NEWSDAY SECTION B Thursday March 6, 2014 Page 3 EN,VIRDNMENT Two new bird species for TT TRINIDAI) and Tobago has always been a fantastic location for observing birds and to date over 474 species of birds have been recorded on both islands. Part of this success is due to our location along a significant migratory path for North American birds and our proximity to the South American mainland. Rare specie~ occasionally turn up (much to the delight of the local bird- watching community) and ever so often the list of birds recorded for the island actually increases as species never before recorded for the country put in an appearance for the first, time. This week we will look at two of these recent additions. On the morning of October 15, 2013 a Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix) was reported from Turure in Sangre Grande by Kamal Mahabir. At the time, the bird was feeding in one of the many cattle pastures that dot the landscape of PHOTO BY NIGEL LALLSINGH Tururé. era in the days that followed Herons are a diverse family of The Whistling Heron was not the birds, most having long necks and only new record for Trinidad and legs which enable them to hunt for Tobago in recent times. fish or insect prey in shallow water, OnFebruajy l7,2014,a WHISTLING Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix) at Turure. reeds or grass. Many have an affinity Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis for water but several species can be peregrina) was discovered feeding in PHOTO BY KAMAL MAHABIR found in thy areas. The Whistling green back and whitish underparts additions to the birdlife of Trinidad trees at Carli Bay in Couva by Nigel with ‘grayish sides, and a short tail. Heron is such a bird, being fond of Lallsingh. While it was been previ and Tobago. Their presence here pasture and grassland. It is fairly Measuring only 4.5 inches and with should serve to emphasise just how ously believed that Tenessee a wingspan ofjust eight inches, it large and is atiractively coloured Warblers visit our shores during The TrinIdad & Tobago important preserving our natural with a blue cap and reddish bill. Field Naturalists’ Club flies more than 1000 miles each year environment is and illustrates the fact migration and there had been undoc to its wintering grounds. Perhaps the most extraordinary fea umented reports in the past, this that protecting a species requires majority of these birds are very’ Incredibly, despite its rarity and more than just setting aside some ture is its call which is a lovely, whis sighting provided the first document rarely seen in Trinidad and Tobago. nondescript appearance, local bird- “bush” or swampland for them — tle, unlike the harsh croaks that most ed report for Trinidad This warbler breeds in eastern members of the heron family pos watchers succeeded in finding a sec sometimes it requires an international Warblers are small, active birds North America and Canada’s boreal ond Tennessee Warbler at the same sess. that spend most of their time actively collaborative effort to ensure they are forest. During the northern winter, location a few days later. In their adequately protected. The Whisthng Heron is a wide flitting about the vegetation in search they migrate to southern Central spread inhabitant of similar habitat favoured tree at Carli Bay, the birds of insects and other invertebrates. America’ and northern South were very active, flittering among the on the South American mainland and Twenty-six species of warbler have Today ‘~c feature was produced by America, including Colombia and foliage and maldng short flights to Kamal Mahabir and Nigel this particular individual is likely to been recorded in Trinidad and Venezuela. have wandered over from neighbour reach leaf tips while searching for Lallsingh. For more information on Tobago, however only three of these The Tennessee Warbler is a dainty food, at times hovering while forag ing Venezuela. It must have been an are resident species. The others are our natural environ,nen4 you can little songbird, with a few distinct ing, and occasionally giving their contact the Trinidad and Tobago especially good wanderer as it could migrants from the United States and field marks. It has a short shaiply not be relocated despite the best warbler- like chipping song. Field Naturalists’ Club at Canada which head south at the pointed bill, a thin white line over the Both the Whistling Heron and ~‘~lbirdwatch onset of the northern winter. The admin(~pfnc~org or visit our website eyç a thin black eye line, an olive Tennessee Warbiers are welcome at www.flfnc.org.