The Bellbird Newsletter THE ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE

www.asawright.org Tel: (868) 667-4655 Email: [email protected] JULY 2011

It was such a busy month up at Spring Hill during SPECTACLED July—many visitors, both overseas and local, (Turdus nudigenis nudigenis) transitions in management, and some interesting here is a birdÕs nest in sightings on the estate, plus awards, for our staff Ta Balata (Manilkara bidentata) tree just outside and from Asa Wright to young artists... the Ian Lambie Education Unit that contains three of the most beautiful blue and brown-spotted eggs. They belong to a Spectacled Thrush that carefully guards its young ones from intruders. As a that inhabits a range from Guadeloupe southward in the Caribbean to South America, this thrush goes by many names. A Photo: Courtney van Beek Trinbagonian may know it as the Big-eyed Grieve, while the bill, yellow. This bird is another may call it the Bare- approximately 9.5 inches 1HZ$VD:ULJKW&(2 VHFRQGIURPULJKW LQWKHÀHOGDW$ULSR eyed Robin. Persons will also long and is known for cat- Photo: Atkin Isaac be familiar with the name like vocalisations. So the Bare-eyed Thrush, the latter next ÒmeowÓ you hear in your which is said to have been garden may warrant further New CEO at Spring Hill recently changed to Spectacled investigation. Throughout Thrush to avert confusion the year you may also listen Q -XO\ ÀUVW ZH ZHOFRPHG to all the issues she will be with an African species also for the more commonly made Oour new Chief Executive handling, to communicate called the Bare-eyed Thrush. melodious but halting series 2IÀFHUWR6SULQJ+LOO9HURQLFD effectively with staff, guests That being said, one can easily of notes. Simon-Wallace joined the Asa and the Board, and to manage recognise the inspiration for The Big-eyed Grieve will :ULJKW1DWXUH&HQWUHWRÀOOD RXU FDVK ÁRZV DQG RYHUVHH its various monikers Ð the eat fruits and invertebrates position which had been vacant the further development of prominent yellow eye-ring. like paw-paw, guava, for a while. the Centre. We all welcome earthworms and beetles. Mrs. Wallace is an 9HURQLFD DQG ORRN IRUZDUG WR 2QH RI ÀYH UHVLGHQW Although this species is mostly energetic, committed working with her. thrushes found in Trinidad individual with a wealth of And we also thank Lodge and Tobago, the Spectacled arboreal, it does forage on the experience in the commercial, Manager Ann Sealey for Thrush is olive-brown with ground like other members ÀQDQFLDO DQG SULYDWH VHFWRUV holding on, in a dual role, while whitish streaks on the throat. of its Turdidae or Thrush and she has also worked with the CEO position was vacant. The underpart is whitish and family. Breeding takes place QRQSURÀWRUJDQLVDWLRQVDQGLQ AnnÕs energy and commitment from April to September at the international sector. to her work is legendary at which time a nest made of She is a graduate of the Asa Wright, and we are sure mud and plant material holds University of Wisconsin and the that she too is grateful for the an average clutch size of three University of the West Indies, arrival of a CEO to lighten – J.L. Ryan and brings more than 20 years somewhat the work at the top! eggs. of management experience in We also welcome back our WKH ÀQDQFLDO VHUYLFHV ZRUOG &RQVHUYDWLRQ 2IÀFHU $WNLQ to us at Asa Wright. She Isaac. Atkin had left us for References: also has over eight years of a while to take up a project ffrench, Richard. 1991. A Guide to management experience with at UWI, but he returned in the of Trinidad and Tobago. International Development June and has Òhit the ground Hilty, Steven L. 2003. Agencies, working on Youth running,Ó helping to develop Birds of Venezuela. Development, Entrepreneurial our small museum and http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ and Small Business initiatives. permanent nature exhibit. about/ebird-?set_ 9HURQLFD VWDWHV KHU Read more about this in future objectives as being responsive Bellbird callings! language=es Photo: Atkin Isaac

Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre The Bellbird Newsletter THE ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE 19ÊÓ䣣ÊÊUÊ* ÊÓ

Future Environmentalists at Asa ÒWe were privileged to host a group of sixth form students for seven days in July. This group, part of a project organised by the Environmental Management Authority, came to study the environment, and its threats, and spent RQHZHHNGLVFRYHULQJWKHEHQHÀWVDQGEHDXW\RIRXUIRUHVWV They also learned of the dangers to our ecosystems posed by quarrying, development and unmanaged agriculture. A unique aspect of the course they underwent was the arts and theatre presentations the students produced on their ÀQDOHYHQLQJLQWKH&HQWUH7KDWQLJKWWKH0DQJR5RRP became a mysterious forest as the students incorporated local forest folklore into their production, all directed towards the preservation of the environment. We look forward to more of these student visits and -RKDQQH5\DQ$:1&&RQVHUYDWLRQ2IÀFHUVSHDNVWRSDUWLFLSDQWV initiatives. RIWKH(0$6HFRQGDU\6FKRROV(QYLURQPHQW6HPLQDU Photo: Ken Fournillier

SPECIAL SIGHTINGS

We had not seen a deer at Spring Hill for years. But in late June, while Head Guide Mukesh Ramdass was with Vic and Andrea Thomas on the Chaconia Trail, trying to photograph a Common Potoo at about 1.30 pm, they suddenly saw a full grown Red Brocket Deer quietly standing in the middle of the trail! The Red Brocket Deer Photo: Vic Thomas deer, we presume it was the same one, was also spotted one night at about 7.30 pm crossing the driveway. We hope this deer is the first of many. And Ann Sealy noticed these strange “floral mushrooms” growing near to the security booth. They had the distinct scent of mushrooms, but were not harvested for the kitchen! And finally, and this too is wonderful news, Pawi Birds (Piping Guans) were seen by a group out on tour at the top of our mountain. The Piping Guan has not been seen this close to us for years, but we have no photos of this sighting.

“Floral mushrooms” Photos: Ann Sealey The Bellbird Newsletter THE ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE 19ÊÓ䣣ÊÊUÊ* ÊÎ Awards: Incoming and Outgoing

Art & Essay Competition Winners In late 2010, in honour of the Year of Biodiversity, Asa Wright Nature Centre held its Secondary SchoolsÕ Art & (VVD\&RPSHWLWLRQ%LVKRS$QVWH\+LJK6FKRROFRSSHG the AWNC Art Competition Challenge Trophy while 1DSDULPD*LUOV·+LJK6FKRROZRQWKH(VVD\&RPSHWLWLRQ Challenge Trophy. Take a look at the winners in the photos below.

6SULQJ+LOO·V´VZHHWKDQµFUHZ3DPHOD IURPOHIW .HUURQ0DULDQD and Joanne receive the winning cheques from Tourism Minister 'U5XSHUW*ULIÀWKDWWKH7'&·V´3RW6SRRQ7KURZ'RZQµ

ÒWhile Asa Wright did not enter a team in this yearÕs ÒPot SpoonÓ local cuisine competition at Blanchisseuse, in early July, members of our staff, led by Food and Beverage 1DSDULPD*LUOV·+LJK6FKRROVWXGHQWV$QJHOLQD'RRNHUDQ O DQG Supervisor Joanne Singh-Ramlal, and including Mariana, $QXUDGKD6RRQGDU U DUHÁDQNHGE\YDULRXVWHDFKHUV3ULQFLSDO Kerron and Pamela took up the challenge and swept the 3DWULFLD5DPJRRODPDQG9LFH3ULQFLSDO0V)DLU\/DOOD prizes for the categories they entered! Well done to the ´VZHHWKDQ·µFUHZRIFKHIVIURP6SULQJ+LOO

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Please note that the centre will be closed for maintenance from Thursday 1st September through Thursday 25th September