forest habitat. As I gazed up at this endemic gem, I imagined its secretive life. With its stocky body, bold white eye-ring, cocked tail, and tilted head, it looked back down at me, just as curious.
When Mike Akresh, a conservation biology professor at Antioch University New England, asked if I wanted to assist a pilot study for the Whistling Warbler on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, I paused. “The Whistling Warbler?” I thought, “Saint Vincent?” I had never heard of the bird nor the island. Now, I don’t know how I could ever forget either.
Saint Vincent is located in the southern Lesser Antilles, and has a kite tail of 32 smaller islands and cays (the Grenadines) dotting southward. Its indigenous name is ‘Hairouna,’ which translates to the Land of the Blessed. The people, the culture, and the biodiversity are truly remarkable—blessed indeed. In addition to the warbler, the islands are home to the national bird, the colorful and endemic Saint Vincent Parrot, and host to six other bird species that are found only in the Lesser Antilles.
The rumblings, then eruptions, that ignited our work
At the northernmost point of this island lives the active volcano, La Soufrière, which last erupted in 1979. In December of 2020, this powerful mountain showed signs of life with effusive eruptions and growth of the lava dome for several months. On April 9th 2021, explosive eruptions began that sent plumes of ash as high as 16 kilometers. In addition, pyroclastic flows and lahars (very fast-moving, dense mudflows or debris flows consisting of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, ash and water) caused considerable damage along river valleys and gullies.
Multiple eruptions in April damaged trees and blanketed the forests and towns in thick layers of gray ash, leaving many parts of the island barren for months. Upwards of 20,000 people were evacuated in the Red and Orange Zones (northern half of the island), and, thanks to this decision, there was no loss of life. Remarkably, the 2021 eruption of La Soufriere is the largest to occur in the entire Caribbean of at least the last 250 years.
Massive ash cloud from La Soufriére volcano explosion on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, April 13, 2021. There were multiple powerful eruptions in April, starting on April 9th. (Photo by Dr. Richard Robertson, UWI).
There was grave concern for the welfare of the Saint Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other wildlife. BirdsCaribbean launched a fundraising campaign and our community stepped up to provide funding and supplies for volcano recovery efforts, both short and longer-term. This natural disaster was destructive for both the people and the land; the impacts are still being seen and felt today. But, out of this catastrophe arose an opportunity to assess the status of Saint Vincent’s iconic birds and to plan for their conservation moving forward.
The eruption of La Soufrière called attention to the urgent need for collaboration and research efforts regarding biodiversity conservation on Saint Vincent. With such limited baseline knowledge pertaining to most of the forest birds on the island, locals worried that some species (like the Whistling Warbler and the Saint Vincent Parrot) might disappear. No one was sure how these eruptions had impacted their populations.
This opened the door for concerted efforts between the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Forestry (SVGF), BirdsCaribbean, and Antioch University, to complete a pilot season surveying for the elusive and endangered Whistling Warbler and other endemic landbirds. SVGF and researchers from Florida International University (led by Dr. Cristina Gomes) were already in the process of specifically re-surveying the Saint Vincent Parrot population, so our surveys focused on other landbirds (stay tuned for a blog post on this work!).
La Soufriére Volcano Trail sign. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Volcanic remnants near the northeast town of Georgetown. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Headquarters of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Forestry, located in Campden Park near Kingstown. We met several times with Forestry staff during our visit to plan and discuss the field work. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Ash deposits on the coast at Wallibou, just north of the Wallibou River in the northwest, Glenroy is looking towards La Soufriére volcano. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Trees on the La Soufriére trail—one year later you can still see the damage to the canopy from the April 2021 eruptions. (photo by Lisa-Sorenson)
Touching down for the “oreo” bird
Flying into Saint Vincent. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
My eyes grew wide as the plane touched down and I stepped out into the humid, salty air. Lisa Sorenson (the executive director of BirdsCaribbean) had been down here for the previous few days with her husband, Mike Sorenson, and colleagues Jeff Gerbracht (Cornell Lab of Ornithology and long time BirdsCaribbean member) and Mike Akresh. They had been scouting out potential locations for our surveys of the warbler using the PROALAS point count protocol with SVGF and specifically SVGF Wildlife Unit Head, Glenroy Gaymes.
Lisa and Mike A. picked me up from the Argyle International Airport in a silver Suzuki jeep—driver’s side on the right, drive on the left. I hopped in the car and we zipped off into the narrow (and steep!) hillside roads of Arnos Vale—a small community north of the capital of Kingstown. Lisa had been down here before. She drove us around like a local: confident and happy, despite the crazy traffic and winding roads! I rolled down the window and the sun brushed my face. Our first stop before our home base was a local fruit stand, well equipped with juicy mangoes, soursop, plantains, pineapple, and grapefruits. Island life and fresh fruits—nothing quite compares!
As Lisa and Mike picked out the various ripe fruits they wanted, Lisa didn’t miss an opportunity to ask the stand tenders if they had ever heard of or seen the Whistling Warbler. She took out her phone, pulled up the Merlin Bird ID app, and displayed some of the few captured sounds and photographs of this bird. She held it up for them to see. “Ahhhh, yes, we’ve heard that before!” the man said, after listening to the song. A smile crept onto his face. The unmistakable call of this bird, as I would come to observe, has been ingrained into the minds of many locals—without them even knowing who was making it. “We hear that many times when we are in the forest,” the woman said.
The song of the Whistling Warbler is a crescendo trill of loudly whistled notes.
Many locals (and non locals) are unaware that the Whistling Warbler is endemic to Saint Vincent. On the other hand, many are aware that the beautiful and iconic Saint Vincent Parrot is endemic. Endemic species are naturally more vulnerable to extinction due to their specific nature: their limited distribution leaves them particularly vulnerable to threats like habitat destruction, climate change, invasive predators, or overhunting. On top of those reasons—as noted above—their survival may be even more perilous after a devastating volcanic eruption. It is well known that often the large, flamboyantly colored birds captivate, motivate, and receive more funding when it comes to conservation. Sometimes the smaller, less colorful birds quite literally get lost in the shadows. Because of a lack of research and funding, there are large knowledge gaps pertaining to the Whistling Warbler’s ecology and population status.
Whistling Warbler perched on a branch. (Photo by the Saint Vincent Ministry of Tourism)
There are only two scientific papers out there (one unpublished) that contain what little we know about the Whistling Warbler. Consequently, you often see “no information” listed under the various tabs if you search for this species on the Birds of the World website. What is its breeding biology? Do we actually understand the plumage variations between sexes and ages? What about habitat preference and home range size? Diet? Perceived versus actual threats regarding its conservation?
Furthermore, this warbler is interesting because it is also monotypic. It’s in a genus all of its own, and there are no subspecies. This makes the warbler especially unique, and it may be susceptible to changes that we could be causing (and accelerating).
Unfortunately, as with many endemic birds throughout the Caribbean, the lack of capacity, funding, and previous interest has limited our ability to answer these research questions and better conserve these endemic species. Few have had the time (or the funding) to put into fielding these research questions. These are some of the motivations to try and research—to understand—this unique bird and its ecology. We hope to try and figure out the status of this endangered warbler and build local capacity to monitor the warbler and other birds.
Hiking, Birding, and Counting, Oh My!
Most birders acknowledge that in order to see a bird, you need to be a bird. This means getting up at unpleasantly early times, 4 am for example. But, more often than not, it is well-worth the short night of sleep, driving in the dark, and arduous hiking, to watch and hear the lush green forest wake up. On our first field morning, we headed to a trail called Montréal, a steep ascent up the mountain, that became Tiberoux trail, once you reached the saddle and hiked down the other side. This was an area that SVGF staff had both seen and heard our small, feathered friend before.
Montreal farm field with Glenroy Gaymes and Mike Akresh. Glenroy points the way to hike into the mountains on the Montréal trail to survey for the warbler. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Utilizing local and SVGF staff knowledge was a crucial aspect of our surveying strategy. Our team visited sites and hiking trails where the warbler was known to be seen or heard in the past. We then conducted point counts within these areas to collect data on the presence/absence of the warbler and other forest species. Glenroy (AKA “Pewee”) has a wealth of knowledge about Saint Vincent’s forests and wildlife. His deep connection with the land comes from inherent connection and diligent observation: being a part of and not apart from the land. He has been walking these trails for 30+ years, patiently learning. Now, he was going to try and teach us about one of his favorite birds.
At first glance, the Whistling Warbler seems nearly impossible to study, partly due to its elusive nature, and partly due to its apparent habitat preference. This bird is found in dense, mountainous forests on extreme slopes of ridges and slippery ravines. This, as you can imagine, makes it difficult to track the bird, let alone nest search. One wrong step, and you can be sent flying down the mountain.
Luckily, with Glenroy’s knowledge and our protocol incorporating a playback song of this species, we were given glimpses here and there as the warbler flitted through the dense, dark, mid-canopy. Digging our heels into the steep sides of the trail, we would all anxiously listen for and await our prized subject. You could feel the tension rising as each of us swiveled our heads back and forth, looking for any sign of movement. “I see it, I see it, right there!” one of us would whisper—the others getting our binoculars ready.
For this two week pilot season, we wanted to rely on local knowledge to understand where to place our PROALAS point counts. PROALAS is a protocol used throughout Central America, and is now beginning to be implemented with BirdsCaribbean’s new Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Project. The protocol includes a standardized set of survey methods for monitoring birds, specially designed for tropical habitats. For our study, we would stop and do a 10-minute point count, noting every single bird that we see and/or hear every 200 meters along a designated trail. This methodology is a quick and systematic way to get an understanding of the landbirds in an area.
Additionally, we collected vegetation and habitat data which can then be used to understand species-habitat relationships. In our case, since we were focusing on the Whistling Warbler, we also did an additional five-minute point count just for it. For the first two minutes, we would play a continuous variety of Whistling Warbler calls and songs and visually looked for the bird to come in. For the final three minutes, we would turn off the playback, and listen to see if the warbler called back. At several locations, we also set out Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs), which are small devices that record bird songs for days at a time without us being physically present at the site.
All of this data was entered into eBird, available to local stakeholders and forever stored in the global database (see our Trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/58880). Needless to say, Lisa, Mike, Jeff, Mike Akresh, and myself all got a crash course in Saint Vincent bird ID in the field.
Jeff, Mike, and Kaitlyn hiking on Tiberoux trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mike Akresh setting up the AudioMoth acoustic monitoring device in the field. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Winston “Rambo” Williams and Mike doing a point count on the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Team on the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Warbler and Parrot teams on the Silver Spoon trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Glenroy Gaymes walking through Mahorn Ridge. The orange flowering bush is Palicourea croceoides; common names Yellow Cedar and Caribbean Red Cappel Plant. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Audiomoth Automatic Recording Unit (ARU) set up on a tree to record songs and calls of forest birds. (photo by Lisa Sorenson).
So, how are the warblers doing?
Figure 1. Map of St Vincent showing locations of our PROALAS Point Counts without Whistling Warbler (WHWA) sightings, with warbler sightings, and eBird Caribbean sightings prior to the April 2021 eruption of La Soufriére Volcano.
The good news is we found some warblers! After surveying 8 sites, 46 points, and conducting 100+ point counts, we detected the Whistling Warbler, by sight and/or sound, at around 35% of the point locations (see Figure 1). Warblers had higher abundance on the eastern (windward) side of the island compared to the western (leeward) side, and appeared to be present on steep, mountainous, wetter slopes with natural (non-planted) forest.
Interestingly, we detected a number of Whistling Warblers along the La Soufrière Trail, an area that was highly impacted by the volcano eruption, so the warbler seems to be doing ok despite the habitat destruction! However, the impacted northern areas were definitely quieter and a number of other forest birds seemed to be missing, like the Cocoa Thrush and Ruddy Quail-Dove. One hypothesis might be that the heavy ash deposits closer to the volcano affected insects living on the ground—the food resources needed by ground-foraging bird species.
We also noted that a few other bird species were especially rare on the island after the volcano eruption. For instance, we did not detect any Antillean Euphonias, and only briefly saw or heard the Rufous-throated Solitaire at two locations. The Green-throated Carib, Brown Trembler, and Scaly-breasted Thrasher also had fairly low numbers throughout the island. This may have been due to the habitat we focused on and/or the time of year of our surveys. Clearly, more surveys are needed to assess these other species.
Fenton Falls trail, where Whistling Warblers were detected. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mike Akresh, Jeff Gerbracht, and Mike Sorenson along the Fenton Falls trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Possible non-active Whistling Warbler nest. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Whistling Warbler looks out from a branch. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Whistling Warbler (possible juvenile or female). (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Nature is resilient!
After traversing much of this island in search of the warbler, it is hard to imagine that this devastating eruption happened only one year ago. We saw the remnants of the ash on the trails; trees drooping over from the sheer weight of the volcanic ash upon their branches, and huge swaths in the north part of the island mostly devoid of large canopy trees. Yet, there was also life flourishing around us, green and growing up towards the light.
Glenroy commented that after the April eruptions, the forests were so eerily quiet, he felt like he was in outer space. He told us that in some areas, there was not one creature to be seen or heard for months, not even the ever-present mosquitos. Despite this devastating natural disaster, here we were though, both hearing and seeing many of the forest birds coming back. This also often included hearing the unmistakable crescendo whistling song of the Whistling Warbler, much to our delight.
Spathoglottis plicata, Philippine Ground Orchid (invasive species) in bloom. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Glenroy Gaymes with a St Vincent Hairstreak butterfly (endemic to St Vincent). (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Jeff and Mike Sorenson at the Parrot Lookout on the Vermont Nature Trail. Yes, we saw parrots! (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
“Life From Death” interpretive sign along the Vermont Nature Trail. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mike Sorenson looking for birds in dense forest habitat. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Optimistic for the future: Our next steps
Kaitlyn Okrusch on the Coffee Trail with a rainbow in the background. (Photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
BirdsCaribbean, in partnership with Antioch University, SVGF, and others, are hoping to better understand how (and if) the Whistling Warbler and other species are recovering. Based on our knowledge of bird population resilience following catastrophic hurricanes, some species may quickly rebound to their former population sizes, while it may take years for other species to recover, and some may even become extinct. For instance, the Bahama Nuthatch, with a previously extremely small population, has not been seen since the devastating Hurricane Dorian passed through Grand Bahama island in 2019.
Next steps are to further examine the audio recordings we collected, carry out more surveys, and conduct a training workshop next winter to help build SVGF’s capacity to continue to monitor the warbler and other forest birds next year and in future years. We also plan to work together with SVGF to write a comprehensive Conservation Action Plan (CAP) which will help guide monitoring and conservation of the warbler for many years to come.
Finally, we will work with SVGF to elevate the status of the warbler in the eyes of locals—educate about this special little bird through school visits, field trips, and a media campaign. This endemic bird will hopefully become a source of pride, alongside the Saint Vincent Parrot, so that local people will join the fight to save it from extinction. It takes a village to work for the conservation of anything—especially birds—and we are excited to be partners on a fantastic project.
I keep returning to a quote from Senegalese conservationist, Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” Through collaboration with Vincentians and SVGF, I do believe we can better understand how this bird lives, and what this bird needs. It is, and will be, hard work. With help from Glenroy and other Forestry staff who have a wealth of knowledge and appreciation for the land and its wildlife, hopefully all Vincentians will come to know and love the Whistling Warbler as we have, and help us to conserve it and Saint Vincent’s other forest birds.
Lisa at the Silver Spoon Parrot watch lookout. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The team at work. L-R: Mike Akresh, Jeff Gerbracht, Lisa and Mike Sorenson. (Photo by Mike Sorenson)
Acknowledgments
We thank Glenroy Gaymes for working with us in the field nearly every day, generously sharing his vast knowledge of the birds, plants, and other wildlife of Saint Vincent’s forests. We are also grateful to Mr. Fitzgerald Providence, Director of Forestry, and other SVGF staff for supporting our work, including Winston “Rambo” Williams, Lenchford Nimblet, and Cornelius Lyttle. Thanks also to Lystra Culzac for sharing her knowledge about the Whistling Warbler and St Vincent’s forest birds and providing helpful advice and insights to our field work. Funding for this pilot study came from BirdsCaribbean’s Volcano Recovery Fund—thank you so much to everyone who donated to this fund and to the “emergency group” that came together to assist with funding support and recovery . We also thank Antioch University’s Institute for International Conservation for providing additional funding.
Blog by Kaitlyn Okrusch (with Lisa Sorenson, Mike Akresh, Jeff Gerbracht, & Glenroy Gaymes). Kaitlyn is a graduate student at Antioch University of New England. She is obtaining a M.S. in Environmental Studies as well as getting her 7-12 grade science teaching licensure. She has worked and volunteered for various bird organizations over the past six years – both conducting research (bird-banding, nest searching) as well as developing curriculum and educating. These most recently include University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL), Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO), and Owl Research Institute (ORI). Her passion is fueled by connecting people with the wild spaces they call home – especially through birds.
Help us to continue this work!
Once again, we thank the many generous members of our community who donated to help with the recovery effort for birds in St Vincent impacted by the April 2021 explosive eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano. If you would like to donate to help with our continued work with the Forestry Department and local communities, please click here and designate “St Vincent Volcano Recovery” as the specific purpose for your donation. Thank you!
*The “emergency group” that came together to assist with funding support and recovery of the St Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler, and other wildlife consisted of the following organizations: BirdsCaribbean, Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, Fauna and Flora International, Caribaea Initiative, Houston Zoo, Grenada Dove Conservation Programme, UNDP Reef to Ridge Project, Houston Zoo, IWECo Project St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Farallon Islands Foundation. We thank our amazing local partners SCIENCE Initiative, the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Environment Fund, and the Forestry Department for your support and hard work.
Gallery
Antillean Crested Hummingbird. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Lobster Claw Heliconia (Heliconia bihai). (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Fenton Falls Trailhead. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Cattle Egret coming in for a landing. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Jeff Gerbracht walking on Montreal Trail towards the mountains with a boom mic. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
La Soufriere in the clouds on the east side of the island. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Common Black Hawk in the Calabash mangroves. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Lisa and Mike at Fenton Falls. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Purple-Throated Carib on the Silver Spoon Trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Two-year old Maeson Gaymes (incredible little hiker!) on the La Soufriere Trail for Global Big Day 2022 in St Vincent. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Mangroves down by the ocean in Kingstown. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
St Vincent Hairstreak (Pseudolycaena cybele), also called Marsyus Hairstreak, St Vincent endemic butterfly, rests on a flower. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Freshly picked Guava on the coffee trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Old Trinity Road on the west side of the island, near the volcano. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Purple-Throated Carib nest found by Jeff, Lisa and Mike S. on Montreal. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Scaly-breasted Thrasher sits on a branch. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
Saint Vincent Bush Anole Anolis trinitatis). (Photo by Mike Akresh)
St. Vincent Whistling Frog (Pristimantis shrevei, IUCN endangered) in Glenroy Gaymes’ hands. (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Plumrose or Water Apple flowers found on the Coffee Trail. (Photo by Kaitlyn Okrusch)
White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) (Photo by Mike Akresh)
Lystra Culzac and Lisa Sorenson – mango sisters reunited! Lystra generously shared her knowledge about St Vincent’s forest birds and provided excellent advice for our field work. (photo by Mike Sorenson)
Lovely pastoral scene, nursing calf in Montreal. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Warbler and Parrot Crews at Silver Spoon Trail. (Photo by Glenroy Gaymes)
Acomat Boucan (Sloanea-caribaea) – Large tree with buttress roots in the forest. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Gommier (Dacryodes excelsa) dominant large tree in St Vincent. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
