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Puerto Rico 2019 Birds

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Field Guides Tour Report PUERTO RICO 2019 Mar 17, 2019 to Mar 23, 2019 Tom Johnson For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. During a morning outing to the Cabo Rojo lighthouse, we enjoyed very close studies of prospecting White-tailed Tropicbirds (or "Apricot-tailed Tropicbirds" as they usually appear here!). Photo by guide Tom Johnson. This was our first tour to Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria passed over the island in 2017, and it was wonderful to be back. While damage from the hurricane was significant, especially at the eastern end of the island, the forests still harbor the impressive diversity of endemic birds found here, and the resilient people of Puerto Rico have done a great job of rebuilding and beginning to move forward after this natural disaster. Most birding sites that we visited in the western portion of the island showed little hurricane impact, but Rio Abajo State Forest was closed during this visit, preventing us from accessing the habitat of the reintroduced population of Puerto Rican Parrots. Minus the off-limits parrots, we had great views of all of the island's endemic bird species in a relaxed and enjoyable loop through this easternmost island of the Greater Antilles. Some of the many highlight bird sightings included courting White-tailed Tropicbirds a few yards away at Cabo Rojo, Black Swifts wheeling overhead at El Yunque, the modest but unique Puerto Rican Tanager (recently elevated to its own bird family), a spectacular Puerto Rican Screech-Owl (which is not really a screech-owl at all!), a flotilla of 11 Masked Ducks up close on a tiny pond, the loneliest American Flamingo in the Caribbean, and some last minute Green-throated Caribs on the way to the airport. Thank you for joining me on this journey around "La Isla del Encanto" - I'll see you out in the field again sometime soon! KEYS FOR THIS LIST One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant BIRDS Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) BLUE­WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors) – Common in freshwater wetlands, including 170 in a pond near Camuy. WHITE­CHEEKED PINTAIL (Anas bahamensis) – We found about 50 of these fine ducks spread between freshwater wetlands on the island. MASKED DUCK (Nomonyx dominicus) – Wow ­ 11 of these scarce, nomadic, and secretive ducks were in a small, thickly vegetated pond in the Lajas Valley. RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis) – A few dozen were seen between Camuy and Laguna Cartagena. Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos) AMERICAN FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus ruber) – One bird has resided in a few ponds along the north shore of the island for quite a few years now ­ "Pinky" put on a good show for us, striding past large flocks of ducks with his elegant legs. Podicipedidae (Grebes) LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) – Two were on the pond with Pinky the Flamingo. Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1 PIED­BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps) – One was swimming with a few ducks at Laguna Cartagena. Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – Common around towns and agricultural areas. [I] SCALY­NAPED PIGEON (Patagioenas squamosa) – This large, dark pigeon is common in most large tracts of forest on the island. WHITE­CROWNED PIGEON (Patagioenas leucocephala) – The one that sat up on a wire near Laguna Cartagena gave us a lovely view. AFRICAN COLLARED­DOVE (Streptopelia roseogrisea) – These introduced doves were giving their growling songs in quite a few locations. Eurasian Collared­Doves were also introduced to Puerto Rico and hybridization clouds identifications here. [I] COMMON GROUND­DOVE (Columbina passerina portoricensis) – These small, colorful doves were frequently seen while we birded along dirt roads in the southwestern part of the island. KEY WEST QUAIL­DOVE (Geotrygon chrysia) – Jim saw one of these stocky doves in the parking lot at Cambalache State Forest. WHITE­WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) – Common and widespread. ZENAIDA DOVE (Zenaida aurita) – These stout doves are common here; we even found a nest on our first day of birding. MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura) – We saw these familiar doves most frequently in open habitats in the Lajas Valley. Cuculidae (Cuckoos) SMOOTH­BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani) – These black, social cuckoos were found on several occasions in open habitats in the southwest. MANGROVE CUCKOO (Coccyzus minor) – Superb views of this masked cuckoo at Cambalache State Forest and again at Boquerón. PUERTO RICAN LIZARD­CUCKOO (Coccyzus vieilloti) – These big, lanky cuckoos were hunting lizards at Cambalache, Maricao, and Guánica. [E] Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies) PUERTO RICAN NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus noctitherus) – Our after­dinner outing from La Parguera took us to a nearby patch of dry forest where we heard and watched several of these rare goatsuckers. Known initially from early specimens and bones from the northern part of Puerto Rico, this species was rediscovered by voice in 1961 by G.B. Reynard. [E] Apodidae (Swifts) BLACK SWIFT (Cypseloides niger) – At least two of these big, scarce swifts circled overhead with Cave Swallows during our afternoon walk at El Yunque National Forest above Casa Cubuy. Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) ANTILLEAN MANGO (PUERTO RICAN) (Anthracothorax dominicus aurulentus) – Just a few sightings of this big hummingbird at Cabo Rojo and near the Parador Villa Parguera. GREEN MANGO (Anthracothorax viridis) – We visited Carite State Forest and ended up seeing this endemic hummingbird on a nice, open perch above our van! [E] GREEN­THROATED CARIB (Eulampis holosericeus) – This was our final new bird of the trip ­ we saw a few of these flat­headed hummingbirds feeding on flowering trees in a neighborhood in San Juan. PUERTO RICAN EMERALD (Chlorostilbon maugaeus) – These small, endemic hummingbirds put in appearances for us at Laguna Cartagena, Maricao, and El Yunque. [E] Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) CLAPPER RAIL (CARIBBEAN) (Rallus crepitans caribaeus) – We heard these big rails clapping from the mangroves in the southwestern part of the island on a few occasions; we were fortunate to see a few in the open along the edge of flats at Reserva Natural La Parguera. SORA (Porzana carolina) – We heard at least 5 from the marsh at Laguna Cartagena NWR. COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata) – Common in freshwater wetlands around the island. AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana) – We saw both red­shielded birds and white­shielded (formerly known as Caribbean Coot) birds at Laguna Cartagena NWR and Humacao. PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinica) – Two showed briefly along the edge of the marsh at Laguna Cartagena. Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) BLACK­NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – Widely distributed in wetlands on the island. Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) BLACK­BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola) – These stocky plovers appeared a few times at coastal sites. WILSON'S PLOVER (Charadrius wilsonia) – Four of these stout­billed plovers were on the salt flats at Cabo Rojo NWR. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus) – Five were with other shorebirds at Cabo Rojo. KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) – Scattered sightings in the Lajas Valley and also at the Fajardo Inn. Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies) WHIMBREL (HUDSONIAN) (Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus) – One strode around on the mudflats at the Reserva Natural La Parguera. RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) – These widespread, calico­marked shorebirds were on the docks at Parador Villa Parguera. STILT SANDPIPER (Calidris himantopus) – The flocks at Cabo Rojo were incredible ­ we saw ~280 there with yellowlegs and other shorebirds. LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – Quite common on the flats at Cabo Rojo NWR. 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LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) – This was the common yellowlegs that we found at wetlands sites on the island. Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers) ROYAL TERN (Thalasseus maximus) – We found small numbers at scattered coastal sites. SANDWICH TERN (CABOT'S) (Thalasseus sandvicensis acuflavidus) – 15 of these slender, crested terns were roosting on the flats at Cabo Rojo. Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds) WHITE­TAILED TROPICBIRD (Phaethon lepturus) – The views of a dozen birds courting, fighting, and prospecting for nesting sites at Cabo Rojo were simply fantastic. We could see every feather, and even noted the apricot wash on the tails of these fine seabirds. Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens) – These huge (but lightweight) seabirds were seen on each
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  • In the Face of Accelerating Habitat Loss and an Increasing Human

    In the Face of Accelerating Habitat Loss and an Increasing Human

    ABSTRACT Borkhataria, Rena Rebecca. Ecological and Political Implications of Conversion from Shade to Sun Coffee in Puerto Rico. (Under the direction of Jaime Collazo.) Recent studies have shown that biodiversity is greater in shaded plantations than in sun coffee plantations, yet many farmers are converting to sun coffee varieties to increase short-term yields or to gain access to economic incentives. Through conversion, ecosystem complexity may be reduced and ecological services rendered by inhabitants may be lost. I attempted to quantify differences in abundances and diversity of predators in sun and shade coffee plantations in Puerto Rico and to gain insight into the ecological services they might provide. I also interviewed coffee farmers to determine the factors influencing conversion to sun coffee in Puerto Rico and to examine their attitudes toward the conservation of wildlife. Avian abundances were significantly higher in shaded coffee than in sun (p = 0.01) as were the number of species (p = 0.09). Avian species that were significantly more abundant in shaded coffee tended to be insectivorous, whereas those in sun coffee were granivorous. Lizard abundances (all species combined) did not differ significantly between plantations types, but Anolis stratulus was more abundant in sun plantations and A. gundlachi and A. evermanni were present only in shaded plantations. Insect abundances (all species combined) were significantly higher in shaded coffee (p = 0.02). I used exclosures in a shaded coffee plantation to examine the effects of vertebrate predators on the arthropods associated with coffee, in particular the coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeela) and the flatid planthopper Petrusa epilepsis, in a shaded coffee plantation in Puerto Rico.