By Natalia Collier | Program Manager
“I knew that our people harvest the eggs, but I never realized it was having such a negative impact,” reported a teacher from the Grenadines islands. The eggs the teacher refers to are from seabirds nesting on nearby islets, where chicks and adults are also harvested. Gulls and terns are nesting right now, making this a crucial time to remind the public about the need to protect threatened seabirds.
We have reached nearly 700 individuals this year and aim to more than double our reach by the end of the year. The team is speaking with schools, community groups, and fishers about a variety of issues which threaten seabirds, including poaching and invasive predators, and the need to protect them. Studies show worldwide seabird populations have declined 70% in the last sixty years.
One educational topic is the importance of seabirds to the environment. Recent research has shown that coral reefs next to seabird breeding sites are healthier because of the nutrients from seabird guano. Those nutrients also feed plants on land, plants which support a variety of animals. In addition to their ecological importance, seabirds are crucial for fishers as well. One participant noted, “As a fisherman, I depend on seabirds - 90% of the times when I am going out to sea - on finding the fish.”
Audiences are intrigued by the remarkable lives of seabirds, which link the worlds of land and sea. Yet seabirds face the dual threats of both of these worlds as well. It is our goal to continue raising awareness and changing behaviors so that seabirds can thrive wherever they roam for generations to come.
In addition to educating the general public, we will also continue training and working with Volunteer Patrol members to monitor seabird breeding sites and the threats they face. Simultaneously, we are consulting local communities on strategies to protect seabirds as part of a Community-based Conservation Management Plan.
Thank you for helping to make this work possible. Your continued support will allow us to expand our impact, making land and sea safer for seabirds.
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