Wings Over Water—the Caribbean Celebrates Magnificent Migratory Birds and Encourages Water Conservation

Group of children stranding in a line watching birds through binoculars. — Children birdwatching at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Every year thousands of migratory birds make epic journeys south. Many stop over in the Caribbean to rest and refuel; others arrive and spend the entire winter with us. Throughout Fall 2023 and on World Migratory Bird Day, we celebrated these beautiful visitors. We recognized and highlighted the amazing ways in which they adapt to endure such lengthy and dangerous journeys, and called attention to the importance of water to the survival of these birds. Check out the fun and creative ways in which Caribbean organizations got involved. Laura Baboolal, Caribbean Coordinator of World Migratory Bird Day for Environment for the Americas (EFTA), tells the story…

Water conservation for migratory birds and people

Every year we eagerly await the arrival of migratory birds as they flock to our shores, wetlands, forests, parks, gardens, and even backyards! This year’s theme was “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”; “Agua: vital para las aves” in Spanish; and in French, “L’eau: Source de vie pour les oiseaux.”

Birds need water as much as we do! They need to drink water to help them regulate body processes and use water to keep themselves clean and cool. And many migratory birds depend on healthy wetland habitats such as ponds, marshes, mangroves, rivers and coastal areas to safely rest during their long journeys south and to feed and replenish their energy.

The wetlands of Monte Cristi in the northern Dominican Republic are a fantastic place for waterbirds, including many migratory shorebirds. (photo by Maria Paulino)

This year’s theme highlighted the the impact of the growing water crisis on migratory birds. This theme resonated in the Caribbean, where islands have been enduring longer-lasting and more severe droughts. It is not only farmers and householders who are feeling the effects of lower than normal rainfall patterns. Birds are, too! Drought causes wetland habitats such as ponds, salinas, marshes, and rivers to shrink and dry up, thus impacting the amount of water available for birds to drink, feed and bathe, particularly those that rely on wetland habitats. Water scarcity also impacts people— we need clean water to drink, bathe, and grow our food.

The good news is that there are easy, everyday ways for us to reduce our water use and keep our natural supply of water flowing. Find out how our dedicated and passionate Caribbean educators throughout the islands used WMBD events to build and support coalitions of people to advocate for the protection of critical wetland habitats and water conservation.

Here are some highlights from this year’s WMBD events held in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Sint Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe and Trinidad and Tobago. Many more islands are still hosting events, activities and celebrating this special time for migratory birds!

The Bahamas

EARTHCARE, an environmental education NGO that works across the islands of The Bahamas, celebrated WMBD by hosting a birdwatching trip for children at Princess Park on Grand Bahama Island. The children were excited to see and learn about the different birds at the Park. For many it was their first time using binoculars (provided by EFTA) and they were eager to find the birds using this fundamental tool for birders. Children love using binoculars and the first time using them is always a revelation! Gail Woon and Jill Cooper (EARTHCARE representatives) also visited the Eco School at Bishop Michael Eldon School (BMES) and made a presentation on the importance of water to birds, with special emphasis on migratory birds, and people.

Group of children stands in a line for a photo

EARTHCARE celebrates WMBD with a birdwatching trip for children at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Common Gallinule standing in shallow water.

Common Gallinule at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

A young girl adjusts her binoculars while birdwatching

Getting the hang of using binoculars to look at birds. A child adjusts her binoculars while birdwatching at Princess-Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Yellow-crowned Night Heron perched on a branch and surrounded by leaves.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Princess Park. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Children birdwatching during EARTHCARE’s WMBD event at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

An immature Common Gallinule makes its way to the pond at Princess Park, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Group of teachers and students standing in a line for a photo. In the background is a mural of flowers.

Celebrating migratory birds with the Eco School at Bishop Michael Eldon School, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Students gathered around a table making bird masks.

Students making bird masks during WMBD activities at the Eco School at BMES. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Group of three female students sitting by a table next to each other. The student at the forefront is holding a cutout of a bird and smiling.

Students enjoying art and craft activities during EARTHCARE’s WMBD event at the Eco School BMES, Grand Bahama. (photo by EARTHCARE)

Jamaica

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica moved its popular “An Afternoon with a Scientist” from online and into nature at Hope Botanical Gardens, with the esteemed speaker being Ricardo Miller. Ricardo is a longtime member of BirdsCaribbean, veteran Jamaican birder, and Environmental Coordinator at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). Following this talk, students of Mona Preparatory School, Rollington Town Primary School and Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory School in Kingston were treated to a birdwatching trip across the Gardens. Out in the field the youngsters had great fun using binoculars and bird ID cards to find and identify any birds they could spot!

Ricardo Miller speaks to students about migratory birds and water conservation at Hope Gardens, Jamaica. (photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)

Ricardo Miller leads students and teachers on a birding trip around Hope Gardens, Jamaica. (photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)

Students learn to use binoculars and a spotting scope to look at birds at Hope Gardens, Jamaica.(photo by Natural History Museum of Jamaica)

The session was a collaborative effort among the Hope Botanical Gardens, NEPA and Jamaica Environment Trust to commemorate this year’s World Migratory Day under the theme “Water and its Importance for Migratory Birds”.

Cuba

In Cuba, Biblioteca Municipal de Bauta (Bauta Municipal Library) in collaboration with the Bauta Birdwatchers Club, Faculty of Geography and Bird Ecology Group (University of Havana) hosted a migratory bird watching activity with 4th and 5th grade school students. The children learned about bird identification and the importance of protecting birds in their country.

Students holding up bird ID cards in a classroom.

Bird ID cards in hand and they are excited to go birdwatching. (photo by Bauta Municipal Library)

Group of students birdwatching on the streets.

Students of 4th and 5th grades head outside to watch birds. (photo by Bauta Municipal Library)

Group photo with library staff and students at the library. (photo by Bauta Municipal Library)

Dominican Republic

During the month of October, Grupo Acción Ecológica (GAE) (Ecological Action Group) carried out several activities to celebrate migratory birds. The group ventured to different birding spots in the Dominican Republic to carry out bird counts, and uploaded their birding checklists to the eBird Caribbean online database.

GAE also partnered with the Department of Education to assist students with planting trees at the National Botanical Garden, thus increasing the number of endemic plants at the Garden. These plants will no doubt provide shelter and food for birds, and other wildlife for many years to come! The man-made lagoons at the Garden were the perfect setting for a live demonstration of the importance of water to birds.

A young girl models her bird mask. (photo by GAE)

Group of students birdwatching next to a man-made lagoon.

Group of students birdwatching at one of the man-made lagoons in the National Botanical Gardens. (photo by GAE)

Two girls standing in a forested area. One is holding a book open and the other is pointing at a bird in the book.

‘What’s that bird?’ Two girls use a field guide to Identify birds at the National Botanical Gardens. (photo by GAE)

In Jarabacoa the hands-on approach to learning, birding, and conservation continued. Students of the Doulos School went on bird walks and learned about different methods to survey bird abundance and species diversity. They also drew and painted the birds they saw and submitted their artwork to a WMBD contest organized by GAE. The festivities ended in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo with a talk, tree planting activity, and birdwatching, where they had the opportunity to see more migratory birds!

Lecturer at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (Autonomous University of Santo Domingo), and long-time member of BirdsCaribbean, Simón Guerrero, introduced primary school students to migratory birds through a riveting presentation on common migrants. They learned about ‘Moonbird,’ a male Red Knot celebrated for its epic 10,000 mile annual migrations and for being the oldest known member of its species! Simón told us, “I always plant some trees to be sure birds will know we are doing something real for them, not just talking.” After the presentation and WMBD activities, firebush or hummingbird bush (Hamelia patens), a plant whose flowers and fruits are very attractive to native, endemic, and some migratory birds, was planted on the school’s compound.

Students reading the WMBD brochure in a classroom.

Students captivated by the birds and art on the WMBD 2023 brochure. (photo by Simón Guerrero)

The students were especially excited to learn about the Red Knot called ‘Moonbird.’ (photo by Simón Guerrero)

Three students planting a tree as an adult looks on.

Students plant the firebush plant in their school’s garden. (photo by Simón Guerrero)

Puerto Rico

Conservation Opportunity got their hands dirty to help migratory birds! The NGO celebrated World Migratory Bird Day by cleaning the waterways in Charco Dos Bocas, Ciales, Puerto Rico. Approximately 150 pounds of trash were collected in one day. Over 50 people showed up to lend a hand and learn about birds. They also installed a new sign, reminding their fellow Puerto Ricans and visitors to the river to keep the environment clean.

Photo of a concrete road that cuts through a river.

River in Charco Dos Bocas Ciales after spectacular cleanup effort by volunteers. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Photo of white trash bags filled with bottles, cans and other garbage.

Approximately 150 pounds of trash were collected. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Photo of a man holding a sign that reads 'Habitantes de la montana'

A community representative speaks about actions taken by residents of Toro Negro to preserve the area.(photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Photo of a young boy removing trash from a shrub.

A volunteer ensures no trash is left behind. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Photo of group of people on a river bank. In the background there is a small tent and a sign hanging on a tree to the right that reads "Por amor el rio."

‘Job well done!’ Conservation Opportunity members and volunteers after the amazing cleanup effort.(photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Members of Conservation Opportunity take a photo by their newly installed sign. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Volunteers receive instructions before the start of the clean-up. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

River cleanups provide a-safe spot for migratory birds and help intercept garbage before it reaches our oceans. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

WMBD pins, stickers, bracelets, and more were distributed at Conservation Opportunity’s event. (photo by Conservation Opportunity)

Meanwhile, Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc. (SOPI) headed to EcoExploratorio (Science Museum of Puerto Rico) to talk about water conservation for birds and how to identify some of the more common winter migrants on the island.

‘Let’s talk Birds!’ Visitors to the museum learns about Puerto Rico’s feathered migrants. (photo by SOPI)

SOPI’s booth at EcoExploratorio.

St. Martin / Sint Maarten

This year Laura was able to visit St. Martin to attend a WMBD event hosted by Les Fruits de Mer and to share educational materials with both Les Fruits de Mer and Nature Foundation Sint Maarten.

Group of three people- two women and one man, stand in front of a 'Migratory Bird Festival' sign while each holding a book.

WMBD Caribbean Coordinator, Laura-Baboolal with Mark Yokoyama and Jennifer Yerkes of Les Fruits de Mer.

A woman sits behind a table with books stacked on it.

Educational books on the wildlife of St Martin written by Jenn and Mark, were given to children during the event. (photo by Laura Baboolal)

A man sits behind a table with books stacked on it. His left hand is raised in a gesture of 'hello.'

‘Hi Mark!’ Mark eagerly awaits the arrival of participants. (photo by Laura Baboolal)

This Migratory Bird Festival included art activities for children, educational activity books developed by the organization, and nature walks.

Guadeloupe

Our partner, outstanding guide, and skilled biologist Anthony Levesque gave a talk on the on the birds of La Désirade. It is one of the islands of Guadeloupe and is better known for its white sand beaches and coral reef. It is also a sanctuary for birds looking to rest and refuel during migration. The following day Anthony led a birdwatching tour with 20 participants, who recorded some notable species such as the Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Bobolink.

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (Photo by Anthony VanSchoor)

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Photo by Jesse Gordon)

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Photo by Linda Petersen)

Male Bobolink in breeding plumage. (Photo by Ryan Sanderson- Macaulay Library-ML342377131)

Bobolink females. Male and female Bobolinks have similar plumage in the non-breeding season. Look out for flocks of these sparrow-like birds during migration. (Photo by Karalyn Lamb-Macaulay-ML4702854910)

Trinidad and Tobago

WMBD was celebrated in May on the same day as Global Big Day and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), at the ARC Conservation Field Station in Brasso Seco in Trinidad. You can read about the “Protect the Rivers, Save the Birds” event in our CEBF wrap-up blog.

In October, local school teacher Sabira Ali, who hosts private birding activities for children, celebrated WMBD with her students. The activity included a presentation on migratory birds—by the students themselves! Students were asked to select a migratory bird and give a short presentation on the bird to their classmates. This was followed by decorating bird masks and a fun quiz to recap all the feathery facts learned.

A child coloring a bird mask with crayons.

One of Sabira’s-students puts her personal touches on her bird mask. (photo by Sabira Ali)

‘It’s time for a WMBD quiz!’ Sabira tests the participants knowledge of migratory birds in a fun and short quiz.

Group of students standing in a classroom while holding the WMBD brochures.

Sabira’s students stops to take a photo with the colorful WMBD 2023 brochures. (photo by Sabira Ali)

We applaud the tremendous efforts of our educators who plan and execute educational and fun activities to ensure an unforgettable WMBD and inspire a love for birds and birdwatching. We extend a massive thank you to our ambassadors, who selflessly deliver educational materials to Caribbean islands. Environment for the Americas and BirdsCaribbean extend our greatest thanks to all of you and we look forward to seeing what you have planned for WMBD 2024!

Birds Connect our World—Fifteen new species shared on BirdsCaribbean’s website

BirdsCaribbean recognized WMBD by featuring new migratory birds in our virtual campaign– Birds Connect Our World. Each migratory bird profile was accompanied by a beautifully drawn coloring page by Christine Elder, stunning high quality photos and videos, online puzzles tailored for different levels (between six and 1,024 pieces), and bird calls. Fun, free and engaging activities were also provided for both kids and adults, including downloadable coloring pages, experiments, up-cycle crafts, and more. We also created short videos to help birders identify shorebirds that show up every fall in the Caribbean—for example, the Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper, Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers and the small and adorable, but confusing, plovers too!

Flying, hopping, wiggling, and crawling towards WMBD 2024

The WMBD theme for 2024 is Insects! While some people may shriek at the sight of these tiny creatures (and rightfully so because our brains confuse fear with disgust, and some insects are actually harmful to us) they are an important delicacy for birds. In fact, insects are so important to birds that migratory birds will literally fly halfway around the globe just to have an ample supply of insects to eat! Insects and bugs are a high protein food. Protein is essential to birds for keeping up energy and body mass and for growing baby birds.

A study published in the Journal of Biological Conservation reported that 40% of all insect species are declining globally. Loss of natural areas like forests and grasslands that have been converted or degraded by intensive agriculture and urban development, and climate change, have all contributed to this downward population trend. A scarcity of this protein-rich food source can hinder bird migration and breeding, leading to weakened immune systems, reduced reproductive success, and increased mortality rates for both adult birds and their offspring.

The WMBD campaign in 2024 will thus stress the need for proactive conservation measures like reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, switching to organic farming, and maintaining and connecting areas of natural vegetation in agricultural landscapes.

If you are interested in celebrating WMBD in your country, or if you can deliver materials to a Caribbean country, we encourage you to visit the WMBD website for more information; or contact the Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Laura Baboolal, at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org. If you have an event planned, you can register it and put the Caribbean on the global events map.