Puerto Rico and US Unincorporated Territories

Home , Navassa Island, Puerto Rican amazon, Puerto Rican nightjar

BirdLife International is a UK-registered charity No. 1042125 ISBN: 978-9942-9959-0-2

Recommended citation: DEVENISH, C., DÍAZ FERNÁNDEZ, D. F., CLAY, R. P., DAVIDSON, I. & YÉPEZ ZABALA,I.EDS. (2009) Important Bird Areas Americas - Priority sites for biodiversity conservation. Quito, Ecuador: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 16).

To cite this chapter: ANADÓN-IRIZARRY, V., CORVEN, J., MÉNDEZ-GALLARDO, V., SALGUERO-FARÍA, J. A. & SCHWAGERL, J. (2009) Puerto Rico and US Unincorporated Territories. Pp 317 – 328 in C. Devenish, D. F. Díaz Fernández, R. P. Clay, I. Davidson & I. Yépez Zabala Eds. Important Bird Areas Americas - Priority sites for biodiversity conservation. Quito, Ecuador: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 16).

The purpose of the information contained in this book is to support conservation initiatives in the Americas, for which it may be reproduced. Using this information for commercial purposes is not permitted. If part or all of this information is used or included in any other publication, BirdLife International must be cited as copyright holder. Those who provided illustrations or photographs in this book have copyright over them and these are not permitted to be reproduced separately to the texts accompanying them.

The presentation of material in this book and the geographical designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of BirdLife International concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Membership of BirdLife International does not imply any opinion or position with respect to sovereignty issues on the part of BirdLife International Partner organizations.

Graphic design: Alejandro Miranda Baldares ([email protected]) Translations: Christian Devenish, Ítala Yépez Zabala & Amiro Pérez-Leroux Maps: David F. Díaz Fernández, Ítala Yépez Zabala & Christian Devenish Edition of Spanish language country chapters: Ítala Yépez Zabala, Carlos Huertas Sánchez & David F. Díaz Fernández Graphic design volunteer (Spanish language country chapters): Adriana Valencia Tapia 3ULQWHGLQ(FXDGRUE\3ROLJUi¿FD&$

This publication and all country/territory chapters in their native languages are available for download at www.birdlife.org/ 0TWVY[HU[)PYK(YLHZAMERICAS *1 ,/"Ê, "Ê 1-Ê1 ",*",/ / ,,/", - =LY}UPJH(UHK}U0YPaHYY`1PT*VY]LU=LY}UPJH4tUKLa.HSSHYKV 1VZt(:HSN\LYV-HYxH 1VZLWO:JO^HNLYS

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Puerto Rico is the smallest and most easterly of the Greater Antilles lying 114 km east of the Dominican Repub- lic and just 60 km west of the US Virgin Islands. It is a Commonwealth and territory of the USA. Puerto Rico is a small archipelago of islands and cays such as Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Monito, Desecheo, Caja de Muertos amongst others. Nearly 85% of the country lies below 500 m and less than 1% is above 1000 m, the highest point being Cerro Punta, at 1338 m above sea level.

With c.3.9 million people (429 people/km2) Puerto Rico has one of the highest population densities in the Carib- bean. Puerto Rico’s population remained relatively constant from 16th to 18th century, after which it increased exponentially. This increase peaked in the second half of 20th century when population growth reached a rate of 72%, to the detriment of the island’s natural resources.

To the east of Puerto Rico lie the US Virgin Islands (USVI), an organized, unincorporated United States territory at the eastern end of the Greater Antillean chain of islands. The US Virgin Islands comprise three major islands and more than 50 offshore cays. As an archipelago, the Virgin Islands are politically divided between USVI (the south- western group of islands) and the British Virgin Islands (which stretch out to the north-east). However, St Croix (the largest of the three main islands at 217 km2) lies about 65 km to the south of the rest of the Virgin Islands and c.100 km south-east of mainland Puerto Rico.

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Navassa Island lies between Jamaica and Haiti, 53 km west of the latter est species, and represent an important component of the “new” forested country. Navassa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the USA. landscape of Puerto Rico. In addition to forested areas, Puerto Rico also It is grouped politically with other islands claimed under the Guano Is- has diverse wetlands, including forested wetlands, such as mangroves, lands Act of 1856 as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands and 3WHURFDUSXVRIÀFLQDOLV and Annona glabra freshwater swamps, brackish is the only island of this group in the Caribbean. Navassa rises abruptly DQGIUHVKZDWHUKHUEDFHRXVZHWODQGVDQGK\SHUVDOLQHVDOWÁDWV0DMRUZHW from deep water with cliffs reaching heights of 20 m or more. There are no land areas include Caño Tiburones, Laguna Tortuguero, Laguna Carta- beaches, ports or harbors on Navassa and access (from offshore anchor- JHQD6DQ-XDQDQG-RERVED\VHVWXDULHVDQG&DER5RMRVDOWÁDWV ages) is extremely hazardous. The highest point on the island is Dunning +LOODWP+DLWLDQÀVKHUPHQDQGUHVHDUFKHUVFDPSDOEHLWLQIUHTXHQWO\ In contrast, vegetation on USVI is primarily dry forest, including closed- on the island which is otherwise uninhabited and closed to the public. The canopy forest, woodland and shrubland. Subtropical moist forest (with a Republic of Haiti laid claim to sovereignty over Navassa in 1804, and continuous canopy and an abundant herbaceous understorey) is found in the they disputed the U.S. annexation of the island in 1857. The island has uplands (where annual rainfall is above 1200 mm), along drainage ghauts remained in the Haitian constitution since 1856. or streams and in some coastal basin areas (accounting for c.10–15% of the land area). USVI also supports grasslands, a variety of wetlands, and a full Puerto Rico and the unincorporated territories have tropical to subtropical range of coastal zone habitats. However, all have been subject to human climates, Puerto Rico, with a larger altitudinal range, receives more rain- disturbance or development as well as natural effects of tropical storms and fall than the other two territories. The mountainous region of the island virtually no primary forest exists on the islands. Wetland habitats include acts as a barrier to the moisture-rich trade winds which unload most of VDOW SRQGV VDOW ÁDWV PDQJURYH ZHWODQGV PL[HG VZDPS DQG IUHVKZDWHU their humidity in the form of rain on the windward side of the mountains. ponds (all of which are man-made for livestock or landscaping). Despite Thus, the north and east is relatively wet (averaging 1550 mm per year), their extremely high value to both humans and wildlife, many of the natural whereas the south is fairly dry (910 mm annually). The west receives the wetlands have been destroyed or lost to development. remainder of the moisture from the trade winds and the humidity-soaked winds from the south. The windward side of the Luquillo Mountains may Navassa’s primary vegetation cover is evergreen woodland/forest com- receive more than 5000 mm of rain annually. In the US Virgin Islands, SULVLQJIRXUPDLQWUHHVSHFLHVQDPHO\VKRUWOHDIÀJ Ficus citrifolia), pi- average annual rainfall is 750 mm in coastal areas and up to 1400 mm at geon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum) higher elevations. Highest rainfall in all territories is in the second half of and poisonwood (Metopium brownei). The island’s upper plateau around the year, generally associated with tropical low pressure systems which Dunning Hill supports small, scattered areas of grassland which seem to form or pass through the region. EHPDLQWDLQHGE\IUHTXHQWÀUHV$VHFRQGPDMRUKDELWDWLVWKHIDQSDOP (Thrinax morrisii) forest that occurs in pure stands in the lower north- Puerto Rico’s geographical location and geological history has had a western part of the island although the species is also scattered throughout SURIRXQGLQÁXHQFHRQWKHULFKGLYHUVLW\RILWVÁRUDDQGIDXQD,WFDQEH the upper plateau and ridges. There is also a palm (Pseudophoenix sargen- divided into three geomorphologic regions of the central mountainous tii var. navassana) represented by only one (relatively healthy) individual interior, karst, and coastal plains. With regard to vegetation, forests in which is located on the ridge to the east of the lighthouse. Snow cactus 3XHUWR5LFRDUHFRQVLGHUHGWREHVXEWURSLFDODQGDUHFODVVLÀHGLQWR (Mammaillaria nivosa) plants are scattered across the limestone surface types depending on a combination of temperature, elevation and of the island. VXEVWUDWH3XHUWR5LFR·VÁRUDLQFOXGHVFVSHFLHV with nearly 9% (240 spp.) endemism. Natu- ralized exotic species make up a high percentage of for-

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Historically, Navassa has supported a herpetofauna thought to consist of Navassa is critically important for its marine environment, including pris- eight endemic reptiles, of which Cyclura onchiopsis, Leiocephalus er- tine coral reef ecosystems, which sustains foraging habitat for one of the emitus, Tropidophilus bucculentus and Typhlops sulcatus are presumably largest colonies of Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) in the Caribbean. More extinct as a result of habitat alteration during the guano-mining, human WKDQPDULQHVSHFLHVKDYHEHHQLGHQWLÀHGE\ELRORJLVWVLQFOXGLQJWKUHH exploitation or depredation by introduced mammalian predators. The four QHZÀVKVSHFLHV extant species are abundant.

Both Puerto Rico and the US unincorporated territories have legally pro- Puerto Rico has numerous local laws and regulations to protect the island’s tected areas for biodiversity conservation, varying in size from the whole precious natural resources. Among the most important are the New Wild- of Navassa to 6.8% of Puerto Rico’s land area. Approximately 60,800 ha life Law (1999) and its associated regulations: Regulation for Manage- of the commonwealth have been designated by the government as con- ment of Vulnerable and Endangered Species (2004) and Regulation for servation areas, but only 31,055 ha (less than 3.5%) have been acquired. the Management of Wildlife, Exotic Species and Hunting in the Common- The remainder are still in private or public ownership and thus threatened wealth of Puerto Rico (2004). Also, the DNER has been responsible for by development. Various state and federal agencies, as well as private in- SURWHFWLQJWKHFRDVWDOOLWWRUDO]RQH DUHDVXQGHUWLGDOLQÁXHQFH VLQFHLWV stitutions, manage these protected areas: the Department of Natural and creation in 1972. Environmental Resources (DNER) is responsible for more than 90% of the total; and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Unit- Principal local legislation for the protection of wildlife in USVI is the ed States Forest Service (USFS) and Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Indigenous and Endangered Species Act (1990). A modi- (CTPR) manages the rest. ÀFDWLRQRIWKLVOHJLVODWLRQFXUUHQWO\EHLQJSURSRVHGZLOOOLVW869,VSH- cies considered under various categories of threat and are included in the Numerous protected areas exist in the US Virgin Islands, provided by both “Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy”. territorial and federal governments, and private organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Island Resources Foundation and St Croix En- On both Puerto Rico and USVI, many governmental and non-governmen- vironmental Association. All federally owned cays are protected within tal organizations work towards biodiversity conservation. Citizen science the Virgin Islands National Park, Hassel Island National Monument, Buck initiatives, such as eBird, in collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Orni- Island National Monument, or as National Wildlife Refuges. The territo- thology, and the Christmas Bird Counts sponsored by National Audubon rial government has designated Flat Cay, Little Flat Cay, Saba Island, and Society, have also been implemented. Turtledove Cay as wildlife reserves. More recently, legislation has been drafted that would result in all 33 cays owned by the territorial government On Puerto Rico, several federal and local agencies fund and coordinate re- being designated as wildlife sanctuaries. search projects, many of which are geared toward avian studies2. Locally, the DNER monitors a number of bird species, implements recovery plans, Navassa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1999 by Department and manages several initiatives such as the Puerto Rico Critical Wildlife of the Interior, after being described as a unique preserve of Caribbean Areas, the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture through the Puerto Rico Waterfowl ELRGLYHUVLW\E\DVFLHQWLÀFH[SHGLWLRQLQ,WLVDGPLQLVWHUHGDVSDUWRI Focus Areas, the Puerto Rico Gap Analysis Project (PRGAP), and the Fish- the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, with headquar- eries and Wildlife Management Plan. At present the DNER is working on ters in Boquerón, Puerto Rico. The refuge includes the island of Navassa WKHÀUVW´3URJUDPPDWLF6DIH+DUERU$JUHHPHQWµZLWKWKH86):6IRUWKH and marine habitats up to 22 km from the island. conservation of Plain Pigeon (Patagioenas inornata). The USFWS con- ducts surveys of national wildlife refuges throughout the Commonwealth Local and federal environmental legislation are in force in the common- where management usually centers on avian resources. At El Yunque, the wealth and territories. As US territories, islands have to abide by federal USFS is involved in managing and studying the resident Puerto Rican laws such as the Endangered Species Act (1972), Migratory Bird Treaty Act Amazon (Amazona vittata) population (until recently, the only wild extant (1918) and the Clean Water Act (1972). However, although these laws and population) in coordination with the USFWS and the DNER. regulations can be very strict they are rarely enforced properly due to lack of resources and government bureaucracy. Local and federal laws also provide for private entities to set aside part of their land as conservation easements. ¸-VYTHU``LHYZ\UP]LYZP[PLZOH]LILLU The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico has been working with this provi- HUPTWVY[HU[ZV\YJLVMH]PHUZJPLU[PÄJ sion, encouraging and providing guidance to landowners willing to take ad- YDQWDJHRIWKHWD[EHQHÀWVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHFRQVHUYDWLRQHDVHPHQWV YLZLHYJOPU7\LY[V9PJV¹

2 For more information on projects see the separate Puerto Rico chapter in BirdLife International 2008. :V\[ONH[L7VUK=0 PU:[*YVP_PTWVY[HU[MVYHYHUNLVMJVUNYLNH[VY`^H[LYIPYKZ7OV[V!3PZH+@U[LTH For many years, universities have been an important source of avian scien- ¸/HSM[OL^PSKWVW\SH[PVUVM7\LY[V9PJHU WLÀFUHVHDUFKLQ3XHUWR5LFR7KH8QLYHUVLW\RI3XHUWR5LFR·VFDPSXVHVDW Rio Piedras, Mayagüez, Humacao and Cayey have contributed to knowl- (THaVU(THaVUH]P[[H[H^LYL^PWLK edge of local avifauna for over 30 years, with programs on species such as Plain Pigeon, Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus), Broad- V\[I`/\YYPJHUL/\NVPU ¹ winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus brunnescens), Sharp-shinned Hawk (Ac- cipiter striatus venator DQG(OÀQZRRGV:DUEOHU Dendroica angelae). it has completed numerous biological inventories. The University of the The national NGO and BirdLife partner in Puerto Rico, Sociedad Or- Virgin Islands (UVI) has provided local logistics for a number of offshore nitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc., (Puerto Rican Ornithological Society- projects, plus GIS and data management expertise, and technical advice. SOPI) has been coordinating bird-focused conservation efforts, including HGXFDWLRQUHVHDUFKODQGVWHZDUGVKLSDQGWKHLGHQWLÀFDWLRQRIWKHLVODQG·V The main threats to biodiversity across the territories include habitat loss, IBAs. Other SOPI projects include the Puerto Rico Shorebird Monitoring LQWURGXFWLRQRIH[RWLFVSHFLHVÀVKLQJLOOHJDOKXQWLQJDQGQDWXUDOHYHQWV Network (Programa Red Limícola; Box 2) and Puerto Rico Breeding Bird Habitat loss caused by urbanization and a growing human population Atlas (jointly coordinated with the Puerto Rico Gap Analysis Project). has particularly affected Puerto Rico and USVI, with lands cleared for housing, industry, roads and agriculture. Introduction of non-native spe- The Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) in USVI is the key public agencies (including domestic animals turning feral) is a problem on all three cy for research and monitoring of birds and habitats. They have directed territories, exacerbated by laws and regulations not being enforced. Hur- or collaborated in extensive studies on all the islands that have document- ricanes have also taken their toll on native fauna, with nearly half the ed the status of seabirds and, to a lesser extent other species. Working wild population of Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) wiped out with US Dept. of Agriculture, DFW has undertaken eradications of rats E\+XUULFDQH+XJRLQ2Q1DYDVVDPRUHVSHFLÀFKXPDQLPSDFWV and goats from important seabird breeding colonies on DFW-managed have particularly affected biodiversity, namely, the former guano-mining cays. They are also looking at exotic plant management with the National and lighthouse maintenance operations, impacting both the vegetation and Park Service (NPS), and collaborate with other organizations to imple- marine environment. ment their work. The NPS is responsible for all land and marine areas within the St John Park which it monitors regularly and within which Lack of environmental education is also of particular concern on Puerto

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5LFRLQWKDWLQKDELWDQWVDUHIRUWKHPRVWSDUWXQDZDUHRIWKHLUORFDOÁRUD conservation need is the development of a strong educational program for and fauna. The lack of proper environmental education limits the capacity land managers and their staff, environmental law enforcement personnel, of environmentalists and land managers to conserve the natural resources lawmakers and the general public. Conservation needs on Navassa are dif- of the island. IHUHQWDQGPDQDJLQJWKHSURWHFWHGDUHDKDVEHHQYHU\GLIÀFXOW,QD conservation plan was jointly developed with many stakeholders to strat- Conservation needs on Puerto Rico and USVI include land protection, HJL]HZD\VWRDGGUHVVVHYHUDOLVVXHVLQFOXGLQJÀVKLQJ$GLDORJXHZLWKWKH education, biological information, enforcement and planning. Even though +DLWLDQFRQVHUYDWLRQFRPPXQLW\KDVEHHQHVWDEOLVKHGDVDQHFHVVDU\ÀUVW several laws exist to protect natural resources, land acquisition is the most step and needs to be developed to ensure the conservation of the tremendous effective way to protect important areas for birds and other wildlife. A major ÀVKDQGZLOGOLIHUHVRXUFHVRI1DYDVVD,VODQG1DWLRQDO:LOGOLIH5HIXJH

More than half the bird species recorded on Puerto Rico and the US un- ¸;^V7\LY[V9PJHU*YP[PJHSS`,UKHUNLYLK incorporated territories in the Caribbean occur as wintering Neotropical migrants, transients or vagrants. In Puerto Rico, of the 354 recorded bird LUKLTPJZJV\SKILOLHKPUNMVY species, about 133 are known to breed; in USVI, 60 breeding species are known of a total of 210 (Table 2). Many exotic species have also become es- L_[PUJ[PVU!7\LY[V9PJHU(THaVUHUK tablished, especially in Puerto Rico, where 45 have been reported and more than 35 are either well-established or have small breeding populations. 7\LY[V9PJHU5PNO[QHY¹

A total of 27 species are restricted to the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Endemic Bird Area (EBA 029). However, two are considered extinct within $QWLOOHDQ %XOOÀQFK DQG /HVVHU$QWLOOHDQ 3HZHH Contopus latirostris), this EBA: the White-necked Crow (Corvus leucognaphalus) and the His- present in the Lesser Antilles EBA (030). No restricted-range birds are paniolan Parakeet (Aratinga chloroptera). Nevertheless, Hispaniolan Para- known to breed on Navassa, however, the Vulnerable White-necked Crow keet has recently been considered as an introduced species on Puerto Rico (Corvus leucognaphalus), a restricted-range bird from the Hispaniola (albeit a different subspecies), as individuals have been seen in various EBA, was seen during expeditions in 1998 and 2003. parts of the island. Of the 25 remaining species in the EBA, 24 occur on 3XHUWR5LFRDQGVHYHQLQWKH869,LQFOXGLQJWKH/HVVHU$QWLOOHDQ%XOOÀQFK $WRWDORIEUHHGLQJVSHFLHVDUHFRQÀQHGWR3XHUWR5LFRSULPDULO\WR (Loxigilla noctis), not present on Puerto Rico. A number of restricted-range natural forest and woodlands, one of which— Nesospingus—represents a species have been extirpated from USVI including Puerto Rican Screech- monotypic endemic genus. Navassa has a subspecies of Common Ground- owl (Megascops nudipes; last recorded in the 1930s) and Antillean Mango dove (Columbina passerina navassae) which is endemic to the island. (Anthracothorax dominicus; last recorded during the 1960s), probably re- ÁHFWLQJWKHORVVRISULPDU\IRUHVWWKURXJKRXWWKHLVODQGV Ten globally threatened species have been recorded from Puerto Rico DQGWKH86XQLQFRUSRUDWHGWHUULWRULHV 7DEOH KRZHYHURQO\ÀYHRFFXU The geographical position of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in- regularly: two Critically Endangered (Box 1), one Endangered and two tegrates a Greater Antillean and Lesser Antillean avifauna like no other Vulnerable (a further two Vulnerable species are extinct on the island). islands in the region. A number of the restricted-range species are shared The two Critically Endangered endemics could also be heading for extinc- with neighboring islands such as Antillean Mango and Antillean Euphonia tion, Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) and Puerto Rican Nightjar (Euphonia musica) also present in the Hispaniola EBA (028), and Lesser (Caprimulgus noctitherus). The wild population of Puerto Rican Amazon is estimated at c.26–30 individuals in El Yunque National Forest (IBA PR016) and 25–27 in the Rio Abajo State Forest (IBA PR003). The Puerto Rican 1LJKWMDUSRSXODWLRQLVHVWLPDWHGWREH²LQGLYLGXDOVFRQÀQHG to the drier forests of south-western Puerto Rico. Four Near Threatened species have also been recorded, although only three trigger IBA criteria, including viable populations of Caribbean Coot (Fulica caribaea) and White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala) on USVI. Hundreds of the latter species breed on Navassa.

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Waterbirds are an important component of the local avifauna representing more than 35% of the species recorded for Puerto Rico, with 45 and 15 breeding species on Puerto Rico and the USVI, respectively. However, the seabird populations on USVI, mainly on offshore cays, are threatened by predation from introduced rats (Rattus spp.), trampling by goats, human disturbance and illegal egging. Indirectly, they are also being im- SDFWHGE\WKHGHSOHWLRQRIÀVKVWRFNV IURPRYHUÀVKLQJ ELUGHQWDQJOH PHQWVLQÀVKLQJOLQHVLQYDVLYHSODQWVSHFLHVDQGKDELWDWORVV1DYDVVDLV notable for its breeding populations of Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) and 0DJQLÀFHQW )ULJDWHELUG )UHJDWD PDJQLÀFHQV). Studies of Red-footed 7\LY[V9PJV»ZUH[PVUHSIPYK7\LY[V Booby nestling mortality suggest a number of causal factors including 9PJHU>VVKWLJRLY adult defense of the nest, chicks being left unattended or human distur- 4LSHULYWLZWVY[VYPJLUZPZPZ LUKLTPJ[V[OLPZSHUK bance. Carcasses of Red-footed Booby, eaten clean by humans have been 7OV[V!(SMYLKV+*VS}U found under several trees and at a campsite at Lulu Bay, Navassa.

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A total of 30 IBAs covering 351,494 ha have been designated in Puerto by SOPI volunteers) to “potential” IBAs to document the presence of key Rico and the US unincorporated territories in the Caribbean (Table 1, ELUGVSHFLHV$FRPPLWWHHZDVHVWDEOLVKHGWRHYDOXDWHWKHÀHOGVXUYH\DQG 3, Figure 1, 2), of which, 20% have no form of legal protection. Nine site information, and in June 2006 a national IBA workshop, in which IBAs enjoy full protection throughout their whole area. More than half state and federal personnel and NGO members participated, was held. Par- (17) of the sites have been selected wholly or in part for species of global ticipants had the opportunity to review the information, discuss proposals FRQVHUYDWLRQ FRQFHUQ DQG DOO ÀYH JOREDOO\ WKUHDWHQHG VSHFLHV RFFXUULQJ and revise the criteria of the selected areas. The initial list of 26 proposed LQVXIÀFLHQWQXPEHUVWRWULJJHU,%$FULWHULDDUHUHSUHVHQWHGZLWKLQVLWHV IBAs was consolidated to 18 selected sites. An additional two IBAs were (Table 3). Of the Near Threatened species recorded for the islands, only SURSRVHGDQGKDYHEHHQLQFOXGHGLQWKHÀQDOLQYHQWRU\RI,%$VZKLFK WKUHHRFFXULQVXIÀFLHQWQXPEHUVWRWULJJHU,%$FULWHULD7ZHQW\ÀYHVLWHV embrace protected areas and privately owned lands. These 20 IBAs rep- KDYHEHHQFRQÀUPHGXQGHUFULWHULRQ$FRUUHVSRQGLQJWRRQH(QGHPLF resent a critical network covering the full diversity of habitats for Puerto Bird Area, with a total of 25 restricted-range species. This represents all Rico’s avifauna. restricted-range species present on the islands (see Ornithological Impor- tance). Eight IBAs have been triggered by A4 criteria for nine waterbirds Of the <:=PYNPU0ZSHUKZ IBAs, only St John IBA (VI007) embraces RUVHDELUGV7KHUHDUHÀYHVLWHVIRU$LWZRIRU$LLDQGWKUHHIRU$LLL populations of all the restricted-range species, Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon mystacea) and Puerto Rican Flycatcher (Myiarchus antil- The IBA program in 7\LY[V9PJV is an initiative of the Sociedad Orni- larum) not being found in any other IBA in the islands. The globally tológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. The program started in 2002 with visits (led threatened species are only found in criteria-triggering populations in

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one IBA each—namely Southgate and Green Cay IBA (VI008) for However, remoteness from USFWS administration in Puerto Rico and Caribbean Coot (Fulica caribaea), and Great Pond IBA (VI009) for disputed sovereignty by Haiti have made enforcement of regulations White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala). With further in- and conservation management impractical. As a result, foreign nation- formation (e.g. concerning the numbers of breeding White-crowned als enter the refuge and harvest protected natural resources. Illegal Pigeon on Ruth Island, St Croix) additional IBAs for these species may FRPPHUFLDODQGVXEVLVWHQFHÀVKLQJDQGKXQWLQJDFWLYLWLHV LPSDFWLQJ EHLGHQWLÀHG7ZRRIWKH,%$VKDYHEHHQLGHQWLÀHGRQWKHEDVLVRIWKHLU the breeding seabirds) have been documented during recent expedi- JOREDOO\VLJQLÀFDQWVHDELUGDQGZDWHUELUGSRSXODWLRQV tions. ,QVSLWHRIWKHVHLQIULQJHPHQWVDQGRWKHUWKUHDWVWKHVLJQLÀFDQW populations of Red-footed Booby (Sula sula DQG0DJQLÀFHQW)ULJDWH 5H]HZZH IBA (UM001) covers 148,100 ha of critical terrestrial and bird ()UHJDWD PDJQLÀFHQV) are thought to be have remained stable marine habitats that are legally protected as a national wildlife refuge. since the island became a refuge in 1999.

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Some priority actions are outlined below to improve the conservation programs for seabirds and some other species on USVI could of birds and their habitats on Puerto Rico and the US unincorporated XVHIXOO\EHH[SDQGHGWRÀOOSRSXODWLRQVWDWXVGDWDJDSVIRUNH\ territories in the Caribbean. species (and any additional birds on the USVI Endangered species list) at IBAs. The Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and • Expand Site Support Group initiative to USVI, in the same way that SOPI USFWS have initiated a collaborative project to assess the status is continuing to implement conservation actions at IBAs through the of Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) populations on St Croix and pro- provision of assistance to IBA Site Support Groups on Puerto Rico. duce management recommendations. A Least Tern nesting colony in the national park on St John is also monitored and protected by • Control and monitor alien invasive species, for example, the DFW the park staff. Survey work is also required to establish popula- KDVHUDGLFDWHGUDWVIURPÀYHFD\VRQ869,DQGFRQWLQXHVWRPRQL tion numbers for known large concentrations of seabirds, for ex- tor for their presence. ample at Magens Bay (VI005). Such work may lead to more sites qualifying as IBAs under A4 criteria. On Navassa, more extensive • Increased enforcement of existing legislation appears to be necessary research to better estimate the Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) and on USVI if the populations of birds at the seven protected IBAs 0DJQLÀFHQW)ULJDWHELUG )UHJDWDPDJQLÀFHQV) colonies and estab- (that make the sites internationally important) are to thrive. lish a baseline against which to monitor the populations has been scheduled for the next biological expedition to the island. • Establishing and continuing with existing bird monitoring programs is essential for guiding conservation actions and determining the • The results from the shorebird, threatened bird and seabird monitoring true impact of various threats across the territories. On Puerto undertaken by all actors across the territories should be used to in- Rico, SOPI is monitoring IBAs through the Shorebird Monitoring form the annual assessment of state, pressure and response variables Network, Christmas Bird Counts and data collected by eBird (a at each IBA in order to provide an objective status assessment and public, online database for bird records), as well as through col- highlight management interventions that might be required to main- laboration with state and federal agencies. Existing monitoring tain these internationally important biodiversity sites. :WLJPLZ.\HYKPHUMVY7\LY[V9PJHU5PNO[QHY[VLZ[HISPZO JVUZLY]H[PVUUL[^VYR[VWYV[LJ[[OLZWLJPLZ

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National IBA directory The authors would like to thank the following people and institutions for con- Méndez, V. (2009) Áreas Importantes para la Conservación de las Aves en Puerto tributing to this chapter: Sergio Colón, Carol Cramer-Burke (St Croix Environ- Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. mental Association), John Curnutt (USDA Forest Service Eastern Region), Javier Mercado, Joel Mercado, Douglas McNair (Sapphos Environmental, Inc.), Judy Contact information Pierce (DPNR, Division of Fish and Wildlife), Jorge Saliva, Susan Silander, Clau- Verónica Anadón-Irizarry ([email protected]) dia Lombard (US Fish and Wildlife Service), Adrianne Tossas, Jean W. Wiener BirdLife International (Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine), Lisa Yntema, DNER, www.birdlife.org/regional/caribbean/ USFWS, USFS, USDA, CTPR personnel and SOPI’s past and present Board, members and volunteers. Jim Corven ([email protected]) Bristol Community College 777 Elsbree St., Fall River, MA 02720, USA http://ebird.org/content/usvi/

Verónica Méndez-Gallardo ([email protected]) José A. Salguero-Faría ([email protected]) Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. PO Box 195166

Joseph Schwagerl ([email protected]) U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service WORLDBIRDSORG 3RVW2IÀFH%R[ #ONTRIBUTETOINFORMATIONON0UERTO2ICOAND Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622-0510 THE53UNINCORPORATEDTERRITORIESBIRDS www.fws.gov/southeast/ WWWWORLDBIRDSORGMAPPORTALWORLDMAPPHP M

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ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION (1993) Southgate Pond/Chenay Bay, Area of Particular Concern and Area of Preservation and Restoration: a comprehensive analytical study. St Thomas, USVI: Dept. Planning and Natural Resources. (Unpublished report). AUKEMA, J. E., CARLO, T. A., TOSSAS, A. G. & ANADÓN-IRIZARRY, V. (2006) A call JOGLAR,R.L.EDS. (2005) Biodiversidad de Puerto Rico: vertebrados terrestres to protect Sierra Bermeja for future generations. San Juan, Puerto Rico: y ecosistemas. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Editorial del Instituto de Cultura Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. Puertorriqueña. BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL (2008) Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean: key LOMBARD, C. D. (2006) Navassa Island National Wildlife Refuge Bird sites for conservation. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. (BirdLife 2EVHUYDWLRQV Boquerón, Puerto Rico: United States Fish and Wildlife Conservation Series No. 15) Service, (Unpublished report). BONILLA, G., VÁZQUEZ, M. & PÉREZ, E. (1992) Estatus, estimado poblacional y LÓPEZ, T. & VILLANUEVA, N. (2006) Atlas ambiental de Puerto Rico. San Juan, distribución de cuatro aves acuáticas nativas en Puerto Rico. Pp.135–148 Puerto Rico: La Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico. in E. L. Cardona, ed. XVIII Simposio de los Recursos Naturales. Puerta de MCLAUGHLIN,M.ED. (1976) Shoreline and marine associations of the Virgin Tierra, Puerto Rico: Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. Islands. St Thomas, USVI: Island Resources Foundation (DCCA BOULON, R. H. & GRIFFIN, D. M. (1999) 6KRUHOLQHJXLGHWRWKH869LUJLQ,VODQGV. Environmental Fact Sheet 4). St Thomas, USVI: Dept. Planning and Natural Resources, Div. Fish and MCNAIR, D. B. (2006) Historical breeding distribution and abundance of the Wildlife. White-crowned Pigeon 3DWDJLRHQDVOHXFRFHSKDOD on St. Croix, US Virgin COLÓN, S. (2004) Aves de la zona del Caño Tiburones y Bosque de Cambalache. Islands. -&DULE2UQ19: 1–7. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. MCNAIR, D. B. (2006) Review of the status of American )XOLFDDPHULFDQD and (Unpublished data). Caribbean Coot )XOLFDFDULEDHD in the United States Virgin Islands. North COLLAZO, J., HARRINGTON, B., GEAR, J. & COLÓN, J. (1995) Abundance and American Birds 59: 680–686. distribution of shorebirds at the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats, Puerto Rico. -)LHOG MCNAIR, D. B. & LOMBARD, C. D. (2004) Population estimates, habitat associations, 2UQ66: 424–438. and management of Ameiva polops (Cope) at Green Cay, U.S. Virgin Islands. DAMMANN, A. E. & NELLIS, D. W. (1992) A natural history atlas to the cays of the &DULE-6FL40: 353–361. 869LUJLQ,VODQGV. Sarasota, FL, USA: Pineapple Press, Inc. MCNAIR, D. B. & SLADEN, F. W. (2007) Historical and current status of the Cattle DÍAZ, R. & PÉREZ, R. (1989) Assessment of the West Indian Whistling Duck Egret in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and management considerations. -&DULE Dendrocygna arborea in eastern Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico: 2UQ20: 7–16. Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. (Unpublished report). MCNAIR, D. B., YNTEMA, L. D. & CRAMER-BURKE, C. (2006) Use of waterbird GARCÍA, M., CRUZ, J., VENTOSA, E. & LÓPEZ, R. (2005) Puerto Rico comprehensive abundance for saline wetland site prioritization on St Croix, U.S. Virgin wildlife conservation strategy. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Department of Natural Islands. &DULE-6FL42: 220–230. and Environmental Resources. MCNAIR, D. B., YNTEMA, L. D., CRAMER-BURKE, C. & FROMER, S. L. (2006) Recent GIBNEY, E., THOMAS, T., O’REILLY, R. & DEVINE, B. (2000) USVI vegetation breeding records and status review of the Ruddy Duck 2[\XUDMDPDLFHQVLV FRPPXQLW\FODVVL¿FDWLRQV\VWHP. St Thomas, USVI: University of the Virgin on St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. -&DULE2UQ19: 91–96. Islands Conservation Data Center [available at: http://cdc.uvi.edu/reaweb/ MCNAIR, D. B., YNTEMA, L. D., LOMBARD, C. D., CRAMER-BURKE, C. & SLADEN,F. vegbody.html]. W. (2005) Records of rare and uncommon birds from recent surveys on St

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