Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: St. Lucia Warbler
This eye-catching little bird is endemic to the island of St. Lucia and locally known as “Sucrier babad.” The St. Lucia Warbler (Setophaga delicata) is a common bird on the island, it is found in most forest types but more so in middle and upper level forests. It can be identified by its bluish-gray upperparts, two white wingbars, bright yellow throat and underparts, broad yellow eyebrow stripe and cheek patch. It has a black crescent below the eye and a narrow black stripe on the edge of the crown. The tail is gray with white outer feathers. Females differ from males by having less white in the tail, and less pronounced black edging to crown stripe.
The only other species occurring in St. Lucia with yellow underparts are the Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petchia) and the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). The Yellow Warbler has yellow upper parts and under tail coverts, more plain yellow face, and no white wing bars. It is more commonly found in drier scrub & mangrove forests. The Bananaquit has a yellow rump patch, white eyebrow stripe, down-curved bill, and a small square patch on its wing. It is found in most forest types.
The St. Lucia Warbler is an active bird and can thus be difficult to spot, as it flits from branch to branch, searching for insects and spiders. It is a small warbler measuring between 12–12.5 cm. When in the forest, listen out for its song—a loud trill, variable in pitch and speed, which often ends in “which-you.” The call is a single loud sweet chip.
St. Lucia Warblers typically breed from March to June, but the seasons can vary based on nest success, the weather, and other variables. They commonly build their nests in the fork of a shrub or tree, in a thickly vegetated location. Nest heights range from 0.2m-6m. Nests are small, cup-shaped, made with fine grasses, and lined with feathers. They normally lay between 2-4 eggs, which are flecked with reddish-brown spots at the broad end.
Major threats to the success of St. Lucia Warbler nests are the Shiny Cowbird which may parasitize their nests, the Carib Grackle, who rob nests and eat the eggs, and drought. Although currently listed as a species of Least Concern, the long-term survival of this single-island endemic and most of our wildlife, is threatened by loss of forest habitats to development and climate change, which will likely increase droughts. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the St. Lucia Warbler
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the St. Lucia Warbler
The song of the St. Lucia Warbler is highly varied, with rich, liquid notes in a trill often ascending or descending at the end.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The St. Lucia Warbler or sucrier babad, is one of the most common birds on the island of St. Lucia. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix- Macaulay Library- ML20078251)St. Lucia Warbler. Although this bird not currently of conservation concern, one of the main threats to populations of St. Lucia Warblers is the loss of forest habitats to tourist developments. (Photo by Judd Patterson)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: There are many different warblers in the the Caribbean, as well as other small bird they might be confused with! Some warblers migrate and are only in the Caribbean for part of the year whilst others, like the St. Lucia Warbler are endemic! How much can you remember about warblers? Test your knowledge and see if you can pick our today’s bird in our Warbler Memory Matching Game!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a St. Lucia Warbler in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Jamaican Owl
The Jamaican Owl Pseudoscops grammicus and the Barn Owl Tyto alba, locally known as Patoos are probably the most misunderstood birds in Jamaica. Many people are afraid of them and will kill them on sight. These fears have their roots in local mythology. Some people think they are omens of death. Others think that at night the owls leave their skins, and turn into witches that fly around committing evil deeds. Therefore, they believe that if you find an owl, you should kill it, skin it, and put salt in the skin to prevent it from coming back.
In reality, the small and irresistibly cute little brown fluffy Jamaica Owls are uniquely Jamaican and ecologically important. Not only are they endemic to Jamaica, but there are no other species in the genus Pseudoscops anywhere else in the world! Their reddish brown plumage, with large jet-black eyes and distinctive ear tufts, make them unmistakable. The downy chicks are white and fluffy with huge eyes, like a baby Yoda.
During the day you might be lucky to spot an adult or a pair in a wetland, dry forest, montane forest, wooded pasture, or a garden. They may be perched on a branch or twig, in the center or edge of a large tree, such as an old West Indian Cedar Cedrella odorata, which is covered with bromeliads – anywhere where there are trees that are large enough to support their nests. Nests can be in cavities in trees, or under a bromeliad. Jamaican Owls lay two eggs but usually only rear one chick, which will hang around and be fed by its parents for almost a year.
At dusk falls, the adults prepare for the evening’s hunt by preening, stretching, and calling. The calls are deep and rasping – something between a silky “wow” and a bark. If you listen carefully you may hear them calling to each other. Unlike people, the male makes the higher pitched call. The juvenile’s begging calls are high-pitched and very loud. The parents respond by flying out of the roost trees to capture insects, lizards, tree frogs, mice, small birds, and even an occasional bat.
Although they are harassed in many places, Jamaican Owls are common in suitable habitats, especially mid-level wooded pastures, where every karst hilltop may support a pair or a family group of two adults and a juvenile. Owls play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the forests, and enrich the experience of visiting forests. They deserve to be better understood. This means more environmental education, better protection of habitats, and increased enforcement of the laws that protect the species.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Jamaican Owl
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Jamaican Owl
The calls of the Jamaican Owl include a low hoot, as well as a “wa-waaa-o” growling sound (see amazing video below).
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Jamaican Owl. This unmistakable bird, with black eyes, and a rufous overall coloration can be found in open woodland, forest edge, open parkland, and even gardens. (Photo by Matt Grube)
Jamaican Owl are generalist predators, the will eat insects, spiders, rodents, lizards and tree frogs. (Photo by Matt Grube)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Time to get active and play our fun “Hide and Squeak” Jamaican Owl game! For this game you will need four people to play – one ‘Owl’ and at least three people to be ‘hunted’ as different types of animals that the Owl would eat. You will also need:
Something to act as a blindfold for the ‘owl’ (if you don’t have a blindfold you could us a scarf of cloth etc.)
A marker pen
Some name tags
How good are you at finding ‘prey’ only using your ears? You can play more than once, taking it in terns to be the ‘owl’!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Jamaican Owl in the wild! You will hear the ‘growling’ noise that these birds sometimes make.
Take a virtual camping trip in Jamaica and discover more about the Jamaican Owl in this colourful and fun ‘Zine’ made by Sarita Emmanuel for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival in 2021.
Sustained harassment of nesting Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe, in recent years, has resulted in the abandonment of the largest colony of this species in the French Caribbean islands. BirdsCaribbean is greatly concerned by this unfortunate development and urges French authorities to take action to stop any harassment and ensure the birds return to breed in this important colony. (en français ci-dessous)
Brown Pelicans in the Caribbean rarely nest in urban settings, and yet this colony is just a few steps away from both a library and primary school. BirdsCaribbean regrets that the pelican colony in Le Gosier did not receive adequate consideration and protection from the local authorities of the town that proudly takes its name from the Brown Pelican. This indeed is a missed opportunity for education where, with the right will and incentives, the name-sake of the town can turn a human-wildlife ‘neighborhood dispute’ into a source of pride for the small town of Le Gosier.
A pair of Brown Pelicans cares for its three young chicks in the Le Gosier colony, during the 2013-2014 nesting period (Photo by Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles – Régis Gomès).
History of Brown Pelicans on Guadeloupe
Part of the pelican Le Gosier colony during the 2013-2014 breeding period (Photo: Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles – Régis Gomès). Note numerous chicks (white plumage with brown wings) on nests – a sign of a healthy and fully functional colony.
Brown Pelicans were extirpated from Guadeloupe in the 19th century following hunting and persecution. Low numbers nested in the archipelago in 1984 and 1996 but the species only resumed breeding permanently in 2007. This is the same year that a few nests with chicks were rediscovered at the Le Gosier colony. From a handful of nests in 2010-2011, this colony increased in size to reach a maximum of 117 nests in 2016-2017, covering a large area on the spectacular sea cliffs of Boulevard Amédée Clara. This made it one of the largest nesting colonies of Brown Pelicans in the Lesser Antilles. It hosted as many breeding pairs as the other three colonies known to have re-established in Guadeloupe combined, and represented the largest colony of this species in the French Caribbean islands. In fact, the town of Le Gosier takes its name from “gwan gosyé”, the traditional Créole name for the Brown Pelican. This majestic bird is also the town’s emblem and, as such, appears on numerous buildings and monuments.
For the first time since 2007, Brown Pelicans did not nest at the Le Gosier colony in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. This fact was brought to the attention of BirdsCaribbean in November, 2020 by the Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles (ASFA). Visits by rangers of Parc National de la Guadeloupe in December 2020, and by Association AMAZONA in January 2021, confirmed the abandonment of this breeding site. Visits by ASFA in early 2022 confirmed that Brown Pelicans did not renest in 2021-2022.
“When, in 2007, we announced that we had discovered a Brown Pelican colony in Le Gosier, we thought it would stimulate decision-makers to make the return of the Brown Pelican in Guadeloupe a success. The loss of this colony is a resounding defeat for the recovery of this species.” — Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles
As early as 2014, ASFA alerted relevant French authorities of the potential human-wildlife conflicts that could arise from the growth of the colony, but no action was taken by the administration. Indeed, intentional disturbances directed at the nesting Brown Pelicans accelerated. ASFA shared with BirdsCaribbean that, over the years, people were observed deliberately and regularly throwing rocks at nests from both the top and bottom of the cliffs; demolition works directly above the colony repeatedly disturbed pelicans during nest initiation; and vegetation that supported nests was cut or degraded before or during the breeding season. Although the Arrêté du 17 février 1989 makes it unlawful to hurt or kill pelicans and their chicks or eggs, it does not protect them against disturbance (whether accidental or intentional), nor does it protect their breeding and resting sites from intentional destruction.
Estimated sizes of the Brown Pelican population in Guadeloupe between 2011 and 2021. Counts of fledgelings, and resulting estimates of productivity, were only carried out until 2018. (Data from Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles.)
The failure of France to curb these threats to a protected species partly results from the long-overdue revision of this arrêté, stuck in negotiations. BirdsCaribbean urges the French government to hasten the acceptance of the revision of Arrêté du 17 février 1989 to actually provide full protection to the Guadeloupean birds it seeks to protect. Furthermore, the Brown Pelican colony of Le Gosier did not receive the protection it needed from French authorities as pledged under the SPAW protocol, despite France being a signatory and ratifying country, and Guadeloupe hosting the offices of the Regional Activity Centre that oversees its implementation.
“The case of the Brown Pelican is a good example: France should make a priority of revising our weak national regulations. It could also easily compensate for the loss of breeding habitat for the Brown Pelican by protecting îlet Rousseau, a public land with strong potential not only for pelicans, but also for Magnificent Frigatebirds.” — Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles
Brown Pelicans breeding at the Le Gosier colony during the 2013-2014 nesting period. In the upper left corner, note the three big chicks sharing a nest – a sign of a healthy and fully functional colony. (Photo by Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles – Régis Gomès).
Next Steps
The Brown Pelican colony at Le Gosier was a jewel of Caribbean wildlife, one that was enjoyed by local people and visitors alike, but no longer – it only took only a few misplaced acts to destroy it.
BirdsCaribbean calls on the government and local administration to:
1) investigate and document what happened to the colony in 2020-2021;
2) put into place an action plan to avert a similar tragedy happening in 2022-2023 and the future;
3) monitor the areas where Brown Pelicans return and nest again, ensuring that they are not disturbed;
4) educate the local community to instill pride in the town’s name-sake, showing that it deserves our protection;
5) complete the revision of the Arrêté du 17 février 1989, and ensure that adequate legislation is in place to protect wildlife from disturbance and destruction.
En Francais
BirdsCaribbean est extrêmement préoccupée par l’abandon en 2020, 2021 et 2022 de la colonie de nidification de pélicans bruns du Gosier, en Guadeloupe, suite à des dérangements prolongés.
BirdsCaribbean est extrêmement préoccupée par les dérangements répétés de pélicans bruns (Pelecanus occidentalis) nicheurs ayant eu lieu au Gosier, en Guadeloupe, ces dernières années. Ces dérangements ont provoqué l’abandon de cette importante colonie de reproduction durant les saisons de reproduction 2020-2021 et 2021-2022. Les autorités responsables doivent agir pour arrêter et prévenir tout dérangement, et assurer le retour en nidification lors de la saison 2022-2023. Ceci aura des bénéfices économiques et pédagogiques pour la commune du Gosier. Dans les Caraïbes, les pélicans bruns nichent rarement dans des zones urbaines : malgré tout, la colonie ayant subi les dérangements n’est qu’à quelques pas de deux écoles et d’une médiathèque, dans une ville qui prend son nom de ces mêmes pélicans !
Photographie 1: Un couple de pélicans bruns s’occupe de ses trois jeunes poussins à la colonie du Gosier, pendant la saison de reproduction 2013-2014. (Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles – Régis Gomès).
Histoire des pélicans bruns en Guadeloupe
Pour la première fois depuis 2007, les pélicans bruns n’ont pas niché à la colonie du Gosier en 2020-2021 et 2021-2022, une information que l’Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles (ASFA) a partagé avec BirdsCaribbean dès novembre 2020. Des visites effectuées par des gardes du Parc National de la Guadeloupe en décembre 2020, et par l’Association AMAZONA en janvier 2021 ont confirmé l’abandon de ce site de nidification. Des visites de l’ASFA début 2022 ont montré que les pélicans n’avaient pas re-niché en 2021-2022.
Photographie 2: Une partie de la colonie de pélicans bruns du Gosier, pendant la saison de reproduction 2013-2014. (Photo: Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles – Régis Gomès). Noter les nombreux poussins (plumage blanc et ailes brunes) sur les nids, signe en bonne santé écologique.
Le pélican brun a été éradiqué de Guadeloupe au cours du XIXième siècle par la chasse et la persécution. Des effectifs limités ont niché sur l’archipel en 1984 et 1996 mais l’espèce n’a recommencé à nicher de façon permanente qu’en 2007. Cette même année, des nids avec des poussins étaient découverts à la colonie du Gosier. De quelques nids en 2010-2011, cette colonie a ensuite gagné en taille pour atteindre, à son maximum, 117 nids en 2016-2017, utilisant alors une grande partie des falaises spectaculaires du Boulevard Amédée Clara. Ceci en faisait l’une des colonies de nidification les plus grandes des Petites Antilles. Elle abritait autant de couples nicheurs que les trois autres colonies recensées en Guadeloupe combinées, et était alors la plus grande colonie de cette espèce dans les Antilles françaises. La ville du Gosier prend justement son nom du “gwan gosyé”, le nom créole du pélican brun. Cet oiseau majestueux est aussi l’emblème de la ville et, en conséquent, il apparaît sur de nombreux bâtiments et monuments.
“En annonçant, en 2007, que nous avions découvert une colonie de pélicans bruns, qui plus est, dans la ville du Gosier, nous pensions susciter une mobilisation des décideurs pour que ce retour de l’espèce en tant que nicheuse sur l’Archipel guadeloupéen soit un succès. L’abandon de la colonie sonne le glas d’une pleine reconquête de l’espèce.” —Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles
Menaces sur le pélican brun des Caraïbes
Malgré sa présence familière sur nos côtes, la population caribéenne du pélican brun est toujours considérée comme à risque dans la région. Elle est aussi listée comme strictement protégée au titre du protocole SPAW, protocole dont la France est signataire. En Guadeloupe, les pélicans bruns nicheurs sont listés comme Vulnérables sur la Liste Rouge des Espèces Menacées de France et sont protégés par l’Arrêté du 17 février 1989. En vertu de cet arrêté, toute forme de destruction, capture ou enlèvement de cet oiseau marin, de ses œufs ou de son nid est interdite.
Dès 2014, l’ASFA a alerté les autorités françaises compétentes des potentiels conflits qui pourraient découler de l’expansion de la colonie de nidification du Gosier, mais l’administration n’a pris aucune mesure. Au contraire, les dérangements intentionnels envers les pélicans bruns nicheurs se sont accélérés. L’ASFA a d’ailleurs informé BirdsCaribbean que, au fil des ans, des personnes ont été observées en train de jeter des pierres sur les nids, depuis le haut et le bas des falaises, de manière délibérée et régulière ; des travaux de démolition juste au-dessus de la colonie avaient dérangé les pélicans à plusieurs reprises au commencement de la nidification ; et la végétation sur laquelle les nids étaient construits avait été coupée ou dégradée avant ou pendant la saison de reproduction. L’Arrêté du 17 février 1989 rend illégal la destruction et la mutilation des pélicans, de leurs poussins et de leurs oeufs, mais il ne les protège pas des dérangements (accidentels ou intentionnels), et ne protège pas non plus leurs sites de reproduction et de repos de destructions intentionnelles.
Figure 1. Effectifs de population du pélican brun en Guadeloupe entre 2011 et 2021. Les comptages de jeunes à l’envol, et les estimations de productivité en découlant, n’ont pas pu être effectués après 2018. Données : Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles.
L’incapacité de la France à limiter ces menaces à l’encontre d’une espèce protégée est en partie le résultat de son incapacité à réviser l’Arrêté du 17 février 1989. BirdsCaribbean exhorte donc les autorités françaises à finaliser la révision de l’Arrêté du 17 février 1989 afin de véritablement offrir l’entière protection de la loi aux oiseaux de la Guadeloupe que cet arrêté prétend protéger. Par ailleurs, la colonie de pélicans bruns du Gosier n’a pas reçu la protection des autorités françaises, en directe opposition avec le protocole SPAW qu’elles ont pourtant signé et ratifié, et malgré le fait que les bureaux du Centre Régional d’Activité qui supervise la mise en application dudit protocole se trouvent en Guadeloupe.
“Cet échec est un bon exemple : la révision de la réglementation nationale devrait être la priorité de la France. Il serait aussi facilement réalisable de compenser les pertes survenues sur la colonie du Gosier en protégeant l’îlet Rousseau, un terrain public à fort potentiel non seulement pour les pélicans mais aussi pour les Frégates.” — Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles
Photographie 3: Des pélicans bruns en nidification à la colonie du Gosier, pendant la saison de reproduction 2013-2014. (Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Faune des Antilles – Régis Gomès). Dans le coin en haut à gauche, noter les trois grands poussins dans un même nid, un signe d’une colonie en bonne santé écologique.
BirdsCaribbean regrette que la colonie du Gosier, qui est située face à la médiathèque et aux écoles du Boulevard Amédée Clara, n’ait pas reçu une considération appropriée de la part des autorités locales d’une ville qui emprunte fièrement son nom au pélican brun. Nous regrettons, par ailleurs, que cette opportunité pédagogique et économique ait étée négligée : avec des bonnes intentions et des soutiens adaptés, l’espèce qui prête son nom à la ville aurait pu transformer un “conflit de voisinage” entre humains et faune sauvage en une source de fierté pour la petite ville du Gosier.
Prochaines étapes
La colonie de pélicans bruns du Gosier était un joyau de la faune des Caraïbes, autant appréciée par les locaux que par les visiteurs, mais elle n’existe plus : il n’a fallu que quelques actes déplacés pour la détruire. Par conséquent, BirdsCaribbean demande au gouvernement français et aux administrations locales de
1) enquêter et documenter ce qui est arrivé à la colonie de pélicans bruns du Gosier en 2020-2021 ;
2) de mettre en place un plan d’action pour éviter qu’une tragédie similaire ait lieu en 2022-2023et dans le futur ; 3) de suivre les zones où les pélicans bruns pourraient revenir et nicher, afin d’assurer leur protection ;
4) de développer des programmes pédagogiques à destination des communautés locales, afin d’inspirer de la fierté pour l’espèce qui prête son nom à la ville et de montrer qu’elle mérite notre protection ; et
5) de finaliser la révision de l’Arrêté du 17 février 1989 et de s’assurer qu’une législation appropriée soit en place pour protéger la faune sauvage des dérangements et des destructions.
En attendant de recevoir de vos nouvelles rapidement, je vous remercie pour votre assistance.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Bahama Swallow
On the most northern islands of The Bahamas, this acrobatic bird can be seen flying low over the roads, fields, and other open habitats. Its ability to twist and turn at the last second is truly impressive – the fighter jets of the bird world. Is it just showing off? No, the Bahama Swallow (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis) is hunting, grabbing unlucky flying insects directly out of the air.
But if a Bahama Swallow will sit still long enough, the stunning beauty of this Bahamian endemic will blow you away. The deep metallic green on its crown and upper back fades into dark blue, and then into grayish-brown on its long wings and forked tail. These gorgeous colors contrast sharply with the purest of whites on the throat and belly, which continues under part of the wing. The white under the wing, along with a more deeply forked tail, can help distinguish it from its close relative, the Tree Swallow.
During the breeding season (March – July), this special bird can only be found on three islands in the Northern Bahamas – Grand Bahama, Andros, and Abaco. Along with New Providence, these islands are the only ones in the Bahamian archipelago that contain large areas of Caribbean pine. During the non-breeding season, a few birds may wander south to other islands in the Bahamas, to northern Cuba, and the Florida Keys. More study on the species’ movements are needed!
The swallow has a strong connection with this unique and magical pine forest habitat. The species is a secondary cavity-nester, meaning that it will only build a nest in a cavity (i.e., a hole of some kind), but it cannot create this cavity for itself. Luckily for the swallow, two woodpecker species — the Hairy Woodpecker and the West Indian Woodpecker — are very good at making nesting cavities in dead trees. After the woodpeckers are done with them, the swallow can jump in! But it is generally safer for swallows to use the cavities in the pine forest, usually made by the Hairy Woodpecker, where they are less exposed to competition and predation.
The Bahama Swallow is an Endangered species, and its survival depends on healthy pine forest and woodpeckers to continue to make nesting cavities. The largest threat to the swallow is habitat loss from development and natural disasters like hurricanes. For example, in 2019, Hurricane Dorian destroyed huge sections of pine forest habitat on Grand Bahama and northern Abaco, where swallow populations were already small. So protecting the pine forest on Abaco and Andros is more important than ever to conserve this special bird!Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Bahama Swallow
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Bahama Swallow
The song of the Bahama Swallow is a jumble of liquid notes, they also have a “chet-chet” call which can be heard in this recording.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Bahama Swallow swoops low to the ground, they hunt on the wing feeding on small flying insects such as flies and beetles. (Photo by Brendan Fogarty)
A flock of Bahama Swallows take a rest in a pine tree. Bahama Swallows will make their nests in cavities in trees, using the needles of the Caribbean pine as nesting material. (Photo by Walker Golder)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Bahama Swallows feed on insects, swooping through the air to catch them on the wing! Can you help this hungry Bahama Swallow find its way through our maze to to grab some tasty insect food? You can find the correct route here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Want to find out more about the Bahama Swallow and what it is like to study these beautiful little birds? Read all about the work of ecologist and ornithologist Maya Wilson. Maya’s graduate research was focused on understanding more about the status and breeding biology of this endangered island endemic. In her blog post below you can share a day in the field with Maya as well as learning more about the fascinating research she carried out in the Bahamas.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Orangequit
This energetic, busybody darting around the canopy is hard to identify at first. Is it another little brown bird? It stops at a flower and the sunlight hits it just right, showing a shimmering blue bird. It’s an Orangequit (Euneornis campestris)! This bird is endemic to the island of Jamaica and is the only member of the genus Euneornis.
When you hear the name Orangequit, the image the mind produces is a small orange bird. Although it is in fact a small finch-like bird, measuring only 14 cm, its only orange coloration is a brick orange throat in males. The males are striking and distinctive from the females. They are almost entirely a shimmering slaty-glossy gray-blue. This coloration shifts along a spectrum from slate-gray to vivid blue, depending on the lighting, and can appear black in poor lighting.
The females have medium-brown back, wings, and tail, blue-gray crown, and gray underparts that become more brownish or yellowish toward the belly. Immatures resemble females but are browner where the female is gray. Immature males resemble adult females but often have small patches of colorful feathers – most commonly on the coverts, chest, or throat. Males take two years to develop their characteristic plumage.
Another key indicator is its distinctive bill which is fairly long but thick, sharp-tipped, and slightly decurved. This precision instrument is used to access nectar, blooms, seeds, and fruits as they are typically seen contorting on vegetation in order to achieve the best angle to feed. Those lucky enough to live in or adjacent to Orangequit habitat can attract them with cut fruit – they particularly enjoy slices of orange. They’re found in montane forests, tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded forests. Their call is a high, thin “tsit-tsit,” with the second note louder and higher in pitch, plus a thin, descending whistled “swee.”
Orangequits breed from April to June. Their nest is a very well concealed, deep, and roughly built cup – usually 6m above the ground, sometimes in bunches of seeds or in a large leaf. The females lay between two and four eggs that are white with reddish-brown and gray-brown markings.
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Orangequit
The song of Orangequit is a series of thin high-pitched “tsit-tsit” notes.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Female Orangequit. The female of another Jamaican bird, the Jamaican Euphonia, is superficially similar. But she will have a stubbier bill and a greenish back (Photo by Dave Curtis).
Male Orangequits are a shimmering slaty-blue with a distinctive brick-orange throat, but they can appear to be completely black in poor lighting. (Photo by Eric Hynes)Juvenile (female) Orangequit at Rockland’s Bird Sanctuary Jamaica. (Photo by Piet Grasmaijer, Macaulay Library ML116254561)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Orangequits love to eat nectar but they also enjoy juicy fruits! Why not try making this orange cup bird feeder? You can can fill it with pieces of fruit and perhaps a few seeds for your other backyard birds. Hang in your garden to keep your feathered friends well fed. Not in Jamaica – the home of these colourful little endemic birds? No problem, other fruit lovers that that live near you, such as orioles and many other types of wild birds, will love this feeder! Hang it out, fill it with food and see who comes to visit for lunch. Remember that this activity involves using scissors and knife, you will need an adult to help with making this.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: If you don’t have Orangequits that visit your garden you can still enjoy this video of a male Orangequit in the wild!
At the start of the pandemic backyards became the birding hotspots. Around the world people set up feeders and bird baths. The Caribbean was no exception to this trend. In Jamaica when Stuart Reeves learned that he had to be quarantined at home for 14 days, he was struck with the same question so many were asking themselves, “What to do?” Read about how he used that time to get to know and photograph the birds that visited his backyard get some inspiration and insider tips on how to attract, observe, and photograph your backyard birds! You can make your own bird bath following these instructions from our Cuban Oriole post
It’s coming soon! And we are excited, as the printing presses are whirring.
BirdsCaribbean partners and citizens of all ages from across the Spanish-speaking islands can look forward to enjoying the Spanish language version of our popular Endemic Birds of the West Indies Coloring Book, which will soon be ready for ordering. Translations of the English text by Mark Yokoyama are by Juan Carlos Fernández-Ordóñez and Maydiel Cañizares, with the appealing illustrations by Christine Elder waiting to be colored.
Back and Front Covers of the Endemic Birds of the West Indies Colouring Book in Spanish.
“The book is at the press now,” confirmed Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, Lisa Sorensen. “We are very grateful to all those who have contributed and supported this publication, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service International Programs, the Cape Cod Bird Club, and of course our members and generous donors.”
The book contains all the same artistic and educational material as the English language one, with an additional section explaining the birds’ scientific names. It also gives reasons for and provides details of how and why different local names are often given to the same bird in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. For example, in Cuba the West Indian Whistling Duck is called the Yaguasa. In Puerto Rico it is known as the Chiriría, and in the Dominican Republic people call it the Yaguaza. This can be confusing! In the book, the scientific name is written in italics after the common name of each bird.
“We will be shipping hard copies to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic (and sending copies via courier to Cuba) as soon as the book is printed, hot off the press,” said Lisa Sorensen. “We are happy that this lovely book will be reaching a much wider audience, and we look forward to the feedback from our Spanish-speaking friends.”
Note: The French version of the coloring books will also be available soon!
How to obtain copies of Birds of the West Indies Colouring Book in Spanish
You can download the colouring book for free on our Resources page.
If you are an educator working for an NGO or government in the Caribbean and would like to receive one or more boxes of the coloring book, please contact info@birdscaribbean.org. To save on shipping costs, we are aiming to limit the number of shipments per country. We ask for help with distribution by a local institution to NGOs and governmental ministries for use at bird and nature education events.
Help us get these books to children across the islands!
We need your help to ship this book to the islands, as well as funding support to print the French version. If you would like to help, please click here. No donation is too small!!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Eastern Chat-Tanager
If you find yourself birding on the high elevation mountain forests of Cordillera Central, Sierra de Neiba, and Bahoruco Oriental, on the island of Hispaniola, keep an eye out for the elusive Eastern Chat-Tanager! It is a shy, ground-dwelling bird that can be hard to see, but easily heard singing at dawn.
The Eastern Chat-Tanager is a medium size bird, a bit smaller than a Mockingbird, with a long tail and strong long legs and feet. It is dark olive-brown above, with a white throat and grayish underparts, yellow eyering, and a spot of yellow at the bend of the wings, which is hardly seen. It often sings from a low perch within dense vegetation – an emphatic, clear whistling “chip-chip-swep-swep-swep” or “chirri-chirri-chirri-chip-chip-chip,” repeated many times.
Eastern Chat-Tanagers are usually seen in pairs, foraging on or near the ground, searching through the leaf litter. They feed primarily on insects and small invertebrates, and a small amount of fruit. This species is often observed flying short distances, close to the ground, across a narrow path or trail, from one patch of vegetation to an adjacent one.
Endemic to the island of Hispaniola, the Eastern Chat-Tanager is quite a unique bird. It belongs to the Caribbean endemic bird family, Calyptophilidae, from the Greek word Calyptophilus (“loving to hide”). There are three (3) recognized subspecies. Information on the Eastern Chat-Tanager is limited, due to its secretive nature and hard to navigate habitat. To date, only one nest has been described and published.
The Eastern Chat-Tanager is uncommon on Hispaniola with a limited distribution. Its conservation status is considered to be Near Threatened by the IUCN, due to habitat fragmentation and destruction—mostly from uncontrolled logging and the clearing of forests for agriculture.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Eastern Chat-Tanager
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Eastern Chat-Tanager
The song of the Eastern Chat-Tanager is a whistled and sometimes variable “weet-weet-werp chip-cheep-sweet…” which can end with a short trill.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Difficult to spot and endemic to the island of Hispaniola, the Eastern Chat-Tanager belongs to an endemic bird family of the Caribbean, Calyptophilidae, from the Greek work Calyptophilus (“Loving to hide”). These birds are shy ground-dwellers. (Photo by Lev Frid- Macaulay Library- ML396347981)
Eastern Chat-Tanager perched low in the forest vegetation. The main threats to this species are likely to be loss of forest habitats through logging and the clearing of wooded areas for agriculture. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Eastern Chat-Tanagers are shy and secretive birds. They spend a lot of their time looking for yummy worms and other tasty insects on the ground, amongst the dense forest vegetation. Their colours also make them blend in with their surroundings. All of this means that these birds are really hard to find in the forest! Can you spot all 15 hiding Eastern Chat-Tanagers? When you think you have found them all, check the answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: These birds are hard to spot but you can enjoy this short video below and get a glimpse of an Eastern Chat-Tanager in the wild!
The Eastern Chat-Tanager was one of several Caribbean endemic birds spotted by participants during our recent landbird monitoring workshop, held in the Dominican Republic! In February 2022 we brought in 26 participants and 8 workshop leaders representing a total of 16 countries to immerse themselves in landbird monitoring methods! We chose the scenic valley of Jarabacoa known for its stunning landscapes and birds. From the classroom to the forest, the workshop provided participants with the knowledge and confidence to train a monitoring team and institute a sustainable, local landbird monitoring program in their home countries using the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) Manual and bird survey protocols. Find out more about this fantastic and exciting workshop, and our landbird monitoring program below.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Cuban Oriole
The Cuban Oriole (Icterus melanopsis) can only be found and admired in the Cuban territory, including the main island, the Isle of Youth, and most of the adjacent cays. It was considered a subspecies of the Greater Antillean Oriole, but recently earned its distinction as a unique jewel of Caribbean avifauna. Both males and females are mostly black, with a bright yellow rump, thighs, shoulder patches, and undertail coverts. Juveniles are yellowish-green with a blackish throat.
The Cuban Oriole is commonly found in pairs and lives in a variety of habitats—from natural and secondary forest, to shrub vegetation, and rural and farm areas. Scientists believe that, like its cousin the Puerto Rican Oriole, both males and females sing complex and diverse musical notes. You can enjoy this melodious song in the form of long and short whistles early in the mornings. Fruits, insects, flowers, and nectar comprise its regular diet—this bird is not picky!
During the breeding season, from February to July, Cuban Orioles show off their engineering skills. Both parents build a most-elaborate nest in the form of a globular basket, with a side entrance, woven with fibers of palm fronds. It is suspended from the underside of branches and big leaves of trees. This provides a secure home for the chicks which will hatch from three greenish white eggs, speckled with lilac gray and olive markings.
Even though it is considered a common resident in Cuba, in some places, it is becoming hard to find and populations may be declining. More study is needed, but scientists believe the cause of this apparent decline is nest parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). Additionally, its beautiful song makes it susceptible to being trapped and kept as a pet, an ongoing challenge for bird conservation in Cuba. We can all help to conserve this charismatic endemic, and many others, through education and advocacy for the protection of birds and their habitats. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Cuban Oriole
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Cuban Oriole
The song of the Cuban Oriole is series of clear upslurred and down-slurred whistled notes.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Until recently considered Cuban Oriole was considered as a subspecies of Greater Antillean Oriole. But this is now treated as four species – with one each on the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico (Photo by Neil Hilton)Male and female Cuban orioles look very similar, but juveniles, as in this photo, are largely yellow-green. (Photo by Greg Lavaty)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: You can’t have a bird-friendly garden without a spot for the birds to drink from, bathe in or just cool themselves down on a hot day. Like humans, all birds need a reliable source of clean water. Follow our instructions and you can make your own bird bath using materials from around your house and yard. You will need, an old garbage bin lid, flower pot drip tray or serving tray; rocks or pebbles; any size and color tomato cage and wire cutters. As this activity involves using wire cutters you will need to ask an adult to help you.
Once you have made your bird bath make sure that you follow our “Keeping your bird bath safe for the birds & you” tips. By frequently changing the water and keeping your bird bath clean you should be able to provide a place for the bird in your garden to enjoy and for you to enjoy the birds!
Enjoy the video below of Cuban Oriole enjoying a tasty meal of some flowers!
Find out how BirdsCaribbean has been increasing bird tourism capacity in Cuba through the Caribbean Birding Trail Guide training program. Cuba has 26 endemic birds, engaging with visitors to the Island to help them to understand the secret lives of these birds is a special skill. In October 2017 the Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training course taught 26 persons how to connect visitors with the cultural and natural resources of the island. Read more about it in this account from course participant, Mariana Pedraza.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature” Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Olive-capped Warbler
Hopping from pine tree to pine tree and crowned with…well, an olive-yellow colored cap, the Olive-capped Warbler is a lively little Caribbean endemic bird.This warbler is found only in pine woodlands where it feeds on insects and other tasty morsels of arthropods. It is restricted to two countries in the Caribbean: Cuba and The Bahamas. In the Bahamas it can be found on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama while in Cuba it is restricted to the western and eastern parts of the island.
The Olive-capped Warbler has a yellow throat and breast, olive-yellow crown, slate-gray upper body, and two white wing bars. Also distinctive are the Olive-capped’s blotchy, black streaks on its sides and a plain face. It may sometimes be mistaken for either the Bahama Warbler or Yellow-throated Warbler because it is often difficult to spot its most distinctive feature – the olive-yellow crown – when it is perched high above in pine trees.
An interesting observation of this species is the relationship it has with its cousin, the Bahama Warbler. On Abaco, both species live in the same habitat and when the Bahama Warbler sings, its song excites the Olive-capped – sometimes leading to a chorus of responses to the Bahama Warbler’s song. It seems to be a big fan of the Bahama Warbler! Its song consists of a series of shrill whistled notes, descending in pitch and delivered fairly slowly, “wisi-wisi-wisi-wiseu-wiseu.” Call note is, “tsip-tsip-tsip,” repeated frequently.
The breeding season of the Olive-capped Warbler lasts from March to June. During this time, a cup-shaped nest is built and lined with soft feathers. Nests are usually located 2 to 15 meters above the ground in pine trees. Clutch size is two whitish, variably brown-spotted eggs.
Although listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, the population status of the Olive-capped Warbler is currently questionable. The pine forests of Abaco and Grand Bahama, where this bird lives, were severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane in 2019. Bird surveys done on both islands after the storm show that this species has not been seen on Grand Bahama since Dorian. However, when members of BirdsCaribbean visited Grand Bahama in February 2022 they reported that the pine forests are recovering nicely – many young pine trees are growing as well as the understory shrubs. It is hoped that over time, the forests will once again support a rich bird community, including the Olive-capped Warbler. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Olive-capped Warbler
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Olive-capped Warbler
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The song Olive-capped Warbler is a shrill, descending “wisi-wisi-wisi-wiseu-wiseu”.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Olive-capped Warblers are found only in pine forests. They like to remain high up in the trees, meaning the olive cap, this species’ most distinctive feature, can be difficult to see! (Photo by Eladio Fernandez)Olive-capped Warbler seen in Cuba where it is found in both Western and Eastern areas of the island. This Caribbean endemic can be also be found on in the northern Bahamas (Grand Bahama, Great Abaco and Little Abaco), however, it has not been seen on Grand Bahama since Hurricane Dorian devastated the pine forest and killed all the trees in 2019. (Photo Allan Hopkins)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Use the information above and the clues on the sheet to untangle our our word scramble – all about the Olive-capped Warbler, you’ll need to know about where is lives, what it eats and how it behaves. You can find all the answers to the clues here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: As well as living in the northern Bahamas this colourful gray and yellow Caribbean endemic can be found in parts of Cuba. Cuba is an fantastic location for seeing beautiful birds and hosts an amazing 28 cuban endemics. Find out all about our BirdsCaribbean bird tour to Cuba in 2016. Read about what birds did our group saw and which amazing places they managed to visit.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature” Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Lesser Antillean Saltator
The Lesser Antillean Saltator, as its name indicates, is endemic to the Lesser Antilles region. It lives on only four islands in the World: Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, and Saint Lucia.
This bird is not well-known because it has a dull olive-green plumage that makes it difficult to observe in the forested habitat where it lives. Its head has a whitish eyebrow stripe, underparts are whitish streaked with olive-green, and it has a large blackish bill with a yellow tip and gape. It shows a heavy black mustache stripe. Males and females look alike. Juveniles have duller facial markings and breast streaks. This Saltator is the terror of bird banders because of its powerful beak—it can be very painful if not handled properly.
Lesser Antillean Saltators can be found in mangroves, dry forests, swamp forests, and in urban areas. But they prefer to forage in trees rather than on the ground for fruits, buds, flowers, and sometimes insects. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse as it occasionally darts into gardens to feed on a bit of fruit – like papaya, guava, or mango.
One sure way to know if a Lesser Antillean Saltator is near is to listen for its distinct song—a series of harsh, loud notes that rise and fall and can be heard from very far away. Call notes include faint “tsi” and sharp “chink.”
The main breeding season is from April to July, similar to many other species in the Caribbean. The nest is built in the form of a cup using twigs and leaves. Clutch size; 2-3 light greenish-blue eggs with black lines concentrated at the blunt end of the egg. Both parents feed the chicks and remain with them for some time after they have fledged the nest.
The Lesser Antillean Saltator is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN and is considered fairly common on the islands where it occurs. However, it prefers to live in dry forests and lower elevation shrubs which are being cleared for agriculture and, on some islands, fuelwood.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Lesser Antillean Saltator
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Lesser Antillean Saltator
The song of the Lesser Antillean Saltator is a series of loud musical notes that rise and fall.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Lesser Antillean Saltator feeds on a coconut in St Lucia. (Photo by Steve Buckingham)
Lesser Antillean Saltator in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Breeding season for the Lesser Antillean Saltator is between February and August. This Caribbean endemic builds its nest as a deep cup made from twigs and leaves and will have two or three hungry chicks to feed once its egg hatch! These nestlings love to eat fruits as well as parts of flowers and plants. Can you help these Lesser Antillean Saltators find their way through our maze to fetch the delicious papaya to feed their chicks? You can find the correct route here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy the video below of a Lesser Antillean Saltator feeding! You can see this bird using its heavy black-and-yellow bill to pluck berries from this tree. Lesser Antillean Saltators feed mainly on plants matter, including fruits, buds, and some flowers and petals; they also sometimes eat insects.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Green Mango
Today, we’re in search of a Green Mango – and we don’t mean the well-known tropical fruit! The Green Mango (Anthracothorax viridis) is one of two endemic hummingbird species that inhabit Puerto Rico – the other being the Puerto Rican Emerald (Chlorostilbon maugaeus). A total of five hummingbird species can be found on the island, but they are segregated by geographical areas, elevations, habitats and preferences for flower resources. The Green Mango is a forest specialist, look for it in montane habitats, forest edges, and shade coffee plantations of the central and western parts of the island.
The Green Mango is a large dark-green hummer (11-12 cm, 6-7 g) with a black, down-curved bill, and rounded tail. Its upperparts are glossy emerald-green, underparts metallic blue-green, and tail metallic blue-black. The sexes look alike; the only difference is the presence of a tiny white eye spot in adult females.
The Green Mango might be confused with the similar-sized Antillean Mango which also has a curved, black bill. However, they are easy to tell apart. The Antillean Mango is lighter green above. The male has black underparts, iridescent green throat, and dark purple tail. The female is whitish-gray below with whitish tail tips. Although both species overlap in habitats at mid-elevation, the Antillean Mango is mainly found in the coastal scrub, open habitats and gardens at lowlands.
Green Mangos feed on insects, spiders, and nectar; and are particularly fond of Heliconia flowers. They are “trapliners,” which means that they forage on widely dispersed flowers that last only one day. Thus, they rely on extended blooming periods of individual plants. This species is the primary pollinator of flowers with long-tube corollas, like those of native bromeliads and Heliconias. They aggressively defend territories of flowering plants with high sugar content in the nectar (often red and tubular-shaped flowers). Males are known to defend their feeding area, often an entire flowering tree!
The female builds a cup-shaped nest with woven plant fibers lined with lichen. She lays two white eggs and incubates and feeds the chicks with regurgitated food, mostly insects. The chicks leave the nest when they are about 20 days old.
The Green Mango is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is a restricted range species, however, and thus vulnerable to impacts from severe storms and hurricanes, which may damage its habitats and food sources.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Green Mango
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Green Mango
The calls of the Green Mango include a high-pitched twitter and can also include rattling or chattering notes.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Green Mango in flight. As well as eating nectar from flowers, Green Mangos eat insects, often caught in the air, above tree tops. (Photo by Ricardo Sanchez)
Green Mango. Males and females of this species look very similar to each other. Males will defend a territory around flowering trees, sometimes defending an entire tree! (Photo by Jose Santiago- from the Macaulay Library- ML98678841)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Green Mangos love to feed on nectar! Why not try making this hummingbird feeder? You can can fill it with home-made nectar, and hang in your garden to keep the hummingbirds well fed. Be sure to follow our nectar recipe carefully so that your hummingbirds get the correct levels of sugar in their food! Not in Puerto Rico – the home of these beautiful endemic hummingbirds? No problem, hummingbirds that live near you will love this feeder! Hang it out, fill it with nectar and see who comes to visit for lunch. Remember that this activity involves using scissors and an electric drill, so you will need an adult to help with making this.
Once you have made your hummingbird feeder make sure that you follow the “Hummingbirds Feeder Tips” given in the instructions, so that your feeder is hung in the right place for the birds and is kept safe and clean for them to feed from.
Even if you aren’t able to make this feeder or don’t live in a place where there are hummingbirds you can still enjoy this video of a Green Mango in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature” . Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Ring-tailed Pigeon
If you are hiking or camping in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, you will likely see the Ring-tailed Pigeon flying gracefully across the valleys, awakening the forest with its resonating calls. The National Park, as well as Cockpit Country, are Protected Areas – providing a safe haven for this beautiful bird. One of Jamaica’s 29 endemic bird species, it is also the largest pigeon native to the Caribbean, measuring up to 48cm (approx. 19 inches) in length.
Living up to its name, the Ring-tail has a dark band or ring around the upper parts of its light gray tail. This is most visible in flight as it likes to flare its tail, especially as it approaches to land. The dark tail-band can sometimes be hard to spot when the bird is perched; but its large size and pinkish head and underparts, contrasting with the dark gray wings, are easy to identify. Look for its bright red eyes and short dark bill. The back of its neck reflects metallic bluish-green colors. You may hear it calling softly: “oooOOO-hooo,” or a throaty “croo-croo-croooo.”
The Ring-tail’s main habitat is the interior wet broadleaf forests along Jamaica’s spinal ridge. The wet limestone forest of the Cockpit Country and Blue and John Crow Mountains are where it is most at home, nesting in mid-canopy in tall trees between March and September. Ring-tails often descend to lower elevations in cooler months and move higher into the mountains during the summer.
The Ring-tail feeds exclusively on small fruits. Some of its favorite feeding trees include Jamaica’s native trumpet tree and hogberry. Some introduced berries, such as cheeseberry, wild raspberry and billberry may also be on its menu. Surprisingly, in 2021 it was seen going to ground and feeding on vegetables in farmers’ fields.
Illegal hunting is a concern for this species because of its large size, its flocking tendency and seemingly nonchalant demeanor. This, along with habitat loss from agriculture and mining are the main reasons the Ring-tailed Pigeon is considered vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Ring-tailed Pigeon
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Ring-tailed Pigeon
The calls of the Ring-tailed Pigeon are a soft repeated, “oooOOO-hooo, oooOOO-hooo.”
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Ring-tailed Pigeons feeds on small fruits. Some of its favorite feeding trees include Jamaica’s native Trumpet Tree and Hogberry. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)
A small group of Ring-tailed Pigeons perched in a pine tree. Look for the banded tail, this feature is unique among pigeons in its range (Photo by Paul Jones)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Ring-tailed Pigeons love to make their homes in the humid broadleaf forests of Jamaica’s mountains. Sadly, numbers of Ring-tailed Pigeons are decreasing and this bird is considered to be a vulnerable. Read the text above, all about Ring-tailed Pigeons, carefully and find out what the threats to this beautiful bird are. Then take a look at this image and circle all the things you can see in it that would a danger to Ring-tailed Pigeons. Think about where these birds live and what they eat. Once you think you have found them all you can check your answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy the video below of Ring-tailed Pigeons in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature” Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Broad-billed Tody
Who’s that beep-beeping in your Dominican yard?? It’s the Broad-billed Tody!
The Broad-billed Tody looks similar to the other todies of the Caribbean, with a bright green back and ruby red throat. However, Hispaniola is the only island with two todies to tease apart instead of one. Where to start? First look at the breast, the Broad-billed Tody has a gray-yellowish wash on the breast whereas the Narrow-billed Tody has a stark white breast. Next check the iris, the Broad-billed Tody has a dark iris contrasting the pale blue of the other species. Finally, look at the namesake bill, the Broad-billed Tody of course has a broader bill that is pale orange underneath whereas the Narrow-billed Tody has a narrower bill with a dusky underside.
If you’re still stumped, take a listen. The Broad-billed Tody gives a monotonous whistled terp-terp-terp-terp call, similar to that of a peeping chick, as well as a chatter call reminiscent of their Kingfisher cousins. The Narrow-billed Tody sounds drastically different, making a succinct staccato call and an insect-like chi-cui sound.
The Broad-billed Tody is the only one of the two species to do a wing flick display, which sounds like running your fingers through a comb. But if you get them really mad they’ll do a threatening fluff display where they’ll take their cotton candy pink flank feathers and fluff them over their wings. The angriest colorful cotton ball you’ve ever seen!
Broad-billed Todies are found throughout Hispaniola at lower elevations in humid tropical forest, dry forest, mangroves, and fragmented landscapes. As their Dominican name implies, the Barrancolí can be found creating nest burrows in dirt banks. And they’re not picky! They’ll take a pile of dirt behind your house or the slope from a recently made trail. They usually nest from April – July, laying 3-4 eggs. They are avid insectivores, constantly sallying from small perches to catch anything flying from mosquitos to butterflies. Interestingly, todies change their diet during the breeding season to include more local fruits and have been found foraging on as many as 27 different kinds!
Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive with increasing urbanization, but they’re still losing habitat to deforestation and face nest predation from invasive mammals like rats and mongoose. Although currently considered by the IUCN as Least Concern, we definitely want to keep an eye on these adorable fluffs. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Broad-billed Tody
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Broad-billed Tody
The Broad-billed Tody makes repeated and persistent “terp, terp, terp….” calls.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Broad-billed Todies are insectivores and you might see one sallying out from its perch to snatch its insect prey out of the air. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Broad-billed Tody. Hispaniola is the only island with two todies the Narrow and Broad-billed. Don’t just look for the broader bill you can also tell the two apart by looking for the distinctive dark iris of the Broad-billed Tody and gray-yellowish color of the breast (not white like the Narrow-billed). (Photo by Tony Pe)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Can you find the words in our Broad-billed Tody word search? Remind yourself of some of the interesting facts about this endemic bird as you look for all 15 hidden words! Remember the words appear forwards and backwards, as are horizontal, vertical and diagonal! Need some help? Or want to check your answers? You can see where all the words were here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Read all about the problems that invasive mammals can cause to breeding Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies in the Dominican Republic. Holly Garrod explains from her first-hand experience, how species such as rats and mongooses could cause decreases in the populations of Todies by predating their nests. Find out more about Holly’s research on Todies in our blog post (link below).
Enjoy the video below of a Broad-billed Tody in the wild! List out for the persistent and slightly disgruntled sounding calls that are typical of these colourful little birds.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature”. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Cuban Bullfinch
You’re walking through a scrubby forest and suddenly you see a blur of black zip by and land in a thick shrub. You hear it calling, a series of short, repeated tsee notes. What could it be? Finally, it pops out – a small, chubby, black bird with a short, thick, curved bill and bright white band on the wing edge. It’s a Cuban Bullfinch!
Despite its name, the Cuban Bullfinch is not found only in Cuba, it is also found on Grand Cayman. The male of the Cuban subspecies, called Negrito, is shiny black while the female and juvenile are duller black with a smaller white wing patch. The Cayman subspecies, called Black Sparrow, has a slightly larger bill and the female is a paler slate-gray-black tinged with olive.
The Cuban Bullfinch is found all across Cuba, the Isle of Youth, and surrounding coastal cays, from sea level up to mid-elevations in different kinds of forests. It is usually absent from open areas and cultivated fields. On Grand Cayman, it lives in woodland, dry shrubland, buttonwood and mangrove edge, rough pasture and inland gardens.
It feeds on a great diversity of fruits, seeds, flower buds, and nectar. In fact, 72 plant species have been recorded in its diet! Small insects are also a tasty meal. During the breeding season, from March to August, Cuban Bullfinches are usually found in pairs. Leaves, grass, twigs, vines, roots, hair, and feathers are used to build a large globular nest with a side entrance. Females lay three to five greenish-white eggs with reddish-brown spots. Both parents feed the chicks.
The Cuban Bullfinch is among the greatest singers of the forest. Its song is a soft and melodious trill that descends and then ascends in pitch, ‘ti, ti, ti, ti, si-sssiiittt-sssiii.’ Although not studied, its song repertoire is said to vary in different parts of Cuba. Males sing most frequently in the breeding season, especially when determining territory boundaries, during flying displays, and nest construction. Although it is considered by IUCN as a “Least Concern” species, Cuban ornithologists have categorized the Cuban Bullfinch as “Near Threatened” in the “Red Book of Cuban Vertebrates” due to growing demand for wild caught birds in the live song and caged bird trade.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Cuban Bullfinch
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Cuban Bullfinch
The Cuban Bullfinch has a trilling and melodious ‘buzzy’ song that descends and then ascends in pitch at the end, ‘ti, ti, ti, ti, si-sssiiittt-sssiii.’
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Cuban Bullfinch male in Cuba. Note the glossy black plumage and white wing border, usually showing prominently in males but not so much in this photo. (Photo by Greg Lavaty)Cuban Bullfinch female in Cuba. Females and juveniles are duller black and have a less prominent white wing patch. (Photo by Mario Olteanu)Cuban Bullfinch male on Grand-Cayman. He is black with a greenish gloss and has a prominent white wing border. Note that the Cayman subspecies has a slightly larger and heavier bill than the Cuban subspecies. (Photo by Ray Robles)Cuban Bullfinch female on Grand-Cayman. Her color is dull slate-black tinged with olive. (Photo by Ray Robles)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Get creative and try singing (or playing a musical instrument) like a bird! Be inspired by the lovely song of today’s bird the Cuban Bullfinch, or one of our other featured endemic birds or get outside and listen out for the sounds the birds are making and create your own birdsong! You can download our instructions here to help you make some melodious bird-inspired tunes.
Please note that by submitting your video you give BirdsCaribbean consent to use your photos and/or videos on our website and social media accounts.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy the video below of a Cuban Bullfinch! Filmed in Cuba, this striking black-and-white bird is taking a break from singing and is busy feeding on seeds.
Sadly, the song of the Cuban Bullfinch makes it, and other song birds in Cuba, vulnerable to the increasing threat from capture and illegal bird trafficking. Catching and keeping wild birds in cages is a common and widespread tradition in Cuba that dates back to the colonial days of Spanish rule. The birds, including migrants, residents, and endemics, were kept as pets in families and communities. In recent years, however, the trapping of wild birds has increased dramatically. BirdsCaribbean and its partners are deeply concerned by the number individual and range of species being trapped and have called on the Cuban Government to do much more to protect their resident and migratory wildlife. You can read more in our blog post below, which is also available in Spanish.
A brand new Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) competition is here! Sharpen your pencil, polish your pen, hit the keyboard—we are hosting a Story and Poetry Competition! Storytelling is one of the great Caribbean traditions. Only a few would call themselves storytellers but we know everyone has a story to tell. We are calling on the Caribbean community to write about a unique, but factual, experience that you have had with a bird or birds that reflects our theme, Loving Birds is Human Nature. Lee las guías de la competencia en Español aquí.
It could have happened in your backyard, nearby park, garden, wetland, forest or anywhere! It could be about the first time you really noticed a bird and got hooked on birding, or about how birds have changed your life in some way, or an unusual or special encounter that you had with a bird. We’re looking for uplifting stories that express our connection to birds and nature and what your experience revealed to you personally. Featured stories and poems will be published in an electronic booklet, shared on our blog and social media and there will be prizes!
Vervain Hummingbird feeding its chick. (Photo by Tony Pe)
Observing birds from a safe distance.
Prizes:
All winning poems and short stories will be published on the BirdsCaribbean website and awarded Amazon eGift cards. The top three poems and short stories will each receive gift cards in the amounts listed below (for a total of 6 prizes):
1st prize- $75
2nd prize- $50
3rd prize- $25
Need some help getting started?
Nature is often a source of inspiration for writers. If you can get outside to write a poem or true short story, by all means do! But even if you’re stuck indoors, tap into your memory to head back to a place and time where you had a memorable experience with birds in your backyard, neighborhood park, forests or wetlands.
Share this experience with us, through poetry or a true short story. It does not have to be profound but should allow readers an insight into your thoughts, feelings and surroundings. We hope to collect a variety of poems and stories about different birds throughout the region.
Judges will be looking for originality, voice, and a poem or story that holds the attention of the reader by making use of imagery.
Carib Grackle singing in a tree, Saint Lucia.
Important Dates:
Submission deadline for both poems and true short stories: Wednesday 25th May, 2022 at 11:59PM EST
Rules (General):
The competition is open to any Caribbean national, aged 16 or over at the time of entering.
*We welcome submissions to the contest from all the insular West Indies including: The Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands), the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Children and adults from other countries are most welcome to write and share their poems and short stories with us, to be included in the e-book, but only nationals from the countries/ islands listed above are eligible to be part of the contest.
2. Participants may enter ONE poem OR ONE true short story.
3. Works of fiction involving mythical creatures, alternate reality, superhuman powers etc., will be disqualified.
4. Submissions should be typed (Font: Arial, Font size: 12), single- spaced, titled and saved as a Word file.
6. Under no circumstances can poems and short stories be edited once submitted.
7. Submissions must not be published, self-published or published on a website or social media before Sunday, April 24, 2022.
8. The copyright of each submission remains with the author. However, by entering the competition, authors grant BirdsCaribbean permission to publish and/or broadcast their poems and true stories on the BirdsCaribbean website and social media and in an electronic booklet, produced by BirdsCaribbean.
Pair of Cuban Parakeets. (Photo by Sergey Uryadnikov)
Put pencil to paper and get creative!
Rules (Poems):
Poems may be in English, Spanish or French.
Poems can be written in any poetic style.
All poems must have a title.
Poems must be at least 10 lines and not exceed 30 lines in length (excluding title). Lines should not exceed 40 characters (including spaces between words).
Poems must be entrants’ original work. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in immediate disqualification.
Rules (True Short Stories):
Short stories may be in English, Spanish or French.
All stories must have a title.
Stories must be at least 450 words (1 page) and not exceed 1,000 words. Please check your word count. Submissions above the word limit will be disqualified.
Short stories must be entrants’ original work. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in immediate disqualification.
We will accept photos and artwork of birds, natural areas, and communities featured in both poems and short stories. They may be original work or participants must obtain permission to use the photos and/or artwork. However this is completely optional and will not be used during judging. Therefore they must be emailed as separate attachments.
Participants are also encouraged to share with us an audio recording of their poems and stories. The recordings are completely optional and will not be used during judging. All that is needed is a smartphone or laptop capable of recording audio.
All suitable submissions will be shared after the CEBF 2022 on the BirdsCaribbean website and social media accounts, in addition to an electronic booklet.
Use your laptop to help those creative juices flow.
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher on a fence.
Guidelines and Tips for Creating a Recording of Your Story or Poem (optional)
Instructions for content:
Have fun! Remember this is not a school project or work assignment.
Speak in your native language; if possible, please send us the English script (if English is not your first language).
First, introduce yourself: your name and where you’re from.
Then, let us know how birds inspire you.
Finally, recite your poem or short story.
Instructions for your audio recording:
You can use a smartphone or tablet to record your audio.
Record your audio in a quiet room
Please try to keep your recording under 10minutes.
Use headphones to listen to your audio recording. This will help you to hear any other noises the device picked up during the recording like mic pops, room noise or echo.
Audio recordings must be sent in one of the following formats: MP3, M4A or AAC
Recordings must NOT contain:
Copyrighted material (such as music tracks) without the necessary authorizations.
Material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene or hateful.
Instructions for sending us your recording:
Email audio file, consent form (if needed), and English script (if needed) to Aliya.Hosein@birdscaribbean.org.
For adults, by submitting a recording you give BirdsCaribbean consent to use the file for purposes specified above.
For those under the adult age in your country, the minor’s audio recording must be accompanied with a consent form signed by a parent or guardian – download the form here.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2022 is “Loving Birds is Human Nature” Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Endemic Bird of the Day: Pearly-eyed Thrasher
Meet the “supertramp” of species—the Pearly-eyed Thrasher! This belligerent and highly intelligent bird is found throughout many islands in the Caribbean basin, including The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, many Lesser Antilles Islands, Bonaire and Curacao. They occupy a variety of forest and scrub habitats from seashore to mountain tops. They also live in urban areas, farms, and orchards where they take advantage of crops, fruit trees, and man-made structures for nesting. Like a popular Caribbean phrase, the Pearly-eyed Thrasher is a ‘sometime-ish’ bird—sometimes bold and vocal and other times shy and secretive.
Pearly-eyed Thrashers measure ~11-12 inches in length. They are medium to dark brown on top, and white with brown streaking below. They might be mistaken for a close cousin, the Scaly-breasted Thrasher, but can be distinguished by their large pale bill and conspicuous pearly-white iris, as well as subtle differences in streaking (the Scaly-breasted Thrasher is barred, not streaked, below). Males and females are similar in appearance, though females tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles resemble adults.
Pearly-eyed Thrashers are a classic example of an avian “supertramp” – a highly successful generalist species that is able to colonize and exploit all available habitats, sometimes to the detriment of other resident birds. They feed on fruits, insects, small vertebrates, and even carrion. This famously aggressive bird also preys on eggs and chicks of other birds. Although they prefer to nest in cavities in trees, rock crevices and man-made structures, they may also build open-cup stick nests in trees, palms and other vegetation. In Puerto Rico, Pearly-eyed Thrashers compete for nesting cavities with the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Parrot.
Local names for these birds include Thrushie, Zorzal Pardo, Chucho, Truche, Grosse Give, Paw-Paw Bird, Sour-sop Bird and Mango Bird, the latter names for their deep love of these fruits.
Pearly-eyed Thrashers sing one to three-note whistled phrases all day and into the night in the breeding season. They also utter several rough, guttural calls, “craw-craw” and a harsh “chook-chook.”
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pearly-eyed Thrashers’ conservation status is listed as Least Concern. Their population sizes can fluctuate a lot, however, and they face predation by invasive species and habitat loss. Thus, they should be monitored, especially on small islands. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Colour in the Pearly-eyed Thrasher
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Pearly-eyed Thrasher
The song of the Pearly-eyed Thrasher is made up of slow whistled notes with one to three phrases.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
A Pearly-eyed Thrasher in the Dominican Republic. Across the Caribbean, this bird is known by more than 40 different local names in English, Spanish, Dutch, and French, including Creole and Patois! (Photo by Tony Pe)
A Pearly-eyed Thrasher seen perching in a Seagrape tree. It is similar to the Scaly-breasted Thrasher, but is larger with a longer yellowish to horn-colored (not black) bill, and has the distinctive white iris. (Photo by Francisco Alba)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: With lots more Caribbean endemic birds to enjoy and colour in during the coming weeks take a look at our colouring-in guide. This will give you some hints and tips on how to make your endemic birds look even more beautiful! Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Enjoy the video below of a Pearly-eyed Thrasher in the wild!
Daniela Ventura, a Cuban student and dedicated ornithologist, describes her impressions and experiences at BirdsCaribbean’s first Landbird Monitoring Workshop in the Dominican Republic this past February.
Daniela in the field in the DR. This was her first trip abroad from her native Cuba.(Photo by Daniela Ventura).
“What do you do for a living?” is among the top-ten questions you will be asked throughout your life, whether it comes from a stranger—like the immigration officer at the airport—or from close friends and even family. “I am an ornithologist,” is a tricky answer because, for most people, counting birds may not sound like a real job. In these situations, where you’re often met with a blank stare or a judging look, it’s best to respond with your sweetest smile – knowing that few people understand the complexity of the skills needed for proper bird identification in the wild. In the case of close friends and family, you can invite them on a field trip to become an “ornithologist” for one day. Then, you’ll only need to sit back and enjoy watching their eyes, as they are mesmerized trying to figure out and make some sense of so many shapes, colors, sounds, and behaviors.
Counting birds is not easy. And even less so if you’re trying to do it scientifically and methodically, to make a real impact on our understanding of bird population dynamics and aid in conservation. This was the purpose of my trip to the Dominican Republic from February 16th-20th, 2022 – to attend the first Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop. Bird lovers and conservationists from across the Caribbean gathered at the beautiful town of Jarabacoa to learn from experts how to count and monitor birds more efficiently and meaningfully. I consider myself lucky to have participated in this life-changing experience. In this blog, I will try to do this incredible training justice and translate into words the whirlwind of emotions, feelings, and events that come to my mind, when I recall those memorable and intense days. This is the account of “La Cubanita,” as the charming and welcoming Dominicans called me.
Adventure Awaits
Dominican Republic first impressions. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
My first memory of the Dominican Republic is dream-like. A foamy sea of golden clouds, tinged with orange and pink reflections, dotted at intervals by green-crowned mountains and river beds. Just as the sun was setting and the early stars appeared in the sky, I beheld the first lights of Santo Domingo. My heart was pumping fast. I couldn’t be happier. As a Cuban, I carry with me the Caribbean pride in my blood and soul. This, my first trip abroad, was taking me into the home of a sister island. I was ready to dive in and immerse myself with all my senses. I knew this would be a defining professional and personal experience.
What quirky turn of the road brought me here? I must say, I’ve found that the best things in life are the result of a perfect balance between perseverance and mere chance. Instead of worrying too much and asking oneself unhelpful questions like, “do I deserve this?” it’s better to be thankful, make the most of every opportunity, and be ready to do the same for others.
Santo Domingo lights to misty Jarabacoa mountains
A giant mural greets visitors upon arrival at the International Airport: “Las noches de Santo Domingo” (The nights of Santo Domingo). The welcome couldn’t have been more precise. My first contact with the city happened at dusk. I barely had time to make sense of the blurry city lights before the taxi hired to take me to the central mountains of the Dominican Republic whisked me away towards my destination. Three hours later, I arrived in Jarabacoa, “the land of waters,” named by the original inhabitants of the island. This name was also just right, as I was greeted by a cold drizzle and the humid air coming through my lungs. When I disembarked the taxi at Rancho Baiguate, almost everyone had already gone to bed. All but Maya Wilson, the tireless workshop organizer, who kindly welcomed me with a belated dinner, and my first taste of Dominican cuisine. For my hungry tummy, it felt like a kiss from home.
Maria Paulino and Ivan Mota, the local trainers, were also up late making the last arrangements for their early morning presentations. Maria’s big and warm smile swept away all the cold of the Jarabacoa night. This was the first time I experienced the world-famous hospitality and friendliness of the Dominican people. Over the next few days, I would have the huge privilege of enjoying such generosity on countless occasions.
The nights of Santo Domingo. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
The sound of the forest
I woke up very early the next morning. There was no use wasting time in bed, while there were so many things to see and learn. I dressed quickly, grabbed my binoculars, and stepped out of my room to greet the cloudy forest. It was cold outside, the leaves were heavy with dew. I took a few steps, and then it dawned on me – the forest looked familiar but SOUNDED so different. I was not able to recognize even one bird song. Even the common and widespread Red-legged Thrushes were speaking a totally distinct language. It felt so bizarre. Cuba and the Dominican Republic, both so close, and yet our shared birds were almost acting like different species. I had so much to see, and so much to learn. Still dazed by the discovery, I headed towards the conference facilities with my mind filled with expectations.
Rancho Baiguate in the morning, Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Sunrise in the forest. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Caribbean waves
The workshop had one major goal: to train participants in the use of the PROALAS protocol – a standardized set of survey methods for monitoring birds, specially designed for tropical habitats. Identifying birds in a Caribbean or Latin American rainforest can prove a hard pill to swallow for even the most experienced birder. But, before diving into the more difficult topics of the workshop, we had a lovely welcome session. The fantastic organizers, Maya Wilson, Holly Garrod, and Jeff Gerbracht did their best to make us feel at ease from the beginning.
Their jobs were made easier by two important elements. First, we were situated in the incredibly beautiful setting at Rancho Baiguate. We had the conference sessions at an outdoor facility next to the Rancho’s pool, and a few steps away from the Baiguate river and the cloud forest. It was easy to get distracted by the noisy Bananaquits and the purple shine of the Antillean Mangos.
During the first break, I skipped coffee and ran to the nearby trees to try my luck on lifers. I was extremely fortunate that the first bird I glimpsed was the stunning Black-crowned Palm Tanager, a Hispaniolan endemic! The bird kindly allowed me to enjoy its beautiful green-olive feathers and the black crown spotted with white that makes it look as if it has four eyes (“cuatrojos” in Spanish). I could have spent all day contemplating this fascinating bird, but a call from the conference room brought me back to reality. We had some PROALAS to learn.
PROALAS practice exercise (Pictured: Miguel Landestoy, Demonica Brown, David Walters, Holly Garrod, Ivan Mota, Laura Baboolal, Shanna Challenger, and Jilly Sarpong). (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
The second thing that made us feel at home from the start was the people. No matter where they were from in the Caribbean: the Dutch islands, the British, or the Spanish-speaking countries, it seemed as if the fact that all of us are bathed by the same warm and bright-blue Caribbean sea, magically turns us into a one-big family. After the initial presentations, we were all long-time friends. The shared passion for our birds and our unique ecosystems brings us together despite barriers of language or political systems.
The conference sessions started with an introduction given by Maya Wilson, the Landbird Monitoring Program Manager for BirdsCaribbean. I barely managed to keep seated quietly, because the excitement of being part of such a fascinating project was too much to handle for a ‘hatchling’ like me. While Maya was detailing the goals and scope of the program, my mind was racing, already picturing how much could be done across our islands with such a powerful tool, like PROALAS, to widen our knowledge of our resident and endemic birds. I was not alone in this. The discussions began just as soon as Maya finished her presentation. It was my first glimpse into the amazing community of conservationists gathered in the room.
I learned from the challenges that face birds and their habitats in small and tourism-driven islands like Aruba, Bonaire, or Trinidad and Tobago. I learned first-hand about the hard and successful work done in Antigua to get rid of some invasive species. I marveled at the community-based initiatives that organizations like Para La Naturaleza in Puerto Rico, and Grupo Jaragua and Grupo Acción Ecológica in the Dominican Republic are doing to increase awareness and engage local actors in conservation efforts. And that was just the beginning. Everyone had something to share and while sessions went by, the newly acquired tools made the debates richer and more stimulating for all.
But soon the talks delved into more detailed aspects of landbird monitoring. Entire sessions on the theory behind point counts and transects, survey design and bias minimization, distance estimation, and eBird as a tool for gathering scientific data, comprised most of the morning and afternoon classroom sessions. And of course, how could I forget the introductions into everyone’s favorite subject: statistics. Hopefully, you’ll notice my sarcasm in the last sentence. But I have to give credit to our outstanding teachers: Holly Garrod, Jeff Gerbracht, and especially to Ingrid Molina. Ingrid reminded us all that Costa Rica also shares some Caribbean waves and her special charm and her ease at teaching made it a lot easier for all of us, as we tried to grasp the essentials of occupancy models.
Class on Statistics. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Field activity at Ebano Verde. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Broad-billed Tody in a tree. (Photo by Zara Palmer).
Field Training or Boot Camp?
PROALAS is not a thing you can master just from a classroom. You will need field sessions and some hands-on practice to have a more complete understanding of how it works and how it can be effectively employed for addressing basic research or management objectives. Jarabacoa was the perfect setting for the workshop practice activities. It is home to incredible birds like the endemic Todies (two species!) and the Palmchat, with a variety of habitat encompassing recovered cattle pastures as well as well-preserved evergreen forests.
The morning and afternoon field trips were the most cherished moments of the day for me. They offered the chance to get to know my colleagues more closely and the opportunity to immerse myself in the stunning biodiversity of the Dominican Republic. To meet the first objective, I joined a different field group every time I could. I first hung out with the so-called ‘Latin team’ during the first bird ID training sessions. It was really chaotic for me trying to make sense of the different names we Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans have for the same birds. Bijirita, Ciguita, Reinita – all of them just for warblers. Sometimes we have the same names, but use them for different species, like the name ‘Ruiseñor’, which is the Dominican name for the Northern Mockingbird, while for Cubans it refers to our endemic Cuban Solitaire.
This cultural chaos was just superficial, however. The Latin team felt like home. The large group from the DR consistently exhibited the well-deserved fame of incredibly gracious hosts. I won’t single anyone out because they all, students and trainers alike, left such a profound impact on me that I don’t want to miss out any names. I learned from them all, and their sympathy and good humor made my days in the Dominican Republic one of the most precious memories of my short life. And what to say about the Puerto Ricans! Just that the motto that states that Cuba and Puerto Rico are the two wings of the same bird couldn’t be more accurate and meaningful in this particular setting.
Team Latino (L-R: Daniela Ventura, Omar Monzón, Alcides Morales-Pérez, Coral Avilés, and Pablo Feliz). (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Practice at Rancho Baiguate (L-R: Daniela Ventura, Tadzio Bervoets, Lauren Dombowsky, Kai Wulf, and Giancarlo Nunes). (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
The Latin team was surprised to see that I decided to spend some time with the Dutch Caribbean participants during the next morning’s field trip. I really enjoyed learning how culturally different we are despite being so geographically close. I also, at the cost of some personal embarrassment, realized there were islands which I had never heard of before, like Saba. Even though I felt bad about it, it was an invaluable lesson and represented personal growth. As a result, I updated my 2022 New Year’s resolutions: getting to know more of our Caribbean shared history, nature, and culture.
After a very productive training session establishing PROALAS point counts and transects, and my first time watching the Narrow-billed Tody, we were all back to Rancho Baiguate for more talks. The Latin team was waiting for me to rub my nose in the unique experience that I missed during their trip. They had an amazing opportunity to watch the Antillean Euphonia from a photographer’s perspective. I almost cried.
Before I move on, I must share two more highlights from our field trip experiences, both closely intertwined. First —and the other workshop participants won’t let me lie— never take Holly’s word regarding the trip’s difficulty level as a good standard measure. If Holly assures you that the field paths are going to be child’s play, be sure they WON’T and that you will enjoy, but also suffer every minute of it. And if Holly tells you that it will be a hard and strenuous trail to walk – run for your life, and NEVER, EVER go that way!
The Barbed Wire Deluxe Team can attest to this. Holly is made from another brew not yet understood by us, common folks, and her resistance and fieldwork aptitudes are simply admirable. We deduced that the many years working in the Jarabacoa mountains have made her immune to fatigue. Shanna Challenger, and her other team members, learned that lesson all too well, when, while trying to set some PROALAS point counts they had to jump, climb, and roll (sometimes all at once) to pass a barbed wire fence. Shanna’s witty mind, and contagious sense of humor, came up with the hilarious name of Barbed Wire Deluxe to baptize their team. She made all of us laugh at the joke; it made the event an unforgettable anecdote of the DR workshop.
The inspiration for Team Barbed Wire. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Participants engage in point counts. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Ébano Verde and bitter-sweet goodbyes
The days go fast when you’re having fun. During the daily hustle and bustle of setting PROALAS point counts, practicing distance estimation, enjoying the incredible bird diversity of Jarabacoa, and the constant discussions and idea-sharing moments, it was easy to forget what day of the week it was. But Sunday was swiftly approaching and with it, the last day of the workshop. When we thought all the surprises were exhausted, it turned out the organizers were just leaving the best for the end.
The trip to the Scientific Reserve of Ébano Verde, a rainforest paradise rising 800 feet above sea level, was the perfect choice for spending the last moments with our new friends. The stunning diversity of the mountains of the Dominican Republic left us all blown away. There, trees and ferns have a different shade of green. Birds seemed to be aware of that, and their songs were like an ode in celebration of beauty.
Hispaniolan Trogon. (Photo by Jose M. Pantaleon)
Now, I have a confession to make. In Ébano Verde, I felt my national pride quiver. I was lucky to admire the elegant and majestic Hispaniolan Trogon. This vision brought doubts in my mind as to which one was the prettiest: the Cuban Trogon or the Hispaniolan Trogon? This thought haunted me during the entire walk. I almost forgot my internal questioning when I had the chance to watch the other Tody, the Broad-billed, or admire the shiny blend of sky-blue and orange of the Antillean Euphonia, or marveled at the melodious song of the Rufous-Throated Solitaire.
I became easily distracted by birds, and for a moment I was separated from the group. Then, at a twist of the road, my eyes encountered a magical scene. There they were, the Dominicans, triggering with their constant jokes the boisterous laughter from the guys of the Dutch Caribbean. Somewhere close, the Puerto Ricans were showing some birds (and plants) to the girls from Grenada and The Bahamas. A little ahead in the same path were Holly, Ingrid, and Jeff doing some PROALAS point counts with the students from Antigua, Jamaica, and Cayman Islands. And then, the answer came as a realization. It didn’t matter which Trogon was the prettiest. This was not about a contest. All birds are equally important and deserve our utmost commitment to their conservation. That’s why we were there: to learn new skills that will empower us to make more accurate assessments of the health of their populations. To create a strong community of partners across our islands that can work together and spread knowledge and success stories in conservation.
The main lesson I learned during the workshop, I must admit, was not PROALAS-related. The main lesson was that, since birds don’t know or care about borders, countries, or nationalities, we, the “Humans of BirdsCaribbean,” must try to overcome these differences, in order to achieve our supreme goal: jointly working for the conservation of birds and their habitats.
Daniela Ventura is a Cuban ornithologist working in the Bird Ecology Group at the University of Havana. She became interested in birds during her first year in college, where she conducted undergraduate research on the Reddish Egret´s trophic behavior. She is currently a master’s student working on the movement ecology of resident Turkey Vultures. Daniela considers herself a molt nerd, so her future careergoal encompasses creating a permanent banding station at the National Botanical Garden in Havana to study molt patterns of Cuba’s resident birds.
Gallery
Dominican Republic Landscapes.
Rancho Baiguate, Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Waterfall at Ebano Verde. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Mobile photography in the field. (Photo by Zara Palmer).
Baiguate River, Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.
Winning team at Ebano Verde. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Out in the field. (Photo by Zara Palmer).
Group Photo at Certificate Ceremony.
Ebano Verde. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Waterfall at Ebano Verde. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Peering through the trees, birdwatching. (Photo by Zara Palmer).
Rancho Baiguate, Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Looking for Todies
Counting birds. (Photo by Zara Palmer).
Up close views. (Photo by Zara Palmer).
PROALAS point counts. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
In the field with colleagues. (Photo by Daniela Ventura).
Acknowledgments: BirdsCaribbean is grateful to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for funding to develop our new Landbird Monitoring Program and hold this training workshop. We are also grateful to the US Forest Service International Programs, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Dutch Conservation Nature Alliance for additional funding support. Thanks also to Optics for the Tropics and Vortex Optics for providing binoculars for all participants, and to the friendly and helpful staff at Rancho Baiguate for hosting us. A special thank you to interpreter, Efrén Esquivel-Obregón, for his excellent and patient work with the group all week. Finally, we thank BirdsCaribbean members, partners, and donors for your support, which made this work possible.
Holly Garrod, one of the BirdsCaribbean’s trainers at the recent workshop in the hills of central Dominican Republic, describes some highlights of the event. Wildlife professionals from 16 countries had the opportunity to get together in person and learn to address the challenges of identifying, counting, and tracking our fascinating landbirds – in a variety of beautiful habitats.
Rio Baiguate in the Jarabacoa Valley offers restored riparian tropical forest and edge habitat – great for a diversity of endemic and migratory birds. (photo by Dax Roman E.)
Our first Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop (February 16–20, 2022) took place in the beautiful Jarabacoa Valley of the Dominican Republic. Wildlife professionals from across the region gathered for five days of non-stop learning, sharing, and growing. From the classroom to the forest, the workshop provided participants with the knowledge and confidence to train a monitoring team and institute a sustainable, local landbird monitoring program in their home countries using the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) Manual bird survey protocols.
The workshop, led by BirdsCaribbean staff and local ornithologists, seeks to lay the foundation for a regional network of people dedicated to standardizing monitoring and conservation of landbirds. The Dominican Republic was selected as the workshop location for its undeniably rich variety of birds, including endemics, residents and many migrants. The workshop is just one part of a much bigger picture: BirdsCaribbean’s ambitious goal of developing regional networks to support our wonderfully diverse landbird species. This brand new project aims to build regional capacity to study, monitor, and conserve our Caribbean landbirds through the use of standardized surveys, bird banding, and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.
Welcome to Jarabacoa
Fieldwork in the beautiful countryside of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.
It was a quiet morning in the hills of Jarabacoa. Participants gripped their seats as the bus stumbled up the rocky road and entered into the cattle ranch of Jose Brache, blasting a steady stream of Dominican Bachata music with colored interior lights to match. The property, locally known as “Los Cerros” or “The Hills,” is a conglomeration of many smaller plots of land, filled with rolling hillsides and riparian corridors along river margins and banks. While the property is still an active cattle ranch, the owner has maintained some of the historic tropical broadleaf forest, and the resulting bird activity is evidence that these efforts have paid off. Some participants may have been doubtful at first about the idea of going to an active cattle ranch to survey birds, but their doubts were quieted upon exiting the bus. The sun began to rise above the undulating hills, hitting the mist and illuminating the surrounding slopes as bird song echoed through the treetops. The hills of Jarabacoa had come alive.
Landbird Monitoring: The Basics
As any experienced birder can attest, landbirds are the next level of birding. These birds are constantly on the move. They require birders to remember not just key identification features but also different vocalizations, habitat types, and behavior of various species to better narrow down who that little brown bird really is. Landbirds are one of our canaries in the coal mine; they help us better understand our changing world. And the first step to protecting our beloved birds is to teach people how to start monitoring them.
The Broad-billed Tody (locally known as the Barrancoli for its habit of nesting in burrows) earned its name by having the broadest bill of all 5 tody species. (Photo by Dax Roman E.)
BirdsCaribbean brought 34 wildlife professionals from all across the Caribbean to the stunning mountain valley of Jarabacoa. Settled near center of the Dominican Republic, we chose Jarabacoa for our landbird monitoring training as it is well known for its variety of montane habitats, picturesque landscapes, and of course, because it is home to many of Hispaniola’s notable endemic species, as well as many migrants. Our host for the workshop was the beautiful ecolodge, Rancho Baiguate, a calm oasis situated just outside the bustling mountain town of Jarabacoa.
In an outdoor classroom, we held sessions where participants learned about multiple aspects of landbird monitoring, including how to select sites, what the PROALAS protocols entail, tips for identifying and teaching people to identify landbirds, plus some key tools of the trade from estimating distances to entering data in eBird Caribbean. Our excellent trainers also put some sweet prizes on the line to incentivize trainees on how to practice wildlife counts, accurately estimate distances, and of course identify landbirds!
Participants in the classroom.
It’s always better to be birding!
After a steady stream of knowledge we were all ready to put our new landbird monitoring skills to the test and head out to the field. Participants started at the locally known cattle ranch of José Brache’s Los Cerros property. Here, participants learned how to survey in more open habitats, an important reminder that even fragmented landscapes can be important birding hotspots. Then, we climbed a little higher to the property of La Serena, sitting in the buffer zone of the Scientific Reserve, Ebano Verde. Here, participants learned the challenges of steeper survey points and practiced narrow transects with little visibility in a restored high elevation cloud forest. We then climbed a bit higher, ending the week with a hike through Ébano Verde, where participants learned about surveying in protected areas and everyone got epic views of the Hispaniolan Trogon.
Overall we had 26 participants and 8 workshop leaders representing 16 countries! We saw a total of 63 species (and counting!) spread over an elevational range of 550 m to 1,200 m above sea level. Check out our trip list for the workshop here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/43434
Workshop participants – don’t forget to submit those eBird checklists!
Workshop participants learn about surveys in an outdoor setting.
What was one of the favorite parts of the Landbird Monitoring Training? Finally getting to connect in person again with the BirdsCaribbean community! It was so refreshing to see familiar faces and finally go birding with people we’ve spent many hours chatting with on Zoom calls. Not only did we all come away with a newfound appreciation for many of Hispaniola’s gems (including of course the Hispaniolan Emerald), but we all had the opportunity to learn how landbirds vary by island and just how different landbird monitoring might look across the Caribbean.
What’s the next step?
After a non-stop week of birding and learning, participants returned to their home countries to start the next phase. We’re getting ready to launch our Small Grants program, so people across the Caribbean can take the knowledge they gained and begin implementing their own landbird monitoring programs, including training local communities to learn about their local landbirds. We hope to see many more PROALAS workshops sprouting up in future months.
If the FOMO (or Fear of Missing Out, as the kids say) is getting to you down, don’t worry! This is far from our last Landbird Monitoring Workshop! To start, we’ll be holding another short (one-day) workshop to introduce the PROALAS protocols at our upcoming joint conference with AOS this summer.
Birdwatching in Ebano Verde. (Photo by Zara Palmer)
La Selle Thrush. (Photo by Paul Noakes).
Holly Garrod presenting at Landbird Monitoring Workshop. (Photo by Maya Wilson)
What did PROALAS do for you?
Participants shared their thoughts on the workshop and how the practical knowledge shared can be implemented in their respective countries.
Angela Ramsey, Wildlife Biologist at Tobago House of Assembly
“I am very happy to participate in this first Landbird Training in the Dominican Republic, using the PROALAS Protocol and eBird – which was a first for me. I’m hoping to go back to Tobago and be able to implement right away in the communities. We lack data, so we want to be able to incorporate community participation, in terms of trying to acquire the necessary data on landbirds, so that we can build our database and be able to improve our tourism sector. It was really good being here and participating with everyone, meeting a lot of people from the wider Caribbean region, and being able to just enjoy the time learning and sharing.”
Tadzio Bervoets, Director of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance
“We are very proud to be able to partner with BirdsCaribbean and to have representatives from the protected areas of Arbua, Bonaire, Sint Maarten and Saba attend the workshop to learn about the PROALAS method for landbird monitoring. We are looking forward to rolling out the methodology on all 6 islands of the Dutch Caribbean to help with the Protected Area Management in all those islands – specifically on the islands and then regionally, to answer questions related to climate change and interactions of different eco systems. We’re very grateful that we’ve been able to attend and we’re looking forward to closer collaboration with BirdsCaribbean in the future.”
Daniela Ventura, Student at Havana University, Cuba
“This is the first BirdsCaribbean workshop that I’m participating in and it has truly been an incredible experience to be here in the Dominican Republic – a beautiful country with friendly people. It has also been interesting to meet people from the entire Caribbean and learn from the dilemmas that they are facing in bird conservation. This introduction, and all that we’ve covered on the PROALAS Protocol and they ways to monitor birds in our home countries, has been excellent. I leave here with many new friendships and with many new ideas to be able to use this protocol in my country and to understand a bit more about basic ecology and the Cuban species that we don’t have much information on. I hope to be able to use my knowledge to contribute to the conservation of Caribbean birds.”
Giselle Dean, Science Officer at the Bahamas National Trust
“This is my first BirdsCaribbean event after working at the Bahamas National Trust for the last 6 and a half years. I am pleased to say that it was an incredible experience where I got to meet so many different people working with birds across the Caribbean. I got to learn about the PROALAS Protocol, which we plan on using in the future to monitor bird populations within The Bahamas National Trust park system, including endangered species – such as the Bahama Oriole and Bahama Swallow. It was a great experience. I really loved being able to participate – finally! I’m excited for what the future.”
Other comments shared by workshop participants:
“Extremely grateful to BirdsCaribbean and Para La Naturaleza for the opportunity to be part of the first Landbird Monitoring Training using the PROALAS protocol on the eBird platform. This will allow us to more effectively monitor our endemic, native and neotropical migratory populations.”
“The Landbird Monitoring Workshop strengthened my knowledge, with which I am multiplying the lessons learned, giving workshops to park rangers and tour guides from different regions of the country.”
“I feel confident in my abilities to set up and train people in PROALAS method for monitoring.”
“I learned a lot and reached many of my goals.”
“[The Landbird Monitoring Workshop] was a good introduction for me and I feel equipped to facilitate further training activities within my organization and develop our monitoring program.”
“Comprehensive instructions, well delivered!”
“I feel that I walked away with a great deal more knowledge than I began with.”
The entire group at Rancho Baiguate. (Photo by Zara Palmer)
Acknowledgments: BirdsCaribbean is grateful to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for funding to develop our new Landbird Monitoring Program and hold this training workshop. We are also grateful to the US Forest Service International Programs, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Dutch Conservation Nature Alliance for additional funding support. Thanks also to Optics for the Tropics and Vortex Optics for providing binoculars for all participants, and to the friendly and helpful staff at Rancho Baiguate for hosting us. A special thank you to interpreter, Efrén Esquivel-Obregón, for his excellent and patient work with the group all week. Finally, we thank BirdsCaribbean members, partners, and donors for your support, which made this work possible.
Gallery
Enjoy more photos from the Landbird Monitoring Workshop below. Click the images to enlarge and see their captions.
Putting knowledge into practice, participants take to the outdoors.
Miguel Landestoy calls in a bird for ID. (Photo by Adrianne Tossas)
Participants attend a classroom session on PROALAS protocols.
Group photo at Baiguate Waterfall, Dominican Republic.
Ingrid Molina explains PROALAS. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Palmchat. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Greater Antillean Mango on Hispaniola. (Photo by Pavel Parkhaev)
Ivan Mota teaches in the field. (Photo by Adrianne-Tossas).
Participants explore Ebano Verde. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Group photo on the bus.
The always enchanting Ovenbird responded to our scold tape.
Workshop facilitator, Ingrid Molina, delivers a presentation on PROALAS protocols.
Jeff Gerbracht presents at Landbird Monitoring Workshop in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Adrianne Tossas).
Hispaniolan Trogon. (Photo by Jose M. Pantaleon).
Workshop Facilitator, Holly Garrod, prepares the group for Ebano Verde. (Photo by Zara Palmer)
We’re delighted to share an exciting new education project, “Into the Wild with the EAG.” This program, which includes engaging short videos and an activity booklet for students, was developed by our partner, the Environmental Awareness Group in Antigua and Barbuda. Learn all about it from Program Coordinator Shanna Challenger and find out how you can access and enjoy these creative learning materials.
After 20 years of successfully delivering a ‘Floating Classroom’ educational experience to students in Antigua – encouraging offshore classroom excursions – theEnvironmental Awareness Group (EAG) was forced to adapt to the ‘new normal’ brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic and expand its environmental conservation programme to the virtual space.
In partnership with the Sandals Foundation, the organization launched “Into the Wild with the EAG“: a virtual field-trip journey into Antigua and Barbuda’s exceptional ecosystems. The exciting three-part video series seeks to teach children about the value of their environment, with specific focus on the ecosystems within the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA).
Grade 4 students at Pares Primary School, Antigua, take a photo with their new Into The Wild Booklets. (Photo by Johnella Bradshaw)
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘Floating Classroom’ initiative took thousands of primary school students and teachers on field trips to the offshore islands and mangrove wetlands. These trips provided first-hand experiences to young impressionable minds about the importance of local ecosystems, the wildlife that live there, and the threats that endanger them. However, since 2020, restrictions on gatherings halted activities and caused the EAG to re-imagine what these field trips would look like in a pandemic world. The team opted to give Antiguan and Barbudan children year-round access to the wonders of their local environment through a carefully curated sequence of environmental videos shot and edited by CHASO Media.
“Working with wildlife was vastly different from what I’m used to, as pre-pandemic we focused on fetes and other Carnival events. Nature doesn’t strike a pose and wait on you. My team learned that you have to be prepared at any moment to snap a photo or press record. I definitely have a greater appreciation for the work the EAG does to prevent the extinction of the Antiguan Racer,” said videographer Chas Clarke when asked about his journey into environmental filmmaking.
The series, now available on the Environmental Awareness Group Antigua’s YouTube channel, features three episodes:
Each episode takes place in a unique ecosystem and introduces the audience to the importance of the wildlife and habitats found there, existing threats, and how individuals can make a difference.
Accompanying the videos are a Student Activity Booklet and Teacher’s Resource Guide developed by EAG staff and reviewed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Creative Industries.
“The [Into the Wild] books and supporting videos are based very closely on our national curriculum and provide a close-up look at aspects of our environment that might be difficult to find elsewhere. They help to contextualize science by personalizing the content, and the intangible benefits of this approach should not be understated,” said W. Anthony Spencer, Science Coordinator, Ministry of Education, Science and Creative Industries.
When asked how the Ministry foresees the series assisting teachers in preparing students for the world, Spencer added:
“One of the first things we hope to accomplish is a realization that each person can make a difference. It is hoped that students will be motivated to translate their knowledge into actions and lifelong commitments to learn more about the environment and contribute to its care.”
The Into the Wild booklets were designed by local graphic artist Patrick “Stooge” Joseph of Stooge Co., who captured the feel of the videos through his art and was able to bring our cheery cartoon guide through the series, Acer the Antiguan Racer, to life.
“I especially enjoyed capturing the emotions of the snake through his movements; it was definitely a learning experience that required me to really pay close attention to details and stay true to its harmless nature,” said Joseph.
Cover page of the Into the Wild Student Activity Booklet.
The Antiguan Racer, protagonist of the Into The Wild booklet.
Having locally relevant visuals, wildlife features, and educational messaging wasn’t the only priority for the EAG, as the team made sure videos were catchy and keeping true to Antigua’s cultural roots musically. As such, the ‘Into the Wild’ jingle gives the videos an unmistakably local sound that is accredited to local calypsonian Ge’Eve Philip and renowned deejay, Blashford “DJ Quest” Wilkins, with support from musical legend, Toriano “Onyan” Edwards.
When asked about the unique sound of the jingle as producer, Quest mentioned his inclusion of percussion and drums, that are unique to this part of the world, to give it its West Indian flair:
“Although this is an EAG project, I wanted to maintain that unique Caribbean feel since these videos have the potential to be seen not just in Antigua but throughout the Caribbean, and even the world.”
This virtual spin on the EAG’s Floating Classroom was made possible through funding provided by the Sandals Foundation, who have supported the EAG for years.
“The Sandals Foundation has been a key partner in environmental education, empowering children to be active stewards for its protection and conservation. By providing funding towards the development of the virtual Floating Classroom experience, educational resources, and videos, we are helping the EAG use the tools at their fingertips to meet children where they are, bringing the wonders of the wild into the consciousness of our young ones. Together, we will help the next generation develop an appreciation for the interconnectivity of their actions and the preservation of the precious natural resources that make Antigua and Barbuda so unique,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director, Sandals Foundation.
A student at St Michael’s School, Antigua, learns about mangroves. (Photo by Johnella Bradshaw)
Into the Wild with the EAG promotes the Offshore Islands Conservation Programme (OICP)’s vision which anticipates: Adaptively managed, flourishing offshore island ecosystems where wildlife thrives, people are meaningfully engaged, and sustainable use is valued and practiced for the benefit of all.
“We believe that environmental consciousness is a quality that can never be sacrificed, and these videos have not only given us a way to pay homage to that belief, but to ensure that local talents are displayed plainly and loudly for the world to see in our efforts,” said EAG’s OICP Coordinator, Shanna Challenger.
She continued: “Seeing the joy on students’ faces when we delivered the booklets and how grateful teachers were to have materials that highlighted wildlife found right here in Antigua and Barbuda has been truly invaluable.”
To date, the EAG has been able to share this timely educational package with over 1200 students and 78 teachers from across Antigua and Barbuda.
Students at the New Winthorpes Primary School, Antigua, show off their Into The Wild Booklets. (Photo by Johnella Bradshaw)
The EAG hopes that all members of the public, students, teachers, and parents alike, are able to learn something new about Antigua and Barbuda’s outstanding local ecosystems through the Into The Wild videos and looks forward to developing more videos and supporting resources for other critical ecosystems.
Into the Wild with the EAG would not be possible without the support of: the Sandals Foundation, the Global Environment Facility, BirdsCaribbean, Disney Conservation Fund, and Antigua Nature Tours.
If you would like become a member of the EAG or support their work with a donation, please click here.
“Loving Birds is Human Nature” – CEBF 2022 Theme. 25 new Endemic Birds of the Day will be featured! On the graphic from the left: Cuban Black Hawk, St Lucia Warbler, Broad-billed Tody, Green Mango, Jamaican Owl, Bahama Swallow
We are very excited to announce that the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) will be back this spring from April 22nd (Earth Day), to May 22nd (International Biodiversity Day. This year’s theme is “Loving Birds Is Human Nature.”
When members of the Media Working Group began brainstorming for possible 2022 CEBF themes, it was clear that we wanted the theme to express our understanding that a close relationship with our environment is natural! Our best selves acknowledge that an appreciation for what nature provides for us is essential to our survival. Humans have had a special kinship with birds for eons—their beautiful colors and songs bring us much joy and they provide us with so many ecosystem services and other benefits. In this year’s festival we aim to explore and celebrate this theme.
Endemic Bird of the Day
You can expect another fabulous line-up of new birds – 25 – for Endemic Bird of the Day on our website and social media (be sure to follow us, @BirdsCaribbean on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!). Each day we will feature a bird that is only found in the Caribbean. Along with stunning photos, range maps, and bird calls, we will provide free downloadable bird-centric activities and games – like the exclusive Caribbean endemic birds coloring pages, for your family or classroom!
Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival Coloring Map
Dr. Lourdes Mugica and the Bird Ecology Group share educational materials on birds with the local community and children, Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.
You also won’t want to miss our webinars, which will 1) discover and learn how how to draw and color a Caribbean endemic bird, the Puerto Rican Spindalis, 2) teach the basics of bird identification, in our How to Identify Birds 101 presentation, 3) help you create a backyard that is a haven for birds and other wildlife but also the envy of your neighbors, and 4) share inspiring stories about how some of our members have connected to birds and helped them in extraordinary ways. See info to sign up for the first graphic below; we’ll share details to other webinars closer to the dates so you’ll be able to add them to your calendar. These will be held via Zoom and live streamed to our Facebook page.
Please register to attend at the bit.ly link above!
Story and Poetry Competition
Sharpen your pencil, polish your pen, hit the keyboard—we are also hosting a Story and Poetry Competition! We are calling on the Caribbean community to write about a unique experience that you have had with a bird or birds that reflects our theme, Loving Birds is Human Nature. It could have happened in your backyard, nearby park, garden, wetland, forest or anywhere! It could be about the first time you really noticed a bird and got hooked on birding, or about how birds have changed your life in some way, or an unusual or special encounter that you had with a bird. We’re looking for uplifting stories that express our connection to birds and nature and what your experience revealed to you personally. Featured stories and poems will be shared on our blog and social media and there will be prizes! Stay tuned for more details on this competition!
Lloyd giving his dramatic presentation about Ashton Lagoon in poetry (photo by Beny Wilson)
CEBF Small Grants
In spite of COVID-19 restrictions continuing across parts of the region, our incredible CEBF island coordinators and educators find different ways to carry on with the festivities on their respective islands. BirdsCaribbean will once again offer small grants to help cover some CEBF expenses.
To apply, send a short proposal (via this form), no later than Monday 28 March, 2022 , with the following information:1) Coordinator name, address, phone number and email (if applicable: name and email of a second person on the coordination team);2) Country where CEBF will be held;3) Organization(s) that will benefit from this grant;4) A brief description of the activities you plan to organize in your island/country (include objectives and expected results), related to the festival theme if possible, and how a small grant (specify amount requested up to $500 maximum) would help you develop these further (max. two pages, including a simple budget). We understand that your activities may be restricted by COVID-19 so plan accordingly, for example with virtual or socially distant activities. (See list of sample eligible activities below); and 5) A list of any in-kind funding you can offer: such as volunteer staff time, other materials, etc. (include in your budget).
You may also send your proposal to CEBF Co-Coordinators: Eduardo Llegus (CEBF@BirdsCaribbean.org) & Aliya Hosein (Aliya.Hosein@BirdsCaribbean.org), and Lisa Sorenson (Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org) with the subject line: CEBF Small Grant Proposal 2022.Please contact Eduardo Llegus if you have any questions or doubts about this. We are looking forward to hearing about the many exciting activities you will be organizing this year.The CEBF is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn about and connect with the Caribbean’s 171 endemic bird species. We can’t wait for you to join us as we learn how to better love our birds and ensure their survival for years to come.
A child shares what he can do to help birds in an art activity in Puerto Rico (Photo courtesy of Centro Ambiental Santa Ana/ Sociedad de Historia Natural de Puerto Rico).
Sample of Eligible Activities (we encourage you to be creative!):
Educational events in schools, communities, or virtual to educate about our endemic birds, such as: talks about endemic birds (local and regional) and why they are important
Art, photography, music, and poetry writing events, performances, or competitions – organizing a local Poetry Competition with small prizes is especially encouraged this year!
Distributing copies of Endemic Birds of the West Indies Coloring Bookand holding coloring competitions (we are sending out more copies of the book in the coming weeks if you have not yet received your supply!)
Removing invasive plants that are harmful to birds
Church services dedicated to protecting God’s creation
Conservation actions that individuals can take to help birds
Outdoor stations with activities and games (e.g., scavenger hunts; many ideas and resources are available for free download in ourBirdSleuth Caribbean curriculum) for individuals and families to participate and learn about birds safely during COVID, etc.
Gallery
ENJOY MORE PHOTOS FROM PAST CEBF ACTIVITIES AROUND THE CARIBBEAN!
Observing a parakeet nest on a birding walk for CEBF in the Dominica Republic. (Photo by Grupo Accion Ecologia)
Grupo Accion Ecologica celebrating the start of CEBF
Children speaking about the Hispaniolan Parakeet during CEBF in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Grupo Accion Ecologia)
Shanna dressed as Barbuda Warbler for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (Photo by Rudolph Zachariah)
Celebrating CEBF 2019 at San Juan Bay National Estuary, children showing off their bird face masks. (photo by Eliezer Nieves)
Children birdwatching in Bosque Piñones, Puerto Rico celebrating CEBF 2019 with San Juan Bay National Estuary, San Juan, Puerto Rico. (photo by Eliezer Nieves)
Spotting birds along the Blenim River in Dominica for CEBF 2019.
Birding field trip in Dominica with Forestry Officer, Stephen Durand.
Jamaican youth record the birds they see on a CEBF field trip organized the National Environmental and Planning Agency. (Photo by Otto Williamson)
Learning the parts of a bird in a CEBF educational activity in San Lorenzo, PR, educational project of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
Many kids had the answer to questions about birds, presentation by Grupo Accion Ecologica.
Presentation to children CEBF celebration Puerto Rico: Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
CEBF activity in PR at Centro Criollo de Ciencias y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec)
CEBF presentation by ornithologist Xochitl Ayón Güemes to 4 grade students at the National Museum of National History of Cuba (MNHNC).
CEBF volunteer in Cuba shows a child how to use binoculars.
CEBF student volunteer team in Cuba.
Learning the parts of a bird in Cuba for CEBF 2018.
Outdoor festival activities in Havana, Cuba for CEBF 2018.
CEBF Volunteer in Cuba showing endemic birds to children.
Showing a child how to use binoculars at the CEBF celebration in Cuba.
Showing bird silhouettes at CEBF in Cuba.
Enjoying Cuban endemic bird art for CEBF 2018 in Cuba.
Hard at work on an endemic bird puzzle.
CEBF Educational display @ Portalito HUB: Palmer of The U.S. Forest Service – El Yunque National Forest. (photo by Ingrid Flores)
At Earth Day and the CEBF 2018 start date, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Interpretación y Educación, Inc. (APIE) celebrated our endemic birds as part of their Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. This activity was carried out with the co-host of the U.S. Forest Service and BIRDING PUERTO RICO.
At Earth Day and the CEBF 2018 start date, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Interpretación y Educación, Inc. (APIE) celebrated our endemic birds as part of their Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. This activity was carried out with the co-host of the U.S. Forest Service and BIRDING PUERTO RICO
At Earth Day and the CEBF 2018 start date, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Interpretación y Educación, Inc. (APIE) celebrated our endemic birds as part of their Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. This activity was carried out with the co-host of the U.S. Forest Service and BIRDING PUERTO RICO.
Young students celebrate CEBF in Jamaica with C-CAM (Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)
Sociedad Ornitologica Puerto Rico shares information about birds for CEBF 2018.
A glamorous “Barbuda Warbler” (Shanna Challenger) and youth pose for a pic at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Display at CEBF celebration in Trinidad organized by Lester Doodnath.
Youth spotting birds for Global Big Day, Puerto Rico.
Learning how to use binoculars at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Students from St. Martin Primary School in Dominica planted native plants for CEBF 2018.
A student shows off her bird art at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Learning about Caribbean endemic birds and why birds matter at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
Birding from the observation tower for Ridgeway’s Hawk Week CEBF Celebration.
Youth in Cuba enjoyed learning about endemic birds
Ready to help the birds in Puerto Rico!!! Activity by Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
A fun celebration of CEBF in Puerto Rico with Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
Bird walk in Guadeloupe for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival
Arts and crafts for one of the bird festival events in Puerto Rico by Fundación Ecológica Educativa, Inc.
Birding in St. Martin/ Sint Maarten with Binkie van Es.
Introduction to bird watching in Haiti with Societe Ecologique d’Haiti.
Adrianne Tossas giving a talk on Puerto Rico’s endemic birds at a girls Science Summer Camp.
Planting firebush (Hamelin patens), an excellent native plant for birds, especially hummingbirds. CEBF activity at The Academy in the Dominican Republic. (photo courtesy of Simon Guerrero)
Children having fun on a bird walk and count at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island, SVG. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)
Over 100 lignum vitae seedlings were distributed during St. Martin’s Endemic Animal Festival.
Sustainable Grenadines led several guided bird tours in the Grenadines.
Youth birding for CEBF in Dominica by Jacqueline Andre
Our flagship programs engage people of all ages in learning about birds—their beauty, value and why they should be protected
The BirdsCaribbean community mourns the loss of a friend, colleague and mentor – Dr. Robert Leslie Norton, affectionately known as ‘Rob’. A true champion for Caribbean birds, Rob was at the forefront of several regional initiatives to study, monitor and advocate for the preservation of birds and their habitats – including the creation of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, now BirdsCaribbean.
We extend deepest condolences to his wife, Sheryl, his family, and his many colleagues, friends and students across the globe.
Rob’s career, spanning five decades and several countries, always centered on a common goal – environmental research and education, specifically the conservation of birds – his true north.
Rob was born in Australia, during wartime, in June of 1945, to Shirley J. Nicholls Norton and Army 1st Lt. Robert L. Norton. The family arrived in the United States in 1946, and from 1948 to 1951 called Officer’s Quarters #57 at Ft. Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, home. Here, Rob lived with his mom and dad; brothers, Philip and Scott; and little sister, Tery.
As a child, growing up in Cape Elizabeth, Rob would often explore the countryside near Sunset Park and in Scarborough. He developed a fascination with nature and birdwatching, which would lead to the creation of his first “Science and Nature Club” – with a handful of neighborhood boys as members.
After graduating in 1964, he successfully pursued a degree in geography at the Central Connecticut State College (CCSC) and, while there, enlisted into the Air Force. Rob’s affinity for physical science saw him undertake weather observations with the Air force for the next five years in Massachusetts. It was here that his passion for birdwatching grew to new heights.
Rob and team at the Christmas Bird Count in Grand Bahama, 2011.
Rob worked part time at the University of Connecticut, with the Connecticut State Climate Center, researching past weather events. He enrolled in biology classes while working there and ornithology was a part of his studies. His interests eventually led him to an internship at Manomet Bird Observatory, near Cape Cod. These experiences laid the groundwork for Rob’s destined path towards environmental research and impact studies.
Rob doing what he loved best – birding.
An invitation from a University of Connecticut friend to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) would prove to be life changing for Rob. Enthralled by the rich flora and fauna of the tropical island, Rob would make it his home for the better part of the next decade. Here, he worked as a seabird researcher for the USVI government for seven years; met the love of his life and wife-to-be, Sheryl; and adopted his beautiful and talented daughter, Whitney. During his time in St. John, USVI, Rob was also part owner of a small newspaper, “Tradewinds”; and he was hired as the second director of the British Virgin Island’s National Parks Trust (a non-profit, protecting natural and cultural heritage). His time in the USVI, and his visits to the surrounding islands, cemented an everlasting connection to the people and the culture in this remarkable part of the world.
Rob would return to the U.S. in 1990 to be closer to his mother Shirley. Always learning, he enrolled at Goddard College and earned an MA in biogeography, then to Columbia Pacific University for his PhD in environmental science.
In April of 1991, Rob and Sheryl married, settled in Gainesville and added “his handsome boy”, Alex, to the family. In 1992, Rob spent the year with the Smithsonian’s Natural History and Ornithology Department in Washington, D.C. Next he moved to Gainesville, Florida, where he taught science courses at Santa Fe College and worked with Alachua County government as an environmental specialist and planner until his retirement in 2008.
When most people would be taking things a little easier in retirement, Rob decided to train and compete in the World Senior Track and Field Games in Australia – a nod to his track and field and Key Club days at South Portland High School, which he enjoyed tremendously. Shortly after this, Rob overcame another challenge – wrestling and beating cancer. He persevered and continued his birding adventures with his family and friends, even renewing his and Sheryl’s wedding vows with a pelagic birding cruise on The Wanderbird out of Belfast, Maine.
Rest in peace, dear Rob. Your kind-hearted spirit, dedication and contributions to the shared knowledge of Caribbean birds will forever remain in our hearts and fuel our efforts to continue protecting birds and their habitats.
Rob Norton, Shamie Rolle, Erika Gates, Bruce Hallett, Bruce Purdy and Woody Bracey at the Christmas Bird Count, 2011.
Biography
Photo slide of fond memories.
Dr. Robert L. Norton (Rob) was a prominent ornithologist and natural history guide throughout the Caribbean. He had vast knowledge of the region’s birds and the threats they face and was a generous mentor to many young people.
Rob was the originator and co-editor of the West Indies regional report in American Birds, Field Notes, and North American Birds (American Birding Association) since 1980. He contributed to many publications and will be particularly remembered for An Inventory of Breeding Seabirds of the Caribbean (2009) which he co-edited with Patricia Bradley. He initiated multiple Christmas Bird Counts in western Cuba and thoroughly enjoyed his time with Holbrook Travel as a Road Scholar’s guide.
Rob was among the founding members of BirdsCaribbean (then called the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds) and delighted in attending the organization’s conferences and assisting with various conservation projects, especially those encouraging capacity building for bird research, monitoring and education of youth and local communities.
Dr. Lisa Sorenson, BirdsCaribbean Executive Director, reflected on Rob’s impact on the organization over the years through his passion and genuine desire to share, educate and mentor.
“Rob cared passionately about the region’s birds and was concerned about threats to their long-term survival. He worked hard and volunteered his time to educate the public and mentor our members – helping to build the capacity of the region’s biologists,” Lisa shared. “I will always remember Rob as a kind, generous, and gentle soul, always engaged and willing to lend a hand to whomever needed help. I just wish we had more time with Rob, but we will treasure the memories that we have, and always be inspired by his commitment and hard work to understand and protect the Caribbean’s invaluable birds.”
If you would like to make a donation in Rob’s memory, Rob’s wife Sheryl has asked that donations be made to BirdsCaribbean at this link: http://bit.ly/GiftForCaribbeanBirds
Sheryl asks that you designate this donation for, “Reducing bird trapping and killing,” to help us in our work to safeguard birds from illegal trafficking – a cause that was dear to Rob’s heart.
Donations by check can be sent to: BirdsCaribbean Check memo: In Rob Norton’s memory. Address: BirdsCaribbean 841 Worcester St. #130 Natick, MA 01760
Tributes
Rob was well respected by a large network of friends and colleagues, many of whom wished to provide their own memories. These recollections paint a picture of an individual who cared deeply about the environment and its bird life and his encouragement for others in their endeavours.
Andrew Dobson:
Rob had been single-handedly producing seasonal bird reports for the West Indies in North American Birds for over 20 years when the late Tony White and I were invited to become co-editors. This was 2002 and we expanded the coverage to include Bermuda. What a privilege it was to be part of the team with Rob as such a knowledgeable captain. I look back on the hundreds of emails we exchanged and the professionalism he demonstrated. He was responsible for making sure regional bird records over the past 40 years were documented. What a great legacy. I will miss his sage advice but above all, his friendship.
Natasha Atkins:
Back in 1975, when I was an intern at the then Manomet Bird Observatory, I took a canoe trip with Rob and another Manomet friend of his out to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, off Chatham on Cape Cod. It was a pretty long trip, 3 or 4 miles, and the guys did all the paddling. We spent the day watching shorebirds/waders, and as we headed back to the canoe for the return trip, a gull dropped a hot dog right in front of us, which was hilarious. By the time we got back in the boat, the wind had picked up pretty strongly, and we were already riding about 4 inches above the surface with two big guys and me in the canoe. It was a bit of a hair-raising trip back, but Frank’s and Rob’s good humor kept me from getting too panicky. It’s the only time I spent with Rob, but 45 years later it’s still a wonderful memory.
Patricia E. Bradley:
I send my condolences to Sheryl and Rob’s family and join his many friends lamenting the loss of this wonderful, dedicated and courageous man. We go back to the early 1980s when I began sending records from the Cayman Islands and we began a friendship, extended at our first meeting in Jamaica in 1985, that continued. Our last meeting was when Rob and Sheryl visited Grand Cayman and I took him to see our Vitelline Warbler. The Inventory of Caribbean Seabirds published in 2009 was our response to the increasing threats and population declines throughout the region and it leant on the work of Schreiber and Lee 2000 and van Halewyn and Norton 1984. It was a challenge to find and persuade seabird specialists to produce a chapter on their Caribbean island and share their inventory. It was also great fun as we worked with English, Dutch, French and Spanish authors for what seemed like years, and using Rob’s exhaustive understanding of the regions’ birds. The GIS analysis and maps by William Mackin were an essential part of the publication. It was also a time when Rob was dealing with cancer surgery and my husband was in the final stage of cancer and so the project kept us focused.
Jaime Collazo:
I met Rob when he worked at the Division of Fish & Wildlife, USVI. He provided much needed support for my research at that time, and during the mid-80s, we advocated for conservation of avifauna in the US Caribbean in various forums. I always appreciated Rob’s “never give up” attitude. He will be missed! My condolences to his family.
Natalia Collier:
Robert was a mentor to Adam and me as we began working in the Caribbean, providing helpful advice and perspective. He was always ready to answer questions thoughtfully and kindly. His 2009 inventory is dog-eared and worn after countless references as we worked on the Seabird Breeding Atlas of the Lesser Antilles and other seabird-related manuscripts. I’m sure there are many others who were also influenced by his research and generous nature and his legacy will carry on in his work and those he helped along their paths. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Daphne Gemmill:
I only met Rob once or twice many years ago. However, we corresponded frequently regarding Vieques and Puerto Rican birds. His input was invaluable. He was on my unofficial Vieques rare birds committee. He will be missed.
Scott Johnson:
My fondest memory of Robert Norton was in 2017, when I was working at the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and participated in the “Expedition Parks242” field trip on Andros. I was taking some of the participants birding, in North/central Andros. Robert, an avid birder and researcher, was interested in seeing a Bahama Oriole, one of our endemic birds and a critically endangered species. We visited a few locations with no luck. I honestly thought my skills as a birder and guide were going to be dashed in the Andros pinelands as we visited more locations and still did not find the bird. Finally, I took him and Vivian Moultrie, an Inagua Bird guide and one of the persons responsible for creating the motto on our Coat of Arms, to a place called “The Atala Forest”. This site was filled with Atala Hairstreaks, in the hundreds. As we walked through the forest, low and behold, a Bahama Oriole made an appearance, a lifer bird for Robert. Rest in Peace Robert. I wish I had spent more time talking with you and always appreciated your witty comments on my fb posts. You will be missed my friend.
Anthony Levesque:
I met Rob for the first time in 2011 in the Bahamas during a BirdsCaribbean meeting. He was with Andrew Dobson and Eddie Massiah and two years later I replaced Eddie to be part of the West Indies and Bermuda Team for North American Birds magazine with the encouragement and benevolence of Rob. For years and years, Rob was the number one birder in the Caribbean (with nearly 450 species) and when I passed him, he immediately sent me a message of congratulations. A great loss to the Caribbean birding community.
Fred Schaffner:
I have known Rob for over 37 years and was deeply saddened by his passing. We first shared some great adventures on a number of trips in a small motorboat travelling between Culebra, Red Hook, and Little Tobago in the early 1980’s to make observations of seabirds with my doctoral mentor Colin Pennycuick (deceased) and John Taylor (also deceased), resulting in a number of reports and a small publication on the expansion of Cayenne Terns on the Puerto Rico Bank. Rob was a wonderful, cheerful person, a great friend, fully dedicated to bird conservation, and a founding member of what now is Birds Caribbean. I will be forever grateful for having had his friendship and I mourn his loss.
Ann Sutton:
Please share my condolences for this sad loss to Caribbean ornithology. Rob was an inspiration to me; especially because of his contributions to our knowledge of Caribbean seabirds.
Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr:
I was saddened to hear of Rob’s passing, as he has made major contributions to our understanding of avian distribution and natural history in the Caribbean. Although his numerous contributions will live on, he will be missed by many. Pass on my sincerest sympathies and condolences to his family.
NOTE: If you have stories, memories, a tribute, and/or photos of Rob you would like to include in this tribute article, please send them to: Tahira Carter, BirdsCaribbean Communications Manager Tahira.Carter@BirdsCaribbean.org
Volume 34 of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) presents a wide spread of original contributions, from methodical surveys of seabirds and landbirds, to the documentation of rarely seen behaviors, that all add to the knowledge of the Caribbean avifauna. Despite ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, our team of editors, reviewers, other JCO staff, and valued authors worked together to provide all these publications to the scientific and conservation communities around the Caribbean. Thank you all!Behind the scenes, Dr. Stefan Gleissberg has taken over the reins as JCO Managing Editor, learning the ropes from Justin Proctor, who continues to work on behalf of JCO as BirdsCaribbean’s Vice President. See below short summaries of the 12 regular articles reporting from 7 island territories. Free access to the journal’s entire content also includes 4 book reviews and the annual review of ornithological literature from the Caribbean by Dr. Steven Latta. Please take some time to enjoy all of Volume 34. If you enjoyed reading an article, please send the authors or the Managing Editor a quick email letting them know. — Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr., JCO Editor-in-Chief | jmwunderle@gmail.com— Stefan Gleissberg, JCO Managing Editor | stefan.gleissberg@birdscaribbean.org
Map depicting research locations of the studies published in Volume 34.
Luis A. Ramos-Vázquez, Nahíra Arocho-Hernández, Cielo Figuerola-Hernández, José L. Herrera-Giraldo, and Jan P. Zegarra-VilaThe Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve, an island chain just off the northeast coast of Puerto Rico, provides critical breeding habitat for seabirds in the Caribbean; however, little is known about the seabird populations, and the threats they face, on these islands. To address this, Ramos-Vásquez et al. conducted seabird surveys and an invasive animal detection assessment across the nature reserve, providing updated information that highlights the importance of the reserve for seabird colonies and the need for effective, well-planned invasive species management.
Vivan M. Lee, Alejandra Pérez, Olive Onyekwelu, Jordan M. Chan, Dominic E. Cannady-Lindner, Alexander A. Levitskiy, María Teresa Reinoso-Pérez, and André A. DhondtAre Broad-billed Todies territorial during the non-breeding season? To answer this, Lee et al. conducted playback experiments in native scrub forest in the Dominican Republic to assess responses to three distinct Broad-billed Tody vocalizations. Todies responded more rapidly and intensely to song playbacks compared to other sounds, suggesting that they aggressively defend their habitats even during the non-breeding season.
Karina Velazco Pérez, Felix Noel Estrada Piñero, Hiram González Alonso, and Alina Pérez HernándezThe Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) is a common winter resident and one of the most abundant migratory species in the Cuban Archipelago; however, little is known about the species’ migration dynamics. In this study, Velazco Pérez et al. conducted mist-net surveys on the Guanahacabibes peninsula to establish a baseline for both the physiological and ecological characteristics of the Ovenbird’s autumnal arrival in Cuba.
Ted GillilandIt’s a bird-eat-bird world! Pearly-eyed Thrashers (Margarops fuscatus), known for their aggressive interspecific interactions, are suspected predators of other resident birds, including Bananaquits (Coereba flaveola). Northern Parulas (Setophaga americana) are neotropical migrants that regularly mob predators in defense and to gain information. In this research note, Gilliland documents a chance observation in Puerto Rico of Northern Parulas mobbing a Pearly-eyed Thrasher, a behavior with implications for social learning and future predator avoidance.
Pascal Villard, Alain Ferchal, Philippe Feldmann, Claudie Pavis, and Christophe BonenfantOrganochlorine insecticides can have lasting and devastating effects on bird populations, by altering bird behaviour and reproductive success. Almost three decades after the cessation of its use in Guadeloupe, the organochlorine “chlordecone” persists in the soils and waterways of the island. The Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) is one of the species likely affected by this persistent pollutant, and in this paper, Villard et al. explore the possible links between remnant chlordecone pollution and habitat selection by Ringed Kingfishers.
Alexandra Heathcote, Paulson Des Brisay, Christopher De Ruyck, Paula Grieef, and Nicola KoperHow are birds on small, species-poor islands like Grenada different from their neighboring conspecifics? Lower species diversity on islands can lead to more generalist behaviour in birds, where these island populations live in more varied habitats and eat a more varied diet than elsewhere. This phenomenon is called “ecological release”. In this paper, Heathcote et al. explore the morphological effects of ecological release on four common Grenada bird species, comparing them to their neighbors throughout the Caribbean Basin and providing evidence that these Grenadian birds are perhaps even more different than we thought.
Pedro M. Alarcón-Elbal, Holly M. Garrod, Spencer C. Schubert, and Alonso Santos MurgasLouse flies (Hippoboscidae) are obligate parasites that often live on birds. The louse fly Ornithoctona erythrocephala has been documented with avian hosts of all sizes throughout the Caribbean, though it is previously unreported on tanagers (Thraupidae). In this research note, Alarcón-Elbal et al. describe the first record of this fly parasitizing the Black-faced Grassquit (Melanospiza bicolor) and Green Heron (Butorides virescens) in the Dominican Republic, an observation with implications for avian health and the direction of ornithological and entomological research in the region.
Juliana Coffey and Natalia CollierThe Grenadine islands are one of the remaining hotspots for breeding seabird populations in the Caribbean. There, as elsewhere, introduced mammals threaten the survival of seabirds through predation and habitat degradation. In this paper, Coffey and Collier present the most thorough inventory ever compiled of invasive mammals throughout the Grenadines, a critical first step to conservation planning for mammal eradication and habitat restoration.
Jean P. González-Crespo and Alberto R. Puente-RolónBlackbirds (Icteridae) have been known to engage in some cutthroat nesting behaviours, such as brood parasitism (e.g., the infamous Shiny Cowbird [Molothrus bonariensis]) and nest piracy or usurpation. Nest usurpation involves stealing another individual’s nest for breeding, and the usurper will forcefully remove all obstacles in its way, including any unfledged nestlings. In this research note, González-Crespo and Puente-Rolón present the first record of nest usurpation by the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus) in Puerto Rico, with implications for the reproductive success of this endemic and Endangered species.
Cielo E. Figuerola-Hernández, Rickard S. Toomey III, Patricia Kambesis, José L. Herrera-Giraldo, and Nick D. HolmesInvasive mammals pose a threat to seabird populations throughout the Caribbean, and Mona Island—off the coast of Puerto Rico—is no exception. The Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) and the Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) are two cave-breeding seabirds whose habitat is limited by the presence of rats, cats, and other invasive mammals. In this research note, Figuerola-Hernández et al. present evidence of breeding of these two species in caves on Mona Island, the first documented nests in over eight decades.
Eleanor S. Devenish-Nelson and Howard P. NelsonResident landbirds are an ubiquitous yet unique part of the avifauna in the Caribbean, but they are relatively understudied. Several of these species are also endemic to the region, making the documentation and monitoring of their populations all the more important. On Grenada, there are approximately 36 resident landbird species, of which at least 25% are regionally endemic. In this paper, Devenish-Nelson and Nelson present abundance and density estimates for these species, from one of the first island-wide surveys since the 1980s.
Andrew le F. Dobson, Andrea Webb, Ingela Perrson, Richard Brewer, Luke Foster, and Miguel A. MejíasIn this research note from Bermuda, Dobson et al. document a vagrant Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), a western North American species discovered by local birders among Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis). The observation represents the first record of the species outside the continent.
Steven LattaThe annual compilation of the most important articles that appeared elsewhere, annotated by Steve Latta. Article by:(1) Zoya Buckmire – Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology; (2) Joe Wunderle –Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology(3) Justin Proctor –Vice President of BirdsCaribbean(4) Stefan Gleissberg – Managing and Production Editor for the Journal of Caribbean OrnithologyThe Journal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep all of our publications free and open-access. Support our non-profit mission and give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their work by becoming a supporter of JCO.
It was an extraordinary year. But then, so was 2020! Despite the ongoing roller coaster ride that was the COVID-19 pandemic, BirdsCaribbean pressed on. While some activities were necessarily curtailed, with our ever-enthusiastic partners we “pivoted,” adapted to the changing circumstances, and overcame obstacles. We had some great successes. We also turned to highlighting some pressing issues impacting our Caribbean birds. Now, we are looking forward to an exciting 2022, full of potential and possibilities!
We are feeling very positive about this new year. The theme of our upcoming conference in Puerto Rico (June 27 to July 2), which we are co-hosting for the first time with the American Ornithological Society (AOS), is “On the Wings of Recovery: Resilience and Action.”
This theme reflects the focus of our activities in the past year, supporting our partners as they work on solutions to the many challenges facing the region’s birds. We are also looking forward to hosting workshops in the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas, on Landbird Monitoring and Bird Banding, respectively.
In case you missed it, here’s an overview of BirdsCaribbean happenings in 2021:
It was a “quiet” year, but…
Ash plume on April 9th at 4 PM, the first day of eruptions (photo by Richard Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Thankfully for the islands, the hurricane season was not as devastating as in previous years, although climate change is still with us. Year after year, the region continues to suffer from droughts, coastal erosion, and floods after heavy rains, damaging habitats and creating havoc in communities. However, there was still some unexpected drama this year.
The explosive eruptions of La Soufrière, a volcano in St. Vincent, began on April 9th, 2021, and continued spewing volcanic ash and debris into the atmosphere for weeks – displacing thousands and blanketing forests and towns in many inches of volcanic ash. Although it has now quietened down (its eruptive phase was declared over at the end of November, 2021) there was considerable damage to trees and river valleys from pyroclastic material, rocky debris and mudflows.
In the wake of the destruction, concerns for the St. Vincent Parrot and several other endemic bird species rose and we were thankful for the valiant efforts of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Forestry Department. With generous donations from friends and donors to the BirdsCaribbean fundraising site, we were able to ship a range of supplies to the Department, including field equipment, food, veterinary supplies, and much more. We also supported intensive surveys of the St. Vincent Parrot by Forestry staff in December, 2021 – more news on their status soon!
A Turkey Vulture costume, the biggest Big Day, and CWC was busy too
As usual, bird festivals were important days in our calendar. Island residents hosted at least scaled-down activities – whether virtual, in person, or a “hybrid” mixture, since COVID regulations varied from time to time.
Héctor Fidel Ravelo Romanguera wins first prize in the WMBD costume competition for his amazing Turkey Vulture costume. (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez)
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in Fall, when our beautiful “winter visitors” start to appear in gardens, fields and forests across the Caribbean, is always an opportunity for fun activities, especially with young people. This year’s theme, “Sing, Fly, Soar Like a Bird” inspired bird walks, field trips and an exciting Bird Costume Party, won by creative schoolchildren in Cuba. The winning Turkey Vulture costume was stunning! Many thanks to Environment for the Americas for assisting with educational materials.
Our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), which we have hosted for the past twenty years, is always a delight. 2021 did not disappoint. After all, we have no less than 171 endemic species to choose from! The theme “Sing, Fly, Soar Like a Bird” provided ample opportunities for fun activities and important learning through webinars, birding field trips, and activities and online resources for families and youth to celebrate. Check out the exciting webinars here! Our partners shared what the theme meant to them in short inspiring videos – these can be viewed here.
The 12th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) was another important activity, which was highly successful. From mid January to early February, birders fanned out across wetlands and beaches to record their sightings on eBird Caribbean. From the offshore islands of Venezuela to the wetlands of Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, there was a great turnout of birders. Anguillan partners were excited to spot Piping Plovers, while in Antigua, a young birding group participated in a “Mask-erade.”
We did mention successes, didn’t we? Global Big Day 2021 (Saturday, May 8) was – well, big! Close to 2,000 checklists were submitted from the Caribbean – a big jump in participation. 364 species were spotted, beating last year’s record. Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas were stars, and fifteen teams participated, raising funds for Motus bird monitoring stations. Some wonderful photos were taken of birds and people, enjoying the day; take a look here at the winners of our Photography Awards.
An exciting project is about to unfold…
Earlier this year, we announced our plans for a new bird monitoring initiative, the Caribbean Motus Collaboration, to set up a Motus Wildlife Trafficking System that will use nano-tags tracked by receivers to gain valuable data on the movement of birds across our region. We are grateful to Birds Canada and the Northeast Motus Collaboration for their support. For full details and if you are interested in contributing in any way, please complete a short survey or make a contribution here.
A wealth of online material – yes, we went virtual again
Cover of Arnaldo Toledo’s amazing Grand Prize winning bird Zine
To enhance these programs and special calendar events, and also to boost our advocacy for birds, we were very busy throughout the year designing and producing a whole range of online products. In 2021, we again broadcast virtually “From the Nest” with an Endemic Bird of the Day for the CEBF, accompanied by related puzzles, games and coloring pages. Our very first “Bird Zine” contest garnered some beautiful, artistic products from contestants in various age groups, with winners from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. For the Caribbean Waterbird Census we started off with no less than three webinars, helping us to identify tricky species and with an additional webinar on Puerto Rican waterbird species.
For the 2021 Caribbean Waterbird Census, we gave webinars on how to participate in the CWC, including presentations on using eBird Caribbean and Merlin, how to do a CWC count, and how to identify waterbirds and shorebirds – always challenging! Check out our helpful webinars on our Youtube channel CWC playlist.
For World Migratory Bird Day, we produced a series of four videos highlighting our migratory shorebirds, many of which are endangered. One species, the Lesser Yellowlegs, is in particular trouble, with a drastic decline in numbers since the 1970s. At a free webinar on October 8, wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Management Program Laura McDuffie explained the work she and colleagues are doing to track, monitor and gain more information on these vulnerable birds.
A major highlight of our year was the opportunity to present at the 2021 AOS Virtual Meeting, from August 9 – 13. BirdsCaribbean was thrilled to present a three-part symposium entitled “Resilient Caribbean Birds – Surviving and Thriving in a Challenging World,” in which we highlighted recent avian research and conservation projects in the region, on August 11 and 12. Our presentations were well attended and online networking and information sharingtook place.
And then, to business. Our General Business Meeting on October 28 had over 80 participants and lasted for over two hours (there was a lot to tell our members and supporters about!) providing a comprehensive update on BirdsCaribbean’s activities.
General Business Meeting 2021 Group Photo on Zoom 1
General Business Meeting 2021 Group Photo on Zoom 2
General Business Meeting 2021 Group Photo on Zoom 3
One memorable online event was the Seabird Fest on December 2, organized by our dynamic Seabird Working Group. The meeting provided a thorough update on the group’s impressive activities, from the Isla Contoy National Park (Island of Birds) off the Yucatan peninsula to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands – and all islands in between. There are 20 resident seabird species in the Caribbean, not all regularly monitored. The hope is to organize a big seabird monitoring effort in 2023. While it faces challenges, we applaud this group’s work. If you would like to know more, sign up for their recently launched newsletter!
Our advocacy for birds continues…
Our focus on shorebirds tied in with ongoing concerns among ornithologists and bird lovers regarding the hunting of these migratory gems on the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and to a lesser extent Barbados. In a short video “Caribbean Shorebirds Under Fire” (available in English, French and Spanish here) that is at times distressing to watch we sought to explain this complex issue. We continued to support our partners’ efforts to have as many species as possible protected and to reduce this devastating harvest of endangered birds, through email petitions to the French authorities.
Images of wild bird trafficking in Cuba.
Many migratory species are also under threat on the island of Cuba, due to the illegal capture and sale of wild birds as they arrive on the island in the autumn months. Endemic and resident species are also targeted by trappers. BirdsCaribbean is extremely concerned at the dramatic increase in the trafficking of a range of species, both at home and extending overseas. We highlighted this growing concern recently in our investigative report, urging Cuban authorities to enforce wildlife protection laws. We are raising funds to help our colleagues combat this problem and we need your support! We will continue to shine the spotlight on these and other issues that are affecting our birds negatively.
We have had a frantically busy year, as you can see. Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, with the support of our wonderful donors and the boundless enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work of our partners on the ground, we feel a sense of achievement, and look forward to what 2022 will bring.
Wishing you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!
Héctor Fidel Ravelo Romanguera wins first prize in the WMBD costume competition for his amazing Turkey Vulture costume. (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez)
October 9th, 2021 is the official date for World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in the Caribbean, but we celebrate throughout the fall, welcoming home our returning migratory birds. We love the extra color and activity these avian gems bring to our backyards, forests, wetlands, and beaches. This year’s theme — “Sing, Fly, Soar—Like a Bird” — provided a fantastic opportunity for learning and birding fun. Find out how we celebrated across the Caribbean!
Despite the challenges faced during the pandemic, educators and students throughout the Caribbean celebrated WMBD with a range of activities. Caribbean coastlines got busy, with young students wielding binoculars and checklists, guided by their teachers. In some countries in-person events were hosted when possible; otherwise, virtual events or “hybrid” activities – a combination of the two – took place. Islands including Anguilla, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Bonaire, Montserrat, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago participated, just to name a few. Many more islands are hosting events, activities and are still celebrating this special time for Caribbean birds.
BirdsCaribbean recognized WMBD by hosting several activities with a focus on the region’s endangered migratory shorebirds. At a webinar entitled “A Year in the Life of the Lesser Yellowlegs” Laura McDuffie, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Management Program revealed the amazing journeys made by a shorebird species that is facing particular challenges at this time. The webinar and accompanying video (in English, Spanish, and French) can be viewed on BirdsCaribbean’s YouTube channel and below.
A series of four short videos, boosted by social media posts, aimed to raise awareness of the importance of the Caribbean region to migratory shorebirds and the threats, they face, including hunting. These can be viewed on our YouTube channel in English, Spanish and French. BirdsCaribbean partners also shared short, inspiring and amusing videos on what the theme meant to them. October Big Day was an opportunity to go out and see some migratory birds – with excellent results, despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 limitations on some islands.
Highlights from this year’s WMBD activities!
Puerto Rico
Staff at the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources educated participants on migratory birds and plastic pollution. They also donated native trees as gifts at the Service Fair organized by Senator Marissita Jiménez in the Cueva María de la Cruz de Loíza Historical Park.
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources staff sharing information and giving out trees from their booth. (Photo by Ingrid M. Flores/ DRNA)
Roots and Shoots, celebrate WMBD on a bird watching trip, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carla Montalvo Martinez)
Dominican Republic
In the second week of October, Babeque Secondary School organized some activities to celebrate the enthusiasm for birds with international institutions. This year they visited the Museum of Natural History Professor Eugenio de Js. Marcano, where the volunteer students learned about the birds that visit the island and participated in lively activities based on the knowledge they had absorbed. Grupo Acción Ecológica (GAE) carried out a variety of activities in the Dominican Republic to celebrate WMBD. They organized a talk and walk, in the National Botanical Garden with Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso. They also held workshops and outreach events with schools and community groups, including with the Doulus de Jarabacoa School. Celebrating with talks, walks and bird watching with the 5th graders. Of course, they also went out to look for migratory birds and caught a female (Black-throated Blue Warbler) as part of their monitoring!
Celebrating migratory birds with Secundaria Babeque, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Monika Gomez)
Kids bird watching during WMBD activities with Doulos school, Jarabocoa, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE).
Learning all about bird banding on WMBD, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE).
Montserrat
The Department of Environment made an early start to WMBD events in September! They hosted a riveting presentation focused on shorebirds with a church group. Two site visits to observe shorebirds followed.
Later on, in October, the staff made a presentation on bird migration to 4th form biology students at the Montserrat Secondary School, highlighting a few of the bird species that traverse the island during the migratory season. This was followed by a word search race, which included the names of twenty-two migratory species that can be found on Montserrat.
Local radio also played a role, with a spot aired on the national radio station on October 8th and 9th.
A church group in Montserrat enjoyed a shorebird watching trip to celebrate WMBD. (Photo by Ajhermae White)
Bonaire
For WMBD Monique Grol and her colleagues at STINAPA visited all the primary schools on the island! They taught grade 7 classes all about migratory birds, talking to children in the classroom and taking them out on bird watching trips to local Salinas. With 100s of school kids getting involved.
The children of Bonaire learned all about what migratory birds feed on and how bird beaks are different depending on what each type of food each bird eats. All the classes got poster of migratory birds to hang up in their classrooms. Out in the field the intrepid birding groups had great fun using binoculars and ID cards find and identify any birds they could spot!
Grade 7 children looking for birds on a bird watching outing on Bonaire. (Photo by Monique Grol/ STINAPA)
Grade 7 students enjoy birdwatching at a nearby wetland after a classroom session on migratory birds. (Photo by Monique Grol/ STIMAPA)
Bird Costume Party Winners!
Winner of the WMBD bird costume competition, collect their prizes and certificates. (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez).
Congratulations to our Bird Costume Party winners from Cuba! Dayami Ravelo Romanguera was runner up in a gorgeous Yellow Warbler costume. Héctor Fidel Ravelo Romanguera won first prize in his dramatic Turkey Vulture costume.
The contest encouraged young Caribbean citizens to take migratory birds seriously, and to consider celebrating and protecting them in the future. The competition was open to children up to 12 years old, who were asked to depict one of the featured eleven species selected by Environment for the Americas this year. Costumes used only recyclable or reusable materials, encouraging the children to think about environmental sustainability.
Thank you to all of the amazing people and organizations in the Caribbean that celebrate WMBD every year and especially during this challenging year! We look forward to celebrating WMBD 2022 with you all!
If you are interested in celebrating WMBD in your country, we encourage you to visit the WMBD website for more information or contact the Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Laura Baboolal, at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org. If you have an event planned, you can register it and put the Caribbean on the global events map.
WMBD 2021 digital materials from EFTA are available in English and Spanish, at this link.
Information on migratory birds in the Caribbean, including colouring pages, activity sheets , photos, videos, and puzzles are available from BirdsCaribbean at this link.
Last, but not least, don’t forget to share your WMBD events and experiences on social media with EFTA and BirdsCaribbean. You can find us on all major platforms. If pandemic restrictions allow on your island, go out and enjoy the birds. Most of all, have fun!
Enjoy these photos from WMBD celebrations across the Caribbean!
Celebrating WMBD in Trinidad and Tobago. (Photo by Noor ud din Mohammed)
Roots and Shoots, bird watching on WMBD, Ponce, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carla Montalvo Martinez)
Roots and Shoots, bird watching on WMBD, Ponce, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carla Montalvo Martinez)
Roots and Shoots, bird watching on WMBD, Ponce, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carla Montalvo Martinez)
Roots and Shoots, bird watching on WMBD, Ponce, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carla Montalvo Martinez)
Roots and Shoots, celebrate WMBD on a bird watching trip, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carla Montalvo Martinez)
Flyer adverting a Webinar about migratory birds of Puerto Rico, organized as part of the WMBD celebrations in Puerto Rico.
Celebrating WMBD at the Natural History Museum, Dominican Republic. (Photos by Monika Gomez)
Social media post about WMBD activities by Secundaria Babeque. (Photo by Monika Gomez).
Social media post about WMBD activities by Secundaria Babeque. (Photo by Monika Gomez).
Flyer advertising a birding walk in the National Botanic Gardens, Dominican Republic. (Photo by GAE)
WMBD activities with Doulos school, Jarabocoa, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE).
Learning all about bird banding on WMBD, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE).
Celebrating migratory birds with students from the ABC school, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE)
Holding a workshop about migratory birds, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE)
Celebrating global big day with students from the ABC school, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE)
Celebrating migratory birds with local communities in the Dominican Republic. (Photo Maria Paulino/ GAE).
Looking for birds on WMBD in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE)
Bird watching walk to celebrate WMBD in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE)
Birding with the local communities for WMBD, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/ GAE)
Watching in the Botanic Gardens for WMBD, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/GAE)
A Bird watching walk in the Botanic Gardens for WMBD, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Maria Paulino/GAE)
A bird costume party celebrating WMBD on Cuba. (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez)
Celebrating WMBD on Cuba with a bird-themed costume party . (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez)
Dayami Ravelo Romanguera’s Yellow Warber was the runner up in the WMBD costume competition. (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez)
Celebrating migratory birds with bird-themed cakes at the costume party, Cuba. (Photo by Ines Lourdes Fernandez)
School kids on a bird watching outing at a Salina in Bonaire. (Photo by Monique Grol/ STINAPA)
STINAPA flyer all about migratory birds.
Looking for birds on a watching outing at a Salina in Bonaire. (Photo by Monique Grol/ STINAPA)
We used the same theme, “Sing, Fly, Soar—Like a Bird,” for our Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) in spring 2021. Check out the highlights from CEBF 2021 here. And here are the fabulous webinars we held, including talks by David Sibley on bird flight, Marta Curti on the Ridgway’s Hawk, and many more.
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, basic data analysis, and more. The workshop will take place at Rancho Baiguate in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic from February 16-20, 2022.
This training workshop is part of BirdsCaribbean’s new project that aims to build capacity to monitor and conserve landbirds in the Caribbean. The long-term goal of this project is to enhance full life cycle conservation of Caribbean landbirds. Working with our many partners, we will build regional networks to increase awareness and appreciation of our landbirds and enable on-the ground conservation actions, including protecting, managing, and restoring important habitats.
We know that this dream can become a reality. We have seen the impact of bird monitoring initiatives like the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC), which has provided novel information and helped designate and protect sites that are crucial to the survival of bird populations.
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) Manual bird survey protocols. Developed in Latin America to target tropical habitats, this manual 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 (~1k to $10k) to implement or amplify their own landbird monitoring and conservation projects.
The Cape May Warbler a declining landbird that winters in the Caribbean. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Dominican field crew surveying Louisiana Waterthrush. (Photo by Steve Latta)
Broad-billed Tody perched in a tree. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
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
Basic analysis of monitoring data
In an effort to decrease the amount of time spent in the classroom, some workshop sessions will be held virtually prior to the in-person workshop. These virtual sessions will also be made available to a wider audience. Stay tuned for more information!
Funding and logistics
We are aiming to include approximately 24 participants in this workshop. BirdsCaribbean has limited funding to cover the cost of travel, meals, accommodation, and workshop materials. 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. Participants should plan to arrive in the Dominican Republic on February 15th and depart on February 21st.
COVID-19 Policy: BirdsCaribbean is committed to the safety of all workshop participants, trainers, and local communities. Proof of full vaccination will be required to participate in this workshop. Additional guidelines (e.g., negative tests, masks) will be provided to participants prior to the start of the workshop based on the most updated information.
If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out this form by 5 PM EST on December 10, 2021.
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!
There is no doubt that birding is all about community. We enjoy spending time together, binoculars in hand, sharing sightings and experiences, enjoying birds and nature.
But then, are we leaving some people out?
Birdability is a new non-profit organization founded by Virginia Rose, who fell off a horse at the age of 14 and has been in a wheelchair since then. She began birding 17 years ago and wanted to share her passion and joy with others with disability challenges. Inspired by movements such as #BlackBirdersWeek, Virginia founded Birdability in 2020. Its vision is that birding is for everyone – including those with disabilities and other health concerns.
The first Birdability Week (October 18 to 24, 2020) introduced the organization as not only a celebration of birders with disabilities, but as a sharing of information and resources to encourage the birding community to be more inclusive and diverse. It is supported by National Audubon in the U.S. and many other organizations and businesses.
Birdability focuses on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing, or who have other health concerns.
“At BirdsCaribbean, we welcome this ground-breaking and inspiring initiative,” says Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “Diversity is very important to us – it enhances the birding experience for everyone. We encourage our partners across the Caribbean to reach out to different communities who may sometimes feel left out, including those with disabilities and other challenges.”
“I recall that a number of years ago, SOPI (Sociedad Ornitólogica Puertorriqueña) held a birding program for blind youth, allowing them to “see” different birds through exploring and handling carved wooden birds,” commented Lisa further. “I remember thinking what a great initiative this is, and that we need to do more of this kind of outreach.”
In her introductory talk on October 7, Birdability founder Virginia Rose shared her experiences of birding in a wheelchair, encouraging those with mobility concerns to go out and get into nature. The discussion included some important issues to be explored in more depth during Birdability Week, such as access considerations for birding locations such as making sure that trails are accessible and safe for those in wheelchairs and interpretive signs are a good height for everyone. They will also talk about adaptive birding equipment; and tips for inclusive communication and language use. You can find the full recording here.
So, if you are wondering how to get started, and to learn more about the practical aspects of “birdability,” there will be an opportunity to chat with birders and potential future birders with disabilities and other health concerns at a free webinar on Tuesday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The theme is “Empowering exploration: Birding with an access challenge.” This will be followed by a series of useful, instructive webinars throughout Birdability Week, ending with a guided workshop on “Slow Birding” on Sunday, October 24. You can sign up for all these fun and interesting sessions here.
Birdability Week offers the opportunity for birding groups, non-governmental organizations, and groups of family and friends to host an accessible bird outing. Lisa Sorenson comments: “With a little thought and planning, and using the great resources that Birdability offers, we can create innovative and enjoyable activities that will include more of our citizens. Let’s do it!”
Save the date for a workshop where we celebrate our successes and plan our future work together!
We all love seabirds: the soaring Magnificent Frigatebirds, the Boobies’ expert diving, the entrancing Tropicbirds. But…what is a Seabird Fest?
Well, it is a half-day workshop, hosted by the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group (SWG) planned for Thursday, December 2, 2021, 12 to 3 pm EST. During this event we want to hear from you with brief updates from the islands on how the seabirds are doing. The SWG will learn more – and share more – on what is taking place across the Caribbean in terms of seabird monitoring and conservation. Be sure to REGISTER HERE!
The purpose of the Seabird Fest is more than information gathering and sharing, however, although that is important. The SWG plans to discuss ways forward for a Caribbean Seabird Census (CSC) programme, modeled on the successful Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC). We hope to introduce the CSC in 2023!
Caribbean Seabirds
The Caribbean is home to over twenty species of seabirds, with many more visiting the region’s marine environment on a yearly basis. Understanding where seabirds breed, and in what numbers, is essential for determining the pressures that they may face. This, in turn, helps managers minimise threats to their populations. However, monitoring seabird populations within our suite of remote and inaccessible islands in the Caribbean is no easy task!
Although great strides have been made in recent years with monitoring populations on some islands (e.g., the Grenadines, Antigua’s offshore cays, Cayman Islands etc.), many islands have not been routinely surveyed, and population estimates that do exist are outdated. Furthermore, formal regional overviews of seabird population information are a decade old (see Seabird Resources). Considering the range of factors with potential to cause change in the marine and coastal environments around our shores, such as large-scale events like Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, there is an urgent need to monitor seabirds.
The initial goal will be to update our knowledge on the status of and threats to seabird populations in the Caribbean. If repeated regularly, seabird surveys will go on to help conservation scientists and managers understand how seabird populations are changing over time in our region, supporting efforts to protect them. By forming partnerships among interested groups and individuals that monitor seabirds, we can better tackle the logistical challenges of surveying hundreds of islands and cays. For this, we need to get as many interested organisations, communities and individuals involved in the effort as possible!
Why count seabirds?
Project Assistant Quincy Augustine and Wildlife Biologist Wayne Smart lead a team of Grenadian biologists conducting seabird surveys at Diamond Rock (Photo by Q. Augustine)
Understanding seabird populations and monitoring changes in the size and health of populations is extremely important for conserving them. On land, many breeding sites are under threat from coastal development, introduced predators, disturbance, and egging. At sea, seabirds contend with threats from fishing activities, pollution, climate change, and offshore development.
Monitoring colonies and understanding population trends is therefore more important than ever. While some Caribbean islands already have active seabird monitoring programmes in place, others are home to large populations of seabirds that are not currently monitored. As such, our Seabird Working Group is working hard to try and secure funding for this programme, which will allow for training, data collection, and community engagement, particularly on islands where there are gaps in capacity for these activities.
Be sure to register for the Seabird Fest here, and keep an eye on our Seabird Working Group webpages, listserv and facebook group in the coming months for updates on Seabird Fest! Our SWG co-chairs are also looking for help to plan the event, as well as other ongoing SWG tasks, so please get in touch with us if you are interested!
Learn more about Seabird activities in the Caribbean below!
They have their flyways, and they bring their songs. Our migratory birds are on the move again, and on October 9, World Migratory Bird Day, they will be “officially” welcomed and celebrated in style in the Caribbean.
For our region, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is on October 9th, 2021 (but we encourage everyone to celebrate anytime during fall migration that works best for you). By this date, gardens, parks, forests, mountains, and seashores are filled with feathered newcomers, who have traveled thousands of miles and are either passing through or settling down for the milder winter months in the Caribbean.
The WMBD 2021 theme is “Sing, Fly, Soar—Like a Bird!” Activities organized by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), BirdsCaribbean, and our partners throughout the region will tap into this lively concept and, focus on some of the eleven featured species selected this year. Some of these, such as the Turkey Vulture, Royal Tern, Yellow Warbler, and Belted Kingfisher, are either resident or fairly common migrant species in the region. Others, such as the Green-winged Teal, Wood Thrush, Upland Sandpiper, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird, are rare. The Sandhill Crane is an uncommon resident in Cuba.
This year, EFTA will be hosting a live online event, or series of events from October 7 to 9, entitled “World Migratory Bird Day Live.” Friday, October 8 will be a special day reserved for youth and schools. Caribbean educators are valuable partners, helping to convey the messages of conservation and protection of birds and habitats. The creative arts – including a “sing like a bird” competition, videos, and art demonstrations, will play a role this year, besides informational speakers and workshops.
A featured WMBD webinar this year will be on the Lesser Yellowlegs, a shorebird that is undergoing an alarming decline. The webinar, hosted by BirdsCaribbean, will be presented by US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, Laura McDuffie. Laura has been tracking these birds on their long migrations and has some fascinating and enlightening results to share with us. The webinar will take place on Friday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Here is the link to register: https://bit.ly/LesserYellowlegs
Most of all, WMBD promises to have a strong element of fun. EFTA is hosting a bird costume party and competition for children up to 12 years old, with the focus on one of the featured eleven species. Costumes should use only recyclable or reusable material – new materials should not be used. The deadline for submission of costume entries is Friday, October 1. Prizes will be awarded on October 9th.
There is also a Bird Song Contest!Submit your song inspired by birds anytime between now and October 8th for a chance to win a cash prize! Winners will be announced on October 9th – See details in the Flyer below.
If you are interested in celebrating WMBD in your country, we encourage you to visit the WMBD website for more information or contact the Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Laura Baboolal, at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org. If you have an event planned, you can register it and put the Caribbean on the global events map.
WMBD 2021 digital materials from EFTA are available in English and Spanish, at this link.
Information on migratory birds in the Caribbean, including colouring pages, activity sheets , photos, videos, and puzzles are available from BirdsCaribbean at this link.
Last, but not least, don’t forget to share your WMBD events and experiences on social media with EFTA and BirdsCaribbean. You can find us on all major platforms. If pandemic restrictions allow on your island, go out and enjoy the birds. Most of all, have fun!
Are you looking for a good birding read? We recommend that you log on to “The Cuban Birder,” a quarterly, digital, free magazine, published in English and Spanish. Richly illustrated and packed with information, it is a gem of a publication for birders in all walks of life, and the first of its kind in Cuba. An initiative of Birding Havana, its third issue was released in August 2021, and it is supported by BirdsCaribbean.
The magazine is more than just a substantial and fascinating read. The goal of the publication is simple: to get Cubans – especially the younger generations – excited about birds, so that they can take it up as a hobby. After all, Cuba has the highest number of recorded species in the insular Caribbean (397), of which around 262 are migratory. Once new devotees learn more and become engaged, this will lead to a deeper understanding of how the environment works, as well as a desire to protect and conserve the birds and the places where they live. In other words, it is hoped that the magazine will light a spark of awareness about Cuban birds and the serious, pressing challenges they face. The first issues have already received good readership.
The Cuban Birder has been a long-cherished dream of Birding Havana’s founding director Mr Vladimir Mirabal, former diplomat, lawyer, photographer and passionate birder. He says: “We have needed a magazine like this for a long time. There is great joy in birdwatching, and we want to express this through our publication. It is an educational tool that we hope will support our plans to rebuild a Cuban Birdwatchers Movement. Already, the Cuban Birders Club (Club de Observadores de Aves Cubanas) has experienced growth of over 3,000 new members in the past two months.” All who are seeking more information on Cuban birds and birding activities may join the Club’s Facebook page.
Helping to combat the caged bird threat
The magazine is especially timely as Cuba’s birds and nature face an uncertain future. The threats of climate change and habitat destruction loom large for Cuba, as they do for other Caribbean countries. Another significant threat is capturing and keeping wild birds to sell and keep as pets. Although illegal, this practice, long part of the culture, is growing among the Cuban population. Parrots, parakeets, grassquits, the Cuban Bullfinch, and many songbirds (residents, endemics, and migrants) are trapped, sold, and trained to compete in songbird competitions and kept as pets.
Fall migration is prime “hunting season” for the trappers and private Facebook groups in Cuba show off hundreds of migratory birds for sale, including Painted Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and dozens of warbler species. Even children are involved in the trapping. BirdsCaribbean will continue to assist with efforts to reduce these harmful behaviors by supplying birding gear and educational materials to help promote birding and develop Bird Clubs in each province. Bird watchers are a growing voice in Cuba. Vladimir commented, “With your support we will be able to reach out to a lot more people in our communities as part of our efforts to replace bird cages and traps with binoculars and field guides by increasing the appreciation for Cuban birds and supporting conservation efforts.” Many of our Cuban colleagues and partners have been working hard to educate and raise awareness about this issue for many years, but it remains a huge challenge. If you would like to donate to help us send binoculars and field guides to Cuba, please click here and select “Reducing bird trapping in Cuba” for your gift designation.
“The first bird of the season fell” – August 2021 Facebook post by a bird trapper in Cuba showing a migratory warbler, the Northern Parula.The caption reads “Ready for the hunt.” Painted Buntings in cages for sale – August 2021 Facebook post by a bird trapper in Cuba.Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a migratory warbler in a cage in Cuba, for sale on a private Facebook group.Cuban boy trapping wild birds, posted on Cuban social media.Bird hunters in Cuba heading out with their traps, shared on social media.Painted Buntings in cages in Cuba – this colorful bird is a popular species for the caged bird trade.
The legacy of Juan Cristóbal Gundlach in Cuba
So what will you find, as you turn the digital pages of this third issue of The Cuban Birder? If you love science history, you will enjoy browsing through articles on the life and work of Juan Cristóbal Gundlach (1810 – 1896), who was born in Germany but left a rich legacy in Cuban scientific discovery. The author of the first major work on Cuban ornithology, among other studies, his name is included in the Latin names of no less than sixty animal species – among the birds he discovered, these included the Gundlach’s Hawk and the Cuban Vireo.
According to a 1915 account, the avid collector and descriptor of thousands of species did not drink and was a frugal eater, often departing in the morning with a biscuit and a sandwich in his pocket – which he forgot to eat during the day. He was tall and reportedly had a bit of a limp, but he was quiet and unassuming, traveling from one end of the island to the other. What a dedicated man! You will enjoy getting to know Juan Cristóbal Gundlach better in the pages of the Cuban Birder. This fascinating section of the magazine, about a significant figure in Cuban natural history is illustrated with photographs of some of the birds he discovered, accompanied by his own descriptions.
Don Juan, as he was known, was also the man who first discovered the smallest bird in the world – the Bee Hummingbird, which is the topic of another article in The Cuban Birder. Noting the tiny bird’s mating ritual, Gundlach noted, rather sweetly: “I have also seen the male when he is in love, go up perpendicularly with a non-progressive flight, sometimes singing, others not, stop, hover for a moment at the female, and then drop down.” Unfortunately, it is not as widely distributed as it was in Gundlach’s day, and is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. You can read a detailed description of this exquisite but endangered bird in the magazine. On another page, there is a very useful fact sheet on Hummingbirds; there are some 343 species identified in the Americas, and they are surprisingly aggressive for their size!
This is just a taste of what you can find in the latest issue of The Cuban Birder. It is an absorbing read that also includes helpful advice on the art of birdwatching and the best cameras for wildlife photography; as well as a gorgeous photo feature on the Alexander Humboldt National Park. A section on identifying hotspots using the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird Caribbean includes how to determine the criteria for a hotspot, and how to navigate the website to suggest one. This section also emphasizes the importance of using the portal, which is specially designed for the Caribbean – especially on days when there are special “counts,” such as the eleven-year-old Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) established by BirdsCaribbean. Data on Cuban birds – and our island birds in general – is more important than ever!
Previous issues have featured interviews with well-known Caribbean scientists like the legendary Orlando Garrido, and artist and naturalist, Nils Navarro, author of Field Guide to the Endemic Birds of Cuba. The magazine is also packed with tips on how to photograph birds, how to identify them, and places to visit and stay to enjoy Cuba’s amazing bird life.
We warmly recommend this digital magazine to our BirdsCaribbean members, and to anyone who wants to learn about and protect Cuba’s birds. We congratulate the editorial team and all the contributors, and hope that readers will share the publication widely online – including, of course, on social media. We eagerly look forward to the next issue of The Cuban Birder!
Here are some readers’ reviews:
José Eugenio Martínez González:
I have been very excited about this idea. You have given us a nice surprise. As a birder, which I have practiced alone or in the company of my family, without equipment, but with a lot of desire, I take my hat off to this initiative.
Daniela Ventura del Puerto:
Excellent! I hope this magazine contributes to more people leaving the cages and changing them for cameras and binoculars. Success in that work!
Alejandro Padrón:
Excellent work for Cuban nature. Congratulations to all the members of this Club. I will follow you with attention.
Agustín Dimas López Guevara:
What good news! Graphic showcase and sample of the work of this great team that brings to light, with image, nature; fauna and flora, beauties to appreciate.
Lázaro Ramón Sosa Morell:
Great initiative, something very worthy of the culture of respect in our country and the effort that so many people have made for years to make it so! Congratulations!
September is right around the corner and migratory shorebirds are making their way south. Please join us this World Shorebirds Day to learn more about these fascinating birds and what you can do to help protect them. Take part in this year’s Global Shorebird Count and check out our cool resources for honing your ID skills and count techniques. We also have free, fun activities for kids and the whole family – read on!
Global Shorebird Count 2021
This year’s Global Shorebird Count will take place from September 1 to 7, 2021. All across the Caribbean and beyond, intrepid birders will be compiling checklists from island to island and recording them on eBird Caribbean. BirdsCaribbean urges you to participate! Our migratory shorebirds are more vulnerable than ever, threatened by human activities such as destruction of their habitats, pollution, disturbance, and climate change. In some countries they are hunted. Altogether this has led to severe declines in populations of shorebirds around the world.
Where are these fascinating birds to be found? While you will find them on shores and beaches, some shorebirds use habitats further inland, including freshwater and brackish marshes and ponds. Shorebirds are also fond of salt ponds, mud flats, mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Check out the new video we created in honor of this year’s World Shorebirds Day!
Make Your Shorebirds Count—Submit & Share Your Data!
A Piping Plover – the first seen in Jamaica! (Photo by Ann Sutton).
We encourage you to register to participate in the count and be sure share your eBird Caribbean checklist(s) with worldshorebirdsday – the eBird username of World Shorebirds Day. You can find guidelines for sharing checklists here.
eBird Caribbean is a critical tool for tracking and understanding bird migration and population changes – never more so than for our shorebirds. If you do not have an account, it is easy to register – here’s a quick guide to enter eBird data online. There is even a free eBird Essentials course to get you fully oriented. Download the free mobile app for recording your data in the field.
Note that shorebirds are a type of waterbird and any counts you do at wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches at any time of year count as Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) counts. When you do your counts Please choose one of the CWC protocols in the eBird app or when you submit or edit your data online. When you are using the app make sure that you are using the eBird Caribbean Portal. To check or change the portal you are using go into your settings on the app and look for “Portal”. To increase the value of your count to science, be sure to count ALL birds at your site, including seabirds, herons and egrets, land birds, etc.
What if you spot a bird with a band on its leg?
While counting shorebirds you may see birds; especially Piping Plovers, Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Sanderlings, with colourful bands around their legs. Do your best to record the band colors and any numbers or letters – see guidance in the handy graphic. Binoculars or zoom photography may allow you to clearly see the band colors and the numbers engraved onto the band. Scientists use this information to track bird populations and migrations.
Handout from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that provides information about Piping Plover banding locations and how to read the flags.
Global Shorebird Count 101
After years of participating in the Global Shorebird Count we have created a list of some best practice tips to help make your count go as smoothly as possible. You may download and share this infographic with your fellow birders.
If you do not already have a favorite place to look at shorebirds, before doing your Global Shorebird Counts, you might need to choose your birding spot. Shorebirds can show up in many different types of wetlands from mangroves, to mudflats, saltponds, marshes, and beaches! If you are unsure where to find shorebirds near you why not take a look for ‘hotspots’ at your local wetlands on eBird. Just click on ‘Explore’ on the eBird Caribbean website, and find ‘Explore Hotspots’. You can open hotspots in a map and then click on a hotspot to see what type of birds have been seen there recently. When you visit your shorebird spot be sure to find a good place to count birds from – you need to have a clear view of the birds, but not be so close you disturb them!
Shorebirds can be challenging to identify, and some species are especially difficult to tell apart. If you have binoculars, a spotting scope or a camera with a good zoom lens don’t forget to take them along. These will help you get a closer look to pick out the ID features, without disturbing the birds. Of course, don’t forget to take you favorite bird ID guide with you when you do your shorebird counts. You might want to print out one of our handy Shorebird ID cards! In fact, you could even do a bit of ‘shorebird studying’ before you go using our useful reference guides and our CWC and Shorebird ID webinars. You can find all these free resources here.
Fun activities to engage kids in exploring wetlands and beaches
These activities were not designed to teach a child how to name and identify shorebirds but rather to give them space to explore and feel connected to their natural environment. Parents and guardians, you will not need to worry about your own knowledge of birds or plants. All you need to do is accompany and participate with your child in these activities.
Beach Scavenger Hunt. This activity is suitable for children ages 4 to 7 years old. They are asked to find plants and animals at the beach.
Beach Bird Bingo. This activity is suitable for children ages 8 to 12 years old. They are asked to find items on the list four in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. They do not need to touch or collect any of the items on the list.
Talk about this with your children before beginning any of the activities. They should not touch or collect items on the lists. When observing birds they should speak softly. They do not need to get close to the birds but if they need to, ask them to do so slowly and quietly. You can check off the items (with a pencil or pen), as they are located. When everyone has had a chance to look for the items listed, come back together to chat about what they were able to find or see. For example, why is the bird’s beak long and straight?
World Shorebirds Day 2021 postcard. This activity is suitable for any age. Print and colour the postcard – sides 1 and 2. Then share it with a friend or family member.
Don’t forget to reward your junior birders with a scoop of their favourite ice cream!
They may also enjoy this Snowy Plover colouring book. You can print the colouring book and carry to the beach, just remember to pack the colouring pencils or crayons.
Get Social for Shorebirds
Celebrating World Wetlands day on Jamaica (Photo by Paula-Anne Porter)
This activity is suitable for anyone 12 years and older. Take photos at your local wetland, beach, mud flat, salt pond, or swamp, and share them on social media; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and tag us @birdscaribbean and use the hashtag #worldshorebirdsday2021. The categories are:
Caribbean Shorebirds: snap a pic of a shorebird you saw at your local beach, mud flat, pond or swamp. Please also use the hashtag: #Caribshorebirds
Share the Shore: show us how you are helping shorebirds. For tips on how you can help shorebirds when you visit the beach, check out this blog. Please also use the hashtag: #sharetheshore
My Local Wetland: share a beautiful landscape or seascape photo of your local wetland or if you’re not camera shy, take a selfie in the habitat. Please also use the hashtag: #mylocalwetland and #HumansofBirdsCaribbean
Use a phone or any other camera that is available, but you must tag @birdscaribbean and use the hashtags provided. We look forward to seeing and sharing your amazing photos and reading your stories.
This eye-catching little bird is endemic to the island of St. Lucia and locally known as “Sucrier babad.” The St. Lucia Warbler (Setophaga delicata) is a common bird on the island, it is found in most forest types but more so in middle and upper level forests. It can be identified by its bluish-gray upperparts, two white wingbars, bright yellow throat and underparts, broad yellow eyebrow stripe and cheek patch. It has a black crescent below the eye and a narrow black stripe on the edge of the crown. The tail is gray with white outer feathers. Females differ from males by having less white in the tail, and less pronounced black edging to crown stripe.
