Protect Seabirds in the Caribbean

They came from far and wide, many travelling by boat, to take part in a two-day workshop on how to monitor and protect local seabirds. The Grenadine islands are defined by the water that separates them but this was an opportunity for distant community members, including fishermen, to come together around an issue they care about: seabird conservation.

Participants first learned about threats to seabirds, how to monitor nesting colonies, and how to report findings, including evidence of seabird harvesting or predation. Then break out groups discussed the islands to be surveyed, how to access them, and which individuals would take responsibility for those sites.  The event was coordinated in partnership with the local organization Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE). Participants expressed their enthusiasm to begin this important work and make a difference for the thousands of seabirds which raise their young in this island chain.

Further south in the Grenadines, graduate student Wayne Smart finished his second field season monitoring seabird nests. Fortunately, this year saw higher numbers of nests than last year; data analysis is now underway and will show how successful those nests were in fledging chicks and ultimately whether the populations are reproducing at a sustainable level.

Wayne and I participated in the international BirdsCaribbean conference in Jamaica, where we presented on our research and conservation initiatives taking place in the Grenadines. Of course, we noted in our presentations that none of this work would have been possible without you, our fabulous donors.

We are planning another workshop for a different section of the Grenadines to ensure seabirds are protected by communities throughout the region. We deeply appreciate your support and hope you will continue to make this vital work possible.