While protecting seabird nesting islands is of utmost importance, we also need to understand and protect the areas where the birds forage, where they find the food that nourishes the next generation back at the nest. With this in mind, we recently deployed GPS trackers on adult Red-footed Boobies nesting on Battowia island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a globally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). The results show that some birds are far ranging. For example, one bird went north of Barbados on an overnight trip, covering about 500 kilometers (300 miles)! This data is an important tool in advocating for protection of marine habitats.
During the expedition, our team of researchers and citizen scientists from the Grenadines Seabird Guardians surveyed the Magnificent Frigatebird colony on Battowia. Being one of only approximately five frigatebird colonies in the entire Lesser Antilles, we are happy to report that many large chicks were observed!
With almost one hundred islands, islets, and cays, conducting seabird research at remote locations requires a significant amount of time and a reliance on the skills and experience of our Grenadines Seabird Guardians. Recently, we welcomed three highly skilled fishermen/seafarers as new members of the Grenadines Seabird Guardians to monitor seabird populations. These individuals were trained by Vaughn Thomas, a fisherman and sailor who has been part of the team since 2019.
To continue training and supporting volunteer citizen scientists with the Seabird Guardians, we rely on contributions from GlobalGiving donors. We are excited to announce that there's a great opportunity to support this work...GlobalGiving will MATCH DONATIONS over US $100 on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time! The higher the amount, the higher the match while funds last so we encourage you to donate early to ensure your contribution is matched.
Thank you so much for making this work possible!
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Recently, a member of the Grenadines Seabird Guardians was surveying a remote island and came across a surprising discovery. While the site is known to harbor a regionally important colony of Sooty Terns, numbering up to 40,000 pairs, they were nesting much earlier than usual. This small black and white seabird starts building its nest in April in other parts of this region, but in this case the citizen scientist found them already with chicks in February!
For now, the reason for this shift remains a mystery. Is the population increasing causing the birds to arrive earlier to secure the best nesting spots? Is climate change an influence? Are other species nesting earlier also? Further research is needed to be able to answer these questions.
In 2019, we placed an informational sign at this remote island, informing the public that it is a protected Wildlife Reserve and that activities like hunting are prohibited. Local fishermen tell us the sign is having an effect and many are no longer going there to collect eggs or seabirds. We hope to do a thorough census of the island during the peak breeding period to see if this reported reduced hunting pressure may have caused a population change.
This year our data will be part of the Caribbean Seabird Census 2023, an initiative being conducted in cooperation with partners throughout the region. This innovative effort is the first of its kind and will provide groundbreaking information on regional seabird populations and the threats they face.
We look forward to sharing the results of this and other exciting work in the year ahead. For now, we are thankful for members of the Grenadines Seabird Guardians as they continue to monitor crucial seabird nesting sites and for donors like you who make their work possible.
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With the start of the school year, we are pleased to announce a new tool for teaching students about the wonders of science, "Seabirds of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada: A Curriculum."
The curriculum uses seabirds to explore many government-required science topics such as adaptation and environmental studies. Since seabirds can be found on land, sea, and in the air, they are excellent ambassadors for our interconnected habitats. It can be used by schools in both Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Our Lead Educator, Ms. Lystra Culzac, authored the curriculum. She has two students of her own in St. Vincent and is as excited as we are to have this valuable resource to share; we hope it will inspire a love and appreciation for local wildlife for generations to come.
Thank you for making this work and so much more possible with your contribution!
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How do you see birds in the dark? With thermal imaging cameras, researchers can detect the heat of mammals and birds. Those light green dots on the screen in the photo are Brown noddies at their nest sites in the Grenadines. Night is the best time to “see” them because it’s cooler, contrasting more with the animal’s heat.
Over the past week, EPIC collaborated with researchers at Archipelagics and ConservationDrones to test using thermal imaging cameras on drones for surveying seabirds as well as non-native mammals that can negatively impact native wildlife. The venture was successful, documenting numerous seabird colonies and, unfortunately, rats.
With seabird populations rapidly declining around the world, we need more tools for monitoring their status and the threats they face to inform our ongoing efforts to protect the remaining colonies.
This work was supported by donors to our Protect Baby Seabirds campaign. Today only, your donation of $100 or more to this project will be matched by GlobalGiving! Matching funds are limited so donating early is best.
Our multi-faceted conservation approach includes cutting-edge research, citizen-science, education, and restoration to help protect some of the last remaining refuges for nesting seabirds. All of these efforts would not be possible without donors like you, please donate today!
Thank you,
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A seabird identification workshop in the remote islands of the Grenadines archipelago helped to increase the capacity of law enforcement to protect regionally and globally important seabird populations. The two-day training enabled the six participants to identify species in the field and learn about the unique characteristics and adaptations of seabirds to this often-harsh marine environment. They were also familiarized with local conservation threats, particularly aspects they may encounter in their work, such as poaching.
This training is a follow-up from our earlier Drone Training Course in St. Vincent and the Grenadines facilitated by Conservation Drones. During that training course, participants recognized that, in order to effectively monitor and protect seabirds and other wildlife, they needed a working knowledge of seabirds. A seabird training workshop was therefore proposed, where trainees would be given the opportunity to learn about and observe, first hand, seabirds of the Grenadines.
Day one of the workshop featured presentations and discussions on the local seabirds and focused on the key field marks used to identify them. While most participants had seen the more common seabirds such as the Laughing Gull and Brown Booby, they were amazed at the variety found locally and the subtle differences used to tell several apart. They also learned how to use data entry forms and in the afternoon went to a coastal area to test their skills in real life.
The second day found the team in a fishing vessel heading out to remote islands where seabirds nest. They were treated to hundreds of boobies surrounding their boat as well as frigatebirds and many other species. One Coast Guard Officer, being surprised at the number of different seabirds, commented “I often saw all these seabirds while at sea and thought they were all the same. I never realized that there were so many different species.”
Participants left with a greater appreciation of the unique adaptations and diversity of our local seabirds, opening up a new way to see these remarkable masters of sea and sky, and a better understanding of the conservation threats they may encounter.
You can help support work like this during the upcoming Bonus Day on July 20. During this special event, donations of $100 USD and up will be matched and the higher the donation, the higher the match! We'll be sending out reminders so you can be sure to take part. Thank you for your support!
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