Mary Fulford brings dynamism and innovation to the sustainable tourism space! Through Island Mystique, she offers exciting, culturally immersive adventures. From delightful foodie deep dives featuring the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) must-try dishes, to handcrafting with local artisans, to listening as historians weave folklore tales by the crackle of a fire pit—Mary promises to take visitors off the beaten path by sharing the TCI that exists beyond the ‘sun, sea and sand’. Passionate about connecting guests to the wondrous diversity of her islands, Mary seized the opportunity to join the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Bird Guide Training Workshop and explore TCI’s incredible avifauna! Read on for Mary’s account of her CBT experience, and learn how she is already incorporating birding into her thrilling offerings.
When I saw that BirdsCaribbean was coming to the Turks and Caicos Islands to host a certificate guide training for the Caribbean Birding Trail, I knew I had to be there!
Participating in this training was important for me as the owner of Island Mystique—a culturally immersive tour experience company here in Turks and Caicos. During our creative tours, I want travelers to get off the beaten path and enjoy our culture through a different lens. My employee participated in the training as well and he could not stop enthusing about the wealth of information he gained, and how fun and engaging the training was! Thanks to the training, we are now better equipped to facilitate our tours, whilst teaching our customers about the bird ecosystem here in the TCI.
I have never participated in birdwatching before, so all of this was new to me—and exciting! There was so much information to take in and dissect—like learning how to identify birds based on their different characteristic traits and features. The mix between theory and getting out into the field was valuable, offering me an opportunity to go out and put what I learned into practice.
Mary stepped in to help Lisa with a Birding 101 demonstration!
The theory taught in the classroom came to life everyday with exciting field trips to TCI’s top birding hotspots!
Delicious lunches and digiscoping!
These were five action-packed days of training, laughter, bonding, birding, sights, and great lunches (there was lobster on the menu with crab and rice—I am an island girl and we love our island food!). One of the main highlights for me from this experience was going out into the field and birding. It was such a great experience learning about different birds and using our binoculars and scope to see them up close and personal. I even learned how to digiscope—thanks, Beny! These little moments taught us not only how to be great birding tour guides but great tour guides in general, ensuring that our guests leave with happy smiles—as we did every day.
I partnered with Charmaine Francis from the Bahamas, and we practiced identifying birds. It was a valuable exercise, which helped us spot the birds’ distinguishing features, and become familiar with how their names recalled their different characteristics. For example, the all-black Smooth-billed Aniis a beautiful bird that reminds me of the song ‘Smooth Operator’—it just looks so suave!
Mary and Charmaine partnered up to put the ‘How to Identify Birds’ session in practice.
“He’s a smooth operator.” Smooth-billed Anis cut a fine form with their elegant black plumage. (Photo by Roberto Jovel)
Thanks to our sponsors, all participants received their very own copy of “Birds of the West Indies” to familiarize themselves with the field marks, behaviors, and habitats of our region’s birds.
Bringing a deeper meaning to tour guiding
Rick’s presentation on Interpretive Communication taught me how to bring extra meaning to my guests through our experiences, by encouraging them (and myself) to look at the bigger picture—the “Why?” Interpretation* is a form of mission-based communication that helps humans understand the natural world through storytelling with a message that can help them form a positive, sustainable relationship with the environment.
Rick helped us to figure out and understand what our target audience wants, which helps us to tailor our offering to suit them best. It’s quite similar to the concept of an elevator pitch. A key takeaway for me was that you have to truly believe in what you’re selling, because that’s what makes an individual buy into your brand, service, and passion. Conveying your message plainly yet effectively really helps to build that connection.
Rick Morales takes participants through Tilden’s 6 Principles of Interpretation, and underscores how passion brings them all together.
What has the Caribbean Birding Trail done for me?
This training has offered me insights on how to be a better tour guide. I now have a better understanding of the market and target audience, which then allows me to personalize my experiences to meet our guest’s demands. Island Mystique offers a Sip and Paint Bird Watching Premium Experience, where we first trek the bird trail with our clients, seeing and enjoying different birds. We then come to a gazebo which offers an excellent vantage point for spotting even more birdlife, and we paint one of the birds found in the TCI, with light refreshments…
How cool, right?
As a sustainably operated company, having our Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training certificate not only gives us a competitive advantage in the market, but also gains the trust of customers looking to book with us. This market is beginning to take flight in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and we look forward to contributing to the promotion of this niche through our service offerings (with the cooperation of our birds of course!), and to conserving and protecting the birds that we have here.
As a company, we are excited to grow in the eco- and sustainable tourism market, showcasing another side to our country’s diversity beyond ‘Sun, Sea and Sand’.
Mary gets a spectacular view of the waterbirds that were in abundance at Provo Golf Club (we received special permission for this visit).
An American Kestrel delighted participants by practically posing while everyone got great photos and views!
TCI’s rich and abundant wetlands makes it a haven for shorebirds and waterbirds!
Juvenile Snowy Egret. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Bryan Naqqi Manco, of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, enriched our experience by teaching us about the endemic flora of TCI.
Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Simon Busittil, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, delivered a fascinating presentation on the East Caicos Wilderness Area!
Yellow-throated Warbler. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Participants learned about spotting scope set up and management – especially when dealing with the needs of a large group!
Reddish Egret. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Cuban Crows are know to often visit the beautiful Indian Cave.
Mary Fulford is a multi-hyphenate: Hotelier by profession, Founder and Managing Director of Island Mystique a Culturally Immersive Tour Experience Company and The Woman Code 4.0(NPO), Host and Creator of Let’s Get Candid, Speaker, Mentor, and a Community Activist. She is a lover of life, travel, adventure and music and encourages others to ‘create their own narrative’ by being assertive and giving their best effort. A humanitarian in essence, Mary is poised to lead the next generation of women to their true calling. Excited to learn more about Island Mystique culturally immersive packages? Visit their website, connect with them on Instagram and Facebook, or check out their latest reviews on Tripadvisor.
Acknowledgements: The CBT Interpretive Guide Training was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and local partners. These include the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, US Forest Service International Programs, and Vortex Optics.
The TCI CBT Interpretive Guide training is the seventh training to be carried out by BirdsCaribbean. Previous trainings have been held in Grenada, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These guide trainings are integral to advancing the vision of the CBT—connecting people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. Through the CBT, we promote natural and authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.
*Interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us. (National Association of Interpretation).
For Turks and Caicos Islands Environmental Officer, Dodly Proper, our Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Bird Guide Training Workshop was “a mini-quest of self-discovery and the ‘human connection’.” Having worked with the TCI government across the realms of ecology and education, Dodly was uniquely positioned to apply the knowledge and skills taught in this workshop. Like other participants he was put through the wringer of bird identification in the classroom and in the field. And indeed, practice made perfect! But it was the lessons on interpretation* and sharing of real-life guiding experiences by two of the facilitators, Rick and Beny, that created the environment for exploring the nuances of interpersonal connection and building meaningful relationships with clients. Read on for Dodly’s lively and pop-culture reference laden account of his CBT experience!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked through those doors. The topic was birds; it was the Caribbean Birding Trail workshop, after all. But as I sat and waited, the room began to fill with new and familiar faces, and lectures on bird identification began. I thought to myself: “I – I know this, I’m a birder”— and honestly, I did. I wasn’t a stranger to the birds of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This was apparent when we had our field practice exercise, virtual birding quiz and morning and evening birding trips, where colleague Della Higgs would occasionally say, “Dodly, you don’t get to answer; you know it already.” I wasn’t the only one being told that, as there were a couple of skilled individuals in our midst.
Although I am a birder, the binoculars lesson revealed something to me. Practice makes perfect, but good practice makes good results, and I wasn’t too good at using binoculars. I would like to blame all cameras for having a viewfinder that can only accommodate one eye. It was a game-changing revelation, especially when there were multiple birding events throughout the week.
One of the first practical sessions for participants was Binocular Usage 101! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Facilitators guided participants though the process of setting up their new binoculars (thanks to our sponsors, including Vortex Optics!) for the nuances of their vision. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Participants then practiced using their new specs to search the compound and record sightings of the ‘birds’ cleverly hidden amongst the trees by the facilitators! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Putting binoculars aside – how do we build a bird guiding business?
As we made it to the last half of the workshop, CBT Project Manager, Holly Robertson introduced us to the Caribbean Birding Trail Framework, and if I had any doubts about the initial stage of becoming a guide, they were beginning to fade. It was reassuring to know I was not alone, and even more so when we were given life-tested advice on how to gain credibility and market ourselves. With regards to the business realm of birding, and learning how to be an interpretive guide, trainers Beny Wilson and Rick Morales’ lessons and the expectations I had of this workshop over those few days were met — but also transformed into something personal. I expected to learn about the “ins and outs” of becoming a guide; but then it became a mini-quest of self-discovery and the ‘human connection.’
I won’t say that I delved deep into the “inner enigmatic machinations of my being.” However, I did learn about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how it relates to the guests’ experiences, as well as the principles of interpretation*, a form of mission-based communication that helps humans understand the natural world through story telling with a message that can help them form a positive, sustainable relationship with the environment. It was one thing to hear the reasoning, but another to hear Beny’s and Rick’s stories. All the attendees were completely silent as we listened to Rick’s membraphonic jaguar-caller [an instrument that uses vibrations to mimic the vocalizations of jaguars], and the journey that led him to it. There was bewilderment, turning into “N’awws,” after hearing Beny’s Blind birder.
Facilitator Rick Morales captivated everyone with his story and demonstration of the jaguar-caller. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Facilitator Beny Wilson gives practical guiding advice on a field trip to Bird Rock Trail.
Rick shares the theory of how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be applied to leading tour groups.
Beny gives the class a lesson on Maslow and scope setup in the field!
Of course, gorgeous birds were spotted through it all! Bahama Woodstar female. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
American Flamingos. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Yellow-throated Warbler. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Overcoming nerves, finding the rhythm
After hearing their tales, it was our turn, on the final day of the workshop, to give an interpretive talk with a message using our journeys and stories. I spent the better part of the night thinking that I could write a story, but public speaking is a bit of an ordeal for me. I eventually had to jump off the four-foot ledge I was hanging from and presented an interpretive rendition of “We all have rhythm, if we listen hard enough,” to a group of ever-familiar strangers. A smidgin of presenter’s anxiety started to take its hold on me [heart racing, weak knees, palms sweaty and hoping I’ll say everything right].
Giving an interpretive talk—Dodly delivered a passionate and powerful final presentation—easily a fan favorite!
How did he do? Fantastically well! Dodly copped one of our ‘Most Outstanding Presentation’ prizes!
I know I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, and that was reassuring. But it was also both comforting and connecting. That day, we all had the same task and goal. We wanted each other to feel our message, and that we did. I don’t cry as much as a person should, and I’m sure that’s a personal problem I have to work on, but it was somewhat difficult not to be emotional on that day. Throughout that week, I don’t think we laughed and cried harder on any day than on the last.
I learnt many things about myself, guiding, and birding and made friends I would have never encountered otherwise. If I had a time machine…10 out of 10, I would do it again.
Facilitator Sorenson poses for a picture with the team from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources. From left to right: Junel Blaise (aka Flash), Bryan Naqqi Manco and Dodly Prosper.
Dodly, who also enjoys photography, could often be spotted on field trips getting into position to set up that perfect shot!
Juvenile White-cheeked Pintail. (Photo by Dodly Prosper)
Early morning birding and Great Egrets. (Photo by Dodly Prosper)
Dodly Prosper poses for a shot with Caribbean Birding Trail facilitators (from L to R) Rick Morales, Holly Robertson, Lisa Sorenson, and Venecio Wilson, as he receives his Certificate of Completion.
The team from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources received special tokens of appreciation for their tireless support and warm hospitality throughout our stay in TCI.
Dodly Prosper works as Environmental Officer: Terrestrial Ecologist in the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) in the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. He has worked with DECR in various contract positions since 2019, and has also served with the Ministry of Health and as a lecturer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. Mr Prosper has worked as an ecological consultant on numerous environmental projects. He completed his undergraduate diploma at University of York in 2018 and is looking forward to completing a Master’s diploma. Mr Prosper focuses on entomology and ornithology but is also venturing into botany and marine biology. His interests outside of work include painting in watercolors and oils, photography, and Pokémon games. He catalogs his environmental investigation on his blog, The Trying Ecologist.
Acknowledgements: The CBT Interpretive Guide Training was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and local partners. These include the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, US Forest Service International Programs, and Vortex Optics.
The TCI CBT Interpretive Guide training is the seventh training to be carried out by BirdsCaribbean. Previous trainings have been held in Grenada, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These guide trainings are integral to advancing the vision of the CBT—connecting people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. Through the CBT, we promote natural and authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.
*Interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us. (National Association of Interpretation).
Multifaceted TCI journalist and advocate for Mother Nature, Easher Parker. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
The Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) primarily targets Caribbean tour guides in its mission to reimagine the tourism model across our islands; however, we recognize that this critical work must happen in concert with changes in the entire ecosystem that surrounds tourism—greater awareness by the public of our biodiverse treasures, coupled with a better understanding of the threats they face, leads to greater advocacy by communities. We respect the fundamental role that local journalists must play in keeping our communities informed and educated about the complex issues surrounding environmental and natural resource protection. Multifaceted and passionate journalist Easher Parker joined us at our Caribbean Birding Trail Turks and Caicos Islands workshop. For her, CBT was an eye-opening experience that further fueled her mission to inspire change that honors our environment—read on for her intriguing account.
Unexpected Beginnings
My Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training turned out quite different from what I expected. Stick with me—this story has a beautiful ending. Let’s start with how I ended up participating in the first place.
I’m a journalist who loves covering the local environment and relevant laws and policies. My early love for the outdoors sprouted in Blue Hills, a historically rich community where nature was my literal playground. Growing up, my brother, cousins, friends, and I were always outdoors—climbing trees, chasing “yellow-belly birds,” and skipping rocks, a challenge that defied the laws of physics, trying to make stones bounce across ponds or seas.
The serene Blue Hills jetty bathed in sublime golden hour light. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Easher Parker learns the ins and outs of adjusting spotting scopes at Blue Hills jetty. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
The Royal Tern is a Blue Hills jetty regular! (Photo by Ray Robles)
Sometimes, I playfully tell visitors that I experienced the best of Turks and Caicos because it was an untapped paradise. Little did I know that I would one day join my community in the fight to protect it. As a journalist, my mission is to use my platform to enlighten minds and inspire change that respects and honors our environment. I aim to help as many as I can reconnect with her and experience the natural bliss I’m fortunate to still enjoy.
When the digital flier for The Caribbean Bird Trail Workshop appeared on my Facebook, I envisioned writing a report about another activity on Providenciales. Upon inquiry, I discovered it was more than just another ordinary event.
The project had been in the making for years, and this knowledge piqued my curiosity even more. In my quest for information, my friends at the Turks and Caicos National Trust suggested I sign up. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. The workshop completely changed my life.
Can you believe I never knew the common or scientific names of what I was seeing as a child up until the bird trailing workshop? The invaluable information provided clicked for me in such a way that felt like the missing piece of a puzzle. I went in oblivious to the ecology of the feathered friends from my childhood and walked away confident in the skills, knowledge, and experience I acquired.
A “yellow-belly bird”! This Prairie Warbler was spotted at Bird Rock Point Trail. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
An Immersive Learning Journey
I spent an incredible five days with a diverse crew—naturalists, ecologists, boat captains, entrepreneurs, government folks, and avid conservationists. Our headquarters was the conference room at the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, where we kicked off with a nail-biting evaluation. We met Adrianne G. Tossas, President of BirdsCaribbean, Avian Ecologist and professor of Biology; facilitator Lisa Sorenson, the Executive Director of Birds Caribbean; Venicio “Beny” Wilson Altamiranda, Naturalist-Tour Guide, and Certified Interpretive Trainer; Rick Morales, Owner of Jungle Treks and Certified Interpretive Trainer; Holly Robertson, the Project Manager of The Caribbean Bird Trail Project; and Christel Mohammed, the Communications Manager of Birds Caribbean.
Winema Penn, the Executive Director of TC National Trust, set the tone with a warm smile and brief opening remarks. We introduced ourselves, shared our expectations, and were gifted a carefully curated starter kit that included Vortex binoculars, a field guide, a top-tier poster featuring water birds, and more. Then we dove into the good stuff: bird identification, binocular wizardry, and guiding hacks.
Overall, our first session was a blast and fully engaging from start to finish. We capped the day at the famous Blue Hills jetty and Wheeland Pond, where Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Black-necked Stilts, White-cheeked Pintails, Greater Yellowlegs, and Ruddy Turnstones stole the show.
Day two cranked up the excitement. We explored enhancing visitor experiences, birding ethics, and optimal positioning for inclusive tours. Simon Busittil wowed us with habitats, birding sites, and TCI’s conservation issues. I was stunned to learn that Caribbean birds have declined in population by 70% and that only eleven thousand Reddish Egrets are believed to be in existence as of this post.
Scene-stealer! White-cheeked Pintails captured the group’s attention (and hearts!) at Wheeland Pond. (Photo by Rick Evets)
Black-necked Stilts were another Wheeland Pond fan favorite!
The best of TCI—Bird Rock Point Trail offers fantastic birding and unbeatable views. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Reddish Egret. (Photo by Elaine R Wilson)
The star of the CBT TCI “starter kit”—a pair of Vortex Diamondback binoculars! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Birding and Bird Guiding at Wheeland Pond with facilitator Venecio Wilson. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Participants pose for a shot at Wheeland Pond. From L-R: Yves Claude Sandro Pierre, Bryan Naqqi Manco, Easher Parker, Junel Blaise (aka Flash), and Dodly Prosper.
Black-crowned Night Heron with nesting material. (Photo by Diana Robinson)
On the flipside, Bryan Naqqi Manco had us hooked with a quirky presentation on TCI’s Endemic wildlife. Meanwhile, tools like eBird Caribbean and Merlin became our new besties. Lisa threw a virtual birding quiz challenge, and Beny took us deep into waterbirds and seabirds. Holly and the entire group delved into birding sites, and we wrapped up the day in the field at Kimcha Village.
Midweek, we rose with the sun for a magical trip to Bird Rock Point. Wild sapodilla, frangipani, native orchids, and fragrant trees surrounded us. Warblers and other species forced us into stillness along the trail. Back at home base, Holly unveiled the Caribbean Birding Trail Framework, and Rick delved into the Principles of Interpretation*. We pondered tangibles and intangibles in bird guiding, discussed audience styles, and explored different learning approaches. Then came independent guiding businesses, a virtual birding quiz, and more hands-on practice during a trip to Cheshire Hall Plantation.
We were back at it with an early-morning exploration of lush habitats, identifying birds, and honing guiding techniques. Along the way, we were greeted by Prairie Warblers among a list of water-bird species. Later that day Rick continued his communication mastery, sharing examples of stellar interpretation. We dedicated the remainder of the afternoon to creating eight-minute presentations for our final session, where we put our bird-guiding finesse into action.
Once again, we had to be up early and out in the field. At this point, it’s Friday. We presented a majority of our creative ideas at Wheeland Pond and wrapped up at The DECR. While there we celebrated stand-outs in the group, took a knowledge acquisition exam, and ended with a fun bird identification competition. I was on the winning team, of course. Such an awesome week concluded with the presentation of certificates and final moments of hugs, goodbyes, and establishing lifelong connections.
Cheers to a life-changing week! Easher Parker poses for a shot with Caribbean Birding Trail facilitators (from L to R) Rick Morales, Holly Robertson, Lisa Sorenson, and Venecio Wilson, as she receives her Certificate of Completion.
The Transformative Impact and Future Endeavors
Since completing the workshop, I’ve been excited to get up every day and go birding. I’ve even taken children out to Wheeland Pond. So far, Mother Nature has placed some pretty cool species on my path—the all-white juvenile Little Blue Heron, a stunning Least Bittern, the Reddish Egret, and a very elegant Yellow-billed Cuckoo. With practice, I’ve become more advanced in identifying not only a species but also its gender, age, and phase. My new philosophy has been especially helpful and it’s this: there’s always a bird in front of you, just be patient.
Overall, the Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training ignited a fresh perspective within me, one that I’m eager to share with a broader audience, especially on social media, where the majority currently engages with content. My plan is to present statistics and research, captivating photos, engaging videos, and other forms of digital media. I aim to shed light on critical issues, such as the alarming decline and potential extinction of more Caribbean bird species. Equipped with the skills and knowledge acquired, I aspire to influence changes in laws and policies, advocating for the protection, conservation, and preservation of Caribbean birds and their natural habitats locally and maybe even regionally.
The impact of everyone involved, including fellow participants who have become friends, has been monumental in steering my life in a positive and meaningful direction. A special acknowledgment goes to the generosity and support of our sponsors—Sandals Foundation, Darwin Plus, Turks and Caicos National Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Vortex Optics, and Shika Shika. Here’s to a future where each bird tells a story, and together, we ensure those stories are heard for generations to come.
Easher Parker is a multifaceted advocate for Mother Nature whose passion for the outdoors transcends personal fulfillment. She seamlessly wears the hats of a naturalist, spiritualist, and journalist. With creativity as her compass and a digital creator’s platform as her megaphone, she’s on a mission to make the world fall head over heels for the wonders of the wild. Connect with her at www.easherparker.com.
Acknowledgements: The CBT Interpretive Guide Training was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and local partners. These include the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, US Forest Service International Programs, and Vortex Optics.
The TCI CBT Interpretive Guide training is the seventh training to be carried out by BirdsCaribbean. Previous trainings have been held in Grenada, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These guide trainings are integral to advancing the vision of the CBT—connecting people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. Through the CBT, we promote natural and authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.
*Interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us. (National Association of Interpretation).
BirdsCaribbean switched into top gear for 2023. With a lot of ground to cover, we were quickly up and running! Here are some of the highlights of the year…
Focus on one adorable but elusive waterbird…
Our Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) region-wide count, from January 14 to February 3 2023, included an ‘added’ Caribbean-wide Piping Plover survey. This species is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN with an estimated global breeding population of just 8,400 birds. The search was enhanced by beautiful graphics and merchandise by Josmar Esteban Marquez. Sightings were tracked live and plotted on a map. During the survey, these attractive but vulnerable birds were spotted in The Bahamas (a great success!), the British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Word of our search spread far and wide and we also received sightings from the Caribbean coast of Mexico! Please continue to keep a sharp eye open for these small, round birds, which are often seen in small flocks on sand flats and might also be found in mangroves, mudflats, and other shoreline areas.
A Piping Plover in winter plumage with an all-black bill.
A Piping Plover chick. Piping Plovers breed in restricted areas of North America.
A small flock of Piping Plovers in winter plumage. (Photo by Walker Golden)
Just how do you spot those easily camouflaged, tiny plovers? Graphics from Josmar Esteban Marquez shared all the tips!
click to download as a pdf
During CWC 2023, an abundance of waterbirds were spotted across the region by diligent birders, young and old, as they kept their eyes peeled for the elusive Plover! Some of the wonderful waterbirds seen on our 2023 census included a white-morph Great Blue Heron on Bonaire (a rare sight outside Florida and Cuba); a diverse gathering of shorebirds on Cuba (including Dunlins, Sanderlings, Short-billed Dowitchers, Least and Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated and Wilson’s Plovers and many others); and and some ducks enjoying some winter sun on Jamaica (including Green-winged Teals, Ring-necked Ducks, and Lesser Scaups).
Survey team in Cuba searching for Piping Plovers during CWC2023. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Looking for landbirds…
After the volcanic eruption of April, 2021, St. Vincent’s landbirds, especially two vulnerable endemic species, the threatened St. Vincent Parrot, and endangered Whistling Warbler, faced new dangers—both in the short and long term. We thought it fitting to continue building the capacity of Caribbean conservationists to identify and monitor landbirds using standardized survey protocols.
Thanks to funding from theCritical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and BirdsCaribbean members, partners and donors, we organized a Landbird Monitoring Workshop on St. Vincent with 24 participants, including from neighboring islands(Grenada, St. Lucia, and Montserrat).
Participants and facilitators of the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Workshop at Montreal Gardens, St Vincent.
Maya and Todd checking cables. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Cesar and Todd attaching the antenna to the Motus tower at the Lucayan National Park. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
Demonica Brown and Maya Wilson assemble the Motus antenna. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Grand Bahama Motus Installation team: Lisa Sorenson, Todd Alleger, Bradley Pinder, Cesar Montero, Maya Wilson, Demonica Brown and, David Cooper. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Bob and Maya constructing the base frame. (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)
We were out and about again! Celebrating our beautiful endemics
Did you know we now have 180 endemic birds in the Caribbean region? And we celebrated these one-of-a-kind birds during our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) from April 22 to May 22, 2023—with a special emphasis on water conservation. What would our birds (and we humans) do without water? With the increased heat (it was a very hot summer) we may have seen our birds drinking at bird baths—they get thirsty like we do! With the climate change crisis pressing on us, this was a very important theme to emphasize, and our partners across the region took it on enthusiastically.
Ashy-faced Owl, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Jay McGowan- Macaulay Library-ML162362421)
Children and ARC Conservation members wear their hand crafted masks.
Jamaican Mango, perched. (Photo by Clive Daelman)
Felix Raul Figueroa, photographer and member of Grupo Ecología de Aves, looks on as students from Ciénaga de Zapata color the Cuban Parrot. (Photo by Grupo de Ecología de Aves)
Students help plant native trees for birds and other wildlife at the National Botanical Garden.
Birding along L’Anse Aux Epines road, Grenada. (Photo by Gaea Conservation Network)
Yaritza Bobonis with Lola the Puerto Rican Parrot mascot. (Photo by Fundación Amigos De El Yunque)
A young girl plays a bird game during the CEBF festivities as a member of the Luis-Munos Marin Foundation looks on. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves Rodriguez)
Information about the festival and endemic birds of Cuba was shared via radio interviews.
A Conservation Opportunity member sensitises participants about the threats posed by marine pollution. (Photo by Conservation Opportunity)
In 2023, the CEBF once again hosted in-person events and the response was tremendous—over 10,000 persons participated from The Bahamas down to Trinidad and Tobago! Our citizen scientists of all ages were out in numbers, with mangrove explorations, BirdSleuth Caribbean’s learning activities, school visits, habitat cleanups, art workshops, a birding for kids excursion, and even a floating classroom field trip!
On the Caribbean Birding Trail in Turks and Caicos
As the year-end drew closer, discovery, learning, and empowerment were words that came to mind during the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Interpretive Guide Training Workshop in Turks and Caicos Islands, which took place from October 23 to 27, 2023. Twenty-four participants were trained in the Islands’ beautifully unique environment during an intensive five-day workshop. The trail now includes 138 birding sites and ten hotels and eco-lodges in 24 countries—all combining amazing birding experiences with learning and information on ecosystems, cultural and natural heritage, and more.
Beny leads the group along the Bird Rock Point Trail. Several field trips throughout the week allowed participants to get acquainted with TCI’s best birding sites! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Tangles of red mangrove prop roots at Wheeland Pond. This extensive wetland is a haven for birdlife and a true shorebirder’s delight!
Flamingo Pond is a must-visit spot for American Flamingo lovers! Depending on the time of the year, flocks at this wetland on North Caicos can number in the thousands!
Class is in session! 24 participants from a range of backgrounds formed our CBT TCI cohort.
Ecotour guide and participant Geneile Robinson thumbs through her Birds of the West Indies field guide while distinguishing between waterbirds!
Lisa gives the class one of the toughest pop quizzes of all! How many different species of shorebirds are in the picture?
Participant and Biology teacher Amanda Brittain consults her Seabirds of the Caribbean card for gull ID support.
Rick’s demonstration of an interpretive talk where he played the role of a hammock salesman was so transportive that the class was convinced that he really was trying to hawk them hammocks for a while!
This was our seventh CBT training. We are deeply thankful to our Turks and Caicos sponsors—the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, and Vortex Optics.
Bonding over Bird Banding! Workshop #2 in the Dominican Republic
Bird banding is an essential component of birding science worldwide. It is a complex and technical issue that requires longer training sessions. We returned to the Dominican Republic again in March of last year (the location of this year’s International Conference), continuing our work of nurturing a committed community of trained banders. The response from our highly intelligent group of trainees was enthusiastic.
Participants learned to set up and close mist nets during the workshop. (Photo by Josh Covill)
Participants at the banding workshop, earlier this year, in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Joshua Covill)
Daniela Ventura del Puerto (Cuba) provides instruction on bird molt to workshop participants Giselle Raganoonan (Trinidad) and Elvin Manual Vargas Estevez (Dominican Republic).
Caribbean bird banders have gone abroad!
We sent some of our bird banders off to the United States and Brazil for immersive banding experiences. The interns reported back to us (Grenadian Zoya Buckmire at Klamath Bird Observatory in Oregon, Puerto Rican Dayamiris Candelario at Willistown Conservation Trust in Pennsylvania) on their exploration of new landscapes, new ecosystems—and, of course, new birds! We would like to thank all our partner organizations and generous donors who supported these internships. Once again, we were happy to add new dimensions to our young trainees’ experiences, so they may return to their countries to establish new programs and projects. Empowerment is key!
Seabirds under pressure
Despite a range of challenges, our dynamic Seabird Working Group has been addressing the critical state of Caribbean seabirds for some time now. The first-ever Caribbean-wide Seabird Census is ongoing, for 2023 and 2024. Over 300,000 pairs of breeding seabirds have already been counted at over 58 sites! Caribbean seabirds, like those in other areas of the world, are threatened by human activities—including pollution (especially plastics), climate change, invasive species, and unsustainable fishing practices. The Census continues! Please contribute your thoughts and findings, watch the webinar updates, and follow the admirable work of our Seabird Working Group this year!
Map 1: Countries participating in the Caribbean Seabird Census. Note that for large countries, the whole country is colored even though only a few localized sites may be censused.
Juliana Coffey identifying seabirds with seabird patrol volunteers, Union Island. (Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
Grenadines Guardians seabird survey. (Photo by Juliana Coffey)
Magnificent Frigatebird nesting colony. (Photo: Jeff Gerbracht)
Masked Booby adult and chick. (Photo by Ann Sutton)
More direct funding for research and conservation work!
From combating the illegal bird trade in Cuba, to surveys of our most endangered endemic Caribbean hawk in Haiti, thanks to our grant awards, 10 innovative new projects are helping us to protect and learn more about the region’s understudied birds and habitats! Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs sharing exciting project results and accomplishments.
The 2023 cohort of grantees under our three named awards, the David S. Lee Fund for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds, the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund, and the new James A. Kushlan Research and Conservation Fund.
Have we forgotten something? Oh, yes…
Last but by no means least, Global Big Day 2023 was another huge success, with increased numbers of Caribbean birders participating. Our region saw more birds (a total of 515 species) and more humans (511 posting on eBird) than on any other Global Big Day. Once again, competition among our teams was heated—and once again, our Executive Director Lisa Sorenson’s multinational “Flying Pintails” dominated! Hmmm…
NOTE: Please remember to record ALL your bird sightings, whether in your backyard or out on a birding excursion, on eBird Caribbeanvia their website or phone app. Your bird notes make a difference in helping scientists identify the “what, when, how many, and where” of our region’s birds!
Networking is key…
As you can see, building and strengthening networks across the region has always been a significant part of our work, and it was the same in 2023. Our network of scientists (including citizen scientists), students, educators, non-governmental and community organizations, as well as nature-friendly companies and government entities, continues to grow.
Talking birds: Justin Saunders lends a listening ear to a young birder. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Daniela and Elvin take a closer look at a bird’s wing while another participant John Holas looks on. (Photo by Josh Covill)
Yvan Satge discusses birds at sea with fishermen. (Photo by Jacob Gonzalez-Solis)
María Paulino hosts a group discussion with students at the National Botanical Garden.
Levardo, Estefania, and Junel discuss the finer points of binocular adjustment.
In addition to the Caribbean Bird Banding Network, the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, and the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network, we are also building a vibrant group of trained interpretive guides through the Caribbean Birding Trail. This person-to-person aspect of our work is important for knowledge-sharing, interaction, and “comparing notes” with each other. A great deal of teamwork goes into all these endeavors, as you can see from our reports. All of this creates a positive and nurturing environment. We have great faith in our newly-trained Caribbean citizens, who are both enthusiastic and action-oriented. They want to see progress and improvements for our wonderful birds and their habitats.
We look forward to keeping in touch with you all! Here’s to 2024!
A huge thank you to all of our members, partners, and donors. This work would not be possible without your dedication, passion, hard work, and financial support.
Ecotour Guide Geneile Robinson flashes a brilliant smile with her new gear on the first day of the Turks and Caicos Islands Caribbean Birding Trail Workshop! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
The Caribbean Birding Trail(CBT) is a flagship BirdsCaribbean program. The CBT recognizes that the traditional tourism model has been a source of environmental exploitation and degradation in the Caribbean. The CBT’s goal is to shape a Caribbean where tourism truly benefits Caribbean people and habitats, by instead harnessing tourism as a force for conservation and sustainable economic development.
Globally, the tourism market for wildlife watching and wildlife photography is growing, and bird tourism is a significant part of this market. CBT seeks to attract these markets to the wider Caribbean. Integral to this is having well-trained guides who can help connect ecotourism travelers with the cultural and natural resources of the islands, creating meaningful and authentic experiences. In October 2023, our CBT team headed to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where we partnered with the Turks and Caicos National Trust, to deliver a week-long training program to equip twenty-four new birding guides with the skills needed to support a sustainable tourism market in TCI that focuses on birds, nature, and heritage. Passionate and ocean-loving Ecotour Guide, Geneile Robinson, shares her workshop experience in this reflective and insightful piece.
I am constantly looking for ways to expand my knowledge of the world, especially of the environment that I work in and benefit from, that’s why when I learned that my company, Big Blue Collective—a luxury boating and watersports company located in Providenciales—had made it possible for me to attend the Caribbean Birding Trail Workshop, I was excited! Despite not knowing what to expect, I felt that the first day could not come soon enough.
When the first day came, I was so nervous and the anticipation was killing me! I had no idea what or who to expect—however, despite all of these thoughts, I was pleasantly surprised. Meeting the facilitators, Lisa Sorenson, Holly Robertson, Rick Morales, and Beny Wilson, was the start to an incredible week of learning—not just about birds and the CBT, but also about environmental interpretation, my own environment, and the treasures that we have here in the Turks and Caicos.
The adventure begins! Geneile looks at seabirds through a spotting scope at Blue Hills Jetty at the end of day one. Geneile said, “I saw the potential of what bird watching could come to mean for me—going out with a group of like-minded individuals, and spending time in nature observing and learning about these beautiful animals.” (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
New binoculars bring a fresh perspective!
On the first morning of the intensive five-day training, we were asked what we hoped to get out of the workshop—what was our purpose for being there? There were 28 people in our group, and no one gave the exact same answer twice. Even so, at the end of the workshop, everyone had gotten what they’d come there for!
One of the first of many gifts we received during the week was a pair of binoculars; to this day I cherish them so much. Even more valuable to me was the detailed instructions we received on how to use them, as well as how to clean and preserve them. I thrive on detailed verbal instructions, and so I greatly appreciated the time that was spent by our instructors making sure that we understood what we were learning, and encouraging us to ask questions.
After our first field trip to Wheeland Pond, which I now know is a nature reserve and birding hotspot in Providenciales, I was a changed woman! I saw the potential of what bird watching could come to mean for me—going out with a group of like-minded individuals, and spending time in nature observing and learning about these beautiful animals.
Geneile taking her new binoculars for a spin!
What was that we spotted? Geneile consults her Birds of the West Indies field guide for bird ID support! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Along the trail we go! Wheeland Pond brought lessons, excitement and wonderful possibilities! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Facilitator Venecio “Beny” Wilson talks shorebird ID with the group at Wheeland Pond.
Black-necked Stilts at Wheeland Pond proved to be a crowd favorite! (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Spotted! A Killdeer at Wheeland Pond stands out with its distinctive plumage. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Unexpected IDs—When bird identification becomes a breeze, and friends become family!
Field trips took us all over the island—to different spots where we found so many different birds, and each day improved our bird ID skills. Begrudgingly, I admit that the quizzes that Dr. Sorenson created were very helpful as well. On the 2nd day of the workshop we had our first quiz, and out of 12, I got only 6 or 7 correct, so around 50%. By the 2nd quiz, just two days later—I had gotten all 12 birds right! Through these quizzes, I could really see how I was improving.
Even when inside of the classroom, there was still fun to be had; I had not realized how amazing it would feel to be in a room filled with people who were just as concerned with the conservation of nature as I was. Everyone had the same agenda, and it was beautiful. Quite literally, I had started out just looking for friends, and had found family! Unbeknownst to us, the two people sitting next to me in class were actually related to me—cousins! One from my mom’s side, and one from my dad’s.
Beny leads the group along the Bird Rock Point Trail. Several field trips throughout the week allowed participants to get acquainted with TCI’s best birding sites! (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
It’s pop quiz time! Can you ID the shorebirds in this photo taken by facilitator Venecio Wilson at Wheeland Pond? Comment your answers!
The group discusses field marks and bird ID. (It was a Blackpoll Warbler!)
A TCI near-endemic, this female Bahama Woodstar was such a joy to spot! (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Class is in session! 24 participants from a range of backgrounds formed our CBT TCI cohort.
This Northern Mockingbird delighted us by offering a wonderfully clear view as it perched on a dry branch along the Bird Rock Point Trail. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Birds, blooms, and backyard biodiversity—TCIs endemic wonders ignite the Conservation spark!
Our local experts, for example, botanist Bryan Naqqi Manco, also proved to share just as, and sometimes even more, surprising information than those with the CBT—mostly because they taught us about what we have right in our own backyards! Learning that we have so many endemic species, no matter how small they are, produces a powerful drive to protect them. Even now, I am constantly telling my coworkers about endemics that they never knew existed!
Bryan Naqqi Manco left everyone riveted by his fascinating presentation on TCI’s Endemic Flora and Fauna! (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Speaking of TCI endemics—this Caicos Pygmy Boa showed up at our very next field trip as if on cue! (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Facilitator Rick Morales demonstrates how to deliver an effective Interpretive talk to the class. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Early morning birding! Geneile is awash in the golden sunrise as she enjoys the antics of Great Egrets at the Provo Golf Club—we had special permission to visit one early morning. (Photo by Christel Mohammed)
Ruddy Turnstones are stark against the turquoise blue of TCI’s waters. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Now just turn a little to the right for the camera! This American Kestrel delighted everyone by calmly offering a clear, close view as we marveled at its gorgeous plumage. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Personally, I had gone to become a better guide—I am an ecotour guide by trade, and I already knew about many things relating to our coastal and marine habitats—but birds were virtually uncharted territory for me, so I wanted to expand my knowledge. The CBT workshop has helped me to achieve this, and so much more! It was nothing short of inspiring. It also lit a fire under me to educate others about our unique and special environment, and it moved me to seize every opportunity to work with other conservationists in the country.
I made so many people jealous when I told them what they had missed—more than anything, I hope that the opportunity comes again for the Caribbean Birding trail to visit the Turks and Caicos!
Introducing newly certified Bird Guide, Geneile Robinson! Geneile poses for a shot with Caribbean Birding Trail facilitators (from L to R) Rick Morales, Holly Robertson, Lisa Sorenson, and Venecio Wilson, as she receives her Certificate of Completion.
Geneile Robinson has a deep passion for the ocean, and its many habitats and inhabitants. Hailing from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Geneile shares her love of the sea with visitors to Provo through her work as an Ecotour Guide for Big Blue Collective—a luxury boating and watersports company in Providenciales. Follow Geneile’s adventures on Instagram!
Acknowledgements: The CBT Interpretive Guide Training was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and local partners. These include the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, US Forest Service International Programs, and Vortex Optics.
The TCI CBT Interpretive Guide training is the seventh training to be carried out by BirdsCaribbean. Previous trainings have been held in Grenada, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These guide trainings are integral to advancing the vision of the CBT—connecting people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. Through the CBT, we promote natural and authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.
*Interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us. (National Association of Interpretation).
Captain Levardo Talbot in the field, enjoying and immersed in every moment. (photo by Christel Mohammed)
At the core of its ethos, the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) emphatically asserts that we can unify conservation with enterprise, to shape a Caribbean where tourism is harnessed as a force for environmental preservation and sustainable development. The true champions of this work, however, are local guides who use their passion for conservation to reimagine the tourism industry—delivering thoughtful, authentic ecotourism where conservation is at the heart of the offer. The Caribbean Birding Trail supports sustainable livelihoods by training guides to enter the birding market and connect travelers with the cultural and natural resources of their islands.
In this beautifully written, richly illustrative piece, third-generation mariner, Captain Levardo Talbot, a member of our recently concluded CBT Turks and Caicos Islands Guide Training, takes us on a journey through his workshop experience. It’s a thoughtful, passionate, and enjoyable read.
In the heart of the Turks & Caicos, where the confluence of sea and sun paints a canvas of natural wonder, a profound metamorphosis transpired—a narrative that intertwined the intricate art of birding with the expertise of an established fisherman. This account chronicles my immersive training along the Caribbean Birding Trail, a journey marked by the threads of learning, discovery, and an unexpected synthesis between the avian realm and the tranquility of fishing.
The workshop wasn’t merely a training exercise; it served as an initiation into nature’s vibrant symphony, where the diverse avian species painted the skies with their vivid hues. The genesis of this transformative experience lay in the field, amongst the verdant canopy, where binoculars, spotting scopes, and the guidance of seasoned instructors converged to unveil the secrets of the avian world. These mentors acted as custodians of this rich paradise, offering insights that transcended the confines of conventional birding guides.
A Yellow-crowned Night Heron hidden in the mangroves; by looking and listening carefully, I was now tuned into and learning the secrets of the avian world. (photo by Beny Wilson)
An immersive journey of discovery
The most captivating segment of this training lay in the hands-on interaction, where theoretical knowledge metamorphosed into practical understanding. The binoculars became an extension of my vision, while the instructions from the mentors served as a compass in navigating the world of fluttering wings. Each avian call and chirp acquired a distinctiveness, a signature that bespoke a particular species. The spotting scopes, far from mere tools of assistance, provided a vantage point from which to witness the intricate ballet of the avian populace.
Levardo consults his field guide. (photo by Christel Mohammed)
We heard the distinctive whistling call of the Easter Wood-Pewee, pee-ooo-eeeeeee. (photo by Beny Wilson)
Black-bellied Plover and Ruddy Turnstones in winter plumage along our coastline. (photo by Beny Wilson)
Intently focused on the bird! (photo by Christel Mohammed)
Learning to identify shorebirds and seabirds was akin to deciphering a language that spoke of the ebb and flow of tides. My perspective of the mangrove habitat underwent a profound transformation; it ceased to be a mere collection of trees, emerging instead as a bustling nexus of interconnected life. Birds ceased to be solitary creatures and transformed into threads intricately woven into the tapestry of the ecosystem. Their profound connection to the art of fishing, previously overlooked, unfolded like a treasure trove—the symbiotic relationship between birds and the craft of angling.
Beautiful American Flamingos enjoying a rain shower on Flamingo Pond, North Caicos. (photo by Beny Wilson)
A fisherman’s perspective, transformed
This newfound insight not only allowed for a deeper appreciation of the environment but also served to enhance my business. My fly fishing guests were no longer mere visitors; they transformed into eager students, seeking a profound understanding of the ecosystem in which they found themselves immersed. The knowledge gleaned during the workshop became not merely a personal asset but a jewel in my arsenal to educate and enthrall my guests, offering them a deeper insight into the serene habitat that served as the haven for their fishing pursuits.
Levardo, Dodly, and Junel (aka Flash) flash a smile on Bird Rock Point Trail. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
The art and fun of birding. (photo by Christel Mohammed)
Birds were in abundance at Provo Golf Club (we received special permission for this visit). (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Estefania, Morgan, and crew spotting birds at—Provo Golf Club—we had special permission to visit one early morning. (photo by Christel Mohammed)
Yellow Warblers flitting in the trees and bushes were always fun to spot. (photo by Beny Wilson)
Unexpectedly, birding became an integral component of my business. The tranquil surroundings, once the exclusive stage for the art of fishing, now welcomed a new ensemble—the diverse and vibrant birdlife. The peaceful habitat ceased to serve solely as a backdrop; it assumed the role of a supporting actor, contributing to the overall experience of my esteemed guests.
With each outing, a new chapter unfolded. The pelicans diving gracefully into the waters, the gulls soaring across the cerulean sky, and the herons standing poised in patient elegance—all became integral parts of the narrative. The guests no longer arrived solely for the thrill of fishing; they sought an immersive journey where angling intertwined with the enchantment of avian life.
Laughing Gull in flight. (photo by Michael Stubblefield ML598441931)
Brown Pelican diving for a fish meal. (photo by Cin Ty Lee-ML611680163)
The regal Great Blue Heron. (photo by David Rayner)
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting the sky in hues of orange and purple, my guests departed not merely with prized catches but with an experience that transcended the mere act of reeling in fish. They left as custodians of newfound wisdom, carrying not just memories of a successful fishing trip but an appreciation for the delicate balance between the feathered denizens and the serenity that enfolded the mangroves.
A natural blending of fishing and birds
The Caribbean Bird Trail Workshop was more than a training exercise; it was a threshold into a realm where the subtleties of nature became an integral facet of my daily pursuits. The art of birding transcended the pages of a guidebook, embedding itself into the fabric of my business, enriching the experiences I offer. The serene habitat, where the symphony of birds harmonized with the tranquility of fishing, evolved into my stage, and each guest, an active participant in this mesmerizing performance.
The journey had only just commenced—a voyage where the convergence of birding and fishing continues to unravel new chapters, each more captivating than the last.
In 1904, Capt. Levardo Talbot’s grandfather, Theophilus Talbot, arrived on Salt Cay. Talbot’s Adventures provides professional and memorable experiences to tourists and locals alike. Captain Levardo Talbot, hailing from a family with a strong maritime background, leads the company with a mission to promote environmental awareness, preserve historical value, ensure safe and respectful access to one of the world’s most beautiful sea parks, and contribute to the region’s sustainable growth. Levardo’s dedication to preserving the islands’ history and culture is evident through his work as a Marine Conservation Officer and his involvement in groundbreaking research that uncovered details of the Trouvadore slave ship,which may have significantly impacted the heritage of the afro-Caribbean population of Turks & Caicos and The Bahamas. Talbot’s Adventures takes pride in safeguarding and sharing with guests one of the most breathtaking marine spaces on the planet; undoubtedly a treasure to behold.
Acknowledgements: The CBT Interpretive Guide Training was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and local partners. These include the Sandals Foundation, the Turks and Caicos National Trust, Darwin Plus Initiative, the Turks and Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Marshall Reynolds Foundation, Shika Shika, US Forest Service International Programs, and Vortex Optics.
The TCI CBT Interpretive* Guide training is the seventh training to be carried out by BirdsCaribbean. Previous trainings have been held in Grenada, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These guide trainings are integral to advancing the vision of the CBT—connecting people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. Through the CBT, we promote natural and authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.
*Interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us. (National Association of Interpretation).
Colorful and friendly, the Cuban Tody is one of Cuba’s most beloved endemic birds. (photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
Join BirdsCaribbean, the Caribbean Birding Trail and talented Cuban bird guide, Tania Piñeiro, on the adventure of a lifetime in January or March of 2024!
Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. According to the new Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba: 2023 Edition (and recent research), 404 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 28 which are endemic to the island, 20 that are endemic to the West Indies, and 21 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.
Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful birding locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many West Indian endemics and migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality. We will also have the opportunity to meet and have discussions with local ornithologists and conservationists that have been working with BirdsCaribbean for many years.
BirdsCaribbean is offering two tours in 2024: a 9-day trip in January and a 12-day trip in March.
Find detailed itineraries for our 2024 trips below!Traveling with us helps Caribbean birds as a portion of the proceeds from the trip supports our bird conservation programs and partners in Cuba and the Caribbean. See some of the world’s most beautiful and memorable birds, knowing that you are helping ensure their welfare by supporting the people who study and protect them.
Read testimonials and see photos from past trips in the gallery below. Purchase the Endemic Birds of Cuba Field Guide here. See our eBird trip report from our March 2023 trip here. Check out the report and photos from our January 2016 trip here and from our July 2017 trip to Havana and Zapata Swamp here. Read more
It’s here at last! We are thrilled to announce the recent publication of the highly anticipated, one-of-a-kind Birds of the Lesser Antilles field guide.
The author, Ryan Chenery, is the Barbados-born director of Birding the Islands – a locally owned and operated birding tour company specializing in organizing and delivering both single and multi-island bird tours throughout the Lesser Antilles.
Popular holiday destinations such as St. Lucia, Dominica, Barbados, Guadeloupe, and the other islands dotted along this south-easterly region of the Caribbean now have a comprehensive bird field guide dedicated exclusively to them. Previously these islands have tended to be incorporated into all encompassing Birds of the West Indies field guides. Drawing on over twenty years of experience, the author focuses solely on species that can be seen in the Lesser Antilles. By excluding species unique to other islands in the wider Caribbean region – this field guide allows readers to easily identify all the birds they could possibly find, from Anguilla in the north of the chain to Grenada in the south.
Some important features of this exciting new book are:
The full list of islands covered is as follows: Anguilla; Saint Martin; Sint Maarten; Antigua and Barbuda; St. Kitts and Nevis; Montserrat; Guadeloupe; Dominica; Martinique; St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Grenada.
Each of the field guide’s more than 400 stunning photos has been carefully selected to highlight the key identifying features of each species. Photos include perched birds and those in flight, and importantly also depict notable differences in gender, age and breeding status.
Special attention has been paid to endemics, near-endemics, and the host of regional specialties unique to the islands of the Lesser Antilles – with notable attention even being paid to detailing differences between subspecies on various islands.
With the region such a rich area for migratory birds, the publication includes every migrant species likely to be seen, along with the most commonly recorded vagrants and introduced species.
In clear and helpful language, the key physical characteristics of each species are described to assist with accurate identification. Vocalizations are also included in each species account, along with the island where the bird can be seen.
The best birding locations, key habitats to focus on and the likely species to be encountered in each location are also detailed. From marine and coastal habitats to wetlands and montane forest – this book covers them all.
click each image to enlarge
A sneak preview of the guide showing two endemic parrots from the region.
The book contains maps, a guide to types of habitats for birds and much more!
The guide includes multiple photos of the same species to best show their ID traits.
The islands of the Lesser Antilles are rapidly becoming more popular in the birding community, as well as with holiday visitors. If you are planning a trip to any of these remarkable small islands, whether for a holiday or any other reason, you just have to pack this highly portable guide in your bag!
If you find yourself on an island in the Lesser Antilles, staring at a bird….odds are you’ll find it in the pages of this book!
About the author: Born in Barbados, Ryan (aka the Bajan Birder) has been leading birding tours in the Caribbean for nearly two decades and is Birding the Islands’ head birding guide. Before starting the company in 2017, Ryan combined leading his birding excursions with a full-time career in conservation. During this time, he was employed as Chief Naturalist and Eco-guide Manager at Graeme Hall Nature Reserve in Barbados; Environmental Consultant for PAA Management Ltd, Barbados; Field Researcher with Global Vision International in the Ecuadorian Amazon; Development Officer with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) at one of its flagship reserves in the UK; and finally Parks Officer with North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire, UK. Ryan leads Birding the Islands’ Every Endemic trips through the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad, as well as Endemics of the Solomon Islands tours, but still enjoys branching off to do other projects – including authoring this guide book, and writing episode scripts for a US Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service Nature Documentary on shorebird migration through the Lesser Antilles.
We encourage you to visit Birding the Islands website and consider signing up for one of their amazing tours (or build your own tour). Ryan and Birding the Islands are an official partner of our Caribbean Birding Trail program and he donates a portion of the proceeds to BirdsCaribbean from every tour to help conserve Caribbean birds and habitats.
How to get your copy of Birds of the Lesser Antilles:
Colorful and friendly, the Cuban Tody is one of Cuba’s most beloved endemic birds. (photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
Join BirdsCaribbean, the Caribbean Birding Trail and talented Cuban bird guide, Tania Piñeiro, on the adventure of a lifetime in January or March of 2023!
Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. According to the new Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba: 2022 Edition, 398 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 28 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.
Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful birding locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality. We will also have the opportunity to meet and have discussions with local ornithologists and conservationists that have been working with BirdsCaribbean for many years.
BirdsCaribbean is offering two tours in 2023: a 9-day trip in January and a 12-day trip in March.
Find detailed itineraries for our 2023 trips below!Traveling with us helps Caribbean birds as a portion of the proceeds from the trip supports our bird conservation programs and partners in Cuba and the Caribbean. See some of the world’s most beautiful and memorable birds, knowing you are helping ensure their welfare by supporting the people who study and protect them. Read testimonials and see photos from past trips in the gallery below. Purchase the Endemic Birds of Cuba Field Guide here. Check out the report and photos from our January 2016 trip here and from our July 2017 trip to Havana and Zapata Swamp here.Read more
Ryan Chenery takes in the scenery on a catamaran from Saint Lucia to Martinique (Photo by Birding the Islands)
The Caribbean is, unquestionably, a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world to visit, and is a destination on many a birder, nature-lover, and holiday-maker’s bucket-list. Yet, with over 700 islands, islets, reefs and cays spread over 14 different countries and 20 dependencies, putting together an itinerary that encompasses a little bit of everything you want to experience while you’re there can be tricky (and at the very least, time-consuming) if you are doing it yourself. As a solution to this challenge, our local partner Birding the Islands has created a new and exciting offering: Build Your Own Tours!
COVID-19 has put a damper on birding tours the world over, with many people less inclined to travel in groups. So, whether you are a solo traveler, have a partner or friend you wish to travel with, are a family, or a small private group, Birding the Islands’ new range of fully-customisable private tours to the Caribbean are guaranteed to fit your budget, and promise to get you excited about traveling once again!
Birding the Islands clients stop to take a closer look and some photographs while on a tour. (Ryan Chenery)
Blue-headed Hummingbird perched on a branch in Martinique. (Beatrice Henricot)
Owned and operated by one of the Caribbean’s own, Barbados-born Ryan Chenery (author of the Birds of the Lesser Antilles HELM Field Guide, due to be released July 7th in the UK and October 4th in the USA, and Birding the Islands’ Lead Bird Guide) and his wife Alex (ex-teacher, yoga instructor and Birding the Islands’ Tours Manager), Birding the Islands specializes in organizing multi-island trips throughout the magical islands of the Caribbean.
“We’ve called these tours: ‘Build Your Own’, but this doesn’t mean that you’ll have to do any of the building yourself! All you need to do is tell us where you’d like to go, what you’d like to do when you’re there (don’t worry, we’ve got a great range of options to choose from), and how long you want to go for, and we’ll build your tour for you!” explained Ryan.
A snapshot of Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. (Matt Brooks)
A close up view of Magnificent Frigatebird juveniles in Barbuda. (Ryan Chenery)
A lone St. Vincent Parrot takes flight. (Keith Clarkson)
Ryan and Alex have been leading birding and wildlife tours in the region for over 20 years, and by virtue of living, working and birding on, as well as traveling between these islands for over two decades, this dynamic husband and wife team have developed a trusted network of locally-owned accommodation providers, restaurateurs, activity providers, transport operators, and bird guides across the region.
“We know we can trust and rely on these providers to deliver the very best and most memorable experiences on our fixed-date tours, and we ensure it is these partners and other equally specialist providers that we use during your Build Your Own tour. We are proud to work with many of the bird guides listed on BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail, and every trip taken sees a donation go directly towards supporting the tireless efforts of this crucial conservation charity, without whom several of the birds in the region would simply no longer be with us,” added Ryan.
Red-billed Tropicbird (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Keith Clarkson)
Partnering with BirdsCaribbean and the Caribbean Birding Trail for this initiative was a natural fit, given the shared philosophy of sustainable tourism and the protection of the Caribbean’s rich biodiversity, including birds and their habitats
“We developed the Caribbean Birding Trail to connect bird enthusiasts to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, exquisite cuisine, music, and people of each island through authentic experiences that benefit local people. This new initiative by Birding the Islands seeks to further this vision and we are thrilled to be a partner,” commented Dr. Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director, BirdsCaribbean.
If you have a list of birds you want to see, or islands you’ve always wanted to visit, but you’re not sure of the best route to take, where to stay, or the best guides to use on each island, Birding the Islands can take the work out of building your tour, so that all you need to do is to sit back, relax, and count the days until you’re enjoying your dream Caribbean birding holiday.
Martinique Oriole perched on a Heliconia flower. (Beatrice Henricot)
“Over the years, we have put together a number of options for tours to islands that work really well together. These tried-and-tested island combos are not only cost-efficient when it comes to inter-island travel, but also maximize the number of endemics, regional bird specialties and other wildlife possible. They also provide you with the opportunity to experience the range of cultures, history, cuisine, and other activities these vibrant islands have to offer.
We also encourage you to get in touch and let us know of that one particular dream destination, or combination of islands you’ve always wanted to visit, and we’ll put together a tour for you and handle everything from start to finish. We cater to any and everyone, and make it our mission to ensure that you get to go on the tour that’s right for you. Above all, we aim to keep it personal and make it memorable!” shared Alex.
If you’re ready to tour your way with Birding the Islands, or if you’re keen to learn more about how Birding the Islands can make your birding tour dreams a reality, you can contact Ryan & Alex here – they are looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Group Photo, Saint Lucia Birding Tour with Ryan Chenery and local guide Valence “Vision” James. (Photo by Birding the Islands)
CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE AND SCROLL THROUGH THE GALLERY:
Ryan Chenery, Birding the Islands’ Lead Bird Guide
Alex Chenery, Birding the Islands’ Tours Manager
View from one of the trails in St Vincent and the Grenadines (Photo by Matt Brooks)
Rufous-throated Solitaire, Saint Lucia (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Keith Clarkson)
Sunrise at the secret spot, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Photo by Matt Brooks)
St. Vincent Parrots at sunrise. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Soufriere Bay, Saint Lucia (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Birding the Islands client enjoying a speedboat ride between Antigua and Barbuda (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Ryan Chenery, Birding the Islands’ Lead Bird Guide, takes in the view from a boat. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Migrating Humpback Whales in Dominica. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Ryan Chenery, Birding the Islands’ Lead Bird Guide, and client stop for a photo on the stunning beach in Barbuda. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Red-legged Thrush, Dominica. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Mark Greenfield)
Looking out over Freights Bay, Barbados. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Birding the Islands group in the rainforest, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Matt Brooks)
View from one of the trails in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Matt Brooks)
Plumbeous Warbler, Dominica. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Beatrice Henricot)
Birding the Islands client atop Moule a Chique, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Short-finned Pilot Whales so close you can touch them, Dominica. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
The stunning Piton Mountains, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Purple-throated Carib, Dominica. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Mark Greenfield)
St. Lucia Parrot. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, John Dyson)
Magnificent Frigatebird colony, Barbuda. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Gray Trembler, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Jane Hartline)
Birding the Islands clients in the rainforest, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Hearty meals at one of the lunch spots in Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Ryan Chenery, Birding the Islands’ Lead Bird Guide, and clients out at sea. (Photo by Ryan Chenery).
Even the planes are colorful in the Caribbean. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Birding the Islands clients at the lookout situated at Moule a Chique, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Bridled Quail-Dove, Guadeloupe. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Beatrice Henricot)
Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Barbados. (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Keith Clarkson)
Reduit Beach, Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Yachts moored off Young Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Matt Brooks)
Are you looking for a good birding read? We recommend that you log on to “The Cuban Birder,” a quarterly, digital, free magazine, published in English and Spanish. Richly illustrated and packed with information, it is a gem of a publication for birders in all walks of life, and the first of its kind in Cuba. An initiative of Birding Havana, its third issue was released in August 2021, and it is supported by BirdsCaribbean.
The magazine is more than just a substantial and fascinating read. The goal of the publication is simple: to get Cubans – especially the younger generations – excited about birds, so that they can take it up as a hobby. After all, Cuba has the highest number of recorded species in the insular Caribbean (397), of which around 262 are migratory. Once new devotees learn more and become engaged, this will lead to a deeper understanding of how the environment works, as well as a desire to protect and conserve the birds and the places where they live. In other words, it is hoped that the magazine will light a spark of awareness about Cuban birds and the serious, pressing challenges they face. The first issues have already received good readership.
The Cuban Birder has been a long-cherished dream of Birding Havana’s founding director Mr Vladimir Mirabal, former diplomat, lawyer, photographer and passionate birder. He says: “We have needed a magazine like this for a long time. There is great joy in birdwatching, and we want to express this through our publication. It is an educational tool that we hope will support our plans to rebuild a Cuban Birdwatchers Movement. Already, the Cuban Birders Club (Club de Observadores de Aves Cubanas) has experienced growth of over 3,000 new members in the past two months.” All who are seeking more information on Cuban birds and birding activities may join the Club’s Facebook page.
Helping to combat the caged bird threat
The magazine is especially timely as Cuba’s birds and nature face an uncertain future. The threats of climate change and habitat destruction loom large for Cuba, as they do for other Caribbean countries. Another significant threat is capturing and keeping wild birds to sell and keep as pets. Although illegal, this practice, long part of the culture, is growing among the Cuban population. Parrots, parakeets, grassquits, the Cuban Bullfinch, and many songbirds (residents, endemics, and migrants) are trapped, sold, and trained to compete in songbird competitions and kept as pets.
Fall migration is prime “hunting season” for the trappers and private Facebook groups in Cuba show off hundreds of migratory birds for sale, including Painted Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and dozens of warbler species. Even children are involved in the trapping. BirdsCaribbean will continue to assist with efforts to reduce these harmful behaviors by supplying birding gear and educational materials to help promote birding and develop Bird Clubs in each province. Bird watchers are a growing voice in Cuba. Vladimir commented, “With your support we will be able to reach out to a lot more people in our communities as part of our efforts to replace bird cages and traps with binoculars and field guides by increasing the appreciation for Cuban birds and supporting conservation efforts.” Many of our Cuban colleagues and partners have been working hard to educate and raise awareness about this issue for many years, but it remains a huge challenge. If you would like to donate to help us send binoculars and field guides to Cuba, please click here and select “Reducing bird trapping in Cuba” for your gift designation.
“The first bird of the season fell” – August 2021 Facebook post by a bird trapper in Cuba showing a migratory warbler, the Northern Parula.The caption reads “Ready for the hunt.” Painted Buntings in cages for sale – August 2021 Facebook post by a bird trapper in Cuba.Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a migratory warbler in a cage in Cuba, for sale on a private Facebook group.Cuban boy trapping wild birds, posted on Cuban social media.Bird hunters in Cuba heading out with their traps, shared on social media.Painted Buntings in cages in Cuba – this colorful bird is a popular species for the caged bird trade.
The legacy of Juan Cristóbal Gundlach in Cuba
So what will you find, as you turn the digital pages of this third issue of The Cuban Birder? If you love science history, you will enjoy browsing through articles on the life and work of Juan Cristóbal Gundlach (1810 – 1896), who was born in Germany but left a rich legacy in Cuban scientific discovery. The author of the first major work on Cuban ornithology, among other studies, his name is included in the Latin names of no less than sixty animal species – among the birds he discovered, these included the Gundlach’s Hawk and the Cuban Vireo.
According to a 1915 account, the avid collector and descriptor of thousands of species did not drink and was a frugal eater, often departing in the morning with a biscuit and a sandwich in his pocket – which he forgot to eat during the day. He was tall and reportedly had a bit of a limp, but he was quiet and unassuming, traveling from one end of the island to the other. What a dedicated man! You will enjoy getting to know Juan Cristóbal Gundlach better in the pages of the Cuban Birder. This fascinating section of the magazine, about a significant figure in Cuban natural history is illustrated with photographs of some of the birds he discovered, accompanied by his own descriptions.
Don Juan, as he was known, was also the man who first discovered the smallest bird in the world – the Bee Hummingbird, which is the topic of another article in The Cuban Birder. Noting the tiny bird’s mating ritual, Gundlach noted, rather sweetly: “I have also seen the male when he is in love, go up perpendicularly with a non-progressive flight, sometimes singing, others not, stop, hover for a moment at the female, and then drop down.” Unfortunately, it is not as widely distributed as it was in Gundlach’s day, and is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. You can read a detailed description of this exquisite but endangered bird in the magazine. On another page, there is a very useful fact sheet on Hummingbirds; there are some 343 species identified in the Americas, and they are surprisingly aggressive for their size!
This is just a taste of what you can find in the latest issue of The Cuban Birder. It is an absorbing read that also includes helpful advice on the art of birdwatching and the best cameras for wildlife photography; as well as a gorgeous photo feature on the Alexander Humboldt National Park. A section on identifying hotspots using the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird Caribbean includes how to determine the criteria for a hotspot, and how to navigate the website to suggest one. This section also emphasizes the importance of using the portal, which is specially designed for the Caribbean – especially on days when there are special “counts,” such as the eleven-year-old Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) established by BirdsCaribbean. Data on Cuban birds – and our island birds in general – is more important than ever!
Previous issues have featured interviews with well-known Caribbean scientists like the legendary Orlando Garrido, and artist and naturalist, Nils Navarro, author of Field Guide to the Endemic Birds of Cuba. The magazine is also packed with tips on how to photograph birds, how to identify them, and places to visit and stay to enjoy Cuba’s amazing bird life.
We warmly recommend this digital magazine to our BirdsCaribbean members, and to anyone who wants to learn about and protect Cuba’s birds. We congratulate the editorial team and all the contributors, and hope that readers will share the publication widely online – including, of course, on social media. We eagerly look forward to the next issue of The Cuban Birder!
Here are some readers’ reviews:
José Eugenio Martínez González:
I have been very excited about this idea. You have given us a nice surprise. As a birder, which I have practiced alone or in the company of my family, without equipment, but with a lot of desire, I take my hat off to this initiative.
Daniela Ventura del Puerto:
Excellent! I hope this magazine contributes to more people leaving the cages and changing them for cameras and binoculars. Success in that work!
Alejandro Padrón:
Excellent work for Cuban nature. Congratulations to all the members of this Club. I will follow you with attention.
Agustín Dimas López Guevara:
What good news! Graphic showcase and sample of the work of this great team that brings to light, with image, nature; fauna and flora, beauties to appreciate.
Lázaro Ramón Sosa Morell:
Great initiative, something very worthy of the culture of respect in our country and the effort that so many people have made for years to make it so! Congratulations!
Did you ever wish you had an interactive bird guide in your pocket wherever you go? For smartphone users in Puerto Rico and the northern Lesser Antilles, your dream has come true. “All Birds Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands & northern Lesser Antilles” birding app has recently been released!
The new ALL BIRDS app covers Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Saint-Martin, Saint Eustatius, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saba, Montserrat, Antigua-Barbuda, and Anguilla! This unique app encompasses not only common birds but also all migrants, vagrants, and established introduced species.
This bilingual (English & Spanish) app features all 415 bird species found from Puerto Rico east to Antigua and Montserrat. The mobile app expands the previous version called “Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Birds in Photos and Audio.” It is the perfect companion in the field.
This user-friendly app lets you identify birds by browsing alphabetically or taxonomically, or selecting on individual islands or on specific features or colors. Beginning birders looking to identify the species in their backyards can filter listings to display only common species. Users can also use the app to record their own bird sightings and even export this information.
Listings for each bird include detailed species accounts and 2,570 outstanding photos showing distinct plumages, including variations and subspecies. Advanced birders will love the audio that is included for each species: over 670 bird songs and calls are just a touch away. The resource section includes information about Caribbean birds and introductions to key topics like biogeography, conservation and migratory birds.
You can download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The Apple version is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Mac M1 chip. Once downloaded no internet connection is needed and all updates are free of charge.
Kristy Shortte, a Program Officer at the NGO Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.
A local community that understands the value of natural habitats and the wildlife that lives there is key to successful long-term conservation. Find out how this happens from Kristy Shortte, a Program Officer at the NGO ‘Sustainable Grenadines,’ on Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. From building observation platforms at vital wetlands, to garbage clean-ups and installing information signs, to training locals to identify and help monitor birds, Kristy describes the amazing and inspiring range of work carried out by her organization, local partners – and of course, the local community!
At the trans-boundary NGO Sustainable Grenadines Inc (SusGren) we know that conserving the places where birds live is key to their survival. But how do we achieve this? So many of our habitats are under threat—from pollution and degradation by human activities, to outright destruction for development. When there are competing demands on the use of our natural resources, we need to make wise decisions. Sometimes we need to educate our local citizens about the immense value of these areas to people and wildlife, and to get them actively involved in their conservation. It’s a hands-on approach with community partners. Showing people the benefits of managing and protecting habitats is the best way to ensure the long-term health of bird populations and the habitats on which they depend.
Finding the best ways to protect birds and their habitats
Residents of Union island, harvesting salt at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Radio Grenadines).
Here at SusGren, we have taken the initiative to support birds and protect the places they live through two projects – both completed during the pandemic of 2020! SusGren believes that some areas are so special that they need to be protected – no ifs, ands, or buts!!!!
After many years of hard work to restore Ashton Lagoon and develop it as a bird and nature sanctuary for enjoyment by all, we turned our attention to Belmont Salt Pond. This is the second largest ecosystem on the island of Union and one of the last two remaining salt ponds in the entire St. Vincent and the Grenadines (he other salt pond is on Mayreau). Salt picking is still practiced at Belmont, providing economic benefits to locals.
So…what’s so special about Belmont Salt Pond?
The Belmont Salt Pond area is significant, in that it provides habitat to many species of resident and migratory birds. Here you can see Whimbrels, Willets, Blue-winged Teal, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Mangrove Cuckoo, and even the American Flamingo on occasion. Migratory birds use Belmont as a place to rest and feed. This can be for a few days or weeks, before they continue with their migration, while others stay from fall to spring. For other birds, the Salt Pond is ‘home’ all year round.
Blue-winged Teal female spotted at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
American Flamingo Spotted at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
With this rich history and biodiversity and the salt pond threatened by human activities, SusGren decided to enhance the area for enjoyment by locals and visitors alike. This would help ensure the protection of the area’s biodiversity and would increase ecotourism opportunities in Union Island, following our successful restoration of nearby Ashton Lagoon 2 years ago. The platform would also help us to continue the long-term bird monitoring of our wetlands through participation in the Caribbean Waterbird Census.
Taking a community-based approach
The ‘’Clean up Squad’’ at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Zoe Jennett)
Due to a lack of community knowledge of the importance of the area, it was being used for the burning of charcoal and dumping garbage. We knew that over time these activities would damage Belmont Salt Pond and biodiversity would be negatively impacted. So at Susgren we decided to carry out a project in partnership with members of the community, to ensure that such behavior is reduced and eventually eliminated.
As part of this approach, SusGren contributed towards a cleanup organized by a local group of 10 people called “Union Island Cleanup Squad.” They held massive cleaning up sessions at the Belmont Salt Pond on May 7th and May 13th, 2020. A total of 30 bags of trash was collected during the first session, and 40 additional bags of trash were picked up at the second cleanup around the edges of the pond. It was great to see local community groups actively taking up the stewardship mantle of their island!
Follow the signs!
Interpretive sign at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Our project also involved the construction of viewing platforms at Belmont Salt Pond, designed to provide people with a fantastic overview of the wetland and the birds living there. At each of the Belmont Salt Pond platforms – and at the Ashton Lagoon Eco Trail – we installed interpretive signs displaying resident and migratory birds. We worked with BirdsCaribbean to design signs that included land birds, wetland birds, and shorebirds likely to be seen at each of the sites. At Ashton Lagoon, one sign also provides visitors with knowledge about the marine and terrestrial species of animals found in the area.
Our interpretive signs include features on bird identification. Thus, someone using the platforms at Belmont Salt Pond or our bird towers at Ashton Lagoon can receive a “self-crash-course” in basic bird identification. Moreover, there are now three 4 x 6 billboard signs installed at Belmont Salt Pond that explain the history of the area and its cultural and environmental importance. Two ‘rules’ signs also notify visitors about appropriate behavior in the area.
Keeping the trash at bay
“Bird branded” garbage bins and signs at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
To reduce the problem of litter, we installed attractive garbage receptacles at both Belmont Salt Pond and Ashton Lagoon. The bright green receptacles are adorned with images of the various birds one can see in the area. Our hope is that this will help build local pride and community ownership and encourage people to dispose of their garbage in a responsible way.
Since the installation of 4 bins at each location, we are gratified to see that people are using them. The local solid waste management company ‘’Uni Clean’ assists with the weekly disposal of trash from these areas.
Reaching out in different ways
We found different ways of reaching out to our stakeholders and the general public. Normally, we would have been hosting lots of in-person outreach and birding activities and events with the community and schools during the last year. But due to the pandemic and schools closing, we used radio and social media platforms to engage the community and key stakeholders. We made phone calls and delivered letters with updates on our projects. We also sent out a media blast with the local telecommunications company on the island, so that recipients could obtain a poster of the activities being undertaken at Belmont Salt Pond on their phones.
Finally, we had a hugely successful radio interview and webinar with the show, “Conversation Tree” on Radio Grenadines. SusGren’s Program Director, Orisha Joseph and I gave a presentation and discussed our activities with the radio host. This was seen by over 2,000 people and was very well-received.
World Shorebirds Day
Kristy Shortte pointing out and identifying birds on a guided birding walk. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc).
To further community involvement in our work and help people develop a love for the environment and birds, we collaborated with Katrina Collins-Coy, Union Island Environmental Attackers, and celebrated World Shorebirds Day in September, 2020. Eleven students and two teachers from the Stephanie Browne Primary School participated.
The celebration involved a birding walk with Bird Bingo and a Bird Identification tour along the Ashton Lagoon Trail. The children also enjoyed activities in the classroom, such as learning about the Parts of a Bird, bird games, and bird arts and crafts. We were elated to see the enthusiastic students and teachers come out as early as 5:30 am to be a part of the session!
Birds of Belmont Salt Pond – A New Resource!
Through this project (with matched funding from the SVG Conservation Fund) we also developed a booklet entitled “Birds of Belmont Salt Pond.” The booklet includes notes from SusGren’s directors, information on the project’s team, a brief history of the Belmont Salt Pond, photographs of resident and migratory birds found there, and a full checklist and space for taking notes while bird watching and monitoring. Thirty copies were printed and distributed to key stakeholders in the community and other organizations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We hope this will be a great resource for visitors.
Belmont Salt Point. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Bird Identification Training Workshop—“Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats”
Participants taking part in a Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Basic Bird ID Training Workshop. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
We weren’t finished yet! We also held a five-day bird identification training workshop as part of the project, during October 2020. The workshop was facilitated by Lystra Culzac, who is the Founder and Manager of Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE) and graduate of our Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats Training Workshop in 2019 (as is Kristy!). Those taking part represented a wide range of professions, from Park Rangers, Tourism Division, Environmental Groups, and regular community members. As part of the training, a bird monitoring trip took place at the newly installed platforms, making good use of our new booklet “Birds of Belmont Salt Pond.”
We included training in seabird monitoring as part of the workshop and participants took a trip to Catholic Island and Tobago Cays Marine Park. Here they got the opportunity to learn firsthand how to identify a wider variety of the seabird species in their natural habitats. Following the bird watching trip in the Tobago Cays, SusGren, in partnership with SCIENCE, collaborated on a clean-up effort at Petit Bateau, one of the cays in the Marine Park and a known seabird habitat. A total of 6 bags of trash was collected.
Continued CWC Monitoring
At both Ashton Lagoon and Belmont Salt Pond we have been carrying out Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) surveys for many years. These surveys help us to keep track of which birds are using these sites, while keeping an eye out for any changes or threats to the habitats. During the project we carried out 9 CWC surveys across Ashton Lagoon and Belmont Salt Pond, making visits twice a month. Now that the project is over we plan to continue to monitor the birds at both sites using CWC surveys. With all our newly trained birders on Union island, equipped with binoculars and copies of the ‘Birds of Belmont Salt Point,’ we should have plenty of support to do this!
How did the community respond to our work?
During an Attitude and Perception survey interview done with residents on the island, persons expressed excitement and satisfaction with the new development. One noted interviewee was Benjamin Wilson, a Tobago Cays Park Ranger. Wilson said, “Before the enhancement, I would have passed the salt pond straight – but now I have to gaze at the work that was done.’’ SusGren believes that this project was the first step towards having a local community that value ‘their’ wetland. The wildlife viewing platform is now being regularly used by locals and tourists alike!
Mission accomplished? Yes, for that phase, which is a first step in the right direction towards bird and habitat conservation.
This project was made possible with funding and support from BirdsCaribbean via the US Fish and Wildlife Service NMBCA program and BirdsCaribbean members and donors, with matching funds from the SVG Conservation Fund.
Kristy Shortte has worked with Sustainable Grenadines Inc since 2013, starting out as an Administrative and Research Assistant. Since 2017 she has served as a Program Officer. Kristy has qualifications in Business Studies, and since working at Sustainable Grenadines, she has been dedicated to using her business knowledge and environmental training and experience to empower her community in the Grenadines to protect and develop their resources sustainably. She has grown to love and be inspired by nature and birds since working for SusGren. She comments, “A lot of times I would look at birds and observe how they are so fearless and free in the sky and by looking at these creatures you learn from them about how to create a beautiful life.”
Salt being produced at Belmont. (Photo by Radio Grenadines)
One of the new signs showing the bird of Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
The new platform at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Lesser Yellowlegs at Belmont Salt Pond. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Kids with BirdSleuth Caribbean Bird Bingo-cards. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Kids learning about birds with BirdSleuth Caribbean and World Migratory Bird Day materials. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Viewing Platform at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Viewing Platform at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
American Flamingo Spotted at Belmont Salt Pond. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Yes, you read the headline right. We already know that birds enhance our well-being in so many remarkable ways. Now we are partnering with Spinning Arrow Yoga on a creative new series of classes that has a special new “twist” – a bird twist.
COVID-19 continues to have a major impact across the globe, and like everyone else we at BirdsCaribbean recognise the pandemic’s negative effects on our physical and mental health. Many of us still have restrictions on our movements, and on the number of people who can gather together. With all of these limitations in place for at least the foreseeable future, it is more important than ever to find a dynamic and welcoming online fitness class that will give us a little ‘me’ time.
Alex – finding some balance in Eagle pose (Garudasana)
We recently introduced you to our new well-being partner Spinning Arrow Yoga. We are collaborating with Founder Alex on our innovative range of rejuvenating Yoga & Birding Tours through the Caribbean. We are very excited about our first tour – scheduled for 10-19 March, 2022 – where we will practise yoga and go birding daily; visit places of cultural, historical and spiritual significance; cruise with whales; swim with turtles; and so much more on the stunning islands of St. Lucia, Dominica & Barbados. The tour has taken its first bookings! Click here to find out more about this incredible journey ‘Back to Nature…Back to Yourself’.
Birds of Yoga Online Classes – 15 Nov 2020, 10 AM EST
Now Alex – Founder of Spinning Arrow Yoga – is delighted to offer a series of online Yoga classes catering specifically to the birding community and to all those who love and appreciate birds. Each class in the ‘Birds of Yoga’ series will feature a gentle flow towards a different bird-themed ‘peak’ pose and a short talk from Birding the Islands’ Director, Ryan, about some of the fascinating species of birds that the poses are named after, and the Caribbean islands where you can find them.
If you’ve never participated in a live online Yoga class before, there’s no time like the present to try something new! The classes will be live-streamed on Zoom (which is free for individual users) and on Spinning Arrow Yoga’s Facebook page (also free).
The first class in the series, themed around the majestic Heron (Krounchasana) will be going live at 10am EST on Sunday 15 November. Practicing yoga in a live class from the comfort of your own home has never been so fly 😉
The classes are being offered on a donation basis with 100% of the proceeds going directly towards supporting BirdsCaribbean’s conservation efforts throughout the Caribbean region. Thanks in advance if you are able to help out!
Looking forward to seeing you on the virtual mat!
A Green Heron finding some balance of its own at Graeme Hall mangrove swamp, Barbados (photo by Alex Chenery)
To find out more about the Birding and Yoga Tour, and book your place, click here or contact Alex at spinningarrowyoga@gmail.com.
BirdsCaribbean has been collaborating with Birding the Islands Ltd for the last two years, offering outstanding birding tours to the Lesser Antilles. Now, we are thrilled to announce that from 2022 a new partner will be joining us as we expand our offerings to include a fresh, innovative selection of trips. We have teamed up with Spinning Arrow Yoga & Holistic Healing to offer you the chance to escape the everyday—through one-of-a-kind birding and yoga trips to some of the most beautiful and rejuvenating islands in the Caribbean. Read on to learn more about both aspects of the trip!
We specialize in providing a range of well-being offerings including in-person and online yoga classes, energetic healing practices and heart-centered yoga holidays. BirdsCaribbean’s mission is to: “raise awareness, promotesound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems.” Spinning Arrow Yoga & Holistic Healing aims to help you to “find your true direction” in life by raising your awareness and appreciation of your own divine nature; promoting the ancient sciences of Yoga and energetic healing practices such as Reiki, Nada Yoga and Shamanic Healing; and empowering you to bring the benefits of these profound practices into your daily life in order to conserve your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being within the ecosystem of your own body.
Founder Alex Chenery
Our founder, Alex Chenery, who will be co-leading our trips through the islands, is an RYT®200 yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance; Usui Reiki Master; Nada Yoga & Yoga Nidra Facilitator; Restorative & Yin Yoga Teacher; Adaptive, Trauma-Informed & Chair Yoga Facilitator; Pregnancy, Post-Natal & Mother and Baby Yoga Teacher; and Shamanic Practitioner.
“I’m extremely excited about embarking on this new adventure with two partners who share my love of the natural world. Our collective intention for you during these trips, is that you truly and deeply experience that beautiful connection with nature, and take a step down the life-changing path towards finding a way back to your true authentic self.” – Alex Chenery
Experience the therapeutic benefits of practicing yoga in nature…
Our inaugural heart-centered yoga and nature tour ‘Back to Nature…Back to Yourself’ departs in March 2022. We will be inviting you to discover the natural, cultural, and historical treasures of St. Lucia, Dominica and Barbados, while taking time to re-center and absorb these experiences with a variety of daily yoga and well-being practices.
During this epic 10-day adventure, we will take inspiration from the islands to rebalance our vital energies through practices designed to free you from your inhibitions—and give you that ‘aaahhhh oooohhhh mmmm’ (OM) feeling!
Alex Practicing Yoga in Nature
We will take our yoga practice into the heart of Dominica’s lush tropical forests to connect with the primal energy of our Sacral chakra; to the lofty windswept cliff tops of St. Lucia where with Red-billed Tropicbirds whistling by, we will root down into the earth, finding that pure connection to nature through our Root chakra; and on to the tranquil azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, where aboard our privately chartered catamaran we will raise our voices by way of our Throat chakra to experience the uplifting effect of Kirtan. While our daytime yoga sessions will have the calls of nature as our backdrop, our evening sessions will be accompanied by the harmonic sounds of fellow BirdsCaribbean partner Shika Shika’s “Guide to the Birdsong” series. These tracks will create the perfect atmosphere to relax and recharge.
Red-billed Tropicbird (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Keith Clarkson)
The Birding Experience
Your guide to all things nature—founder of Birding the Islands Ltd. Ryan Chenery (the Bajan Birder)—will introduce you to the eclectic mix of flora and fauna found in this tropical paradise (and in some cases nowhere else on Earth).
Ryan Chenery
Dominica and St. Lucia are renowned for their spectacular wildlife. These two islands are home to three majestic Amazon parrots, every hummingbird in the Lesser Antillean region, an array of endemic and near endemic warblers, tremblers, thrashers, nightjars and pewees, and a wondrous variety of regional specialties from tropicbirds and frigate birds to solitaires and quail doves.
Purple-throated Carib (Photo by Birding the Islands client, Mark Greenfield)
You will wind down the tour in Barbados, exploring peaceful coastal enclaves to seek out Caribbean Martin and Black Swift. Go birding along the glistening white beaches and mangroves for close encounters with terns, herons, waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. End the tour by stepping away from terra firma and submerging yourself in the most breathtakingly beautiful turquoise waters in the region—where you snorkel with turtles and find yourself surrounded by the many colorful inhabitants of the island’s coral reefs.
Green Turtle coming up for air in Barbados (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
And yes, there’s more…
In St. Lucia, you will also have the chance to learn about traditional Rastafarian herbal remedies and discover the island’s influential connection to the sea. On Barbados, we explore the history of the sugar industry in the Caribbean, at one of the island’s oldest working rum distilleries. In Dominica, we spend time with the Kalinago people, the island’s original inhabitants. We will gain insight into their rich culture and visit the sacred site where these indigenous people first landed on the island from their original settlement in South America. Here, we also take a breathtaking cruise off the Atlantic coast in search of whales!
Humpback Whale (Photo by Ryan Chenery)
Take some time to reconnect…
There is no purer connection to the natural world than remembering that we are all part of the cosmic consciousness. By practicing yoga in some of the most ecologically rich and pristine habitats in the Caribbean, you have the opportunity to experience a deep connection to the powerful healing energies of the natural world. Along the way, you will experience different yoga styles, develop (or begin) your pranayama and meditation practice, immerse yourself in a Sound Healing Journey, perhaps indulge in an optional private Reiki treatment and even try your hand at SUP (Stand-up Paddle) Yoga!
Alex Meditating in Nature
But I’m a birder, not a yogi (or vice versa)!
Yoga is for everyone—and so is birding! Each part of this retreat into nature has been specifically created to meet you where you are at. Learning is an important part of the mission of our organizations, and you are invited to join us with as much or as little experience in either yoga or birding as you currently have.
Ryan Chenery “Practicing Flying” with an Immature Great Blue Heron
We are hopeful that these tours will serve to introduce birders to the profound therapeutic benefits of yoga, and yoga practitioners to the wonderful world of birding. They will be voyages of discovery—connecting with birds and with our inner selves.
Note: Birding the Islands and Spinning Arrow Yoga are generously donating a portion of your tour fee to support our bird conservation programs in the Caribbean. In addition, our tours support local livelihoods, including guides (our partners, some have received training through out Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training Program) and small businesses, in the islands.
In 2014, BirdsCaribbean forged an exciting partnership with Carefree Birding, a group of fun and relaxed birders that offer unique birding trips for cruise line passengers. Carefree Birding has developed opportunities for passengers to observe native birds and wildlife while experiencing all the fun and relaxation of cruising.
Owners Ken Burgener and Linda Warschauer are the hosts on each cruise, and their Carefree Birding concept looks something like this:
“Board cruise ship, unpack gear, get a full night’s sleep, disembark when the ship reaches port, spend no more than five or six hours birding, return to ship and relax, meet to discuss the following day’s excursions, have dinner with other birders, repeat next day.” (2013 Porthole Cruise Magazine)
On select cruises, expert birding guides are invited to join the group. Carefree Birding, with the help of local environmental organizations, arranges birding field trips at each port of call. 100% of the money collected for the tours is routed directly to these local groups. The excursions are slow paced, short, physically easy, and fun-filled.
Carefree Birding owner, Ken Burgener, having a lot of fun “on the job” with Adams Toussaint, local birding guide on St. Lucia. (photo by Carefree Birding)
BirdsCaribbean recently conducted an interview with Ken and Linda about their company’s plans for launching their first birding cruise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us for a conversation on what the cruise will entail, and whether or not it’s a good fit for you!
BirdsCaribbean: We are betting that Carefree Birding is excited to start making plans for 2021, after a very quiet and challenging year for your business. Tell us about the trip that you have slated for next March?
Carefree Birding: Yes—we are very excited to get back out on the water in March of 2021, following strict safety guidelines of course. As you can imagine, with the shutdown of the cruise line industry, we are holding our breath. We have been very lucky as we did not have any cruises planned until Feb 2021. We did have to cut this year’s Peru trip in March a week short (though we did finish our Amazon Cruise), but we all got back safe and sound. The March 2021 trip will be aboard the Celebrity Reflection, departing out of and returning to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The 11-night cruise will visit the islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, and Grand Cayman with a stop in the South American city of Cartagena, Colombia.
One of the best aspects of going on a Carefree Birding cruise is the great people that you get to meet along the way. Not only will you get to know your fellow birders, but we also work with some of the best guides in the Caribbean. Since teaming up with BirdsCaribbean (BC), we have been introduced to an entirely new suite of local birding talent, several of them trained in BirdsCaribbean’s Guide Training Program, as part of the Caribbean Birding Trail initiative. We are always excited to reconnect with our skilled and personable bird guides each time we go back to their islands. And thanks to these new relationships, we have also been able to expand our itineraries.
During our time on the Celebrity Reflection, we will have group meetings during our days out at sea. We take advantage of this sailing time to show you short presentations on the destinations coming up next, as well as videos and photos of the birds we hope to see there. And if you so desire, you can eat with the group during dinner where we have tables reserved. We have selected an area off the main dining room, where it is much quieter and easier to talk. We suggest that you sit with different people in our group during the evening meal, that way you can meet more people and learn about their birding experiences. Remember this is Carefree, so if you have other plans no problem!
Carefree Birding group in Barbados, with expert local guide, John Webster (far left). (photo by Carefree Birding)
BirdsCaribbean: This sounds excellent. You mentioned safety guidelines. What will 2021 look like in terms of cruise ship safety precautions?
Carefree Birding: We are hoping that the cruise industry is on stable grounds (make that stable water!) and it will be safe for all the passengers and the crews around the world. Celebrity Cruises has developed a Healthy Sail Panel—11 expert doctors, scientists, and health specialists—that will be guiding our way to safely cruising the new world. As things change, these top medical and science experts will make sure that we and the staff on the ship stay safe. They know that for the boat to continue sailing, protocols need to prioritize safety, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure our health, even if that means canceling the cruise.
BirdsCaribbean: It sounds like Celebrity Cruises has a good plan in place. However, if the Caribbean islands are not ready to receive tourism by that time, what will happen?
Carefree Birding: If the cruise cannot be safely done, Celebrity Cruises will cancel with 100% money reimbursed or put on deposit for any cruise with them in the future. Our travel agent—Travel Services—will take care of your booking and explain your options with the cruise line. Carefree Birding only collects money for your Birding Package, which consists of the shore excursions and our administration fees. If the cruise is canceled we will refund all of your Birding Package money.
BirdsCaribbean: And what if the trip is deemed safe, but an already signed-up passenger doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea any more?
Carefree Birding: No problem at all, Carefree Birding will accept cancellations—no questions asked—up until 30 days of departure, with 100% of your Birding Package money reimbursed. We don’t want to pressure anyone. Currently, when you put a deposit down for your cabin onboard the Celebrity Reflection ($900), that deposit is totally refundable up until the moment you complete your final payment for your cruise cabin. If you have paid the final payment, Travel Services will inform you with the most up-to-date information about their cancellation and refund policy with Celebrity.
White-cheeked Pintail in St. Martin. This is an endemic subspecies in the Caribbean (Anas bahamensis bahamensis). (photo by Binkie van Es)
BirdsCaribbean: We are sure that a lot of people will be put at ease knowing that all of these safeguards and money-back guarantees have been put in place. So, can you tell us a bit more about the fun that awaits?
Carefree Birding: Absolutely! Imagine getting off the cruise ship with our small birding group and having a local islander come to personally pick us up and guide us around their home island for several hours! Not only does the guide know the local birds and birding hotspots really well, we get to learn about local history. The guides enjoy answering questions about life on their island. Our group comes away knowing more about the islands and their culture and people. This is a great way to make new friends throughout the Caribbean.
BirdsCaribbean: Sounds like a perfect way to connect with the local culture and birds in a sustainable and respectful way. And it also sounds like an island experience that nobody else on that cruise will get!
Carefree Birding: You got it—that’s the spirit of Carefree Birding! By using local guides, our birders get to experience the real island, and visit more “off the beaten path” sites. And of course the birding experience is excellent: small groups, lots of one-on-one interaction with the guide, and a built-in flexibility to go wherever the best birds are that day—not where they were three weeks ago. As you know, birds can and do move a lot, but our guides scope out the best spots the days just before we arrive. We have gone to private houses and farms, where the birds are thriving, and often observe many other types of wildlife. Ever been birding on a goat farm? Been there done that! How about on an almost deserted beach, with a cold drink in your hand? If not for our local guides, we never would have access to such unique experiences. Once a guide even arranged to have a private Portajohn sent out to the beach where we were birding. Talk about personal service!
Carefree Birding embraces the local culture (including local transportation) at every port-of-call. It’s all about having fun, meeting new people, seeing some great birds, and supporting smaller towns and businesses along the way. (photo by Carefree Birding)
BirdsCaribbean: Your trips sound amazing. How does someone go about signing up, and are there any restrictions?
Carefree Birding: Anyone on the cruise is welcome to sign up for a Carefree Birding trip. If you have a SOB (Spouse of Birder), they can also come on the cruise for the same price, and they do not have to pay the Birding Package with Carefree Birding. They will also be able to eat with us and enjoy a great cruise while you are away looking at birds. We can help you get set up for both the cruise and our birding trips. Please reach out to us [Ken and Linda] at: carefreebirding@aol.com, 954-766-2919
After you visit our website, go to the registration page, fill out the big yellow box at the bottom of the page and send it. Travel Services will contact you and help book your cruise. Travel Services helps you select the type of cabin, and answer any of the other important questions you might have about the cruise and how to book it. Ken and Linda will answer any questions about the field trips, and any other non-ship questions. Booking the cruise seems to be the hardest part of the entire trip. Once you get on the ship, all is well!!! Carefree Birding will send you tips on how to get ready for the cruise.
We have done over 40 cruises, and we can’t wait for the next one! Join us!
A Carefree Birding group enjoys spotting waterbirds in beautiful Sint Maarten / St. Martin with Binkie van Es, BirdsCaribbean member and Caribbean Birding Trail trained guide. (photo by Carefree Birding)Hudsonian Godwit — one of the many migratory shorebirds you can see in the Caribbean. (photo by Binkie van Es)
It was a bit of a gamble. The speakers were all ready to speak. The agenda was set.
But…would anyone show up?
Well, they did, in the thousands. The North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC) 2020, originally scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 10 to 15, had switched gears. It took the brave decision to go virtual in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a tremendous, complex undertaking – and the organizers pulled it off, in style. Hundreds of live, oral presentations took place in general sessions and in symposia, while 80 “lightning talks” and 3 minute poster presentations added excitement. Round tables, workshops and networking opportunities were all well attended by participants from far and wide, under the appropriate theme: “Flight paths addressing global challenges.”
The Caribbean Presence: Island Treasures
NAOC 2020 commented on its website: “The virtual format of the conference attracted particularly high attendance from students and colleagues in Mexico, Central and South America, and Caribbean countries.” In total, nearly 3,000 attended the conference from countries as far-flung as Australia and China.
BirdsCaribbean hosted a symposium called “Island Treasures: Lessons learned from 30 years of avian research, education, and conservation,” which drew a substantial audience from the region and beyond. Sixteen outstanding presentations showcased the exciting conservation work being carried out across the islands, ranging from restoration of key habitats to saving endangered species to wildlife trafficking (see list of talks and presenters in the image gallery below). We had a stimulating panel discussion at the end of the symposia where presenters answered questions from the audience and shared their opinions and expertise on a range of challenging conservation issues.
Island Treasures Symposium Panel discussion on Zoom at the end of the Symposium where presenters answered questions from the audience and shared their opinions on conservation challenges facing the Caribbean region.
An additional symposium organized by Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr. (the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology) focused on the impact of hurricanes on birds called “Birds and hurricanes: effects, responses, resilience, and conservation.”
If you missed the conference or wish to view any of the talks in the above symposia, stay tuned, we will be posting the presentations on our YouTube channel!
The Socializing Side: Virtual Cocktails or a Cup of Tea
The “Caribbean Meet and Greet” session on August 12 was a resounding success. Around sixty guests gathered, cocktails in hand (or in some cases a cup of tea), to chat and get to know each other. It was a time to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones. We answered fun trivia questions about Caribbean birds and gathered in smaller chat rooms for 10 minutes at a time for more intimate chats.
BirdsCaribbean Meet and Greet – some of the folks that stopped by for our Zoom cocktail hour. It was great fun to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones!
Of course, there was no final banquet – and was it really necessary, one participant wondered, when one could just go to the kitchen and fix oneself a peanut butter sandwich? Perhaps virtual banquet menus could be submitted next time, she suggested.
Could Virtual Conferencing be the Way of the Future?
Conference goers, including BirdsCaribbean members and partners, were impressed not only by the quality of the presentations, but also by the fact that the technology smoothly facilitated them. For some, like conservation ecologist Ann Sutton Haynes in Jamaica, it was a new experience:
“This was my first experience of an online conference and I was surprised how well it went. The good things were the low cost, the flexibility to attend when it was convenient and even the online questions and responses went well. There was even a weird pleasure in attending real time sessions…If it’s affordable I think it would be great if all our conferences in future could be both in person and virtual.”
Science Officer at the Bahamas National Trust Scott Johnson was also enthusiastic about the benefits of virtual conferencing:
“My experience participating in the NAOC online symposium was most enjoyable. I had the opportunity to meet up with old friends and some of my mentors as well as listen to some amazing talks including bird smuggling, hurricanes and its effects on birds, and more. I think this is a great alternative to expensive travelling and the logistics associated with it and would like for an online conference like this to continue moving forward.”
Scott Johnson (bottom), Science Officer at the Bahamas National Trust, talking with 2 fellow panelists, Stephen Durand (left), Forestry Officer, Dominica, and Dr. Ancilleno Davis (right), Science and Perspective, at the BirdsCaribbean Island Treasures Symposium.
Biologist Quincy Augustine, staff at the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF), St. George’s University in Grenada was also pleased with his experience:
“Despite the unforeseen challenges we are currently experiencing, I must commend the organizers for putting together such a great conference – hats off to you! It was one of the best conferences I’ve ever attended with a twist and additional perks – could you imagine what it would have been like if this conference was face to face! The topics, presentations, and the opportunity to build a network are so needed, especially for researchers like myself.”
A Key Focus on Diversity and Inclusion
Colombian ornithologist and Professor Andres Cuervo stressed the significance of the conference, enthusing on the conference Slack channel: “I want to highlight the diversity, quality, and great composition of the keynote plenary speakers of NAOC 2020. I’ve loved every single one of them, and they have been so different in approaches and people. Thank you for that. Today’s Daniel Cadena’s plenary was truly outstanding. His closing remarks are important messages for ornithology and for this meeting.”
Diversity and inclusion was a particularly important aspect of the conference for BirdsCaribbean. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee – including BirdsCaribbean’s Jessica Cañizares and Environment of the Americas’ Sheylda DÍaz-Méndez – worked hard to help “increase the awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in ornithology and to help cultivate an ornithological community that is committed to the recruitment, retention, and support of all of its members at and beyond NAOC 2020.”
Participants also expressed appreciation for the English and Spanish translations and subtitles in presentations. The organizers were pleased to note: “Many people who would not otherwise have been able to attend were able to do so, due to a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation and sponsorships from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and other partnering organizations, through generous underwriting for free registration for students and greatly reduced registration fees for everyone else.” BirdsCaribbean thanks the US Forest Service International Programs for providing scholarships for Caribbean nationals to attend the conference.
Hope for the Future…and Trinidad?
Social media and our @BirdsCaribbean twitter feed were hoppin’ during the 5 days of the conference as people shared what they were learning. #NAOC2020
BirdsCaribbean Executive Director Lisa Sorenson concluded that the online event filled her with optimism.
“We were thrilled to make such a substantial contribution to what is one of the largest ornithological conferences in the world,” she noted. “We were happy with the positive feedback we have received; this encourages us and our partners, who are doing really worthwhile and inspiring work in the region.”
“Yes, challenges and threats are unrelenting, but we have many more active projects, with people and partners working on research, monitoring, engaging with the public to change the culture, and carrying out successful conservation initiatives to save and restore species and habitats.”
Registered attendees will have access to all recorded presentations through the EventPilot app through Wednesday, September 9.
Meanwhile, we are keeping our fingers crossed for our planned International Conference in Trinidad. We hope to see all our friends and collaborators, old and new, in late July 2021! If you are a new friend of BirdsCaribbean, don’t forget to sign up to our monthly newsletter here for further updates.
BirdsCaribbean was one of nine partner organizations hosting the NAOC 2020 Conference. We thank the US Forest Service International Programs and other sponsors for providing generous support to allow our Caribbean delegates and others to attend the virtual conference at no cost or a reduced fee. #NAOC2020
The gallery below shows the 16 presentations in our Island Treasures Symposium. No worries if you missed the talks, we will be uploading them to our YouTube Channel.
BirdsCaribbean Meet and Greet – more of the folks that stopped by for our Zoom cocktail hour. It was great fun to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones!
An updated edition of the acclaimed field guide to the spectacular birds of the West Indies is now available for purchase.
We are excited to announce the recent release of an updated, second edition to the acclaimed field guide, Birds of the West Indies by Herb Raffaele et al.!
Birds of the West Indies was the first field guide to cover and depict all bird species known to occur in the region with any regularity, including infrequently occurring and introduced forms. Now fully updated and expanded, this stunningly illustrated book features detailed accounts of more than 600 species, describing identification field marks, ranges, status, songs and calls, and habitats.
There are more than 100 beautiful color plates that depict plumages of all the species—including those believed to have recently become extinct—as well as distribution maps, a color code for endemic birds, and an incisive introduction that discusses avifaunal changes in the West Indies over the past fifteen years, and the importance of conservation.
Noteworthy Features of the Second Edition:
Covers more than 60 new species, including vagrants, introductions, and taxonomic splits
Presents species in user-friendly order from ocean birds to land birds
Separates vagrants to minimize confusion with regularly occurring species
Updates the status of every species
Features illustrations for all new species and improved artwork for warblers and flycatchers
Color codes endemic species confined to one or only a few islands
And don’t forget: whenever you shop on Amazon (e.g., to buy the new field guide), please shop on Amazon Smile and designate BirdsCaribbean as your charity to support. You don’t pay extra, rather a portion of your regular purchase price comes to us – every little bit helps – thanks in advance!
We know. It has been a difficult time, and you might be starting to get “itchy feet.”
You’re probably not quite ready to travel yet, but as soon as it is safe, where would you go?
Think green, forested hills filled with bird song; cool rivers with the splash of waterfalls and deep pools to enjoy; or inviting turquoise bays fringed with silvery white sands. This is the Caribbean, and it’s waiting for you!
Our Amazing Island Guides
The Purple-throated Carib is endemic to a handful of islands in the Lesser Antilles (Photo by Barbara and Frank Lilievre).
BirdsCaribbean has the perfect tool to help you with your future plans: a newly updated Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Guide page! Expert local guides are essential to getting the most out of your travel experience, so we have gathered information on the best in the region—all within one handy directory on the CBT website.
These guides, from 21 islands—and counting—have completed the CBT Interpretive Guide Training Program or have obtained training or certification through other programs. They are trusted partners of BirdsCaribbean and the partner organizations we collaborate with on the islands. These knowledgeable guides will satisfy bird, nature, and adventure tourists of all kinds. From birding, boating, and botanical gardens to mountain trails, waterfalls, and even rum tours … there is something for everybody.
Adams Toussaint, St. Lucia Birding & Wildlife Ambassadors
If you browse through our directory, you will see what an extraordinary range of expertise these local guides have to offer.
Our most recently trained guides in Grenada can take you out to sea, birding on sailboats (Vaughn Thomas at Archipelagics) and in kayaks (Kendon James at Conservation Kayak). Seasoned guides such as Adams Toussaint in Saint Lucia, and Lystra Culzac in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been leading birdwatching tours for years. They know exactly where to take you to find all the unique birds of their islands, including the extra special (and incredibly beautiful) St. Lucia and St. Vincent Parrots.
Lystra Culzac, guide in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
You will also see that our guides offer tours in several languages. Binkie van Es on Sint Maarten speaks four languages, and David Belfan in Martinique speaks no less than five! If they have written a bird guide, this is also highlighted. For example, Erika Gates (Bahamas), Anthony Levesque (Guadeloupe), Ann Sutton (Jamaica), Kate Wallace (Dominican Republic), Roger Neckles (Trinidad and Tobago), as well as Birdy Jno Baptiste and Stephen Durand from Dominica are all published authors of field guides for their countries!
So … Where To?
This beautiful bird, of resplendent plumage, is the National bid of Cuba. It’s colors match the colors of the Cuban flag (Photo by Jose Pantaleon).
Maybe you will opt for the largest island in the Caribbean: Cuba! There are 26 bird species on Cuba that are found nowhere else in the world, from the smallest bird in the world (Bee Hummingbird) to their beautiful National Bird (Cuban Trogon). There you can meet up with Ernesto Reyes, who will introduce you to these birds and so much more. Ernesto is a Cuban biologist with more than 15 years of experience with birds in Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. He offers multi-day birdwatching and bird photography tours (including two tours with BirdsCaribbean) that allow visitors to observe more than 95% of Cuba’s bird species. What riches!
Maybe instead of big, you go small. You might consider putting Anguilla in your plans. This 35-square mile, neatly wrapped package of an island contains a surprising amount of biodiversity. Go with Jackie Cestero of Nature Explorers Anguilla to explore the island’s more than 20 wetlands—once the center of a thriving salt industry dating back to prehistoric Amerindian inhabitants. Today these wetlands provide critical habitat for both resident and migratory species as they travel along the Atlantic Flyway. Be sure to pack your snorkel and fins, because Anguilla’s extensive marine park system is home to a number of species of turtles, colorful reef fish, and corals. Many of the island’s beaches provide nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles and, if you’re lucky, you’ll also spot migrating whales and dolphins.
Make Your Plans Happen
Hopefully by now you’ve got some ideas of where to go, and who to go with. Whatever you decide, just be sure of two things: hire local guides and keep going back to the Caribbean! No two islands are alike.
Beautiful jungle path through the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico beckons you to come visit. (photo by Dennis van de Water)
The Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) is a project of BirdsCaribbean. The CBT has been developed to connect people to the extraordinary places, diverse cultures, and people of each island. The CBT promotes authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourages the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats.
Through our CBT Interpretive Guide Training Program, we are partnering with operators and guides in the region to organize one of the most comprehensive guide training and certification programs in the region. The course is facilitated by National Association of Interpretation (NAI) Certified Interpretive Trainers, and participants learn not only to identify the local bird species and their connection to the environment, but also how to effectively communicate information to audiences in a meaningful and enjoyable way. To date, we have held International Training Workshops in Grenada, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Cuba, and St. Vincentand theGrenadines.
We would love to have your feedback. Have you been on a birding tour with a great birding tour guide from on or off our page? We’d love to hear about it. If you would like to recommend a great guide we don’t know about, organize a guide training program in your country, or want to know about the next program we might offer, drop us a line at info@caribbeanbirdingtrail.org and—when you do go on the Caribbean Birding Trail (and we hope you will)—let us know how it went for you.
Special thanks to our Caribbean Birding Trail Project Coordinator, Aly Ollivierre, and our website developer, Kathleen McGee, for working so hard to get the site updated over the past six months!
Check out our short video on the Caribbean Birding Trail:
Colorful and friendly, the Cuban Tody is one of Cuba’s most beloved endemic birds. (photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
Join BirdsCaribbean, the Caribbean Birding Trail and acclaimed Cuban bird guide, Ernesto Reyes Mouriño, on the adventure of a lifetime in January or March of 2021.
Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. According to the new Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba: 2018-2019 Edition, 394 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 28 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.
Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful birding locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality. We will also have the opportunity to meet and have discussions with local ornithologists and conservationists that have been working with BirdsCaribbean for many years.
BirdsCaribbean is offering two tours in 2021: a 9-day trip in January and a 12-day trip in March.
Find detailed itineraries for both trips below. Traveling with us helps Caribbean birds as a portion of the proceeds from the trip supports our bird conservation programs and partners in Cuba and the Caribbean. See some of the world’s most beautiful and memorable birds, knowing you are helping ensure their welfare by supporting the people who study and protect them.
Read testimonials and see photos from past trips in the gallery below. Purchase the Endemic Birds of Cuba Field Guide here. Check out the report and photos from our January 2016 trip here and from our July 2017 trip to Havana and Zapata Swamp here.
NOTE: The recent policy changes in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations do not affect BirdsCaribbean’s birding trips or the requirements of US citizens traveling with us. Our birding trips consist of group travel under the general license that authorizes travel transactions that provide “Support for the Cuban people.” The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requires that: 1) travel be conducted under the auspices of an individual or organization (BirdsCaribbean) that promotes independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba, and 2) the tour must consist of “a full-time schedule of activities that: (i) enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities; and (ii) result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba.” While you are on the trip, BirdsCaribbean will ensure that you have a full-time schedule of activities that engages with and provides support for private citizens (e.g., local guides, Cuban biologists, private business owners), and avoids transactions with the State Department’s List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated with Cuba (“the Cuba Restricted List”).
COVID-19 UPDATE: Right now, we are planning to offer these two tours in 2021. We will continue to assess the situation during the fall. If we deem that it is not safe to travel to Cuba, one or both tours will be canceled (or rescheduled) and all deposits and payments refunded (less a $25 processing fee). We will be monitoring the COVID-19 situation.
Music producer Robin Perkins of Shika Shika fuses birdsong with art to benefit the conservation of Caribbean birds! Shika Shika is a record label without owners for music without borders.
My name is Robin. I’m a music producer, an environmentalist, and a long-time bird lover. From the name on my passport, to the name I use on stage, El Búho (the owl in Spanish), birds have always been part of my life. There is something magical and fascinating in their freedom, their diversity and, of course, their song…
Robin Perkins (El Búho) co-founded Shika Shika in 2015 with Agustín Rivaldo (Barrio Lindo) to showcase the new wave of music appearing in cities around the world, inspired by the meeting between folk tradition and modern electronic production. “We love music that brings together worlds, that knows no borders or genre boundaries and that is pushing the fusion between rhythms, cultures, sounds, languages and ideas. We believe in people, we believe in collaboration and we believe in the power of music to impact our lives and our planet.”
I first started making music some five years ago, mixing traditional Latin American sounds with electronic music. I soon became fascinated with the idea of incorporating the incredible soundscapes of the natural world into my music and released my first EP: four tracks inspired by the song of four Latin American birds. This was the start of a beautiful journey that gave birth to “A Guide to the Birdsong”…
The project, which began in my small flat in Amsterdam in 2014, had a simple aim: to persuade a group of musicians or electronic music producers from a particular region of the world to create a piece of music inspired by the song of an endangered bird. Ten exciting artists paired with ten endangered birds. We would crowdfund the production of the album, the artwork and the vinyls. All of the profits would be donated to organizations working to protect these species.
The reaction for this first compilation, “A Guide to the Birdsong of South America” was incredible: we smashed our Kickstarter target, sold out of everything and raised almost US$15,000 for the non-profit environmental organizations Aves Argentinas and Ecuador’s Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco.
The story and the concept captured people’s imagination, drawing their attention to the plight of these beautiful species and their disappearing songs. The amazing music and eye-catching artwork supported concrete actions to preserve these endangered birds and their habitats.
Fast-forward five years and we are on the verge of releasing Volume II: “A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean.” The concept is the same but we have migrated north and shifted our focus to a new flock of species and artists. The movement has also grown with us as we met our crowdfunding goal by over 400%!
The resulting album, which will be released on June 26th, features ten tracks from artists from across the region. For example, Caribbean musicians such as Jamaica’s Equiknoxx and Cuba’s DJ Jigüe worked with the songs of the Jamaican Blackbird and the Zapata Wren. And Maracuya in the Dominican Republic composed the song for the Bay-breasted Cuckoo.
Zapata Wren and Jamaican Blackbird Artwork
We are very happy to partner with BirdsCaribbean as one of our three beneficiaries. This organisation is committed to protecting not only birds and their habitats, but also all that is unique and authentic about the islands. The profits from the album will go to support their Caribbean Birding Trail project, which aims to promote authentic travel experiences that highlight birds and culture, benefit local people, and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s unique birds and natural resources.
I have always firmly believed in the power of art and music as a tool for change, to deliver a message and raise awareness. My hope is that this project can go some way towards supporting those doing an incredible job in preserving birds, their habitats, and their songs for the generations to come.
Here’s a taste of the album – it’s the song for the Black Catbird (found in Mexico) – one song that has been released from the album thus far:
Editor’s Note:Robin Perkins is the creator of Shika Shika, a record label without owners for music without borders. Their mission is to bring together producers from around the world exploring the line between organic and electronic music. The platform aims to foster global collaboration between artists, designers, videographers, product designers and creative minds across continents.
We are so excited and honored to be partnering with Robin and Shika Shika on this amazing project! Thank you, Robin, and thanks to all for supporting this project! Below are images of the 3 endangered Caribbean endemic birds whose bird song is incorporated into the music on the album. Proceeds from the sale of the album, t-shirts, and artwork will benefit conservation of these birds through our Caribbean Birding Trail project.
The Bay-breasted Cuckoo is endemic to Hispaniola. This large active cuckoo is distinguished by its dark reddish-brown throat and breast and thick curved bill. (photo by Jorge Brocca)
The Zapata Wren is endemic to Cuba and is found only in the Zapata Swamp. (photo by Alvaro Jaramillo)The Jamaican Blackbird lives in the forests of Cockpit Country and the Blue and John Crow Mountains of Jamaica. It is threatened by loss of habitat from bauxite mining, clearing of forest for agriculture, etc. (photo by Judd Patterson)
Are you staying home right now? Sit back, relax and enjoy this vivid account of a trip around four islands, an adventure in search of the Amazona parrots. Ryan Chenery, the Barbados-based CEO of Birding the Islands will take you there. Ryan’s company is a proud partner of BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) and shares our philosophy of directly involving and benefiting local communities. Birding the Islands tours often using CBT-trained local guides—not only contribute to conservation efforts across the islands but also to support locally owned businesses. These tours are multi-faceted, but…“We always come back to the birds!” says Ryan.
St. Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildingii) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
Birding the Islands and BirdsCaribbean February 2020 trip to: St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Vincent, and Trinidad
Day 1: St. Lucia, Airports and Aupicon
We exit the plane at the vibrant Hewanorra International Airport and get straight into some productive airport birding. We easily spot the endemic subspecies of Carib Grackle and seemingly ever-present (yet fascinatingly split) near endemic subspecies of Bananaquit, flitting from one heavily laden calabash tree to another. A juvenile Merlin perched high atop a swaying Australian Pine is a surprising and welcome addition to our fledgling Lesser Antillean list. What a great start!
As we make for our first birding hotspot of the trip, the spectacular scenery of St. Lucia leaps out at us. This is a breathtakingly beautiful island – the perfect blend of towering forest-covered mountains and pristine white sand beaches lined by sparkling turquoise seas. It is no wonder that, centuries before, the French and British fought fiercely and passionately for the right to fly their flag atop its highest peak.
St. Lucia Parrot (Amazona versicolor) (Photo by Birding the Islands client John Dyson)
We plan our arrival at the sprawling Aupicon Wetlands to coincide with the return to their roosts of several species of heron and egret. After our vehicle winds its way through a corridor of towering Coconut Palms (their produce once the primary export crop of this lush tropical island), we catch our first sighting of migratory Blue-winged Teal and resident Common Gallinule – the brilliant blue wing coverts of the former and radiant red frontal shields of the latter gleaming in the last of the sun’s rays. Adding to the spectacle, large flocks of Snowy as well as Cattle Egrets now begin a near continuous approach to favoured roosting sites in the middle of the wetlands. The darting bills and dancing legs of Tricolored and Little Blue Herons contrast nicely with the bobbing of Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots (white-shielded Caribbean subspecies). A lone Osprey returning from the sea with a freshly caught fish is the cue for us to head to our accommodation for dinner.
Day 2: Endemic Overload!
The morning begins at our peaceful Inn, tucked away in quiet Mon Repos, where we enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast (yes, more freshly picked pineapple is on its way Nick!) on the sweeping veranda overlooking the densely forested hillsides and glittering waters of Praslin Bay.
Mon Repos is ideally located in the vicinity of some of the last remaining Dry Atlantic Forest on the island, and we start the morning’s birding by entering this wilted, scrubby landscape… only to be treated to absolutely cracking views of an inquisitive Mangrove Cuckoo. This seemingly impoverished habitat also yields our first three endemic sightings of the trip. A charming pair of St.Lucia Black Finch forages amongst the leaf litter, their pink legs dancing amongst the crisp brown leaves. With every step closer the gleaming black of the male provides an ever more diagnostic contrast to the soft cinnamon brown of his mate. We also see a stunningly patterned St. Lucia Oriole; and a brilliant adult St. Lucia Warbler, its subtle patterns fully visible in the neutral morning light.
The strikingly patterned St. Lucia Oriole (Icterus laudabilis) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
We continue northwest over the dominant mountainous spine of the island and down to the scenic west coast, gliding through the sleepy towns of Laborie and Choizeul. There is a striking difference between the rich fertile soils found here in the shadow of the cavernous Mt. Soufriere and the parched earth of our last birding site. While living beneath a volcano is not without its risks, the rewards can also be great – as evidenced by the wealth of produce in the form of yams, dasheen, sweet pototato, plantains and much more being sold here at small roadside stalls. The unparalleled fertility of this region also attracts large numbers of indigenous birds, drawn to the wondrous variety of fruiting citrus trees. We soon find ourselves surrounded by a host of other new and exciting regional specialties.
First to appear however is a curious and hitherto unknown species—“the rare St. Lucia Bum Bird”! Or at least that is what we call the odd rufous-feathered buttock sticking out of a large ripe grapefruit at the side of the trail. It is not until the head of the owner of said buttock emerges from the depths of the fruit cavity, that we are able to accurately identify it as a Lesser Antillean Bullfinch. No sooner had our group exchanged smiles and taken photos than a flurry of wings announced the arrival of a splendid Gray Trembler! As is so often the case with this fascinating near endemic (known only to the tiny islands of St. Lucia and Martinique), upon landing the bird immediately begins to convulse its entire body in a violent trembling motion – hence its name. The brief display over, the trembler proceeds to sink its impressive bill into the fleshy centre of the grapefruit, from which the bullfinch had been so unceremoniously usurped!
Gray Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) about to dig in! (Photo by Mark Greenfield)
“Beak plunging” appears to be the order of the day. An obliging Lesser Antillean Saltator is the next to start tucking into a meal. This time, the weapon of choice is a gargantuan cone-shaped beak, and the victim—the soft flesh of the golden orbed breadfruit.
Lesser Antillean Saltator (Saltator albicollis) (Photo by John MacLennan)
The birding, already going well, suddenly and unexpectedly gets even better as out of the valley below a pair of St. Lucia Parrots wing their way up towards us and perch not 30 feet away. Perfect light and unimpaired views allow for an absolutely enthralling encounter with this large and stunningly patterned parrot—the first in our Search for the Amazonas!
We round off a terrific morning’s birding with a delicious buffet lunch of creole chicken, steamed mahi mahi, fried plantain, and yam pie… all washed down with freshly squeezed lemonade and enjoyed on the balcony of The Beacon—the restaurant with an unrivaled view of the magnificent twin-peaks of Les Pitons.
Back at our locally owned accommodation some of the group enjoy a relaxing late afternoon swim in the pool before dining on yet more delights prepared by the Paris-trained chef. Tonight’s specialty: lobster bisque, flank steak (or Creole mahi mahi) and crème caramel.
Not a bad place to return to and relax after a great day’s birding!
Day 3: A Breezy Farewell
Today sees us make for the pride of St. Lucia – the splendid Des Cartiers Rainforest. Upon arrival, we enjoy our pre-packed breakfasts before starting our way along the well-maintained trail. Here we are immediately transported into another world – one dominated by towering emergents, prehistoric tree ferns and dangling lianas.
When in St.Lucia, Birding the Islands works alongside local guide and BirdsCaribbean partner, Vision, who is a superb “birtanist” (birder and botanist rolled into one) and as we walk, Vision pauses to point out the many fascinating native tree species all around us (and explain their myriad uses). These make for fascinating topics of conversation between birding hotspots.By far the most dominant tree here is the mighty Lansan. It is known only to four Lesser Antillean islands. Its aromatic resin is a key ingredient of the slow-burning incense still used widely in St. Lucia homes to ward off evil spirits.
Our first bird experience in Des Cartiers is certainly one of the most memorable: a St. Lucia Parrot poked its head out of a nest cavity some 50 feet above us. But this ancient forest is to have many more surprises in store before we leave. At an observation area with breathtaking views of the riverine valley below, we enjoy incredibly close views of the Antillean Euphonia daintily hopping amongst strands of mistletoe. A pair of Lesser Antillean Flycatchers interrupt proceedings with a low fly-by. Other arrivals during our time at this site include a fabulous Green-throated Carib effortlessly gleaning insects from the underside of a leaf, a positively delicate St.Lucia Pewee seemingly freeze-framed on a looping vine, and an overly inquisitive Pearly-eyed Thrasher.
The delightful St. Lucia Pewee (Contopus latirostris) (Photo by Jane Hartline)
After a lunch enjoyed on the white sand shores of Cocodan, our final birding stop of the day is the towering peak of Moule a Chique, where we brave the blustery winds to look down upon Red-billed Tropicbirds hurtling beneath us – their brilliant pure white plumage contrasting perfectly with the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
Later that evening after a pre-dinner cocktail, we settle in to dine on Kingfish (delivered earlier from the traditional fishing village of Dennery, where the previous day we had the opportunity to witness an intense bartering culture in action). Experiencing the culture of the islands as well as supporting local communities, while illustrating the correlation between us visiting birders and the economic prosperity of many local businesses and citizens is extremely important for Birding the Islands Ltd and our partner BirdsCaribbean. We adopt this approach on every island we visit.
Hold onto your hats!!! Our group high atop Moule a Chique (pictured from Left to Right: the Bajan Birder-Ryan Chenery, Mark Greenfield, Valerie Brown, Ken Kuehn, Jane Hartline, John MacLennan, Bonnie Sample, St. Lucia Guide-Vision James, Jane Fenton, Nick Gibbons and Liz Tymour).
Day 4: Dominica, A Day of Close Encounters
The large boulders dotted throughout this islands’ lush landscape point to a violent volcanic past. However, as our vehicle makes its way around long winding corners and upwards along the coast, the sight of sparse tree canopies and fallen forest giants are glaring reminders of the after effects of a far more recent natural disaster (Hurricane Maria in 2017). This leaves us with a deep appreciation of the hardships endured by the inhabitants of this wild and stunningly beautiful land.
Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Mark Greenfield)
Arriving at our cliff-side hotel, we enjoy a hearty lunch of line-caught tuna, steamed plantain, and veggie rice, enjoyed throughout in the company of a Red-legged Thrush and an absolutely brilliant Purple-throated Carib—its dazzling throat glinting in the sun as it feeds.
This Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis) provided constant entertainment at meals (Photo by Birding the Islands client Mark Greenfield)
Later in the afternoon, a sudden downpour restricts any extensive foray into the sprawling Syndicate Estate. But before the rain falls, we are treated to what surely must be one of the closest ever encounters with a Red-necked Parrot (Jaco) in the wild! Having entered the Estate in the presence of Dr. Birdy (Bertrand Baptiste) himself—the most experienced bird guide on the island and long-time BirdsCaribbean partner, we soon find ourselves surrounded by the gleeful calls of several Jaco in the fruiting trees around us. However, one particularly close cry draws us towards a heavily laden guava tree. In the heart of the sparsely leafed tree one of these brightly coloured Amazonas delicately plucks a swollen guava from the tree with its beak, and flies to a low cecropia perfectly positioned over our path. Following an excited period of hastily focusing scopes and training binoculars on the bird, we soon realize that the parrot is so distracted by its food that we can slowly approach—until we are standing a mere 15 feet beneath it! A full half an hour elapses with us caught up in this magical moment with this beautiful bird. Finally, its meal finished, it flies off towards a more secluded area.
What an experience!
Tonight we soak up the tropical ambiance at a candlelit dinner in the outdoor restaurant of our hotel—the sounds of the rolling waves beating against the black volcanic shores below.
Day 5: To the Seas!
After a mid-morning arrival at the bustling port of Roseau, we board our vessel and jet across the waters off the southwest of the island, in search of the giants that call Dominica’s deep oceanic trenches home. A whale-watching trip can be rewarding for pelagics, but in addition to the usual suspects of Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Booby and Laughing Gulls, this trip surprisingly only reveals a Sooty Tern and a Red-footed Booby as new species for the trip. The whales however are far more cooperative. We do not have to wait more than twenty minutes before the captain bellows “BREEEECH”! He knows these waters well, and skillfully guides us towards a pod of mighty Sperm Whales in such a manner that the next surfacing is far closer than the last. We are so close we can even listen via hydrophone to the popcorn popping sounds emanating from the giants as they hone in on prey below us!
From the bow of the boat we are afforded superb views as some of majestic behemoths rest near the surface, before resuming their feeding. Sadly the excitement of the encounter apparently proves too much for the engine of our craft, resulting in an earlier than planned end to our whale-watching adventure.
Maintaining our maritime theme of the day, we enjoy sumptuous fish tacos for lunch (what on Earth is in that sauce?) before settling in to a quiet final night at our beach-side hotel on Dominica. The spectacular Brown Pelicans in the height of breeding plumage settle in to roost in nearby trees.
A stunning sunset seen from our hotel room balconies on our last night in Dominica (Photo by Bajan Birder)
Day 6: A Day of Wonder
On our final day in Dominica we wake at dawn to travel into the montane forest for which this island is so renowned. As the skies clear, the birds begin to steadily appear. The methodical notes of Black-whiskered Vireo, a startlingly pugnacious Antillean-crested Hummingbird, and an inquisitive andscratchy-throated Plumbeous Warbler all provide us with excellent views. An obliging male Blue-headed Hummingbird steals the show by feeding at a flowering ginger growing conveniently close to our trail.
The fluid musical notes of a House Wren (Antillean) later lead us to a copse of flowering coffee, and an audience with this endemic subspecies. Increasing research on these islands is leading to many new species splits and the identification of a plethora of endemic subspecies throughout these closely neighbouring islands. That this wren (and many other subspecies in the Lesser Antilles) may well attain full species status in years to come is very possible indeed.
Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
The awesome power and force of the hurricane season of two years ago has transformed this forest. A large number of trees have been either felled or their canopies have been blown off. This has resulted in a huge increase in the amount of sunlight reaching the forest floor, which has in turn provided young saplings with the impetus needed in their never ending quest for the heavens. Out of devastation comes new life, and here in this magical setting, new life is all around us. Right on cue, Liz spots a young Red-rumped Agouti scurrying out of a path in front of the group.
Back at the hotel we enjoy our now customary three-course meal before setting off for the airport. An afternoon flight to St. Vincent awaits!
Bonnie and Jane enjoying a chat before heading to the next island on our itinerary – St. Vincent (Photo by Jane Hartline)
Day 7: St. Vincent, The Perfect Send-off
Serenaded by the calls of Yellow-bellied Elaenia and the gentle cooing of Scaly-naped Pigeons, we enjoy breakfast in the spacious open-air dining room of our beachfront hotel, located on the south west coast of spectacular St. Vincent. As we chat and await our meals, we briefly lower our cups of freshly brewed Vincentian to watch a school of flying fish—scales glistening in the early morning sunshine—leaping from the vast expanse of Caribbean Sea. Their gliding attracts the attention of a large number of Brown Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds, who immediately alter their flight course in pursuit. The boobies begin shallow exploratory dives, while the frigatebirds attempt to snatch the gliding fish from mid-air. A closer inspection with binoculars also reveals a boiling sea below the birds—perhaps an indication that this feeding frenzy was started by large predatory Dolphin or Crevalle targeting the flying fish from below.
What a start to the day.
Ahh—here come the omelettes!
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) having just caught a fish (Photo by Mark Greenfield)
After breakfast, the wonderful and knowledgeable Lystra Culzac (Caribbean Birding Trail certified guide) arrives to guide us to the birding hotspots on the island (the best of which requires her having negotiated with landowners for access to private land). We journey along the wave-ravaged Atlantic coastline, through the coastal settlement of Georgetown, with her black sand beaches and wind lashed rooftops and onward north to the volcanic slopes of towering Mt. Soufriere.
Its entrance guarded by brilliantly sapphire-headed St. Vincent Anoles, the well-maintained Soufriere Trail is lined with two species of endemic begonia. The raging Atlantic is clearly visible to the east, and expansive montane forest lines the volcanic slopes to the west. This is a forest in which the weird and wonderful come alive before your eyes. First, we spot the unique dark morph of Coereba flaveola attrata (endemic subspecies of Bananaquit) and St. Vincent Tanagers gorging themselves high in a fruiting fig. The eerily ethereal call of the Rufous-throated Solitaire, deep low notes of Ruddy Quail Dove and positively hyperactive vocalisations of Scaly-breasted Thrashers and Brown Tremblers (an entire genus restricted to the Lesser Antilles) all lead us deep within this ancient primary forest.
Rufous-throated Solitaire (Myadestes genibarbis) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
However the star of the show is so far remaining elusive…and quiet.
The song of the Whistling Warbler can travel for miles. We reach a now dry river bed, which for millennia slowly carved its way through the dark volcanic bedrock beneath our feet – and we hear THE CALL.
Cautious spisshing lures the tiny vocalist ever closer, until in a flash there he is—flitting ever so briefly out of the dense undergrowth, before once again retiring to a dark tangle of mistletoe and epiphyte-laden trunks. This is a Critically Endangered species and we are fortunate to have had even a glimpse.
Some treasures are meant to remain secret.
St. Vincent is a largely quiet and laid back island. We pass several rural communities tucked into the pocketed hillsides of a mountainous interior, on our way to the largest remaining roost of St. Vincent Parrotson the planet.
The tracks leading up to this secret location are narrow and heavily potholed, so we abandon our van and climb aboard a 4wd SUV—the only vehicle capable of making this ascent.
Crossing streams home where Green-throated Caribs bathe, lined with a multitude of tropical butterflies, we soon arrive at a quiet small holding perfectly framed by a scenic ridge.
As we arrive at the summit of the ridge, that quintessential call of parrots the world over begins to echo out of the east.
They are coming…
The birds first arrive in pairs (their constant calls seeming to reassure their respective life partners of their presence in the now steadily fading light), but slowly their numbers build, to the point where dozens of this once critically endangered parrot are winging their way over our heads.
A pair of St. Vincent Amazons (Amazona guildingii) winging their way in to roost (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
The thrill of being directly beneath them is exhilarating. However, we are only able to get a clear view of the truly spectacular deep blues and vibrant greens and oranges of their flight feathers when the parrots begin to tack hard and low down towards their favoured roosting trees, against a backdrop of the lush, verdant, forested valley below. These are stunningly beautiful birds. As they settle in to land, there are audible gasps of delight from our group.
We spend a full hour in the presence of St. Vincent’s national bird, enjoying every rhythmic twist and turn of their approach. This is one of the undoubted highlights of the trip.
A celebratory Dinner that night is a selection of creole fish dishes, washed down by the local Hairoun beer!
Day 8: Trinidad, The Spectacle
Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) in Caroni Swamp (photo by Mark Greenfield)
Several of us wake early to enjoy another dip in the calm waters typical of this Caribbean coastline. Then we settle into a delicious breakfast of pancakes and french toast, or for those of us feeling adventurous—salt fish buljol with all the local fixins!
The short 15-minute drive to the airport is filled with fond reminiscing of the variety of unique Lesser Antillean species seen… but we also talk about the many South American wonders that await.
We touch down in Sweet Sweet T&T (as the popular soca song so fondly refers to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) and are met by beaming Lester Nanan (our terrific local guide and grandson of the renowned conservationist Winston Nanan). We board a large comfortable bus and as we have arrived at midday, it is not long before a cooler is produced and we begin tucking into pre-ordered(and gigantic) chicken rotis (done the traditional Trinidad way—bone and all) as well as veggie rotis brimming with large chunks of mango, papaya, eggplant and more.
Trinidad is such a contrast to the small quiet islands of the Lesser Antilles that we have spent the last week travelling between. The area around the airport especially has the feel of a large metropolis. But (delicious rotis in hand) we are soon leaving all this behind and making for one of the treasures of the Caribbean—the Caroni Swamp.
En route we stop to bird productive grasslands, sheltering such vibrant secrets as Red-breasted Blackbird and Saffron Finch. We visit sheltered ponds and canals home to a plethora of water—loving species—from blazingly neon-crowned Yellow-hooded Blackbirds and nesting White-headed Marsh Tyrants to Southern Lapwing and Pied Water Tyrants.
The birding is thick and fast, but as 3pm arrives, we gather back at the bus in fervent anticipation of our next destination.
There are several wetlands in the Western Hemisphere that get birders’ hearts racing, and the Caroni Swamp is one of them. This sprawling 12,000-acre wetland is home to one of the greatest spectacles in the animal kingdom—the return to roost every evening of over 3,000 Scarlet Ibis!
Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba) perched directly above us (Photo by Mark Greenfield)
Although this is the main event, the warm up acts are none too shabby, as evidenced by the pair of roosting Tropical Screech Owls, their intricately patterned breast feathers perfectly mirroring the marbled bark of the White Mangroves in which they roost. We have good views of the superb stock-still Boat-billed Herons from our flat-bottomed boat, as it negotiates its way through the mangroves.
Cruising through the mangroves in our comfortable flat-bottomed boat
As we edge deeper into the swamp, the long tendril-like roots of Red Mangroves seem to reach ever further into the water, providing prime perching positions for an unbelievable array of species. The roots are festooned with oysters, barnacles and home to a plethora of Mangrove Crabs…and occasionally Mangrove Boa. A magnificently coiffured Masked Cardinal and dainty Bicolored Conebill, along with both Green and Pygmy Kingfishers, all give us cause to pause and admire. We are even treated to a vociferous exchange between warring factions of Grey-necked Wood Rails!
After almost an hour of delightful travel we approach the famous roost site, a welcome low tide ensuring an added bonus encounter with 30 American Flamingos.
As we tether the boat, and start to share out the locally brewed rum punch and freshly baked pastries, wave upon wave of 50, 100, 200 ibis at a time begin continuously streaking by. Before long the dark green of the mangrove island upon which they roost is unrecognisable. It has been transformed into a rhythmic and convulsing mass of colour. The brilliant reds of the breeding adults contrast perfectly with the soft subtle pinks of non-breeders—all set against the wondrous backdrop of Trinidad’s stunning Northern Range.
An unforgettable experience.
Scarlet Ibises (Eudocimus ruber) coming in to roost (Photo by Mark Greenfield)
Later that evening we arrive at the world-renowned Asa Wright lodge where a delicious buffet dinner awaits us. We duly indulge, before strolling to our cottages located in the heart of the densely forested Arima Valley.
Day 9: Dawning of the Light
At daybreak we make our way to the veranda of the main lodge where, coffee in hand (locally harvested from trees on the Asa Wright estate), we settle in and prepare for what is surely one of the most incredible birding experiences in the region.
Below us, the waking sun is proving the catalyst for the inhabitants of this vast rainforest to begin to stir. The sprightly melody of a Cocoa Thrush, the rapid-fire staccato of a White-flanked Antwren and cat-like call of the Spectacled Thrush, mixed in with the somewhat demonic laughter of the Barred Antshrike combine and build to a feverish crescendo.
Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) (Photo by Biridng the Islands client Beatrice Henricot)
As more light steadily filters down through the canopy, the last of the nocturnal brigade (in the form of Pallas’s Long Tongued Bats) begin to surrender their positions at the feeders to a veritable onslaught of colour.
A sudden white flit across the feeders—the breast of a White-chested Emerald; a sprinkle of neon pink – the stunning crown of a male Ruby Topaz; brilliant orange ear tufts and a gently bobbing tail diagnostic of the bedazzling Tufted Coquette.
The dazzling Ruby Topaz (Chrysolampis mosquitus) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Beatrice Henricot)
And still they come.
There are the dazzling rich blues and emerald greens of Blue-chinned Sapphires and glistening Copper-rumped Hummingbirds—so close you can see the minuscule fluffy white garters on their legs.Purple as well as Green Honeycreepers, White-bearded Manakins, and Violaceous Euphonias all join the fray. In the distance, away from this hive of activity, a pair of Green-backed Trogons are taking turns to diligently and carefully excavate a cavity in a termite nest affixed to a gargantuan trunk. A dozen feet below them, a lone Golden Olive Woodpecker silently begins its measured investigation of the same tree.
With all of this birding brilliance, we almost miss breakfast…almost.
The entire day is ours to walk the myriad trails coursing through the private forests of Asa Wright, and after breakfast we begin by heading down Jacaranda Trail for an encounter with Oilbirds. Isolated from the rest of the bird world in a family of their own, living in caves and using echolocation to negotiate their nocturnal feeding forays, this is easily one of the strangest birds we connect with on the trip. The cave at Asa Wright is one of the most accessible sites to see them in the world and we are rewarded with sensational views! On our way back, and after passing under a spectacular Bee Orchid, we soon enter the realm of the Bearded Bellbird—its otherworldly metallic call boldly proclaiming this land to be his. Once we have tracked the call down to a favoured perch, the bird is brilliantly visible, its superb wattled neck flickering in the shafts of sunlight with every resounding CLANK of its call.
Bearded Bellbird (Procnias averano) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Steven Kornfeld)
After this excitement we retire in the heat of the day to the veranda, where we continue to watch the birding entertainment on show. Some of us round off the afternoon with a dip in the cool fresh water pools found throughout the Centre grounds.
After dinner, our night walk provides a fascinating insight into the lives of some of the nocturnal residents of these forests. Huge Trinidad Chevron Tarantulas cling to bamboo stalks; minuscule but “swerve-worthy” scorpions, velvet worms and land crabs line the banks of the roadside; and bats flutter almost constantly overhead.
Day 10: Desserts and Delightful Birding
The Asa Wright Centre grounds are superb, but to get a true sense of the variety of inhabitants of the highest peaks in the Northern Range, one must take to the Blanchisseuse Road. We do so on our final full day in Trinidad.
Birding is slow and steady at first, with initial stops revealing sightings of Tropical Parula and a magnificent pair of Collared Trogons. Later the ground appears alive with army ants, allowing for a close (but not too close) examination of the intricate relationship that Cocoa and Plain Brown Woodcreepers as well as Great Antshrikes have with these tiny marauders of the forest floor.
Great Antshrike (Taraba major) (Photo by Birding the Islands client Keith Clarkson)
We enjoy lunch at a local chocolatier’s farm, where the proprietor explains that his return to the land and harvesting of cacao has had a positive effect on many local communities in and around Arima, with an upturn in financial independence. The birding is good here too, for Rufous-breasted Hermit, Turquoise Tanagers, a Lineated Woodpecker, and hordes of Yellow-rumped Caciques all appear as we are wrapping up our chicken pelau and treating ourselves to a dessert of his delicious chocolates!
Turquoise Tanager (Tangara mexicana) (photo by Mark Greenfield)
At our final stop, the scale of diversity and sheer beauty of the birds of the Northern Range is truly revealed. Rufous-tailed Jacamars swoop from favoured perches to pluck swallowtail butterflies effortlessly from the air. A pair of Scaled Pigeons select the highest possible perch and turn purposefully to catch the last of the afternoon light on their brilliantly chevroned breasts. A young Forest Elaenia pleads with her parent, which ever so delicately plucks and then proffers a berry to its offspring to take a bite. Later a flock of seven spectacular Blue-headed Parrots silently wing their way in to a nearby cecropia and are joined at the canopy by a stunning Channel-billed Toucan. We cap off our frenetic and highly rewarding birding of the highlands with a young Yellow-headed Caracara flying directly over our bus. A pair of Tropical Kingbirds is hot in pursuit.
Day 11: A Ferruginous Farewell
On our final day of the trip, and after our now customary morning visit to the veranda, we take a leisurely stroll along the driveway that winds its way into the Asa Wright Centre. The forest that has yielded so many of its treasures to us has one more surprise in store: a superb sighting of a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, which staunchly resists the urge to flee from incessant harassment by a large mixed flock of tanagers and flycatchers.
Life in the rainforest is never dull…for any of us!
At the airport, before boarding our flight, we pay a visit to the best Doubles hut on the island and positively chow down on these uniquely Trinidadian delicacies. There’s no way we were going to come to Trinidad and not have Doubles. The fusion of chickpeas, sweet tamarind sauce, pickled cucumber and hot sauce lights up the taste buds, and is a perfect send off to our tour—a tour which has given us a true flavour for the spectacular birding that the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad has to offer.
Thanks to our Caribbean Birding Trail partner, Ryan Chenery and his company Birding the Islands, for this positively wonderful and enticing trip report! To learn how you can join Ryan and BirdsCaribbean on our next In Search of the Amazonas tour (Nov. 21st to Dec. 1st, 2021) please contact Ryan at thebajanbirder@gmail.com. To learn more about the Caribbean Birding Trail, birding sites, tours, and guides throughout the islands, click here.
An absolutely stunning look at Oilbirds, one of the strangest birds we connected with on our February 2020 trip. Isolated from the rest of the bird world in a family of their own, Oilbirds live in caves and use echolocation to negotiate their nocturnal feeding forays. The cave at Asa Wright is one of the most accessible sites to see this species in the world and we were rewarded with sensational views!
BirdsCaribbean is excited to support Nils Navarro’s newest project: an updated, comprehensive Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba. This is an ambitious and exciting venture, and we need your help to make it a reality!
Illustrations by Nils Navarro.
Nils Navarro is Co-Chair of the Caribbean Wildlife Art Working Group of BirdsCaribbean. He has dedicated his life to the study and conservation of the biodiversity of his native Cuba as well as other areas of the West Indies and Latin America. He holds a degree in Fine Arts with a specialization in painting. An extraordinarily versatile and internationally recognized wildlife artist and illustrator, Nils’ work is characterized by a refined technique combined with a profound understanding of the biodiversity of the Caribbean region. He is an avid conservationist and has pioneered the promotion and formation of young wildlife illustrators and artists in the Caribbean and Latin America. He co-authored the ground-breaking Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba in 2017 and has published a new edition each year since.
Nils began work on the field guide over a year and a half ago. The new guide will contain the largest number of illustrations by species published by any guidebook on Caribbean birds. Nils will be accomplishing this over five years by drawing upon a thorough review of the literature, museum collections, and field work, as well as Nils’ personal experience, and his role as an eBird reviewer for the island. The field guide will cover the different species, subspecies and plumages, dimorphism, and much more, through a new and practical structure never before used for such a guide.
There has never been a better time to produce a guidebook like this. For the first time in the history of the country, there is a local community movement of birdwatchers who are making significant contributions to the knowledge of Cuban birds. This is accomplished through platforms based on citizen science (eBird Caribbean) and sharing knowledge (via Facebook), and the local community requires an updated comprehensive field guide for identification. Many of these people use a field guide as the main tool for their work. In addition, many people from all over the world visit Cuba to birdwatch. They will appreciate having a a new comprehensive guide that covers all of Cuba’s birds.
If you’re interested to purchase Endemic Birds of Cuba: A comprehensive Field Guide by Nils Navarro, click here. This book covers the endemic birds of Cuba as well as the regional endemics.
Trinidad is home to 18 species of hummingbirds – we are all envious of this diversity! Aliya Hosein shares a folk tale of the role these birds played in the creation of one of Trinidad’s natural wonders—The Pitch Lake—and also some amazing natural history facts about these tiny but mighty birds.
Glittering-throated Emerald (photo by David Huggins)
Most cultures around the world have superstitious beliefs, some of which involve birds. In Trinidad and Tobago—and possibly the entire Caribbean region—birds were thought to be messengers of the gods or representation of the gods themselves. Hummingbirds, in particular, were revered by Amerindian tribes. It is reported by historians that Amerindians first named Trinidad, Iere (or Kairi, Caeri) for the hummingbird yerette (or ierette).
These birds are also featured in the story of origin of one of Trinidad’s natural wonders: The Pitch Lake. The Pitch Lake is located in the village of La Brea in southwest Trinidad and covers 100 acres. At its centre it is about 250 feet deep. This Lake is the world’s largest commercial deposit of natural asphalt. It sluggishly replenishes itself causing a “stirring” action in the lake which causes trees and other objects to appear, disappear and re-emerge!
The Pitch Lake was believed to be covered by lush green forest inhabited by an Amerindian tribe. On one day a rival tribe made a sudden attack but the warriors fought with all their might to protect their land. The rival tribe surrendered and left the village as quickly as they could. Only a few huts were damaged.
The tribe was overcome with joy. They wanted to celebrate, but, since the unexpected attack prevented them from hunting that day, they feasted on hummingbirds. They plucked the shimmering feathers off the tiny birds and adorned their own bodies. They carried on with their celebrations paying no attention to their belief that these sacred hummingbirds held the spirits of their ancestors.
White-tailed Sabrewing (Photo by Steve Laycock)
As retribution for their evil deed, the hummingbird gods opened up the ground beneath the village and summoned a lake of pitch that swallowed everything, including the people! The hummingbirds, however, were spared and can now be found throughout the island.
Trinidad and Tobago is home to 18 dazzling species of hummingbirds. Most recently the Glittering-throated Emerald (Amazilia fimbriata) was sighted in the country’s Northern Range bumping the total up to an unofficial 19.
Hummingbirds make up their own bird family. They are tiny, about as heavy as a pack of gum. They have long, narrow bills to sip nectar. Their wings are sabre-shaped for precise flight control. Males, and sometimes females, have small, reflective, colourful feathers on the throat and upper chest. The true intensity of these colours are seen when the hummingbird turns its head to catch the sunlight.
Glittering-throated Emerald (Photo by David Huggins)
Despite being the smallest of birds, they have been built to live an extraordinary life. As expected, small birds mean small eggs. Hummingbirds lay eggs as tiny as peas in equally tiny cup-shaped nests made from spider webs and leaves. After mating, the female protects and cares for the eggs and chicks by herself.
Hummingbirds have powerful down- and up-beat wing flaps. They are tremendously agile fliers; they are the only vertebrates capable of staying in one place during flight and flying backward and upside-down as well. To the flying acrobatics add speed: their wings beat about 70 times per second in direct flight, and more than 200 times per second while diving.
Tufted Coquette (Photo by Luke Seitz)
In order to maintain their fast-paced lifestyle, hummingbirds must be able to locate reliable sources of nectar from flowering plants. This explains why their movements are often tied to the changing pattern of flower production over time and space.
Interestingly, hummingbirds do not forage or fend off predators together. They will instead compete with each other for nectar, which explains the hullabaloo around flowering gardens or bird feeders. However, they do have very good reasons for being obnoxious and feisty around flowering plants.
Flowers take time to produce nectar. Hummingbirds therefore wait to feed at flowers in order to lower the risk of losing a tasty meal to other hummingbirds. In areas where many species live together the largest tries to defend small territories where they know they can get the biggest sips of nectar. Since nectar is low in protein, they switch from flowers to insects during the breeding season. They catch small flying insects by hovering in mid-air which are then fed to their growing chicks. If hummingbirds cannot find enough food, they go into a sleep-like state in which their metabolism slows down and body temperature drops to conserve energy.
White-chested Emerald (Photo by Mark Hulme)
Unfortunately, as human settlements continue to expand, the flowers that hummingbirds prefer are disappearing. The good news is that by planting the right plants (for example: trumpet bush, vervain, powderpuff, and torch lily) in your yard and providing sugar water in hummingbird feeders, you help replace lost food sources.
And you can still help the hummingbirds, even if you are not the ‘gardening’ type, by drinking Bird Friendly certified coffee. When coffee is grown under a diverse canopy of shade trees, coffee plants, the trees that shade them, and the plants that grow on the trees provide a buffet of flowers for these birds and other wildlife that depend upon them.
Hummingbird species recorded in Trinidad and Tobago:
Glittering-throated Emerald (Photo by David Huggins)
Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina)
Copper-rumped Hummingbird (Amazilia tobaci): its subspecies if found only on Tobago
White- chested Emerald (Amazilia brevirostris)
Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus)
Blue-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes notata)
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis)
Green-throated Mango (Anthracothorax viridigula)
White-tailed Goldenthroat (Polytmus guainumbi)
Long-billed Starthroat (Heliomaster longirostris)
Ruby Topaz (Chrysolampis mosquitus): annual visitor to Trinidad
Tufted Coquette (Lophornis ornatus): the lightest hummingbird recorded for Trinidad
Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy)
Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus)
Little Hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus)
Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae)- favours high altitudes
Rufous Shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii)
White-tailed Sabrewing (Campylopterus ensipennis): listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, found only on Tobago and Venezuela
Article by Aliya Hosein, member of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group. Aliya works as the Leader of the Welfare and Wildlife Program at the Centre for the Rescue of Endangered Species of Trinidad and Tobago. She is a biologist and avid conservationist, especially fond of parrots and hummingbirds.
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 times grassroots community efforts. Even fundraising, which was critical for efforts like hurricane relief, is a collaborative process. Here, we review some of the most important moments of the past year and acknowledge and thank all those who collaborated with us to further our mission. We are also grateful to our many members, volunteers, and donors who generously support our work. We have an awesome community!
Celebrating Success & Partnerships
The Cuban contingent! A record 20 Cubans attended, thanks to our generous sponsors! (photo by Fred Sapotille)
Keeping Birds Aloft! This was the inspirational theme of our 22nd BirdsCaribbean International Conference held in July. Over 250 delegates from 34 countries grabbed French phrasebooks and headed to the Karibea Beach Hotel in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe. The lively, productive and thought-provoking meeting was organized with our major partners, the Parc National de la Guadeloupe. Keynote speakers, workshops and brainstorming sessions helped participants plan how to engage their communities, combat wildlife trafficking, and address the varied environmental threats facing the Caribbean and its birds. A mentorship program for younger members was launched. (Check out what a few of our sponsored delegates had to say about how they benefited from attending the conference). Despite the profound topics being discussed, participants were upbeat and as would be expected of any Caribbean event, there was dancing on the final night!
At the conference, we were humbled and proud to receive the 2018 Partners in Flight Award. Our Board President Andrew Dobson accepted the award, presented by the U.S. Forest Service, in recognition of BirdsCaribbean relief and recovery work in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Ceremony celebrating the the opening of the restored Ashton Lagoon.
BirdsCaribbean was thrilled to celebrate the official reopening of the restored Ashton Lagoon, which took place on May 31, 2019. After 13 years of truly challenging work, our partners in the island archipelago between St. Vincent and Grenada – called the Transboundary Grenadines – proudly welcomed supporters and generous donors to Union Island. After a misguided tourism project at the site lay in ruins for 25 years, the neglected wetlands finally have a chance to reawaken. Orisha Joseph and her team at Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. (SusGren) were the stars of the show. Next step: to have the Lagoon and its surroundings designated as a Marine Protected Area.
During the restoration work, BirdsCaribbean organized a highly successful Interpretive Bird Guide Training Workshop on Union Island, empowering citizens from the Grenadines and beyond. In August, the Caribbean Birding Trail’s spectacular new website – https://www.caribbeanbirdingtrail.org – covering more than 150 birding sites in 24 countries, was launched. If you have not already done so, we invite you to explore – both virtually and in person, with our enthusiastic trained guides!
Devastation from Hurricane Dorian
Six Grand Bahama Island Birders carried out the first bird survey of the Eastern End of Grand Bahama Island one month after Hurricane Dorian. Left to right – Shelagh Paton-Ash, Delores Kellman, Gena Granger, Bridget David (recorder) and Erika Gates. (photo by Martha Cartwright)
Just a few weeks after our conference, we watched with heavy hearts as tragedy of incredible proportions struck the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. The Category Five Hurricane Dorian, which lingered from September 1 to 3 over these islands, brought death and destruction to many communities, and devastated the landscape.
Immediately, BirdsCaribbean formed a response team to raise funds and deliver supplies. The first tentative forays by our Bahamian partners were subdued and sad, with moments of joy and relief when bird species such as the Bahama Parrot, thought to be badly impacted from the island by the storm, were discovered to be doing okay. As always, severe storms bring strong emotions in their wake – and for conservationists, deep anxiety over whether habitats and birds will eventually recover.
Our Hurricane Dorian Recovery Fund has raised US$29,000 to date, with less than one month to go. Thanks to our generous supporters, we shipped thousands of pounds of bird seed and hundreds of feeders. We also used funds to help replace equipment the Bahamas National Trust lost during the storm in addition to funding field surveys. Now the questions loom: Did the Bahama Nuthatch population survive? How quickly will the parrots recover? Will the waterbirds return? While there are encouraging signs, the future is still uncertain. There is much work to be done.
Supporting Conservation & Community
Participants of the shorebird conservation workshop on a field trip within Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
This year we also focused on our most vulnerable migratory species, shorebirds. We know these birds are in trouble; this is a global phenomenon. In February, we hosted the International Training WorkshopConserving Caribbean Shorebirds and Their Habitats in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico with 33 enthusiastic participants on “Conserving Caribbean Shorebirds and their Habitats.” Our partners were Manomet and local NGO Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI).
Our Betty Petersen Conservation Fund provided support to finance direct conservation actions for three endangered Caribbean species: The Black-capped Petrel in Haiti, the Ridgway’s Hawk in the Dominican Republic, and the White-breasted Thrasher in St. Lucia. In all these projects, community involvement (especially youth) has been a key factor. In Haiti, entire farming communities that cultivate lands adjacent to the Petrel’s nesting colonies are pledging to protect these critical breeding areas while in the Dominican Republic, teenagers are volunteering to guard the hawks’ nests. This work would not be possible without the many generous donations to the Betty Fund.
Children in the Dominican Republic learn to celebrate their endemic raptor with the new Ridgeway’s Hawk brochure. (photo by Marta Curti)
Meanwhile, our dedicated citizen scientists have been hard at work again. Global Big Day was – well, really big. 846 checklists were posted on May 4 – over twenty percent more than in 2018. The Bahamas ran away with the top number of species this time – 138. Runners up were Puerto Rico and third-place Cuba were not far behind. In all, eighty percent of the Caribbean’s endemics were spotted in just one day. BirdsCaribbean is proud of its partnership with eBird through our portal eBird Caribbean. Have you downloaded the free mobile app? Every bird counts!
In 2019 we all learned how to protect birds by becoming the solution to plastic pollution. This was a hugely popular theme for the Caribbean region, which witnesses daily the scourge of plastic pollution and its harmful impacts on birds. Dozens of coordinators organized many events related to this theme for our annual Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival in spring and World Migratory Bird Day celebrations in fall, including beach and wetland clean-ups, raising awareness about the issue and how plastic pollution harms us and wildlife, and how to personally reduce your use of plastic. Many Caribbean countries are leading the way with this global problem by banning plastic bags, plastic straws, and styrofoam. And, we continue to train and empower local educators so that they can develop the next generation of bird conservationists and environmental stewards – watch this inspiring short story from one of our star educators, Natalya Lawrence.
Creative use of plastic waste to make bird feeders! St. Croix Environmental Association WMBD event. (photo by Jen Valiulis)
Finally, there were lessons learned (or re-learned) in 2019. In the face of climate change, Caribbean islands must build greater resilience, especially along their vulnerable coastlines. The restoration of wildlife habitat is critical. So is the sustained and determined protection of our most endangered bird species, including migratory birds, in the face of encroaching human development. But we cannot do it alone. We need the support and the active participation of the communities where birds live – and we need you!
Then, and only then, will Caribbean residents – humans, birds, and wildlife in general – truly thrive, and continue to thrive in the future.
Our sincere gratitude to all of our donors and funding agencies for your generous support in 2019, which allowed us to carry out the work highlighted above, and much more! And a big thanks to all of our awesome partners, members, and volunteers for your dedication and hard work. You all inspire us every day!!!
Bananaquit by Aslam I. Castellan Maure. This unique shot of our logo bird won an Honorable Mention in our 2019 Photography Contest.
New twin suspension bridges over breached gaps in failed marina causeway in the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
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 legally designated a Conservation Area in 1987 and named as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 2008.
The story of Ashton Lagoon is worthy of honor and rejoicing, far and wide. The birthday party guests wore beaming smiles.
After 13 years of diligent work, SusGren, supported by its national and international partners, has succeeded in restoring the lagoon—not only for the well-being of the marine and bird life, but also for that of future generations of Union Islanders. Now it is transformed, blossoming into a beautiful place in which to learn, observe, and enjoy the bounties of nature.
Orisha Joseph, Sustainable Grenadines Executive Director, welcomes everyone to the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project Unveiling event on May 31st, 2019. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
As the King said in “Alice in Wonderland,” it’s best to begin at the beginning. The tale of Ashton Lagoon began some 25 years ago, in 1994. That year marked its decline—the moment when an overseas investor said: “Let’s build a golf course over the mangroves. Let’s build a marina for 300 boats!” as Joseph described it. A causeway was to join Frigate Rock to Union Island.
Map of Union Island ecosystems prior to the Ashton Marina Project and the airport runway extension (Map by Price & Price, 1998)
The following year, the investor went bankrupt. The project was abandoned, but the damage had already been done. Joseph described the development as a “catastrophe.” The causeway and marina berths, constructed from metal sheet piles and dredged coral, blocked the circulation of water, causing immense harm to the mangroves, reefs, and seagrass.
Thereafter, Ashton Lagoon languished. With its stagnant green waters and its degraded mangrove forest, locals—including fisherfolk who passed through to their fishing grounds—shunned it. It became a lonely place, Joseph recounted during her presentation in Guadeloupe (which you can watch below!).
But hope appeared on the horizon. In 2004, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean Lisa Sorenson visited Union Island to deliver a Wetlands Education Training Workshop. The group took a field trip to the damaged lagoon and learned about the heartbreak residents and fishers felt living with the eyesore of the abandoned and algae-filled lagoon. Sorenson began work to raise funds, and in 2007, thanks to support from the USFWS, SusGren and BirdsCaribbean held a 3-day Participatory Planning Workshop with local stakeholders. All agreed (including, thankfully, donors) that something must be done. But wasn’t this a Herculean task?
An aerial view of Ashton Lagoon in 2004 shows how the failed marina disrupted the natural water flow. Impacts included stagnant polluted water in the lagoon and marked declines in marine life and the health of the mangrove. (Photo by Michele Kading)
Yes, it was. The Restoration Project was a tough, complex undertaking, not for the faint-hearted. Initially, stakeholders developed a vision for the management and sustainable use of the area, and wrote funding proposals. Surveys and monitoring of the ecologically sensitive area were conducted. And then, there were the engineering issues to be resolved. Joseph reserved special appreciation for the man she called her “miracle worker,” Ian Roberts, Engineer/ Works Supervisor for the restoration.
Joseph emphasized that, apart from the onerous technical issues that besieged them (how to deal with those horrible metal piles?) another challenge was a less “concrete” one: How to keep the local community engaged and interested. They were impatient and SusGren’s credibility and reputation were at stake on this small island with a population of 3,500.
The group went through a funding crisis in 2014—one that Joseph looked back on with wry humor. In 2016, when the funds began to work out, the project’s three broad objectives were refined. These were to restore the ecosystem; to strengthen the community’s resilience to climate change, for its economic benefit; and to increase environmental awareness.
In 2018, the water began to flow again. The “miracle workers” had created some breaches in the marina’s piles for it to flow through …after 24 years. “The lagoon said, ‘I can breathe again!’” laughed Joseph.
There followed a frantic period of activity, as SusGren worked on several projects simultaneously. The mangroves were flooded with new water and circulation in the lagoon restored through strategic breaches and culverts in the causeway and marina berths. Two bird towers were built (one named after Lisa Sorenson’s favorite seabird, the Royal Tern). The Interpretive Centre was built and some moorings at Frigate Island were created. A nursery of 3,000 red mangroves was created; the seedlings, donated by the Grenada Department of Forestry. They were planted using bamboo, rather than PVC. A community-owned apiculture and honey production enterprise started up (“bees like black mangroves,” noted Joseph).
Approximately 3,000 red mangroves seedlings were replanted in the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
There are also two bridges. After the marina causeway and berths were breached in several places to allow the water to flow freely, the bridges were needed to provide access to the whole causeway—a part of which had been washed away by storms—as a place to walk and watch birds and wildlife. Now, the marina berths are turning into “little islets” with mangroves and other vegetation—growing well and providing a roosting place for birds and habitat for other wildlife.
Hon. Camilo Gonsalves (Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology) and Hon. Saboto Ceasar (Minister of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation) on the suspension bridge at Ashton Lagoon at the May 31st Restoration Unveiling event. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.).
Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, Lisa Sorenson felt a great emotional investment in the project. “I could not stop smiling at the launch!” she confessed. “We are so proud of SusGren, their local partners and the donors for persevering with the project. This is a shining example of what can be done, with vision and determination, to right an environmental wrong that occurred many years ago. SusGren did not give up on Ashton Lagoon. Now it is a wonderful place for people—and birds—to visit. An American Flamingo showed up there recently, for the first time!”
BirdsCaribbean continues to provide support for clean-up activities, tree planting and additional signs for the bird towers.
Importantly, members of the public are using the Lagoon Eco Trail, including schoolchildren and teachers, eager to learn. In July, Danny’s Summer School on Union Island went birding at the Lagoon, identifying birds and exploring the trail. “This is what brings me most joy,” admits Orisha Joseph. Those years walking round the lonely lagoon with a colleague are gone. Now, at last, it is appreciated by local people. Non-motorized recreational activities have begun to take off. Kite surfing is booming!
Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. Junior Rangers visit to the Ashton Lagoon Trail. Students poses with Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, Dr. Lisa Sorenson, and Mr. Herman Belmar (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
World Migratory Bird Day monitoring with the Stephanie Browne Primary School students and teachers. The students pose with bird ID cards outside of SusGren’s new headquarters at the lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.).
Of course, more work remains to be done. SusGren and its partners now face a number of new and different challenges. They had not quite been prepared for a sudden flood of publicity (for example, in the Caribbean Compass yachting magazine) and the thousands of “likes” on social media. “We were even featured in the phone book!” said Joseph, with a hearty laugh.
Ashton Lagoon on Caribbean Compass cover
The Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project is still lobbying the Governments of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada—not only for funds, but to have the lagoon properly gazetted as a Marine Protected Area. On the ground, SusGren is tackling such issues as an invasion of cattle in the mangroves during the “let-go season” and management of vehicles. While increasing bird habitat, the organization wants to encourage community involvement that is orderly, and above all sustainable.
Kristy Shortte, SusGren Program Officer, conducts Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) bird monitoring from the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Birding Tower (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Now, the tides are flowing again in the lagoon, and the jewel-like waters, turquoise and opal, are clear and free. The mangroves are busy with bird life. Marine life is thriving. Pedestrian and boat access has been opened up.
Residents of Union Island visiting Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
In some ways, the story of Ashton Lagoon is almost like a Hollywood plot: disasters, disappointments, struggle and ultimately a sense of triumph. The less glamorous sub-plot is the sheer hard work and determination to see the project through, tackling red tape and unexpected obstacles, worrying about funding. It is the story of many conservation non-profits across the region.
The story of Ashton Lagoon has a happy ending—but actually it has not ended. Ashton Lagoon is cared for, again. It has a bright future, for wildlife and for people.
Supporters of the Ashton Lagoon Project at the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project Unveiling event on May 31st, 2019. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Partners and supporters of the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project included:BirdsCaribbean; the Phillip Stephenson Foundation; The Nature Conservancy (TNC); the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program (CMBP); the German Development Bank (KFW) through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5C’s); the Global Environment Facility–Small Grants Program (GEF-SGP); US Fish and Wildlife Service, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Fund, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust; Global Coral Reef Alliance; AvianEyes; Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education; Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries and Industry; Construction Logistics, Inc.; Ministry of National Security, Lands and Survey Department; National Properties Limited; National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority; Grenadines Partnership Fund; University of New Hampshire; Union Island Environmental Attackers; Union Island Tourism Board; Union Island Association for Ecological Preservation (UIAEP); Union Island Ecotourism Movement, and others.
We invite you to enjoy the gallery of photos below. Hover over each photo to see the caption or click on the first photo to see a slide show.
Grenada Flycatchers are found only in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Photo by Ted Eubanks)
1st Birding tower from the entrance, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Tower (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Swales from the Entrance (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Manchineel Tree warning sign – although poisonous to humans, the Manchineel tree is a valuable food tree for birds. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Louise Mitchell (St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund ) and other attendees at the launch event marvel at the new gazebo and bridges. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc).
Green Heron (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Richmond Vale Academy, St Vincent- Visit to the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Students from Stephanie Browne Primary School on World Migratory Bird Day, October 2019 (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Panoramic view from the second floor of SusGren’s new headquarters at the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Unveiling Ceremony, May 31, 2019. (photo Lisa Sorenson)
Richmond Vale Academy, St Vincent- Visit to the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Educational signs found in Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
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.)
Shorebirds enjoying the peace of Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Humorous Signs Found in Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Birding Tower, named after local birder Katrina Collins Coy’s favorite bird (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Visitors to Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Like mother, like son, birding in the Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Ian Roberts, Engineer/ Works Supervisor, and Orisha Joseph on one of the suspension bridges that Mr. Roberts designed. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
A Whimbrel, a migratory shorebird, visits Ashton Lagoon. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Many more shorebirds use the lagoon since it has been restored (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Migratory shorebirds now find great wintering habitat in the newly restored lagoon, mangroves and salt pond. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc)
Mangrove Sign (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Hon. Saboto Ceasar, (Minister of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation) giving the featured address at the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Unveiling Ceremony (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
View of suspension bridges and Union Island. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Drone Shot of the Entrance to the Ashton Lagoon Trail (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Kristy Shortte, SusGren Program Coordinator, conducting Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) bird counts (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
The Whimbrel is a fairly common winter visitor to Ashton Lagoon and other wetlands in Union Island. (photo by Peter Duce).
View of the rejuvenating Ashton Marina (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Richmond Vale Academy, St Vincent- Visit to the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Directional Signs along the Trail (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Visitors on the Swing Bridges Following the Official Launch Ceremony for the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the new office and visitor centre of Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. adjacent to Ashton Lagoon. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Lisa and Orisha in front of the Royal Tern observation tower, named after Lisa’s favorite seabird. (photo by Ian Roberts)
Students from Stephanie Browne Primary School enjoy bird watching on World Migratory Bird Day 2019 (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
A happy moment – Lisa Sorenson reunited with Martin Barriteau and Matthew Harvey at the restoration unveiling ceremony. Martin is the former Executive Director of SusGren and worked on the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project for many years. Matthew Harvey is a local fisher whose livelihood was harmed by the failed marina development. He never gave up hope that the lagoon would be restored.
Everyone is excited about the new bridges! Hon. Saboto Ceasar, Orisha Joseph, and Dr. Lisa Sorenson (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
SusGren Staff (Sonia, Chandra, and Orisha) and Dr. Lisa Sorenson crossing the gap in 2013 in the days before the bridges! This was necessary to carry out Caribbean Waterbird Census bird counts. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Brief remarks by Mr. Joaquin Monserrat, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy of Barbados, Eastern Caribbean and the OECS. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Mr. Edwin Snagg – Director Grenadine Affairs delivering brief remarks (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Alex Smith- SusGren Junior Ranger participating in the planting of mangrove seedlings project in the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Wilson’s Plovers are common residents of Ashton Lagoon; they nest on mudflats near the mangroves. (photo by Peter Duce)
Yachts Anchored at Frigate Rock using SusGren mooring services (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Mayreau Government School visits the Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
American Flamingo spotted at Ashton Lagoon (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Cinders Creative Nest Preschool visit to the Ashton Lagoon area (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Visitors from Caribbean Tourism Authority (CTO) (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Visitors from Caribbean Tourism Authority (CTO) (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Signs at the Entrance of the Trail (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
View of the marina berth islets and Union Island from the Twin Bridges (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Hon. Camilo Gonsalves (Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology) provides brief remarks at the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Unveiling event. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Tropical Mockingbird (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
One of the interpretive signs along the trail.
Wallets rest in the protected waters of the Ashton Lagoon mangroves. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc).
Landbirds of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (side 2) – these waterproof bird ID cards help residents and visitors to know and enjoy the country’s beautiful birds. (cards produced by BirdsCaribbean)
Richmond Vale Academy, St Vincent- Visit to the Ashton Lagoon. (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
View of the causeway, marina berth islets, and Frigate Island from the Twin Bridges (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Beautiful performance by the Cultural Conquerors at the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Unveiling event on May 31st, 2019. (photo by Sustainable Grenadines Inc.)
Landbirds of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (side 1) – these waterproof bird ID cards help residents and visitors to know and enjoy the country’s beautiful birds. (cards produced by BirdsCaribbean)
Royal Terns on remains of Ashton Marina (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
Mermaid sign and mermaid on trail. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Ruddy Turnstone (Photo by Sustainable Grenadines, Inc.)
View of mangroves and suspension bridges in the distance from the Royal Tern Observation Tower. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Read more about the Ashton Lagoon Restoration Project (and also a project at Belmont Salt POnd) at the links below:
By Emma Lewis, Blogger, Writer, Online Activist, and member of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group, based in Kingston, Jamaica. Follow Emma at Petchary’s Blog—Cries from Jamaica.
BirdsCaribbean is excited to announce the release of The Complete Checklist of the Birds of the West Indies! Jeff Gerbracht and Anthony Levesque, in consultation with experts across the region, have compiled important details for all of the bird species observed in the West Indies, including abundance, seasonality, breeding status, endemism and establishment.
The goal of The Checklist is to provide consistent, accurate and up-to-date information for use by researchers, conservationists and policy makers. The taxonomy of species follows the current version of the Clements Checklist of birds of the world. The most recent version of the checklist can be downloaded here and consists of two different documents:
The first document includes the introduction and explanatory text, definitions used and a summarized version of the species list as a pdf.
The second is a more detailed checklist in an excel spreadsheet. Providing the checklist as a spreadsheet enables you to easily sort and summarize the checklist by the columns you are most interested in, such as ‘Endemic Region’ or ‘Abundance’.
The Caribbean is home to over 700 species of bird, including 171 species that are endemic to the region and found nowhere else in the world. You can use the checklist to explore the many birds that are endemic to the Greater Antilles (109 species), to learn about the migrants and visitors that rely on the Caribbean habitats (334 species), or to check just how rare it is to see a Common Ringed Plover (very rare).
The excel spreadsheet is an invaluable resource, allowing you to manipulate the checklist and extract important information for your research, grant proposals, or personal interest. For example, how many endangered bird species are there in the Dominican Republic? Using the sort functions in excel, we see that there are six, with five of them endemic to Hispaniola: Ridgway’s Hawk, White-fronted Quail-Dove, Bay-breasted Cuckoo, La Selle Thrush, Hispaniolan Crossbill, and Black-capped Petrel.
At the BirdsCaribbean 21st International Conference in Guadeloupe, Jeff and Anthony facilitated a West Indies Checklist Working Group meeting. During the meeting we announced the release of the first checklist and quickly reviewed the format and types of information contained in the checklist. There was great interest in this initial release and we had several lively discussions about the future direction and expansion of the checklist. Creating country and island versions of the checklist is our next step in expanding the checklist coverage and a number of representatives agreed to begin work on country lists. Additionally, there was strong interest in expanding the checklist to cover subspecies (the current version of the checklist covers birds at the species level only). Everyone agreed that this checklist fills a much-needed void in open access to information on birds in the region and the enthusiasm around moving it forward was exciting and bodes well for the future of this working group.
When you are birding, remember to record all your observations in eBird Caribbean as those records will be used to keep this checklist up to date.
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, historically, and culturally more similar to one another than to their respective mainland islands (Saint Vincent and Grenada). The book contains:
140+ pages of high-quality photographs of the birds and natural areas of the Grenadines
117 bird profiles with details on identification, diet, habitat, local knowledge, and sightings
14 detailed maps illustrating conservation areas and local toponyms on more than 50 islands and cays
Full chapter of previously undocumented local ecological knowledge, folklore, and prehistoric-to-modern-day human values of birds
To purchase via credit card (more buying options are listed below):
A page of seabird profiles in “Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines” with text detailing a description of each species, including identification, interesting facts, local knowledge, and symbols depicting habitat, diet, and migratory statusOne of the 14 detailed maps, featuring Mayreau and the Tobago Cays, in “Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines”First page of the “People and Birds” chapter of “Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines”
On one fateful rainy day in July 2011, Juliana and Aly met at the airport on Union Island where they had both just moved for work in their respective fields. Not only did they become neighbors, but they quickly became great friends. Early on in their friendship, they saw an opportunity to collaborate on their professional interests and passion for ornithology, cartography and participatory strategies for conservation and management. Both authors have a strong background in community-focused research with Juliana working in co-management and documenting local ecological knowledge amongst indigenous and fisherfolk communities in Canada, Saint Lucia and throughout the Grenadines, and Aly facilitating participatory mapping programs in the transboundary Grenadines and conducting research on participatory mapping in the Caribbean as a whole. Together their shared perspectives on the value of combining scientific with local ecological knowledge made for a perfect partnership.
Juliana and Aly have been living and working throughout the islands intermittently ever since, although not always at the same time or on the same island. Their continued commitment to completing this project allowed the book to be written and designed in all corners of the world—including at sea and remote field camps—as they regularly pursued other opportunities in their careers. They have conducted extensive literature and field research to ensure that this guide is regionally representative of the natural, cultural, and historical contexts of the islands. Local bird names, knowledge, and lore are highlighted throughout the book: compiled through consultation with over 100 stakeholders throughout the Grenadines.
The seven years the authors spent researching and writing Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines is evident in the book—the attention to detail and user-friendly design make the guide a valuable companion for any type of outing in the transboundary Grenadines! Juliana and Aly created this book with the following goals in mind:
serve as a valuable resource for local bird monitors to learn species identification and carry out surveys,
enhance the overall conservation and management of Grenadine resources,
educate the general public, and
be useful to both locals and foreigners with an interest in the avifauna of the region.
They’ve already received great feedback from local environmentalists, casual tourists, bird biologists, government officials and most importantly—the local fisherfolk and resource users who now take pride in seeing their knowledge represented in this publication. If you’re planning a trip to the Grenadines, this book is a must-have.
Alison Ollivierre (author), Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean Executive Director), and Juliana Coffey (author) at the book launch (Photo by Justin Proctor)
BirdsCaribbean was honored to officially launch this new and exciting avian field guide in July 2019 at their 22nd International Conference in Guadeloupe. Juliana gave a presentation on the local ecological knowledge research that went into the guide which provided additional information to the one Aly had given at the BirdsCaribbean 20th International Conference in Jamaica in 2017. After waiting four years since many of the BirdsCaribbean delegates had first learned about the upcoming book, everyone was excited to share in the celebration of this launch. The guide was especially praised for its skillful combination of scientific and local knowledge as well as its final chapter which focuses on interactions between people and birds in the Grenadines spanning from first occupation by Amerindians to the modern day.
The authors would like to thank everyone who assisted them throughout the duration of this project, including the more than 100 residents and visitors to the Grenadines who took the time to provide local knowledge and lore, and to all of the people that contributed to the crowdfunding and review of the book which made the publication possible. A complete list of acknowledgments is available in the book!
Buy the Book:
Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines can be purchased from BirdsCaribbean with a credit card below, or with a US check or postal money order made payable to BirdsCaribbean and mailed to 841 Worcester Street #130, Natick, MA 01760, USA.
Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines By Juliana Coffey and Alison Ollivierre 142 pages, section sewn softcover (7” x 5”), full color photographs and maps ISBN 978-1-9994585-0-8 Price: US$25 US shipping – $6.95 Canada shipping – $24.95
To purchase via credit card:
Please reach out to Alison Ollivierre if you’re interested in international shipping elsewhere and we can provide a shipping quote.
Books can be purchased within Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada at local businesses, for more information visit: www.grenadinesbirds.com/avian-field-guide
Please also consider helping Juliana and Aly fulfill their goal of getting copies of the books into the hands of all of the schools and relevant community organizations in the transboundary Grenadines! So far, more than one third of the books that have left their hands have been donated. Help them keep up this momentum with any donations that you can.
Interview with the Authors:
How did you first become interested in birds and birding?
Juliana: I first became interested in wildlife in general at a very young age, and at just five years old (even though I couldn’t spell the word “biologist”) I told my family that’s what I wanted to grow up to become. This was likely due to the plethora of stray animals that my parents let me take home and care for, always stating “no more pets!”, but always having room for just one more. When I was sixteen, I officially began my career with birds during a summer internship with a world renowned ornithologist, Dr. Bill Montevecchi, at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and was exposed to both the field research aspect and community outreach.
Aly: I first got excited about birds at an Audubon Youth Camp in rural Vermont in the 1990s when I had the opportunity to mist net and band birds with an ornithologist. I saved up for months for the first edition Sibley field guide, went birding with anyone who would go with me, earned the Girl Scout birding badge, and even competed on a youth team in the World Series of Birding in 2002.
Where did you go from there, did you decide to become ornithologists?
Juliana: I was very fortunate after my internship, that Dr. Montevecchi recognized my passion for wildlife, and decided to keep me involved in his work throughout my undergraduate degree. When I was 18 years old, he sent me to Labrador, Canada, to work in the field with indigenous seabird harvesters. Although I initially expressed that I did not want to work with hunters, his statement that “sometimes hunters are the best conservationists” changed my perspective entirely. After I saw first-hand how skilled and knowledgeable these hunters were, I very quickly became an advocate for traditional ecological knowledge and resource harvesting issues in marginalized communities, and that branched my career in a completely different direction. Since that time, I have always advocated for the consultation of local communities and the documentation of such knowledge that is threatened to be lost in future generations. I focus on seabirds, and as such, I have spent a considerable amount of time at sea and in remote seabird colonies ranging from the Arctic to the Southern Ocean, and working with fisherfolk.
Aly: By the time I got to university I had a hard time choosing between my interests in the hard sciences (environmental science, biology) and social sciences (history, sociology, international studies, political science). When I took my first geography class, I knew that was the perfect field to combine all my passions (think: environmental geography, historical geography, political geography). My career specialties are in participatory mapping and cartography, and while I didn’t become the ornithologist I thought I might be as a kid, I’ve found a really great balance doing conservation work with a geospatial focus.
How did you first end up in the Grenadines?
Juliana: I had been working as a fisheries biologist for a co-management board in an Inuit territory (Nunatsiavut) in northern Labrador and elsewhere in the Arctic. Prior to that I had completed my Masters degree research in Saint Lucia. After departing my job in the north, I wanted to continue in the same field, but gain additional international experience. I applied for a placement through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and was matched with the Sustainable Grenadines, Inc. (SusGren)—a transboundary NGO—in the Grenadines, and worked on implementing multiple grants ranging from research to community outreach.
Aly: After graduating from undergrad and completing an internship at National Geographic, I received a really amazing research fellowship through the Compton Foundation which funded my facilitation of a participatory mapping project I designed to map the important historical, cultural, and ecological heritage sites throughout the transboundary Grenadines to strengthen the countries’ joint application for designation as a mixed (natural and cultural) marine transboundary UNESCO World Heritage site. Through this, I also had the opportunity to work with The Nature Conservancy and SusGren on the marine multi-use zoning plan for the Grenadines. After I finished up my fellowship year, I knew I had to find a way to come back and work in the islands again!
What made you decide to create this field guide?
Juliana: During my career with birds, I always collected and relied on avian field identification guides, that enabled me to effectively do my work. During my bird surveys on Union Island, however, I quickly became aware that there was no field guide for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, nor Grenada, and not even a complete bird list. So, in essence, I needed a bird book for the Grenadines! Through my previous experience in collecting traditional knowledge I also noticed that there was an opportunity to document unwritten information to promote awareness and valuation of birds amongst residents of the Grenadines. I told myself it would be complete in a year. Seven years later, and through my partnership with Aly, it exceeds what I originally envisioned it could be. I could not have completed such an extensive project alone, without Aly’s complementary expertise and commitment. She has had a remarkable patience with me throughout this project since I regularly tell her, “I’m going to sea for a month with no phone or internet – I’ll work on that when I get back”. At times, I was living in a tent and using a generator to charge my computer, so I could have an update to send Aly when I returned from remote field camps.
Aly: This book was Juliana’s brainchild, but I loved the idea and went with her to that first bird meeting she organized back in 2011 when she first floated the idea of a bird book specific to just Union Island! In early 2013 Juliana was still talking about how much she wanted to write this book and I offered to come on board and partner with her to help make it a reality. Given my work with participatory mapping in the Grenadines, I had a lot of knowledge and contacts across all the islands and knew that if we combined our extensive expertise, we could only succeed in making an even better book together!
What was your favorite part about the 7 years you spent working on the book?
Local Ecological Knowledge Interview with Christopher Bartholomew and authors Juliana Coffey and Alison Ollivierre on Carriacou in 2014 (Photo by Vendol Ollivierre)
Juliana: There have been many wonderful times throughout this project. While sometimes it felt like we may never complete the book, I can say what an honest relief it was to finally send it to the printers, and to personally pick them up at a jetty in Saint Vincent. I am also so honored now to be back in the Grenadines to be able to officially donate copies to fisherfolk, local NGOs, schools and others who either helped us along the way or who have an interest in preserving the birds of the Grenadines. We met a lot of great people along the way, and despite rarely seeing each other, Aly and I have remained best friends and continue to work with each other on other projects.
Aly: My favorite part was definitely when Juliana and I were able to do our local ecological knowledge interviews in 2014. It was really important to us to ensure that we had accurately collected as much local knowledge as we could from each of the Grenadine islands and it was also just a lot of fun to travel around and talk to people about birds with my best friend and our local liaison (aka my now-husband, Vendol Ollivierre).
What work are you still involved with in the Grenadines?
Juliana: Currently I am working as a consultant for Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) on the “Conservation of Key Offshore Island Reserves” in the Grenadines. After 20 years of working with seabirds around the world, and 8 years of coming to the Grenadines, I can say that this is a dream project for me. The seabirds in the Grenadines are present in globally significant numbers, yet are located in remote and inaccessible areas and afforded little attention or protection. I work to bring awareness to the plight of seabirds in this region, train local seabird monitors, promote awareness at all levels of society and, of course, get out to see the birds!
Aly: While I am currently based in the USA and working full-time making maps for National Geographic, I am still actively involved with projects in the Grenadines. I serve on the Board of Directors for We Are Mayreau, Inc., which manages the Mayreau Community Centre; I am an Associate with Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) and assist with the Protecting Seabirds in the Transboundary Grenadines project; and I work for BirdsCaribbean as the Cartographer and the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Project Coordinator. I also freelance as Tombolo Maps & Design and am currently working on a series of wall maps for the transboundary Grenadines!
Visit the newly-redesigned website for information on the best sites, guides and tours in the region!
More visually appealing. Easier to navigate. A LOT more information about birding hotspots in the Caribbean, how to get there, and which guides and operators can offer the best birdwatching experience on the ground.
Those were our objectives when we embarked on redesigning the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) website. Now, we are finally ready to launch the CBT’s new online home and to share it with you, and the world! Click here to access the new website.
The CBT was launched in 2011 by BirdsCaribbean in order to promote authentic experiences that benefit local people and encourage the protection of the Caribbean’s natural resources, including birds and their habitats. The website has always been a key part of making this happen.
Overhauling the website and building a customized directory (and beautiful maps!) of the birding gems of the Caribbean was no small task. To do the project justice, we knew we would need to learn as much as possible about every birding nook and cranny there is on each island. And we are here to tell you…there are many!
What’s Special about the New CBT Website
Map of the West Indies from the CBT website showing locations of Birding Sites, History/Culture Sites, and bird-friendly Accommodations. You can also toggle on and off eBird Hotspots on this map. Note that this is a work in progress: we need YOUR help to add many more sites!
As you scroll through the pages, you will find information about 138 birding sites in 24 countries. We are also proud to be promoting more than 50 guides and tour operators. These are people and enterprises who are from the Caribbean, or who now call the region home. We also aim to include a listing of every field guide and book that our partners have published for their islands. We also provide links to as many additional resources as we possibly can, giving you as full a picture as possible of the wealth of birds, habitats, and local customs and folklore.
Through the website, we also strive to tell the story of the Caribbean and its incredible natural heritage through pictures. There are nearly 700 species of birds known from the Caribbean, including 171 species that are endemic to the region and found nowhere else in the world. Furthermore, there are thousands of endemic plants, snails, lizards, frogs, mammals, and insects; and the beautiful landscapes and geological treasures that the birder will discover along the way. We have collected almost 1,000 photos thus far, and hope for many, many more.
Narrow-billed Tody by Dax Roman
It’s a Work in Progress, and We Love Our Partners!
If you are one of the dozens of individuals who supplied us with photos and/or information about people and places, we thank you! And we ask that you keep the information coming. We are not planning to stop adding to the website. In fact, our goal is for the CBT’s new site to become the number one resource in the world for planning a trip to the Caribbean to see birds, or simply to enjoy the nature and culture of the islands. We are going to build it into the “go-to” site for Caribbean birding.
We consider this website a work in progress. We will always accept suggestions for additional sites, guides, and accommodations to add; or edits and corrections to existing pages. We also greatly appreciate high quality photos, especially of birds.
Our online presence has already helped spur fruitful discussions with tour operators, and as a result BirdsCaribbean has partnered with three different companies (Wildside Nature Tours, Birding the Islands, and Carefree Birding). These companies are committed to giving back to the islands, and they donate a portion of their profits from Caribbean tours to BirdsCaribbean to invest in conservation.
The CBT…More than Site Promotion
CBT Guide Training in Cuba.
The CBT project is not just about places to go. Through the CBT we are also helping create authentic experiences, and building capacity where needed in the Caribbean to do so. Essential to this is the Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training program, a five-day intensive course where participants not only learn to identify the local bird species and their connection to the environment, but also discover how to use interpretation techniques that will bring this knowledge to life for their birding guests.
The training helps guides to uncover unusual pieces of local science and cultural context that will spark the imagination of the birders and have them fully engaged during their tours. Professional bird and nature guides, certified through the National Association of Interpretation in the U.S., conduct this exciting, hands-on training program.
The reason we thought this important is for the same reason we think the Caribbean Birding Trail itself is important. It is because birds are windows to nature. And in the Caribbean, they are also portals for getting away from the tourism hubs and into the beating heart of the islands. They facilitate discovery, having an authentic experience, and bird by bird, getting to know the real Caribbean.
Our new video is now available on the CBT website and on our YouTube channel. The four-minute long video gives the viewer an enticing glimpse into the birds they will see, and a taste of the culture they can get immersed in when they go looking for those birds.
With Deep Gratitude
Thank you again to everybody who contributed to the original CBT website and this much-improved 2.0 version.
Special thanks to our CBT cartographer, Aly DeGraff Ollivierre for creating the awesome maps and helping solicit, organize, and upload content to the website. Also to Holly Robertson, the CBT Project Manager, for her role as webmaster and digging deep into the world of WordPress.
We would be nowhere without the patience and fortitude of our web designer, Kathleen McGee of BTN Designs, and the vision of Ted Eubanks and Fermata, Inc in originally charting the course of the Caribbean Birding Trail and establishing the first iteration of the website.
With deep gratitude we also thank the donors who financially supported the development of this website over the years: the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, the Marshall-Reynolds Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Program.
Links to articles about our Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training workshops:
Colorful and friendly, the Cuban Tody is one of Cuba’s most beloved endemic birds. (photo by Aslam Ibrahim)
Join BirdsCaribbean, the Caribbean Birding Trail and acclaimed Cuban bird guide, Ernesto Reyes Mouriño, on the adventure of a lifetime in January or March of 2020.
Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. According to the new Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba: 2018-2019 Edition, 394 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 28 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.
Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful birding locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality. We will also have the opportunity to meet and have discussions with local ornithologists and conservationists that have been working with BirdsCaribbean for many years.
BirdsCaribbean is offering two tours in 2020: a 9-day trip in January and a 12-day trip in March. Find detailed itineraries for both trips below. Traveling with us helps Caribbean birds as a portion of the proceeds from the trip supports our bird conservation programs and partners in Cuba and the Caribbean. See some of the world’s most beautiful and memorable birds, knowing you are helping ensure their welfare by supporting the people who study and protect them.
Read testimonials and see photos from past trips in the gallery below. Purchase the Endemic Birds of Cuba Field Guide here. Check out the report and photos from our January 2016 trip here and from our July 2017 trip to Havana and Zapata Swamp here.
NOTE: The recent policy changes in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations do not affect BirdsCaribbean’s birding trips or the requirements of US citizens traveling with us. Our birding trips consist of group travel under the general license that authorizes travel transactions that provide “Support for the Cuban people.” The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requires that: 1) travel be conducted under the auspices of an individual or organization (BirdsCaribbean) that promotes independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba, and 2) the tour must consist of “a full-time schedule of activities that: (i) enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities; and (ii) result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba.” While you are on the trip, BirdsCaribbean will ensure that you have a full-time schedule of activities that engages with and provides support for private citizens (e.g., local guides, Cuban biologists, private business owners), and avoids transactions with the State Department’s List of Restricted Entities and Subentities Associated with Cuba (“the Cuba Restricted List”).
Mary Fulford brings dynamism and innovation to the sustainable tourism space! Through Island Mystique, she offers exciting, culturally immersive adventures. From delightful foodie deep dives featuring the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) must-try dishes, to handcrafting with local artisans, to listening as historians weave folklore tales by the crackle of a fire pit—Mary promises to take visitors off the beaten path by sharing the TCI that exists beyond the ‘sun, sea and sand’. Passionate about connecting guests to the wondrous diversity of her islands, Mary seized the opportunity to join the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Bird Guide Training Workshop and explore TCI’s incredible avifauna! Read on for Mary’s account of her CBT experience, and learn how she is already incorporating birding into her thrilling offerings.
Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines
