Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Network

 

Although there is a long history of survey-based monitoring in the West Indies, projects have often targeted a few specific species and/or sites on very few islands. A regional survey network that uses a standardized set of protocols will help us understand how birds use different habitats in space and time, allowing us to evaluate population trends. By filling these information gaps, we can get a more complete picture of how our Caribbean birds are faring and take effective conservation actions. 

The Caribbean Landbird Monitoring (CLM) Network aims to increase our knowledge of Caribbean landbirds by building capacity to monitor populations using standardized survey protocols. The goals of the CLM Network are to:

• Provide training in bird identification and standardized surveys
• Provide resources to plan and conduct landbird monitoring
• Foster a community of landbird monitors in the Caribbean

TRAINING

CLM Training Workshops provide training in landbird identification, and guidance to set up and conduct surveys using the Programa de América Latina para las Aves Silvestres (PROALAS) protocols. These protocols were developed in Latin America, and were designed specifically with the tropics in mind. The multi-level survey protocols are outlined in an easy-to-use manual, which also incorporates the use of eBird for survey data entry and storage. Standardized surveys are one of the best ways to monitor landbirds, and entering survey data into eBird ensures its longevity. 

During classroom sessions, participants learn about multiple aspects of landbird monitoring, such as how to select sites, what the PROALAS protocols entail, tips for identifying and teaching people to identify landbirds, and entering data in eBird Caribbean. Throughout the workshop, participants then put this information into action, practicing bird identification and survey techniques in the field.   

BirdsCaribbean has held CLM Training Workshops on several Caribbean islands, and plans to provide additional training opportunities in the future:

Dominican Republic – Jarabacoa, February 16-20, 2022

• From the Classroom to the Forest: Non-stop Learning at BirdsCaribbean’s 2022 Landbird Monitoring Training Workshop in the Dominican Republic
• Counting Birds: An Unassuming Job that Requires Training, Skill, and a Great Deal of Field Knowledge

Puerto Rico – Hacienda La Esperanza Nature Reserve, July 1, 2023 – held on conjuction with the AOS-BC 2023 Conference

• Resilience and Action: AOS-BC Conference in Puerto Rico Addresses Future of Conservation

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Botanical Gardens, January 23-27, 2023

• Rising from the Ashes: Building Capacity to Monitor St. Vincent’s Endangered Whistling Warbler and Forest Birds in the Wake of La Soufrière

RESOURCES

BirdsCaribbean is committed to providing resources to our partners to assist in the development of long-term landbird monitoring programs on their home islands. Through the CLM Small Grant Program, partners are initiating landbird monitoring projects across many islands, sites, and habitat types. The PROALAS Manual, and other reference and template data sheets, are available on our Landbird Monitoring Resources page. 

Additional advice and guidance is also available anytime – simply contact proalas@birdscaribbean.org! 

COMMUNITY

BirdsCaribbean events always bring together an incredible group of people from across the region, and the CLM Training Workshops are no exception. We are aiming to facilitate continued communication among those who are monitoring, or interested in monitoring, Caribbean landbirds. As landbird monitoring projects are initiated or modified, the CLM Network can serve as a valuable source of information, learning from each other’s experiences conducting surveys on the islands. Stay tuned for more ways to engage in the CLM Network!

Learn about BirdsCaribbean’s other Landbird Monitoring initiatives here.