Birding at Cherry Tree Hill, Barbados. (Photo by Alex Sansom)
Imagine helping scientists make amazing discoveries, all from the comfort of your own home or backyard. That’s the power of citizen science! You don’t need a white lab coat to contribute to real research, just a curious mind and a willingness to observe the world around you. We’ve got all the details in this blog to help you take simple yet concrete actions to protect our planet.
Ever wanted to make a real difference in your community—no, make that in the world? With citizen science you actually can! Citizen science is all about scientists teaming up with everyday people who are curious, concerned, and motivated to tackle real-world problems. These people are called citizen scientists. Science needs more eyes, ears, and perspectives than any single scientist possesses to protect threatened species, safeguard natural resources, and prevent the spread of diseases. Think about it—thousands of citizen scientists, each doing a small amount of work, focused on a single goal, can collect more data in a shorter period and for less money than can any researcher or research group. Additionally, citizen scientists can collect data from places like backyards or schoolyards that may be difficult for researchers to access.
Many names with the same aim
“Community science,” “participatory science,” “crowdsourced science,” “volunteer monitoring,” and “public participation in scientific research” are common aliases for citizen science. But whatever it’s called in your neck of the woods, all citizen science projects share these four key characteristics:
Anyone can participate no matter occupation, age, background, gender, or location. Seriously, if you’re curious and willing to help, you’re in!
Everyone uses the same method. This ensures the data collected is top-notch.
Your data makes a difference. It can help scientists make amazing breakthroughs.
It’s a two-way street. Scientists and volunteers openly share data and results so everyone, including the public, can see what’s happening.
Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico’s small but dedicated birding group at Playa Table Rock for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) and Global Big Day (GBD) 2024. (Photo by Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico)
Citizen scientists commonly collect data. But they can also be involved in other phases of the scientific process like defining the research question, analysis, reporting, and sharing results. The work itself is also incredibly varied. Citizen scientists may be asked to watch and record birds, take photos of local streams and rivers, test water samples for pollutants, or survey marine debris on local beaches. Some projects are even as fun as playing online games to help advance health research. Whatever your interest, we’re certain there’s a project out there for you to make a difference!
The value of citizen science to YOU
Now, you’re probably wondering, “What’s in it for me?” Well, loads.
It’s a fantastic way to connect with a global community who shares your passions. Whether you’re tracking local wildlife with neighbors or collaborating on a global research project online, you’ll be part of a supportive community of volunteers and scientists. This shared purpose and teamwork can turn a solo activity into a meaningful and less daunting experience. Within this community, you’re encouraged to ask questions, share your unique viewpoint, and by doing so enrich a body of knowledge with your input.
BirdLife Jamaica members and guests take a bird walk at Source Farm. (Photo by Source Farm)
Becoming a citizen scientist also offers opportunities for hands-on learning. You’ll gain practical skills in data collection, observation, and critical thinking. You might learn how to identify different bird species, use scientific instruments to test water quality, or build your scientific literacy.
Painted Buntings, a gorgeous migrant to the Caribbean, feast at a backyard feeder in Grand Bahama, The Bahamas. (Photo by Erika Gates)
For example, you join a citizen science project like the Great Backyard Bird Count and notice a bird you’ve never seen before in your backyard. You snap a picture and share with your local birding group or through an online search or field guide to learn how to identify it. This bird now has a name! You’ve come this far, can’t stop now. You then learn what it eats, where it builds its nest, and that your backyard is providing it with food and shelter. Just like that, your backyard goes from being a small green patch to an important part of a local ecosystem—and now you’re actively participating in understanding and protecting it.
You’ve also unlocked the art of noticing your world deeply—increasing your sense of presence, and helping you be more connected to the everyday wonder that surrounds you.
Ultimately, citizen science is all about you. It’s a chance to put your curiosity to work on your own terms. You can choose a project that aligns with your interests, and set your own schedule—contributing as much or as little as you like, from your house, backyard, neighbourhood park, or nature reserve. This self-directed approach empowers you to be a part of something bigger while feeling a sense of ownership and pride in the work you do.
What a difference your data makes!
Entering data into eBird. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
It may sound implausible that simple actions like recording the birds you see or taking photos of rivers and streams can lead to big changes. But your data is a real-game changer in how we think about and conserve our natural resources.
When conservation efforts are steered by sound data, the results can be truly magnificent for birds, habitats and people!
Thanks to the collective power of citizen scientists—heading out, recording the birds they saw, then submitting those sightings to eBird—researchers were able to complete the first-ever Caribbean-wide assessment of shorebird use in the region, via the Caribbean Waterbird Census, now in its sixteenth year.
For ten years, volunteers continuously contributed more than 211,000 shorebird observations through more than 78,000 eBird checklists. This immense pool of data allowed the researchers to identify critical conservation hotspots that were previously unknown. This breakthrough is a huge deal, finally giving the Caribbean the recognition it deserves as a crucial region for North American shorebirds, so important given alarming declines in shorebirds in our region. The study highlighted that Humedal Sur de Pinar del Río in Cuba and Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic should be priority areas for shorebird conservation. As these sites each support over 20,000 shorebirds annually like Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, Wilson’s Plovers, and Black-necked Stilts they are also candidates to be designated as WHSRN (Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network) sites of regional importance.
Over 20,000 shorebirds rely on the wetlands at Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic during migration every year – making this a regionally important site and a critical lifeline for shorebirds. (Photo by GAE)
This study also pinpointed at least 15 additional sites that are crucial for shorebird populations and may now qualify for international designations. This massive effort by thousands of volunteers has provided the evidence needed to protect these habitats and ensure a safer future for migratory shorebirds. You can read the full article here!
With countless opportunities available, it’s easy to find and join a citizen science project. But before you begin your new adventure in science, here are some tips to get you started on the right foot.
Your first step should be to find a project that genuinely interests you. Do you love to hike? There are projects for tracking wildlife. Are you interested in birds? You can help monitor populations. Do you want to help your local community? You can help monitor water quality or noise pollution. It’s important to choose a project that aligns with your interests. This will make the experience more fun and rewarding.
Participants at bird walk led by Miguel A Landestoy and Grupo Jaragua team at Las Salinas, DR. (Photo by Grupo Jaragua)
Once you’ve zoned in on the type of project you’d like to join, ‘google it!’ A quick search will connect you with platforms that host thousands of projects. If you’re a bird lover, eBird is our absolute favorite. eBird offers projects, courses and news to help you get started and stay up-to-date with everything citizen science. We’ve also got some great longstanding citizen science projects in the Caribbean too, more on this below.
After selecting a citizen science project you’ll typically have to download a free app or visit a website, sign up, and follow the simple instructions to collect and submit your data.
If you’re completely new to the citizen science scene, here are some additional tips:
Start small and local. The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert or commit a lot of time. Many projects can be done in as little as 15 minutes, and every single observation helps. (There’s no bad news!) Also, follow the instructions. Each project has a specific set of instructions to ensure the data is high-quality. Reading and carefully following the instructions will make your contribution even more valuable. And of course, when in doubt, ask questions! The community is here to support everyone, from beginners to experts.
Looking for shorebirds for a CWC Count at Old Harbour mudflats, Jamaica. (Photo by BirdLife Jamaica)
Shanna explains bird ID at McKinnons Pond, Antigua, during the 2025 CWC Count. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Finally, and most importantly—have fun! You are helping to make ripples of impact while having an adventure of a lifetime so give yourself the space and time to enjoy the process of discovery, learning, and contributing.
Bonus tip: Citizen science is all about community. Invite a friend to be your fellow explorer!
A few members of Statia’s Golden Warblers in St. Eustatius, Global Big Day 2025. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Members of the team BirdersSKN birdwatching on Global Big Day.
Brendan Burns and Skyler Bol of Gavilán Guardians in Puerto Rico, Global Big Day 2025. (Photo by Brendan Burns)
Mirielle and Kathleen surveying birds at Anasco, Puerto Rico, 2025 Global Big Day. (Photo by Marisol Villanueva Mendez)
Ready to start your Citizen Science adventure with BirdsCaribbean?
If you’re ready to start your citizen science adventure, here are some great projects to join throughout the year:
Global Shorebird Count (September 2025): If you love plump adorable animals, then we think you’re going to love this project! Learn more about the Global Shorebird Count here and get the resources (for FREE) to help with your count here.
Shorebirds like the Short-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper are long distance migrants that spend part of their year in the Caribbean. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
October Big Day (October 2025): A global event where you can join thousands of birders to find and report as many bird species as possible in a single day. And get this, you can watch birds right from the comfort of your backyard or balcony! However, if your feet are itching to cover more ground, birders also head to botanical gardens, wetlands, and nature reserves. Learn more here.
Caribbean Waterbird Census (January- February 2026): For over 16 years, BirdsCaribbean has been monitoring waterbird populations thanks to the efforts of a region-wide network of amazing birders and bird lovers! While the official count happens in January, you can submit waterbird observations throughout the year to this important program. Click here to learn more about this incredible citizen scientist project and access free resources like webinars, bird ID guides and more.
Counting shorebirds on Turks and Caicos. (Photo by Simon Busuttil)
Global Big Day (May 2026): Join birders from around the world to find and count birds on a single day in May. Be sure to check out this year’s recap of the event and get ready to participate, wave your country flag high, win fabulous prizes, show off your best shots and raise funds to protect Caribbean birds and build local conservation capacity, next year!
You’ve got the tools. You’ve got the drive. Now go make history! Your observations are the building blocks of a better world. The projects are waiting for you, and so are we. The only thing missing is you!
Ansaki uses a handheld antenna to track parrots fitted with radio transmitters.
It has been four years since La Soufrière Volcano roared to life on the island of St. Vincent, after being dormant for decades. Explosions and heavy ash falls blanketed wildlife habitats, further threatening endemic species like the Vulnerable St. Vincent Amazon (Amazona guildingii) and Endangered Whistling Warbler (Catharopeza bishopi). Since this disaster, BirdsCaribbean and partners have been working with the St. Vincent Forestry Department to strengthen conservation capacity through monitoring and research on forest birds and their habitats, as well as outreach and education.
In May 2025, a vital training opportunity arose.
Five forestry officers traveled to Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. There they received technical training in the conservation and management of native Caribbean parrots. This exchange was with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program and, supported by a grant from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Over five days spent at the captive rearing and release facility in El Yunque National Forest, the trainees learned how to operate captive breeding facilities, techniques involving the care, monitoring and release of captive and wild parrots, banding and attaching radio transmitters and, critical “parrot first-aid.”
The foresters intend to put to use the valuable lessons learned in current and future efforts to protect the St. Vincent Amazon, their National Bird. Please enjoy this lively account in the words of Leon Matthews (Forestry Officer 3), Ansaki Roberts (Technical Aide) and Felicia Baptiste (Forestry Officer 1), which they describe as “wonderful, nerve-racking, and informative.” They were accompanied by Technical Aides Quasim Roban and Fabian Young, who also added their comments. Enthusiasm was high!
Puerto Rican Amazon. (Photo by Dubi-Shapiro ML490544571)
St. Vincent Amazon. (Photo by Faraaz Abdool ML572563461)
Our Fun and Interesting Experiences on the Island of Enchantment
St Vincent and the Grenadines is home to the St. Vincent Amazon. Our National Bird’s habitat is the interior of the lush mountainous forest in the Jennings-Congo Valley, South Rivers, Vermont, Hermitage and Richmond. Apart from natural disasters like catastrophic hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, this endemic bird’s long-term survival has faced serious threats, including illegal trafficking and conflicts with farmers.
Coming to Puerto Rico
Ansaki: Anyone can dream all they want to visit America—however Caribbean nationals can’t enter without a nonimmigrant visa. A team of five were selected to take part in a training in Puerto Rico, but guess what? None of us had a visa! So on 9th April we traveled, with high hopes, to the U.S. Embassy in Barbados for an interview on the 10th. Thankfully we were all granted visas which meant we could continue with our plans to travel to Puerto Rico.
Leon: The Embassy was a bit intimidating with all the security, but our mission was complete.
Felicia: Our travel date was soon after—27th April. We packed our carry-ons and headed to Argyle International Airport, eager to get to the aviary at the El Yunque National Forest. The boys decided to walk around the airport to kill time and look for food. Ansaki, being the smart one, brought her own food. We sat there and waited for our turn to board the plane, and oh! Were we in for a long wait…
Ansaki: I got to the airport around 10 a.m., and was awaiting the arrival of my other colleagues—just to hear the flight was delayed. We finally boarded our flight at 4:15 p.m. instead of 1:15 p.m. During the flight delay, we appreciated the constant support of the excellent team via Whats App. “Welcome to the world of international air travel!” joked U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Wildlife Biologist Dr. Thomas White (Tom), our host and Head of the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Finally, we’re in Puerto Rico!
Felicia: We were finally on our way. Now you would think, “We are just going to one of our Caribbean islands, it shouldn’t take too long.” But we were wrong. The two flights took a total of nine hours! The first leg of the journey to JFK International Airport in New York City was five hours, and the second leg to San Juan was another four hours. By the time we arrived in New York, we were officially tired and hungry (time didn’t allow us to grab food at JFK)—and we weren’t even at our destination yet!
Navigating new shores
Ansaki: We arrived in Puerto Rico on 28th April at 3:02 a.m., and were kindly escorted by BirdsCaribbean Operations Officer, Alexia Morales, and her partner, Mario, (our saviours) safely to our Airbnb in Rio Grande. We quickly settled in and rested for a while.
Leon: As the senior officer, I had to take on the driving responsibility. It was an experience! Driving a left-hand drive vehicle for the first time, paired with the task of driving on the right side of the road was scary as I had to adapt immediately. Nerves got the better of me—but I had to do it for the team. I was so happy to get to the Airbnb. My fingers cramped from holding onto the steering wheel so tight like my life depended on it—and yes, it did!
Ansaki: Our team met up with Tom and his beautiful wife Arelis at “El Patio de Lola” for dinner later that evening. Then we headed to the supermarket to buy groceries, because we hadn’t had a good home-cooked meal since the day before. With its size and huge variety, Famcoop Supermarket became our favorite choice for shopping almost every evening.
Cheers to an exciting week ahead! The team with Tom and Arelis at El Patio de Lola.
Felicia:Tom and Arelis were our guides to the supermarket. They led us to the parking lot and then waved “goodbye.” We were happy we found food to cook to our hearts’ content. We shopped, comparing prices back home (it’s a bit cheaper in PR), wandered around the supermarket, and proceeded to the parking lot. It was then we realized we had a small problem—we didn’t really know our way back to the Airbnb! Leon said, “We’ll figure it out—we will count the traffic lights.”
And so we started back home, counting traffic lights, until at the first traffic Ansaki shouted, “Turn left!”
The others insisted, “ No, keep straight, we’re not there yet.”
Fortunately Quasim remembered and guided, “Look out for the big restaurant sign at the next traffic light.”
Leon said, “Ansaki, stop talking, you’re giving wrong directions!”
In spite of everything we got back to the Airbnb safely, with the confidence that we could find our way to and from the supermarket when needed.
A home cooked meal in a foreign country.
The team shopping in their favorite PR supermarket.
Inside the aviary
Ansaki: The next day we packed our lunch and headed out with our ‘trusty’ driver Leon, who drove us to the USFWS compound in El Yunque. The drive took us through the forest. The main highway in St. Vincent is located along the coast of the island, so having a drivable road through a forest was interesting.
Leon: It was time for me to shine again and the nerves kicked in. I had to drive in a strange country, through three-lane highway traffic, heading to somewhere I didn’t know, and all I could think about was Tom’s statement, “It’s so easy to find, even a blind man from St. Vincent can find it.” He was correct! It took us just over 30 minutes to get to the USFWS compound.
Ansaki: We arrived at the El Yunque Parrot Recovery Aviary, where we were greeted and introduced to the Aviary staff. We received a brief history of the Puerto Rico Parrot Recovery Program from Tom. I accompanied Iris to take the baby chick to the foster parent cage. After, Felicia and I assisted Arelis with feeding the parrots. We also looked at live videos of parrot nests. In the evening, we visited the El Yunque National Forest Visitor Center and learned about forest management practices and their application to parrot conservation.
The team received a warm welcome from the USFWS Forestry Officer Laura at El Yunque National Forest Visitor Center. (Photo by Tom White)
3D model of El Yunque National Forest.
Dr Tom White inside the parrot aviary.
USFWS Forestry Officer Laura takes the team on a tour of the nursery.
Testing of egg to know when it is fertile
Ansaki:During our time in the incubator room Iris showed us how to check for fertile eggs. “Lights out,” said Iris. In the darkened room she turned on a flashlight and gently placed it under the large end of an egg taken from the incubator; we were able to see the live embryo within the egg shell. Eggs that are not fertile look glossy. An incubator is used to help with the hatching process, especially for parrots that are inexperienced. I didn’t know it was that easy to confirm when an egg is fertile.
Felicia: On day two we learned how to prepare food for the parrots. The bowls, knives, and cutting board were washed in warm water and sterilized. Fruits and vegetables were cut into small pieces, mixed with bird feed, nuts, calcium, and vitamins (given to parrots with chicks).
Leon and Felicia cut up veggies and fruits for the Puerto Rican and Hispaniolan Amazons. (Photo by Ansaki Roberts)
Meal prep for the parrots was truly a team effort!
Another exciting task lay ahead of us that day:
Practicing how to attach radio transmitters on the parrot
With assistance from Iris, Tom demonstrated how to attach the first radio transmitter on the parrot. He then guided each member of the team on how to do it. Firstly a parrot was selected to practice on with a dummy transmitter. Two people worked together as a team, with one holding the parrot in the correct way, while the other prepared to place a dummy radio transmitter on the parrot.
Many Amazona species favor dense tropical forest canopies. Radio telemetry allows researchers to obtain location and movement data of these birds that would otherwise be extremely difficult to obtain. This technique helps researchers track parrot movement and behaviour throughout the habitat over time which is valuable for the species management and conservation.
Ansaki cuts off the excess wire after she and Leon attached the radio transmitter to a Puerto Rican Parrot.
Iris helps Fabian attach a radio transmitter to a Puerto Rican Parrot.
Quasim and Felicia practice attaching a radio transmitter to a Puerto Rican Parrot.
The dummy transmitter is placed around the neck of the parrot, then secured, and tightening off is completed using an instrument to clamp both ends together. One finger space is left between the parrot neck and the radio transmitter, before cutting off the excess wire of the radio transmitter.
On day three, we practiced using telemetry equipment to locate the parrots in the wild that have been equipped with radio transmitters. We hiked along a narrow trail to identify wild parrot nests.
Ansaki learns how to use the handheld antenna to locate parrots in the forest, as Tom looks on.
Afterwards, we headed to the “parrot hospital” where Dr. Tony, the veterinarian, imparted a wealth of knowledge on how to care for sick parrots before the vet can arrive. The consistency of the meal prepared and the instrument used to feed the sick parrot was an eye-opener for me.
Felicia was intrigued with every aspect of the experience in the hospital.
Felicia: On day three, we met Dr. Tony again, who took us through various tools and procedures in caring for sick birds. One of the first procedures was inserting a nasogastric (NG) tube to feed a sick bird. Dr. Tony showed us how to properly position the tube and the parrot for tube placement. This part of the demonstration had to be handled with care as the membrane in the parrot’s throat can easily tear or be damaged. When placing the tube, Tony showed us how to feel and separate the trachea from the esophagus so as to not accidentally push the tube into the parrot’s lungs. Each person was given a chance to practice the placement.
The second procedure took place in the nursery’s hospital. Dr. Tony anesthetized a parrot and demonstrated how to locate and stop bleeding from a blood feather. He explained that feathers, like human hair and nails, are keratinized, and have no blood supply or nerve endings once fully developed.However, growing feathers—called pin feathers—contain a blood supply that nourishes their development. If a pin feather is broken prematurely, it becomes a “blood feather” and can bleed heavily. If not treated quickly, this bleeding can be fatal. This demonstration emphasized just how critical proper handling and monitoring are for the health and safety of the birds.
Dr. Tony also reminded us that as foresters we are the first responders for the parrots. According to Doc, “If you call the vet and he takes more than 30 minutes to get there and your bird is still alive when re arrives, it was never an emergency.” The demonstrations were done on the Hispaniolan Amazon.
Leon: My main interest was the veterinary component of the workshop, mainly because we lack an avian/wildlife specialist on our island. The training was well received by the team and concluded with some nicely cooked and delicious lunches prepared by the members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The cheesecake was savored in my mouth so much that I had to take some back home. Also, we got to sample a few of the locally made beers.
Lunch is served! (Photo by Felicia Baptiste)
Ansaki: On our final day at the pristine Puerto Rico Parrot Recovery Aviary, we visited a wild parrot nest that had baby chicks. The very skilled climber, Sebastian, put on his climbing gear to retrieve the baby parrots from their nest in a tall tree. During the climb Sebastian removed the old messy nesting material and replaced it with fresh ones, to keep the parrots with baby chicks cozy and prevent the spread of bacteria. We learned how to band parrot chicks. I was given the privilege of holding a parrot chick. We ended our training with a big family lunch where Tom prepared his specialty of Tennessee hickory smoked chicken.
Arelis shows the team how to carefully and correctly band parrot chicks. (Photo by Felicia Baptiste)
Arelis shows Quasim how to attach a bird band to a parrot chick.
Banded Puerto Rican Parrot chicks. (Photo by Felicia Baptiste)
Note: Parrot chick banding was performed by trained and certified banders only. No SVG Forestry Staff participated in the actual banding; their involvement was for demonstration purposes.
Final comments from all participants:
Ansaki: My training experience at the Puerto Rico Parrot Recovery Program Aviary was fun and enriching. This is what stood out for me: testing to know when an egg is fertile, monitoring the parrot on live camera, caring for a sick parrot before the vet arrives—and the success story of how the forest bounced back after devastating Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. And, most of all—the truly remarkable parrot recovery program. It rained every day, but nevertheless I looked forward to gaining new knowledge each day. We certainly look forward to more collaboration in the future.
I can attest that the training was well received by each participant. We will continue our public outreach and education program by raising awareness island-wide among our schools and communities, teaching about the importance of our National Bird, the St Vincent Parrot, and its habitat. SVG Forestry Services could benefit from this experience, developing and enhancing our own captive breeding program, increasing the captive population with the aid of an incubator, and also monitoring nesting boxes via live camera. We will develop an action plan on how to manage and monitor the wild population with the use of radio transmitters; collaborate, and build partnerships with other international organizations; and seek training for an avian vet to care for our St Vincent Parrot.
Felicia: Having the opportunity to learn new things every day is always a wonderful experience. This trip allowed us to see what can happen when a wild population is decimated. Only because of the foresight and hard work of individuals was the survival of the species ensured.
We live on a tropical island where natural disasters are a norm. There exists a possibility that we could lose our wild population at any time. With a program like this, we can be ready if a catastrophe occurs in St Vincent, resulting in the loss of our Amazona guildingii.
My take-away points are as follows:
We have seen a better and more durable way to build our nesting boxes.
We learned what we can use to prevent our nesting materials from developing mold or fungus.
We learned how to set up food in flight cages.
We learned about administering first aid to ill birds.
We also learned how to tag and monitor released birds
The St. Vincent Forestry Services can adapt and tailor a program like this to fit our Amazona.
Quasim: It was the first time that I was exposed to tagging and feeding parrots/birds. This was very interesting, especially experiencing the strength of the birds. They may be on the smaller side but they are very strong. The telemetry device is great for keeping track of the birds, enabling you to know their movements. The man-made nests are very practical, with a great workable design. The vet section was quite satisfying—and we sure know how to save the life of a bird. The simplicity of the method used for testing eggs was surprising. It was a great experience and I’ve learned a lot. We had quite an experience and had lots of fun. Thanks to everyone who made the training possible. Special thanks to Tom and his crew. We highly appreciate everything.
The faces behind a successful exchange! This program was a testament to collaboration, cultural understanding, and professional growth. (Photo by Felicia Baptiste)
Leon: The friendly and welcoming aura by everyone at the complex made our time comfortable. We blended as a loving family immediately after. We learned the success story of what had transpired some years ago with the Amazona of Puerto Rico up until now, and how everyone contributed to ensuring the existence of a continuously growing population.
Fabian: Our trip to the Luquillo Aviary in El Yunque National Forest was an incredible experience! The staff were absolutely fantastic, providing us with hands-on learning about everything from food preparation for the birds to the ingenious construction of their wild nest boxes. We even learned valuable first aid techniques for assisting sick birds.
The bird hospital was absolutely breath-taking! I was truly amazed to see such advanced equipment available to help these precious birds. But what made it even more special, I made a new friend there. A parrot was recovering from a broken leg, and I was so happy to be able to help him by holding him while Iris cleaned his cage.
After we left the hospital area, I thought it couldn’t get any better! Then, BAM! We were just about to enter the Incubator Lab, and I was completely blown away. I was thinking to myself, ‘This place is truly awesome!’ And to top it off, my colleagues and I were fascinated by the flashlight method used to check the eggs for fertility. Although my team and I at Nicholls Wildlife Complex are familiar with that practice, it was incredibly beneficial for my colleagues to experience it first-hand, especially since they spend so much time out in the wilderness.
I’ll never forget my first time attaching the dummy transmitter to the birds; that was simply unforgettable!.
You know it’s an excellent learning adventure, when even the bird expert gets a taste of the action! I got pecked and for a person who deals with birds on a daily basis—I was the one who got the surprise nibble! The laughter was non-stop, but honestly, it really showed just how much we enjoyed that trip to Puerto Rico. Talk about an endorsement!
It was a truly informative and rewarding trip—highly recommended!
A heartfelt thank you to all who made this trip possible and a success: St Vincent and the Grenadines Forestry Services, BirdsCaribbean, U.S Fish and Wildlife, and UNDP.
With Migratory Shorebirds already arriving in the Caribbean we are getting ready to celebrate World Shorebirds Day on September 6! This year we’re asking you to show some love to our shorebirds and join the Global Shorebird Count, which runs from September 1 to 7. BirdsCaribbean has everything you need to help you take part. Read on to find out how to take part, and why you (and your friends!) should join the count this year!
World Shorebirds Day is held every year on September 6. This day celebrates shorebirds, their amazing migration journeys, and most importantly, raises awareness of the threats they face and actively promotes their monitoring and conservation. The key event associated with this day is the Global Shorebird Count (GSC), which this year runs from September 1-7.
Whether you’re new to the GSC or a seasoned shorebird counter, you can rally around shorebirds in the Caribbean by joining our “Count. Rest. Repeat.” campaign! Your data will help scientists protect these special, threatened birds.
How do you join in?
Joining is as simple as heading out to your local wetland sites and counting shorebirds! Really—it’s that easy! Don’t be intimidated if you’re a first-timer, this blog will walk you through everything you need to know to get out there—and start contributing valuable data for shorebird conservation! First tip: Remember to record all the species you see and/or hear (including other non-shorebird species), and to note how many individuals of each species you spot. Take your time and scan the habitats carefully for birds, but be extra careful to stand and walk only in places where you won’t disturb the birds you are trying to count!
Caribbean Birding Trail participants study shorebird ID in the field, Union Island. (Photo by Kristy Shortte)
Make sure to record what you are seeing, and to start a new bird list for each location. The best way to do this is using the eBird app on your phone. This powerful citizen science app is totally free, and get this—you don’t even need data to use it in the field! If you are recording your birds in a notebook be sure to note the start and finish time of your count and add your list to the eBird website once you are home.
Any counts you do at Caribbean wetlands, mangroves, mud flats, coastal areas or beaches at any time of year can be Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) counts. If you are in the Caribbean, be sure to select “Caribbean Waterbird Census” from your projects when starting a new checklist. Haven’t joined the CWC project on eBird yet, or want to know more about how to use projects? Like we said—we got you! Get all the details here.
Finally, to contribute to the Global Shorebird Count, share each list on eBird with the eBird user ‘worldshorebirdsday’. This will ensure that your checklists are included in data analyses for the Global Shorebird Count. If you are new to checklist sharing, check out this quick tutorial on how to do it.
The answer is that our migratory shorebirds are more vulnerable than ever—they are threatened by human activities such as destruction of their habitats, pollution, disturbance, and climate change. Recent analyses show that shorebirds in North America are declining more than any other group of birds; in fact, more than half of 28 species studied were estimated to have lost more than 50% of their abundance in the last 30 years.
Alarmingly, 16 shorebird species were recently reclassified to higher threat categories on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Many of these, like the the Lesser Yellowlegs, now classified as “Vulnerable,” and the Greater Yellowlegs, listed as “Near Threatened”, are familiar visitors to the Caribbean, reflecting our region’s vital role in their life cycles.
Protecting critical sites for migratory shorebirds in the Caribbean is more urgent than ever. Shorebirds rely on our mangroves, salt ponds, beaches, sand flats, and mud flats to rest and refuel as they continue on their long migrations. Some shorebirds even spend the entire winter with us!
This is where the Global Shorebird Count comes in: the GSC helps to both map the distribution of shorebirds during migration, and to record their numbers. Data from citizen science initiatives like this and our Caribbean Water Bird Census are needed to identify and protect the key stopover and/or wintering habitats that shorebirds use. Protecting these habitats benefits people too because healthy coastal areas provide vital ecosystem services such as clean water, food, sustainable livelihoods, protection from storm surge, and much more.
Semipalmated Plover (Photo by Jeffrey Offerman)
Least Sandpiper flock, Cayman Islands (Photo by Ray Robles)
Spotted Sandpiper (Photo by Becky Matsubara)
Black-necked Stilt (Photo by Ray Robles)
Count, Rest, and then please—Repeat!
The more information we have about shorebirds using Caribbean wetlands, the more we can learn about their populations and which places are most important for them. So, if you want to show some extra love to the shorebirds, and increase our ability to conserve Caribbean shorebirds, consider carrying out several counts at the same wetland(s) during migration season (August-October).
Monti Cristi in the Dominican Republic is estimated to host 20,000+ migrating shorebirds per year—making it a regionally important site! (Photo by Maria Paulino)
If possible you can try to do 2 or 3 counts at your local shorebird hotspots per month during fall migration(August-October). And if you are able to do more, even better! More frequent counts can help us better understand important aspects of shorebird migration in our region—like how many individuals use Caribbean wetlands, the timing of migration, and how long they stopover at different sites.
Need some help with shorebird ID?
We know that Shorebirds can be tricky to identify, with some being especially difficult to tell apart. BirdsCaribbean is here to help with some useful tools! We have a Shorebird Poster and “Quick ID Guide” to get you started as well as handy Shorebird ID cards that you can download and print featuring common shorebirds of the Caribbean. Go to our shorebird resources page to find everything you need. Of course, don’t forget to take your favorite bird ID guide with you when you do your shorebird counts!
You can brush up on your CWC survey skills, waterbird ID, and shorebird ID before you go out on your surveys by watching our fantastic CWC and Shorebird ID webinars on YouTube. We also have series of shorebird ID shorts pointing out key features to help you distinguish between those tough-to-tell-apart species. Check our latest video all about Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers below, and see them all on our social media accounts or our YouTube Shorebirds Short Videos Playlist.
If you can get photos or even sound recording of the birds you see, these can be looked at/ listened to later. If you encountered any birds that were difficult for you to identify in the field, visual (or sound) evidence can be shared with birding colleagues and experts for ID support!
Where to find shorebirds?
The simple answer is: anywhere there is water. This means that, as their name suggests, you can find them at the beach and on other types of shorelines. However, some shorebirds will be further inland, including in salt ponds and salinas, freshwater pools, agricultural fields, and at brackish marshes and ponds. Shorebirds will also gather on mud flats, in mangrove areas, and on tidal flats.
Martha Cartwright and Cesar Montero searching for Wilson’s Plovers at Barbery Beach, Grand Bahama. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Large flock of shorebirds spotted by the EAG Antigua team during CWC24 (Photo by EAG Antigua)
Migrant shorebirds in flight on the Berry Islands of The Bahamas. (Photo by Walker Golder)
You may not be quite sure of the best places to look in your area. If so, why not take a look for ‘hotspots’ at your local wetlands on eBird. Just take a look at the eBird hotspots map. Zoom in on your local area and then click on a hotspot to see what types of birds have been seen there recently.
What should you do if you spot a banded bird?
While counting shorebirds you may see birds with colourful bands on their legs. Do your best to record the band colors and any numbers or letters paying special attention to the location of the band or bands on the bird’s legs. Binoculars or zoom photography may allow you to clearly see the band colors and the numbers engraved onto the band—if you get a photo you will be able to send it along with your sighting. You can report your sightings and send any photos you have to BandedBirds.org and the USGS Bird Banding Lab, which oversee all banding in the United States.
Spotted a banded Piping Plover?
There are several projects that have banded Piping Plovers. The Caribbean is one of the wintering areas for these cute plovers (they are mainly found in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cuba, but are also recorded on other islands), so it’s always possible you might spot one! This 1-page guide which details what to do when you see a banded Piping Plover is available to download as a pdf here. We also have 2-page version with more information for you to use and share here. You can find out more about reporting banded Piping Plovers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at this link.
Be social with your shorebird counts
Looking for shorebirds at Vieques during CWC25, Puerto Rico (Photo by Daphne Gemmill)
We love looking at photos of shorebirds, your local wetlands, and your smiling faces; so please share the highlights of your shorebird counts with us! Use a phone or any other camera that is available, but remember to tag @birdscaribbean and use the hashtags #WorldShorebirdsDay #GlobalShorebirdCount #ShowSomeLoveForShorebirds #CountRestRepeat when sharing on social media. We look forward to seeing and sharing your amazing photos and reading your stories!
Giselle Ragoonanan, co-founder of the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre, and Rafael Partap learn about the endemic Trinidad Piping-guan, locally called Pawi.
For one month, from April to May, environmental and community organizations across the Caribbean unite to celebrate the region’s 185 endemic birds and transform our islands into havens for them. Many of these unique birds are found on single islands! Relive the fantastic celebrations of our iconic Caribbean birds with us and learn how—through workshops, reforestation, habitat cleanups, field trips and even art—we’re actively building bird-friendly cities and communities throughout the Caribbean. From island to island, we’re creating shared spaces where both people and birds thrive!
This year, the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) celebrated the theme “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities.” Rapid urbanization across the globe has changed natural landscapes and reduced the availability of food, water, and shelter for wildlife. The call to share spaces underscores the urgency of taking action to counteract these deleterious impacts and make urban areas more hospitable especially for birds.
Green spaces with healthy native plant populations—think well-planned community gardens and urban parks, and preserved woodlands—can provide birds with essential food. Similarly, clean blue spaces, like ponds, canals, and rivers, can attract birds seeking shelter or places to nest and raise their chicks. Both types of spaces also offer pleasant places for people to socialize, interact with birds and nature, and simply escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Bird-centered festivities took flight from April to May, with some organizations hosting multiple events throughout the entire month! Across the Caribbean, our dedicated CEBF coordinators rallied their communities, igniting pride for endemic birds and empowering people to take tangible action. From planting native trees to installing bird baths and so much more, communities embraced the call to make their local environments more welcoming to birds.
A Cuban Blackbird enjoys a feeder. (Photo by Rosie Howard, Macaulay Library-ML172657491)
This collective effort is exactly what BirdsCaribbean strives to cultivate with each CEBF, by strengthening capability to understand and value the interconnections within our environment and facilitating collaboration to create healthy, vibrant habitats for birds and people.
Honoring Simón Guerrero’s legacy
Last year our community mourned the loss of a Dominican conservation champion. Simón Guerrero was an outspoken and extraordinary environmental educator whose research on urban ecology focused on making cities more habitable for wildlife, including birds. He ensured that his bird conservation education and outreach always included the planting of native trees around schools he visited and the university he worked at. Simón explained, “I always plant some trees to be sure birds will know we are doing something real for them, not just talking.”
Students plant the Hamelia patens shrub, AKA ‘firebush’ in their school’s garden. (Photo by Simón Guerrero)
Firebush is a native plant that’s good for birds. These Dominican highschoolers, organized by Simón Guerrero, planted the shrub in their school garden.
The Academy in the Dominican Republic has also planted firebush as part of CEBF activities. This native is especially good for hummingbirds! (Photo courtesy of Simón Guerrero)
We wholeheartedly agree with this approach! In his honor, we made it a requirement for anyone wishing to join this year’s CEBF celebrations to do “something real for the birds.” Whether it was planting a native tree, installing a feeding platform or bird feeder, or adding a bird bath to school yards and backyards, these actions gave life to our theme of “Shared Spaces”. As always, our phenomenal crew of CEBF coordinators enthusiastically responded!
Making cities and communities bird-friendly across the region
Grenada
This year’s festival was especially significant for Grenadians, who celebrated the official recognition of a new endemic bird species—the Grenada Wren! Our partners at the Belmont Estate, Gaea Conservation Network, and the Grenada Fund for Conservation collaborated to host a suite of events for bird and nature lovers, students, families and members of the tourism community. Highlights included a live reading of the children’s story “Wrennie Takes Flight: A Grenadian House Bird on A Big Adventure” by the author Kimberley Wetten, an opportunity to meet and chat with local conservationists, and educational activities and games about the Grenada Wren.
3D models of four wren species, from left to right Grenada Wren, St. Vincent Wren, Southern House Wren, and Northern House Wren. (Photo by Grenada Fund for Conservation)
Primary School students learn about bird nests at Grenada’s Bird Festival. (Photo by Grenada Fund for Conservation)
Amonie Holas answers questions from Primary school students about the Grenada Wren. (Photo by Grenada Fund for Conservation)
Kingston is becoming more bird-friendly, thanks to the incredible efforts of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ). The NHMJ’s CEBF events aligned perfectly with our theme and brought bird conservation right into the heart of Jamaica’s bustling capital!
The museum came alive with the energy of 38 participants—students from Higholborn Street Basic and Kingston Technical High, members of the public, and Birdlife Jamaica representatives—all eager to learn how to be a better neighbour to the birds. Dr. Suzanne Davis of NHMJ kicked things off with a captivating presentation on bird feeders, covering everything from their importance and types, to care instructions and common challenges. The star of the agenda was a DIY bird feeder workshop, led by NHMJ’s Teona Rattigan. Twenty handcrafted seed and nectar feeders now hang in the museum garden, schools, and homes—ready to provide a scrumptious buffet for Kingston’s birds!
Ms. Michelle Roberts from Birdlife Jamaica then led an immersive bird tour through the museum’s newly renovated Exhibition Gallery. Participants explored dioramas of Jamaican environments while learning about the unique endemic and native birds that inhabit them.
The day ended with a bird-themed ‘Make & Take’ art session, led by NHMJ’s Eartha Cole, where 10 students and two teachers from Higholborn Street Basic School crafted delightful bird-shaped necklaces and decorated bird masks.
BirdLife Jamaica (BLJ) broadcasted the “Shared Spaces” call to action through a series of webinars. “An Introduction to CEBF” set the stage, diving into the history and theme of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and highlighting the exciting lineup of upcoming activities, while the second webinar “Sip and Share—Connecting with Protected Areas” offered a unique opportunity to explore nature beyond backyards. Jamaican naturalists and photographers shared their personal, inspiring experiences from the Palisadoes Port Royal Protected Area deepening participants’ connection with this protected area by emphasizing its importance as a habitat for a variety of birds including beloved Vervain Hummingbird, Greater Antillean Grackle and Loggerhead Kingbird.
Loggerhead Kingbird. (Photo by Dave Curtis)
Returning for CEBF 2025 was BLJ’s popular “Bring-a-child birding” event, an outdoor event that connects city dwellers with nature. Kids and adults alike enjoyed an interactive bird walk, followed by a captivating reading session with local author Amina Blackwood-Meeks of “Don’t Hurt That Bird.” The day wrapped with a delightful arts-and-crafts session led by Michelle Roberts, where children transformed toilet paper rolls into their own quirky bird creations!
Kids birdwatching at Hope Gardens, Kingston. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Even toddlers are intrigued by Jamaica’s birds. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Amina Blackwood-Meeks reads her book ‘Don’t Hurt That Bird’ for kids and their parents at the Bring A Child Birding event. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Another successful Bring A Child Birding event! (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
Kids creating their own birds from toilet paper rolls. (Photo by Michelle Roberts)
Intent on making gardens prime real estate for birds, the BLJ team hosted a “Birdify Your Backyard” workshop for the general public. The workshop started with an eye-opening discussion on how built areas are also home to birds and how gardens and backyards can not only look beautiful—but also support the birds, insects, reptiles, and other wildlife that provide essential ecosystem services like pollination and pest control.
Participants then got their hands dirty in a practical plant propagation session where they learned to generate new plants from cuttings and safely separate compound plants with multiple shoots. They also received step-by-step instructions to safely transfer and repot plants—giving them the skills to start their own bird sanctuaries at home!
The Bahamas
Every bird-friendly area needs a good water source for birds to rehydrate, keep cool on hot days and, to keep their feathers clean and in top shape. In recognition of CEBF 2025, Grand Bahama Island Birders presented bird baths to two schools on the island: Walter Parker Primary School and Bishop Michael Eldon School.
Students and teachers of Bishop Michael Eldon School were thrilled to receive the bird bath. From l eft to right: (back row) Lucianna Gomez, Primary Eco-school Coordinator, Jill Cooper, Mrs Mira Lightbourne, Primary school Vice-principal, Delores Kellman, Sylvie Carey, Bridget Davis and Gail Woon. Front row: Laiyarose Jones, Mrs. Cheng Beee Selim-Dela Pena, High School Eco-school Coordinator, Adrianna Gabrielle Selim-Dela Pena and Mila Davies. (Photo by Grand Bahama Island Birders Club)
The bird bath is the latest bird-friendly addition to the Walker Parker Primary School. From left to right: (back row) Sylvie Carey, Jill Cooper, Delores Kellman, Principal, Mrs. Remelda Been, Eco Club Advisor, Mrs. Lashawnda Jones and Bridget Davis. Front and middle row: students of the Eco Club. (Photo by Grand Bahama Island Birders Club)
Just a quick pause before we continue with the CEBF highlights…
This year, we lost significant funding for our bird conservation education and outreach programs, which the CEBF falls under—and we need your support to help ensure that bird education remains accessible to all in the Caribbean.
Binkie van Es leads an eager BirdSleuth group in the classroom on St. Maarten.
Your donation will be an invaluable investment in the future of Caribbean bird conservation and will help us provide materials and access to capacity-building programs to early-career Caribbean conservationists. These passionate individuals are committed to advancing bird conservation on their islands through engaging outreach events, like those listed in this blog, that inspire communities to embrace bird-friendly practices. Your support will help amplify their efforts, fostering a deeper connection between people and the incredible wildlife that surrounds them.
Their dedication ensured these events were both unforgettable and made a real difference for birds across Cuba. From kids to adults, everyone got in on the action! Participants dove into birdwatching, games, art contests, discussions with Cuban ornithologists and conservationists, and of course rolled up their sleeves to make their communities more bird-friendly. There were habitat clean-ups, tree planting, and workshops dedicated to building bird feeders and water baths. A particular highlight was the sheer joy of discovering birds right in their own neighborhoods, schoolyards, and lush nature reserves. We absolutely enjoyed seeing all of the social media posts and joining the live events whenever we could. You can relive the excitement and see the incredible impact by searching for #FAEC2025 on Facebook and Instagram!
St. Martin
Every year Les Fruits de Mer hosts the Endemic Animal Festival and every year attendees show up despite the hot dry season weather which—let’s be honest—makes you want to stay sat in front of a fan! The festival drew over 80 people looking for challenging and fun scavenger hunts, bird bingo, art and craft activities, and free cool nature and wildlife books. These activity and coloring books, written and edited by the dynamic duo of Les Fruits de Mer—Mark and Jenn—feature the incredible plants, insects, mammals, fishes, reptiles, and birds of St. Martin. This year they added another brand new coloring and activity book, “St. Martin Unique Nature,” available for free download here from their growing library of publications.
Endemic Animal Festival announced in the local press.
Front cover of the bilingual coloring and activity book ‘St. Martin Unique Nature.’
Attendees were invited to decorate their own canvas pouches with endemic animal designs during the festival. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Haiti
On the Les Cayemites Islands where Hispaniolan Parrot chicks are snatched from nests for the pet trade, the Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk is persecuted as a pest, and birds in general are hunted for sport by adults and children; Anderson Jean of Action pour la Sauvegarde de l’Ecologie en Haiti leveraged the CEBF to educate communities about the devastating impact of these harmful practices.
The Ridgway’s Hawk is one of the most critically endangered raptors in the world and is endemic to Hispaniola. (Photo by Dax Román)
Anderson and his team introduced 200 primary school students to the wonderful world of birds through a riveting presentation. The team spoke about the importance of wild birds to the environment and people, and the endemic birds of Haiti—covering their calls, behaviours, habitat needs, and threats. They also took the opportunity to bust harmful myths about birds, such as the belief that a Ridgway’s Hawk nesting on a farm extends the dry season.
After the presentation, it was time to power up the students’ observation skills with a school yard birdwatching session—an absolute hit with the students!. Anderson shared that, “the students really enjoyed watching and trying to identify the birds…some even complained that the time spent birdwatching was too short!”
Trinidad and Tobago
The third annual Brasso Seco Bird Festival, organized by the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre TTBO, was designed to teach children about their local environment. Through hands-on activities, art, and community involvement, the festival made nature exploration a multi-sensory experience for all in attendance! Children were grouped into three teams—each named after a native bird species and led by an adult team leader—team Bay-headed Tanager, the Turquoise Tanagers, and the Purple Honeycreepers. Each team then visited four educational stations: biodiversity exploration, poetry, habitat modeling and mask painting, and bird species identification.
At the biodiversity table children got hands-on, exploring local plants and animals using real items like feathers, nests, pods, and dried leaves. They were encouraged to ask questions, identify specimens, compare them, and think about how different species interact with each other. The poetry station built on this sensory exploration, giving children the space to write cinquain and haiku poems, incorporating what they saw and felt at the biodiversity table. The session ended with an open-mic spoken word activity, where they shared their experiences through guided poetic expression.
Dan Jaggernauth teaches children about the different plants birds feed upon in the forest at the biodiversity station. (Photo by TTBO)
A young boy proudly shares his bird poems after visiting the poetry station at the TTBO’s bird festival. (Photo by TTBO)
The habitat modeling station was buzzing with excitement as children worked together to create miniature bird-friendly habitats for a variety of endemic birds. They often yelled out what needed to be added to their habitats to help the birds survive, shouting things like, “clean water!” and “lots of flowers!” for the Bee Hummingbird, or “parrots eat fruits so we need to add fruits!” for the Imperial Amazon, and of course, “trees to sleep in!” One of the participants, Rafael, shared with the TTBO how he made his garden bird-friendly for the birds in central Trinidad. Check out his amazing garden in the video below!
The mask-making and bird ID station offered a fun and educational activity. Participants chose a native bird, then learned about its ecological role, habitat, and a unique fact using a guided worksheet. Finally, they painted a wearable mask of their chosen bird, connecting art with biology and identity.
Mask painting and bird identification station at the TTBO bird festival. (Photo by TTBO)
Children display their completed Bee Hummingbird habitat with flowers for the bird to feed on and a water source. (Photo by TTBO)
Dominican Republic
Grupo Jaragua, a local environmental powerhouse, shared valuable information via social media on native plants that can be planted to make Dominican backyards more welcoming for birds. The team handpicked species for their outstanding ability to provide food for birds.
Beyond plants, Grupo Jaragua also shared the story “El ladrón de cotorras” (The parrot thief) of a pet Hispaniolan Parrot as part of their “Mangrove Stories” social media series. The Hispaniolan Parrot is an endemic parrot to Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) that is illegally captured and sold as a pet. The graphic story, with illustrations created by Cua Conservacion, explains how pet parrots are caught and why this is problematic, calling on Dominicans to leave parrots in the wild.
Margarita Island
The Laguna La Restinga National Park, a designated Ramsar site, holds a unique position on Isla Margarita. It sits squarely between the bustling eastern half and the relatively deserted Macanao Peninsula to the west. Despite its location and Ramsar designation, the park rangers initially had very little knowledge of just how important this area is to its many resident, endemic, and migratory birds.
That changed when Jemimah Rivera, founder of the local NGO Bio Zoe and CEBF Coordinator for Margarita Island, stepped in. She led two workshops designed to educate the rangers about the park’s incredible bird diversity. The training also provided them with basic field skills in birdwatching, bird identification, and locating nesting and feeding areas within the park.
Jemimah speaks to park rangers about birds and how to identify them during the workshop. (Photo by BioZoe)
Time to practice. Park rangers practice using binoculars to watch and identify birds in Laguna La Restinga National Park, Margarita Island. (Photo by BioZoe)
Birdwatching wasn’t just for the adults; Jemimah also headed to the fishing village of Tirano to educate and connect kids to nature. Local conservationists joined her, sharing insights about the island’s birdlife before taking the group on an exciting birdwatching trip. To further help, they also held a beach cleanup, making the area tidier for birds and other wildlife.
Children from El Tirano village in Margarita Island enjoy trying birdwatching. (Photo by BioZoe)
We’re incredibly proud to share that Jemimah made her CEBF events inclusive, welcoming differently abled children. She found it challenging but highly rewarding helping them learn about the fascinating lives of birds and working with them to complete various art and craft activities. Look out for an upcoming blog post where we’ll share more about this heartwarming event. If you’re interested, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here!
Jemimah with her birdwatching crew at Laguna de Raya, Margarita Island. (Photo by BioZoe)
Antigua and Barbuda
The Environmental Awareness Group EAG and agricultural science students at the Princess Margaret School proved that formal institutions, not just backyards and gardens, can be bird-friendly too! What’s more, they also proved that achieving this does not require oodles of money. Together they designed and built five bird feeders and five bird baths using materials they already had on hand like water bottles, wooden spoons, chicken coop wire, and shallow bowls.
Sometimes all you need is a little creativity. A simple bird feeder made using a plastic bottle and wooden spoons. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Shanna and students birdwatching at the Princess Margaret School. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
The students then enjoyed a guided birdwatching trip across the school grounds, a skill that will undoubtedly come in handy when identifying visitors to their new bird baths and feeders. The event garnered media attention and was covered by the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS). It was featured in a special International Biological Diversity Day segment during their morning TV show. For this segment, Shanna Challenger of the EAG and CEBF coordinator for Antigua, along with our Caribbean Bird Banding Program Manager Holly Garrod, were in studio sharing the importance of bird conservation work on the island and wider region.
Shanna and Holly at the Antigua Broadcasting Services studio.
On Global Big Day, the EAG, Wadadli Warblers Bird Club, and Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force joined forces to observe and record as many bird species as possible in Christian Valley, an Important Bird Area. For many, it was their first time birdwatching, and they were absolutely thrilled! Check out their video below.
Bird conservation education and outreach continued throughout the month. Shanna and Sherrel Charles, the EAG’s Science Communications Officer, captivated members of the Antigua and Barbuda Ocean Trust and students at Jennings Primary School and Buckleys Primary School with their interactive presentations. These sessions weren’t just talks—they included brain-busting quizzes, fun games with fantastic prizes like CEBF-themed stickers and bookmarks up for grabs. To top it all off, every session wrapped up with a fun birdwatching adventure, sparking curiosity and fostering an appreciation for nature.
Puerto Rico
Alondra Norat of Pajareo Virtual took a small but dedicated group of undergraduates on a birdwatching trip across the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus. For several of the students, this was their first time being on a birding tour and using binoculars. Alondra is confident that the birds, clearer than ever before, sparked a thrill in them as they peered through the lenses. The group used their observations from this trip to put together an (unofficial) guide to the common plants and birds on the campus for other first-time student birdwatchers on campus! This practical resource was particularly valuable as it was their first foray into birdwatching and their initial experience with both the eBird app and field guides.
Birds are everywhere, even at your university campus — and certainly at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus. (Photo by Alondra Norat)
Common birds and plants of Rio Piedras campus ID cards created by Alondra and Steve Maldonado Silvestrini. (Photo by Alondra Norat)
Roots and Shoots Puerto Rico, and our Operations Manager Alexia Morales, headed to Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve in Ponce for a bird count where they recorded 44 species, five of which were endemic birds!
Rainy weather couldn’t stop this enthusiastic birding crew at Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve.
Members of the Library Club at the Ramón Emeterio Betances School, Adult Education Program (Cayey), and Alfonso Díaz Lebron Middle School (Juncos) ditched the blackboards and desks and took the learning to a small forest near the school. Throughout the event, creativity and learning bloomed. Participants enjoyed reading the “Birds of Puerto Rico for Children” book, written by our President and founder of the CEBF Dr Adrianne Tossas, and other bird stories, sparking lively discussions filled with anecdotes, fables, songs, and local folklore about Puerto Rican birds.
Everyone got hands-on, coloring endemic birds from the “Endemic Birds of the West Indies” coloring book that are abundant in their own communities, and even delved into research using their phones. There were important group discussions about the significance of birds to the environment , and a local farmer from Finca Los Pellos shared fascinating insights into pollinator gardens and their role in agriculture. Two beautiful Flor de Maga trees (Puerto Rico’s national flower) were planted, generously donated by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the area dubbed, “The Green Library.” Students took home cilantro, chili pepper, and lettuce plants to cultivate their own kitchen gardens!
It’s story time in The Green Library. (Photo by Rosalina Alvarado)
The Puerto Rican Parrot joins the endemic birds coloring session. (Photo by Rosalina Alvarado)
Thanks to the Department of Natural Resources staff for donating the Flor de Maga plants. (Photo by Rosalina Alvarado)
CEBF event coordinator Rosalina wearing her fabulous hand made bird crown.
Junta Innovadora Comunal Villa del Carmen, Inc. seamlessly blended personal well-being with the joy of celebrating birds and being in nature. Participants prioritized their health checks with services from the MedCentro mobile unit and NUC students, alongside various informative health booths. Some were also treated to a birdwatching and identification trip led by our Co-Regional CEBF Coordinator Eduardo Llegus, while others joined a beginner’s fishing workshop. Native tree plants were also given to participants to help them make their backyards and gardens more bird-friendly!
Eduardo Llegus leads a birdwatching trip with participants. (Photo by Junta Innovadora Comunal Villa del Carmen, Inc.)
Native tree saplings were given to participants to help them make their backyards and gardens more bird-friendly. (Photo by Junta Innovadora Comunal Villa del Carmen, Inc.)
Beach cleanup in Villa del Carmen, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Junta Innovadora Comunal Villa del Carmen, Inc.)
It’s time for a check-up! Nurses stationed at the MedCentro mobile clinic. (Photo by Junta Innovadora Comunal Villa del Carmen, Inc.)
For the 2025 CEBF, Guaynabo Elementary School came alive with a birdwatching adventure right on the school’s compound! Students also enjoyed story time with Lourmarie García who read “El Arbol Solitario Y El Pajaro Carpintero” by Milagros Keppis, while Ingrid Flores enlightened them about Puerto Rico’s endemic birds and the importance of protecting our shared green spaces.
Ingrid explaining to kindergarteners how gardens can be bird-friendly. (Photo by Escuela Nueva Elemental Urbana de Guaynabo – Montessori)
Our Endemic Birds of the West Indies Coloring Book is still a hit among children. (Photo by Escuela Nueva Elemental Urbana de Guaynabo – Montessori)
Story time with Miss Garcia. (Photo by Escuela Nueva Elemental Urbana de Guaynabo – Montessori)
Feathery facts and free resources for classrooms and homes
Each day, we featured a new Endemic Bird of the Day on our website and across BirdsCaribbean’s socials, sharing 15 new species in 2025. The species were carefully selected to showcase the vast breadth of the endemic wonders of the Caribbean—highlighting truly unique birds, like the Hispaniolan Nightjar; clever species like the Cuban Palm-Crow; and endemic crooners, like the St. Vincent Wren. You can find the complete library of 173 endemic birds covered thus far here.
Each endemic bird profile was accompanied by a beautifully drawn image by award-winning Cuban artist Arnaldo Toledo, stunning high quality photos and videos, online puzzles tailored for different levels (between six and 1,024 pieces), and bird calls. Fun, free and engaging activities were also provided for both kids and adults, including downloadable coloring pages, experiments, up-cycle crafts, and more.
This year’s CEBF is over—but don’t worry, we still have plenty of bird content for you to enjoy! Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and have joined the BirdsCaribbean mailing list, to ensure you are kept up to date with our latest news via our monthly newsletter.
Acknowledgements: A massive THANK YOU to the island coordinators for your enthusiasm and dedication to making this another memorable CEBF! Each year we see a growing number of participants committed to increasing their knowledge of Caribbean birds and actively working to protect their habitats. We also extend our gratitude to our donors and members who help us provide the coordinators with the support and resources they need to educate and inspire future generations of bird and nature loving communities.
One of the Burrowing Owls standing guard at the entrance to its nest at the Eight Mile Rock High School. (Photo by Delores Kellman)
What a surprising, pleasant and exciting discovery!! Not one, but two—Mr. & Mrs.—adorable Burrowing Owls on the Eight Mile Rock High School athletic field situated in West Grand Bahama, The Bahamas. Although a permanent resident in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean, this species is rare in Grand Bahama. eBird, a free, web-based tool for recording bird observations, reports seventeen sightings, the highest of which is two. Social Studies teacher, Deana Glinton-Williamson, recounts how these unexpected and delightful visitors captured hearts of students and teachers alike—and inspired the school’s Blue Jay community to take action for their charismatic guests!
It was early February 2024, during midday recess when three teenaged girls spotted what they described as “two funny-looking birds” in the northeast quadrant of the school’s field. The students came running to my class, excited because they had seen the same birds in the 2024 Birds of The Bahamas calendar on my desk.
“Mrs. Williamson! Your birds are on the field!!
“What birds?
“The ones in your calendar!”
They picked up the calendar, eagerly flipping through the pages and stopped at the Burrowing Owls—I was overjoyed! I grabbed my binoculars and hurried to the field with my students leading the way. There they were: two Burrowing Owls standing outside their burrow, basking in the midday sun. They had excavated their home in an abandoned Long Jump pit, now forgotten and surrounded by grass.
Ms. Williamson and the Burrowing Owls discoverers–Sharae Gaitor, Shantia Forbes, and Amanda Stubbs. (Photo by Damaso Gray, EMRHS Art Teacher)
Burrowing Owl. (Photo by Alex Marine ML624853709)
Burrowing Owl nest, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas. (Photo by Charmaine Francis)
To truly appreciate this unique situation, it helps to know a bit about the Burrowing Owl itself. lt stands out among owls with its long legs, bright yellow eyes, and preference for life underground. They actually dig their own burrows using those long legs. This unique lifestyle has led to an interesting adaptation: they’ve developed a higher tolerance for carbon dioxide, which can accumulate to higher levels underground! In the Caribbean (specifically The Bahamas, Cuba and Dominican Republic) these small, sandy-colored owls are active during the day. They hunt insects like grasshoppers and beetles and small vertebrates such as rodents, lizards, and even small birds. They are opportunistic feeders, often seen perching on mounds or fence posts before swooping or running after prey. Their vocalizations include a distinctive two-note “coo-cooo” call, often used by males for mating and territorial defense.
Pair of Burrowing Owls near their nest in the abandoned Long Jump pit. One is perched on the hurdle stand while the other is standing at the entrance. (Photo by Delores Kellman)
I reported our findings to the principal, Mr. Albert Jones, who visited the site, and immediately scheduled an all-school assembly. He informed staff and students of the rare birds on campus, emphasizing the importance of preserving our national environment and the rich biodiversity all around us. He reminded students to view the birds from a respectful distance, encouraging them to use their electronic devices to learn about our newly discovered guests.
Being a member of Grand Bahama Island Birders, I shared the news of our feathered visitors with the group, and on the morning of Saturday, February 10, 2024, nine eager birders trekked to the site. To the delight and excitement of all—we were not disappointed! One of the owls was present, “hanging out” in the grass close to the nest. We took a seat on the bleachers at a safe distance to observe and take photographs. For a few of us, the Burrowing Owl was a lifer; and for others, a Grand Bahama lifer!
A month later the owls had moved into the second Long Jump pit—very close to classrooms and students—and were guarding their new territory like hawks. It was as though they were sending us a message, “Stay away! This is our home now!” Principal Jones and the Physical Education department made provisions for their protection by installing stakes around the pit, using yellow caution tape to cordon the area.
I arranged for the local TV station to share our story on the nightly news. The owls definitely knew they had visitors,properly “hamming it up” for the camera. One of them was a short distance away and flew home to welcome the TV crew. Such hospitality!! After on-site interviews, Grand Bahama Island Birders president Delores Kellman and vice-president Rudy Sawyer presented an educational Burrowing Owl poster and a copy of Herb Raffaele’s Birds of the West Indies field guide to Principal Albert Jones for addition to the library’s catalog.
Staff of the Eight Mile Rock High School and members of Grand Bahama Island Birders Club being interviewed by a local TV station.
When school resumed in January 2025 and preparations began for the track and field season, the PE teachers discovered that the owls were constructing a third home in the active pit. “Oh NO, NO!! We NEED this pit!” was the first reaction. Following the advice of longtime conservationist and experienced birder Bruce Purdy to interrupt the construction in the active pit, the PE department and principal were guided to protect the owls by denying them their third home. As expected, they returned to their secure second home, and the PE department regained the use of the pit.
A concerted effort is underway to ensure that the owls remain a part of the Eight Mile Rock High School family. Plans are afoot to bring in fresh sand to be deposited at their original nesting site in hopes that they will return to their homestead. A second sand pit will also be created nearby to give the owls additional borrow options farther away from campus, fostering an environment that can support the establishment of a stable colony.
Burrowing Owls. (Photo by Carlos Sanchez ML171264441)
Since the initial discovery, Eight Mile Rock High School has had even more reasons to celebrate—three to be exact! On the evening of March 14th, Principal Jones discovered three healthy owlets, safe in the watchful care of their parents in the second pit. Grand Bahama Island Birders president Dolores Kellman estimates that they likely hatched about three weeks earlier. Staff and students were thrilled to receive news that their precious owl family is growing—it’s a heartwarming sign that the care and efforts made by the Eight Mile Rock school community is paying off—and that these wonderful visitors are truly making the school their home.
Here are some comments that encourage us to continue with our efforts:
Even though the owls are not Blue Jays, our school’s mascot, they might as well have been because they are now a part of our community—Blue Jay Country. It has been a wonderful, educational experience. I feel honored and privileged to have them choose our campus to call home. We will continue to protect them as long as they are here.
Mr. Albert Jones, Principal Eight Mile Rock High School Martin Town, Grand Bahama
The cute owls have become an important part of the Blue Jay family. Since learning of their rarity here in Grand Bahama, we feel it’s our duty to protect them. They are comfortable here and we are in the process of giving them two sand mounds at the rear of the field for them to burrow other tunnels if they so desire.
Ms. Daphne Neely, Head of Department Physical Education
It was our first time seeing an owl other than on TV and in Mrs. Williamson’s calendar so we notified her, she called it in to her birding group, and the rest is history! The experience of seeing the owls up close was nothing short of amazing.
Sharae Gaitor,Shantia Forbes, and Amanda Stubbs, Grade 8 students
It was truly a joy to be a part of this experience. I was impressed by the interest, enthusiasm and passion of the principal and members of his staff, who were committed to learning about the owls and doing whatever it took to protect them and improve and create new habitat. The classroom was taken to the natural environment. Congratulations to the Blue Jay family!
Delores Kellman, President Grand Bahama Island Birders
Deana Glinton-Williamson is a celebrated educator in The Bahamas public school system—recognized as a Teacher of the Year (2008–2010) and Longest-Serving with Excellence Awardee (2004). Her passion for birdwatching was sparked by Erika Gates’ 2007 birding course, and in 2010 she founded the Grand Bahama School District’s first Junior Birding Club at Freeport Primary School. Today, Deana teaches Social Studies and History at Eight Mile Rock High School, where she has integrated World Migratory Bird Day into her curriculum for the past two years. From primary through senior high, her students have been inspired by her deep love of birdwatching and conservation.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: St. Vincent Wren
The melodic song of the St. Vincent Wren (Troglodytes musicus) echoes across the island of St. Vincent, the only place in the world where this extraordinary bird is found. Formerly considered a subspecies of the widespread House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), it was officially recognized as a distinct species in 2024—one of seven wrens split from the complex that year. Its new name proudly reflects its status as one of just three endemic bird species on the island.
This lively wren is recognized by its rufous-brown upperparts and whitish underparts, distinct dark barring on its wings and tail, a pale eyebrow stripe and face, and warm cinnamon hues on the breast, sides, and undertail—sometimes accented by small brown speckles. Its buzzy call “chih-chih-chih-chih” call and sweet, musical song “chih-chih-twee-twee-deedle-di-di-di” make it a beloved symbol of the island’s natural charm.
Highly adaptable, the St. Vincent Wren inhabits a range of environments—from montane evergreen forests and brushy woodlands to agricultural areas and even towns, where it often nests in the eaves of buildings. It plays an important ecological role by feasting on a variety of invertebrates such as spiders, cockroaches, and worms, helping to control insect populations.
The species is thought to lay two whitish-brown eggs per clutch, though little is known about its breeding habits. Rather than constructing elaborate nests, it uses dried grasses, straw, and even scraps of paper to line cavities in trees, caves, tunnels, or man-made structures—a testament to its resourcefulness and adaptability.
Despite its resilience, the St. Vincent Wren faces growing threats from habitat loss due to deforestation, urban expansion, and conversion of forest to pasture for agriculture. Climate change—including more intense storms and prolonged droughts—may also impact its survival and breeding success. Protecting this unique bird will require ongoing research to better understand its ecology and population status, along with community engagement. Simple actions like preserving roof nests and planting native vegetation can make a meaningful difference in ensuring the St. Vincent Wren continues to sing for generations to come.
Thanks to Jodelia Simmons for the text and Arnaldo Toledo for the lovely illustration.
Colour in the St. Vincent Wren
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. Vincent Wren
The song of the St. Vincent Wren is made up of clear trills and loud chatters.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzles. 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!
St. Vincent Wren. (Photo by David Hollie, Macaulay Library-ML598496181)St. Vincent Wren. (Photo by Gary Rosenberg, Macaulay Library-ML631883463)St. Vincent Wren. (Photo by David Hollie, Macaulay Library-ML598496141)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS :The St. Vincent Wrens can be found in forests but also urban areas. In fact this is true of many species of wrens in the Caribbean and beyond, meaning they are often common ‘backyard birds’. You can make your garden, or schoolyard safe for all of our backyard birds by building bird-friendly shelters like the birdhouse in our “Home Tweet Home” crafting activity. Together we can help create cities and communities where people and birds can thrive together!
For this activity you will need:
One empty 1L cardboard juice or milk container (clean and dry)
Popsicle sticks (about 20–24)
Acrylic paints
Paint brushes
Glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Hole punch (handheld)
A small stick (6–7” long) for a perch
Twine for hanging
A circular object, big enough, to trace an entrance hole for the birds
You can find full step-by-step instructions here. You will need a parent or trusted adult to help you with this activity.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a St. Vincent Wren in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Plumbeous Warbler
The Plumbeous Warbler is a magnificent little warbler, weighing in a just ten grams, about the weight of a ballpoint pen! Adults are dark gray above and lighter below, with two crisp wing bars, a white eyebrow, and a pale half-crescent beneath the eye. Juveniles are similar but show a greenish wash to the gray plumage and buffy to yellowish underparts, facial markings, and wingbars.
While its plumage may be modest, the Plumbeous Warbler more than makes up for it with its lovely and varied song. Throughout the day, you can hear their melodic “pa-pi-a” or “de-de-diu.” During the midday, it switches to a soft, whisper-like version of its song. When aggravated, it lets out a long, rolling rattle.
Endemic to Guadeloupe and Dominica, this warbler inhabits a wide variety of forest types—from sea level to elevations over 1,200m. In Guadeloupe, it is particularly abundant in swamp forests.
Within these habitats, the Plumbeous Warbler roams the undergrowth, searching for wriggly, crunchy, and sometimes gooey insects, and the occasional juicy berry. Its breeding season runs from March to August, with a peak in May. Nests are constructed in forked branches of shrubs or small trees using leaves and rootlets. A typical clutch contains 2–3 eggs.
Although it is still relatively common in the main islands of its range, the ecology and habits of this species remain poorly studied. A small population persists on Marie-Galante, a small island south of the “mainland” Guadeloupe, but the bird may have disappeared from Terre-de-Haut, an even smaller offshore island in the Les Saintes archipelago of Guadeloupe.
The Plumbeous Warbler is protected under Guadeloupe’s 1989 ministerial decree. Though classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN at both regional and international levels, recent monitoring reveals a cause for concern: a 42% decline in population size between 2014 and 2024, as shown by our Breeding Bird Survey in Guadeloupe.
Confined to forested areas, the Plumbeous Warbler is mainly threatened by the destruction of its habitat from development and human activities. Better protection and restoration of forested areas—especially efforts to strengthen the ecological corridor (Green Network) between Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre——would go a long way in securing the future of this beautiful endemic warbler.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Anthony Levesque for the text!
Colour in the Plumbeous 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 & call of the Plumbeous Warbler
The song of the Plumbeous Warbler is made up of whistles notes, the first three are given at the same pitch. They have a dry, rattling call.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzles. 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!
Plumbeous Warbler. (Photo by Nathan Goldberg, Macaulay Library- ML631686480)Plumbeous Warbler. (Photo by Brian Sullivan, Macaulay Library-ML89353671)Plumbeous Warbler. (Photo by Frantz Delcroix)Plumbeous Warbler. (Photo by Judd Patterson)Plumbeous Warbler. (Photo by Judd Patterson)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : The Plumbeous Warbler loves to feed on insects! In fact insects are an important delicacy for many types of birds. For our dazzling hummingbirds, our captivating todies, swooping swifts and swallows, darting flycatchers, pewees and potoos, drilling woodpeckers, and of course, our warblers —insects are an essential protein source.
we’ve compiled our top six activities into an activity book for you to enjoy! Our theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds,” and these activities have been purposely created to help children learn about insects.
Our “Incredible Insects” activity book is available for download directly from Flipsnack in both English and Spanish or download the PDFs.
The annual BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group (SWG) newsletter is now available! Catch up on the latest research, conservation, restoration, and education projects happening across the Caribbean—in English, Spanish, and French!
In this issue of the SWG newsletter, learn about seabird monitoring in the Turks and Caicos Islands; plans to study the foraging movements and mercury contamination of terns in Cuba; how a sailboat expedition led to a new marine protected area in the Dominican Republic; how researchers in Puerto Rico are attracting nesting seabirds back to Desecheo Island; efforts to rally the community to monitor and conserve seabird colonies in the Grenadines, and more.
Dive into Seabird IBAs
The 2-part webinar series “Important Bird Areas/Key Biodiversity Areas for Caribbean Seabirds” was well attended and received lively engagement from our seabird-loving community. The SWG is extremely grateful to the knowledgeable and inspiring presenters. We look forward to collaborating on more informative webinars that help us grow our network of designated IBAs/KBAs for Caribbean seabird conservation.
These webinars can be viewed on the BirdsCaribbean YouTube channel:
Seabird Resilience Post-Beryl
On July 1, 2024, a Category 5 Hurricane Beryl tore through the Grenadines destroying homes, disrupting essential services, and erasing invaluable cultural heritage. Seabird Guardian, Vaughan Thomas, recounts his monitoring trips, months later, to the offshore islands that serve as important nesting sites for a variety of seabirds. The immediate impact was jarring; entire islands reduced to exposed rock and nearby coral reefs that serve as nurseries for fishes that seabirds feed on were wiped out. Zero nests. Zero chicks. But Vaughan kept returning, and what he discovered is a powerful testament to nature’s remarkable ability to renew itself. Check out the newsletter for photos and more on Vaughan’s story of seabird resilience in the face of disaster.
Seabird Poop Powers Mangrove and Coral Comebacks
And as seabirds return, so does something remarkable: their poop! Seabird droppings, also known as guano, are packed with nutrients that help fertilize coastal ecosystems. Recent research shows that this natural fertilizer boosts the health of mangroves and even helps revive climate-stressed coral reefs. Learn more about these processes in the ‘Highlighted Research’ section of the newsletter.
Summary figure illustrating the transfer of seabird-derived nutrients in mangrove forests. (Appoo et al. 2024)
Nesting Platforms for Imperiled Least Terns
With natural nesting grounds under pressure from development, predators, and rising seas, Least Terns are getting a helping hand from creative conservationists. From rooftop nests to floating rafts, conservationists in the Caribbean are stepping up with innovative solutions to protect Least Tern colonies. In this conservation spotlight, we learn how teams are testing out platforms and rafts to give Least Terns a safer place to raise their chicks. Spoiler alert! The results are hopeful. Check this issue of the SWG newsletter to learn how smart design is helping these seabirds thrive in a changing world.
A just installed Least Tern nesting raft, at Road Salt Pond, Anguilla. (Photo by Farah Mukhida)
A Least Terns chick uses a wooden shelter on the platform at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands. (Photo by C. Lombard)
Interested in connecting with the SWG and its members? Visit the Seabird Working Group webpages and our Seabirds Resources page to access these resources. Please take advantage of the many avenues for communication described in the newsletter, including the SWG Facebook group. If you have seabird news to share, let us know! We would love to feature your work in the next issue!
Enjoy!
-Yvan, Rhiannon and Ann
Click on the Flipbooks below to read and/or download this newsletter along with past issues.
Click on the individual images below to download a PDF of the newsletter in your preferred language.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: St. Lucia Oriole
Locally known as Kawouge, the Saint Lucia Oriole is one of the island’s most striking endemic birds. The name Karwouge was likely derived from the French term “Carouge“, which is used as a name for New World blackbirds.
I remember seeing this oriole for the first time when I was about five years old, feeding on a ripe pawpaw near my family home. It was a sight to to behold! My grandmother told me its name: Kawouge. What she may not have known—and what I later discovered as an adult working with the Forestry Department—is that this bird lives only in Saint Lucia.
With bold shiny-black plumage and bright orange-yellow belly, shoulders, and rump, the male Saint Lucia Oriole is unmistakable. Females are similar but duller in color, and immatures sport a more muted yellow-green overall. The pointed dark bill, with a grayish-blue base, completes the bird’s distinctive look. There is simply no other bird like it on the island.
The Saint Lucia Oriole primarily inhabits rainforests, but can also be found in dry forests, coastal scrub, and even near towns—provided there are enough large trees. It has a varied diet, including insects, spiders, fruits, and nectar.
Breeding takes place from April to June. The female weaves a tidy hanging nest from grasses and plant fibers, often suspending it from large leaves such as banana, balizier, coconut, or palm. She lays up to three speckled eggs and incubates them herself. Like many songbirds, both parents work hard to feed and protect their young until they fledge.
Sadly, the Saint Lucia Oriole is under serious threat and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. Several factors are suspected to contribute to its decline, though more research is needed. One major concern is brood parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), an invasive species that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking them into raising cowbird chicks. As cowbirds thrive in cleared, human-altered areas, their impact is expected to grow.
Another possible threat comes from the Bare-eyed Thrush (Turdus nudigenis), which may harass orioles, especially during nesting. There’s also concern that orioles living near banana plantations—where they often forage—may be exposed to pesticides through contaminated food or water. However, the actual effects of cowbirds, thrushes, or agrochemicals remain poorly understood due to a lack of detailed studies.
What is clear is that protecting forest habitats and maintaining healthy forest edges is essential. These buffer zones help limit contact between orioles and cowbirds by preserving ecological separation.
With continued habitat protection and research, there is hope that the Saint Lucia Oriole will remain a cherished part of the island’s unique natural heritage for generations to come.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Adams Toussaint for the text!
Colour in the St. Lucia 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 St. Lucia Oriole
The song of the St. Lucia Oriole is a rapid jumble of whistles and squeaks
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!
St. Lucia Oriole feeding on coconut. (Photo by Diane Nastase, Macaulay Library-ML613309393)Juvenile St. Lucia Oriole. (Photo by Peter Hawrylyshyn, Macaulay Library-ML614479814)St. Lucia Oriole. (Photo by Brian Sullivan, Macaulay Library-ML89373141)St. Lucia Oriole. (Photo by Adams Toussaint)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS :The female Saint Lucia Oriole is an expert weaver. She builds strong, hidden nests by carefully twisting and weaving natural materials like grass, vines, and palm fibers. These nests hang securely from tree branches, keeping her eggs safe and dry. Today, you’ll practice your own weaving skills—just like a mother oriole!
BirdsCaribbean brings you highlights from the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology in our feature “Just Published in JCO.” Here, Zoya Buckmire, the Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, details the search for an elusive birdsong—and how these melodies are challenging long-standing biases in ornithological study.
A female Puerto Rican Euphonia. (Photo by Jack Rogers ML632454032)
The fact that male birds sing is common knowledge to many. But did you know that female birds can also sing? This behavior is more common in tropical species, and is underrepresented in the literature due to a temperate bias in scientific study. In Puerto Rico, the females of several species have been documented singing, including the now-endemic Puerto Rican Euphonia (Chlorophonia sclateri). In theirrecently published article, Miguel Costas Sabatier and Alejandro Ríos-Franceschi describe the intricacies of female song in this species, highlighting the importance of addressing biases in research and sound recording to get a fuller picture of avian communication. We asked the authors a few questions to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on their research.
But first, about the Puerto Rican Euphonia:
This dazzling endemic was formerly part of the Antillean Euphonia complex, which was recently split into three species: namely the Hispaniolan (C. musica), Puerto Rican (C. sclateri), and Lesser Antillean Euphonias (C. flavifrons). Euphonias are frugivores and uncommon residents fond of forested habitats. Each of these species has gorgeous blue-green and yellow-orange plumage and a captivating song. In2023, in recognition of their plumage, size, and sexual differences (or lack thereof), the three species were separated, adding two new endemics to the total of Caribbean avifauna. Some genetic and molecular work has been undertaken to clarify the relationship among these species, but much more remains to be done. Dr. Sheylda Diaz, another Puerto Rican biologist, has published thegenome of the species with the company Iridian Genomes using specimens in the Field Museum of Natural History, and more connections have been made to sequence the genome of the other Caribbean euphonias.
The male Hispaniolan Euphonia has a dark blue throat and an orange underside and rump. (Photo by Joshua Covill, ML548852851)
Male Lesser Antillea on Dominica. (Photo by David Hollie, Macaulay Library-ML595435561)
A male Puerto Rican Euphonia. (Photo by Jack Rogers ML632441868)
A colourful collaboration
Dr. Diaz’s work actually went hand in hand with Miguel and Alejandro’s research. In an office conversation between Dr. Alejandro Ríos-Franceschi and Dr. Diaz in 2022, they decided to work on collecting evidence for the reclassification of the species, with Alejandro focusing on the behavioural aspects, including song, and Sheylda tackling the molecular work. Their aim was to “analyze species vocalizations at each island to complete a description of the vocal repertoire to complement the molecular analysis” (A. Ríos-Franceschi); and indeed bioacoustics are a critical part of understanding species, especially our unique endemics. Miguel Costas, an undergraduate student at the time who was interested in research but had no prior experience, was taken under Alejandro’s wing (pun intended) to assist under a scholarship, the Puerto Rico Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PRLSAMP). And so, this work began.
Searching for a song
However, as you can imagine with a relatively uncommon species like the euphonia, fieldwork was no easy feat. The team had difficulty finding birds to record in Puerto Rico, despite days spent searching the Guánica State Forest, and sample sizes were small. But good things come to those who wait! Alejandro praises Miguel’s patience, saying his student’s “perseverance in the field was rewarded with the female recordings, which to our knowledge had not been recorded or published.” The recordings were even doubted initially by colleagues who dismissed it under the common assumption that ‘only male birds sing’, but Miguel was determined that he had found something special and luckily—he had proof.
Miguel recording Puerto Rican Euphonia calls and songs in Guanica State Forest.
A sampling site in the Guanica State Forest, Puerto Rico.
Miguel recounts when he spotted the singing female: “The day [on] which I recorded the female really stands out to me, it was just as the field sampling was about to end that I noticed the pair. I quickly started recording them both as they gleaned from a tree and moved across the trail. As soon as the male left the area, I remember training my eyes on the female and then when she started singing left quite the impression on me. I remember calling Dr. Alejandro Ríos as soon as I left the forest to let him know what I [had just] seen.”
So it is confirmed: female birds can and do sing. The recording of our lady of the hour is available on Macaulay Library for all to admire (ML609987555), and the authors went a step further in analyzing and comparing her song to a male recorded a few days earlier at the same site.
Why does this all matter?
Research is, unfortunately, inherently biased. The temperate bias in researchers and funding means that tropical regions and species are understudied, making temperate behavior the default assumption applied to all species. Song production between the sexes differs among geographic regions, and tropical female birds are more likely to sing than their temperate counterparts. This temperate assumption then biases research towards male birds, perpetuating the lack of data on female song. The authors’ hope is that this record of the Puerto Rican Euphonia will help reduce these biases in future research. As Miguel said, “I hope that my research will mean more people recognize female song. I also hope that people pay more attention to the natural history of birds on the island.” This record is a step in the right direction.
Alejandro plans to keep the momentum going, and to keep inspiring students like Miguel, who has since become a graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), to get involved in ecological research. “The lack of funding for doing ecological research is a major challenge, plus the budget cuts at the UPR System. That is why programs such as PRLSAMP, and organizations dedicated to conservation are important to incentivize students to do research.”
This article is a perfect example of the JCO’s mission to publish and promote natural and life history information of our understudied regional birds, especially when that research is done by emerging researchers. Filling knowledge gaps about our endemics and helping budding ornithologists get both experience and exposure? That’s what we’re all about. BirdsCaribbean also provides upfront support for researchers, both technical and financial, allowing even more conservation-driven data to be collected for our species. See our recent blog post announcing the 2025 awardees of BirdsCaribbean’s small grants.
Recently, significant amounts of federal funding—already committed through grants to federal partners—have been canceled or indefinitely paused. Without these resources, we face serious threats to continuing our vital work and the momentum we’ve built with our incredible partners. In the face of these unprecedented challenges, your contributions are more important than ever to keep these initiatives going throughout the region. Please consider donating today. The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology is a peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of ornithology within the Caribbean region, publishing in English, Spanish, and French. We welcome manuscripts covering the biology, ecology, behavior, life history, and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats. The JCO also publishes conservation reports and mentors inexperienced authors to help them develop their manuscript for publication. The JCO 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.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
This crow sticks to lowland habitats—open areas dotted with palm groves and tall trees. Unlike its Hispaniolan cousin, it’s not found in pine forests. Sadly, it’s now very rare and only occurs in scattered pockets of western and central Cuba. With such a limited range and growing threats to its habitat, the Cuban Palm-Crow is listed as Endangered in Cuba’s national Red Data Book.
At a glance, it looks like your classic crow: glossy black plumage with a subtle purple-blue sheen. But here’s the kicker—it shares its home with another nearly identical species, the Cuban Crow, making field ID tricky even for seasoned birders. Fortunately, their calls are distinct: the Cuban Palm-Crow gives a nasal “craaa, craaa,” while the Cuban Crow sounds more like a parrot. Still want more clues? The Palm-Crow has longer nasal bristles that cover its nostrils, and its bill shape differs slightly too—the bill’s commissure (where upper and lower mandible meets) extends below the eye in the Cuban Crow, while in the Cuban Palm-Crow, it only reaches the front of the face. Sharp-eyed birders, take note!
Diet-wise, the Cuban Palm-Crow isn’t picky. With a short, sturdy bill, it feeds on fruits, insects, and other invertebrates, foraging both in trees and on the ground—sometimes even along roadsides. It’s often seen in pairs or small groups, but gatherings of up to 20 birds aren’t uncommon.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about its natural history, especially its breeding behavior. What we do know: it builds a typical crow nest—a stick platform lined with soft materials—usually in tree branches or nestled under palm fronds (yep, that’s where the name comes from!). Breeding takes place from March through July, with clutches of 3–4 pale green, speckled eggs. Though likely solitary nesters, small groups have been spotted mobbing predators to defend nests.
Crows have long been saddled with spooky reputations in Western culture, but it’s time to flip the script. In the Caribbean, crows like the Cuban Palm-Crow are not omens of bad luck, they’re indicators of healthy forests. And with half of our Caribbean crow species now threatened, protecting them is more urgent than ever. So next time you see a crow calling from a palm grove, take it as a good sign—you’ve found a patch of forest worth protecting.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Daniela Ventura for the text!
Colour in the Cuban Palm-Crow
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 Cuban Palm-Crow
The call of the Cuban Palm-Crow is nasal “raaah“.
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 Palm-Crow. (Photo by Neil Hilton)Cuban Palm-Crow. (Photo by Arturo Kirkconnell Jr. Macaulay Library-ML90721851)Cuban Palm-Crow. (Photo by Adrian Cobas, Macaulay Library-ML610215948)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : In the story, “The Crow and the Pitcher,” a thirsty crow finds a pitcher with a little water at the bottom. The crow can’t reach the water but doesn’t give up. It drops pebbles into the pitcher and slowly, the water rises, and the crow is able to drink! Clever, right?
Did you know this story isn’t just a fable? Scientists have discovered that crows, like the Cuban Palm-Crow, are really smart. They use tools, solve puzzles, and even plan ahead!
In The Clever Crow Challenge you willrecreate the crow’s clever experiment to understand why dropping pebbles into the pitcher caused the water to rise.
You will need:
1 tall, clear container (a plastic water bottle or glass vase works well)
Water
Bottle cap
Small pebbles or marbles (at least 20–30)
Measuring cup
Marker or tape (to mark water levels)
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Cuban Palm-Crow in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Jamaican Pewee
Pewuee! Pewuee! Pewuee! Wee-oh! Pee-wee!
What’s that plaintive sound echoing through the trees!? Those are the beautiful notes of the Jamaican Pewee—Jamaica’s very own flycatcher, affectionately known as simply the Pewee. While its song is sometimes described as sad or mournful, listen closely and you’ll hear soft, exhaled notes that speak more of peaceful rest than sorrow.
A plain-looking yet remarkable bird, the Jamaican Pewee is small and dark olive-brown with paler buffy-gray underparts, faint buff wing bars, and no eye-ring. Despite its understated appearance, it’s not easily confused with the other resident flycatchers on the island. The Pewee often perches alertly, with a slightly peaked head, flicking its wings and tail as it scans for its next meal.
This aerial hunter thrives in humid montane and lowland forests, especially in areas with plenty of shade and tall trees. Watch for it perched on an exposed mid-level branch, sitting motionless before darting out to snatch flying insects—beetles, moths, flies, and anything else that dares to buzz past—right out of the air. With sharp eyes and quick reflexes, it returns to its perch to repeat the ambush. How cool is that?
Jamaican Pewees breed from April to June and may nest twice per year. Their cup-shaped nests, built from woven plant fibers, grasses and Spanish moss, are typically placed in tree forks.
Though currently listed as a species of Least Concern, the Jamaican Pewee’s population is declining due to the ongoing habitat destruction in Jamaica. Protecting this species means preserving its forest home, supporting reforestation with native trees, and controlling invasive species. Reducing pesticide use and creating bird-friendly spaces by planting native trees—even in towns and urban parks—can also make a difference. Public education, research, and strong environmental policies that protect natural areas are key to ensuring this soulful songbird continues to thrive.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Michelle Roberts for the text!
Colour in the Jamaican Pewee
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 Jamaican Pewee
The song of the Jamaican Pewee includes a plaintive “uh-weee-oo” with the ‘weee’ syllable being upslurred. An upslurred “wee-wee” call with the second note louded, and a slightly rough, whistled “weeah.”
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 Pewee, Blue Mountains. (Photo by Daniel Fedorowicz, Macaulay Library-ML629361966)Jamaican Pewee. (Photo by David Chernack, Macaulay Library- ML616475521)Jamaican Pewee, Blue Mountains. (Photo by Matt Grube)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Can you find the words in our Jamaican Pewee word search? Read the text above all about this endemic bird to remind yourself of some of the interesting facts and information, 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 : Enjoy this video of a Jamaican Pewee in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Puerto Rican Euphonia
The Puerto Rican Euphonia is a triple threat: dazzling plumage, a melodious voice, and undeniable charm! Endemic to Puerto Rico, it’s affectionately known by locals as Canario del País or simply Eufonia. If you’re lucky, you might catch this lively little bird flitting through the canopy in places like El Yunque National Forest, Luquillo Experimental Forest, and the Carite, Maricao, and Guánica State Forests.
Adult males are striking, with a vivid orange-yellow forehead and a sky-blue cap that extends from the crown to the nape. The rest of the upperparts are a rich violet-blue, offset by a bright yellow rump and upper tail coverts. Their underparts start with a yellow throat that deepens to an orange-yellow on the breast and belly. Females, while more subdued, are equally beautiful—olive-green overall with a sky-blue cap with a sky blue helmet and yellowish forehead patch. Their yellow throats gradually deepen to a muted olive-yellow on the remaining underparts.
You’ll find these fashionable birds in a range of habitats, including mountain forests, lowland dry forests, and even shade-coffee plantations. They’ve been recorded in the Tabonuco, Palo Colorado, Palm, and Elfin (Dwarf) forests. Although usually high in the canopy, Puerto Rican Euphonias often come lower to forage along forest edges and in clearings—especially wherever mistletoe (Loranthaceae) grows, one of their favorite foods. They also snack on other small fruits like Yerba Capitana and Capulín (Muntingia calabura). Energetic and vocal, they hop busily through the trees, calling out with sharp “chit-it” notes and a cheerful “wheeee.” Their song is a rapid mix of squeaky, tinkling, and whistled notes.
Though much remains to be learned about their breeding behavior, we do know that Puerto Rican Euphonias nest year-round, with activity peaking from March to June. They build dome-shaped nests 3–20 meters above the ground, tucked into forks of branches or nestled near epiphytes. The nests are crafted from moss, lichen, and bark, bound with spider silk and lined with banana leaves and soft bark fibers. Clutch size ranges from 2 to 4 white eggs speckled with mauve or reddish-brown.
This species faces ongoing threats from deforestation, and hurricanes—bringing strong winds and tree fall—can also limit fruit availability. Supporting local environmental efforts to remove invasive species and restore native trees is key to making forests more resilient. With continued conservation, the Puerto Rican Euphonia and other forest birds can continue to thrive across the island.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Dimaris Colón for the text!
Colour in the Puerto Rican Euphonia
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 Puerto Rican Euphonia
The song of the Puerto Rican Euphonia is mixture of whistles and tinkling, and squeaky 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!
Male Puerto Rican Euphonia. (Photo by Manuel Seda, Macaulay Library-ML626933664)Female Puerto Rican Euphonia. (Photo by Ricardo Sanchez, Macaulay Library-ML477816071)
Male Puerto Rican Euphonia. (Photo by John C. Sullivan, Macaulay Library-ML628015174-
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Puerto Rican Euphonias love to feed on small fruits, especially mistletoe berries!
Can you help this hungry Puerto Rican Euphonia find its way through our maze to to grab some tasty mistletoe?
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Hispaniolan Nightjar
If you ever find yourself walking through the forests of Hispaniola at night, listen closely. A ghostly call—pi-tan-guaaaa—echoes through the trees. This mysterious sound belongs to the Pitanguá, or Hispaniolan Nightjar, a bird so elusive that many locals recognize its voice but have never seen it.
The Hispaniolan Nightjar is a master of camouflage. Its mottled dark brown and grayish plumage blends perfectly with the leaf-strewn forest floor. Males can be distinguished by the white tips on their outer tail feathers, while females have buff-colored tips. Its cryptic coloration and nocturnal habits make it one of the most difficult birds to observe in the wild.
Endemic to Hispaniola, this nightjar favors mid-elevation forests in the Dominican Republic, especially in the Cordillera Central, Sierra de Bahoruco, and Loma de Cabrera. It is typically found between 300 and 750 meters above sea level, often in broadleaf forest. While its current status in Haiti today is uncertain, historical records indicate it was once more widespread across the island.
LIttle is known about tis diet, but like other nightjars, A. ekmani is an aerial insectivore. With a wide, bristle-lined mouth, it catches insects on the wing, feeding almost exclusively at night.
Its distinctive call—a prolonged pi-tan-guaaaa—is repeated throughout the night and inspired its local name. The sound carries throughout the forest and is often described as haunting or mournful, contributing to the bird’s near-mythical reputation. According to local legend, the Pitanguá’s song is believed to be the voice of wandering spirits calling out through the night forest.
The Pitanguá nests directly on the ground, laying two greenish-white eggs with brown blotches in a shallow depression hidden among the leaves. Breeding occurs from April to July, and the species relies on its excellent camouflage to avoid predators. Without a constructed nest, the eggs’ survival depends on how well-hidden they are.
BirdLife International currently considers its population trend to be stable. However, the Pitanguá has suffered significant declines due to habitat destruction and invasive species. Deforestation—especially in Haiti—has severely reduced its breeding range. Like many nocturnal birds, it is also sometimes persecuted due to superstition. More research is needed to determine its current status in Haiti and to monitor remaining populations in the Dominican Republic.
The Hispaniolan Nightjar remains one of the island’s most mysterious birds—rarely seen, but often heard. With continued conservation efforts—and a bit of luck—future generations will still hear its eerie, beautiful pi-tan-guaaaa echoing through the night.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Elvin Vargas Esévez for the text!
Colour in the Hispaniolan Nightjar
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 Hispaniolan Nightjar
The song of the Hispaniolan Nightjar a burry “pit, whoo-vore?” often repeated.
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 Hispaniolan Nightjar spreads its wings. (Photo by Dax Roman)Hispaniolan Nightjar. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Birds like the Hispaniolan Nightjar are very good at hiding in plain sight. Their colours help them to blend in with their environment. Insects also use camouflage to blend in with their environment and keep them safe from other animals that love munching on them. But note that it also helps some insects catch prey that doesn’t see them! Their colours, patterns and even physical shape make them indistinguishable from their surroundings.
In this activity you’re going to go outside (with an adult) and help insects and birds find the best spot for them to blend in such as in the grass, amongst fallen leaves, branches, leaves, flowers, dirt, tree trunks, and other plants.
You will need:
pencil
scissors
clipboard (optional)
copy of Masters of Camouflage page
Can you find the ‘Masters of Camouflage’ page to print (in colour or black and white) and full instructions of this activity here!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video about why Hispaniolan Nightjar was made a seperate species!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Barbados Bullfinch
The Barbados Bullfinch, affectionately known as “Sparrow” or “Sparky” by locals, is a ubiquitous and endearing resident of the island. Arguably the easiest West Indian endemic to spot, it often finds you rather than the other way around. This charming bird, the only endemic species (so far!) on Barbados, is a testament to resilience and adaptability.
Measuring just 5-6 inches (14-15 cm) in length, the Barbados Bullfinch presents a subtle beauty. Both sexes have similar plumage: dark olive upperparts with brownish wings, and a light grey underbelly that may show faint streaking on the breast and belly. Males have a solid black, cone-shaped bill, while females sport a paler lower mandible. Their vocal repertoire is varied, ranging from rapid “tse tse tse tse tse” calls to harsh “schipp-schipp-schipp” sounds, and a drawn-out “schrrrrrrp.”
Despite its limited range—confined to just 166 square miles of Barbados—the species is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List. This favorable status is largely due to its extraordinary adaptability. The Bullfinch thrives in nearly every habitat across the island, from dense woodlands and mangroves to grasslands and highly urbanized areas.
Its diet is just as flexible. Though primarily a seed eater—gleaning seeds from the ground or grasses—it supplements its diet with fruits and berries. On rainy days, it can be observed eating insects—darting from branches to catch them in mid-air like a flycatcher. It’s become remarkably tame, frequenting hotels, restaurants, and backyards, and is often seen accepting hand-fed treats, including processed foods like sugar. Studies have also shown the Bullfinch’s impressive problem-solving skills. In urban environments and lab settings, they’ve been observed opening sugar packets and pulling strings to access food (Lefebvre et al., 2016).
Their nesting habits are equally adaptable. Both sexes contribute to building a domed nest with a side entrance, constructed from woven dry grass or other locally available materials. While typically built in trees and shrubs, they readily adapt to man-made structures. Females usually lay 3-4 eggs, which hatch after about 14 days of incubation.
Though currently thriving, the Barbados Bullfinch faces several threats that should be monitored, including predation by feral and domestic cats, the non-native Mongoose and by African Green Monkeys. They are also subject to brood parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Julian Moore for the text!
Colour in the Barbados 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 calls and song of the Barbados Bullfinch
The song of the Barbados Bullfinch is rapid “tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee…” or “tsit-tsit-tsit-tsit…”. The call is a a sharp “tseet.”
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!
Barbados-Bullfinch. (Photo by John Webster)Barbados Bullfinch. (Photo by Lauren Tucker)Barbados Bullfinch. (Photo by David Hollie, Macaulay Library-ML608647927)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Our 2025 CEBF theme “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities” highlights the many challenges our endemic birds face due to human activities and expanding urban development. To combat these challenges conservation efforts need to incorporate bird-friendly actions, making sure that our communities become havens for these unique birds. Anyone from national and local governments, businesses, community groups, and individuals can help out by being “bird-friendly”!
What does “bird-friendly” mean? “Bird-friendly” means making our environment safe and welcoming for birds. We can do this by planting native plants, providing clean water, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals. As well as in other ways by making choices about how we use resources like electricity and our shopping choices. Why not see how bird-friendly you, and your community are, by taking part in the ” Bird-Friendly Community Challenge“. This will help you think about ways in which we can all be friends to birds!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Bermuda Petrel
The Bermuda Petrel, or Cahow, is Bermuda’s only endemic bird—found nowhere else on Earth! Fittingly, it is the national bird of Bermuda, and a source of great pride for Bermudians. Like many seabirds, Cahows spend nearly their entire lives at sea, returning to land only to breed—and they nest underground, in burrows!
Few people have ever seen a Cahow in the wild. These elusive birds return to their breeding grounds under the cover of night, arriving in October or November and departing again in May or June. Juveniles are even more mysterious: after fledging, they may remain out at sea for up to four years before returning to land to breed. Incredible!
Cahows closely resemble the Black-capped Petrel, but can be distinguished by a dark gray cap that extends over the face, nape, and sides of the neck, forming a “cowl.” Their forehead and throat are white, and their upperparts are mostly gray with a white fringe bordering the darker rump. Their underparts are mostly white, and they have very long wings, with a one-meter wingspan. A powerful and agile flier, the Cahow is easily distinguished from the smaller, fluttery storm-petrels.
Why the scientific name Pterodroma cahow? Pterodroma means “winged runner,” a fitting name for a seabird that thrives in strong winds and rarely rests on land. The name “Cahow” comes from the eerie cries these birds make at night—calls that once spooked sailors and earned Bermuda the nickname “Isle of Devils.” Most likely, those ghostly sounds belonged to Cahows.
When the first settlers arrived in the 1600s, the Cahow was abundant, with an estimated half a million pairs nesting throughout the Bermuda archipelago. But within a few short years, the population had been decimated. Adults and chicks were taken by the thousands from their burrows and eaten. By around 1620, the Cahow was believed to be extinct.
During the first half of the 20th Century, four Cahow specimens were recovered, inspiring a search for its breeding grounds, which were rediscovered in 1951. That event was headline news in newspapers around the world. This led to the launch of the Cahow Recovery Program under the leadership of Dr. David Wingate, Bermuda’s first Conservation Officer (1957 to 2000), and since 2000, continued by his successor Jeremy Madeiros.
Thanks to decades of tireless effort, the Cahow has made a remarkable comeback: from just 18 nesting pairs (and 8 fledglings) in 1960, to 62 pairs (32 fledglings) in 2001, and 165 nesting pairs (76 fledglings) in 2024.
The path to recovery has not been easy. Threats included pesticide exposure (leading to thin eggshells and breeding failure), competition for nest sites from White-tailed Tropicbirds, egg predation by rats, and even predation by Peregrine Falcons. Today, rising sea levels pose a new and serious threat.
To give the Cahow every chance at success, conservationists developed wooden baffles to keep out the larger Longtails (White-tailed Tropicbirds), allowing only Cahows to access the burrows. Artificial burrows have also been installed to accommodate the growing population.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Andrew Dobson for the text!
Colour in the Bermuda Petrel
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 Bermuda Petrel
The calls of the Bermuda Petrel include a high pitcher “oooooooooooooo-EEK” made by males during courtship, and an answering growl of “aaaaaaaawww-AK” made by females.
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 Bermuda Petrel in flight. (photo by Friedemann Arndt, Macaulay Library- ML608756232)A Bermuda Petrel at sea near Bermuda. (Photo by Friedemann Arndt, Macaulay Library- ML608756195)Close-up of a Bermuda Petrel. (Photo by Tom Johnson, Macaulay Library-ML40621211)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : The Bermuda Petrel is a beautiful seabird, related to gulls, albatrosses, shearwaters and many more groups of sea loving birds! Another group of birds that can be found along our Caribbean coastline are the shorebirds. At first glance, shorebirds and seabirds might seem like they’re they are very similar. Both groups are typically found near water, and can often be seen in similar places! But when delve a bit deeper you can see that these two groups of birds are quite distinct. There are differences not just in where they typically live, how they live, and also in how they typically look (although of course in both groups there are some exceptions to the rules!).
Why not think about some of these differences and try out our “seabirds or shorebirds?” activities. Remember that whilst there are several differences between these two groups there are sometime overlaps in their lifestyles! Full instructions of this activity in here ! And you can find the answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Bermuda Petrel at a nest, in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Kalinago Wren
Say hello to the Kalinago Wren, Dominica’s newest officially recognized single-island endemic bird, named in 2024 to honor the island’s Indigenous people, the Kalinago. Previously considered a subspecies of the House Wren, Troglodytes martinicensis rufescens is now celebrated as its own distinct species—thanks to new research highlighting its unique genetics, song, and behavior.
Locals affectionately call it syòl, sinyòl, wòsinyòl, èsiyòl, òsiyòl, and Madam tètchyen. That last name, “Madam tètchyen” (or “Mrs. Boa Constrictor”), stems from local folklore. The wren is said to frequent the forest floor where the native boa, or tètchyen, is often found—like a husband-and-wife pair in nature. Spot a Kalinago Wren, and you may be near a boa!
Formerly found in Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Kalinago Wren has been extirpated from both islands, likely due to habitat loss and the impacts of invasive predators. That makes Dominica its last remaining stronghold—and a vitally important island for its continued survival.
You can find the Kalinago Wren throughout Dominica’s moist and dry forests, rural landscapes, and even near homes—though it tends to steer clear of towns. Its ability to adapt to human environments (including nesting in gutters and concrete blocks) is impressive and likely helped it recover after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Its diet includes insects and even small lizards like juvenile anoles, and it’s often seen flitting low across the forest floor while foraging. Its powerful voice makes it easier to hear than see!
While still understudied, the Kalinago Wren is believed to have two breeding seasons, from May–August and November–December. However, some nesting activity has also been reported from February–April, suggesting there could be three annual breeding cycles—a topic ripe for further research! Nests are built in tree cavities from twigs, and the birds have shown clever adaptability by using human structures like gutters and concrete blocks. Clutches typically contain 2–6 whitish eggs with reddish-brown speckles.
Although its exact population size and conservation status have not yet been formally assessed, the Kalinago Wren appears widespread and stable. Still, as a single-island endemic, it is vulnerable to habitat loss and natural disasters—particularly hurricanes. That makes it a priority species for monitoring, research, and conservation efforts.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Garry Auguiste for the text!
Colour in the Kalinago Wren
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 Kalinago Wren
The song of the Kalinago Wren is loud with chatters and trills.
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 Kalinago Wren singing. (Photo by Yann Muzika, Macaulay Library- ML631840540)A Kalinago Wren. (Photo by Holger Teichmann)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Can you find the words in our Kalinago Wren word search? Read the text above all about this endemic bird to remind yourself of some of the interesting facts and information, 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 : Enjoy this video of a Kalinago Wren in the wild!
Global Big Day is almost here! Read our top tips to keep your birding bonanza from going off the rails.
Rondel Smith is ready for GBD – but are you? (Global Big Day 2024).
Global Big Day is the most anticipated birding event of the year. Birders around the globe head out into their backyards, neighborhoods, forests, and wetlands, to look at birds and submit their observations via eBird checklists. Sounds simple, right? Well, not always! Birds can be unpredictable, and surprises like sudden rain or a dead phone battery can throw you off your game.
But don’t worry! It doesn’t have to be stressful. If you’re feeling excited, but a little overwhelmed—you’ve come to the right place! Firstly, THANK YOU for stepping up as a citizen scientist. Every checklist you submit through eBird will help scientists track bird populations, understand migration patterns, and identify where conservation efforts are urgently needed so that key habitats can be protected before they’re lost. Your participation isn’t just fun—it’s powerful.
We’ve gathered top tips from seasoned BirdsCaribbean GBDers on what not to do, so you can avoid common pitfalls and focus on watching the birds.
Don’t just Wing it!
Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo in flight
Don’t just fly out the door with vague plans to ‘find some birds’! If you want a fun day full of great bird sightings, consider planning and even scouting out your route if it’s somewhere you haven’t been before. Think about where you want to go and what you want to see.
Aiming to maximize your species count? Then you definitely want to bird different habitats! eBird hotspots can tell you the best places to find specific birds. You’ll also need to think about environmental factors that affect what birds you might see—like time of day or height of the tide (for coastal areas). Check the weather forecast—rain predicted for early morning? Maybe there is still somewhere you can birdwatch where this will be less of a problem!
One big advantage of joining one of our BirdsCaribbean Global Big Day teams is that team leaders often coordinate group efforts, spreading birders across different habitats: forests, swamps, coastlines, and even urban areas to maximize the number of species spotted.
You can’t plan for everything! What if you hear about a rare bird on the eBird grapevine? You’re going to have to change your plans! Sudden rainstorm? Why not take a break to take shelter and refuel (even in your car—who knows you might spot something great through the rain-soaked windscreen!). Stay flexible!
eBird or bust
So, you’ve seen a lot of birds, and you’re basking in the glow of adding a ‘lifer’ to your Big Day list. But, remember—you need to get your bird sightings on eBird for them to count! Submitting your checklists to eBird is what turns your birding into real data that powers conservation. Make sure you’re eBird ready before the Big Day with these helpful resources:
Enter sightings with eBird Mobile—Install the app, adjust your preferences, and download your regional “Pack” for your island or state. (Packsare lists of birds you are likely to see in a given region of the world)
Coral Aviles listing the birds in the CWC list on eBird, Blassina Canal Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)
Also, check with your team leader to ensure your checklists are added to the official team Trip Report so every bird you log increases your team’s chances of spotting the most species!
There are two ways to make sure your checklists are included:
Join the Trip Report in advance. Ask your team leader to invite you. When you get the email, be sure to click JOIN Trip Report (top right corner of the page). That’s it—all your checklists will be added automatically, and you can watch your team’s progress in real time throughout the day. (Find your team’s Trip Report link in column E)
Share each checklist manually:Use your team’s username in column B to share each checklist. This also works—but your team leader has to manually accept each one, so results may not appear right away.
Not on one of our island or multinational teams yet? What are you waiting for? Join today on GiveButter!
Pro tip: Once you’ve joined your team trip report you could spend the whole day obsessively refreshing the page and checking your team’s species total, but we strongly recommend you spend some time birding!
One list does NOT rule them all
You’ve got the eBird app, you’re in your team trip report, you’ve made a plan, and you’re excited and ready to bird! BUT don’t just hit start on your checklist as the Big Day sunrises and then only hit stop as you roll exhausted into bed! The BEST way to eBird is to do multiple lists.
Changed locations or habitat type? Start a new list.
Stationary for more than an hour? New list.
Traveling for more than a mile? New list.
Changed the type of birding you’re doing (i.e., going from a stationary to traveling count or vice versa)? You guessed it—new list! (T-shirts coming soon.)
Birding in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Edward Hernandez Lara)
eBird explains it simply and best: the shorter the duration and distance of your checklist, the more valuable your data becomes. Long checklists that cover large areas make it hard to pinpoint exactly where and when birds were present. For more eBird best practices click here.
You can easily check your total species seen from the day across all your lists by looking at your contribution to your team’s eBird trip report!
Pro tip: Make sure your checklists are complete (i.e., report every species you were able to ID by sight or sound) for the best scientific value.
Gear up or go home
Kearah Ryan looking through the spotting scope at Carr’s Bay. (Photo by Ajhermae White)
Nothing kills a good birding moment like forgotten binoculars or a dead phone. Test your gear before you hit the trail. Charge everything. Know how it works. Thank us later.
We recommend packing light but packing smart. Your GBD survival kit should include:
phone (with eBird app)
field guide
binoculars or scope
camera (memory cards installed please!)
batteries (charged)
water (don’t forget to stay hydrated, champ!)
medicine
snacks
spare clothes, and
anything else you’ll need to stay comfortable and focused in the field
A little prep goes a long way toward making your day smooth and successful.
Pro tip: On GBD snacks aren’t just treats, they’re for morale! And trust us, you’ll need a lot of morale if you’re birding for long periods of time. So pack the trail mix AND the gummies.
Smart Birding is Safe Birding
Think like a Bananaquit and get plenty of water and sugar during GBD!
FOMO is real but please pace yourself. Injury or exhaustion isn’t going to help you see more birds. To keep you and your team safer check the weather (and tides if relevant) before heading out so you’re prepared for outdoor conditions. If flying solo, stick to places you know well to avoid unexpected challenges or getting lost.
Don’t forget to take regular breaks. Take this time to hydrate, chat with other birders, maximize your snack intake, and post about your #BirdsCaribGlobalBigDay experience to your socials. We insist that you tag us @birdscaribbean in your photos and videos so we can cheer you on.
Pro Tip: Laying down on the ground in the field is a great way to take a rest. Just point your binoculars skyward and tell people you are checking the treetops for birds (beware of ants when following this tip!).
Don’t Miss the Night Shift
Bare Shanked Screech Owl, spotted during Global Big Day. (Photo by Beny Wilson)
Who doesn’t love owls with their round, watchful eyes and silent flight?! Be sure to include some birding in the dark to add some fascinating nighttime species to your list!. Choose a place you know well by daylight and plan your route ahead of time. Exploring unfamiliar places at night is risky, so stick to familiar ground to stay safe and make the most of your nocturnal birding adventure.
Carry a flashlight—it will help you find your way and pick out wildlife in the dark (but don’t use it to disturb the birds or other animals!)
Use your ears—this is the best way to bird at night. Listen out for nocturnal calls and see if you can identify the birds you hear!
Bonus: Nighttime birding is eerie, magical, and wildly underrated.
What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt (Your Species Count)
You’ve checked and rechecked your field guide, but you are still not sure just what that small brown bird is. Don’t go it alone! You can try using the Merlin ID app to help you nail your species ID, or even better, share your photos or audio recordings with your big day team. Remember you’re all in it together to get the highest species total (and dethrone the Piping Pawis).
Pro Tip: On the ‘All About Birds’ pages from Cornell you can get some great side-by-side comparisons of similar species to help with ID.
Final Thoughts:Embrace the excitement! Not everything will go as planned, but that’s part of the fun. Global Big Day is all about adventure, unexpected moments, and, of course, incredible and wondrous birds. Keep your spirits high, enjoy the experience, and remember: every observation (that you submit to eBird) counts!
Go forth and bird boldly. We’re cheering for you!
Members of Gundlach Team in matching birding kit. (Photo by Yaro Rodriguez)
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Cuban Blackbird
Let’s talk about the Cuban Blackbird (Ptiloxena atroviolacea)—or as it’s affectionately known on the island, the Totí. Ask almost any Cuban, and they’ll recognize the name. This striking all-black bird is a familiar sight across Cuba, from busy cities to rural areas, and it’s even embedded in Cuban culture and sayings. Locals sometimes call someone the Totí when they end up taking the blame for something—just because.
At first glance, the Cuban Blackbird looks entirely black, but catch it in the right light and you’ll see beautiful flashes of blue and purple iridescence in its plumage. Its beak and legs are black, and the eye is a dark brown. Males and females look similar, though females are slightly smaller. About 25–28 cm long, one of the best ways to tell it apart from similar black birds is its distinctive square-shaped tail. For comparison, the Greater Antillean Grackle—another all-black species—has yellow eyes and a long, V-shaped tail, while the Shiny Cowbird is smaller with more intense violet tones.
This bird is endemic to mainland Cuba, and you can find it just about anywhere—forests, grasslands, agricultural lands, towns, and cities. Its varied, musical song can often be heard echoing through both natural and urban environments. The Cuban Blackbird is adaptable and opportunistic, often seen foraging on the ground alone, in pairs, or in mixed flocks with other blackbirds. Its diet includes insects, seeds, small vertebrates, and even nectar—clearly not a picky eater!
Breeding takes place from April to August. Pairs build cup-shaped nests out of rootlets, hair, and feathers, where they typically lay 3 to 5 eggs.
While the Cuban Blackbird is common and widespread today, it’s still important not to take its presence for granted. There’s much we don’t know about this species, and as climate change and habitat loss intensify, even adaptable birds can face unexpected challenges. As the saying goes, “The time to protect a species is while it’s still common.”Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Saúl González Rosales for the text!
Colour in the Cuban Blackbird
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 Cuban Blackbird
The calls of the Cuban Blackbird include a metallic “schee-o” and loud “chuck,” as well as a “chok, chok, chok, lee, lee, lee” series.
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 Cuban Blackbird. (Photo by Lutz Durselen, Macaulay Library- ML204086391)A Cuban Blackbird enjoys a feeder. (Photo by Rosie Howard, Macaulay Library-ML172657491)A Cuban Blackbird perched on a flower. (Photo by Andy Goris, Macaulay Library-ML614707075)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : The Cuban Blackbird looks black. But when the sunlight hits it at different angles,
colors of purple and blue are revealed. This beautiful effect is known as iridescence! Several birds have feather like this, and you might also have seen this in shiny bubbles or on butterfly wings.
You can create your own iridescent bookmark using simple materials. Just like the glossy feathers of the Cuban Blackbird. Your bookmark will shimmer and shine as you move it in the light.
You will need:
paper We recommend using black card stock because iridescence shows up best on dark colors. But you can use any kind of paper as long as it’s thick enough to go in water and doesn’t have a shiny or slippery coating.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Gray Trembler
The Gray Trembler really knows how to put on a show! When it sings, its entire body trembles with excitement—its wings droop and quiver, and its tail pulses in a rhythmic shake. This bird’s got serious moves! While it sticks to one signature dance, its vocal performance is anything but predictable. One of its common songs is a series of quavering whistles that slide downward in pitch. Other times, it belts out elaborate warbles reminiscent of its cousin, the mockingbird—or switches to simpler chortling trills. It even has a raspy, buzzy call that sounds like it’s giving someone a good scolding!
If you want front-row seats to this performance, you’ll need to visit Martinique or St. Lucia–the only two places in the world where this endemic species lives. They’re year-round residents, and within these islands, they use a variety of habitats: lush lower montane rainforests, coastal dry forests, open woodlands, and even gardens. But don’t expect to find them in large numbers—they’re widespread but never abundant.
So, if you’re lucky enough to be in the right place, what should you look for besides the dancing? True to its name, the Gray Trembler is mostly gray, with a slightly darker face mask that frames a piercing yellow eye, rimmed in red. It sports a long tail, long wings, and an impressively long, curved bill. You’ll often spot it close to the forest floor, using that strong bill to flip over leaves—sometimes launching them high into the air—or to probe into crevices between vines and tree trunks. What’s on the menu? Pretty much anything it can catch: snails, beetles, small lizards, frogs, even centipedes!
We still have more to learn about the Gray Trembler’s breeding behavior, but here’s what we do know: they breed during the rainy season (April to August), laying striking greenish-blue eggs, usually laid in clutches of two to three. Their nests are open cups, built from dead leaves and twigs, placed high up in medium-sized trees. Both parents share the job of feeding the nestlings, offering a varied diet that includes fruit. And one more fun fact—they seem curious about technology—Gray Tremblers have been caught on video pecking at the cameras used to monitor their nests!
While the Gray Trembler isn’t globally threatened, it’s considered range-restricted, since it’s found only on two islands. That makes it especially vulnerable to environmental changes. One major concern is the degradation and destruction of the forests it calls home. Protecting these forests is essential, not just for the trembler, but for many other unique species that live alongside it.
What can you do? Start small: reduce waste, recycle, and avoid products that contribute to deforestation. You can also support local environmental groups, join tree-planting efforts, and share the story of the Gray Trembler and the importance of its forest habitats. Every action—big or small—helps. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Dr Jennifer Mortensen for the text!
Colour in the Gray Trembler
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 Gray Trembler
The song of the Gray Trembler a slow jumble of wavering rich whistles. They also have a raspy, harsh sounding alarm call.
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!
Gray Trembler calling. (Photo by Michael Stubblefield, Macaulay Library-ML604068631)Gray Trembler, St Lucia. (Photo Kevin-Berkoff, Macaulay Library- ML323551711)A Gray Trembler on Martinique. (Photo by Noam Markus, Macaulay Library-ML132338751)
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 Gray Trembler. You’ll need to know about where it lives, what it eats, and how it behaves. You can find all the answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Gray Trembler in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Jamaican Oriole
“Auntie Katie! You-cheat, you-cheat-you, you-cheat-you and If-you-want-it-free, don’t-ask-me!”
These whimsical lyrics mimic the melodious song of the Jamaican Oriole (Icterus leucopteryx leucopteryx), known locally as Auntie Katie, Banana Katie, or Banana Bird. This medium-sized songbird, about 20 cm long, fills the air with its rich, flute-like whistles—especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Its song, made up of rapid, down-slurred patterns, adds a bright, musical flair to Jamaica’s natural soundscape.
The Jamaican Oriole is unmistakable with its bold contrast of yellow and black. It sports a black throat, face, and upper chest; a greenish-yellow head, nape, and mantle; and a vibrant yellow belly and rump. Its wings and tail are mostly black, with a large white patch on the wing patch. Females look similar but slightly duller, while immatures are olive-green with less black on the head and dusky green tails. These adaptable birds thrive in all kinds of habitats—from forests at all elevations to gardens and towns. They’re omnivores with a sweet tooth, often seen in fruit trees feasting on bananas, mangoes, Otaheite apples, and papayas. They also enjoy the nectar provided by flowers—and will eagerly tear flowers apart to get to their nectaries. These resourceful birds also feed on insects—using their pointy beaks to probe into tree bark, bromeliads, and seed pods, or picking prey right off leaves.
Jamaican Orioles are also nature’s engineers, weaving hanging pouch-like nests out of grass, thread, fibers, and Spanish moss. These nests sway beneath tree branches and are cleverly hidden among the leaves to protect chicks from predators. Females typically lay 3–5 white eggs with brown markings, and both parents pitch in to feed and care for their young.
Although the Jamaican Oriole is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, it still faces challenges. Habitat loss from deforestation and poorly planned urban expansion threatens its future. It also falls victim to the invasive Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), a brood parasite that lays its eggs in oriole nests, tricking orioles into raising cowbird chicks instead of their own. Planting native trees, preserving green spaces, and supporting local conservation efforts are great ways to help this charismatic bird continue to thrive.
While the Jamaican Oriole subspecies (Icterus leucopteryx leucopteryx) is found only in Jamaica, a related subspecies occurs on San Andrés, Colombia. Sadly, the species is now extinct on Grand Cayman. The Jamaican Oriole also holds a special place in the island’s birding culture—it appears on the logo of the Gosse Bird Club, founded in the 1950s, and which continues today as BirdLife Jamaica. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Damany Calder for the text!
Colour in the Jamaican 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 Jamaican Oriole
The song of the Jamaican Oriole is series of rich, whistled, and slurred phrases and “cheat-you, cheat-you, cheat-you, cheat-you, cheat.”
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 Oriole. (Photo by Anthony VanSchoor)A Jamaican Oriole spotted in Portland, Jamaica. (Photo by Joseph Priniotakis, Macaulay Library-ML558197951)Male Jamaican Oriole. (Photo by Peter-Hawrylyshyn, Macaulay Library-ML541878121)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Get ready to head out on a bird-friendly adventure with our bird-friendly bingo game! Ask a trusted adult if you can take a walk in your backyard, or go with them on a walk around your neighbourhood. As you walk around look carefully for things that help keep birds safe in your community. You can then mark them off on the bingo card we provide in our game! Get out there and see what you can find!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Jamaican Oriole in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Hispaniolan Mango
What’s better than one mango? Two mangos. And while we’re all about that juicy, vitamin-packed fruit of the Caribbean, today we’re talking about a different kind of treat—a dazzling hummingbird!
Not too long ago, the Puerto Rican Mango and Hispaniolan Mango were thought to be the same species, called the Antillean Mango. But in 2022, scientists split them into two distinct species after discovering key differences in their size, shape, and colors.
The male Hispaniolan Mango is a stunner, with a glittering green throat, metallic green head, and upperparts, velvety black underparts, and a reddish-purple tail with blue-black edges. female is a bit more subdued, with a whitish throat and gray belly, but still quite the looker. When her tail is fanned out, the outer feathers show a broad reddish band followed by a dark band and white tips.
Trying to tell the Hispaniolan Mango apart from other hummingbirds on the island? You might mix it up with the Hispaniolan Emerald—but don’t worry, they’re easy to distinguish! The Emerald is smaller, has a straight beak, and a green belly. The Mango, on the other hand, is larger, has a longer, slightly curved beak, a sleek, black underside, and a flashier tail.
And how about that voice? The Mango’s call is a sharp, high-pitched “chip!”— like a quick “tsk!” It often repeats the call in fast little pairs or long, chatty strings, like it’s gossiping to itself in the treetops.
Found only on Hispaniola and nearby islands, including Tortue, Gonâve, Vache, and Beata, the Hispaniolan Mango lives in moist and dry forests, forest clearings, gardens, and even coffee plantations. It hovers or perches to sip nectar from flowers, and also hunts insects mid air or gleans them from leaves and tree trunks. In coffee plantations, its favorite snack comes from the Pois Doux/ Ice Cream Bean (Inga vera) tree!
Though tiny, the Mango isn’t afraid to show some attitude. It’s been seen mobbing much larger birds—like the mighty Ridgway’s Hawk and Gray Kingbirds, if it thinks they’re invading its space or favorite flowers.
During the breeding season, which runs from December to August, the female builds a cozy, cup-shaped nest using plant fibers, coated with bark flakes, lichen, and moss—all bound to the nest with sticky spider silk. She handles incubation and chick-raising all on her own, just like other hummingbird moms.
Luckily, the Hispaniolan Mango isn’t threatened, but it still needs our help to keep thriving! By planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, and supporting reforestation efforts, we can make sure these tiny, fierce, and fabulous birds light up our skies for years to come. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Holly Garrod for the text!
Colour in the Hispaniolan 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 Hispaniolan Mango
The calls of the Hispaniolan Mango include a thin trill and sharp chipping 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!
Male Hispaniolan Mango in flight. (Photo by Carl-Hackman, Macaulay Libarary-ML398939841)A Male Hispaniolan Mango takes a rest. (Photo by Carlos Gomez)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : The Hispaniolan Mango is a striking bird with vivid shining colours of glittering green, inky black and vibrant violet!But who says you have to travel to the Dominican Republic or Haiti to see these beautiful colours?
In this activity you’ll make a suncatcher—a decoration that catches rays of sunlight and casts them as rainbow hued patterns across the room!
Here is a list of materials you will need:
empty clear plastic milk jug, washed and dried
permanent markers
scissors
utility Knife
hole punch
twine, string or yarn
You can download full instructions here including a bird template for you to use. This activity involves using a knife and scissors.
Make sure you have an adult to help you with the cutting.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a male Hispaniolan Mango in the wild!
Bonaire is a birder’s paradise, with 250 species recorded on this small Caribbean island, which measures just 3 to 7 miles wide and approximately 24 miles long. To celebrate and share the island’s incredible avian diversity, a new set of interpretive signs has been installed at key birding sites across the island—thanks to a longstanding and inspiring partnership between BirdsCaribbean, WILDCONSCIENCE, and Cargill Salt, LLC. With input from local birders, tour guides, and conservation organizations, these beautiful signs invite residents and visitors alike to explore, learn about Bonaire’s birds, wetlands, and unique ecosystems and will help people to find some great places for bird watching on Bonaire!
The story of these new signs began in 2014, when Daniel DeAnda, General Manager at Cargill Salt, attended a BirdsCaribbean Wetlands Education Training Workshop hosted by local NGO STINAPA. The two-day workshop addressed the destruction and degradation of wetlands due to a widespread lack of awareness about their ecological value—and how education, especially through teachers, could help reverse this trend. The workshop emphasized wetlands as vital habitats for birds, and the powerful role that birds can play in connecting people to nature.
After the first day of the workshop, Daniel approached facilitators Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, and Michele Kading, a wetlands educator, with an invitation: “I think you need to visit our salt ponds—you might like what you see there.” (That turned out to be a major understatement!) The team toured the salt ponds that evening and was astonished by the thousands of shorebirds present—an ecological treasure that, at the time, was largely unrecognized.
Cargill Salt Ponds, Bonaire.
Least Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper walking on salt crystals at Cargill Salt Ponds. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The Cargill Salt Ponds site also supports other habitat types, like these mangroves. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
Red Knots and Short-billed Dowitchers at the Cargill Salt Ponds. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)
American Flamingos also utilize the Cargill ponds and there is a large breeding colony nearby! (photo by Lisa Sorenson
Whimbrels are a fairly common migratory shorebird in Bonaire. (photo by Susan Davis)
This visit marked the beginning of a long and productive partnership. Although hesitant at first, Cargill gave permission to BirdsCaribbean to conduct waterbird surveys of the salt ponds. Over the next three years, biologist Fernando Simal of WILDCONSCIENCE, led intensive surveys revealing that the ponds were a regionally important stopover site for tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds, including Near Threatened Red Knots and Vulnerable Short-billed Dowitchers.
Soon after, building on our growing partnership with STINAPA Bonaire and the Dutch Conservation Nature Alliance (DCNA), BirdsCaribbean launched the Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) on the island with an Interpretive Guide Training Workshop in 2016. Since then, bird tourism has steadily grown, and awareness of Bonaire’s birdlife has flourished.
From Vision to Reality: Signs for Birds, People, and Place
To build on this momentum, the CBT team envisioned a network of interpretive signs at key birding locations across Bonaire. These are the kinds of signs you might see in a museum or nature reserve—designed to tell engaging stories about the place you’re visiting, fostering deeper connection, greater appreciation, and lasting impressions.
The goal?To engage visitors and locals alike in learning about the island’s amazing birdlife and its vital role as a stopover and wintering site for thousands of migratory shorebirds, as well as providing homes for many resident species.
Fernando Simal counting shorebirds with salt mountains looming in the distance. (photo by Lisa Sorenson)
With generous funding from Cargill Salt and support from BirdsCaribbean, Fernando assembled a working group of local bird guides, photographers, and conservation professionals. The Caribbean Birding Trail Bonaire (CBTB) group—20 enthusiastic participants—helped scout locations, review drafts, and even contributed photos for the signs.
A virtual meeting of some of the CBTB group at the start of the project
Some members of the CBTB group scouting for the best sign locations during the Covid pandemic.
Field trips were organized to select the best locations—sites where visitors could safely observe birds with minimal disturbance. These visits informed the development of content that is both impactful and informative, highlighting not only Bonaire’s birdlife, but also the island’s geology, wetland ecology, and conservation efforts. These elements are deeply connected, offering a holistic understanding of Bonaire’s unique ecosystems and their vital role in supporting both migratory and resident birds.
Beautiful Signs, Built to Last
Once the locations and content were finalized, local graphic designer, Juan C. Riveros, brought the signs to life. Guided by the CBTB group and working closely with BirdsCaribbean and WILDCONSCIENCE, Juan designed 15 vibrant interpretive signs to place at key birding sites. He also created a set of eye-catching “CBT Birding Site Marker” signs to point the way to upcoming birding locations. His striking layouts combine text, imagery, and color in a way that’s both visually engaging and highly informative.
A selection of Juan’s beautiful designs
In Bonaire’s harsh environment, we wanted the signs to not only look beautiful, but stay beautiful for as long as possible. To ensure durability, we used PVC panels with the designs printed on weather-treated vinyl. And to minimize environmental impact, the signs were sized to fit exactly within standard PVC panels, meaning there was zero material waste at the end!
The finished panels were mounted on beautiful custom hardwood frames, handcrafted by Juan and Fernando at the WILDCONSCIENCE workshop.
Juan and Fernando’s carpentry skills brought the signs to life—sturdy, beautiful, and built to last.
Fernando works on the wood frames
Making sure the signs are protected from rotting.
Installation: A Team Effort
As our Geology sign explains, one thing Bonaire is not known for is soft soil! So getting sign posts firmly into the ground across multiple locations in the island’s rocky limestone terrain was going to be tough work!
Enter BonBèrdè, a local reforestation and land management company that stepped in with heavy equipment to help drill into the tough limestone. It was great to see heavy machinery working for nature, not against it!
Thanks to the hard work of the BonBèrdè crew and the entire team on the ground, the signs are now securely in place. Seeing the final products installed—ready to educate and inspire visitors and locals alike about Bonaire’s incredible birdlife and natural heritage—was an incredibly satisfying moment at the end of a long and rewarding process.
Fernando and the Bon Bèrdè team with the final sign to be installed. (Photo by Sophie Zeegers)
Celebrating the Results
The signs are already making an impact—birders and tourists are stopping to read and explore. Susan Davis, a CBT-trained guide and founder of Bonaire Bird Tours, shared: “The signs are beautiful. They help people identify the local birds and understand the value of our wetlands—especially important on an island where development is accelerating.”
Susan also notes that many visiting birders are intrigued by the broader concept of the Caribbean Birding Trail, especially once they realize that Bonaire is just one stop along a network of birding destinations throughout the region. She’s delighted to see how engaged they are—stopping to read every sign and marveling at the colorful depictions of local species. “I want to find this bird!” some exclaim, excited to spot a potential new lifer.
What’s more, she has noticed even travelers drawn to Bonaire for its world-class diving, snorkeling, or windsurfing often pause to read the signs. This unexpected engagement helps introduce birding to a wider audience. Bonaire’s slogan, “It’s in our nature,” rings especially true—visitors come for the island’s natural beauty, and the new signs reveal yet another layer of its rich ecological appeal.
Some of the newly installed signs:
A CBT marker signs pointing out a birding spot. (Photo by Fernando Simal)
Sophie and Fernando with a new sign. (Photo by Sophie Zeegers)
A new sign highlights the importance of Bonaire for Shorebirds. (Photo by Fernando Simal)
Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, reflected on the journey during a recent call with Daniel DeAnda: “From that first tour of the salt ponds in 2014 to WHSRN designation, guide training, and now these amazing signs—this has been a truly meaningful partnership. Conservation doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, trust, and collaboration. These signs will inspire people to learn about, respect, and actively protect Bonaire’s natural heritage for years to come.”
Daniel added: “When I first met Lisa, I was a bit apprehensive about the whole ‘birding’ thing. But over time, I’ve come to see the importance of our wetlands and the birds that depend on them. With the signs now up, everything has come full circle. They help people recognize the value of these incredible migratory birds that rely on Bonaire’s wetlands to rest and refuel. I’m proud that Cargill has played a part in their conservation.”
Fernando shared: “From all the years of data collection and the science that created the knowledge, to the final products now shared with the people of Bonaire, it was a privilege—and a lot of fun—to be part of every single phase of this 10-year process.”
Juan stands with one of his signs. (Photo by Fernando Simal)
Next Steps for the Caribbean Birding Trail in Bonaire
The work doesn’t stop here! The next phase of the CBT in Bonaire includes building bird-viewing platforms with shade and benches to further enhance visitor experiences and encourage even more people to discover and enjoy the island’s spectacular birdlife. With its iconic flamingos, abundant waterbirds, and striking landbirds, Bonaire is quickly becoming a top destination for birders—bringing a welcome boost to the local economy and creating new livelihoods for trained guides.
Visit Bonaire—and Explore the Caribbean Birding Trail
Today, Bonaire’s birds and wetlands are not only celebrated by scientists and tour guides, but also by visitors, local residents, and young birders. These new interpretive signs are helping to establish Bonaire as a must-see stop on the Caribbean Birding Trail, while raising awareness of the vital role this island plays in regional and global conservation.
Come see for yourself—Bonaire’s birds are waiting to welcome you.
American Flamingos. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Brown Pelican. (Photo by Hans Smulders)
Brown-throated Parakeet. (Photo by Duncan Vesrteegh)
Carib Grackle. (Photo by Hans Smulders)
Crested Caracara. (Photo by Hans Smulders)
Pearly-eyed Thrasher. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Ruby Topaz hummingbird. (Photo by Duncan Versteegh)
Yellow Oriole builds a nest. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Yellow-shouldered Amazons. (Photo by Duncan Versteegh)
Thanks to all the members of the CBTB group who shared their beautiful bird photos with us for potential use on the signs.
You can find the signs in the locations marked on the map below!
CBT Interpretive Sign locations at various wetlands and salinas around Bonaire. Cargill Salt Ponds are located in the south of the island. (map by Alison DeGraff Ollivierre)
celebrating creating the new signs: watch the procss unfold
The CBT connects people to the region’s extraordinary birds, landscapes, and cultures through sustainable bird and nature tourism. Training local guides and developing low-impact infrastructure are central to the CBT’s mission—helping to foster authentic experiences that benefit local communities while encouraging the protection of birds and their habitats across the region.
Acknowledgements
We are deeply grateful to Cargill Salt LLC, and especially Daniel DeAnda, for their long-standing partnership and generous support in funding the development, design, printing, and installation of these beautiful interpretive signs.
Special thanks to our long-time collaborator, Fernando Simal of WILDCONSCIENCE, for his dedicated leadership on the ground and hands-on work installing the signs. We are also immensely grateful to Juan C. Riveros, whose stunning designs brought the vision to life—and who remained endlessly patient throughout many rounds of feedback and edits.
We sincerely thank the members of the Caribbean Birding Trail Bonaire (CBTB) group, whose thoughtful input guided the selection of sign locations and helped shape the content. Their local knowledge, enthusiasm, and generosity were key to the success of this project.
Finally, we thank Environment and Climate Change Canada for their generous funding support to assist with the planning and development of these signs.
Can’t make it to Bonaire? You can see all the new sign designs here:
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2025 is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”—highlighting the crucial role bird-friendly cities and communities can have in addressing the decline in bird populations caused by threats like habitat loss, predation, and climate change. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Greater Antillean Bullfinch
Small but striking, the Greater Antillean Bullfinch is endemic to the islands of The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Hispaniola, and Jamaica. Measuring around 14 cm in length, and weighing just 18-22 grams—about the same as five sugar packets—this lively songbird is easy to spot if you know what to look for.
Males are glossy black, accessorized with bold reddish-orange eyebrow stripe, throat and undertail-coverts (feathers under the tail). Their shrill, whistle-like “t’zeet, t’zeet, t’seet, t’seet, seet, seet, seet” calls have earned them the endearing nickname ‘police bird’ in The Bahamas. Females look similar to males but are a duller black with more muted red markings. Juveniles are grayish-olive and have similar but smaller reddish-orange markings, especially on the throat,
This bullfinch’s short, thick black beak is perfectly built for cracking open seeds from a wide variety of plants. But it’s not a picky eater—it also feeds on flower buds and petals, many different fruits, like green plantain, coffee and peppers, as well as insects and even snails! This versatile diet helps the Greater Antillean Bullfinch thrive in many habitats, from dry coastal shrublands and gardens to lush mountain forests. You’re most likely to spot them foraging in the understory, either alone or in small, lively groups.
During courtship, males put on a show by puffing out their feathers and performing their signature little hop around the female. Once paired, the female builds a cozy bowl-shaped nest using strips of palm fronds and tree bark. She typically lays 3 to 4 bluish-white eggs marked with fine red-brown and yellow-brown speckles between March and June.
This captivating bird is currently listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, thanks to its wide range and adaptable nature. Although tree cover has declined in many areas across its range, its population remains stable. These hardy birds have shown a remarkable ability to adapt—even surviving in degraded forests.
Still, this species faces increasing challenges. Habitat loss from development and the growing impacts of climate change pose real threats to their survival. Protecting the Greater Antillean Bullfinch means taking action now—planting native trees where they live—including your backyard, switching to organic pesticides that won’t harm the insects they feed on, and supporting efforts to conserve forests and restore habitats across the region. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Soraya Halkitisfor the text!
Colour in the Greater Antillean 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 Greater Antillean Bullfinch
The song of the Greater Antillean Bullfinch is a series of high-pitched “zit” or “seet” notes, sometimes followed by high thin buzz.
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!
Male Greater Antillean Bullfinch. (Photo by Dax Roman)Female Greater Antillean Bullfinch – she is dull black or slaty-black compared to the glossy dark black of the male. (Photo by Matt Grube)Immature Greater Antillean Bullfinch. (Photo by Christoph Moning, Macaulay Library-ML65069001)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : During our 2025 celebration of Caribbean endemic birds we will be sharing a beautiful colouring page for every single bird we feature! These lovely pages were created for us by Arnaldo Toledo, who also created a coloured in version of each bird as inspiration. Get your colour pencils ready, and read these super helpful colouring in tips below. Then go ahead, download and print each bird, and get colouring! Enjoy!
Estos consejos también están disponibles en español:
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Greater Antillean Bullfinch in the wild!
For Global Big Day 2025, we will be raising funds to ensure the continuity of our critical conservation programs.
Global Big Day (GBD) is fast approaching, and bird lovers are gearing up for an exciting adventure in nature. Organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, GBD takes place annually on the second Saturday of May—this year, it’s Saturday, May 10th, 2025. On this day, bird enthusiasts and nature lovers around the world head outdoors to document as many bird species as possible in just 24 hours. These observations help scientists monitor bird populations, track migration patterns, and identify habitats in need of conservation.
What makes GBD truly special is that it’s open to everyone—whether you’re an expert birder or just starting out, there’s a place for you in this global effort to understand and protect the incredible diversity of birdlife.
Compete for the Cause: Join Our Team Challenge!
We’re thrilled to bring back our popular teams competition, and we’d love for you to be a part of it! Both national (individual islands) and multinational teams are invited to join in the effort to make a lasting impact on the birds and ecosystems of the Caribbean. We’re especially eager to see a team representing each Caribbean island, so if you don’t see your island listed here, now’s your chance to step up and take the lead (more details below).
In addition to hosting what is (unofficially) the most exciting birding competition in the region, we’ll also be raising funds to support our programs. These initiatives focus on capacity building, research, education, and outreach. This year’s fundraising theme, Help BirdsCaribbean Keep Soaring, is a call to action that ensures the continued success of our important work.
Why We Really Need Your Support this Global Big Day
Recent federal funding cuts have significantly impacted key programs that are vital to both Caribbean bird conservation and the well-being of the communities that live alongside them. Initiatives like the Caribbean Waterbird Census, the Caribbean Landbird Monitoring, and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, among others, are at risk of not achieving their goals—such as providing critical training and resources to hundreds of Caribbean conservationists, conducting year-round monitoring of threatened migratory and resident species, and informing conservation actions that benefit both wildlife and local communities.
EAG step up their CWC efforts with a training event. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Shorebirds like the Short-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper are long distance migrants that spend part of their year in the Caribbean. (Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
Daniela and Elvin take a closer look at a bird’s wing while another participant John Holas looks on. (Photo by Josh Covill)
Grenada Dove at Mt. Hartman – Grenada’s National Bird and found only in Grenada at 2 locations. It is Critically Endangered and one of the rarest birds in the world. (Photo by Greg Homel)
Take Action: Help Us Make a Difference
We are calling on you to unite with local birders to help bring attention to your island’s irreplaceable and incredible diversity of birds as well as the BirdsCaribbean programs that enhance our understanding and drive the action needed to protect these iconic species.
By participating, you and your team will play an important role in advancing our understanding of Caribbean birds and their habitats, showing the world just how incredible your island is.
Let’s Make This Year the Best Yet!
Last year we had 29 teams compete with members spanning across 39 countries and raising over $25,000US for scholarships for Caribbean conservationists. This year let’s take it to the next level—more islands, more energy, more data—and show the world how passionate and serious we are about bird conservation!
24 Joyous Hours of Birding, Exploring, and Making Friends!
During peak migration time in the spring, birders around the world head out to their favorite birding spots, or venture into new areas, to see, hear and record as many bird species as they can in a 24-hr period of time. Global Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. The data is entered into eBird checklists (more about using eBird below).
Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico’s small but dedicated birding group at Playa Table Rock for CEBF and GBD 2024. (Photo by Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico)
No matter where you are—at home, a botanical garden, beach, river or nature reserve—you can contribute important data about the birds around you. You don’t need to be an expert birder or spend the entire day looking for birds. Just 10 minutes of birding in your backyard or from your balcony will count too. Imagine, while enjoying your morning coffee, you can also be contributing valuable data for bird conservation.
Get Social for GBD: Team Up and Bird Together!
If you’re looking to make your GBD experience more social, consider teaming up with a friend or group. Pairs or groups can carpool, help out with tricky bird IDs, share equipment like spotting scopes.. and possibly snacks! We are calling on our community to bird together in virtual teams during Global Big Day and engage in friendly competition to see which team can:
collectively see the most species of birds, and
raise the most funds.
Additional recognition will be given to
the team with the best outfit (we know you’ve got swag)!
the “country/island team” that sees the highest proportion of their birds on Global Big Day (to control for differences in the number of species on each island!)
the team with the best “find” of the day (unusual, rare, plumage aberration, etc.)
the team with the best bird photo of the day (must be posted on eBird along with your list)
Last year the Piping Pawis from Trinidad and Tobago and the Gundlach Team from Cuba swept the competition. Will your team be the one to dethrone these champs?
The Best Global Big Day Starts with the Right Prep!
Ready to make the most of Global Big Day? Joining our teams competition is easy—just follow these simple steps to prepare for a successful birding adventure!
Step 1: Get Set Up with eBird First things first, if you don’t already have one, download the eBird app and set up your account. You will need it to submit your checklist/s! It’s FREE and you can sign up here! Don’t forget to check out Getting Started with eBird to get familiar with the app.
Entering data into eBird. (Photo by Holly Garrod)
Step 2: Join Your Island Team By joining your island team, you’ll gain access to shared resources—if you don’t have binoculars or a field guide, other birders may be able to share.
If you wish to purchase a field guide, we recommend Birds of the West Indies, Second Edition field guide is available for purchase here. If you’re birding in the Lesser Antilles, this guide is highly recommended.
Chances are that your island already has an existing team! Team Up by heading over to our Givebutter BC GBD Teams page to find your team! Just click the ‘JOIN A TEAM’ button on the campaign page to get started.
Step 3: Choose Your Birding Location/s Choose your birding location carefully. Local parks, nature reserves, and wetlands offer a wide range of species. Team leaders will be your best resource for advice on where to go and the best times to visit.
A wetland in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Rafy Rodriguez)
Want to Create Your Own Team?
Not seeing a team for your island and want to create your own? We love your initiative! Just email Lisa.Sorenson@BirdsCaribbean.org to get set up. We’ll help you with the groundwork (including setting up your eBird trip report!) so that you and your crew can soar to GBD success! After setup, you’ll have full control to manage it, so be sure to really make it your own with a fun name, photos, and your own lingo.
All team leaders and members should then invite family, friends, colleagues, and members of your birding community to join your team and/or donate to your team. It helps to set your own personal fundraising goal to help your team reach its overall goal!
By inviting people to your team, you’ll be:
raising awareness for BirdsCaribbean and the critical bird research and conservation work we do in the region,
helping to raise funds to sustain our critical programs , and
promoting Global Big Day, citizen science, and the importance of conserving birds and their habitats.
If you can’t join the GBD team competition fun this year, you can still show support by making a donation.
We hope everyone, whether or not they join a team or fundraise, will commit to spending some time (or the entire day!) birding on Global Big Day (May 10), being sure to keep track of what you see and then entering that information into eBird.
Male Hispaniolan Crossbill (Photo by Dax Roman)
A gorgeous Yellow-throated Warbler, North Caicos. (Photo by Venecio Wilson)
Green-winged Teals in flight, their green wing-patches clearly visible. (Photo by Andrew Reding)
Red Knot in August molting from breeding plumage to plain winter plumage which is all gray. Red Knots have declined markedly in the last 25 years. Some Red Knots winter in the Caribbean; many use the islands as a refueling stop on their long journeys to South America. (photo by Hemant Kishan)
The Cuban Tody is one a five tody species- all endemic to the Caribbean. ( (photo by Wayne Fidler; Macauley Library ML 98811491)
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch in St Vincent. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
Jamaican Mango, perched. (Photo by Clive Daelman)
A pair of Hudsonian Godwits in Barbados. (Photo by John Webster)
Your support helps us keep soaring through 2025 and beyond
The insular Caribbean is a critical region for birds. There are 185 species that occur here and nowhere else in the world! In addition, the islands provide a winter home for numerous migrants—many stay 6 months or longer while others rely on the islands as stopover sites to rest and refuel during their long journeys north and south.
Building a strong regional conservation community is essential for the sustainable preservation of island birds and their habitats. Our programs are designed not only to protect bird species but also to empower the communities that play a vital role in conservation. However, recent funding cuts have threatened the continuation of these vital programs. Without adequate support, research and monitoring, capacity-building initiatives and career development opportunities for local communities are at risk. We rely on your help to ensure these programs remain in place, strengthening local knowledge and skills to manage and protect the natural environments that sustain the unique avian biodiversity of the Caribbean.
How your gift will be Used
This year, we are fundraising to ensure the continuity of our critical conservation programs, bridge the funding gap caused by federal cuts, and empower even more conservationists, scientists, and communities to protect and restore the vital birdlife and habitats of the Caribbean.
As with everything in the Caribbean, we will be successful when our whole community pitches in, so let’s do this together! We need your help to do this!
The links for the field guides are “affiliate” links. If you purchase through these links, a portion of the sale supports BirdsCaribbean at NO additional cost to you. Thank you!
We have exciting news about how to participate in the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) using eBird! Whether you’re a long-time contributor to the CWC, use CWC protocols in eBird, or are just getting started with waterbird surveys in the Caribbean, there’s now a better and easier way to ensure your data is added to this incredible long-term program!
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has launched a powerful new feature, eBird Projects, that makes it easier than ever to take part in targeted data collection efforts like the CWC. If you’ve contributed to our amazing 16-year citizen science database using the CWC protocols in eBird in the past, the process has now changed slightly in eBird.
You no longer need to search the dropdown menu for CWC protocols in the “Other” options. Now, simply join the CWC project in eBird and select “Caribbean Waterbird Census” from your projects when starting a new checklist. This ensures your counts are properly tagged and included in the official CWC database. Read on for step-by-step instructions for both the eBird app and website. You can also learn more about eBird Projects here.
How to join the CWC Project
Great news—if you’ve ever submitted a checklist using a CWC protocol—you’ve likely been automatically added to the project! Check out the CWC project pages here to confirm you’ve joined, explore CWC stats, see the latest checklists, and meet our “Top CWC eBirders.” If for some reason you’ve not been joined, just go to the ‘about’ section on the project page, scroll down, and click “Join Project.”
New to CWC? No problem! Just visit the CWC Project Page and click“Learn how to join.” Review the info about the project, scroll to the end and then click “Join Project.” If you are not logged into eBird you will be prompted to “Login to Join Project.”
Anyone can join—we welcome new contributors!
Survey team in Cuba searching for Piping Plovers during CWC2023. (Photo by Daniela Ventura)
Never too young to start CWC! Counting waterbirds with the EAG at McKinnon’s Salt Pond, Antigua. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Make sure your checklists count as CWC!
Once you’ve joined the CWC project, it’s easy to add your CWC lists to our database on the eBird app or on the website. Here’s how:
CWC in the eBird Mobile App
IMPORTANT: Projects are only supported in version 3.1.3 or later of the eBird app. If you’ve joined a Project but are not seeing it on eBird Mobile, go to Settings>Check for updates in the app—you may need to update in the Google Play Store (android) or App Store (iPhone). Project options will not appear immediately after the update, you will need to wait for a few minutes before you see this.
Once updated:
Launch the app.
Tap “Choose projects” above the “Start checklist”’ button.
Select the CWC project, and, if you like, ask the app to remember this choice for future submissions. If you do this CWC will appear automatically above the “Start checklist” button next time you use App.
Tap “Continue” and do your count (it’s that simple!)
Next time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, select “Caribbean Waterbird Census” above the “Start checklist” button.
CWC on the eBird Website:
Go to the Submit page.
Use the “Choose a Project” dropdown to check the box next to “Caribbean Waterbird Census.”
Then follow the steps below to add your list details as normal.
For your CWC lists, be sure to:
Do a complete checklist of all birds you were able to identify by sight or sound (to the best of your ability). Check out why this is important and best practices for ebird here.
Select the appropriate protocol (Traveling or Stationary) before submitting.
Now that you’ve joined the project, you can easily identify which of your eBird checklists are part of the CWC! Just view your checklists in eBird—those included in any eBird project will display a small green circular icon in the upper right corner.
Click on the list to see details, including which project it is associated with.
What happened to the CWC Area Search Protocol?
The CWC Area Search protocol was previously available for counts where it was possible to move through the habitat on a predetermined route to count all the birds in the area. Now that eBird allows you to enter the survey area size manually as part of a Traveling Count, this separate protocol is no longer needed. If you previously used Area Search, we recommend switching to the CWC Traveling Count—especially for sites with trails, boardwalks, or navigable waterways. Just be sure to enter the Surveyed Area (in hectares or acres) in your checklists!
Black-crowned Night Heron with nesting material. (Photo by Diana Robinson)
A Willet feeding. (Photo by Jesse Gordon)
Female Blue-winged Teal in flight (Ray Robles)
Where in the Caribbean does the CWC take place?
The CWC Project Region*includes:
Bermuda, The Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago
Providencia, San Andrés, Swan islands
offshore islands and cays of Venezuela.
*Only checklists from within our region can be added to the CWC Project in eBird.
What habitats should be covered by CWC counts?
Any accessible wetland in the CWC region can be surveyed using CWC protocols, including:
Mangroves, salt ponds, freshwater swamps, marshes, lagoons
Carla Montalvo and Alexia Morales look for waterbirds at Natural Reserve Punta Cucharas, Puerto Rico. (Photo by De Pajareo Puerto Rico)
Flooded ricefields, like these ones in Trinidad, can be great places to look for waterbirds
Salt being produced at Belmont. (Photo by Radio Grenadines)
Hiding in the mangrove, Bahamas. (Photo by Martha Cartwright)
Zapata Swamp, Cuba. (Photo by Margaret Kinnaird)
Need help?
For general help with eBirds projects (joining/ leaving projects, editing checklists, etc.), visit the help page on eBird.
If you have questions specifically about joining the CWC project, using the CWC project pages, or the CWC program at large, reach out to our Waterbird Program Manager.
Why your participation matters
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is a long-term region-wide initiative to track birds using Caribbean wetlands, identify the threats they face, and raise awareness. Your data plays a critical role in shaping conservation actions and priorities across the Caribbean.
The CWC has compiled thousands of checklists—thanks to YOU! Visit our CWC eBird Project Page to explore the impressive stats and see the top contributors.
While the annual regional count takes place from January 14 to February 3—providing a valuable winter snapshot—CWC counts areimportant year-round, especially during fall and spring migration. Whether you’re monitoring resident or migratory species, every count matters.
If you’ve never done a CWC count before, now is the perfect time to start. Just remember to select the CWC Project in eBird every time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland.
With passionate fervor, the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival is more than just an event—it’s a vibrant celebration of Caribbean birds and the communities that cherish them. This unique festival connects people to their cultural roots and natural heritage, offering much more than a gathering of experts. It’s a chance to behold the beauty of the region’s birdlife and be part of something that unites us all in the shared love of birds and country.
For over two decades, the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) has brought together tens of thousands of people of all ages to celebrate the extraordinary birds that sing, swoop, and soar exclusively through our islands. The festival runs from April 22nd to May 22nd, offering a month-long celebration of our iconic birds, under the theme Shared Spaces: Building Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities. If you’re in the Caribbean, chances are there’s an event taking place on your island!
Each event offers fun activities that give you the chance to learn, share, and take action for a brighter future for Caribbean birds and your island. Whether you’re a seasoned birder, a curious nature lover, someone eager to flex your creative muscles, or looking for something fun to do, the CEBF welcomes you to join the celebration.
Presenting seven reasons (there are way more, but we don’t want to exhaust you) why you simply cannot miss this year’s CEBF!
1. The Stellar Lineup
Ever seen a bird tremble or scoop its meal mid-air? What about a bird with a crossed bill or looks like a perfect scoop of cookies n’ cream ice cream? The dazzling diversity of birdlife in the Caribbean can feel unreal! From the iridescent plumage of our hummingbirds to the mighty wingspan of raptors, and the enchanting songs of warblers, this festival is all about discovering and celebrating the icons of the Caribbean bird world.
Green-throated Carib – one of 3 endemic species of hummingbirds in Antigua and the Lesser Antilles. (Photo by Nick Hollands)
Male Hispaniolan Crossbill, one of our featured birds during CEBF2021. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Barbuda Warbler. (Photo by Jeff Gerbracht)
The Puerto Rican Tody, locally named San Pedrito, is one of the five tody species endemic to the Caribbean.
New to CEBF? Don’t worry—our experienced educators and coordinators will be with you every step of the way, ensuring you don’t miss a single moment of the action. Whether you’re spotting a bird for the first time or marveling at the antics of a local endemic, they’ll guide you and make sure you get the most out of the experience.
Key West Quail-Dove (Photo by Doug Greenberg)
St Lucia Parrot. (Photo by Horst Vogel)
Bahama Swallow swoops low to the ground. (Photo by Brendan Fogarty)
Juvenile Gundlach’s Hawk .(Photo by Maikel Cañizares)
2. Rekindle Your Sense of Wonder
CEBF events allow you to reignite the uninhibited curiosity and wonder you had as a child. You will learn fascinating facts about birds and their habitats, explore your country through birdwatching trips, and experience the thrill of discovery. Not the outdoorsy type? No problem! Our educators and coordinators know how to have fun off trails too! They offer insightful webinars and in-person presentations, quizzes, crafts, and bird-centric games.
It’s a reminder that conservation can be experimental, creative, accessible—and absolutely captivating!
3. Top-Tier Events, Hosted by Local Experts
Every CEBF event is an experience: meticulously curated by educators and coordinators who know the ins and outs of the local birdlife. These dedicated individuals volunteer their time and skills to ensure that each activity is entertaining, educational and enriching, with a focus on making memorable moments for attendees.
Dr. Lourdes Mugica and the Bird Ecology Group share educational materials on birds with the local community and children, Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, Cuba.
They ensure every event is accessible and impactful. Whether it’s an outdoor birdwatching trip or an indoor workshop, the event location is often chosen for its accessibility and safety, ensuring that all participants, regardless of age, can join in. Activities are designed to cater to all levels of experience—from first-timers to seasoned birders—so everyone can enjoy and learn something new.
Talking birds: Justin Saunders (BirdLife Jamaica) lends a listening ear to a young birder. (Photo by Stuart Reeves)
One of the participants from SCIENCE’s 2024 bird festival at the Sandy Bay Primary School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines shared their feedback on their CEBF experience:
“I had sooo much fun at the event! The displays were super cool, and the activities were awesome. I really liked the quizzes and the coloring area where I could just chill and color bird pictures. I was excited about the chance to win prizes too! It was really cool to see all the stuff people use to watch and study birds. The PowerPoint was fun, and I liked hearing the bird sounds, especially the Whistling Warbler and the St. Vincent Parrot. It was such a fun and learning-filled day!”
Collaboration is key: our event organizers work closely with local schools, community groups, and other institutions to create events that feel inclusive and connected to the community. Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do—eco-friendly practices are embedded throughout, from the materials we use to the messaging we share on conservation.
While most events are free of charge, we encourage you to consider making a donation to support the host organization.
Need we say more? Check out the calendar of CEBF events below, head out to the festival happening in your country, learn about your unique birds, take photos, and, if you post them to Instagram, tag us @birdscaribbean!
Click on this image to download the CEBF 2025 calendar of events.
Note: This calendar will be updated regularly with more CEBF events throughout the Caribbean, so sign up for our mailing list to get the latest details about the fabulous and fun celebrations happening on your island!
4. The Feel-Good Vibes
There’s something magical about being surrounded by people who share a love for nature and a passion for uplifting one’s country. CEBF events bring together friendly, like-minded people who are committed to making a positive environmental impact and to elevating their local communities.
Iguaco (Puerto Rican Parrot mascot) from USFWS with Amigos de El Yunque. (Photo by Amigos de El Yunque)
Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico’s small but dedicated birding group at Playa Table Rock for CEBF and GBD 2024. (Photo by Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico)
Children and ARC Conservation members wear their hand crafted masks.
Beginner and experienced birders joined Gaea Conservation Network for their event.
These events offer spaces for connections to be made and collective action taken. Whether you’re bonding with fellow bird enthusiasts, learning something new, or just enjoying the beauty of the moment, you’ll leave each event with a deeper sense of belonging, feeling inspired, and empowered to make a positive difference.
You can protect birds through simple actions right at home like gardening with native plants, keeping your surroundings clean and your pet cats indoors, and even volunteering with local environmental organizations. Every small action contributes to creating a safer, more sustainable world for birds and people.
Learning about Caribbean endemic birds and why birds matter at the CEBF Bird Fair in Antigua.
5. More Green Time
Less screen time. The CEBF is held at the end of the dry season when nature is luxuriant and the weather is warm. Attending a CEBF event is the perfect excuse to step outside, stretch your legs, and forget about the traffic and work deadlines. Being in nature offers both mental and physical exercise—spotting birds sharpens your senses and boosts your focus, while a walk through a botanical garden, wetland or forest gets your heart pumping. Plus, spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being.
Blue and John Crow Mountains (Photo by Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust)
A wetland in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eric Torres Rivera)
Glenroy Gaymes birding with son Maeson in the St Vincent Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Joanne Gaymes)
Beautiful Dominica.
6. Where Art Meets Science
At the CEBF, birdwatching is just the start! It’s a celebration of how birds inspire creativity and culture. From photography and art exhibitions to storytelling and bird house building workshops, the festival showcases the beautiful ways art and science intersect.
7. Challenge What You Know About Nature
At the CEBF, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with experts and learn about bird identification, interesting physical and behavioural adaptations and how technology is being used to efficiently monitor and protect birds. Attending offers a chance to broaden your understanding of both nature and the community’s efforts to protect it. After attending the CEBF, you’ll walk away not only with new knowledge, but with a sense of excitement and purpose, and perhaps even with a few new ideas to explore further.
Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Here’s our CEBF 2025 events calendar with dates, events and locations. If you don’t see your island listed, use our CEBF Coordinators Directory to contact your local organizations to find out what’s happening on your island.
Don’t miss out—join the celebration, make new memories, and be a part of something amazing for birds and your island!
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) continues to publish peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of Caribbean birds and ecosystems, providing critical insights for conservation. In this annual roundup, the JCO staff is proud to highlight the outstanding work of researchers across the Caribbean.
Volume 37 features a wide range of studies, including population dynamics, habitat use, bird behavior, and monitoring methods. Of the 13 articles, four focus on nocturnal or elusive species, providing valuable information for conservation planning. This issue also reflects JCO’s deep ties to the Caribbean bird science and conservation community, as reflected in two In Memoriam tributes to Virginia Sanz D’Angelo and Orlando Garrido, two esteemed ornithologists who passed away this year. Additionally, Steven Latta contributes another installment of “Recent Ornithological Literature” and three insightful book reviews.
We are deeply grateful to our dedicated team of editors, reviewers, copyeditors, translators, proofreaders, and production specialists, whose hard work ensures the continued excellence of our publications. We also extend our appreciation to the 77 authors who entrusted JCO to share their open-access research. With the support of our non-profit partner, BirdsCaribbean, JCO remains committed to fostering early-career researchers, publishing content in three languages, and maintaining an open-access archive dating back to our very first volume in 1988. Join us in sustaining this vital resource—become a JCO supporter today!
Christopher C. Rimmer, Nicasio Viña Davila, John D. Lloyd, Yves Aubry, Carmen Placencia León, Yasit Segovia Vega, Freddy Rodríguez Santana, Jose Ramon Fuentes, and Alejandro Llanes Sosa
The elusive Bicknell’s Thrush breeds in a narrow corridor along the eastern U.S. and Canada and overwinters exclusively in the Greater Antilles, primarily in Hispaniola. However, other islands, including Cuba, also play a key role in its wintering habitat mosaic. In this paper, Chris Rimmer and colleagues present findings from their long-term research on Bicknell’s Thrush in Cuba, which began in the late 1990s. Their study maps the species’ distribution and assesses its status in Cuba, providing valuable insights into how to protect this vulnerable migratory bird throughout its annual cycle.
Leanne A. Grieves, Quinlan M. Mann, Michael J. Morel, and James S. Quinn
National parks and wildlife refuges play a vital role in conserving native birds, especially endemic and endangered species. The Puerto Rican Nightjar, once believed to be extinct from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, now thrives in a network of state forests in southern and southeastern Puerto Rico. In this research note, Grieves and colleagues describe the first records of the species within the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. Their findings underscore the importance of protected areas for species recovery and highlight the need for further surveys to assess the nightjar’s population status and habitat use.
Some widespread species remain poorly studied, like the elusive Stygian Owl (Asio stygius siguapa). This owl has a fragmented distribution across Central and South America and the western Caribbean. The Cuban subspecies, A. s. siguapa, inhabits Isla de la Juventud, a special municipality south of mainland Cuba, but is rarely observed. In this research note, Amaro-Valdés shares new insights into the species, including descriptions of its nest and eggs, diet, and distribution on the island. These observations contribute valuable knowledge to the life history and ecology of this mysterious Neotropical owl.
Luis A. Ramos-Vázquez, Nahíra Arocho-Hernández, Cielo Figuerola-Hernández, José L. Herrera-Giraldo, Eduardo A. Ventosa-Febles, Ana M. Román, and Silmarie Padrón
Just off the west coast of Puerto Rico lies Desecheo Island, a small, uninhabited island managed as a National Wildlife Refuge. Home to several seabird species, the island also harbored invasive mammals that preyed on breeding birds. After an extensive eradication effort, Desecheo was declared free of invasive mammals in 2017, allowing seabird populations to recover. In this article, Ramos-Vázquez and his team report the first evidence of Audubon’s Shearwaters nesting on the island, marking a hopeful sign for the species’ future in the region.
Howard P. Nelson, David N. Ewert, Mark Hulme, Daniel J. Lebbin, Jennifer Mortensen, Holly Robertson, Bonnie Rusk, Lisa Sorenson, Ann M. Haynes-Sutton, Adrianne Tossas, Amy Upgren, George E. Wallace, Maya Wilson, and Eleanor S. Devenish-Nelson
Identifying priority conservation issues is a critical first step to conservation action, as threats to species and biodiversity are often too numerous and complicated to tackle all at once. This holds especially true for endemic and threatened birds in the Caribbean, where habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, and climate change (to name a few) all interact to drive species declines. In 2022, the Endemic and Threatened Species Working Group (ETSWG) conducted a survey to assess conservation priorities for Caribbean birds and evaluate the region’s capacity to address these challenges. In this conservation report, ETSWG members share key findings from the study and outline recommendations to strengthen avian conservation efforts in the Caribbean.
Thomas W. Sherry, José González Díaz, Felisa Collazo Torres, Raúl A. Pérez-Rivera, Justin Proctor, Herbert Raffaele and Adrianne Tossas
Endemic species are often a source of national pride, garnering love and support even from people with otherwise little connection to nature. The Puerto Rican Tody (Todus mexicanus)—an adorable and charismatic bird—belongs to the Todidae family, which is found only in the Caribbean. However, its scientific name is misleading and geographically inaccurate. How did this Puerto Rican endemic end up with a name referencing Mexico? And could this misnomer impact national pride and conservation efforts? In this Perspectives and Opinions piece, Sherry and colleagues unravel the history behind this taxonomic mix-up and discuss its potential implications, as well as possible solutions to set the record straight.
Historical misidentifications and taxonomic mysteries can persist for centuries, shaping our understanding of species past and present. One such enigma is Gosse’s Blue Partridge, a bird reportedly observed in Jamaica in the 1700s and later described by naturalist P.H. Gosse in the 1800s. With no confirmed sightings since, the species remains an open question—was it a now-extinct bird, or a misidentification of an existing species? In this Perspectives and Opinions piece, Levy and Koenig revisit this ornithological puzzle, examining 18th-century illustrations and historical records to shed new light on the identity of Jamaica’s mysterious “Blue Partridge.”
The JCO is proud to present a comprehensive volume of conference proceedings from BirdsCaribbean’s 2024 International Conference. Held in Santo Domingo and co-hosted by BirdsCaribbean and Grupo Jaragua, the conference united researchers, conservationists, and bird enthusiasts under the theme “From Mangroves to Mountains: Safeguarding Our Avian Treasures.”
From Mangroves to Mountains – Explore JCO Special Issue Vol. 37!
Over five days of engaging presentations—plus pre- and post-conference workshops and field trips—more than 300 delegates from 31 countries shared their research, exchanged ideas, and strengthened networks for Caribbean bird conservation. The conference proceedings, available as a Special Issue in Volume 37, serve as a lasting reference, featuring over 170 pages of contributions from keynotes, workshops, roundtables, symposia, and oral and poster presentations. Fully bilingual (English and Spanish), this issue highlights the latest advancements in ornithology and conservation across the region.
Book Authors: Martín Acosta, Lourdes Mugica, and Karen Aguilar
Book Review by: Steven C. Latta
Front and back covers of the book. The Cuban Green Woodpecker (Xiphidiopicus percussus), on the front cover, is the only representative of the Cuban endemic genus Xiphidiopicus.
Book Authors: Arne Witt, Mike Picker, and Kirsty Swinnerton
Book Review by: Steven C. Latta
Front cover of a Guide to the Alien and Invasive Animals of the Caribbean.
RECENT ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE (ROL) FROM THE CARIBBEAN
This annual compilation, curated and annotated by Steve Latta, highlights the most important ornithological articles published in other journals. The Recent Ornithological Literature (ROL) section serves as a valuable resource for researchers, conservationists, and bird enthusiasts by summarizing key studies on Caribbean birdlife. This collection ensures that the latest scientific findings remain accessible to those working to protect and understand the region’s avian diversity.
Article by
Zoya Buckmire – Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology;
Stefan Gleissberg – Managing and Production Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology
The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep our publications free and open-access. Your support helps give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their critical research while ensuring that conservation knowledge is accessible to all. Join us in sustaining this vital resource—become a JCO supporter today!
The link to the field guide on Amazon is an “affiliate” link. If you purchase through this links, a portion of the sale supports BirdsCaribbean at NO additional cost to you. Thank you!
Antigua and Barbuda’s EAG step up their CWC efforts with a training event. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Cheers to our Sweet Sixteen! That’s how many years we’ve been tracking waterbird populations across the Caribbean with the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC)! Our 2025 regional count took place from January 14th to February 3rd, and as always, we were thrilled to see so many of our partners, friends, and colleagues jumping in to contribute to this invaluable long-term dataset by counting waterbirds in their local wetlands!
Keep reading for some exciting 2025 CWC highlights, from the wonderful birds seen to the dedicated survey teams who ventured out to their favorite Caribbean wetlands. Each and every survey contributes to a meaningful impact—thank you to everyone who helped make our 2025 CWC a success!
Training for success in Antigua
To kick off a successful CWC regional count, the team at the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) began by recruiting andtraining new citizen scientists. They brought together a diverse group of participants—from complete beginners to seasoned birdwatchers—and equipped them with the skills to collect vital data at various wetland sites across Antigua! This inclusive approach ensured that all participants, regardless of their experience level, were empowered to gather accurate, valuable data that will support conservation efforts and guide effective management.
Shanna explains bird ID at McKinnons Pond, Antigua, during the 2025 CWC Count. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
Yellow-crowed Night Heron. (Photo by Miquel Garcia)
Time for a group selfie at McKinnons Salt Pond. (Photo by Auriel Horsford Hunte)
Identifying waterbirds at CWC counts on Antigua. (Photo by Shanna Challenger)
Ruddy Turnstone. (Photo by Miquel Garcia)
It’s never to early to start learning waterbird ID. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)
The training began with a classroom session, on January 29th at the Antigua State College (ASC) Conference Room. New birders were introduced to the basics of bird identification while experienced members of the Wadadli Warblers Birding Club enjoyed a helpful refresher. Led by Offshore Islands Conservation Programme Coordinator Shanna Challenger, the session focused on key features for identifying common waterbirds and seabirds. This was followed by three days of outdoor birding sessions where participants learned to use binoculars and identify different shorebirds and seabirds at the McKinnon’s Salt Pond. Not only did this initiative strengthen the incredible Wadadli Warblers club, but it also contributed valuable data to the eBird database! Welcome to the CWC team!
Wide participation in Puerto Rico
From San Juan in the north to Jobos Bay in the south, participation in the regional count was stronger than ever in Puerto Rico! The amazing coverage and number of CWC lists we have gathered over the years is a testament to the power of citizen science! Don’t believe us? Check the hotspot map of Puerto Rico in eBird for wetland areas! Here are some highlights from Puerto Rico’s 2025 count:
San Juan Bay: In February, SOPI (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc.) collaborated with Comunidad Peninsula de Cantera to organize a CWC survey within the Estuary of the San Juan Bay, with logistical support from the San Jose Fisherman Cooperative. The count covered the easternmost mangrove forests of the San Jose Lagoon and Pinones Lagoon, with 10 participants, including SOPI members, taking part in the survey.
Surveying in San Juan estuary. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
San Juan Bay. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
The SOPI survey team. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
It’s important to keep your strength up on waterbird counts. (Photo by Emilio Font SOPI)
Emilio Font, executive director or SOPI, shared that “even as these lagoons continue to experience the unregulated discharge of pollutants and the inadvertent presence of alligators from the pet trade, there was a significant presence of avian species now absent or reduced in other coastal areas in the island.” It’s good to hear that the birdlife of this area is still thriving, but these ongoing threats underscore the importance of continuing CWC monitoring to track these populations.
Jobos Bay: Heading south Carmen Maldonado and her sister Erika Enid volunteered with SOPI to carry our CWC counts at Cayo Caribe and Jobos Bay, in the towns of Guayama and Salinas. The counts were conducted by boat, allowing them to spot a wonderful variety of shorebirds, seabirds, waterbirds, and endemics; including Lesser Yellowlegs, Clapper Rails, several tern species, and both the Puerto Rican Woodpecker and Flycatcher.
Out in Jobos bay doing CWC surveys by boat. (Photo by Carmen Maldonado)
At Cayo Caribe. (Photo by Carmen Maldonado)
Vegetation around Jobos. (Photo by Carmen Maldonado)
Cabo Rojo: In the southwest, Cabo Rojo is a vital haven for shorebirds and is a designated site of regional importance within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN)! Luckily, Nahíra Arocho-Hernández and her team were on hand to carry out CWC counts at both Cabo Rojo and Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). As Nahíra points out this monitoring is not just important for understanding the birds and their habitat use, but it also provides “a great opportunity for our volunteers to participate in the surveys and learn to identify the different species of waterbirds, shorebirds, and seabirds”.
Pelicans seen during surveys at Cabo Rojo. (Photo by Nahira Arocho Hernandez)
Counting shorebirds. (Photo by Nahira Arocho Hernandez)
The elusive Wilson’s Snipe. (Photo by Luis Ramos)
Alongside volunteers Eduardo Cardona and Luis Ramos from the Gulf Restoration Office, Nahíra recorded 26 species at Cabo Rojo, including migratory birds like Black-bellied Plover and Ruddy Turnstone, as well as nesting Brown Pelicans (23 adults and 10 juveniles). At Laguna Cartagena, exciting sightings included a Sora, Limpkin, and the elusive Wilson’s Snipe!
Looking for shorebirds, Campaña, Vieques (Photo by Daphne Gemmill)
Vieques: Covering the east, Daphne Gemmill of the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, shared news of the CWC surveys on Vieques. While CWC counts have been regularly conducted on Vieques, this was the first year observers in Vieques have actively participated in the regional count. They put in a phenomenal effort with 15 observers carrying out 30 water bird surveys!
In a fantastic showing, they counted an impressive 71 species, including 32 waterbirds. Overall, 1,800 birds were counted, with over 1,000 of them being shorebirds, underscoring Vieques’ importance for both migratory and resident shorebirds. Highlights included the uncommon Least Grebe with young, 63 Brown Pelicans in their breeding colony, rare Sora Rails, and five extremely rare White-tailed Tropicbirds.
Small but mighty in Statia
The story from St. Eustatius is another example of a small island making a big impact! Jethro van ‘t Hul shared that the STENAPA team conducted counts around the island at the 15 sites they established in 2024. CWC counts are regularly carried out at these sites year-round, reminding us that CWC monitoring extends beyond the regional count period from January to February! During this year’s regional count, they also took part in a boat tour around the entire island to see what seabirds were encountered and to survey nesting habitats for Red-billed Tropicbirds. They confirmed several roosting sites for Brown Pelicans, Brown Boobies, and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Additionally, the team spotted a Peregrine Falcon perched in a remote cave!
Nesting Red-billed Tropicbird. (Photo by Jethro van ‘t Hul)
A Brown Booby. (Photo by Jethro van ‘t Hul)
A vagrant who might be ready to settle down?
Northern Pintail spotted on Bonaire. (Photo by Susan Davis)
Down on Bonaire, Susan Davis shared some fascinating sightings from the regional count. She mentioned that Bonaire was home to a remarkable variety of ducks, many of which were overwintering rather than just passing through on their way to South America. Among the highlights, Susan spotted a rare Northern Pintail, marking the first sighting in over 20 years! She also observed large numbers of Lesser Scaups, Northern Shovelers, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Interestingly, breeding White-cheeked Pintails were also spotted—an unusual occurrence for Bonaire, as they typically breed later in the year.
Greater Ani spotted by Susan with a twig in December last year. (Photo by Susan Davis)
But one bird, in particular, had Susan really intrigued. During her counts she caught sight of a Greater Ani. This odd looking member of the cuckoo family is a rare vagrant on Bonaire with only a handful of previous sightings. This wasn’t the first time Susan has seen a Greater Ani recently. Back in December she also saw this species. Could her ‘CWC’ bird be the same individual? Back then, the Ani was carrying a twig! Was it building a nest?
The Greater Ani has never been known to breed on Bonaire, but seeing one transporting nesting material to a prime location—deep foliage overhanging water—is a promising sign. Does this mean there are other Anis on Bonaire? Or is this individual simply optimistic about future arrivals? Ani’s breed cooperatively and share nests, so it might be a while before enough birds show up for them to become a breeding species on the island. But stay tuned to Susan’s blog, where she is sure to provide any updates on this out-of-towner!
A Greater Ani
Although not strictly a ‘waterbird’ we think this beautiful pale eyed, black bird with its blue-green sheen deserves to be an ‘honorary waterbird’ due to its preference for river, lake and mangrove areas. Find out more about this species here.
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort that provides important data that helps us keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand the threats they face, and raise awareness. We are incredibly grateful for every single CWC count completed during the annual three-week regional census in January and February. THANK YOU to all those who sent us highlights and all those who led or joined a CWC survey this year.
If you missed this year’s regional census don’t worry—you can conduct a CWC count at any time throughout the year! CWC counts at Caribbean wetlands are valuable year-round and add to our knowledge of the resident and migratory birds that use them. Just be sure to use a CWC protocol in eBird Caribbean when entering your data every time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, and do your best to do a complete count, i.e., record all the birds you see and hear.If you need help with your shorebird and waterbird ID you can check our resources page and take a look at our short ID videos on YouTube!
Find out more about the CWC program HERE and stay tuned for exciting developments on how to take part in the CWC on eBird- coming soon!
WE enjoyed seeing your posts on social media! here are a few hightlights
Are you looking for a tropical escape to one of the world’s ‘birdiest’ countries? Would you like to travel with a top-tier guide and support Caribbean bird conservation at the same time? If so, you’re in luck! This September, you can join Ernesto Reyes, a Cuban bird guide and longtime member and supporter of BirdsCaribbean, on his 2025 trip to Colombia. The trip will take place from September 5th to 15th.
What can you expect on this South American birding adventure?
Green-and-black Fruiteater. (Photo by Ernesto Reyes)
Colombia is not only one of the most biodiverse countries in the world—it’s also the country with the largest species list—with a whopping 1,966 species, including 79 endemics and 135 near endemics!
Explore some of Colombia’s picturesque habitats including high elevation paramo, foothill cloud forests, low elevation dry forest, and habitats along the Pacific coast. Visit feeders and see some of South America’s renowned jewels from a diverse array of glittering hummingbirds to a spectacle of tropical tanagers. Not to mention, this trip includes opportunities to see both charismatic and secretive species like toucans, parrots, tinamous, antpittas, and a diverse array of wetland birds.
You’ll also learn about local conservation projects and meet members of the local communities facilitating these efforts. And, as those of you know from our Cuba tours, traveling with Ernesto is sheer joy—you will definitely enjoy your time birding with him at some of the most exciting birding hotspots in Colombia.
Travel with Ernesto and support Caribbean bird conservation
Lesser Violetear. (Photo by Ernesto Reyes)
Ernesto has been a long-time friend and supporter of BirdsCaribbean. He guides our Cuba birding tours and receives rave reviews for his excellent knowledge of birds, history, and culture, and for his kindness and good humor.
For every person who signs up for this trip after reading our blog, Ernesto will donate $100US to BirdsCaribbean. When you register, be sure to mention that you found out about the tour through BirdsCaribbean. Please copy our Operations Manager, Alexia Morales, on your email to Ernesto and/or take a screenshot of your registration and send to Alexia (Alexia.Morales@birdscaribbean.org), for tracking purposes.
Thank you, Ernesto, for your invaluable support in helping us achieve our Caribbean bird conservation goals!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to increase your life list and see birds you’ve seen on National Geographic specials and dreamed of seeing yourself. Sign up today and don’t forget to mention that you’re signing up “in favor of BirdsCaribbean” on your registration form!
Colombia is a beautiful country because of its landscape, its people, and its BIRDS!
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager. (Photo by Carlos Roberto Chavarria)
A common open country bird of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, The Scrub Tanager is most often encountered in solitary pairs, although it occasionally joins other species at fruiting trees.
A Columbian endemic, the Grayish Piculet can be found in humid forest, second growth scrub, and woodland of the northwestern region of the country. (Photo by Timo Mitzen, ML 548536411)
An arrestingly beautiful hummingbird, the Velvet-purple Coronet can appear all dark in low light, but its iridescent blue-purple body absolutely dazzles when seen well!
The striking Blue-necked Tanager sports a brilliant blue or violet hood, black back, broad black breast band, and greenish straw wing coverts.
The Orange-bellied Euphonia is usually found in pairs or small groups, and typically feeds relatively low above the ground.
White-bellied Woodstars hover with a slow, bumblebee-like flight, allowing them to discreetly sip nectar from territories claimed by other hummingbirds.
Three-striped Warbler is a target species for day two of the tour, a trip to Bosque de niebla, a natural reserve in the Valle del Cauca recognized for hosting a species not so easy to observe and photograph.
2025 Tour with Ernesto and E&T Tours
September 5 – 15, 2025 – just 5 spaces left, register now!
When you register, be sure to mention that you found out about the tour through BirdsCaribbean. Please copy our Operations Manager, Alexia Morales, on your email to Ernesto and/or take a screenshot of your registration and send to Alexia (Alexia.Morales@birdscaribbean.org), for tracking purposes. Thank you!
