Protect Seabirds in the Caribbean

Thanks to ongoing efforts from our volunteer citizen scientists, we are seeing firsthand the impacts of and recovery from Hurricane Beryl on the current breeding season for seabirds in the Grenadines archipelago.
Beryl hit as a Category 5 storm nearly a year ago, on July 1, 2024. This is the first nesting season for gulls and terns since that devastating storm leveled homes and habitats and damaged boats, including those used by our volunteers.

Immediately after the storm, the absence of wildlife, including seabirds, made the devastation even more unsettling. There were so many questions about whether birds had survived the storm or escaped in time and whether they would return to nest even though the landscape was unrecognizable.

However, by November, the welcome sight of Red-billed Tropicbirds returning to their nesting crevices brought hope; since they nest among rocks, they don’t need plants to provide nesting material or trees in which to build nest platforms.

As the rains fell during the winter months, vegetation began to regrow; by the spring, Grenadines Guardians saw Laughing Gulls return to nest, along with their raucous laughing call, a longed-for sign of resilience. Soon after, Brown Noddies and Bridled Terns came back as well.

The habitat is still visibly damaged from the storm, including uprooted trees previously used for nesting, and erosion where the wind and sea tore away plants that once held soil in place. Despite the heartbreaking damage, we are encouraged by signs of growth.

As our colleague Juliana Coffey of Archipelagics noted, “The seabirds are resilient and adaptable. So are the people who care for them.” We couldn’t agree more, and your support demonstrates to these dedicated volunteers that their work matters. Thank you!

Photos by Philman Ollivierre and Joshua Gooding

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