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).
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).
“A veritable mecca for waterbirds and shorebirds.” “One of the most important areas for wintering Piping Plovers in the entire Caribbean.” Those are not exactly the mental images that come to mind when one thinks about tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI)—you would be forgiven for instead immediately conjuring visions of sun, sea, and brilliant white sand—but indeed, this incredible Caribbean biodiversity hotspot offers so much more! Thanks to the Caribbean Birding Trail, and 24 passionate, newly certified bird guides trained to bring the hidden side of TCI to the ever-expanding birding tourism market, this image is about to change. It’s time to meet the Turks and Caicos that only insiders know—and the guides who will make booking a birding tour a quintessential part of the TCI experience.
Sun, sea, sand, and …sublime salt ponds?
The natural beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands is reflected in the nation’s tourism motto “Beautiful by Nature,” and indeed, no superlative feels adequate to effectively capture its wondrous magic. TCI’s coastlines immediately standout as being the textbook definition of idyllic. The powdery white sand is flecked with coral pinks, whilst the water offers mesmerizing combinations of electric blue and turquoise. Look further and feast your eyes on the islands’ other defining features—a range of fantastic wetlands including picturesque salinas and salt ponds, submerged mangroves, miles and miles of tidal flats and sand banks; intriguing limestone caves; and verdantly green dry tropical forests.
Located on Middle Caicos, Indian Cave is a large and beautiful single gallery cave with many openings and skylights.
Tangles of red mangrove prop roots at Wheeland Pond. This extensive wetland is a haven for birdlife and a true shorebirder’s delight!
Like something out of a dream! The view at the end of Bird Rock Point Trail is incomparable.
Whitby Salina on North Caicos. When you think of salt ponds, you might immediately associate them with waterbirds, but the surrounding scrub and woodland in these areas provide essential habitats for a myriad of other types of birds! We spotted 10 migratory Blackpoll Warblers using the area to rest and refuel before continuing on their epic journeys south.
Bird Rock Point Trail is especially exciting for the range of habitats one traverses along the path. Terrain here is mixed between low limestone bluffs, mangrove waterways, and tidal marine marshes.
Spend some time contemplating this rich tapestry of blues and greens, and in many-splendored flashes of stunning purples, deep reds, sunny yellows, and intensely-pigmented pinks, the real secret of these environments will be revealed—their biodiversity! Glittering hummingbirds, flamboyant flamingos and darting yellow warblers—TCI’s various ecosystems provide critical habitats for a grand diversity of birds. Resident herons, egrets, shorebirds, ducks, seabirds, and landbirds are common sights at TCI’s wetlands. In addition to the islands’ surface area being made up of over 50% wetlands, the country can boast of being home to the largest island in the West Indies undisturbed by humans. TCI’s ecosystems are also a crucial lifeline for winter migrants who can often be easily observed busily attending to the vital business of eating, eating, eating, (and resting!) to refuel their bodies to carry on in their southward migration.
TCI’s extensive wetlands provide essential refuge for Near Threatened Piping Plovers during migration – this flock was spotted feeding on South Caicos. (Photo by Craig Watson)
Reddish Egret, dark morph. (Photo by Elaine R Wilson)
Blackpoll Warbler, female. These warblers were everywhere, migrating and stopping over in TCI in October and early November to rest and feed. (Photo by Hemant Keshan)
Bahama Woodstar, male. The Bahama Woodstar can only be found on the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas! This near-endemic can be easily spotted in a range of habitats around TCI. (Photo by Keith Salveson)
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!
A match made in Heaven—Sustainable Economic Development meets Biodiversity Protection—in thoughtful, authentic ecotourism where conservation is at heart of the offer
While the TCI Government has designated significant areas for conservation, the full potential of these areas for ecotourism has yet to be tapped. The TCI tourism community has not fully recognized the benefits that nature conservation can bring. The industry is currently focused on high-end/luxury travelers on the main inhabited island of Providenciales; the other inhabited islands of North and Middle Caicos, Grand Turk, South Caicos, and Salt Cay have not benefited from the massive and continued growth of tourism. Away from Providenciales, there are currently limited employment and business opportunities, unless these take the form of large-scale developments with their attendant negative impacts on the natural environment and cultural heritage. New employment opportunities, compatible with natural resource conservation, are urgently needed.
It was against this backdrop of this untapped opportunity for development, the drive to protect TCI’s tremendous biodiversity—and the potential to marry these seemingly competing areas in a way that empowered the TCI community by supporting truly sustainable livelihoods, that the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT), set its focus on the Turks and Caicos Islands in late 2023. The CBT is a flagship program of BirdsCaribbean that emphatically recognizes that we can unify conservation with business to shape a Caribbean where tourism is harnessed as a force for environmental preservation and sustainable development, rather than the exploitation and degradation of habitats.
BirdsCaribbean Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Sorenson explains, “Globally, the tourism market for wildlife watching and wildlife photography is growing, and bird tourism is a significant part of this market. In the US, the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation lists the national bird watching audience at a whopping 96.3 million citizens—a segment that has grown dramatically in the last few years and continues on an upward trend; while in the UK, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) claims that around 6 million United Kingdom residents are regularly engaged in birdwatching. The Caribbean Birding Trail seeks to attract these markets to the Turks and Caicos Islands and 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.”
A dynamic team of trainers, bearing birding gifts!
Boat Captains, Ecotour Guides, Educators, Journalists, Media Professionals, Government Officers, Policy Makers and more! Our Caribbean Birding Trail, Turks and Caicos Isands cohort featured a diverse group, all connected by their passion for meaningful, sustainable tourism and nature conservation in TCI. Participants and Facilitators pose for a shot at Wheeland Pond. Twenty people were from TCI, three from The Bahamas, and one from Puerto Rico. (photo by Christel Mohammed)
The intensive five-day workshop was led by Dr Lisa Sorenson, certified interpretive trainers from the National Association of Interpretation (NAI), Venicio (Beny) Wilson and Rick Morales, and CBT Project Leader, Holly Robertson. Participants explored the importance of preserving the Turks and Caicos Islands’ birds and nature while strengthening the islands’ local ecotourism sector. Modules included the Basics of Bird ID Techniques, which examined size and shape, field marks, behavior, habitat, and birdsongs; How to Use Binoculars and Spotting Scopes; Avian Ecology; and Guiding and Interpretation Techniques.
Of course, you can’t go birding without your gear—and on day one of the course, Executive Director Lisa Sorenson closed her introductory Birding 101 session with the most wonderful surprise! All participants received a comprehensive and thoughtfully curated package which included Vortex binoculars, a Birds of the West Indies field guide, bird ID cards, a CBT hat, an endemic birds of the Caribbean bag, and many other resources. BirdsCaribbean ensured that new guides had all the tools they needed to support them on their burgeoning birding guide journeys. One participant exclaimed, “It’s like Christmas!! This is amazing!”
Class is in session! BirdsCaribbean Executive Director, Dr Lisa Sorenson, takes participants through the basics of bird ID techniques.
New gear! Ecotour Guide Geneile Robinson flashes a smile with an array of items from her CBT gift package.
Naturalist and Journalist Easher Parker spotted in the field with our handy BirdsCaribbean Wetland and Seabirds field ID cards.
Thanks to our partnership with Vortex Optics and the generous sponsorship of Sandals Foundation, all participants received a brand-new pair of binoculars! The best part? These specs come with an awesome lifetime-warranty, so our cohort will be birding with them for a long time!
All hands on deck! BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director, Dr Lisa Sorenson, and President, Dr Adrianna Tossas, help assemble gift packages for the CBT TCI participants.
Out of the classroom and into the field!
Armed with a host of new bird ID skills, new binoculars and an enviable collection of field ID cards and guides—there was only one place left to go for our excited cohort—absolutely everywhere! Each day of training featured field trips to the best and most accessible birding sites on Providenciales, giving participants ample opportunity to learn and practice bird ID, benefit from practical in-the-field training from Beny and Rick on guiding techniques, and to familiarize themselves with the Turks and Caicos Islands’ top birding spots.
Our first spot, Wheeland Pond, easily became a crowd favorite thanks to a flock of resident Black-necked Stilts who greeted us with elegant poses on each of our visits there. Wheeland Pond is a wetland which provides excellent habitat for both breeding and migratory shorebirds, with resident and migratory North American songbirds using the surrounding scrub and woodland. Its complex system of natural saline ponds and manmade water-filled pits, a haven for birdlife, provided participants with great opportunities to practice distinguishing between tricky shorebirds (and mastering some easier ones thanks to enthusiastic Ruddy Turnstones and Killdeer) and even trickier fall-plumaged warblers (we spotted 8 different species!). Wheeland also provided one of the week’s most exciting birding moments for participants—a rare sighting of the elusive and shy Sora! Everyone was lining up at the scopes to get a look at this bird and its striking yellow bill!
Into the wild! The group heads along the Wheeland Pond trail on our very first CBT TCI field trip! (This was one of many field trips over the week – allowing for hand-on on practice with the theory discussed in the classroom.)
Was that a Stilt Sandpiper? Lisa sets up a spotting scope so that we could all further investigate and learn more about field marks for this tricky group on birds. (Also, yes it was!)
Wheeland Pond’s resident Black-necked Stilts! With their striking black and white plumage, and bright bubblegum-pink legs, these stilts were our unofficial Wheeland Pond welcoming party! (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Cape May Warbler – adult female or immature male. We saw a great variety of warblers on our field trips – they are especially challenging this time of year since males are in their nonbreeding /fall plumage. This lovely bird was photographed by our facilitator, Beny Wilson.!
A sight for Sora eyes! Getting a clear view of a bird with a reputation for being heard far more often that it is seen caused an understandable stir among participants and trainers alike! (Photo by Shell Game)
With its two distinctive black chest bands, the Killdeer was one of the first shorebirds that the group learned to easily ID. (Photo by Lorie Shell)
Always consult your field guide! Sure, the Killdeer might be easy to ID, but what do you do when faced with a group of Stilt Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitchers? Head to your new copy of Birds of the West Indies of course!
Just a little to the left! All eyes are locked on the Sora!
Seabirds and scopes! In a beautiful setting…
Spotting scopes are a vital ticket to getting the front row seat to the most intimate views of bird behavior—and they’re a great tool for guides wanting to give their guests an incredible birding tour. Participants learned the essential tricks of scope setup and how to manage scope usage within a tour group from the seasoned guides. Pro-tip: Set the height of the scope to accommodate the shortest person in the group! Getting the opportunity to practice these skills by locating seabirds (Royal Terns abounded!) amidst the sublime backdrop of Blue Hills Jetty at sunset was the ultimate plus.
Scope setup practice at Blue Hills Jetty.
Participant and guide/boat captain in training, Steffino Lightbourne, adjusts the scope to get a closer look at a Royal Tern perched at the end of the jetty.
Royal Tern, an easy tern to ID, thanks to its large size and bright carrot-orange big beak!
Sunset at Blue Hills Jetty was a sublime interplay of blues and golds!
Participant and Biology teacher Amanda Brittain consults her Seabirds of the Caribbean card for gull ID support.
Painting a picture: A lesson in interpretive guiding
Back in the classroom, interpretive trainers Beny and Rick, who work as guides in Panama, wowed the participants with in-depth sessions on the birding market, communication skills, and the principles of environmental interpretation*. Participants experienced theory put into practice with a birding field trip to Bird Rock Point Trail. Along this picturesque walk, which winds through a variety of terrestrial and wetland habitats, trainers led smaller groups through the nuances of how to manage a tour. Questions addressed included how to keep the group together; balancing the needs of photographers in the group with those more focused on birdwatching; and how to cater to different skill levels. These were interrupted by the ever-exciting, “Did you see that?!” Trainers and participants alike were thrilled to confirm a sighting of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak—a rare spotting for TCI!
National Association of Interpretation, Certified Interpretive Trainer, Rick Morales, introduces the class to Tilden’s Six Principles of Interpretation – and the quality that underpins them all!
Beny’s heard something! As he demonstrates effective birding guide leadership, Beny pauses the group along the Bird Rock Point Trail to investigate a curious sound!
Beny’s animated lessons kept our cohort in rapt attention.
Lisa talks species ID techniques with third-generation mariner, Captain Levardo Talbot and Kaja Ewa, guide and owner of Jedi Kiteboarding.
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!
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female – we spotted this rare migrant during the week and some of us had good looks at it! (Photo by Anthony Louviere)
Birds and beyond…
The training also featured guest lectures from Bryan Naqqi Manco, Assistant Director of Research & Development, DECR, and all-around skilled naturalist/ botanist, who had everyone leaning in with a fascinating presentation on TCI’s endemic flora and fauna, and Simon Busuttil, RSPB Turks and Caicos Operations Manager, who shared information about TCI’s birding sites and conservation issues and the ongoing East Caicos Wilderness Project. The goal of this Darwin Plus funded initiative is the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of this spectacular wilderness area, the last large-scale wilderness area in the British West Indies, for future generations to enjoy. Training local guides to interpret this area for visitors and locals alike is one of the goals of the CBT Guide Training Workshop. Participants were in awe when, on our field trip just following Bryan’s talk, we were treated to unexpected sightings of two endemics! As if to let us know that they wouldn’t be upstaged by all the birds—the Caicos Pygmy Boa, a TCI endemic, and the Tall Encyclia Orchid, a regional endemic, greeted us to gasps of surprise and appreciation along the Bird Rock Point Trail.
Naqqi’s presentation, “Nowhere Else,” was hailed as one of the week’s most revelatory talks – participants were amazed at how much they didn’t know about the familiar flora and fauna around them – and about how many incredible endemic species TCI boasts!
Can you see it? The Caicos Pygmy Boa can fit in the palm of your hand. The lucky spotting of this tiny TCI endemic caused a big stir among the team!
Simon’s presentation left everyone in awe of the wild beauty of East Caicos.
The Tall Encyclia Orchid is beautiful! But lean in closer and you’ll discover that its sweet scent is even more delightful. Participants reported notes of chocolate and vanilla.
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.
What they learned—five intense days and a multitude of birds later!
After four utterly packed days of learning from the trainers, it was time for the trainees to take the stage! To demonstrate all they had learned that week, the class was tasked with delivering their very own interpretive talk, flavored by their unique perspectives and life experiences. It was deeply rewarding to listen as participants took us on thoughtfully-constructed journeys of discovery. Talks tackled everything from the proper technique to ‘heron-walk’ through mangroves so that you don’t alert fish, a secret handed down through generations of expert bone fishers; to convincing everyone in the group that kitesurfing could easily become their next big adventure, no matter how intimidating it looks; to an inspiring talk about the value of mangroves with the memorable message, “Mangroves don’t need us, we need them.” After an emotionally-charged day of humorous, revealing, and deeply authentic presentations with strong messages, we were happy to congratulate all participants on achieving their Certificates of Completion with flying colors!
BirdsCaribbean is pleased to present our Caribbean Birding Trail 2023 cohort!
Rave reviews from the participants!
Participants emphatically agreed that the curtain had just fallen on one of the most enriching weeks of their lives. When asked what they most appreciated, enjoyed, or thought was best about the course, one participant commented, “The mix of different people and to be inspired by the facilitators to seek a profitable but sustainable way forward and also a healthy way forward for the spirit. The materials given were awesome! And more than I was expecting.”
“The content of the workshop was outstanding, presented at the right pace and by the best instructors,” said another participant.
One participant who had a lot of experience birding, but not extensive guiding experience explained, “This week was helpful to learn how to participate as a leader for touring, not just for birding, but tours in general.”
Another participant shared, “I think the most interesting thing I learned this week was that there is an entire philosophy behind interpretation—I was not aware of that—and that has really helped me to review what I do in my own tours and to mold them more expertly in the future. This training was really valuable to me—I’ve been guiding for 23 years and I’m really happy to not only learn more about it, but also what I can change to make my programs better! We have a huge opportunity for birding tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we have two endemic subspecies which can be seen nowhere else on earth and we have a couple of other near-endemics which are really easy to see here… Our missing cornerstone for the industry is trained guides—we hadn’t got any, and now we do!”
Keeping in touch—and thank you to our sponsors!
Since the workshop, a “Birdwatchers TCI” WhatsApp group has been formed with participants sharing every day what birds they are seeing, and getting help with bird ID as needed. The group has also planned field trips to continue practicing their bird identification skills—essential for becoming a knowledgeable guide. The group will use eBird Caribbean to document their birding, as well as participate in counts such as the Caribbean Waterbird Census, which will help us to learn more about the bird diversity and important sites for birds on TCI.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation (one of the main sponsors of the guide training) said that the Sandals Foundation was, “proud to support this program, which taught participants how to inspire people and engage audiences through storytelling aimed at preserving TCI’s incredible birds and nature.”
“Collectively,” Clarke continued, “We can build a stronger eco-tourism market in TCI that provides sustainable livelihoods and supports environmental conservation. Helping trainees learn about the bird tourism market and how they can tap into this rapidly growing and lucrative ecotourism sector will be beneficial for years to come.”
Lisa gets some help demonstrating field marks from Mary Fulford, Owner and Founder of Island Mystique Tours.
Participants were thrilled to receive copies of Birds of the West Indies.
Binocular setup. Trainers took participants through the steps of adjusting their new binoculars for their eyesight.
Bibo Jayne and Morgan Luker taking their new specs for a test drive!
A handsome Ovenbird spotted on the trail. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Levardo, Estefania, and Junel discuss the finer points of binocular adjustment.
The cohort listens in rapt attention as Lisa describes the work of BirdsCaribbean. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Jedi Kiteboarding owner Kaja Ewa looks at Brown Pelicans at Blue Hills Jetty.
Yellow Warbler at Bird Rock Trail. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
CBT Project Leader Holly Robertson flashes a smile!
Lisa and Levardo talk scope setup!
Spotted! Geneile Robinson (guide at Big Blue Collective) sports our Caribbean Endemics Love tote while sharing a light moment with Dr Dellareese Higgs (Turks and Caicos National Trust).
Beny teaches the class shorebird ID, while Dodley focus on getting the perfect shot!
A gorgeous Yellow-throated Warbler, North Caicos. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Estefania Arrocet, Partner at Caicos Media, enjoys the waterbirds on a class field trip.
Lisa gives the class one of the toughest pop quizzes of all! How many different species of shorebirds are in the picture?
Fan favorites! Black-necked Stilts at Wheeland Pond.
180 unique species found nowhere else in the world! Our Caribbean Endemics Love tote encourages us all to know, love and protect our region’s incredible biodiversity.
Cape May Warbler, North Caicos. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Shake on it! After receiving their certifications, it was time for some friendly sportsmanship – a spirited game of lightning speed “Name that Bird!” team competition. Lillan Russell and Dodley Prosper square off!
With her encyclopedic knowledge of Caribbean birds, BirdsCaribbean President Adrianne Tossas was a formidable competitor, paired here with budding birder, Estefania.
Competitors must name the bird before their opponent – but only if they grab the orange first! The game of speedy reflexes and quick wits had the class in an uproar! Ernacio Forbes and Morgan compete!
Our “Most Enthusiastic” participants show off their prizes! (Levardo and Kaja)
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).
Black Skimmers are tern-like seabirds with stark black and white plumage and a distinctive uneven bill.
While all birds are unique (of course!), Black Skimmers (Rhynchops niger) really stand out, with their long, knife-like, red-and-black bill with its unique long lower mandible. Unlike the related terns and gulls, eyesight is less important for catching prey; skimmers forage by slicing the water with their long lower mandible. Upon touching a small fish, their bill snaps shut to catch the fish. This feeding method allows for evening and nightly meals.
Dr. Kara Lefevre, now an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, became interested in skimmers while at Florida Gulf Coast University at Fort Myers, Florida. In their JCO article, “Insights from attempts to track movement of Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) fledglings in the southern Gulf of Mexico with automated telemetry and band resighting,” Lefevre and colleagues tested whether they could track the movements of 3-week old skimmer youngsters that were raised at two colonies in south Florida, close to the Caribbean. Learning about dispersal of young skimmers from natal colonies would be of great value to learn about population dynamics and design conservation measures.
Black Skimmer chick with nanotag attached to its feathers, St Pete Beach August 2018. (Photo by Kara Lefevre)
Tagged juvenile Black Skimmer at the breeding colony on Marco Island, August 2018. (Photo by Jean Hall)
Although Black Skimmers are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, skimmer colonies are negatively affected by human disturbance and modifications of their coastal habitat. Kara and her team attempted to use the Motus network to follow fledgling skimmers equipped with signal-emitting tags. Dr. Stefan Gleissberg, Managing Editor of JCO, asked Kara to tell us about her experiences while conducting her research—a more personal perspective that usually does not make it into an academic article.
How did you first conceive of this study, and what motivated you to conduct this research?
The Black Skimmer is known for its striking appearance and unique fishing behavior, and its large colonies along the Gulf of Mexico coast make it emblematic of Florida’s beaches. The proximity of Florida to the Caribbean makes it an interesting place to study skimmers because they occur across the Americas, yet little is known about juvenile dispersal and migration. We were interested in studying topics that support conservation of this majestic species while testing new methods of tracking bird movements.
Tell us about a memorable moment during field research or data analysis.
We witnessed many intense disturbances of these coastal breeding birds during our field studies. That includes human recreation along with major tropical storms like Hurricane Irma in 2017. A vivid memory is a prolonged Red Tide that was killing marine wildlife including skimmers and many other species of seabirds and shorebirds in southwest Florida in 2018. One day I was out surveying the colony at Marco Island from across a lagoon, and far in the distance noticed a large reddish hump on the shore that didn’t make sense. After zooming in with a spotting scope, I realized it was a dead beached manatee that was attracting scavenging animals. For me, that sad sight was emblematic of negative human impacts on coastal ecosystems, and a reminder of why we do this kind of research.
Dr Lefevre’s colleagues and volunteers reading Black Skimmer leg bands at the Marco Island colony, September 2018. (Photo by Kara Lefevre)
Tell us about a challenge you had to overcome; maybe an unexpected turn of events during field work or data analysis?
Working with finicky technology can create so many challenges! We faced hurdles related to permissions to do the research, technical challenges with setting up the array of telemetry stations, and storms that impacted receiving abilities. Probably the trickiest part was interpreting the data; we had to decipher whether automated telemetry detections in unexpected locations were actually real (spoiler alert: they were most likely false detections).
Dr Lefevre stops to take a selfie while manually tracking nanotagged skimmers at Marco Island.
A pair of Black Skimmers in flight.
Getting their toes wet during field work—co-author Adam DiNuovo surveying skimmers at Marco Island during low tide. (Photo by Kara Lefevre)
What are your hopes for what your research will lead to? Will this work impact your own research agenda going forward?
We hope this attempt to track juveniles will support broader study of skimmer dispersal and migration. In the years since we started our fieldwork, much of that is already underway. Newer and more powerful tracking technologies continue to develop rapidly, which is why researchers refer to this time as the “Golden Age” for bird migration research. In terms of my own research agenda, I plan to continue studies that support the conservation of seabird populations and their habitats while raising public awareness. The fieldwork for my PhD took place 20 years ago in Tobago—I would love to visit those rainforests again!
Black Skimmer and other seabird colonies can benefit from the use of modern tracking technologies that allow us to identify and protect important nesting and post natal habitats.
Anything else you’d want to share?
This is an exciting time for young people in the Caribbean who are interested in studying and protecting wildlife. With the availability of web conferencing and open tools, sharing of resources and expertise is easier than ever before. There is also growing attention to the need for training the next generation of conservation professionals in their places of origin—organizations like BirdsCaribbean are supporting that effort. Folks can also seek encouragement from professional groups that promote diversity and inclusion and provide resources for students and early-career professionals (see linked examples from the Society for Canadian Ornithologists, Association of Field Ornithologists).
In attempting to track the movements of Black Skimmer fledglings, Dr Lefevre’s findings raised several interesting questions—like why skimmer chicks from different colonies seem to move further south than others, and whether some skimmers might be moving from Florida even further afield to the Caribbean! Access Dr Lefevre’s full paper here to explore the study’s findings.
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology is a peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of ornithology within the Caribbean region. We welcome manuscripts covering the biology, ecology, behavior, life history, and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats. This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
The Peregrine Falcon is famously known as the fastest animal on Earth, reaching speeds of up to 240mph when in a dive. (Beth Hamel)
Birds of prey are magnificent, powerful creatures, with a mystique all their own. They play an essential role in Caribbean ecosystems. Sadly, however, their significance as the only native terrestrial predators in the region is often underestimated and misunderstood.
Hispaniola Program Director at The Peregrine Fund, Marta Curti, is one of those conservationists who believe that raptors don’t get the attention they deserve. To inspire others with her own personal passion for the birds, she has written a remarkable new 200-page publication entitled “Raptors of the Caribbean: Education and Conservation Resource Guide.” It is available in Haitian Creole, Spanish and English, and divided into four chapters, each including fun and enlightening educational activities and a learning evaluation. The guide covers identification of raptor species, conservation techniques, and—most importantly—explains “Why Raptors Matter.”
Cover of the new Raptors of the Caribbean Education & Conservation Resource Guide.
“I believe the completion of this guide is a major milestone for raptor conservation throughout the Caribbean,” says Marta. “I hope this guide will help in fostering passion and compassion for the region’s birds of prey and will inspire students, teachers, biologists, and others to work to conserve these amazing birds.”
The workshop includes hands-on, dynamic activities including constructing life-sized hawks using recyclable materials, participating in “raptor Olympics,” a “food chain relay race,” and putting on a play. Marta’s goal is to extend these workshops across the region—while at the same time “training the trainers” to continue teaching students, community members, and educators about the importance of our amazing hawks, falcons, and kites.
Nature sketching and bird observation. (Marta Curti)
Training Workshop practicing bird observation skills. (Marta Curti)
Building a life sized Ridgway’s Hawk out of recyclable materials (Marta Curti)
Caribbean birds of prey vary greatly in size, behavior, and their preferred habitats. Some are migratory or passage migrants, transiting through the region, such as the Peregrine Falcon itself, which may be becoming more common in urban areas. Another speedy and powerful hawk, the Merlin, also migrates from north to south in the winter. Others such as the American Kestrel and the Red-tailed Hawk are seen more often. While some raptors are quite adaptable to new environments, several endemic species and subspecies are in need of help: for example, the Ridgway’s Hawk, Cuban Kite, Grenada Hook-billed Kite, and Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk. Climate change, deforestation, hunting, and persecution are among the dangers they face.
The Ridgway’s Hawk is one of the most critically endangered raptors in the world, with fewer than 500 individuals remaining. (Dax Roman)
Merlin Female taking off. (Phoo Chan)
The American Kestrel is a more frequently seen migrant to the region. (Imran Ashraf)
Since the printing of the new guide, Marta has completed two training workshops for a total of 39 people, including teachers, field technicians with the Ministry of the Environment, biology students, and women from rural communities who she hopes to involve more in our conservation efforts through a Women’s Conservation Fellowship. One of the best comments we received from participants were: “These activities really show how much we know about the Ridgway’s Hawk,” and “I am so surprised about how much we have learned in just two days.” Another great comment was short and sweet, “I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time as I have during this workshop.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the workshops and/or how to access a copy of the Raptor Education Guide, please contact: Marta Curti
BirdsCaribbean is proud to support this groundbreaking initiative, through the Betty Petersen Conservation Fund; along with the VanTienhoven Foundation, ACSEH, and National Aviary and partners in the Dominican Republic: Fundación Propagas, Fundación Grupo Puntacana, the Dominican Republic Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, and ZOODOM (National Zoo of Santo Domingo).
In May 2022, amidst serious declines in global seabird populations, we announced that we were targeting 2023 for the launch of the first-ever coordinated Caribbean Seabird Census (CSC23). The goal was simple—protect seabirds by first improving our knowledge of where they are nesting in the region and their current breeding population sizes. By filling critical knowledge gaps, comparing today’s numbers with previous colony counts, and in some cases, establishing baseline data—the regional census program will give us the information needed to develop the advocacy, protection, and management actions that our seabird species need. Surveys of breeding seabird populations kicked off in Summer 2022, and it has been a whirlwind of a journey! Read on to find out how the Census has progressed across the region, how you can still participate in and support this critical work, and what’s next for the CSC!
Thanks to the incredible dedication of everyone involved, we are thrilled to announce that we are now receiving a steady stream of seabird breeding data from across the region. So far, we’ve gathered data from 58 different seabird breeding sites! Even more exciting is the overwhelming support we’ve received for this initiative, with over 36 collaborators from 27 countries and territories across the wider Caribbean region. These collaborators are actively preparing their data for submission or are currently engaged in conducting winter breeding seabird surveys. This includes some of the region’s critically important colonies of Magnificent Frigatebirds and several species of boobies.
Masked Booby adult and chick. (Photo by Ann Sutton)
Magnificent Frigatebird nesting colony. (Photo: Jeff Gerbracht)
The map below highlights the countries which surveyed seabirds between 2022-2023.
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.
From acoustic surveys of Audubon Shearwaters in Montserrat, to the impressive 3,861 breeding pairs of Magnificent Frigatebirds on Half Moon Caye in Belize, to the bustling Dog Island, Anguilla that supports more than 300,000 breeding pairs of seabirds of 9 different species, to collaborations that will cover most of the breeding sites in Guadeloupe and Martinique—our local partners have been working hard over the last few months to collect data.
Juliana Coffey identifying seabirds with seabird patrol volunteers, Union Island. (Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
Half Moon Caye, Belize.
Grenadines Guardians seabird survey. (Photo by Juliana Coffey)
In 2024, we will keep compiling and start to analyze this wealth of data. This work will continue to be a collaborative effort with our local partners across the region. Our focus will be on comparing populations to previous surveys, with the aim of uncovering trends in seabird populations. We will also work on estimating regional population sizes and identifying potential seabird breeding hotspots. This process will be informed by global and regional population estimates and thresholds. It’s an exciting journey of discovery, and we’re eager to share our findings with you.
We have identified some gaps
We understand that not everyone has been able to participate this year, and there are still some significant gaps in our data. Logistical challenges have prevented surveys of certain key sites, including the Morant Cays and Pedro Bank in Jamaica, but we’re actively planning to address these gaps in 2024. In The Bahamas, the sheer magnitude of surveying numerous islands within this vast archipelago, which stretches over 100s of kilometers, has proven challenging given other priority conservation commitments.
Despite these obstacles, we remain optimistic. We believe that we can still fill in big parts of these significant gaps and create a more comprehensive overview of the Caribbean’s breeding seabirds. If you have the ability to complete surveys in countries where our knowledge is lacking or if you are aware of important seabird breeding sites that haven’t been recently surveyed, please reach out to us. The more we can identify these gaps and the necessary resources to address them, the better equipped we will all be to make a significant impact in safeguarding these precious seabird populations.
If you have any question or need help with designing your surveys, don’t hesitate to reach out to our CSC Coordinator, Louise Soanes: caribbeanseabirdsurveys@gmail.com
You can still participate
It is not too late to get involved! If you need more information, please visit our Seabird Census webpage where you can find more information on survey techniques, field data sheets and standardized data entry forms. You will also be able to test your knowledge of Caribbean seabirds and field methods with our quizzes, which are linked to our webinar topics (you can find links all our quizzes and past webinars here)!
If you are an avid birdwatcher but conduct less formal seabird counts, we encourage you to share your eBird checklists of breeding seabirds (or any seabird sightings) with eBird username caribbeanseabirdsurveys.
What’s next?
We’ve got some exciting plans in the works. We’re planning a webinar in January 2024 to summarise and discuss the valuable seabird data we’ve gathered so far!
We will also organise a data analysis workshop at the upcoming BirdsCaribbean 24th International Conference in the Dominican Republic (DR) so that we can all get together to analyse, discuss and interpret the results as a group! Be sure tojoin our mailing list and follow us on social media at BirdsCaribbean for updates as the sessions are scheduled!
Whether or not you plan on contributing to the regional census or participating in the data analysis workshop, we warmly invite you to join us at the BirdsCaribbean conference in the DR from18-22nd July 2024. It’s an excellent opportunity to engage with the latest findings, enhance your skills, and be a part of our ongoing efforts to protect and conserve Caribbean birds.
As a growing non-profit organization operating across the entire insular Caribbean, we announced in April that we were seeking an Operations Manager who could support our day-to-day operations and contribute to the strategic growth decisions that underpin our mission, projects, and programs. We were looking for a candidate whose passions for finance, efficiency, and organization were complemented by a love for conserving our region’s unique biodiversity—when we met Alexia, we immediately knew that we had the perfect match!
Alexia Morales has over seven years of experience working in office administration. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Office Systems from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Digital Marketing from NUC University. Alexia volunteers as a Social Media Manager at ConservationOpportunity, a non-profit organization that connects people with paid and volunteer opportunities in the field of environmental conservation. Alexia says, “I’m thrilled to use my skills and passion for the conservation of birds to further the mission of BirdsCaribbean.”
Alexia has always gone beyond her duties to ensure the best outcomes and productivity in her professional career, but it is what she has accomplished in her personal life that really excited us about her alignment with the BirdsCaribbean mission! Alexia is an avid birder, and three years ago, she co-founded De Pajareo, a social media initiative aimed at educating about and promoting love for Puerto Rico’s avifauna. What started with a few followers and pictures of Puerto Rico’s beautiful island birds, grew into a community of over 1,000 followers and collaborations with other nature-centered organizations, including participation in an international initiative. Speaking about her passion for showcasing the beauty and importance of birds from the island through photography, Alexia emphasizes, “After all, we take care of what we love.”
We had to take the opportunity of welcoming Alexia to chat with her about her vision for her new role, her love for conservation work, and about her birding adventures!
BC: What motivated you to join the BirdsCaribbean team?
Alexia: As I developed my passion for birds, I got the opportunity to learn about BirdsCaribbean on social media. A friend told me that they were looking for an Operations Manager. When I saw the job description and duties, I accepted the challenge and applied. And here I am, in a dream job where I can use my professional skills and passion for birds to further BirdsCaribbean’s mission!
BC: What does a typical day as BirdsCaribbean’s Operations Manager look like?
Alexia: A lot of researching—asking myself what we can do to improve our operations. Some of my main responsibilities are tracking financial transactions, bookkeeping, and maintaining up to date records; ensuring compliance with regulations; developing policies and procedures; and giving support to the many programs that we have! This position requires a strong attention to detail, good communication with a diverse workforce, managing different tasks simultaneously, and a strong passion for our mission.
BC: How does strategic operations management contribute to mission success for non-profits?
Alexia: The operations are the heart of an organization! Operations gives structure and charts a clear direction towards success and accomplishment of one’s mission. Some of the main goals of strategic operations management are to maximize efficiency within the organization, increase productivity, and ensure the delivery of high-quality service and products. For a non-profit, it’s important to ask these questions: What can we do to improve? What do we need for success? Where are our growing opportunities? Are we in compliance with regulations? That’s how an Operations Manager gets involved and takes action! The operations must be aligned with the organization’s mission—and operations will pursue all the necessary tools to fulfill the mission.
BC: How do you spend your time after a busy week of managing BirdsCaribbean’s operational processes across the region?
Alexia: I love going birding and taking pictures of our amazing avifauna, going on road trips in my beautiful Puerto Rico, and connecting with nature as it gives you peace and restoration. I love getting involved with other organization’s activities such as beach clean ups. I also like to go camping and enjoy the starry nights. Last but not least, I love to travel and appreciate birds in other countries!
BC: We’re so happy to welcome a fellow birder to the fold—we’ve got to ask—can you share one of your favorite birding experiences with us?
Alexia: For me, all the birds were once just Rock Doves, Gray Kingbirds, and Greater Antillean Grackles—I didn’t know that Puerto Rico had so many species, especially endemics! Three years ago, I went birding for the first time in Utuado, a municipality in the center of the island, and I got my first sight of a Puerto Rican Bullfinch, Puerto Rican Tody, and a Puerto Rican Screech Owl. I was amazed and happy to see them. That’s how it all began. I was so excited that I started to do bird counts at home and found out that over 40 species of birds visited my backyard. I was very impressed. I recommend this activity to everyone as I consider it as the very best therapy.
The BirdsCaribbean team is thrilled to welcome Alexia to our flock!
Enjoy Alexia’s beautiful photography below. You can see more of Alexia’s work at De Pajareo on Instagram and Facebook!
Mangrove Cuckoo, Salinas, Puerto Rico. (Alexia Morales)
BirdsCaribbean is excited to invite applications to participate in a 5-day training workshop focused on the monitoring and conservation of landbirds in the Caribbean. Through a blend of classroom and field-based activities, this comprehensive workshop will cover landbird identification, monitoring techniques, eBird data entry, and more. The workshop will take place at Rancho Baiguate in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic from February 22-26, 2024.
Why do we need to monitor landbirds?
Our landbird species are declining, including many resident and endemic birds, as well as over 100 migratory species. Monitoring is essential to fill gaps in our knowledge about the status, trends, and habitat use of their populations.
This training workshop is part of BirdsCaribbean’s Landbird Monitoring Program that aims to build capacity to monitor and conserve landbirds in the Caribbean. The long-term goal of this program is to enhance full life cycle (i.e. year-round) conservation of Caribbean landbirds. Working with our many partners, we are building regional networks to increase landbird monitoring and research, raise awareness and appreciation of our landbirds, and enable on-the-ground conservation actions.
About the workshop
This “train the trainer” workshop is designed for Caribbean wildlife professionals and volunteers who are interested in expanding or establishing a landbird monitoring program.
The purpose of the workshop is to:
Share information on landbirds in the Caribbean and the threats that they face
Provide participants with the knowledge and skills to train a monitoring team and institute a sustainable, local landbird monitoring program
Inspire and facilitate landbird monitoring and conservation efforts, including raising public awareness, alleviating threats, and managing and restoring habitats
Build a regional network of people involved in standardized monitoring and conservation of our shared landbirds
Workshop participants will learn about the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) bird survey protocols. Developed in Latin America to target tropical habitats, the manual for these protocols includes detailed guidance on designing and implementing multi-level survey methods. The manual also incorporates the use of eBird as a user-friendly data entry and storage platform, and outlines occupancy-based analysis of monitoring data.
During daily field trips, we will practice landbird identification and survey techniques. After the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to apply for a small grant to implement or expand their own landbird monitoring and conservation projects, ideally including training of others in their organizaton or community.
Bicknell’s Thrush. Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, 80-90% of the total population winters on Hispaniola. (Alex Berryman – ML165158591)
Fieldwork in the beautiful countryside of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.
Hispaniolan Trogon perched in a tree. (Photo by Jose M. Pantaleon)
Topics to be covered in the 5-day workshop include:
Overview of the PROALAS Manual survey protocols
Guidance on how to design and implement a monitoring program
Field training to identify and count landbirds
Threats to landbirds and their habitats, and strategies to conserve and manage them
Case studies for successful landbird monitoring and conservation
Data entry and use of e-bird as a data storage platform
This workshop is the third in our series aimed at increasing Caribbean capacity to monitor and conserve our region’s landbirds. It will cover many of the same topics explored in our previous Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training workshops held in the Dominican Republic (February 2022) and St. Vincent (January 2023).
Funding and logistics
We are aiming to include approximately 24 participants in this workshop. BirdsCaribbean has funding for a limited number of need and merit-based scholarships to cover the costs of travel and participation. Participants who are able to contribute all or part of their costs can help us enhance the workshop content and allow us to include additional participants/trainers. We encourage applications from all candidates who are well suited to use this training to implement landbird monitoring programs on their home islands, regardless of their financial ability. Participants should plan to arrive in the Dominican Republic on February 21st and depart on February 27th.
Applications
If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out this form by December 1, 2023.
Rancho Baiguate is an eco-lodge in the Jarabacoa valley of the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic. At 500m elevation, Jarabacoa is known as the “city of eternal spring,” with warm sunny days and cool refreshing evenings. Rancho Baiguate is located on the Rio Baiguate, where participants can walk through restored riparian tropical forest and mixed edge habitat within sustainable agriculture. Birds abound in these varied habitats, and participants will easily see many of Hispaniola’s charismatic endemic bird species, including the two beloved todies (Broad-billed Tody and Narrow-billed Tody) and the national bird, the Palmchat. The town of Jarabacoa is an easy 5 minute drive from the lodge, and participants can visit any of the three stunning waterfalls nearby. Field trips may include visits to nearby reserves such as Ebano Verde. After the workshop, participants are welcome to extend their stay and try any of Rancho Baiguate’s adventurous activities including white water rafting, canyoning, or horse back riding. Come learn more about landbird monitoring with some of the Dominican Republic’s finest birds!
BirdsCaribbean would like to thank J.C. Fernández-Ordóñez for Spanish translation.
Oportunidad de adiestramiento: Taller de capacitación para el monitoreo de aves terrestres en el Caribe
BirdsCaribbean se complace en invitar solicitudes para participar en un taller de capacitación de 5 días centrado en el monitoreo y la conservación de las aves terrestres en el Caribe. A través de una mezcla de actividades en el aula y en el campo, este taller cubrirá la identificación de aves terrestres, técnicas de monitoreo, entrada de datos a eBird, y mucho más. El taller tendrá lugar en Rancho Baiguate en Jarabacoa, República Dominicana, del 22 al 26 de febrero de 2024.
¿Por qué necesitamos monitorear las aves terrestres?
Nuestras especies de aves terrestres están disminuyendo, incluidas muchas aves residentes y endémicas, así como más de 100 especies migratorias. El seguimiento es esencial para colmar las lagunas de nuestros conocimientos sobre el estado, las tendencias y el uso del hábitat de sus poblaciones.
Este taller de capacitación forma parte del Programa de Seguimiento de Aves Terrestres de BirdsCaribbean, cuyo objetivo es desarrollar la capacidad de seguimiento y conservación de las aves terrestres en el Caribe. El objetivo a largo plazo de este programa es mejorar la conservación del ciclo vital completo (es decir, durante todo el año) de las aves terrestres del Caribe. Trabajando con nuestros numerosos socios, estamos creando redes regionales para aumentar el seguimiento y la investigación de las aves terrestres, aumentar la concienciación y la apreciación de nuestras aves terrestres, y permitir acciones de conservación sobre el terreno.
Acerca del taller
Este taller de “formación de formadores” está dirigido a profesionales y voluntarios de la vida silvestre del Caribe interesados en ampliar o establecer un programa de seguimiento de aves terrestres.
Los objetivos del taller son:
Compartir información sobre las aves terrestres en el Caribe y las amenazas a las que se enfrentan.
Proporcionar a los participantes los conocimientos y habilidades para formar un equipo de monitoreo e instituir un programa local sostenible de monitoreo de aves terrestres.
Inspirar y facilitar los esfuerzos de monitoreo y conservación de las aves terrestres, incluyendo la sensibilización del público, la mitigación de las amenazas, y la gestión y restauración de los hábitats.
Crear una red regional de personas implicadas en el seguimiento normalizado y la conservación de las aves terrestres que compartimos.
Los participantes en el taller conocerán los protocolos de estudio de aves del Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS). El manual de estos protocolos, desarrollado en América Latina para los hábitats tropicales, incluye orientaciones detalladas sobre el diseño y la aplicación de métodos de estudio multinivel. El manual también incorpora el uso de eBird como una plataforma de entrada y almacenamiento de datos fácil de usar, y esboza el análisis basado en la ocupación de los datos de seguimiento.
Durante las salidas diarias al campo, practicaremos técnicas de identificación y estudio de aves terrestres. Tras el taller, los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de solicitar una pequeña subvención para poner en marcha o ampliar sus propios proyectos de seguimiento y conservación de aves terrestres, incluyendo idealmente la formación de otras personas de su organización o comunidad.
Zorzal de Bicknell. Clasificado como Vulnerable por la UICN, el 80-90% de la población total pasa el invierno en La Española.
Trabajo de campo en la hermosa campiña de Jarabacoa, República Dominicana.
Trogón de La Española perchado en un árbol.
Los temas que se tratarán en el taller de 5 días incluyen:
Descripción general de los protocolos de estudio del Manual PROALAS.
Orientación sobre cómo diseñar e implementar un programa de monitoreo.
Formación sobre el terreno para identificar y contar aves terrestres.
Amenazas para las aves terrestres y sus hábitats, y estrategias para conservarlas y gestionarlas.
Casos prácticos de éxito en el seguimiento y la conservación de las aves terrestres.
Introducción de datos y uso de eBird como plataforma de almacenamiento de datos.
Este taller es el tercero de nuestra serie destinada a aumentar la capacidad del Caribe para monitorear y conservar las aves terrestres de nuestra región. Cubrirá muchos de los mismos temas explorados en nuestros anteriores talleres de capacitación en monitoreo de aves terrestres del Caribe celebrados en la República Dominicana (febrero de 2022) y San Vicente (enero de 2023).
Financiación y logística
Nuestro objetivo es contar con aproximadamente 24 participantes en este taller. BirdsCaribbean cuenta con financiación para un número limitado de becas basadas en la necesidad y el mérito para cubrir los costes de viaje y participación. Los participantes que puedan contribuir con la totalidad o parte de sus costes pueden ayudarnos a mejorar el contenido del taller y permitirnos incluir más participantes/formadores. Animamos a presentar solicitudes a todos los candidatos que estén en condiciones de aprovechar esta formación para poner en marcha programas de seguimiento de aves terrestres en sus islas de origen, independientemente de su capacidad financiera. Los participantes deberán llegar a la República Dominicana el 21 de febrero y partir el 27 de febrero.
Solicitudes
Si está interesado en participar en este taller, complete este formulario antes del 1 de diciembre de 2023.
Rancho Baiguate es un eco-lodge en el valle de Jarabacoa de la Cordillera Central de la República Dominicana. A 500 metros de altitud, Jarabacoa es conocida como la “ciudad de la eterna primavera”, con días cálidos y soleados y tardes refrescantes. Rancho Baiguate está situado en el Río Baiguate, donde los participantes pueden caminar por el bosque tropical ribereño restaurado y el hábitat de borde mixto dentro de una agricultura sostenible. Las aves abundan en estos variados hábitats, y los participantes verán fácilmente muchas de las carismáticas especies de aves endémicas de La Española, incluidos los dos queridos todies (Broad-billed Tody y Narrow-billed Tody) y el ave nacional, el Palmchat. La ciudad de Jarabacoa está a 5 minutos en coche del lodge, y los participantes pueden visitar cualquiera de las tres impresionantes cascadas cercanas. Las excursiones pueden incluir visitas a reservas cercanas como la de Ebano Verde. Después del taller, los participantes pueden prolongar su estancia y probar cualquiera de las actividades de aventura de Rancho Baiguate, como rafting, barranquismo o equitación. ¡Venga a aprender más sobre el monitoreo de aves terrestres con algunas de las mejores aves de la República Dominicana!
Note that the same proposal cannot be submitted for more than one award in a given year.
BirdsCaribbean’s general Grant Application Guidelines are available here.
Learn more about the eligibility criteria of each program by visiting their respective websites.
Seeking Donors
BirdsCaribbean encourages others to consider endowments or other large awards to ensure that our grants programs continue indefinitely. You may also make a donation to support our work. BirdsCaribbean is a tax-deductible organization in the United States.
A Summer Tanager, a migrant to the Caribbean, is featured on our October Big Day 2023 promo graphic.
October Big Day comes just once a year!And it’s always about community, and our love of birds.
Here at BirdsCaribbean, we believe in October Big Day—which this year coincides with World Migratory Bird Day—WMBD (Saturday, October 14, 2023). It is an opportunity for birders across the region to focus, deploy those binoculars, cameras and scopes, and share information (especially on eBird Caribbean!)
Whether you are quietly observing from your verandah or balcony, on a family outing with the kids, or on an organized trip to a birding hotspot, we invite you to make the most of those 24 hours on October 14. But wait! Note that Global Bird Weekend is also happening over October 13, 14 and 15, which offers up even more possibilities. We are hoping that the world record created last October on Global Bird Weekend (and broken on May 13 this year for the Global Big Day) will be smashed once again. Let’s do it!
Where are the birds, and what are they doing?
Data collected on October Big Day will be used by birders and scientists to better understand and protect birds. This is also an opportunity for the individual birdwatcher to contemplate birds, their behavior, and the places where they may be found. For example, are there birds you are only likely to see in the late morning or early afternoon? And if so, are they at specific locations? Tanagers and bullfinches are often very active during the morning hours. As the day heats up, you may see raptors soaring above. Seagulls and shorebirds can be observed at almost any time of day. Migratory warblers generally show up in early morning or evening hours, feeding and bathing in suburban gardens and parks.
Make your birding count—submit & share your data!
Participating is easy with the essential tool, eBird, where you should record all the birds you see (and even hear) on Saturday 14th October via the eBird website or mobile app. If you’re in the Caribbean, be sure to use eBird Caribbean (and choose the eBird Caribbean portal in your eBird app settings on mobile). If you do not already have one, it’s easy to sign up for a free eBird account—here’s a quick guide on how to use eBird. Eager birders should spot as many birds as they can from midnight to midnight in their local time zone on October 14; or bird anytime during the weekend of Oct. 13-15 for the Global Bird Weekend. The handy mobile app allows you to keep and submit lists while you’re still out birding, perhaps exploring nearby Hotspots. It will even track how far you have walked while watching birds. Remember to submit eBird checklists before October 17, 2023 to be included in the initial results announcement!
Share your sightings with us, and join BirdsCaribbean!
We look forward to seeing your stories and photos on social media. You can find us on Facebook and on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @birdscaribbean. Be sure to tag us! If you’re not on social media, consider joining our discussion group where you’ll be able to share your October Big Day experience with over 850 members.
May we remind you that BirdsCaribbean membership has so many benefits; you will receive discounts on our products, workshops and conferences; meet and network with fellow birders, scientists, educators and conservationists across the region; and keep in touch with birding trends and news through our monthly newsletters (free sign-up here). Join us today and help us save our Caribbean birds and their important habitats!
See you on October Big Day 2023—and let’s see some birds!
Most importantly, have fun and don’t forget to tag BirdsCaribbean (@BirdsCaribbean) in your birding adventures! We can’t wait to see which of our migratory friends have arrived to the Caribbean!
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.
