Once again, it was that time of year when we ask you to head out to your wetlands and take stock of our amazing waterbirds! For the 13th year in a row many of you did just that, so a huge thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) in 2022.

As always, we had people participating from all across the region, exploring many of our beaches, mangroves, salt ponds, and other fantastic wetlands – both large and small. Here are just some of the highlights from our partners taking part in this year’s CWC. Be sure to click on the photos in each section below to see them larger and view them as a slide show – ENJOY!

On St. Eustatius, Hannah Madden and Oliver Jones did their CWC survey on Zeelandia Beach, counting over 20 Red-billed Tropicbirds as they glided gracefully through the air, their long tail feathers streaming behind. Hannah tells us that it’s not unusual to see tropicbirds during the CWC as St. Eustatius supports a globally significant breeding population of an estimated 300-500 pairs! During their survey, they also spotted Brown Pelicans, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and a Spotted Sandpiper.

Ducks a plenty – but not for everyone!

Brown Pelicans and herons also featured in the surveys carried out on Antigua. 2022 was the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) Wadadli Warblers Bird Club’s second year of participating in the CWC. This year they covered eight wetland sites across Antigua! At McKinnon’s Salt Pond, the group were equally thrilled and dumbfounded by the number of ducks that were present. With their trusty bird guides to help with ID they were undaunted by the challenge! The Wadadli Warblers say that they can’t wait for CWC 2023!

Another duck-filled day was had by Daniela Ventura on Cuba. She told us the CWC this year involved traveling 30 km by bike to La Coronela Dam in Artemisa. Here, they saw more than 300 Lesser Scaups (which was a lifer for Daniela!). This was then surpassed by the 1,000 Lesser Scaups in the Niña Bonita Dam on the way back! Daniela says it was, “A really enjoyable birding and biking day.” At Playa Las Cañas in the South of Pinar del Río, Cuba, there was a report of some banded Black Skimmers (see photo). These were reported and photographed by Zaimiuri Hernández Gonzalez.

Anthony Levesque, on Guadeloupe, had less luck with ducks during his CWC surveys this year. He tells us that the number of Blue-winged Teals was very low – 56 in 2022 vs. 498 in 2021. Did others find Blue-winged Teal numbers were lower than expected? Or were these ducks somewhere else this year?

Shorebird highlights

Over on Turks and Caicos Islands, shorebirds were the stars of the show. With funding from Environment Canada, a team of four birders carried out waterbird monitoring at several sites. Highlights included counting over 1% of the flyway population for Short-billed Dowitchers on the Caicos Middle Banks (2,200 individuals were counted!). In the same area, 100 Red Knots were counted and at Sand Bore Cay, near South Caicos, 77 Piping Plovers were seen!

As the CWC 2022 rolled around, BirdLife Jamaica members were galvanized into action. The group set out in search of waterbirds at a particularly odorous place, the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Catherine – where there was, as expected, additional wildlife to be found in the form of American Crocodiles! Everyone was checking off new finds. Blue-winged Teal, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, Glossy Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, and more! One fantastic ‘new’ bird for everyone was a Pacific Golden Plover. This shorebird sighting is a first record for Jamaica! This bird must have seriously veered off its usual, more westerly route along the Pacific Flyway.

CWC in Puerto Rico – Remembering Shirley Droz & ongoing efforts

Several groups headed out to wetlands in Puerto Rico in search of waterbirds as part of ongoing surveys using the CWC protocol. The San Juan Bay Estuary Program carried out a CWC survey at Blassina Canal in Carolina. This is part of a program that plans to conduct quarterly waterbird censuses during 2022. Eliezer Nieves from the program says, “We are ready to carry on counting water birds at the CWC for the well-being of our estuarine ecosystems.” This is a fantastic initiative, and we wish them well in the rest of their CWC surveys this year!

Roots and Shoots, Puerto Rico, did their CWC to celebrate the life of their late friend, partner and mentor Shirley Droz. They chose to do their survey at the Natural Reserve Punta Cucharas in Ponce. Shirley Droz was a bird lover and science teacher who inspired others about conserving wildlife, including birds, reptiles, butterflies, and how to be strong and fight for what you love. Carla Montalvo Martinez says, “She inspired us every day and that’s why we wanted to remember her in her favorite place with her family, students, and friends. It was a lovely experience and we enjoyed every moment we spent together remembering all the good times we had with her and learning more about the different species we can find in that place.” The group plans to go back to conduct monthly surveys in an effort to continue Shirley’s work. They have also named their Christmas Bird Census after her, as a tribute.

Heading South

Down in Trinidad and Tobago, CWC surveys were carried out at a wide variety of different wetlands, including Caroni Swamp, Caroni Rice Fields, two sites along Trinidad’s west coast mudflats, Bon Accord Sewage Treatment Ponds, Bon Accord Canals, Magdalena Golf Course and Ponds and Canaan Sewage Ponds. Waterbirds seen and counted included shorebirds, herons, egrets, and ducks – a reminder that man-made wetlands can also support a diversity of wetland birds.

Birders on Bonaire were waiting with bated breath as they watched the final nest preparations of two amorous Least Grebes.  Throughout the CWC, the two grebes completed their nest, then produced and incubated eggs.  For the birders watching this wonderful process, it was almost like they were the expecting parents! Today, there are two very young Least Grebes swimming in a freshwater pond on Bonaire!

January always heralds the main breeding season of Bonaire’s iconic bird, the American Flamingo. Hundreds, if not thousands, of flamingos can congregate in the protected area of the flamingo sanctuary, deep in the heart of the Cargill Salt Ponds. Birders are looking forward to seeing the next generation of Bonaire’s famous flamingos soon.

In Venezuela, as in previous years, Josmar Esteban Marques, with Ave Zona, continued to monitor offshore islands and cays during the CWC. This year Josmar and his team counted approximately 500 breeding pairs of Brown Booby on Los Roques. All nesting on a single cay!

The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort and provides us with important data that helps to keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand threats, and to raise awareness. We appreciate every single CWC count that gets done during the annual 3-week regional census in winter. Thank you to all those who sent us highlights and all those who led or joined a CWC survey this year. If you missed this year’s regional census don’t worry – you can do a CWC count at any time of year! Counts are valuable at any time of year and add to our knowledge of the resident and migratory birds using our wetlands and beaches. Just be sure to use a CWC protocol in eBird Caribbean to enter your data and do your best to do a complete count, i.e., record all the birds you see and hear.

Find out more about the CWC and how to participate here: https://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/caribbean-waterbird-census-program/count-waterbirds-in-the-caribbean/  and get practicing for next year’s annual census!

Enjoy more photos from CWc around the caribbean in 2022!

A majestic Great Blue Heron spotted on Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

Students carry out CWC surveys Puerto Rico’s northwest coast

Yellow-crowned Night Heron on Tobago. (Photo by Matt Kelly)

A Pacific Golden Plover (in the foreground- Black-bellied Plover behind), spotted on Jamaica during CWC. (Photo by Ricardo Miller)

Lots of black-and-white birds! A Black-crowned Nigh Heron joined by two Black-necked Stilts on Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

A Whimbrel flies over a salt salt pond on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Students carry out CWC surveys Puerto Rico’s northwest coast

A Pacific Golden Plover, spotted on during CWC, this is the 1st record of this species on Jamaica! (Photo by Ricardo Miller)

The salt ponds on Antigua are home to many waterbirds, Wadadli Warblers did a great job doing CWC surveys in these habitats. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Roots & Shoots did their CWC survey at Punta Cucharas, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Members of Roots & Shoots counting birds during their CWC survey. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Common Gallinules. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Wilson’s Plovers on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Black-whiskered Vireo spotted on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Roots & Shoots did their CWC survey at Punta Cucharas, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

A small flock of Ruddy Turnstones seen in Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

Least Grebe adult with its chick, Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)

Birds in flight during Roots & Shoots CWC surveys in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Celebrating the life of Shirley Droz during CWC2022. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

A Hooded Warbler. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

It’s tiny stature and yellow legs are a give away that this is a Least Sandpiper, seen on Jamaica during CWC. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

Shorebirds in flight during CWC survey in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Brown Pelican. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Cayman Birding post about CWC on Instagram

A distant view of a Spotted Sandpiper on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Ducks a plenty, the Wadadli Warblers on Antigua saw these White-Cheeked Pintails. (Photo EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Greater Yellowlegs seen in the rice fields of Trinidad during CWC. (Photo by Mark Hulme)

Least Grebe adult feeds a damselfly to its chick, Bonaire. (Photo Susan Davis)

A mixed flock of shorebirds seen on Jamaica during CWC2022. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

Out on a CWC survey in Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Common Gallinule chicks seen during CWC surveys at Blassina Canal, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

Cattle and Great Egrets seen on Tobago during CWC. (Photo by Matt Kelly)

Common Gallinule. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

A Great Egret preening. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Roots & Shoots bird watching and celebrating the life of Shirely Droz during CWC2022. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Roots & Shoots remembering Shirley Droz during CWC. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

A Pacific Golden Plover, spotted on during CWC, this is the 1st record of this species on Jamaica! (Photo by Ricardo Miller)

Roots & Shoots did their CWC survey at Punta Cucharas, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Sometimes you have to get wet feet on surveys! (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

A Jacana spotted during CWC2022 on Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

Greater Yellowlegs foraging on Tobago. (Photo by Matt Kelly)

Caroni rice fields at sunrise during CWC in Trinidad. (Photo by Mark Hulme)

Juvenile Little Blue Heron seen during CWC on Tobago. (Photo by Matt Heron)

Harold Manrique, the Water Monitor coordinator, looking at the water oxygen levels during a CWC survey, Blassina Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

A group of Egrets (mainly Cattle) spotted during CWC surveys on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Semipalmated Sandpiper spotted during Roots & Shoots CWC survey in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Perched Pelican seen during CWC2022 on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Students carry out CWC surveys Puerto Rico’s northwest coast

Great Blue Heron, Blassina Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

Students carry out CWC surveys Puerto Rico’s northwest coast

A Mangrove Cuckoo spotted during CWC2022 on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

A Gray Kingbird. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

White-cheeked Pintails spotted in Anguilla. (Photo by Nature Explorers Anguilla)

Least Grebe Chick, Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)

Wilson’s Plover, Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Green Heron spotted during CWC at Blassina, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

Cayman Birding post about CWC on Instagram

Least Grebes build a nest on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)

San Juan Bay Program Staff and the captain of the boat ready for the CWC at the Blassina Canal. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

Members of Roots & Shoots during their CWC survey. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Least Grebe adult ready to feed a damselfly to its chick, Bonaire. (Photo Susan Davis)

A mixed shorebird flock seen during Roots & Shoots CWC survey, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Wilson’s Plovers in flight, spotted during Roots & Shoots CWC survey Puerto Rico. (Photo by Miguel Angel Rivera)

Filling in a CWC site description form on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Reddish Egret searches for food, Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)

Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets in Anguilla. (Photo by Nature Explorers Anguilla)

White Ibis seen a Blassina, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

Least Grebe adult with its chick, Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)

Northern Waterthrush spotted in Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Cayman Birding post about CWC on Instagram

A Mangrove Cuckoo spotted during CWC2022 on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Students carry out CWC surveys Puerto Rico’s northwest coast

Grenada Fund for Conservation encourage people to take part in CWC2022

Birding by bike in Cuba. (Photo by Lourdes Mugica)

Black-whiskered Vireo spotted on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

This fish loving Osprey was seen by the Wadadli Warblers during their surveys. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Blassina Canal, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)

Some of the 1000s of Short-billed Dowitchers seen during CWC counts on Turks and Caicos. (Photo by Simon Busuttil)

Lovely colors catching the light on this Glossy Ibis, seen on Jamaica. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)

This Peregrine was seen on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

A Black-necked Stilt spotted preening during CWC2022 on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

The Wadadli Warblers on Antigua saw both White-cheeked and Northern Pintails on their surveys. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Some of the ducks spotted during CWC2022 on Antigua. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Brown Pelican. (Photo by EAG/ Wadadli Warblers)

Least Grebe Chick, Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)