Wildlife Conservation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Project #14296

Protect Seabirds in the Caribbean

by Environmental Protection in the Caribbean

Project Report | Jun 8, 2015
The Next Generation Is Here

By Natalia Collier | Executive Director

This gull chick has been marked as counted.

The seabirds are back! It's breeding season and gulls, terns, and boobies are busy ensuring the survival of their species. Of course, they don't look at it that way, they are just trying to raise a family. But these adorable chicks aren't just cute balls of fluff, they represent the future of a species. It is essential they survive to become adults who can replace those lost to disease, old age, plastic ingestion, hunting and other threats.

As graduate student Wayne Smart of Grenada headed back out in the field a few weeks ago, he was tense on the long boat ride to these remote islands, wondering if he would see a catastrophic failure to nest like last summer. Wayne is watching the drama unfold and keeping track of how many chicks survive to fledge. You'll notice an orange tint to this gull chick's feathers, that is a non-toxic and harmless way to mark chicks which have been counted.

Wayne will be monitoring a variety of species, watching each nest to figure out which ones are successful and whether the population is sustaining itself. Through field research and talking with fishermen, he is also assessing the impacts of seabird harvest on these colonies.

The good news is that the number of nesting birds is back up this year. There is much to be learned about how seabirds react to changes in the environment and we hope to one day better understand the causes for such huge swings in population numbers. There are still far fewer birds nesting this year than back in 2009 but it's good to hear the raucous cries of seabirds on these remote islands rather than the empty, eerie silence of last year.

We are also really excited about this month's workshop which will train more residents in how to patrol wildlife refuges and report sightings. The workshop will also include how to monitor seabird colonies and lessons in becoming a bird guide for tourists. Stay tuned for photos and stories from that event. We'll be posting to our Facebook page as well so please follow us.

We truly appreciate your contribution in making this essential and groundbreaking work possible. I hope you will continue to support this project as we move towards our goal of ensuring that Caribbean seabirds will remain abundant and healthy for many generations to come.

Getting a population count in the Grenadines

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Mar 18, 2015
It's the Season of Matching!

By Natalia Collier | Executive Director

These Masked Boobies match pefectcly, you can too!

You know what is even better than the feeling of donating to a great cause? Having your donation matched! To make sure your gift can do even more good work, today Global Giving will be matching donations of up to $1,000. But limited funds are available so donate early to be sure your gift is matched.

It's the time of year when Caribbean seabirds are starting match up as well. They may all look the same to us humans, but the birds can tell eachother apart and often mate for life.

Caribbean seabirds often share their nesting islands with special species found nowhere else on earth, known as island endemics. The intricate ways these seemingly unrelated species are connected can be surprising. For example, when seabirds poop at their nesting sites (which they do a lot!), it bring nutrients from the sea (fish) to the land. This fertilizer keep plants healthy, which endemic insects and lizards need to survive, and prevents erosion since the plant roots hold the soil together. Pretty amazing!

Next month our team of researchers will be conducting groundbreaking surveys of remote islands to search for these rare species. So little research has been done in this region that the possibility of discovering new species is an exciting prospect. For example, just a few years ago a new species of gecko was found on the small, inhabited island of Union. This species is now known to be globally endangered and it can be protected. By uncovering the full diversity of animals and plants using seabird nesting islands, we can demonstrate their widespread value to conservation.

We are also excited to be working with local partners on this summer's seabird training workshop. Future bird guides, volunteer wardens and bird monitors will come together with regional seabird experts to share knowledge and experience. Participants will be empowered to care for their local nesting areas and join a network of colleagues.

All of this wonderful work is made possible by donors like you. Please donate today, Matching Day, and your gift can go even further in making a real difference for conservation.

In Gratitude,

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Dec 29, 2014
We reached our goal!

By Natalia Collier | Executive Director

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