Celebrating Bahamian Birdlife, PDF document

IMPORTANT
COMMON BIRDS
1 Bahama Swallow:
Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
(Threatened
endemic species)
Celebrating
Bahamian
Bird Life
T
he Bahamas has much more to offer than sun, sea
and sand, including forests, reefs, marine life—and
more than 300 species of spectacular birds!
More than a hundred of these breed
in the islands and are either permanent residents or summer visitors.
Another 169 are migrants that either
pass through the Bahamas or winter
here. And 45 are vagrants that have
occurred only occasionally.
A few species, such as the Double
Crested Cormorant, Yellow-throated
Warbler and American Kestrel, fall
into more than one category having
both wintering and permanent populations on our islands.
The Bahama Yellowthroat,
Bahama Swallow and Bahama Woodstar are the only extant species endemic to the Bahama Islands (i.e.
they breed only here). A fourth endemic species, Brace’s Emerald, is
now extinct—known only from a single specimen collected in 1877.
Many breeding seabirds (terns,
gulls, tropicbirds, shearwaters and
boobies) are spring and summer residents – rarely being seen in other
seasons.
What follows in this publication
are birds which many of us see
every day in our gardens, local lakes
and seashores as well as a close up
look at our endemic birds.
Bananaquit (left), Bahama Yellowthroat (right)
The Bahama Swallow
has a slender body
with pointed wings
and deeply forked
tail. The upperparts
are dark greenish at
the head turning to a
violet blue with
white underparts.
Adept aerialists,
swallows dart to
catch flying insects
and can often be
seen perched on in
long rows on wires
and high branches.
They are common
summer residents
on Grand Bahama,
Abaco and Andros
but uncommon on
New Providence.
The movements of
this species are
poorly understood.
They nest in tree
cavities in the pine
barrens and probably remain in their
breeding range
throughout the winter, moving from the
pine woods to more
open habitats.
2 Bahama Woodstar:
Calliphlox evelynae
(Endemic)
This is the only
species of hummingbird on New Provi-
Continued on page 2
BNT initiates Important
Bird Area programme
Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival – 2003
for the Bahamas
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 7-10 AM
THE RETREAT, VILLAGE ROAD
Sponsored by the Society for the
Conservation and Study of Caribbean
Birds (SCSCB), the Caribbean
Endemic Bird Festival runs from Earth
Day on 22 April for one month.
Birders, Birding Groups and Clubs
and environmental agencies are all
participating around the Caribbean
basin. As we are considered part of
the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas
National Trust’s ornithology group will
join the festival for the second consecutive year.
The Bahamas has three endemic
bird species, The Bahama Woodstar
Hummingbird, the Bahama Swallow
and the Bahama Yellowthroat. Of the
three, only the hummingbird is easily
found on New Providence and this
bird will be featured at The Retreat,
Village Road on Saturday, May 3 on
the 7am walk through the garden
scheduled as part of the Endemic Bird
Festival activities. Following this will
be a presentation on endemic birds
found throughout the Caribbean.
Coffee and refreshments will be available. The event finishes at 10am. A
donation of $1 per adult is requested,
Continued from page 1
dence and most of the family
islands. It is relatively uncommon on
Abaco, Andros and Grand Bahama
where Cuban Emerald Hummingbirds
also occur. It has greenish upper
parts, a white chest and rufous
lower underparts. Adult males have
iridescent violet throat feathers
which are strikingly beautiful when
seen in the sunlight but appear
black when seen from a distance.
Females and immatures have white
throats. Males have forked tails and
females have a rounded one. The
Bahama Woodstar feeds on nectar
found in flowers and also on minute
insects. They are common wherever
flowers are found in gardens, woods,
coppice or open country. When
feeding they hover in front of each
flower in turn maintaining themselves
stationary on wings that move so
fast as to be invisible and probe for
insects and nectar.
children are free but must be accompanied by an adult.
As the Bahamas can boast only
three endemic bird species, other
local birds found on New Providence
will be highlighted at the Festival.
Some of these include the Red-legged
Thrush, Ground Dove, Bananaquit,
Northern Mockingbird, Bahama
Mockingbird, White-crowned Pigeon and
the Caribbean Dove. The island of Abaco
will be featuring the Bahama Parrot during Festival Month.
Coinciding with Caribbean
Endemic Bird Festival Month is a visit
to Nassau of members of the board of
the SCSCB. Directors from Jamaica,
Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, Cuba,
The Bahamas and the United States
will be exhibiting posters and other
material of their own endemic bird
species so this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about birds of
other Caribbean island nations.
For more information about the
Caribbean Endemic Bird festival contact Mrs. Carolyn Wardle at 362-1574
or the Bahamas National Trust at
393-1317.
T
3 Bahama Yellowthroat: Geothlypis
rostrata (Endemic)
The Yellowthroat is a relatively large
slow moving warbler with a heavy
bill. This bird has a black mask, gray
cap, and yellow throat, breast and
upper belly. The female lacks a black
mask but has a whitish eye ring and
eyebrow stripe. It is a common permanent resident on Abaco, Grand
Bahama, Eleuthera and Cat Island. It
is uncommon on Andros and rare on
New Providence.
he threat of long term population declines of neotropical migrant songbirds, shorebirds,
seabirds, and wading birds is well
known. Although the factors that
cause declines are complex there is a
broad consensus among scientists
that habitat loss and degradation are
the major factors affecting breeding
grounds, migratory stopovers and
pathways and wintering areas.
In February, 2002 the BNT entered into a three year partnership
with BirdLife International to coordinate the Important Bird Areas (IBA)
Programme for the Bahamas. IBA is a
global effort to identify areas that are
most important for maintaining bird
populations and focus conservation
efforts at protecting those sites. The
programme is supported by a grant
from the John D. MacArthur Foundation and other partners in the
Caribbean including Jamaica, Cuba,
Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
An essential step in conserving
bird habitats is the identification of
those places that provide the greatest habitat value and support significant populations of an exceptional
diversity of birds. These Important
Bird Areas (IBAs) are essential
strongholds of avian abundance and
diversity.
The Bahamas held their first national IBA workshop last April at The
Retreat, BNT headquarters. Invited
were representatives of government
agencies concerned with wildlife
conservation, local ornithologists,
and scientists conducting avian research in the Bahamas. Over 20 participants from the US, New Providence, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Abaco
and invited representatives from
BirdLife Partners Jamaica and the
Dominican Republic came together
to identify key Important Bird Areas
in the Bahamas. On the first day in a
rapid assessment the group recognized 90 sites in the Bahamas. The
second day was devoted to applying
the IBA criteria and 45 sites were
identified as being vital to maintaining bird populations and diversity of
habitats in the Bahamas.
This published listing of Bahamian IBAs will become a blueprint
for Bird Conservation in the Bahamas. Further work will continue
over the next three years: undertaking conservation feasibility assessments for the highest priority site,
initiating conservation and sustainable use activities at the highest priority sites and identifying information gaps and filling them through
monitoring and surveying activities.
Important Bird Areas is an important effort being undertaken with
global, national and local support to
conserve birds and their habitat in
our country.
4 Red-legged Thrush: Turdus
plumbeus
Approximately 10 inches long the
Red-legged Thrush is a striking bird.
It is predominantly grey in colour
darker on the upperparts and
lighter on the underparts. The bill is
reddish and there is a bright red
ring around the eye. The legs are of
Continued on page 4
2
B a h a m a s
Pictured from left: Eric Carey, Department of Agriculture; Erica Gates, Grand Bahama; Neil McKinney, BNT Ornithology Group; Lynn Gape, BNT Education Officer; Colin Higgs, Ambassador of the Environment; William Hayes, Loma Linda;
Paul Dean, BNT Ornithology Group; David Wege, BirdLife International.
N a t i o n a l
T r u s t
WHYBirds
North America’s bird populane might ask, “Why all this
tions. The Bahamas National
fuss over birds?” Birds can be
Trust Ornithology Group began
used as indicators to assess
participating in the Christmas
the health of our environment. Birds
Bird Count in 1994 and have rehave been used to monitor the envicently begun a Christmas Count
ronment throughout history. Aristoon Grand Bahama. The group
tle in 340 BC, described how the behopes to one day have Christmas
havior of cranes could be used to
Counts on all the
forecast the weather,
major islands in the
while fisherman from Birds are an ecological litBahamas.
the 17th century mus-paper because of their
through today use rapid metabolism and wide
2) Birds are well
flocks of seabirds as
geographic range, they reflect known organisms.
reliable indicators of
Because the biolhealthy fish concen- changes in the environment
ogy, ecology, bequickly, they warn of things
trations.
haviour and evoluBirds are one of out of balance sending out
tionary histories of
the best and in some signals wherever there is
many birds have
cases the only moni- deterioration in the ecosysbeen studied extentors of environmental tem. – Roger Tory Peterson
sively,
scientists
change. Serving as
have a foundation
natural
“biomonion which to ask the most pertitors” conservation biologists and ornent questions, base hypotheses,
nithologists (scientists who study
obtain answers and cultivate sobirds) have used changes in bird
lutions. This background knowlpopulations and communities and
edge reduces risk of misinterprechanges in bird behaviour and reprotation, allowing scientists to use
ductive ability to:
• examine the long term effects of
habitat fragmentation and introduced species
• monitor water quality
• indicate the health of marine fishery stocks, and
• identify environmental pollutants
such as organochlorines, heavy
metals and radionuclides.
O
?
birds, sensitive to stresses in a
predictable ways, as a proxy
measure
of
environmental
change. Furthermore this background knowledge yields cost effective research, since studies
using other groups of animals often requires several years of basic data gathering before monitoring can begin.
3) Birds integrate and accumulate
environmental stresses over time
because they are usually high in
the food chain and have relatively long life spans. Thus birds
can be indicators of unexpected
environmental problems, as
when declining numbers and
breeding successes of birds such
as the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Osprey (Pandion
haliatus), and Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) revealed that
DDT was a pollution hazard.
closely the stability of an ecosystem. Thus long-term monitoring
programmes such as Audubon’s
Christmas Bird Count, Audubon
and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s joint BirdSource and Project Feeder Watch and other
banding and monitoring projects
help to reveal declines in population numbers and changes in
species ranges resulting from human induced causes, providing
information crucial to land management decisions.
5) Birds hold widespread interest.
Nearly 60 million birders in North
America have made birding the
second most popular outdoor activity after gardening, spending
billions of dollars on birding supplies. Volunteer birders participating in citizen science programs (i.e. Christmas Bird Count,
Important Bird Areas program)
form a powerful resource from
which to gather data about population trends over a broad geographical range.
4) Bird populations and communities, and bird behaviour and reproductive success often reflect
Interested in learning more about birds?
It is easy to see why we can use
birds as indicators of changes in our
environment:
1) Birds are easy to study. Many
species are easily identified, detected and return to traditional
breeding sites yearly, so large
amounts of data can be reliably
gathered from scientists and a
concerned public alike. The
longest running data gathered on
wildlife populations over time
comes from Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, providing nearly
100 years of data on changes in
The Bahamas National Trust Ornithology Group would
be delighted to help you learn. This active group of BNT
volunteers is excited about birds. Organized in 1993 as
a sub-group of the BNT’s Wildlife Committee the
Ornithology Group organizes monthly walks to different
areas of New Providence as well as several family island
field trips throughout the year. Each year in December
the group participates in the Audubon Christmas Count
and has played an important role in the continued surveying of the bird life of Harrold and Wilson Pond
National Park.
How can you join?
Anyone with a desire to learn about birds and who is willing to become a
member of the Bahamas National Trust can join this group. (A pair of binoculars and a willingness to get
up early in the morning are also helpful!) For more information contact, the Bahamas National Trust at
393-1317.
3
C e l e b r a t i n g
B a h a m i a n
B i r d l i f e
Continued from page 2
course red. The tail is dark grey
with white tips to the outer feathers.
This species
is common
on the
northern islands and
can be seen
on lawns
and in gardens as well as more natural areas.
bird is the bird of the “country”. This
bird is basically grey, being darker
on the back than on the underparts
which are pale grey. The outer tail
feathers are white and when in flight,
shows a flashing dark and white
wing pattern. Often seen in the garden raising its wings upward and forward in an umbrella-like fashion
while on the ground. The purpose of
this behaviour is to disturb insects
which form part of the diet.
5 Smooth-billed Ani: Crotophaga ani
8 Bahama Mockingbird: Mimus
gundlachi
The Smooth-billed Ani is a longtailed, glossy black cuckoo. Distinguished
from other
black
birds by
its extraordinary
bill, deep
at the
base, the
ridge of the culmen high and thin.
Common throughout the Bahamas
except Bimini and Cay Sal, it is usually found in suburban yards and
around settlements.
The Bahama Mockingbird is slightly
larger than the Northern Mockingbird with a length of 11 inches. It is
brownishgrey, rather
than plain
grey. There
is very little
white on the
wings and in
flight it does
not show the
flashing pattern of the Northern
Mockingbird. It is streaked slightly
on the back and shows distinct dark
streaking on the flanks.
6 Bananaquit: Corereba flaveola
This small bird (4 inches long) is one
of the most
common resident species.
It has a thin
down-curved
bill, conspicuous white
eyebrow,
black back with white underparts
and a yellow rump and breast. They
feed mainly on nectar and can be
found in gardens where there are
flowering shrubs such as bougainvillaea and hibiscus. They are
extremely active and acrobatic as
they forage often hanging upside
down to feed.
7 Northern Mockingbird: Mimus
polyglottos
About 10 inches long, the Northern
Mockingbird
is more common than the
Bahama
Mockingbird
throughout
the islands.
Generally the
Northern Mockingbirds is found in
“town” while the Bahama Mocking-
9 Gray Kingbird: Tyrannus dominicensis
The grey and white bird is the most
common of this family in the Bahamas. It is easily seen sitting on
high and exposed perches where it
forages for insects. Just over 9 inches
long with grey on its upperparts and
white on its underparts, its wings are
tinged with brown and the outer
fringes of the feathers are pale grey.
There is a dark patch behind the eye.
The bill is comparatively large and
dark and the legs are also dark. The
tail is slightly forked.
In the Bahamas this bird is often
called a “fighter” because of the
chases between individuals and also
its habit of chasing in other birds in
its general area. As summer migrants
Gray Kingbirds return in the spring
to breed and raise their young.
10 White-crowned Pigeon:
Columba leucocephala
This very dark grey ( looks black)
pigeon gets its name from the white
marking on the forehead and crown
of adult birds. It is a common summer resident throughout the Bahama
Islands and a few individuals remain
4
B a h a m a s
during the winter. They nest in the
summer on remote cays, e.g. Big
Green Cay
and Finley
Cay and fly
daily to
larger islands to
feed on the
fruit of native trees,
including the fruit of the Poisonwood
Tree. White-crowned pigeons are the
premier game bird of the Bahamas.
Hunting season for this bird opens
on September 29 and closes on
March 1.
11 Eurasian Collared- Dove: Streptopilia decaocto
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is a very
pale grey-buff colour with a black
collar. These birds were introduced
to the Bahamas in 1974 and have
spread rapidly. They are now found
in settled areas throughout the
northern Bahamas. The rapid spread
of this introduced species prompted
the Bahamas National Trust to recommend the Department of Agriculture add it to the Official Gamebird
List. These birds can be hunted from
September 15 to March 1.
12 Common Ground Dove:
Columbina passerina
This very small dove (6 inches long)
is an abundant permanent resident
throughout the Bahama Islands. It is
greyish brown with intermittent
black barring on the
wing
coverts.
Adult birds
have dark
edges to
feathers
on the breast giving it a scaled
effect. When disturbed the flight is
usually brief and fluttering which
show the reddish brown primary
feathers. These birds are usually
found in small groups or pairs feeding in open areas. They will congregate at bird feeders. Commonly
known in the Bahamas as a
“Tobacco Dove”.
13 White-cheeked Pintail: Anas bahamensis
The White-cheeked pintail is a very
pretty duck. The crown and back of
N a t i o n a l
T r u s t
the head are a dark mottled brown
with cheeks, chin and upper
foreneck a pure white. The bill is a
dark
bluish
gray with a
brilliant
red spot at
the base.
The body
plumage is
medium brown with black spotting
and pointed fawn coloured tail. The
eyes are red to red brown and legs
and feet are dark gray. The females
are similar to the males only slightly
smaller. These birds are commonly
seen on the Paradise Island ponds.
Commonly known as the Bahama
Duck or White Jaws this duck is totally protected by law (no hunting)
year round.
14 Common Moorhen: Gallinula
chloropus
This duck-like bird is commonly
found in freshwater marshes and
ponds. It has
a black head
and neck
with a red
forehead
shield and a
red bill with
a yellow tip. The back is brownish
olive and the underparts are slate
gray with white streaking on the
flanks. The legs and feet are yellow.
15 Green Heron: Butorides
virescens
This is a small chunky heron with
short legs. Adult males and females
are similar with a rich chestnut
coloured
head, neck
and chest.
The back
is bluish
green and
also shows
a purplish
sheen on the upper back. The legs
are yellow with the males turning a
bright orange during the breeding
season. The bill is yellow green at
the base, dark at the tip. When excited the Green Heron sometimes
displays a crown of feathers giving it
a crested effect. Locally called a
“Poor Joe” it is seen on the shores of
lakes and marshes and in local gardens especially around swimming
pools.
Birds of Harrold and Wilson Pond
Harrold and Wilson Pond is the largest rookery of herons and egrets on New Providence.
The birds listed here either roost or feed in the ponds on a daily basis.
Great Blue Heron: Ardea herodias
This is the largest of the dark herons to
occur in the Bahamas. It is over 3 feet in
length when the neck is extended and
has an impressive wingspan of 6 feet.
The general appearance is grey-blue on
the body and white on the head. The bill
is yellowish and spear-like. When hunting
for small fish
or amphibians
the Great Blue
Heron stands
or walks with
the neck either
hunched or
partly extended,
shooting out to
full length
when spearing
prey.
White Ibis: Plegadis albus
Adult’s white plumage and pink
facial skin are distinctive. Their
long curving bill turn brilliant red
during the breeding season and
contrasts with their beautiful blue
eye colour. The Ibis roost in large
inland rookeries with herons and
egrets. They can be recognized
by their outstretched necks
and black markings on
their wing tips.
Ro
ad
Sout h Ocean
Cattle Egret: Bubulcus ibis
This is a small stocky white heron (length
20 inches) with a large rounded head and
throat feathering that extends far out on
the bill. During the breeding season
adults have orange-buff plumes on the
crown, back and foreneck, an orange-red
bill and dusky red legs, otherwise, the
legs are yellow. The Cattle Egret also
feeds in open grassy areas catching
lizards and insects. Unlike the majority of
herons and egrets whose main food
source is aquatic.
Tri-coloured Heron: Egretta tricolour
The general appearance of this bird is that
of a thin-long necked heron which is slate
grey on the upperparts and white on the
underparts.
Immature
birds have
chestnut hindnecks and
wing coverts.
The legs are
greenish yellow and the bill
is long and
slender and
dark at the tip.
Little Blue Heron: Florida caerulea
Adult and juvenile birds of this species
are strikingly different. Adults are dark
chestnut brown on the head and neck
with the rest of the body being a very dark
blue-grey. The
legs and long bill
are also blue-grey
with a black end
quarter on the
bill. Conversely,
immature birds
are white with
slight darkening
at the wing tips.
As juveniles
moult into adult
plumage they
have a mottle
appearance.
New Providence
Harrold
Pond
Primeval
Forest
Wilson
Pond
To Adelaide
Bonefish
Pond
Great Egret: Ardea alba
This is a large white heron with a
yellow bill and blackish legs and feet.
In breeding plumage, long plumes
known as “aigrettes” trail from the
back extending beyond the tail. This is
a common wetland bird, stalking its
prey methodically along the waters
edge.
Least Grebe: Podiceps dominicus
The Least Grebe is the smaller of the two
grebes found in the Bahamas. It is about
7 inches long with a thin dark bill, During
the summer breeding months the
plumage is
dark blue and
black rather
than brown
with a startling
yellow-orange
eye.
Snowy Egret:Egretta thula. This is a white
heron with a slender black bill, yellow
eyes, black legs
and bright goldenyellow feet.
Graceful plumes
on the head neck
and back ( where
they curve upward) are striking
in breeding adults.
During high breeding plumage , the
lores (area in front
of the eye) turns
red and the feet
turn bright orange.
Glossy Ibis: Plegadis falcinellus
Ibises are gregarious heron-like birds.
These long-legged waders feed with
long downward curving bills that are
brownish-olive in colour. The breeding
adult’s chestnut plumage is glossed
with green or purple that looks dark at
a distance.
5
Black-crowned Night Heron: Nycticorax
nycticorax The Black-crowned Night
Heron is a stocky bird and lacks the generally slim lines of herons and egrets.
About 2 feet in length with comparatively
short legs, adult birds are black and pale
grey. The crown of the head back and
inner wing feather are glossy black. The
black on the wings only extends as far as
the wing coverts closest to the body. The
rest of the wing is pale grey and underparts are white. The white extends up to
the sides of the head and to the forehead.
Although seldom seen clearly the iris of
the eyes is bright red and the legs are
yellow. Immature birds are a dull greybrown on the upperparts and spotted
with white. The underparts are pale grey
with darker spottings and streakings. These
birds may be
found in fresh
water swamps
and marshes. It
is largely nocturnal and during
the daylight
hours the birds
hide in thick
mangroves and
trees near water.
C e l e b r a t i n g
Osprey: Pandion haliaetus
A large bird of prey, some two feet in
length with a wingspan of four to four and
half feet. In flight it presents a brown and
white pattern. The back and white upperwings are brown with white edgings to
the feathers. The underparts are white.
The West Indian and North American Osprey are found in the Bahamas.
The West Indian race is found year round
and has a white head. The North American race is found from August to May
with distinguishable head feathers that
are darker on the crown and a well
marked brown streak running through the
eye to the rear of the head. Ospreys,
known as a
“fish hawk”
or “sea
hawk” may
be seen
along
coastal
areas and
near lakes
where they
hunt for fish.
B a h a m i a n
B i r d l i f e
Harrold and
Wilson Pond –
New Protected
Areas on New
Providence
IBA DEMONSTRATION
SITE
To the south of the City Dump, bordered by Sir Milo Butler Highway, is
one of the best birding areas on New
Providence – Harrold and Wilson
Pond. The Bahamas National Trust
Ornithology Group began monitoring
the areas birdlife in 1994 which assisted the Trust in putting together a proposal to government to have the area
placed under protection as a National
Park. In April 2002, this area along
with nine others was added to the
National Park System of the Bahamas.
Over 100 species of birds have
been identified, falling roughly
into four categories: year round
residents of the Bahamas,
neotropical migrants which
stop over on the flight between
their nesting and wintering
grounds, migrants which fly
south to the Bahamas for the
winter, and summer migrants
which come north from South
America and the Caribbean to
breed in The Bahamas.
Mixed species of herons,
egrets and cormorants have established the largest rookery on
New Providence on Harrold
Pond islets. At sunset they present a striking sight as they
stream into their roosts by the
hundreds. The globally endangered Bahama Swallow has also
been sighted in this wetland
area.
Establishing the Bahamas’
first Watchable Wildlife Pond
here will bring in situ conservation to the greatest number of
Bahamians. This will result in
tangible benefits ranging from
biodiversity conservation, ecotourism opportunities, an outdoor classroom for educators,
and an area of open green space
which can help to bring about
heightened awareness as to the
value of wetlands for wildlife
and people.
Abaco National Park
IBA Demonstration Site Size: 20,500 acres
Location: South Eastern portion of Great Abaco between Hole in the Wall and Crossing Rocks
T
he Bahamas National Trust identified the Bahamas. No other national park protects such
need for a National Park in Abaco to pro- a large tract of this species and the ecosystem it
tect the northern habitat and breeding supports. The Caribbean Pine is one of the most
area of the endangered in an official proposal to favoured trees for silviculture. Seeds generated
the Bahamas Government “The Development of in the Abaco National Park could be used to esa National Park System for the Commonwealth tablish/re-establish pine forests in other
of the Bahamas.” In 1986, Dr. Rosemarie Gnam, parts of the Bahamas as well as other
then a doctoral candidate conducted a census parts of the world.
The area is known
of the Bahama Parrot in Abaco. Her results indicated a population of 1,500 birds and the Ba- feeding area of the White
hamas National Trust realized that the Bahama Crowned Pigeon, the most
Parrot had reached the point where human ac- popular game bird of The
Bahamas. Conservation of
tion would determine its ultimate survival.
The Bahama Parrot Conservation Commit- this area is vital the
tee, a multi-agency committee comprised of The species and promotes the
Bahamas National Trust, Department of Lands & stability of its population
Surveys, The Ministry of Agriculture, Friends of in the northern Bahamas.
An extensive tract of
the Abaco Parrot, and Friends of the Environmixed
broad leaf coppice
ment was formed and signed a memorandum of
understanding with RARE Center for Tropical is protected in the Abaco
Conservation. The Committee met with out- National Park. This habistanding success: 8,000 Bahama Parrot Posters tat/ecosystem is imporwere distributed throughout the country, 27,750 tant for many reasons inschool children were addressed, Quincy, the cluding its historical value
committee’s Bahama Parrot Mascot became a to The Bahamas and the
recognized and loved figure and 6,000 people biodiversity it supports.
The Abaco National
wore Bahama Parrot T-Shirts and pledged support for the Conservation Campaign. Outstand- Park also holds great poing community support and an unheard of level tential for ecotourism. The
of support from the local business community park is easily accessible
and the supporting tourall contributed to the success of the campaign.
infrastructure
in
On May 9, 1994, the Bahamas Government ism
signed a 99 year lease with the Bahamas Na- Abaco (hotels etc) lends
tional Trust declaring some 20,500 acres in itself to the development
South Abaco inclusive of 5,000 acres of forested of nature tourism activities. According to a surland where the most endanvey conducted by U.S. Fish
gered populations of Bahama
IBA’s have a unique power to
and Wildlife 77 million U.S.
parrots remain, a national
unite
people,
communities
and
residents16 years
park. Upon signing the lease,
organizations
in
proactive
bird
and older particPrime Minister Hubert Ingraconservation one place at a time.
ipated in wildlife
ham commented that there
related activities in 1996.
was no way that he could ig– National Audubon Society
The survey also indicates
nore the over 800 letters that
that 96% of these were
had been written to the Minister of Agriculture by school children request- interested in birds. Another U.S. survey on
ing that a park be established in Abaco as a recreation and the Environment shows that
54 million people took part in bird-watching.
home for Quincy, the Bahama Parrot.
The Abaco National Park was a significant Abaco has the best birding of any island in the
addition to the National Park system of the Ba- Bahamas. It is possible to see more Bahamian
hamas and was the first major park to be cre- specialties on Abaco than on any other island. A
ated in over 20 years. The Abaco National Park visiting birder, with a good guide can see Barenders the habitat of the Abaco Parrot inalien- hama Parrots, West Indian Woodpeckers, Baable and conserves it in perpetuity. The Park hama Swallows, Bahama Yellowthroats, Loggeralso protects an extensive tract of Caribbean head Kingbirds, Olive-capped Warblers and
Pine, a species of great historical value to The Bahama Mockingbirds. Bahamians who are will-
6
B a h a m a s
N a t i o n a l
ing to learn about birds and the other flora and
fauna of the park, as well as take tour guide
training have a great economic opportunity
awaiting them in Abaco.
The establishment of a site support group
for the Abaco National Park,
conducting surveys of
birdlife in the park and
the annexation of the
Hole-In-the-Wall area to
the present park are
major goals for
this area under
the IBA Programme.
T r u s t
Abaco
National Park
Inagua National Park
An Important Bird Conservation Success Story
IBA Demonstration Site Size: 183,740 acres
Location: Covering most of Great Inagua island in the southern Bahamas
T
he Inagua National Park, is
about one hours drive from
Matthew Town and covers 287
square miles of Great Inagua (almost
half of the island). Bird life dominates the park and the flamingo, the
national bird of the Bahamas is its
star attraction. Inagua National Park
is the site of the largest breeding
colony of West Indian Flamingos in
population during the early years of
that decade, Audubon sent its then
research director, Robert Porter
Allen to Inagua in an attempt to prevent the birds fast approaching extinction.
Bob Allen began his search for
flamingos in the spring of 1950. He
searched all of the places where
flamingos were rumored to nest in
the
Caribbean.
Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic –
always arriving too
late and finding
many of them already in the pot.
Allen reported that
fifteen colonies had
been abandoned in
the Caribbean in
the last 35 years.
Everywhere flamingos were being
Mr. Henry Nixon, Warden of the Inagua National Park, com- crowded out by human populations.
pleted the Ministry of Tourism’s Bird Tour Guiding Course
But stories still perand is recognized as a certified Birding Tour Guide.
sisted about a great
the world. Today the population colony in the inhospitable wilds of
numbers approximately 50,000 after Great Inagua.
Allen arrived in Inagua in the
having made a 40-year journey back
spring of 1952 and was put in touch
from the edge of extinction.
As early as 1905, concern for the with Sam Nixon, the best hunter and
West Indian Flamingo in the guide on Inagua. The two men –
Caribbean was intense. In that year, sturdy, resourceful and adventurous
at the first annual meeting of the Na- hit it off. Nixon took Allen in a shaltional Audubon Society, a plea was low bottomed boat to the Upper
made to the Bahamas government Lakes of Inagua where the long chain
for the establishment of legal protec- of disappointments finally ended.
tion for the flamingo. Almost imme- They found more than a thousand
diately the Wild Birds Protection Act flamingos “commulating” as Nixon
was passed. As Audubon records had promised they would. The birds
show, it was the first time in massed in that riotous courtship
recorded history that special protec- ritual of head turning, wing flicktion for the flamingos had been pro- ing, and exaggerated strutting that
Allen
called
“the
Flamingo
posed and then established by law.
By the 1950’s a close working re- Quadrille”. Here Allen reallationship had been established be- ized, was a breeding populatween the National Audubon Society tion flourishing in isolation
and the Bahamas. Concerned with and from which long-abanthe sudden decline in the flamingo
7
C e l e b r a t i n g
doned colonies elsewhere in the
Caribbean might one day be replenished. The Society for the Protection
of the Flamingo in the Bahamas was
formed, made up of a number of
American and Bahamian Conservationists. Allen saw to it that the new
society appointed Sam Nixon the
first flamingo warden on Great Inagua, with the National Audubon Society providing money for his salary
and equipment. Later in 1952,
Nixon’s brother Jimmy became his
assistant. Allen designed and built
the little camp on Long Cay and
named it for Arthur Vernay, the first
President of the new Society. It became the Nixon’s up-country home
during the nesting season and
Allen’s headquarters on each of his
many trips to Great Inagua.
Out of these trips came Allen’s
Monograph (1956) that is the basis
of much of our knowledge of the
“Caribbean” flamingo’s natural history. Allen’s research in the field also
stimulated conservationists to provide for the species’ protection. By
an odd twist of fate, it is not direct
human persecution that is a major
threat to Great Inagua’s flamingos,
but the marauding wild pigs that
were introduced by early settlers
and feed on the birds’ eggs and the
young. The Nixon’s constant vigilance (as well as their hankering for
roast pork) have done much to neutralize the threat.
Another positive step was the
creation of the Bahama National Trust
by an Act
B a h a m i a n
of Parliament in 1959. As the official
organization responsible for wildlife
protection and national Park Management, the Trust took over the
work of the old Society of the Protection of the Flamingo. By working
closely with Morton Salt, various
government agencies and the National Audubon Society, the Trust
has helped the resident flamingo
population grow from several thousand birds in 1952 to over 50,000
birds today.
Great Inagua
B i r d l i f e
Corporate interests and conservation can work
together for the good of wildlife and economics
The Inagua National Park and the
bouncing back of the flamingo population is an example of how sometimes corporate interests and conservation can work together for the
good of wildlife and economics. The
natural salt pans near Matthew Town
have attracted humans for centuries.
As sea water circulates through the
windswept wetlands algae begins to
grow darkening the salty water and
hastening evaporation. Tiny brine
shrimp feed on the algae and help filter the water. Many kinds of waterfowl including flamingos feed on the
shrimp. Bird droppings enhance algal growth which in turn increases
the number of brine shrimp. Since
the Inagua National Park was formed
in 1965, the BNT and Morton Salt
Ltd. have maintained a constructive
partnership, that has benefited the
people of Inagua while saving the
flamingos from extinction. The food
cycle involving the algae, brine
shrimp and flamingos works to
everyone’s advantage. Before the
salt works reservoir was enlarged.
Lake Rosa (Windsor) would dry up
yearly, cutting off the food supply for
the birds. Limited salt production
also made jobs in short supply. The
expansion of the reservoir was a major turning point for Inagua’s declining human and wildlife population.
Today, the tradition of Nixon
wardens continues. Sam’s son Henry
Nixon and (until recently) grandson
Randolph “Casper” Burrows patrol
the park and protect the flamingos.
Jimmy Nixon now 83 is semi-retired
and still accompanies the wardens
on their patrols. The success of the
Inagua National Park is evident in the
repopulating of other Caribbean islands by the Inagua population. Scientists are aware of the connection
between Cuba and Inagua as well as
healthy flamingo colonies on the
Turks and Caicos Islands and Grand
Cayman as well as the repopulating
of Crooked Island and Acklins Island
by the Inagua flamingos.
Recently as part of the BirdLife
International Important Birds Areas
Program being implemented in the
Bahamas the Inagua National Park
was designated as a demonstration
site and in 1997 it was identified as a
Wetland of International Importance
under the RAMSAR Convention. The
IBA park project offers Inaguans
birdwatching infrastructure, training
in surveying bird populations and
ecotourism opportunities. Lynn
Gape, BNT Education and Public Relations officer feels that, “The Important Bird Areas programme offers
the Bahamas National Trust an excellent opportunity to expand our
knowledge of the bird species that
use the park, as well as involve the
people of Inagua in National Park
projects.”
The Sammy Nixon Bird Group with Lynn Gape of the BNT. Group is working to
improve their birding skills and are looking forward to being involved in the IBA
Programme.
PHOTO CREDITS The Bahamas National Trust would like to acknowledge and thank the following photographers: Bruce Hallet, Kevin Karlson, Henry Nixon, Daniel J. Fox, Middleton Evans, David Hill, Lynn Gape, Monty
Knowles, Linda Huber, Patricia Bradley, Terragua, T. Bancroft, A. Morris, Alan Chartier and Courtney Platt.
8
B a h a m a s
N a t i o n a l
T r u s t
WEST INDIAN
WHISTLING DUCK
REGIONAL ENDANGER
SPECIES
The West Indian Whistling Duck is the
largest and rarest of the eight species
of unique whistling ducks found
throughout the world’s tropical regions. The Whistling Duck is a large
goose-like duck with relatively long
legs that extend beyond the tail in
flight. It usually reaches heights of
between 19 –22 inches. The feathers
on the upper part of the duck are
mostly brown with pale edgings, the
throat is white, but the lower neck is
streaked with black. The chest is reddish and the underbelly is white with
dark spots. The bill is black and the
legs are dark.
The West Indian Whistling Duck
is nocturnal and feeds mostly in the
evenings. The birds are generally seen
at dusk flying in flocks to feeding on
their favourite fruit from the Royal
Palm. Their diet is made up of fruits,
seeds, grasses or foods crops notably
rice or corn. This bird lives near both
fresh and salt water lagoons, swamps,
mangroves, rice fields and palm savananas. Once common and widespread throughout the West Indies, its
numbers have declined throughout its
range. Populations of Whistling Ducks
are now widely scattered throughout
most of the Caribbean. In the Bahamas the species is considered rare
but has been sighted the Inagua National Park, Andros and Long Island.
The WIWD is protected by law under
the Wild Birds Protection Act. It is
against the law to hunt or harm this
species in any fashion.
Anyone with information on
sightings of this bird should contact
the BNT at 393-1317.