Asa Wright Photo: AWNC Files Contents Message from the Chairman 2 NAI’s Training Comes to Spring Hill 22 A History of the Bellbird Newsletter 4 A Natural Study Area 23 The Fortuitous Meeting which Changed My Life 5 Readers Remember... 24 A Brief History of Asa Wright Nature Centre 7 Newsletter Archives 25 Simla 8 Commemorative Messages 27 The Early Guides 10 Board of Management 30 50th Anniversary Cocktail Reception 12 Developing an Eco-conscience 31 for Trinidad and Tobago Caligo Ventures: A Brief History 13 AWNC Staff 32 Celebrity Birders at AWNC 14 Thank You to Our Employees 32 Success Stories 15 References 32 The Bird Life 16 INSIDE BACK COVER: The Oilbirds of Dunston Cave 17 A Network of Support Our Other Residents 18 Asa Wright Nature Centre Extends Thanks Fine Dining at the Asa Wright Nature Centre 19 to Our Major Donors Planning for the Future 20 Acknowledgements 1 ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE 50TH ANNIVERSARY 2017 volunteers from North Carolina State University at a pool on one of our trails. Photo by Beth Wright Trinidad and Tobago was already well known as a place of high biodiversity and good for scientifi c study. Our A Message from guppy was a household name, popular accounts of our natural history were available (Brooke Worth’s A Naturalist in Trinidad and Lindblad’s Journey to the the Red Birds) and there was an identifi cation guide to the Chairman birds. For the more serious, there were famous scientifi c studies: the discovery of echo-location in bats, research On 21st October 1967, when the on mimicry in butterfl ies, guppy life-history evolution, and lekking and frugivory by birds. Such works went on to Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC) spark new ecological studies and spread the name of Trust was signed into being, Trinidad and Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago had been independent for fi ve That was 50 years ago. Our economy is now, more than years. Our GDP was US$762 million or ever, energy based, and nearly all of our coffee, cocoa and sugar are imported. Our lifestyle and entertainment US$823 per capita. Our economy was have moved towards the indoor and virtual environment, already energy based with agriculture in at home or in malls and movie complexes. decline but we still produced a signifi cant Amongst these changes, the AWNC has remained quantity of cocoa, coffee and sugar. a constant. An institution rooted in the appreciation 2 Visitors on the verandah. Photo by Johanne Ryan products and services. Fortunately, AWNC has kept a candle burning in the window, demonstrating the value of natural habitats to our quality of life and as a sustainable economic activity. We will continue to share our experience in ecotourism and expand our message of sustainable land use. This does not mean creating similar entities and sharing existing visitor numbers. This means helping to address national deficiencies in environmental management which undermine our efforts, and our potential. This means managing the swamps so that the birds and wildlife are safe, managing the reefs so that the coral improves and flourishes, managing the forests so that we enjoy all of the ecosystem services that they provide and managing the waterways so that we may have clean water, healthy aquatic life and corridors for wildlife to Graham White presents employee, Juliana Walcott-Stewart, move between protected areas. with a token at a Service Awards Ceremony in 2016. Photo by Beverly Noel Readers of the Bellbird, and our Facebook followers are our core supporters in the online world. We will of natural history, advocating for conservation and expand our influence on Facebook; perhaps initially to sustainability of development. During our 50-year 50,000 followers. In the real world, we must increase history, almost every local biologist has been associated the participation by the Friends of Asa Wright. Together with and contributed to AWNC in some way. Our staff, with the Council of Presidents of the Environment our Board and partners have successfully fulfilled the and other environmentally minded non-governmental mandate of the trust to: protect the estate as a wildlife organisations, we will continue to lobby for, and support, sanctuary and nature centre; maintain agricultural good natural-area management. In the economic realm, potential in an ecologically sound manner; continue the we will support ecotourism-related activities wherever scientific and educational potential of the AWNC and we can. What is most important, especially in the longer generally support conservation by encouraging the study term, is that we continue to inspire and support young of natural history by residents and visitors. Today, these children in their interest in our natural environment, just objects of the trust are as relevant as ever. as Ian Lambie did on 20th April 1974 when he actively encouraged me, at eight years old, in my interest in In 2017, we face a slump in the economy. Not only are natural history. energy prices reduced but the entire industry is placing the planet’s climate in jeopardy. Nationally, we are again Graham White seeking avenues to grow our economy through new Chairman of the Board, Asa Wright Nature Centre 3 ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE 50TH ANNIVERSARY A History of The Bellbird Newsletter By Johanne Ryan he fi rst edition of Asa Wright Nature Centre’s newsletter was a typewritten document published in 1968. Then, it was called Spring Hill News. It was sent to Tpatrons to update them on the developments of our fl edgling nature centre. Later issues of the newsletter were professionally printed. Our name has also changed over time. The newsletter was once also known as Spring Hill- Simla News, until it was renamed the Bellbird after the Bearded Bellbird, the Spring Hill resident featured on AWNC’s logo. Our newsletter has evolved into the monthly publication that our readers receive in their inboxes today. We currently send the Bellbird to readers not only in Trinidad and Tobago but to regional and international friends in countries including the United Kingdom, the United The fi rst edition of Spring Hill News, 1968 States of America, Canada, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and New Zealand. Sit back, and enjoy a little journey through time as you read this 50th Anniversary Edition of the Bellbird. The Bellbird Newsletter gets its name from our resident species, the Bearded Bellbird, which makes a loud, metallic call Photo by Wendell S.J. Reyes 4 An AWNC sta party in 1992. Photos: AWNC fi les The Fortuitous Meeting which Changed My Life By Ian Lambie Dr. Copeland remembered that I had been nominated by Richard ffrench to be a member of the Board of n 1973, I was the Customs and Excise Offi cer, in the the AWNC, but without success. Dr. Copeland invited Ministry of Finance, charged with the responsibility me to dinner at the Nature Centre and following an of supervising the operations at the two breweries in after-dinner conversation, he assured me that he would Trinidad, the Carib Brewery at Champs Fleurs and the nominate me to fi ll the next vacancy on the Board. INational Brewing Company, which was situated on the site now occupied by the Grand Bazaar, and assessing At the 1975 AGM on the nomination of Dr. Copeland, the Excise Duties payable on the beer brewed. which was seconded by Don Eckelberry, I was admitted to membership of the Board. During the next two years, With the permission of the Management, I utilised the Eckelberry and Copeland took every opportunity to private road running through the UWI Farm as a shortcut convey to me their vision for the Nature Centre and between the breweries. The Farm was subsequently at the 1977 AGM on the nomination of Copeland, closed and the road was upgraded into the Uriah Butler the outgoing President, which was seconded by Don Highway extension, connecting the Churchill Roosevelt Eckelberry, I became the fi rst Trinidadian to hold the Highway with the Eastern Main Road. position of President of the AWNC. On this occasion, I was driving along Farm Road and At that time, the Board of Management comprised stopped when I recognised the birding guide, Jogie qualifi ed, knowledgeable and experienced persons Ramlal, accompanying a group of birdwatchers. Jogie but lacked the “foot soldiers” to effectively implement introduced me as the Secretary of the Field Naturalists’ the decisions taken and the instructions issued by the Club to the members of the group which included Board. There was a manager who was mainly occupied Dr. Joseph Copeland, a founding member and then with managing the guest accommodations. He was not President of the Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC). a birdwatcher, naturalist or an environmentalist. 5 ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE 50TH ANNIVERSARY Richard ffrench had identified me as someone capable of implementing the decisions of the Board and of furthering the objectives of the organisation in environmental conservation and education while striving to make the Nature Centre financially independent. From its inception in 1967 and until 1974, as the result of a very low occupancy rate, the Nature Centre operated at a deficit and it became necessary for certain Board Members to provide “interest-free” loans to keep the doors open. It was no surprise that in his speech delivered during the 10th anniversary celebrations in 1977, Don Eckelberry stated that he had never expected Ian Lambie and Freda Copeland, wife of Dr. Joseph Copeland, at AWNC in 1998 the Nature Centre to exist for that many years. In 1973, Wonder Bird Tours, operated by Manny Arias, became the “front desk” of the Nature Centre in New York, providing the avenue for easy communication between the Nature Centre and its prospective guests.