The Significance of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, As a Breeding Site for Terns and Plovers

THE J OURNAL OF CARIBBEAN O RNITHOLOGY

SOCIETY FOR THE C ONSERVATION AND S TUDY OF C ARIBBEAN B IRDS S OCIEDAD PARA LA C ONSERVACIÓN Y E STUDIO DE LAS A VES C ARIBEÑAS ASSOCIATION POUR LA C ONSERVATION ET L’ E TUDE DES O ISEAUX DE LA C ARAÏBE 2006 Vol. 19, No. 1 (ISSN 1544-4953)

Formerly EL P ITIRRE

CONTENTS

HISTORICAL B REEDING D ISTRIBUTION AND A BUNDANCE OF THE W HITE -CROWNED P IGEON (PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA ) ON S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS . Douglas B. McNair ………...... 1 GROUND V ERSUS A BOVE -GROUND N ESTING OF C OLUMBIDS ON THE S ATELLITE C AYS OF S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS . Douglas B. McNair ...... 8 VARIATION AND H YBRIDIZATION IN THE G REEN H ERON ( BUTORIDES VIRESCENS ) AND S TRIATED H ERON (B. S TRIATA ) IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO , WITH C OMMENTS ON S PECIES L IMITS . Floyd E. Hayes ...... 12 THE S IGNIFICANCE OF B ONAIRE , N ETHERLANDS A NTILLES , AS A B REEDING S ITE FOR T ERNS AND PLOVERS . Jeffrey V. Wells and Allison Childs Wells ...... 21 ENDANGERED P IPING P LOVERS ( CHARADRIUS MELODUS ) O VERWINTERING IN P UERTO R ICO . Allen R. Lewis, Adrianne G. Tossas, José A. Colón, and Beatriz Hernández ...... 27 FIVE N EW S PECIES OF B IRDS FOR A RUBA , WITH N OTES ON O THER S IGNIFICANT S IGHTINGS . Steven G. Mlodinow ...... 31 ANÁLISIS DE LAS R ECUPERACIONES DE E JEMPLARES A NILLADOS DE G ARZAS Y C OCOS (C ICONIIFORMES ) EN EL P ERIODO DE 1913 A 1998. Dennis Denis Avila y Hector M. Salvat Torres …………...... 36 SECOND AND T HIRD R ECORDS OF W ESTERN M ARSH -HARRIER ( CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS ) FOR THE WESTERN H EMISPHERE IN P UERTO R ICO . Christopher L. Merkord, Rafy Rodríguez, and John Faaborg ...... 42 FIRST R ECORD OF THE W ESTERN R EEF -HERON ( EGRETTA GULARIS ) FOR S T. V INCENT AND THE GRENADINES . Michael R. Paice ...... 45 STATUS OF THE A MERICAN O YSTERCATCHER ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) IN S T. V INCENT AND THE GRENADINES . Floyd E. Hayes, Michael R. Paice, Tony Blunden, P. William Smith, Susan A. Smith, Graham White, and Martin D. Frost ...... 48 HISPANIOLAN L IZARD -CUCKOO ( COCCYZUS LONGIROSTRIS ) T ETHERED BY C OMMON G REEN S NAKE (UROMACER CATESBYI ). Thomas H. White, Jr...... 52 FIRST R ECORD OF A UDUBON ’S W ARBLER ( DENDROICA CORONATA AUDUBONI ) IN J AMAICA . Gary R. Graves ...... 54 GREATER A NTILLEAN G RACKLE ( QUISCALUS NIGER ) P REYS ON ANOLIS GRAHAMI . Gary R. Graves ...... 56 PRIMER R EGISTRO SOBRE LA R EPRODUCCIÓN DEL O STRERO A MERICANO ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) EN CUBA . Ernesto Hernández Pérez ...... 59

THE JOURNAL OF CARIBBEAN ORNITHOLOGY

THE J OURNAL OF THE S OCIETY FOR THE C ONSERVATION AND S TUDY OF C ARIBBEAN B IRDS LA R EVISTA DE LA S OCIEDAD PARA LA C ONSERVACIÓN Y E STUDIO DE LAS A VES C ARIBEÑAS LE J OURNAL DE L’ A SSOCIATION POUR LA C ONSERVATION ET L’ E TUDE DES O ISEAUX DE LA C ARAÏBE

Editor in Chief FLOYD E. H AYES , Department of Biology, Pacific Union College, 1 Angwin Ave., Angwin, CA 94508, USA; telephone: 707-965-6401; fax: 707-965-7577; e-mail: [email protected]

Associate Editors WAYNE A RENDT , P. O. Box 534, Luquillo PR 00773-0534, USA; e-mail: [email protected]. P. A. B UCKLEY , 211 Meadowtree Farm Road, Saunderstown, RI 02874, USA; e-mail: [email protected] DENNIS D ENIS A VILA , Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, Calle 25 e/J e I, Vedado, Ciudad Habana, Cuba; e-mail: [email protected] ANDREW D OBSON , Warwick Academy, 117 Middle Rd., Warwick PG01, Bermuda; e-mail: adobson@war- wickacad.bm PHILIPPE F ELDMANN , Cirad, TA 179/04, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; e-mail: [email protected] RUUD VAN H ALEWIJN , 14 Adelaarhof, Utrecht, 3514 TZ, The Netherlands; e-mail: [email protected] SUSAN K OENIG , Windsor Research Centre, Sherwood Content P.O., Trelawny, Jamaica; e-mail: wind- [email protected] OLIVER K OMAR , SalvaNATURA, Colonia Flor Blanca, 33 Ave. Sur #640, San Salvador, El Salvador; e- mail: [email protected] LOURDES M UGICA V ALDES , Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, Calle 25 entre J e I, Vedado, Ciudad Habana, Cuba; e-mail: [email protected] ANTONIO R ODRÍGUEZ S UÁREZ , Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, Calle 25 entre J e I, Ve- dado, Ciudad Habana, Cuba; e-mail: [email protected] JOSEPH W UNDERLE , International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 507, Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721; e-mail: [email protected]

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ISSN 1544-4953 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:1-7, 2006

HISTORICAL BREEDING DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON ( PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA ) ON ST. CROIX, US VIRGIN ISLANDS

DOUGLAS B. MCNAIR

Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands 00840, USA; current address: Sapphos Environmental, Inc., 133 Martin Alley, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract : I critically assessed historical data (before 2002) on the breeding distribution and abundance of the White-crowned Pigeon ( Patagioenas leucocephala ) on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, since the first confirmed breeding record in 1858. White-crowned Pigeons have formed moderate to large colonies at three colony sites, two cays (Green Cay, Ruth Island) and a mangrove wetland (the former Krause Lagoon; destroyed in 1962), although only one of these three colony sites has ever been documented to be a large active colony at a given time. The largest certain documented site was at the former Krause Lagoon, where up to 600 birds nested in the 1950s, although the colony at Green Cay in the 1910s and 1920s may have been much larger. Historical data for the White-crowned Pigeon on St. Croix are generally sparse because of insufficient observer effort, and the difficulty of obtaining reli- able population estimates is further compounded because of poaching of adults and squabs at the largest colony sites, most recently at Ruth Island, a man-made cay located just south of the former Krause Lagoon. Key words: abundance, colony site, distribution, Green Cay, Krause Lagoon, Patagioenas leucocephala , poaching, Ruth Island, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, White-crowned Pigeon

Resumen: DISTRIBUCIÓN DE H ISTÓRICA DE C RÍA Y A BUNDANCIA DE LA P ALOMA C ABECIBLANCA ( PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA ) EN S T. C ROIX , I SLAS V ÍRGENES DE EEUU . Se realizó una revisión crítica de los datos históricos (anteriores al 2002) acerca de la distribución de cría y la abundancia de la Paloma Cabeciblanca ( Patagioenas leucocephala ) en St. Croix, Islas Vírgenes de EEUU, desde el primer registro confirmado de su cría en 1858. La Paloma Cabeciblanca ha formado colonias de moderadas a grandes en tres localidades, dos cayos (Green Cay, Ruth Island) y un manglar (la antigua Laguna Krause; destruida en 1962). Solo una localidad ha sido documentada actualmente como una gran colonia activa. El mayor sitio documentado fue el de la antigua Laguna Krause, donde hasta 600 aves anidaron en la década de los años 50, aunque la colonia en Green Cay, alrededor de 1910 y 1920, podría haber sido mucho mayor. Los datos históricos para la Paloma Cabeciblanca en St. Croix son generamente escasos a causa de un insuficiente esfuerzo de observación, y la dificultad de obtener estimados poblacionales confiables se ha derivado de la caza furtiva de adultos y pichones en la mayor colonia, más recientemente en Ruth Island, un cayo artificial locali- zado justo al sur de la anterior Laguna Krause. Palabras clave: abundancia, caza furtiva, colonias, distribución, Green Cay, Islas Vírgenes de EEUU, Laguna Krause, Paloma Cabeciblanca, Patagioenas leucocephala , Ruth Island, St. Croix

Résumé : DISTRIBUTION H ISTORIQUE ET A BONDANCE DU P IGEON A C OURONNE B LANCHE ( PATAGIOENAS L EUCO- CEPHALA ) À S T. C ROIX , I LES V IERGES A MÉRICAINES . Une analyse critique des données historiques a été faite sur la distribution des nicheurs et l’abondance du Pigeon à couronne blanche ( Patagioenas leucocephala ) à St. Croix, Iles Vierges Américaines, depuis la première observation de nidification confirmée en 1858 jusqu’en 2001. Cette espèce avait constitué plusieurs colonies de taille moyenne à grande sur 3 sites, 2 îlots (Green Cay, Ruth Island) et un marais de mangrove (l’ancien Krause Lagoon, détruit en 1962). Cependant, seul un de ces 3 sites a toujours été con- sidéré comme étant une colonie active et importante. Le site le plus important connu était Krause Lagoon, où jusqu’à 600 oiseaux nichaient dans les années 1950, bien que la colonie de Green Cay ait pu être encore plus important dans les années 1910 et 1920. Les données historiques du Pigeon à couronne blanche sont globalement rares à St. Croix en raison d’une pression d’observation insuffisante et la difficulté d’obtention d’estimations fiables des populations est aggravée par le braconnage d’adultes et de poussins sur les sites des colonies les plus importantes, et plus récem- ment à Ruth Island, un ilot artificiel situé juste au sud de Krause Lagoon. Mots-clés : abondance, braconnage, colonies, distribution, Green Cay, Iles Vierges Américaines, Krause Lagoon, Patagioenas leucocephala , Pigeon à couronne blanche, Ruth Island, St. Croix

THE ABUNDANCE OF THE territorially endangered of a large industrial complex in 1962 destroyed it, White-crowned Pigeon ( Patagioenas leucocephala ) has never been documented and critically assessed breeding population at Krause Lagoon, St. Croix, other than by Dammann (1977) and Arendt et al . United States Virgin Islands, before the construction (1979), whose examination of Seaman’s quarterly

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 1 MCNAIR — PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA IN S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS federal-aid reports (funded under the Pittman- heavy woodland (unlike today, it is now low scrub; Robertson Act of 1937) was incomplete. In this note Woodbury and Vivaldi 1982). The only documented I examine published and unpublished materials, breeding evidence was two eggs taken from a nest much of the latter from federal-aid reports including on 21 June 1921 (Beatty 1930). Seaman (1973, all of Seaman’s, to obtain estimates of the historical 1993) also observed breeding birds at Green Cay breeding population of the White-crowned Pigeon during the 1920s, but provides no numbers and it is on St. Croix. impossible to separate information on White- crowned Pigeons in his accounts from Zenaida METHODS Doves ( Zenaida aurita ). Dammann (1977) stated Counts or estimates of the number of birds and birds at Green Cay had been shot out since 1946, nests at each historical breeding site were initially but presented no data. In the 1980s, Fred W. Sladen taken at face value from the original source. Esti- (pers. comm.) observed small numbers of White- mates of the number of birds by Seaman at Krause crowned Pigeons on Green Cay during the main Lagoon (260 ha) were usually extrapolated from breeding period (May-July), although he found no nest counts over a portion of this area. Where war- nests. ranted, I reinterpret the fragmented and incomplete data and conclusions of Beatty, Seaman, Knowles, SOUTHGATE P OND and other individuals about the size of breeding Seaman (1993) suggested that White-crowned populations at various historical sites. These data Pigeons were formerly restricted to nesting on St. include the most recent site at Ruth Island, just Croix proper during the 1920s at Southgate Pond, south of the former Krause Lagoon, which was cre- just across from Green Cay (350 m), but no docu- ated by placing dredged spoil taken from channels mented evidence exists. Sladen ( in Scott and Car- excavated for the industrial complex on a nearshore bonell 1986) stated birds bred at Southgate Pond in bar (Long Reef). Subsequent to vegetative coloniza- the 1980s, but did not discover nests. Breeding tion and succession, Ruth Island became the main habitat would have been in mangrove wetlands and breeding site for White-crowned Pigeons on St. littoral woodland on the beach berm. Croix (Knowles 1994, 1995, 1997). However, data on the abundance of the breeding population at Ruth KRAUSE L AGOON Island, where this pigeon breeds semi-colonially in Harry A. Beatty was the first individual to docu- dense aggregations (and formerly on Green Cay; ment nesting over many years (11 June 1934, 30 Beatty 1930), have also never been critically exam- May 1939, 3 May 1941, 4 May 1941, and 15 June ined. These historical data form the basis of our 1944) when he collected five sets of two eggs knowledge of breeding White-crowned Pigeons on (Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology 17348, St. Croix prior to initiation of new surveys in 2002 WFVZ 17347, San Bernardino County Museum (McNair unpubl. data). 2P30, United States National Museum B46833; and Delaware Museum of Natural History 471, respec- RESULTS tively). In 1942, Beatty (1943) stated a “large colony” was nesting in the mangroves on 21 July. UNKNOWN L OCALITY From 300-600 birds nested at Krause Lagoon in The earliest record of breeding White-crowned 1944 and through the 1950s (Table 1), usually based Pigeons on St. Croix was a juvenile “which could on extrapolated estimates from counts of nests that not have left the nest many days” (University Mu- ranged as high as 170 per year. George A. Seaman seum of Zoology, Cambridge 17/col/8/w/3) shot on banded 1,271 squabs from 1950 to 1960 (Table 1). 28 July 1858 by Newton and Newton (1859). The estimated number of adult birds and number of banded squabs per year ( n = 6) were positively cor- GREEN C AY related (Spearman’s rank correlation, rs = 0.84, P = Beatty (1944) stated this cay was occupied “by a 0.04), even though the breeding population gener- colony of 10,000 breeding birds [White-crowned ally declined during the 1950s, but by no more than Pigeons] from 1916 to 1920” but they have not half its maximum number in 1950 ( contra Dam- nested there since that period. He also stated earlier mann 1977). Dammann and Nellis (1992) stated (Beatty 1930) that White-crowned Pigeons nested in that Krause Lagoon was formerly “the home of “countless numbers” on Green Cay in the early thousands” of White-crowned Pigeons, but I cannot 1920s, when the northern part of this cay had intact find any substantiation for this statement.

2 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MCNAIR — PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA IN S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS

Table 1. Estimated number of adult birds, minimum number of nests, and number of banded young of the White-crowned Pigeon documented at Krause Lagoon from 1944 to 1961 on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands.

Number of Number of Number of Range of Visits Number Year Adults Nests Visits Banded a Reference(s) 1944 500 Jun Beatty 1944 1949 “half its for- May - Jun Seaman 1949 mer size” 1950 600 170 b 5 12 Jun - Aug 174 Seaman 1950a, b 1951 Uc 21 Jun - 3 Aug 122 Seaman 1951b 1952 May - Jul 97 BBL d 1953 60+ U Jun - Aug 180 Seaman 1953, 1954b 1954 500 e 54+; 19 U <18 May - 24 Jul; 150 Seaman 1954a, b 4 Nov 1955 45 55+ U 28 Apr - 28 Jul 110 Seaman 1955 1956 350 83+ 4+ 29 May - 14 Aug 38 Seaman 1956a, b, Lamb 1957 1957 300 83+ 3 21 Jun - 26 Jul 54 Seaman 1957b 1958 “few hun- Seaman 1958 dred” 1959 U U late May - 9 Jul 103 Seaman 1959a, b 1960 500 13 May - Sep 243 Seaman 1960 1961 30+ 5 25 May - 25 Jul Seaman 1961 adata supplied by the Bird Banding Laboratory, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U. S. Geological Survey bsome of the same nests may have been sampled on different days, although White-crowned Pigeons frequently reuse the same nest cunknown ddata on range of visits also supplied by the Bird Banding Laboratory eabout two-thirds of the birds were breeding, according to Seaman (1954a)

KRAUSE L AGOON R EMNANT stated that by 1954 White-crowned Pigeons no Dammann (1977) stated that a “few” birds nested longer nested at Sugar Bay. Lamb (1957) stated that in dead mangroves at Krause Lagoon Remnant, but Salt River Bay was a former breeding site, appar- White-crowned Pigeons do not nest in dead man- ently based on information provided by Seaman. groves (McNair pers. obs.). Ten birds were at Sladen ( in Scott and Carbonell 1986) stated birds Krause Lagoon Remnant during June 1982 (Norton nested at Sugar Bay in the 1980s, but did not dis- 1982) and Sladen ( in Scott and Carbonell 1986) cover any in mangrove wetlands where he implied discovered fewer than ten breeding pairs there in the they occurred. Wauer (1990) presumed White- 1980s. crowned Pigeons nested in littoral woodland just above Sugar Bay, not in mangroves, but provided SALT R IVER E STUARY no documentation. Seaman (1993) stated that “hundreds” of White- crowned Pigeons roosted at Salt River Estuary RUTH I SLAND (actually, in Sugar Bay) in the mid-1930s. Accord- The first year birds began nesting at Ruth Island, ing to Dammann (1977), the birds had been shot out a dredge spoil island created in the early 1960s, is since 1946. Birds still roosted there in 1950, but unknown, although they were established by 1980 Seaman (1950a) did not mention any numbers. Also when Yntema and Sladen (1987) saw an adult sit- in 1950, Seaman (1950a, b, 1951a) reported that “a ting on a nest, brooding young. The pigeons breed small and negligible colony” nested there, perhaps at Ruth Island in littoral woodland and scrub as well based on second-hand information. Seaman (1954a) as mangrove wetlands (Yntema and Sladen 1987).

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 3 MCNAIR — PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA IN S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS

Knowles (1994, 1995) reported that 200-300 pairs doubtedly active in the 1990s regardless of any ef- of White-crowned Pigeons nested at Ruth Island in fects of heightened hurricane activity on habitat 1993. After he established plots beginning in 1994, since 1989 (e.g., Wauer and Wunderle 1992, Wiley Knowles (1994, 1995, 1997) estimated that a mini- and Wunderle 1993). These populations were mum number of 633, 961, and 899 pairs nested at probably small, suggested by the size of recent Ruth Island in 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively. (2002-2003) breeding populations at all of these sites except for one for which there has been a re- OTHER B REEDING S ITES cent, obvious increase because of favorable habitat Sladen ( in Scott and Carbonell 1986; Sladen pers. change (McNair unpubl. data). comm.) discovered from 1-10 breeding pairs at The larger size of the breeding population of seven other sites in the 1980s, at Altona Lagoon, the White-crowned Pigeons at Ruth Island, however, Buccaneer Hotel, Coakley Bay Salt Pond, Great must not have been nearly as large as Knowles had Pond, Manning Bay Lagoon, Sandy Point National estimated. His original data were not documented or Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and the University of Vir- presented in a form that can be extracted to reana- gin Island (UVI) Wetlands. In addition to birds nest- lyze the data, so the size of the breeding population ing on Ruth Island, Sladen confirmed breeding is unknown; it probably did not exceed 150-200 (nests found, with eggs or young) on at least four of pairs. Knowles’s estimates at Ruth Island were ap- these seven sites (Great Pond, Manning Bay La- proximately 2-3 times greater than the largest esti- goon, Sandy Point NWR, UVI Wetlands). Breeding mate of the former breeding population at Krause pairs at all sites were located in mangrove wetlands Lagoon. This is unlikely, even though White- including Great Pond, except for additional birds at crowned Pigeon nests at Ruth Island can be closely Great Pond in littoral woodland on the beach berm packed in littoral woodland (as they may have been and at the Buccaneer Hotel where they only nested at Green Cay), whereas at Krause Lagoon they were in littoral woodland. usually spaced widely apart in red mangroves but over a much larger area (260 ha compared to 7.1 DISCUSSION ha). Knowles attributed the breeding population Historical data on the White-crowned Pigeon crash at Ruth Island in 1994 and low nest success breeding population on St. Croix are sparse, other during the other 3 yr to predation, which he rarely than those for the former Krause Lagoon during the observed or documented. However, poaching of 1950s and Ruth Island during the mid-1990s. Birds squabs occurred regularly at Krause Lagoon, where were formerly concentrated at Green Cay, then Seaman on a single visit noted that up to 25% of his Krause Lagoon, where documented breeding popu- marked nests poached, and may better explain lations did not overlap. It is impossible to recon- Knowles’s data. Poaching by squab poachers was struct a plausible population estimate for birds on diffused here because nests were dispersed, the Green Cay (Beatty’s claim of 877 pairs/ha, if it had habitat was tiresome to traverse, and the large size been confirmed, would have been the densest breed- of Krause Lagoon prevented breeding failure from ing aggregation ever documented; Bancroft and occurring from poaching alone. The smaller size of Bowman 2001). Apparently plausible documented mangrove wetlands at Salt River Bay may have population estimates are available for Krause La- allowed poachers (of squabs and adults) to wipe out goon, most from the 1950s, when the maximum the breeding colony. annual population estimate for this multi-brooded Poaching of squabs is an illegal practice that con- pigeon was 600 birds in 1950 ( contra Dammann tinues today at Ruth Island, where nearly complete 1977). breeding failure probably occurred in 2002 because Following destruction of the former Krause La- the aggregated, accessible nests on this small island goon (Norton and Seaman 1985), Ruth Island be- facilitate poaching (McNair unpubl. data). Negligi- came the apparent primary breeding site on St. ble poaching of adults and juveniles otherwise oc- Croix by the 1990s, although it is unknown when curs island-wide, but this was a common practice birds first began breeding there except that it was during Seaman’s day even during the breeding sea- sometime between 1962 and 1980. The proximity of son which sometimes coincided with the opening of uninhabited Ruth Island to the former Krause La- the hunting season on St. Croix (e.g., 16 August in goon probably facilitated colonization. Knowles 1956; 1 July in 1960; Seaman 1957a, 1960; Norton overlooked many other breeding sites on St. Croix and Seaman 1985). Surviving adults at Green Cay, discovered by Sladen in the 1980s, that were un- then later at Krause Lagoon, probably dispersed to

4 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MCNAIR — PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA IN S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS breed at other sites on St. Croix (and perhaps other predator adaptations include selection of relatively islands), although this was not documented, as they remote sites and placement of nests directly over continued to be reduced by hunting pressure water (Wiley 1979, Campbell 1991). (including poaching), and later, at Krause Lagoon by habitat destruction (Dammann 1977, Norton and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Seaman 1985; cf., northern US Virgin Islands: I thank F. W. Sladen for contributing data, K. Nichols 1943; British Virgin Islands: Mirecki et al . Carter (Biological Sciences Division, San Bernar- 1977; Puerto Rico: Wiley 1977, 1979, Arendt et al . dino County Museum), R. Corado (Collections 1979). Hunting pressure may have led to cessation Manager, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zool- of breeding at Salt River Estuary (= Sugar Bay), ogy), J. P. Dean (Collections Manager, Division of assuming breeding occurred, although the apparent Birds, Department of Systematic Biology, Smith- population size was small, at least by 1950. The sonian Institution), G. K. Hess (Collections Man- main reason for continued hunting pressure was to ager, Department of Birds, Delaware Museum of kill larger numbers of roosting birds in late summer Natural History), and R. Symonds (Collections and early autumn, especially in the mature man- Manager, University Museum of Zoology, Cam- grove forest. The effects of hunting pressure and bridge) for providing information from their orni- poaching of squabs on numbers of White-crowned thological collections, K. Klimkiewicz of the Bird Pigeons, in addition to insufficient documentation Banding Laboratory, Patuxent Wildlife Research or lack of substantiation of claims over many years, Center, United States Geological Survey for provid- makes it difficult to make plausible population esti- ing copies of Seaman’s banding data from Krause mates at most historical breeding sites. It is also Lagoon, C. D. Lombard, F. F. Rivera-Milan, and J. uncertain how many breeding sites were active on W. Wiley for reviewing a penultimate draft of this St. Croix and how important they were before the manuscript, and W. J. Arendt and one anonymous elimination of breeding birds from Green Cay by individual for their reviews of the submitted manu- 1930 and before the destruction of Krause Lagoon script. I also thank the USFWS for financial support and after the creation of Ruth Island during the early (Federal Aid Program, Pittman-Robertson Colum- 1960s. It is perhaps notable, however, that no more bids Project, W12, Study 1) and Christine Willis for than one historical breeding site of moderate or ma- her support. Copies of unpublished manuscripts jor importance has ever been documented to be ac- listed below are available from the author. tive at a given time on St. Croix. Insufficient observer effort since Seaman’s day, LITERATURE CITED especially on St. Croix proper, contributed to uncer- ARENDT , W. J., T. A. VARGAS MORA , AND J. W. tainty about historical breeding populations. Enig- WILEY . 1979. White-crowned Pigeon: status matically, Seaman (1993) never saw a White- rangewide and in the Dominican Republic. Pro- crowned Pigeon in the western end of St. Croix ceedings of the Annual Conference of the South- (including Krause Lagoon) during his childhood, eastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies but only saw his first birds at Southgate Pond and 33:111-122. Green Cay during the early 1920s because Beatty BANCROFT , G. T., AND R. BOWMAN . 2001. White- introduced him to the species there. Much later, crowned Pigeon ( Columba leucocephala ). In The Seaman (1993) considered White-crowned Pigeons birds of North America, no. 596 (A. Poole and F. summer residents of mangrove swamps, yet appar- Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., ently never searched for the species in littoral wood- Philadelphia, PA. land (other than Green Cay). Nellis et al . (1984) BEATTY , H. A. 1930. Birds of St. Croix. Journal of failed to find any breeding sites of the White- the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico 14: crowned Pigeon on St. Croix during the mid-to-late 135-150. 1970s. Breeding sites in littoral woodland were BEATTY , H. A. 1943. Records and notes from St. documented on St. Croix proper (and Ruth Island Croix, Virgin Islands. Auk 60:110-111. and Green Cay) in the 1980s when one individual BEATTY , H. A. 1944. Virgin Islands wildlife re- (F. W. Sladen) finally looked for them in this habi- search and restoration project. Pittman-Robertson tat. Insufficient observer effort also extended to Quarterly 4:171-173. mangrove wetlands, even though this breeding habi- CAMPBELL , E. W. 1991. The effect of introduced tat is generally preferred by pigeons compared to roof rats on bird diversity of Antillean cays. Jour- littoral woodland (except on islands) because anti- nal of Field Ornithology 62:343-348.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 5 MCNAIR — PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA IN S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS

DAMMANN , A. E. 1977. The White-crowned Pigeon tory of Neotropical wetlands. International Union in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with notes from the for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Lesser Antilles. Pp. 23-24 in Proceedings of the (IUCN), Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Inter- International White-crowned Pigeon Conference. national Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bu- Bahamas National Trust, Nassau, Bahamas. reau (IWRB), Slimbridge, United Kingdom. DAMMANN , A. E., AND D. W. NELLIS . 1992. A SEAMAN , G. A. 1949. Wildlife resources survey of natural history atlas to the cays of the U.S. Virgin the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- Islands. Pineapple Press, Inc., Sarasota, FL. terly report (July), St. Croix. KNOWLES , W. C. 1994. Nesting White-crowned SEAMAN , G. A. 1950a. Wildlife resources survey of Pigeons. Annual report, Pittman-Robertson study the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- 10, Division of Fish and Wildlife, St. Croix, terly report (July), St. Croix. USVI. SEAMAN , G. A 1950b. Wildlife resources survey of KNOWLES , W. C. 1995. Nesting White-crowned the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- Pigeons. Annual report, Pittman-Robertson study terly report (October), St. Croix. 10, Division of Fish and Wildlife, St. Croix, SEAMAN , G. A. 1951a. Wildlife resources survey of USVI. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- KNOWLES , W. C. 1997. Determination of breeding terly report (January), St. Croix. characteristics of the White-crowned Pigeon SEAMAN , G. A. 1951b. Wildlife resources survey of (Columba leucocephala ): breeding population the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- size, nesting seasonality, number and success on terly report (July), St. Croix. St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Final report, SEAMAN , G. A. 1953. Wildlife resources survey of Pittman-Robertson grant W10-1, Division of Fish the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- and Wildlife, St. Croix, USVI. terly report (September), St. Croix. LAMB , G. R. 1957. On the endangered species of SEAMAN , G. A. 1954a. Wildlife resources survey of birds in the U. S. Virgin Islands. Research Report the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- No. 2. Pan-American Section, International Com- terly report (June), St. Croix. mittee for Bird Preservation. New York, NY. SEAMAN , G. A. 1954b. Wildlife resources survey of MIRECKI , D. N., J. M. HUTTON , C. M. PANNELL , T. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- J. STOWE , AND R. W. UNITE . 1977. Report of the terly report (September), St. Croix. Cambridge ornithological expedition to the Brit- SEAMAN , G. A. 1955. Wildlife resources survey of ish Virgin Islands 1976. Churchill College, Cam- the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- bridge, UK. terly report (September), St. Croix. NELLIS , D. W., R. A. DEWEY , M. A. HEWITT , S. SEAMAN , G. A. 1956a. Wildlife resources survey of IMSAND , R. PHILOBOSIAN , AND J. A. YNTEMA . the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- 1984. Population status of Zenaida Dove and terly report (June), St. Croix. other columbids in the Virgin Islands. Journal of SEAMAN , G. A. 1956b. Wildlife resources survey of Wildlife Management 48:889-894. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- NEWTON , A., AND E. NEWTON . 1859. Observations terly report (September), St. Croix. on the birds of St. Croix, West Indies, made be- SEAMAN , G. A. 1957a. Wildlife resources survey of tween February 20th and August 6th, 1857 by the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- Alfred Newton, and, between March 4th and Sep- terly report (March), St. Croix. tember 28th, 1858 by Edward Newton. Ibis, ser. SEAMAN , G. A. 1957b. Wildlife resources survey of 3, 1:252-264. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- NICHOLS , R. A. 1943. The breeding birds of St. terly report (June), St. Croix. Thomas and St. John. Memoirs of the Society of SEAMAN , G. A. 1958. Wildlife resources survey of Cuban Natural History “Felipe Poey” 17:23-37. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- NORTON , R. L. 1982. West Indies region. American terly report (June), St. Croix. Birds 36:1019-1020. SEAMAN , G. A. 1959a. Wildlife resources survey of NORTON , R. L., AND G. A. SEAMAN . 1985. Post- the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- fledging distribution of White-crowned Pigeons terly report (June), St. Croix. banded in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Journal of SEAMAN , G. A. 1959b. Wildlife resources survey of Field Ornithology 56:416- 418. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- SCOTT , D. A., AND M. CARBONELL . 1986. A direc- terly report (September), St. Croix.

6 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MCNAIR — PATAGIOENAS LEUCOCEPHALA IN S T. C ROIX , US V IRGIN I SLANDS

SEAMAN , G. A. 1960. Wildlife resources survey of crowned Pigeon in Puerto Rico. Pages 11-16 in the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- Proceedings of the International White-crowned terly report (September), St. Croix. Pigeon Conference. Bahamas National Trust, SEAMAN , G. A. 1961. Wildlife resources survey of Nassau, Bahamas. the Virgin Islands No. 4-R: Unpublished quar- WILEY , J. W. 1979. The White-crowned Pigeon in terly report (September), St. Croix. Puerto Rico: status, distribution, and movements. SEAMAN , G. A. 1973. Sticks from the hawk’s nest. Journal of Wildlife Management 43:402-413. Prestige Press, St. Croix. WILEY , J. W., AND J. M. WUNDERLE , JR. 1993. The SEAMAN , G. A. 1993. Every shadow is a man: a effects of hurricanes on birds, with special refer- journey back into birds and time. Antilles Graphic ence to Caribbean Islands. Bird Conservation Arts, St. Croix. International 3:319-349. WAUER , R. H. 1990. Assessment of changes in St. WOODBURY , R. O., AND J. L. VIVALDI . 1982. The Croix avifauna after Hurricane Hugo. Unpub- vegetation of Green Cay. U. S. Fish and Wildlife lished report, U. S. National Park Service, St. Service contract report no. CI-007-6-1. Files: Croix. Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge (P. WAUER , R. H., AND J. M. WUNDERLE , JR. 1992. O. Box 510, Boquerón, Puerto Rico). The effect of Hurricane Hugo on bird populations YNTEMA , J. A., AND F. W. SLADEN . 1987. Ruth on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Wilson Bulle- Island survey. Final report, endangered species tin 104:656-673. project ES-1, Study IIB, Job IIB-1. Division of WILEY , J. W. 1977. The status of the White- Fish and Wildlife, U. S. Virgin Islands.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 7 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:8-11, 2006

GROUND VERSUS ABOVE-GROUND NESTING OF COLUMBIDS ON THE SATELLITE CAYS OF ST. CROIX, US VIRGIN ISLANDS

DOUGLAS B. MCNAIR 1 AND C LAUDIA D. L OMBARD 2

1Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands 00840, USA; current address: Sapphos Environmental, Inc., 133 Martin Alley, Pasadena, California 91105, USA; e-mail: [email protected]; 2United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, 3013 Estate Golden Rock, Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands 00820-4355, USA

Abstract : We examined the incidence of ground versus above-ground nesting of columbids on four nearshore cays off St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Roof rats ( Rattus rattus ) occurred on two cays (Protestant Cay, Ruth Island), whereas rats were absent from the two other cays (Buck Island, Green Cay) in 2002-2003. We discovered 6 ground nests (2.1%) of three columbids out of 288 nests of five columbids, including the first documented record of ground nesting by the Scaly-naped Pigeon ( Patagioenas squamosa ). The proportion of ground nests on cays with or without rats was similar (1.5% versus 3.4%). Despite flexible nest-site placement of ground and above-ground nests of columbids on inhabited and uninhabited cays off St. Croix, the low number and restriction of ground nests to early successional habitats suggest that columbids may prefer breeding above-ground when suitable nest-sites are available in more mature habitats regardless of the presence or absence of rats. Key words: above-ground nests, cays, columbids, ground nests, Patagioenas squamosa , Rattus rattus , roof rat, Scaly-naped Pigeon, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Resumen: NIDIFICACIÓN EN EL S UELO VS S OBRE EL S UELO DE C OLÚMBIDOS EN LOS C AYOS S ATELLITE DE S T. CROIX , I SLAS V ÍRGENES DE EEUU. Se examinó la incidencia de nidificación en el suelo y sobre el suelo de colúmbi- dos en cuatro cayos adyacentes a St. Croix, Islas Vírgenes de EEUU. Las ratas ( Rattus rattus ) aparecieron en dos de los cayos (Protestant Cay, Ruth Island), mientras que estuvieron ausentes de otros dos cayos (Buck Island, Green Cay) en 2002-2003. Se descubrieron seis nidos en el suelo (2.1%) de tres columbidos, de los 288 nidos de cinco columbidos, incluyendo el primer registro documentado de nidificación en el suelo de la Torcaza Cuellimorada (Patagioenas squamosa ). Las proporciones de nidos en el suelo entre los cayos con y sin ratas fue similar (1.5 % versus 3.4 %). A pesar de la flexibilidad en la selección de sitios de nidificación en el suelo o sobre este, de los columbidos en cayos habitados o deshabitados adyactentes a St. Croix, la pequeña cantidad y la restricción de los nidos en el suelo a hábitats sucesionales tempranos sugieren que los columbidos pueden preferir nidificar en lugares altos cuando existen sitios asequibles en hábitats maduros, independientemente de la presencia o no de ratas. Palabras clave: nidos sobre el suelo, cayos, columbidos, Islas Vírgenes de EEUU, nidos en el suelo, Patagioenas squamosa , Rattus rattus , ratas, Torcaza Cuellimorada, St. Croix

Résumé : NIDIFICATION AU S OL C OMPAREE A N IDIFICATION AU -DESSUS DU S OL DES C OLOMBIDES S UR LES I LETS SATELLITES DE S T. C ROIX , I LES V IERGES A MERICAINES . Nous avons comparés la nidification au sol par rapport à la nidification au dessus du sol des colombidés sur 4 ilots de St. Croix, Iles Vierges Américaines. Le Rat noir ( Rattus rattus ) est présent sur 2 ilots (Protestant Cay, Ruth Island), alors qu’il était absent des deux autres (Buck Island, Green Cay) en 2002-2003. 6 nids (2,1%) de 3 espèces de colombidés sur les 288 répertoriés de 5 espèces, ont été découverts au sol, dont la première observation confirmée de nidification au sol du Pigeon à couronne blanche (Patagioenas squamosa ). La proportion de nids au sol était la même sur les ilots avec ou sans rat (1,5% vs. 3,4%). En dépit de la localisation souple du choix des sites de nidification, au sol ou non, des colombidés sur les ilots habi- tés ou non de St. Croix, le nombre réduit et la localisation des nids au sol aux premiers stades de la succession des habitats, suggère que les colombidés préfèrent nicher au dessus du sol quand des sites adéquats sont disponibles dans des habitats plus évolués, qu’il y ait ou non présence de rats. Mots-clés : nids au dessus du sol, ilots, columbidés, nids terrestres, Patagioenas squamosa , Rattus rattus , Pigeon à couronne blanche, St. Croix, Iles Vierges Américaines

GROUND NESTING by some columbids, especially studies were conducted are dominated by rock and the Zenaida Dove ( Zenaida aurita ), may be frequent grassland-scrub vegetation ≤1 m tall (Dammann and on cays in the Culebra Archipelago of Puerto Rico Nellis 1992, Rivera-Milan and Schaffner 2002). and the northern United States Virgin Islands where Though trees and other woody vegetation were nest density is greater than on the main islands available on some cays, most Zenaida Doves nested (Nellis et al . 1984, Burger et al . 1989, 1991, Rivera- on the ground, on flat rocks, in rock crevices, under Milan and Schaffner 2002). The cays where these rock boulders, and on soil completely or partially

8 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MCNAIR AND L OMBARD — C OLUMBID N ESTING E COLOGY ON C AYS OFF S T. C ROIX covered by vegetation. Ground nests, however, had Rivera-Milan and Schaffner 2002). In this note, we generally lower success than nests above-ground present data on columbid nest-site placement from and overall reproductive success on these cays was 2002 and 2003 on four cays off of St. Croix and low (22-26%), despite the absence of exotic mam- assess its consistency with the expectation that malian predators. ground nests should be fairly numerous or at least The small Indian mongoose ( Herpestes javani- increase on cays without rats. cus ) and roof rat ( Rattus rattus ) are major predators on nests of landbirds on some cays off Puerto Rico STUDY A REA AND M ETHODS and the U.S. Virgin Islands where these predators In the course of several ongoing studies on Green occur (Nellis et al . 1984, Campbell 1991, Rivera- Cay and the three other nearshore cays off St. Croix, Milan and Schaffner 2002). Land crabs ( Gecarcinus we opportunistically obtained information on ruricola ) were the main predator on Zenaida Dove ground and above-ground nests (trees, shrubs, cacti) nests (eggs and nestlings) on cays off St. Thomas, of five species of columbids (52 visits in 2002 and where mammalian predators were absent (Nellis et 2003). Ground nests as defined herein exclude nests al . 1984). Despite heavy predation by crabs on placed in crevices of rock walls or on rock ledges small islands without mammalian predators (Nellis above the ground but include nests placed on the et al . 1984, Burger et al . 1991, Rivera-Milan and ground among boulders. Vegetative descriptions for Schaffner 2002), tree-nesting by some columbids Buck Island, Green Cay, and Ruth Island, and vege- (including Zenaida Doves), if sites are available, tative characteristics for Protestant Cay are avail- generally predominates on small islands with rats able (Woodbury and Little 1976, Woodbury and and ground nesting on small islands without rats Vivaldi 1982, Yntema and Sladen 1987, McNair (and other mammalian predators). 2003). Briefly, all four cays have extensive or fairly Off St. Croix, three of the four cays have always extensive areas of open xeric forest, dry thorn- been mongoose-free and the mongoose was suc- woodland, or highly modified littoral woodland cessfully eradicated from Buck Island by the 1990s. with exotic vegetation (Protestant Cay) except for Roof rats formerly occurred on all four cays. They man-made Ruth Island, where woodland is more were recently eradicated from Green Cay (68 rats limited in extent and the coral rubble is lightly vege- removed by live-trapping from June 2000 to Febru- tated. Small areas of mangrove wetland occur on ary 2001; C. D. Lombard unpubl. data) and Buck Ruth Island and Buck Island. Grassland-scrub vege- Island (Witmer et al . 2002), although rats have tation is more limited than woodland on all four recolonized Green Cay since 2005 (Lombard pers. cays but is fairly extensive on Green Cay, especially obs.) but were absent when this study was con- the northern half. Seabird colonies on these cays are ducted in 2002-2003. Rats are present but appar- absent or limited to low numbers of one or two spe- ently are rather scarce on Protestant Cay and Ruth cies. Island (McNair pers. obs.). Pre- and post-removal effects of exotic mammals on columbid nests on the RESULTS two cays off St. Croix without rats cannot be com- We discovered a total of six ground nests (2.1%) pared because of the absence of pre-removal stud- of Scaly-naped Pigeon ( Patagioenas squamosa ), ies. Nonetheless, columbid nest placement (ground White-crowned Pigeon ( P. leucocephala ), and versus above-ground) on cays without rats can be Zenaida Dove on two cays (Green Cay, Protestant compared to the two cays with rats and results Cay) out of 288 nests of five species of columbids therein can be compared to published studies. The (Table 1). The proportion of ground nests was low number of ground nests covered by vegetation or on cays with (1.5%) or without rats (3.4%). Most of under boulders and at other sites may increase in our data, other than White-crowned Pigeon at Ruth response to the removal of rats (Atkinson 1985, Island, were from Green Cay and Protestant Cay. Wiley 1991, Rivera-Milan and Schaffner 2002). All six ground nests were discovered in early Green Cay and Buck Island were free of rats in successional habitats, not in open woodland or for- 2002-2003, when breeding may have shifted from est. The Scaly-naped Pigeon nest on Protestant Cay above-ground to ground nests even though repro- that contained one fresh egg on 27 June 2002 (when ductive success of above-ground nests on large is- an adult was flushed off the nest) was placed on soil lands such as Puerto Rico with high densities of underneath a sapling (1.5 m) wild tamarind ( Leu- avian and mammalian predators is generally higher caena leucocephala ) 15 cm from a dilapidated rock- than in ground nests on small cays (Wiley 1991, wall near the top of a slope on hotel grounds in an

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 9 MCNAIR AND L OMBARD — C OLUMBID N ESTING E COLOGY ON C AYS OFF S T. C ROIX

Table 1. The number of ground versus above-ground nests for five species of columbids on four cays (with rats, Ruth Island and Protestant Cay; without rats, Buck Island and Green Cay) off St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, from 2002 and 2003.

Numbers of Ground / Above-ground Nests Rats No rats Species Ruth Island Protestant Cay Buck Island Green Cay Total Scaly-naped Pigeon 1 / 17 1 / 17 White-crowned Pigeon 0 / 107 0 / 13 0 / 2 1 / 19 1 / 141 White-winged Dove a 0 / 14 0 / 14 Zenaida Dove 0 / 1 2 / 41 0 / 1 2 / 45 4 / 88 Common Ground-Dove b 0 / 4 0 / 18 0 / 22 Total 0 / 126 3 / 71 0 / 3 3 / 82 6 / 282 aZenaida asiatica bColumbina passerina area that had been cleared of vegetation three weeks nest was placed on a ledge inside an open rusted earlier. One ground nest of the Zenaida Dove on hull of a ship 2.4 m above the water line, just off the Protestant Cay, discovered with two eggs on 14 shoreline of Ruth Island. Another pair of White- May 2003, was completely shaded by a sapling wild crowned Pigeons on Protestant Cay built a bulky tamarind 18 cm from the same rockwall as the nest on the top of the tip of a live banana frond that Scaly-naped Pigeon nest in an adjacent area that had lay upon the corner of a window sill of an unoccu- been cleared in November 2002. The other Protes- pied dwelling 3.3 m above the ground. Zenaida tant Cay nest, with two eggs on 3 May 2002, was Doves twice nested on the seat of a table chair (0.75 placed among low herbaceous vegetation on the m above ground) placed 2 m inside this same dwell- beach beside an abandoned unfenced tennis court. ing. Finally, one pair of Zenaida Doves built a nest The two Zenaida Dove nests on Green Cay, discov- on Ruth Island (where the species is scarce) at a ered with two eggs each on 19 August 2002 and 29 height of 2 m on top of a fold of a large, torn, hori- May 2003, were underneath two shrubs Eupatorium zontal tarpaulin that served as the roof for a tempo- sinuatum and Oplonia spinosa in grassland-scrub rary fishing shack. near the northeastern tip. The two eggs in the White-crowned Pigeon nest discovered on 29 May DISCUSSION 2003 were placed under overhanging boulders on a The six ground nests plus at least seven unusual 60° slope on the leeward side near the top of the sites for above-ground nests again demonstrate peak of the northern tip of Green Cay; by 17 June flexible nest-site placement of columbids on inhab- this nest contained two large nestlings about to ited and uninhabited cays (Rivera-Milan 1999, fledge. Except for this nest, the other five ground Rivera-Milan and Schaffner 2002). The ground nest nests of these columbids failed, at least four during of the Scaly-naped Pigeon on Protestant Cay is the the egg stage (only the Zenaida Dove nest under- first documented for this species, which generally neath the Eupatorium and Spinosa on Green Cay in nests high in large, tall trees. The minimum nest 2002 may have survived to the nestling stage). heights above ground reported for Puerto Rico were Some above-ground nests were placed in unusual a few nests just off the ground in well supported nest-sites. One Scaly-naped Pigeon nest at Protes- stunted trees or shrubs in elfin forest in the Sierra de tant Cay was located at a height of 0.5 m above Luquillo (J. W. Wiley pers. comm.) and 1 m above ground on a dry upturned tree trunk along a steep ground in a sea grape ( Coccoloba uvifera ) at Fla- hillside, and another nest at a height of 1.5 m was menco, Culebra (F. F. Rivera-Milan pers. comm.). built on a coralita vine ( Antigonon leptopus ) lying Despite considerable nest-site flexibility on near- on top of a large remnant trunk of a tree that had shore cays off St. Croix, we found few columbid been recently cut down. One White-crowned Pigeon ground nests, even on cays without rats where rocky

10 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MCNAIR AND L OMBARD — C OLUMBID N ESTING E COLOGY ON C AYS OFF S T. C ROIX and grassland-scrub habitat was available. Whereas BURGER , J., M. GOCHFELD , J. E. SALIVA , D. J. our searches were opportunistic and uneven as to GOCHFELD , D. A. GOCHFELD , AND H. MORALES . species, site, and year, we are confident that only a 1991. Habitat use by visiting Zenaida Doves small proportion of columbid nests on these cays Zenaida aurita in Puerto Rico: avoidance of is- are ground nests. lands without nesting seabirds. Ornis Scandi- The scarcity and failure of all but one of these navica 22:367-374. ground nests on cays with and without rats, with or CAMPBELL , E. W. 1991. The effect of introduced without seabird colonies ( cf . Burger et al . 1991), roof rats on bird diversity of Antillean cays. Jour- and their restriction to early successional habitats nal of Field Ornithology 62:343-348. suggest that columbids may prefer breeding above- DAMMANN , A. E., AND D. W. NELLIS . 1992. A ground when suitable nest-sites are available in natural history atlas to the cays of the U. S. Virgin more mature habitats. Predation effects by native Islands. Pineapple Press, Inc., Sarasota, FL. fauna probably reduce the incidence of ground nest- MCNAIR , D. B. 2003. Population estimate, habitat ing on cays even where rats (and other exotic preda- associations, and conservation of the St. Croix tors) may be absent, unless no other habitat is read- Ground Lizard Ameiva polops at Protestant Cay, ily available on more exposed cays such as Cayo del United States Virgin Islands. Caribbean Journal Agua in the Culebra Archipelago or Saba Cay and of Science 39:94-99. Flat Cay off St. Thomas. Land crabs are probably NELLIS , D. W., R. A. DEWEY , M. A. HEWITT , S. the major predators of columbid nests on cays off IMSAND , R. PHILIBOSIAN , AND J. A. YNTEMA . St. Croix, except possibly Buck Island where the 1984. Population status of Zenaida Doves and Pearly-eyed Thrasher ( Margarops fuscatus ) is fairly other columbids in the Virgin Islands. Journal of numerous ( cf . Wiley 1991). Wildlife Management 48:889-894. RIVERA -MILAN , F. F. 1999. Population dynamics of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Zenaida Doves in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Journal of We thank Hotel-on-the-Cay for providing us boat Wildlife Management 63:232-244. transportation to reach Protestant Cay, J. Johnson of RIVERA -MILAN , F. F., AND F. C. SCHAFFNER . 2002. the Tamarind Reef Hotel for providing kayaks that Demography of Zenaida Doves on Cayo del allowed us to reach Green Cay, Z. Hillis-Starr of the Agua, Culebra, Puerto Rico. Condor 104:587- National Park Service for allowing us to reach Buck 597. Island on their boat, and M. A. Mahoney for allow- WILEY , J. W. 1991. Ecology and behavior of the ing us access to St. Croix Renaissance Park where Zenaida Dove. Ornitología Neotropical 2:49-75. we launched kayaks provided by W. Coles. We also WITMER , G. W., F. BOYD , E. CAMPBELL , III, J. thank J. W. Wiley for reviewing a penultimate draft WAKEFIELD , AND Z. HILLIS -Starr. 2002. The of this manuscript and W. J. Arendt and two anony- eradication of introduced rats at Buck Island Reef mous individuals for their reviews of the submitted National Monument, St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Is- manuscript. McNair also thanks the USFWS for lands. Final report. U.S. Department of Interior, financial support (Federal Aid Program, Pittman- National Park Service, Buck Island Reef National Robertson Columbids Project, W12, Study 1) and Monument, Christiansted, St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Christine Willis for her support. Copies of unpub- Islands. lished manuscripts listed below are available from WOODBURY , R. O., AND E. L. LITTLE , JR. 1976. the first author. Flora of Buck Island Reef National Monument (U. S. Virgin Islands). U. S. Dept. Agric. Forest LITERATURE CITED Service, Institute of Tropical Forestry, Río Pie- ATKINSON , I. A. E. 1985. The spread of commensal dras, Puerto Rico. species of Rattus to oceanic islands and their ef- WOODBURY , R. O., AND J. L. VIVALDI . 1982. The fects on island avifaunas. Pp. 35-81 in Conserva- vegetation of Green Cay. U. S. Fish and Wildlife tion of island birds (P. J. Moors, ed.). ICBF Tech- Service contract report no. CI-007-6-1. Files: nical Publication 3. Washington: Smithsonian Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge (P. Institution Press. O. Box 510, Boqueron, Puerto Rico). BURGER , J., M. GOCHFELD , D. J. GOCHFELD , AND J. YNTEMA , J. A., AND F. W. S LADEN . 1987. Ruth E. SALIVA . 1989. Nest site selection in Zenaida Island survey. Final report, endangered species Dove ( Zenaida aurita ) in Puerto Rico. Biotropica project ES-1, Study IIB, Job IIB-1. Division of 21:244-249. Fish and Wildlife, U. S. Virgin Islands.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2009 11 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:12-20, 2006

VARIATION AND HYBRIDIZATION IN THE GREEN HERON (BUTORIDES VIRESCENS ) AND STRIATED HERON ( B. STRIATA ) IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, WITH COMMENTS ON SPECIES LIMITS

FLOYD E. H AYES

Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Current address: Department of Biology, Pacific Union College, Angwin, CA 94508, USA. [email protected]

Abstract : The rufous-necked Green Heron ( Butorides virescens ) of North America and the Caribbean hybridizes with the gray-necked Striated Heron ( B. striata ) of South America in Panama and southern Caribbean islands. I ana- lyzed historic and current variability of the two taxa in Trinidad and Tobago by comparing museum specimens and live individuals in the field with a color photograph of nine voucher specimens used as a hybrid index. In Trinidad, the population is dominated by B. striata , whereas B. virescens and intermediate individuals are rare. In Tobago, B. virescens is the predominant form, with small numbers of B. striata and intermediate individuals. The increased variability and intermediacy of individuals in Tobago strongly implies hybridization, and the higher proportion of intermediate individuals among museum specimens suggests a shift within the past century toward relatively “pure” phenotypes. Neck color was unrelated to clinal variation, seasonality, or habitat. The distribution of phenotypes differs markedly between populations of Butorides in Trinidad and Tobago, which are separated by only 36 km, suggesting that competitive exclusion may preclude B. virescens from colonizing Trinidad and B. striata from colonizing Tobago. Because the two taxa may often have opportunities to interbreed on Tobago but tend to mate assorta- tively, they appear to have achieved essential reproductive isolation, thus supporting their current treatment as distinct species. Key words: Butorides striata , Butorides virescens , Green Heron, hybridization, species limits, Striated Heron, Tobago, Trinidad, variation

Resumen: VARIACIÓN E H IBRIDIZACIÓN DE LA G ARCITA V ERDE ( BUTORIDES VIRESCENS ) Y LA G ARCITA E STRIADA (B. STRIATA ) EN T RINIDAD Y T OBAGO , CON C OMENTARIOS ACERCA DE LOS L ÍMITES DE LA E SPECIE . La Garcita Verde ( Butorides virescens ) con cuello rufo de Norteamérica y el Caribe se hibridiza con la Garcita Estriada ( B. striata ) con cuello griz de Suramérica, en Panamá y las islas caribeñas del sur. Se analizó la variabilidad histórica y actual de ambos taxas a través de la comparación de especímenes de museo y animales vivos con una fotografía a color de nueve de nueve ejemplares utilizados como patrones del híbrido. En Trinidad la población está dominada por B. striata , mientras que B. virescens e individuos intermedios son raros. En Tobago, B. virescens es la forma predominante, con pequeños números de B. striata e individuos intermedios. La variabilidad incrementada incrementada y los caracteres intermedios en los individuos de Tobago sugieren fuertemente hibridización y la mayor proporción de individuos intermedios entre los especímenes de museo sugiere un cambio en el siglo pasado hacia los fenotipos “puros”. El color del cuello no estuvo relacionado a variaciones clinales, estacionales o de hábitat. La dis- tribución de los fenotipos difiere marcadamente entre las poblaciones de Butorides en Trinidad y Tobago, que estan separadas tan solo por 36 km, lo que sugiere que la exclusión competitiva evita la colonización de Trinidad por B. virescens y la de Tobago por B. striata . Como ambos taxas tienen frecuentes oportunidades de entrecruzarse en To- bago, pero tienen un apareamiento asociativo, parece ser que han alcanzado un aislamiento reproductivo esencial que apoya su tratamiento actual como especies diferentes. Palabras clave: Butorides striata , Butorides virescens , Garcita Estriada, Garcita Verde, hybridización, límites de especies, Tobago, Trinidad, variación

Résumé : VARIABILITE ET H YBRIDATION E NTRE LE H ERON V ERT ( BUTORIDES VIRESCENS ) ET LE H ERON S TRIE ( B. STRIATA ) A T RINITE ET T OBAGO : C OMMENTAIRES SUR LES F RONTIERES D’E SPECES . Le Héron vert ( Butorides virescens ) à cou roux d’Amérique du Nord et de la Caraïbe , se croise avec le Héron strié, à cou gris d’Amérique du Sud, du Panama et des îles du sud des Antilles ( B. striata ). J’ai étudié la variabilité historique et actuelle et deux taxons à Trinité et Tobago en comparant des spécimens de Muséum et des individus vivants en liberté avec des clichés en couleur de neuf spécimens utilisés comme index hybride. A Trinité, la population est dominée par B. striata , alors que B. virescens et les individus intermédiaires sont rares. A Tobago, B. virescens est la forme prédominante, avec un nombre faible de B. striata et d’individus intermédiaires. La plus variabilité et situation intermédiaire croissante à Tobago implique fortement la présence d’hybridation et la plus grande proportion d’individus intermédiaires dans les spécimens de Muséums suggère une dérive pendant le siècle passé vers des phénotypes relativement « pures ». La couleur du cou n’est pas liée à une variation clinale, ou de saisonnalité ou d’habitat. La distribution des phénoty- pes diffère nettement entre les populations à Butorides de Trinidad et de Tobago, séparées de seulement 36 km, sug- gérant qu’une exclusion compétitive empêche B. virescens de coloniser Trinidad et B. striata de coloniser Tobago.

12 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO

Bien que les deux taxons on des possibilités de se croiser à Tobago, ils tendent à s’associer préférentiellement de manière homogène. Ils semblent donc avoir atteint un isolement reproductif suffisant, allant donc dans le sens de leur traitement actuel en tant qu’espèce séparé. Mots-clés : Butorides striata , Butorides virescens , Héron strié, Héron vert, hybridation, limites d’espèces, Tobago, Trinité, variabilité

HYBRIDIZATION , THE INTERBREEDING between In a subsequent reanalysis of specimens from the morphologically distinct populations in secondary Panamanian contact zone between B. virescens and contact (Short 1969), is a genetic phenomenon B. striata , Monroe and Browning (1992) concluded widespread in birds, even between non-sister taxa that Payne’s (1974) voucher specimens used as a (Grant and Grant 1992), and can be inferred pheno- hybrid index included juveniles and did not repre- typically by an increase in variability and interme- sent a continuous series. They concluded that B. diacy in the contact zone (Schueler and Rising virescens and B. striata seldom hybridized and 1976). Where zones of phenotypic intermediacy should be regarded as distinct species. The Ameri- occur between parapatrically distributed taxa, docu- can Ornithologists’ Union (1993, 1998) accepted menting the gradient of change in geographic varia- their conclusions. Hayes (2002), however, demon- tion and the distribution of phenotypes (or, prefera- strated that Payne’s (1974) voucher specimens had bly, genotypes) within the contact zone is important all attained adult neck coloration and represented a to distinguish between primary intergradation continuous series; furthermore, a reanalysis of (clinal variation) and secondary intergradation Payne’s (1974) data demonstrated increased vari- (hybridization), to infer the extent of gene flow and ability and intermediacy in the contact zone be- the development of isolating mechanisms, and to tween B. virescens and B. striata , implying exten- interpret the taxonomic significance of hybridiza- sive hybridization. Because phenotypically “pure” tion (e.g., Remington 1968, Short 1969, Woodruff B. virescens and B. striata phenotypes coexisted 1973, Schueler and Rising 1976, Moore 1977, Bar- within the contact zone, Hayes (2002) tentatively ton and Hewitt 1985a, b, Harrison 1990). concluded that assortative mating occurred, support- The heron genus Butorides has been the subject ing their treatment as distinct species, but noted that of a disputed taxonomic history that remains unre- the sample size of museum specimens was small solved. Two species are currently recognized: (1) and it remained uncertain whether both parental the rufous-necked Green Heron ( B. virescens ) of phenotypes actually bred within the hybrid zone. North America, Central America, and the West In- At the eastern end of the hybrid zone, the ranges dies; and (2) the gray-necked Striated Heron ( B. of B. v. virescens (resident throughout eastern North striata ) of South America (including dark B. s. sun- America, Central America, and the Caribbean) and devalli of the Galápagos Islands), Eurasia, Africa, B. s. striata (resident throughout South America) and Australia (American Ornithologists’ Union meet in Trinidad and Tobago, where populations are 1998, Banks et al. 2003). David and Gosselin dominated by B. striata in Trinidad but by B. vires- (2002) recently pointed out that Butorides is femi- cens on Tobago (ffrench 1973, 1991). On the latter nine, requiring that B. striatus be changed to B. stri- island, individuals of both species and intermediates ata (Banks et al. 2004). The two forms were gener- have been collected (Payne 1974). In this paper I ally treated as distinct species (e.g., Peters 1931, document historic and current variability of the two Hellmayr and Conover 1948, Bock 1956, Palmer taxa in Trinidad and Tobago, and attempt to assess 1962, Wetmore 1965), but sometimes considered several potential environmental correlates for vari- conspecific (Hartert 1920) or possibly conspecific ability (clinal variation, seasonality, or habitat), (Eisenmann 1952, Parkes 1955), until Payne (1974) infer the degree of gene flow and development of provided evidence of extensive hybridization be- reproductive isolation between the two taxa, and tween B. virescens and B. striata where their ranges interpret the taxonomic significance of hybridiza- meet in southern Central America, several southern tion. Caribbean islands, and coastal northern South America. Based on the conclusions of Payne (1974, STUDY A REA AND M ETHODS 1979) and Payne and Risley (1976), the American Ornithologists’ Union (1976, 1983) lumped the two STUDY A REA forms into the Green-backed Heron ( B. striata ). Trinidad and Tobago are large continental islands

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 13 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO located on the continental shelf of South America angle of lighting, the only individuals scored were just north of the Orinoco River Delta (Fig. 1). Situ- non-flying individuals carefully observed from the ated only 19 km from the continental mainland, side in good lighting conditions with binoculars Trinidad is larger (4520 km 2) and higher in eleva- (7×) or a telescope (25×). tion (up to 925 m), and possesses a greater diversity Because many localities were sampled repeatedly of wetlands (Kenny and Bacon 1981). Freshwater (up to 28 times) to obtain large sample sizes, and wetlands include rivers, swamps, marshes, rice because none of the birds were banded or marked, fields, reservoirs, fish ponds, drainage canals, and many individuals were probably sampled repeat- sewage ponds; saltwater wetlands include mangrove edly. To minimize the probability of including re- swamps, salt marshes, river mouths, and mudflats. peated samples in the following analyses, I chose Tobago is located farther from the continent (118 the highest number of individuals scored within a km) but only 36 km from Trinidad; being smaller in day for each locality separated by a distance of >1 size (306 km 2) and lower in elevation (up to 576 m), km from the nearest locality, and excluded data Tobago’s wetlands average smaller and rice fields sampled on other days. In addition to the two is- are lacking. lands (Trinidad and Tobago), localities were lumped into four arbitrarily defined regions to test for clinal METHODS variation: (1) western Trinidad, (2) central and east- I photographed a series of nine voucher speci- ern Trinidad, (3) western Tobago, and (4) central mens used by Payne (1974) as a hybrid index in and eastern Tobago (Fig. 1). which neck coloration was scored from 1-9, ranging To evaluate potential environmental correlates of from gray to dark purplish brown (see Fig. 1 of variability in neck color, I recorded the following Hayes 2002). Specimens scored 1-4 (gray to variables for each heron examined: (1) water salin- brownish gray) occur throughout the South Ameri- ity as either fresh or salt (including brackish); (2) can range of B. striata and specimens scored 6-9 presence or absence of a patch of mangroves (grayish red-brown to purplish brown) occur (Rhizophora mangle , Avicennia germinans , Lagun- throughout the North American range of B. vires- cularia racemosa , or Conocarpus erecta ) > 0.25 ha cens (Payne 1974, Hayes 2002). Potential hybrids, in area within 50 m of the individual; and (3) sea- especially those that have backcrossed with a paren- son, with March-May as spring, June-August as tal phenotype, may be difficult to distinguish from summer, September-November as autumn, and De- presumably “pure” phenotypes. Individuals scored cember-February as winter. as 5 occur only in the hybrid zone and in isolated B. v. bahamensis of the Bahamas; thus, individuals STATISTICAL A NALYSES with a neck coloration score of 5 in Trinidad and Because neck coloration scores were ordinally Tobago presumably represent hybrids, but those ranked and did not meet the assumptions of para- with lower or higher neck coloration scores metric statistical tests, nonparametric Mann- (especially 4 or 6) may also be hybrids (Payne Whitney U tests ( U or z statistic), Kruskal-Wallis 1974, Hayes 2002). tests ( H statistic), and two-sample chi-square tests Direct comparisons with a color photograph of with Yates correction ( χ2 statistic) were used when hybrid index specimens were used to score neck appropriate to compare the distribution of neck col- coloration of museum specimens or photographs of oration scores between geographic regions, time museum specimens collected in Trinidad and To- periods, and habitat classes, respectively (Zar 1998). bago from 1897 to 1913 (see Acknowledgments), All probabilities are two-tailed with α = 0.05. and for live individuals observed throughout the country from October 2000 to August 2002. When RESULTS an individual appeared intermediate in neck coloration between two voucher specimens, which often HISTORICAL S TATUS IN T RINIDAD occurred, I chose the specimen it most closely re- Anecdotal accounts of early ornithologists and a sembled. Because juveniles and immatures have limited number of specimens indicate that Trinidad streaked necks (always browner than adults of S. historically has been inhabited primarily by B. stri- striata ), only adults and subadults that had fully ata (Belcher and Smooker 1934, Junge and Mees acquired adult neck coloration (Hayes 2002) were 1958, Herklots 1961, ffrench 1973). Belcher and scored. Because the apparent shade of neck colora- Smooker (1934:579) reported that B. virescens was tion tended to vary by ±1 score depending on the a rare breeding resident whose eggs were described

14 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO

Fig. 1. Sampling localities of Butorides herons in Trinidad and Tobago during 2000-2002. Dashed lines on each island represent the division of regions: (a) western Trinidad, (b) central and eastern Trinidad, (c) western Tobago, and (d) central and eastern Tobago. as “more rounded on the average” than those of B. 1999 (White and Hayes 2002). However, neck col- striata . Herklots (1961) reported sight records of B. oration was not scored on any of these individuals. virescens , but provided no further details. ffrench Intermediate individuals were rare in Trinidad. (1973) regarded the purported breeding of B. vires- Birds with a neck coloration score of 4, representing cens in Trinidad as uncertain and suggested that brown-necked B. striata or hybrid B. virescens × sight records pertained to migrants. Payne (1974) striata , were recorded at Caroni on 2 June 2001 and reported neck coloration scores of four specimens at Pointe-a-Pierre on 7 October 2000 (see Hayes from Trinidad ranging from 1-3 ( 0 = 1.5, SD = 1.0). 2002 for a photograph of the latter). A presumed The six specimens I examined from Trinidad, col- hybrid individual with a score of 5 was seen at lected from 1902 to 1951 (BMNH, USNM, YPM), Caroni on 28 June 2001 and on 19 April, 30 May, ranged from 1-3 ( 0 = 1.5, SD = 0.8) and did not and 2 June 2002. Adults with neck coloration scores differ significantly from Payne’s (1974) sample ( U of 6, representing either B. virescens or hybrids, = 15.5, P = 0.43). were noted at Cacandee on 21 April 2001 and at Fullarton on 26 May 2002. CURRENT S TATUS IN T RINIDAD Of 40 individuals examined in the field, neck HISTORICAL S TATUS IN T OBAGO coloration scores varied from 1-6, with 57.5% In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tobago scored as 1 and 95% with a score of 1-3 ( 0 = 1.7, was inhabited by both taxa of Butorides with a high SD = 1.1; Table 1). Although no specimens of B. proportion of intermediate individuals. Belcher and virescens were collected, three sightings were ac- Smooker (1934) regarded B. striata as common and cepted recently by the Trinidad and Tobago Rare B. virescens as rare. Perhaps influenced by Belcher Bird Committee, including two subadults with adult and Smooker (1934), Junge and Mees (1958) re- neck coloration at Trincity on 31 January 1998, a ported that B. striata was more common but the presumed adult at Pointe-a-Pierre on 21 March only specimen collected was B. virescens . In con- 1998, and an adult at San Rafael on 10 January trast to earlier reports, Herklots (1961) and ffrench

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 15 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO

Table 1. Frequency of neck color scores of Butorides herons in different time periods, islands, regions, seasons, water salinities, and habitats. Specimen data from Trinidad are insufficient for analysis. Data for region, season, salinity, and habitat are based on live individuals observed from 2000-2002.

Neck Color Scores

Variable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Island Trinidad (2000-2002) 23 10 5 1 0 1 0 0 Tobago (Payne 1974) 0 0 2 0 4 6 0 1 Tobago (1892-1913) 0 0 2 0 5 8 0 3 Tobago (2000-2002) 1 4 3 2 3 12 20 5 Region western Trinidad 16 9 4 1 0 1 0 0 central/eastern Trinidad 7 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 western Tobago 1 4 3 0 3 8 14 3 central/eastern Tobago 0 0 0 2 0 4 6 2 Season: Trinidad summer 11 7 4 0 1 0 0 0 autumn 9 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 winter 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Season: Tobago summer 0 1 0 0 1 2 6 3 autumn 1 3 3 2 2 6 10 2 winter 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 Water salinity: Trinidad freshwater 15 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 saltwater 8 5 2 0 1 0 0 0 Water salinity: Tobago freshwater 1 4 3 1 1 9 12 5 saltwater 0 0 0 1 2 3 7 0 Habitat: Trinidad mangroves 5 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 non-mangroves 18 6 3 1 0 0 0 0 Habitat: Tobago mangroves 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 0 non-mangroves 1 4 3 2 2 11 16 5

(1973) reported B. virescens as a common resident. ranged from 3-8 ( 0 = 5.72, SD = 1.41; Table 1 and Herklots (1961) attributed several sight records of Appendix) and did not differ significantly from B. striata in Tobago to R. ffrench, who later re- Payne’s (1974) sample ( U = 131.5, P = 0.55). The garded sight records of B. striata in southwest To- proportion of specimens with a neck coloration bago as uncertain (ffrench 1973) and eventually score of 5 (presumed hybrids) varied from 31% omitted the species from Tobago’s avifauna (Payne 1974) to 28% (this study). (ffrench 1996). Payne (1974) reported neck coloration scores of 13 specimens from Tobago ranging CURRENT S TATUS IN T OBAGO from 3-8 ( 0 = 5.38, SD = 1.33; Table 1), indicating Of 50 individuals examined in the field, neck that both taxa as well as intermediates were present. coloration scores ranged from 1-8 ( 0 = 5.86, SD = Neck coloration scores from 18 specimens I exam- 1.84; Table 1). Mean neck coloration scores did not ined from Tobago, collected from 1892-1913, also differ significantly from the museum specimens I

16 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO examined ( z = 1.21, P = 0.23). However, when neck P = 0.53; Table 1). scores were lumped into three categories (1-3, 4-6, and 7-8), proportionately more intermediate pheno- DISCUSSION types (scores of 4-6) occurred among specimens Although some criticize the use of a hybrid index (72%) than live individuals (34%; Table 1) and the as crude and subjective, Corbin and Barrowclough distribution of neck scores differed significantly (1977) demonstrated that independent studies between live individuals and specimens ( χ2 = 8.17, yielded nearly identical results. With regard to df = 3, P = 0.02). Presumed B. virescens with scores Payne’s (1974) hybrid index specimens, I found a of 7-8 comprised 50% of the population and pre- color photograph of the specimens to be highly use- sumed B. striata with scores of 1-3 comprised 16% ful and reasonably accurate for scoring neck colora- of the population (Table 1). Presumed hybrids with tion of museum specimens and in the field. Payne a score of 5 comprised only 6% of the population (1974) and I examined specimens independently, (Table 1), significantly less than the specimens I yet obtained similar results. When colleagues ac- examined (28%; χ2 = 4.13, df = 1, P = 0.04). No companied me in the field and shared excellent birds were observed with a neck score of 9, which is views of an individual, their independent assess- very rare in B. virescens (1.4% of 147 specimens ment of neck coloration was always within ±1 score from the Greater and Lesser Antilles; Payne 1974). of my own. Mean neck coloration scores were significantly The resident population of Butorides in Trinidad higher in Tobago than in Trinidad ( z = 7.43, P < is dominated by gray-necked B. striata (scores of 1- 0.001). 2) with a minority of brown-necked individuals The only specimens of adult B. striata taken in (scores of 3-4) within the normal range of variation Tobago were two males with neck coloration scores throughout South America. The range of dates for of 3 collected at Sandy Point on 25 April 1903 B. virescens (10 January to 26 May) suggests that it (AMNH 469318, 469318). An adult B. striata at is a rare visitor to Trinidad, either as a Nearctic mi- Buccoo from 17 January to 9 February 1998 was the grant or a visitor from Tobago. There is no credible first sighting accepted by the Trinidad and Tobago evidence that B. virescens has ever bred in Trinidad. Rare Bird Committee (White and Hayes 2002). Be- In Tobago, the current population consists pre- tween 24 May and 7 August 2001, I identified a dominantly of B. virescens , with a small number of minimum of six (up to four seen in a day) adult B. B. striata and intermediate individuals. The higher striata with neck coloration scores of 1-3 in south- proportion of intermediate individuals among mu- western Tobago. The following year, I found three seum specimens, probably contributing to the uncer- different adult B. striata with scores of 1-3 in south- tainty of earlier accounts by ornithologists, suggests western Tobago on 11 June 2002. A B. striata with a phenotypic shift within the past century toward a neck score of 1-3 (seen too briefly to score) was relatively pure phenotypes. Some individuals of B. seen at Englishman’s Bay, north-central Tobago, on virescens may represent migrants from farther 8 October 2001. north, but if so, the proportion is likely small, given the rarity of B. virescens in Trinidad. Whether B. ENVIRONMENTAL C ORRELATES striata actually breeds in Tobago or is a rare but Significant variation in neck coloration occurred regular non-breeding visitor from Trinidad remains among the four regions ( H = 56.5, P = 0.006; Table uncertain (breeding of Butorides herons in Tobago 1). However, nonparametric multiple comparison is poorly documented). My observations of multiple tests revealed no significant differences between the individuals during the wet season coincided with the two Trinidad regions or between the two Tobago peak breeding season for wading birds in Trinidad, regions ( P > 0.05). Each region in Trinidad differed including Butorides herons, as well as the peak sea- from both regions in Tobago and each region in son for vagrancy of non-breeding waterbirds from Tobago differed from both regions in Trinidad ( P < mainland South America (ffrench 1991). The in- 0.05). Neck coloration did not differ significantly creased variability and intermediacy of the Tobago among seasons in either Trinidad ( H = 1.86, P = population, in contrast with its neighboring islands 0.39) or Tobago ( H = 4.3, P = 0.12), between fresh- in the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad (Payne 1974, water and saltwater habitats in Trinidad ( U = 214.5, Hayes 2002), strongly implies hybridization, indi- P = 0.50) or Tobago ( U = 271, P = 0.68), or be- cating that at least some B. striata breed in Tobago. tween mangrove and non-mangrove habitats in There is no evidence that neck color variability in Trinidad ( U = 208, P = 0.19) or Tobago ( U = 152.5, Trinidad and Tobago is related to clinal variation

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 17 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO within an island, seasonality, or habitat. The seem- subspecies currently subsumed within B. striata and ingly continuous variation in neck color from gray four within B. virescens (Hanckock and Kushlan to purplish-brown strongly implies polygenic con- 1984, Hayes 2002), may be greater than currently trol of the deposition of gray eumelanin and rufous recognized. Finally, these conclusions are based on phaeomelanin pigments in the distal barbules of the inherent limitations of scoring live individuals in neck feathers (Schodde et al. 1980). Brown-necked the field based on specimen scores, and inferring individuals of B. striata with elevated levels of ru- gene flow from phenotype. Behavioral studies of fous phaeomelanin pigments in the neck also tend to mated pairs and genetic analyses are needed to ade- have more extensive rufous on the underparts and quately resolve the species limits of Butorides her- wing covert margins than gray-necked individuals ons. (Hayes pers. obs.). Whether neck color variability in B. virescens and B. striata is adaptive or represents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS genetic drift in isolated populations remains un- I thank P. A. Buckley, D. B. McNair, R. B. known, but the darker coloration of B. s. sundevalli Payne, J. V. Remsen, Jr., and an anonymous re- in the Galápagos Islands is thought to enhance for- viewer for reviewing earlier drafts. Field work in aging success in a backdrop of bare, blackish lava Trinidad and Tobago was funded indirectly by Car- (Snow 1975). ibbean Union College, the Tobago House of Assem- The distribution of phenotypes differs markedly bly, and the University of the West Indies. For their between populations of Butorides in Trinidad and companionship and patience in the field I thank B. Tobago, which are separated by only 36 km. An Hayes, M. Hayes, M. Kenefick, K. Lallsingh, N. accomplished disperser, B. virescens is widely dis- Lallsingh, and numerous others who accompanied tributed on islands throughout the Caribbean, in- me less frequently. Examination of museum speci- cluding Tobago, but only rarely visits Trinidad, mens in the U. S. National Museum of Natural His- suggesting that competitive exclusion by resident B. tory (USNM) and the American Museum of Natural striata precludes it from successfully colonizing the History (AMNH) was financed by a Study and island. Small numbers of B. striata frequently wan- Travel Grant from the University of the West In- der to Tobago from Trinidad or mainland South dies, St. Augustine. For their assistance with mu- America, and vagrancy within the Caribbean has seum specimens, I thank C. Angle (USNM), M. been documented on St. Vincent in the Lesser Antil- Foster (USNM), J. Weicker (AMNH), P. Rasmus- les (AMNH 325358, with a neck score of 3, taken sen (USNM), and P. Sweet (AMNH). I also thank J. on 18 July 1924; Bond 1964, Payne 1974) and St. Bates and D. Willard for loaning specimens from John in the Greater Antilles (neck score of 2, pre- the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH), M. sent from 25-29 May 2003; F. E. Hayes unpubl. Adams for providing photographs of specimens in photos). My observations in 2001 and 2002 suggest the (British) Natural History Museum (BMNH), G. that small numbers of B. striata visit Tobago fre- Frisk for providing photographs of a specimen in quently enough to form a small breeding popula- the (Swedish) Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet (NRM), tion, yet the island’s population of Butorides re- and K. Zyskowski for providing photographs of mains dominated by relatively “pure” B. virescens specimens in the Yale-Peabody Museum (YPM). I phenotypes, suggesting that competitive exclusion also thank J. Eitniear, A. Kratter, R. Payne, and K. precludes the successful establishment of B. striata . Voous for providing pertinent literature. The historical shift toward relatively “pure” phenotypes of both taxa in Tobago suggests the occur- LITERATURE C ITED rence of assortative mating despite occasional hy- AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1976. Thirty- bridization. Because the two taxa may have frequent third supplement to the AOU Check-list. Auk 93: opportunities to interbreed freely on Tobago but 875-879. interbreed only occasionally, they appear to have AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1983. Check- achieved essential reproductive isolation (Johnson list of North American birds, 6th ed. American et al. 1999), thus supporting their current treatment Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC. as distinct species. AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1993. Thirty- Given that these two taxa, which differ morpho- ninth supplement to the AOU Check-list. Auk logically only in neck (and perhaps belly) colora- 110:675-682. tion, appear to behave as distinct species, the num- AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1998. Check- ber of species in Butorides , which includes up to 26 list of North American birds, 7th ed. American

18 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO

Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC. Friedländer, Berlin. BANKS , R. C., C. C ICERO , J. L. D UNN , A. W. HAYES , F. E. 2002. Geographic variation, hybridi- KRATTER , P. C. R ASMUSSEN , J. V. R EMSEN , J R., zation, and taxonomy of New World Butorides J. D. R ISING , AND D. F. S TOTZ . 2003. Forty- herons. North American Birds 56:4-10. fourth supplement to the American Ornitholo- HELLMAYR , C. E., AND B. C ONOVER . 1948. Cata- gists’ Union check-list of North American spe- logue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent cies. Auk 120:923-931. islands. Field Museum of Natural History, Zool- BANKS , R. C., C. C ICERO , J. L. D UNN , A. W. K RAT- ogy Ser. 13, 1(2):1-434. TER , P. C. R ASMUSSEN , J. V. R EMSEN , J R., J. D. HERKLOTS , G. A. C. 1961. The birds of Trinidad RISING , AND D. F. S TOTZ . 2003. Forty-fifth sup- and Tobago. Collins, London. plement to the American Ornithologists’ Union JOHNSON , N. K., J. V. R EMSEN J R., AND C. C ICERO . check-list of North American species. Auk 121: 1999. Resolution of the debate over species con- 985-995. cepts in ornithology: a new comprehensive bio- BARTON , N. H., AND G. H. H EWITT . 1985a. Hybrid logic species concept. Pp. 1470-1482 in Proceed- zones and speciation. Pp. 109-145 in Essays on ings of the 22nd International Ornithological evolution and speciation in honor of M. J. D. Congress, Durban (N. J. Adams and R. H. White (W. R. Atchley and D. S. Woodruff, eds.). Slotow, eds.). BirdLife South Africa, Johannes- Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. burg. BARTON , N. H., AND G. H. H EWITT . 1985b. Analy- JUNGE , G. C. A., AND G. F. M EES . 1958. The avi- sis of hybrid zones. Annual Reviews of Ecology fauna of Trinidad and Tobago. Zoologische Ver- and Systematics 16:113-148. handelingen 37:1-172. BELCHER , C., AND G. D. S MOOKER . 1934. Birds of KENNY , J. S., AND P. R. B ACON . 1981. Aquatic re- the Colony of Trinidad and Tobago. Ibis 1934: sources. Pp. 112-144 in The natural resources of 572-595. Trinidad and Tobago (St. G. C. Cooper and P. R. BOCK , W. J. 1956. A generic review of the family Bacon, eds.). Edward Arnold, London. Ardeidae (Aves). American Museum Novitates MONROE , B. L., J R., AND M. R. B ROWNING . 1992. 1779. A re-analysis of Butorides . Bulletin of the British BOND , J. 1964. Ninth Supplement to the Check-list Ornithologists’ Club 112:81-85. of Birds of the West Indies (1956). Academy of MOORE , W. S. 1977. An evaluation of narrow hy- Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. brid zones in vertebrates. Quarterly Review of CORBIN , K. W., AND G. F. B ARROWCLOUGH . 1977. Biology 52:263-277. Reproducibility of hybrid index scores. Condor PALMER , R. S. (ed.). 1962. Handbook of North 79:497-498. American birds. Vol. 1. Loons through Flamin- DAVID , N., AND M. G OSSELIN . 2002. The gram- gos. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. matical gender of avian genera. Bulletin of the PARKES , K. C. 1955. Systematic notes on North British Ornithologists’ Club 122:257-282. American birds. I. The herons and ibises FFRENCH , R. 1973. A guide to the birds of Trinidad (Ciconiiformes). Annals of the Carnegie Museum and Tobago. Harrowood Books, Newton Square, 33:287-291. PA. PAYNE , R. B. 1974. Species limits and variation of FFRENCH , R. 1991. A guide to the birds of Trinidad the New World Green Herons Butorides virescens and Tobago. 2nd ed. Cornell University Press, and Striated Herons B. striatus . Bulletin of the Ithaca, NY. British Ornithologists’ Club 94:81-88. FFRENCH , R. 1996. Checklist of the birds of Tobago. PAYNE , R. B. 1979. Family Ardeidae. Pp. 193-243 Asa Wright Nature Centre, Arima, Trinidad. in Check-list of birds of the World, vol. 1, 2nd ed. GRANT , P. R., AND B. R. G RANT . 1992. Hybridiza- (E. Mayr and G. W. Cottrell, eds.). Harvard Uni- tion of bird species. Science 256:193-197. versity Press, Cambridge, MA. HARRISON , R. G. 1990. Hybrid zones: windows on PAYNE , R. B., AND C. J. R ISLEY . 1976. Systematics evolutionary process. Pp. 69-128 in Oxford sur- and evolutionary relationships among the herons veys in evolutionary biology, vol. 7 (D. Futuyma (Ardeidae). Miscellaneous Publications of the and J. Antonovics, eds.). Oxford University Press, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 150. Oxford, UK. PETERS , J. L. 1931. Check-list of birds of the HARTERT , E. 1920. Gattung Butorides Blyth. Die World, vol. 1. Harvard University Press, Cam- Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna 2:1249-1251. bridge, MA.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 19 HAYES — BUTORIDES H ERONS IN T RINIDAD AND T OBAGO

REMINGTON , C. L. 1968. Suture-zones of hybrid SNOW , B. K. 1975. The Plumbeous Heron of the interaction between recently joined biotas. Pp. Galapagos. Living Bird 13:51-72. 321-428 in Evolutionary biology, vol. 2 (T. WETMORE , A. 1965. The birds of the Republic of Dobzhansky, M. K. Hecht, and W. C. Steere, Panama. Part 1.--Tinamidae (tinamous) to Ryn- eds.). Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York. chopidae (skimmers). Smithsonian Miscellaneous SCHODDE , R., I. J. M ASON , M. L. D UDZINSKI , AND Collections 150:1-483. J. L. M CKEAN . 1980. Variation in the Striated WHITE , G., AND F. E. H AYES . 2002. Second report Heron Butorides striatus in Australasia. Emu of the Trinidad and Tobago Rare Bird Committee. 80:203-212. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and To- SCHUELER , F. W., AND J. D. R ISING . 1976. Phenetic bago Field Naturalists’ Club 2002:51-56. evidence of natural hybridization. Systematic WOODRUFF , D. S. 1973. Natural hybridization and Zoology 25:283-289. hybrid zones. Systematic Zoology 22:213-218. SHORT , L. L. 1969. Taxonomic aspects of avian ZAR , J. H. 1998. Biostatistical analysis. 4th ed. hybridization. Auk 86:84-105. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Appendix. Neck coloration scores of adult Butorides specimens from Tobago examined in this study. AMNH = American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY; BMNH = Natural History Museum, London, UK; FMNH = Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL; NRM = Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Specimen Date (M-D-Y) Sex Neck Color Score

AMNH 156503 unknown male 5 AMNH 156504 04-24-1903 female 5 AMNH 469318 04-25-1903 male 3 AMNH 469319 04-25-1903 female 5 AMNH 469320 04-25-1903 male 3 AMNH 469321 04-24-1903 male 6 AMNH 469322 04-24-1903 female 5 AMNH 469223 04-24-1903 unknown 5 AMNH 469324 03-04-1897 male 6 AMNH 469325 04-27-1903 unknown 6 BMNH 1914.7.6.2 05-21-1913 unknown 6 BMNH 1914.12.1.536 12-29-1907 unknown 6 BMNH 1969.43.28 04-24-1903 unknown 6 FMNH 33642 04-20-1892 male 8 FMNH 33659 04-20-1892 male 8 FMNH 33662 04-15-1892 male 8 FMNH 33676 04-20-1892 female 6 NRM 568904 04-24-1903 male 6

20 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:21-26, 2006

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BONAIRE, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES, AS A BREEDING SITE FOR TERNS AND PLOVERS

JEFFREY V. W ELLS 1,2 AND A LLISON C HILDS W ELLS 1,3

1Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; 2current address: Boreal Songbird Initiative, c/o 210 Water St., Hallowell, ME 04347; e-mail: [email protected]; 3current address: Natural Resources Council of Maine, 3 Wade St., Augusta, ME 04330

Abstract : We carried out surveys to document numbers of nesting terns and plovers on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles from 4-7 July 2001. Significant numbers of several species were counted including Snowy Plover ( Charadrius alexandrinus ; 46 adults), Wilson’s Plover ( Charadrius wilsonia ; 24-26 adults), and Least Tern (Sternula antillarum ; 360 adults) as well as smaller numbers of Royal Tern ( Sterna maxima ), Sandwich “Cayenne” Tern ( Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha ), and Common Tern ( Sterna hirundo ). Evidence of breeding was found in all but the Royal Tern. Bonaire, Curaçao, and Aruba appear to have regionally significant populations of terns and plovers of several species. With increased protection from introduced predators and human disturbance, Bonaire and its sister islands have the potential to become major source populations to maintain southern Caribbean metapopula- tions of terns and plovers. Key words: Charadrius alexandrinus , Charadrius wilsonia , conservation, Netherlands Antilles, plovers, seabirds, Sterna hirundo , Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha , Sternula antillarum , terns

Resumen: LA I MPORTANCIA DE B ONAIRE , A NTILLAS H OLANDESAS , COMO S ITIOS DE C RÍA PARA LAS G AVIOTAS Y LIMÍCOLAS . Se llevaron a cabo expediciones para documentar las cantidades de gaviotas y limícolas nidificantes en Bonaire y Klein Bonaire, Antillas Holandesas, entre el 4 y el 7 de julio de 2001. Significantes cantidades de varias especies fueron encontradas, incluyendo al Frailecillo Blanco ( Charadrius alexandrinus ; 46 adultos), al Títere Playero ( Charadrius wilsonia ; 24-26 adultos), y la Gaviotica ( Sternula antillarum ; 360 adultos) así como pequeños números de la Gaviota Real ( Sterna maxima ), la Gaviota de Sandwich “Cayenne” ( Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha ) y la Gaviota Común ( Sterna hirundo ). Evidencias de cría fueron halladas para todas, excepto para la Gaviota Real. Bonaire, Curaçao, y Aruba aparentan tener poblaciones regionalmente significativas de gaviotas y limícolas de varias especies. Con la protección creciente contra depredadores introducidos y disturbios humanos, Bonaire y su isla hermana, tienen el potencial para convertirse en una importante población fuente para la mantención de la meta- población caribeña de gaviotas y limícolas. Palaberas clave: aves marinas, Antillas Holandesas, Charadrius alexandrinus, Charadrius wilsonia, conservación, gaviotas, limícolas, Sterna hirundo , Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha , Sternula antillarum

Résumé : L’ IMPORTANCE DE B ONAIRE , A NTILLES N EERLANDAISES , C OMME S ITE DE N IDIFICATIONS POUR LES STERNES ET LES G RAVELOTS . Nous avons entrepris des recherches du 4 au 7 juillet 2001 pour estimer le nombre de sternes et de gravelots nicheurs à Bonaire et Klein Bonaire, Antilles néerlandaises. Un nombre significatif d’individus de différentes espèces a été compté, incluant le Gravelot à collier interrompu ( Charadrius alexandrinus , 46 adultes), le Gravelot de Wilson ( Charadrius wilsonia , 24-26 adultes), et la Petite Sterne ( Sternula antillarum , 360 adultes) ainsi que des effectifs plus réduits de Sterne royale ( Sterna maxima ), de Sterne de “Cayenne” ( Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha ), et de Sterne pierregarin ( Sterna hirundo ). Des indices de nidification ont été trouvés pour toutes les espèces à l’exception de la Sterne royale. Bonaire, Curaçao, et Aruba possèdent des populations d’importance régionale pour plusieurs espèces de sternes et de gravelots. Avec une meilleure protection contre les prédateurs introduits et le dérangement humain, Bonaire et ses iles sœurs ont le potentiel pour jouer un rôle majeur dans le maintien des métapopulations de sternes et de gravelots du sud de la’ Caraïbe. Mots-clés : Antilles néerlandaises, Charadrius alexandrinus, Charadrius wilsonia , conservation, gravelots, oiseaux de mer, pluviers, Sterna hirundo, Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha, sternes, Sternula antillarum

RECENTLY , THERE HAS BEEN increased recogni- (Schreiber 2000). Using this baseline information, tion of the islands of the Caribbean as important effective conservation actions can be implemented breeding areas for various species of waterbirds, to stabilize and increase populations. including several tern and plover species (Schreiber In early July 2001, we conducted surveys of tern and Lee 2000). To better understand the relative and plover populations on the island of Bonaire, importance of each site, species abundance and dis- Netherlands Antilles, and its nearby offshore island tribution must be documented and monitored of Klein Bonaire. Bonaire and its sister islands of

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 21 WELLS AND W ELLS — BREEDING T ERNS AND P LOVERS OF B ONAIRE

Fig. 1. Areas surveyed for terns and plovers on Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, in July 2001. Sites identified by letters on the map are keyed to Table 1, which summarizes the numbers of birds, nests, and fledglings found at each site. See the text for survey details. Geographic names for the survey areas identified on the map are as follows: A–west side of Pekelmeer; B–east side of Pekelmeer; C–north side Lac Bay; D– Washikemba; E–shoreline near Boca Onima; F–Salina Matijs; G–Playa Macoshi; H–Malmok Lighthouse; I– Boca Bartol; J–Playa Funchi; K–Salina Wayaca; L–Slagbaai; M–Playa Frans; N–Playa Tam; O–Lake Goto; P–mouth of Goto; Q–southcentral coast; R–Klein Bonaire.

Curaçao and Aruba have historically been known to In this paper we provide information on numbers harbor breeding populations of a number of species of pairs found at each site, breeding status if known, of terns and plovers (Voous 1983). Some surveys and information on productivity based on numbers have been carried out for a few tern nesting islands of fledglings observed. (e.g. San Nicolas reef islands on Aruba and Jan Thiel islands on Curaçao) but no comprehensive METHODS surveys of breeding terns have been reported for We carried out surveys of different sections of Bonaire and no surveys of plovers have been re- Bonaire from 4-7 July and on Klein Bonaire on 7 ported for Bonaire, Curaçao, or Aruba. We visited July 2001. We began our surveys at approximately breeding locales on Bonaire noted in Voous (1983) 06:30 hr and continued until approximately 11:00 as well as areas we suspected might be used by hr. We resumed surveys after 16:00 most days, terns and plovers. Specifically, the species for when temperatures had begun to decline, until dusk. which we were able to collect baseline breeding To survey areas we drove access roads along coast- population data were Snowy Plover ( Charadrius line, bays, salt pans, and lagoons and systematically alexandrinus ), Wilson’s Plover ( Charadrius wil- scanned all possible areas with 10 ×40 binoculars sonia ), Royal Tern ( Sterna maxima ), “Cayenne” and 20-45 × telescope. In areas where it was difficult Sandwich Tern ( Sterna sandvicensis eurygnatha ), to effectively view and count with optical equip- Common Tern ( Sterna hirundo ), and Least Tern ment, we walked toward colonies or nesting areas (Sternula antillarum ). but in all cases we limited time in the area to reduce

22 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 WELLS AND W ELLS — BREEDING T ERNS AND P LOVERS OF B ONAIRE

Table 1. Summary of adults, young, and nests of plovers and terns found during surveys for terns and plovers on Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, in July 2001. Survey sites are illustrated in Fig. 1.

Survey Site Snowy Plover Wilson’s Plover Sandwich Tern Common Tern Least Tern A 14 adults 1 adult 4 adults 6 adults 22 adults B 7 adults 0 0 18 adults 187 adults 7 fledglings 49 fledglings 3-4 nests 29 nests C 10 adults 8-10 adults 0 1-2 adults 30 adults 4 with young 2+ nests D 0 0 0 0 6 adults 1 nest E 0 0 0 0 31 adults F 0 0 0 0 0 G 0 0 0 0 0 H 0 0 2 adults 0 8 adults I 0 0 0 2 adults 6 adults J 0 0 0 0 0 K 0 0 0 0 0 L 0 0 0 2 adults 49 adults 27 nests M 0 2 adults 0 0 0 N 0 0 0 12 adults 0 O 8 adults 0 5 adults 0 2 adults 4 nests P 0 2 adults 0 4 adults 0 Q 1 adult 1 adult 0 0 0 R 6 adults 8 adults 0 0 16 adults 6 nests

disturbance. On Klein Bonaire we walked the coast- seven pairs, five of which were seen with chicks line approximately half way around the island. The and two that gave distraction displays. Largest num- areas surveyed are illustrated in Fig. 1. Our surveys bers were found in the southern part of Bonaire, represent minimum numbers present on the islands, especially along the western side of the Pekelmeer since we were unable to visit or view every area. In (Fig. 1–Site A), the salinas on the north side of Lac particular, we were unable to access interior por- Bay (Fig. 1–Site C), and the northeast side of the tions of the Pekelmeer that are part of the commer- Pekelmeer (Fig. 1–Site B). Four pairs at the Lac cial salt operations and that harbored major tern Bay site had chicks ranging from one pair with three colonies in the past. Also, at least in the tern spe- chicks to one pair with only one very young (1-3 d cies, some birds may have already nested and old) chick. We also found a concentration of 8 moved away from the islands, since breeding can adults in the southern part of the Lake Goto (Fig. 1– begin as early as April or May (Voous 1983). Site O). Two pairs, apparently nesting along the roadside, gave distraction displays. We counted six RESULTS adults on Klein Bonaire (Fig 1–Site R), all near an area marked as Tanki Kalabas on some maps. SNOWY P LOVER There, one chick was observed with a pair of adults. Our surveys documented a total of 46 adults, 40 on mainland Bonaire and six on Klein Bonaire (Fig. WILSON ’S P LOVER 1, Table 1). Evidence of breeding was shown by Our surveys documented a total of 24-26 adults,

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 23 WELLS AND W ELLS — BREEDING T ERNS AND P LOVERS OF B ONAIRE

16-18 on mainland Bonaire and eight on Klein Bon- LEAST T ERN aire (Fig. 1, Table 1). We found a concentration of Least Terns were the most abundant breeding tern 8-10 adults near the salinas on the north side of Lac on the island. We tallied a minimum of 360 adults at Bay (Fig. 1–Site C), and six were together at a site 13 sites, 62 fledglings, and at least 73 nests (Fig. 1, on Klein Bonaire (Fig. 1–Site R), though none of Table 1). Nests were confirmed at 10 of the 13 sites these showed any evidence of breeding. Otherwise, that had concentrations of Least Terns. Because we birds were seen in pairs or singly. One chick was tried to limit disturbance, especially as temperatures noted at Lac Bay and several of the pairs at that site increased, our estimates of the number of nests are were agitated, as though they had eggs or young certainly lower than the actual number. There were nearby. One pair near Tanki Kalabas on Klein Bon- also likely more colonies along sections of the coast aire was also agitated by our presence and clearly that we were not able to survey and within the inte- had eggs or young nearby. rior portions of the Pekelmeer, which are part of the commercial salt operations on the island. Largest ROYAL T ERN concentrations of birds and nests were along the Although small numbers were seen at various eastern side of the Pekelmeer (Fig. 1–Site B), on an locations throughout the island, we found no direct island at Boca Slagbaai (Fig. 1–Site L), near Boca evidence of nesting and none of the birds showed a Onima (Fig. 1–Site E), and near Lac Bay (Fig. 1– complete black cap extending to the base of the Site C). The high number of fledglings indicates upper mandible. Individuals were seen flying by that many of the birds had already completed breed- carrying fish at Playa Tam and Klein Bonaire but ing and had been successful. most sightings involved loafing birds or birds foraging offshore. The largest number of individuals was DISCUSSION a count of 12 on 4 July near the salinas along the Schreiber (2000) presented estimates of numbers north side of Lac Bay. We did not observe any juve- of pairs of various species of seabirds breeding in nile birds. the Caribbean including four of the species we surveyed—Royal Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich SANDWICH T ERN “Cayenne” Tern, and Least Tern. Though the esti- Sandwich Terns were observed at three locations mates do not include numbers from Bonaire, Cura- with confirmed nesting at one location (Fig. 1, Ta- çao, or Aruba, or the nearby Venezuelan island bird ble 1). Of 11 individuals observed, all but one were colonies, they do provide a gauge for the signifi- of the yellow-billed “Cayenne” form. Four individu- cance of the numbers from our surveys on Bonaire. als were noted on 5 July sitting on nests on a small For example, Common Terns occur as breeders in unnamed island in the Lake Goto (Fig. 1–Site O). the Caribbean in only small numbers (Buckley and Four individuals were loafing on 4 July along the Buckley 2000) making even the relatively small western side of the Pekelmeer (Fig. 1–Site A). Two colony we documented on Bonaire of conservation individuals flew by Malmok, Washington-Slagbaai significance. Similarly, the total Caribbean breeding National Park (Fig. 1–Site H) on 6 July, one of population of Least Terns has been estimated at which was of the black-billed form. 1500-3000 pairs (Jackson 2000) suggesting that the 180 pairs on Bonaire are a significant regional COMMON T ERN population, especially as this breeding location is at Foraging and loafing birds were seen at as many the species southern range limit, i.e., there are no as ten locations around the island but breeding was breeding records from mainland South America confirmed at only one location (Fig. 1, Table 1). We (Hilty 2003). The numbers of Least Terns we docu- tallied a minimum of 48 adults, seven fledglings, mented on Bonaire are also within the range esti- and at least 3-4 nests. At many of the locations, we mated to breed on Aruba (100-200 pairs) from sev- observed only 1-2 birds, but 12 foraging birds were eral anecdotal observations (Jackson 2000) but sig- seen at Playa Tam (Fig. 1–Site N), and six loafing nificantly less than numbers documented on Bon- birds were seen along the west side of the Pekel- aire and Curaçao in 2002 (A. Debrot pers. comm.). meer (Fig. 1–Site A). At the single confirmed nest- The numbers of “Cayenne” Terns that we docu- ing location along the east side of the Pekelmeer, mented on Bonaire are much lower than the hun- we counted 18 adults, of which 3-4 were on nests, dreds or thousands (estimated 3-4,000 pairs) that and seven fledglings (Fig. 1–Site B). nested intermittently at various sites on Bonaire from the 1960s through at least the early 1980s

24 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 WELLS AND W ELLS — BREEDING T ERNS AND P LOVERS OF B ONAIRE

(Voous 1983). Common Terns have apparently al- estimate, the number of Snowy Plovers breeding on ways bred in relatively small numbers on Bonaire Bonaire would approach 2% of this population and with 10-15 pairs estimated in 1961 (Voous 1965). would suggest that the island supports a regionally Royal Terns likewise have historically been known important breeding concentration. The numbers on to breed irregularly in very small numbers on Bon- Bonaire are further interesting and potentially sig- aire (Voous 1983). The number of Least Terns that nificant given that Snowy Plovers have not been we documented on Bonaire is much lower than that confirmed as breeders on the coast of Central Amer- indicated as occurring prior to the early 1980s by ica (Page et al . 1995), northern South America Voous (1983), who wrote that “…the total number (Hilty 2003), or in the Lesser Antilles (Raffaelle et [on Aruba + Curaçao + Bonaire] in some years may al . 1998). be close to one thousand pairs, the majority of Bonaire and the nearby islands of Aruba, Cura- which on Bonaire.” However, surveys completed in çao, Las Aves, Los Roques, and La Orchila have the 2002 indicated as many as 800 pairs on Bonaire that potential to be very important tern and plover breed- year (A. Debrot pers. comm.). We did not observe ing locations in a regional and global context. Bon- any Roseate Terns ( Sterna dougallii ), a species aire, because of its strong natural resource-based mentioned by Voous (1983) as a former breeder on ecotourism economy and its history of park designa- Bonaire. tion and natural resource stewardship, is especially While the numbers of “Cayenne” Terns and Least well suited to implementing a tern and plover con- Terns may have declined as compared to pre-1980 servation strategy that could increase the numbers estimates, we do note the possibility that the sea- and productivity of breeding terns and plovers. In birds nesting on Bonaire may be part of a meta- the USA, many seabird and plover conservation and population that could shift breeding sites from management techniques have been developed and among a set of islands including (W to E) Aruba, effectively implemented to increase, stabilize, or Curaçao, Bonaire, and the Venezuelan islands of restore populations. Some of these techniques could Las Aves, Los Roques, and La Orchila. Unfortu- certainly be employed on Bonaire to the benefit of nately, such major shifts in breeding sites would tern and plover populations. In particular, we would likely be attributable to major nest predation events recommend that Klein Bonaire be considered as a that trigger the colony to seek a new, safer location location to attempt to establish a protected tern col- to breed. Predators on any of these islands could ony using decoys, calls, and other social attraction include rats and cats that are known to occur at methods (Kress 1998) ideally after ensuring that the some sites. At many locations, humans may still be island, now owned and managed by the National taking eggs to sell for food as well. Ideally surveys Marine Park, is rid of any invasive rats or cats. of all tern nesting areas within the south Caribbean area should be carried out within the same season ACKNOWLEDGMENTS and over several years to assess whether birds here We extend our thanks to the Buddy Dive Resort do indeed represent a metapopulation, the degree of and Carol Bradovchak for lodging and their friendly movement of population segments among locations assistance during our stay on Bonaire. We are grate- across years, and the overall number of breeding ful to the staff of the Washington-Slagbaai National terns in the region. Park, especially Fernando Simal and George Thode, Less information is available on the status of the for access to the park, and to Catriona Glendinning two plover species so it is more difficult to place of the Marine Park for arranging transportation and our survey information in context. There are no permission to access Klein Bonaire. We also wish to estimates available for total population size of the thank the CARMABI institute, particularly Al De- cinnamominus subspecies of Wilson’s Plover brot and Leon Pors, for assistance in mapping our (Wetlands International 2002), the subspecies that surveys, and to Tineke Prins and an anonymous breeds along the northern coast of South America reviewer for comments that greatly improved the and nearby islands including Bonaire, nor are there manuscript. Also, thank you to local birder Jerry any estimates of numbers on Bonaire, Curaçao, or Ligon for ongoing discussions about the birds of Aruba (Voous 1983). Published estimates of total Bonaire. population size of the Snowy Plover population that breeds in the eastern USA, eastern Mexico, and the LITERATURE C ITED Caribbean put the total number of birds at 2 200 to 2 AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1998. Check- 800 (Wetlands International 2002). Based on this list of North American birds. 7th edition. Ameri-

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 25 WELLS AND W ELLS — BREEDING T ERNS AND P LOVERS OF B ONAIRE

can Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C. 829 Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, pp. and American Ornithologists’ Union, Washing- BUCKLEY , P. A., AND F. G. B UCKLEY . 2000. Breed- ton, D.C. ing Common Terns in Greater West Indies: status RAFFAELE , H., J. W ILEY , O. G ARRIDO , A. K EITH , and conservation priorities. Pp. 96-102 in Status AND J. R AFFAELE . 1998. A guide to the birds of and conservation of West Indian seabirds (E. A. the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Schreiber and D. S. Lee, eds.). Society of Carib- Princeton, NJ. 511 pp. bean Ornithology, Special Publication No. 1. SCHREIBER , E. A., AND D. S. L EE (eds.). 2000. HILTY , S. L. 2003. Birds of Venezuela. Princeton Status and conservation of West Indian seabirds. University Press, Princeton. 878 pp. Society of Caribbean Ornithology, Special Publi- JACKSON , J. 2000. Distribution, population changes cation No. 1. and threats to Least Terns in the Caribbean and SCHREIBER , E. A.. 2000. Action plan for conserva- adjacent waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mex- tion of West Indian seabirds. Pp. 182-191 in ico. Pp. 109-117 in Status and conservation of Status and conservation of West Indian seabirds West Indian seabirds (E. A. Schreiber and D. S. (E. A. Schreiber and D. S. Lee, eds). Society of Lee, eds.). Society of Caribbean Ornithology, Caribbean Ornithology, Special Publication No. Special Publication No. 1. 1. KRESS , S. 1998. Applying research for effective VOOUS , K. H. 1965. Nesting and nest sites of Com- management: case studies in seabird restoration. mon Tern and Dougall’s Tern in the Netherlands Pp. 141-154 in Avian conservation (J. M. Antilles. Ibis 107:430-431. (Abstract) Marzluff and R. Sallabanks, eds.). Island Press, VOOUS , K. H. 1983. Birds of the Netherlands Antil- Washington, DC. les. de Walburg Pers, Utrecht. 327 pp. PAGE , G. W., J. S. W ARRINER , J. C. W ARRINER , WETLANDS I NTERNATIONAL . 2002. Waterbird popu- AND P. W. C. P ATON . 1995. Snowy Plover lation estimates. 3rd ed.. Wetlands International (Charadrius alexandrinus ). In The birds of North Global Series No. 12, Wageningen, The Nether- America, no. 154 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). lands.

26 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:27-30, 2006

ENDANGERED PIPING PLOVERS ( CHARADRIUS MELODUS ) OVERWINTERING IN PUERTO RICO

ALLEN R. L EWIS 1,5 , A DRIANNE G. T OSSAS 2, J OSÉ A. C OLÓN 3, AND B EATRIZ H ERNÁNDEZ 4

1Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR 00681-9012; e-mail: [email protected]; 2Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR 00681-9012; e-mail: [email protected]; 3PO Box 1656, Ciales, PR 00638-1656; e-mail: [email protected]; 4Pedro Cintrón 57, UTT, San Juan, PR 00926; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract : The Puerto Rican Shorebird Network conducted monthly counts at 14 census sites from 2001-2003. Pip- ing plovers ( Charadrius melodus ) were found overwintering in restricted locations at three of the sites for multiple years and one was seen once at a fourth site. The number of birds wintering at these locations may be as few as five. Although birds were unmarked, their reappearance at particular sites in successive years suggests site fidelity. Two of the sites are beaches under pressure for development, which may reduce their suitability as wintering areas. Unde- tected Piping Plovers may winter sparsely throughout the Caribbean. Key words: Charadrius melodius , endangered species, migratory shorebird, overwintering, Piping Plover, Puerto Rico

Resumen: CHORLO M ELÓDICO ( CHARADRIUS MELODIUS ) UNA E SPECIE EN P ELIGRO I NVERNANDO EN P UERTO R ICO . La Red Limícola Puertorriqueña llevó a cabo conteos mensuales en 14 sitios de censo desde 2001 hasta 2003. Se encontraron Chorlos Melódicos ( Charadrius melodus ) invernando en lugares específicos en tres de los sitios por múltiples años y uno fue visto una sola vez en un cuarto sitio. El número de aves invernando en estos lugares puede ser tan bajo como cinco. Aunque las aves no estaban marcadas, su reaparición en lugares específicos en años suce- sivos sugiere fidelidad al sitio. Dos de los sitios son playas bajo presión de desarrollo, lo que puede reducir su con- veniencia para la invernación. Chorlos Melódicos podrían estar invernando en bajas densidades a lo largo del Caribe sin ser detectados. Palabras clave: Charadrius melodus , Chorlo Melódico, especie en peligro, invernando, playero migratorio, Puerto Rico

Résumé : LE P LUVIER S IFFLEUR ( CHARADRIUS MELODUS ), E SPECE EN D ANGER , H IVERNANTE A P ORTO R ICO . Le réseau portoricain des limicoles a conduit des comptages mensuels de 2001 à 2003 sur 14 sites. Le Plumier siffleur (Charadrius melodus ) a été trouvé en hivernage à des endroits isolés de trois des sites plusieurs années et une observation isolé d’un individu est connue d’un quatrième site. Le nombre d’oiseaux hivernant pourrait être de seulement 5. Bien que les oiseaux n’aient pas été marqués, leur réapparition des années successives aux mêmes localisations isolées suggère une fidélité de site. Deux de ces localisations sont des plages menacées par le développement, et qui pourraient voir leur qualité de site d’hivernage réduite. D’autres Pluviers siffleurs non détectés pourraient hiverner de manière éparse ailleurs dans la Caraïbe Mots-clés : Charadrius melodus , espèce en danger, limicole migrateur, hivernage, Pluvier siffleur, Porto Rico

THE P IPING P LOVER (Charadrius melodus ) is an Canada, along the barrier beaches of the Atlantic endemic North American shorebird listed as endan- seaboard from Newfoundland to North Carolina, gered in both the United States and Canada (U. S. and in very small numbers around the Great Lakes. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985, COSEWIC 2005). They overwinter along the sandy beaches of the Of the 50 species of shorebird nesting in North southeastern U. S., the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, Baha- America it is one of five assigned highest priority in mas, and in small numbers at other Caribbean loca- the U. S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (Brown et al . tions (Haig and Elliot-Smith 2004, Haig et al . 2005, 2001). The distribution and status of the species is Raffaele et al . 1998). relatively well known due to the International Pip- One of the findings of the species census is that ing Plover Census (IPPC) carried out for winter and the winter distribution remains incompletely de- breeding populations in 1991, 1996, and 2001 by U. fined. The 2001 IPPC found in winter only half as S. and Canadian researchers (Haig et al . 2005). Pip- many birds as were found during the breeding sea- ing Plovers breed along the shores of lakes and riv- son (2 389 vs 5 945; Haig et al . 2005, Ferland and ers of the northern Great Plains in the U. S. and Haig 2002). We speculate that some of the missing

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 27 LEWIS ET AL . — CHARADRIUS MELODUS OVERWINTERING IN P UERTO R ICO

Fig. 1. Shorebird survey sites in Puerto Rico. Ellipses denote four sites where at least one Piping Plover was found during winter. Bullets denote four additional sites where the ocean beach or protected flat resembled utilized sites but no Piping Plovers were detected. The remaining sites were marsh, lagoon, and mangrove habitats where Piping Plovers were neither observed nor expected. City of San Juan is shown by a circle.

birds are spread thinly over the many km of beach RESULTS in the Caribbean where few observers are available At each of three PRSN survey locations (Cabo to record them. Censuses undertaken for the 2001 Rojo salt flats, Isabela, and Luquillo) Piping Plovers IPPC found 55 Piping Plovers in Cuba and 35 in the have been observed throughout the winter for two to Bahamas, but none in Puerto Rico. Piping Plovers four winter seasons (Table 1). A single sighting was have been reported from Puerto Rico as rare winter recorded at a fourth survey site, Jobos, in January visitors (Raffaele 1989, Collazo et al . 1995), and 2003. The total number of plovers using these sites sightings from two Christmas Bird Counts were may be as few as five, with one or two individuals used justifiably in the IPPC report as evidence of at each site. the presence of the species. Nevertheless, little is The Cabo Rojo salt flats (Caribbean Islands Na- known about the regular use of Puerto Rico as a tional Wildlife Refuge) supported occasional Piping wintering site by this species. This note describes Plovers from 1985 to 1992 (Collazo et al . 1995). Piping Plovers overwintering at low density at three The site contained two Piping Plovers in the four Puerto Rican Shorebird Network survey sites. consecutive seasons covered by our surveys (Table 1). The plovers inhabited low-energy sand beaches METHODS (little or no wave action), fields of coral rubble, and The Puerto Rican Shorebird Network (PRSN) of salt flat at the edge of a shallow, high salinity la- the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society initiated goon. Associated species of shorebirds included monitoring of shorebirds at selected sites in 2001 as resident Snowy Plovers ( Charadrius alexandrinus ), part of the International Shorebird Survey organized Wilson’s Plovers ( Charadrius wilsonia ), and a vari- by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. ety of migratory calidrids. The network has grown to include 14 sites with a The Luquillo site contained one Piping Plover in total transect length of 33 km distributed around the seasons two and four (Table 1). The plover inhab- coast of Puerto Rico (Fig. 1) in a variety of habitats. ited high energy beach (heavy wave action) that was Monthly censuses have been taken at most of the protected at some locations by a low strip of sites for up to three calendar years, equivalent to lithified sand dune (aeolinite). A band of vegetation parts of four consecutive winter seasons. Censuses separated the beach from adjacent upland areas. for each area are under the charge of a trained vol- Associated species of shorebirds included Semipal- unteer who retraces the same route each month and mated Plovers ( Charadrius s emipalmatus ), Black- makes total counts of all species of shorebirds ob- bellied Plovers ( Pluvialis squatarola ), Sanderlings served. (Calidris alba ), and Least Sandpipers ( Calidris

28 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 LEWIS ET AL . — CHARADRIUS MELODUS OVERWINTERING IN P UERTO R ICO

Table 1. Piping Plover sightings in Puerto Rico by month, year, and location. No Piping Plovers were detected in months indicated with a zero; no census was carried out in months indicated with a dash. The table depicts three calendar years per site and, consequently, at least part of four winter seasons.

Location Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cabo Rojo 2001 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 2002 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2003 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Isabela 2001 – – – – – – – – – – – – 2002 1 0 0 0 0 – – 0 0 2 1 1 2003 1 1 0 0 0 – – 0 0 0 1 2 Luquillo 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2002 – 1 0 0 0 0 – 0 – 0 0 0 2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Jobos 2001 – – – – – – – – – – 0 0 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

minutilla ). The location used by the plovers is an locations for months during consecutive winter sea- empty stretch of beach, not the intensively devel- sons at Cabo Rojo and Isabela and less consistently oped recreation area, but it is not a refuge. Con- at Luquillo. We have not seen evidence that these struction of a resort is under review for the site. home ranges are defended, but the reuse of particu- The Isabela site contained one and occasionally lar sites leads us to speculate that the same individu- two Piping Plovers in seasons two, three, and four als are returning to the same wintering locations. (Table 1). The site was not examined in season one. Strong site fidelity within a season has been re- When two plovers were found, they were always ported for Piping Plovers wintering in Texas (Drake near each other and foraged together. In all three et al . 2001), and between year nest-site fidelity is seasons one or two plovers were usually found rest- well known in this species (Wilcox 1959, Haig and ing in a low hollow on the landward side of an aeo- Oring 1988). We conclude that Puerto Rico is part linite outcrop that offered protection from heavy of the regular wintering range for this species. Atlantic surf and wind. Small lagoons lapped the The sites used in Puerto Rico are beaches at the landward side of the aeolinite and supported an al- opposite ends of the spectrum of wave energy. This gal lawn on the lowest aeolinite exposures in which suggests that many locations in the Caribbean, in- the plovers fed at low tide. The plovers also foraged cluding unstudied sites in Puerto Rico, might be in the adjacent dry beach sand, and two birds, per- appropriate overwintering sites for Piping Plovers. haps the same pair, were once found in dry sand 3 Unfortunately our census sites were not selected to km from the usual site. Associated species of shore- be a representative sample of coastal habitats; they birds included Wilson’s Plovers, Semipalmated are sites known to have shorebirds, and they are Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings, and convenient to reach for particular volunteers. There- Least Sandpipers. All sheltered on the aeolinite and fore, we cannot construct a defensible estimate of foraged in the algal lawns as well as in wet areas the total number of Piping Plovers overwintering in formed higher on the rock by overwash. This site is Puerto Rico. However, based on a total shoreline of on a 3 km stretch of beach that has been relatively 1,094 km (Earth Trends Country Profiles 2003), inaccessible and has no human habitation. However, five birds in the 33 km census route, and recogni- the beach is not part of a refuge and has recently tion that much of the shoreline of the island is far come under heavy pressure for development. too developed to sustain the plovers, we can guess that the number is less than 50. The three beaches in DISCUSSION Puerto Rico now known as over-wintering sites, as Piping Plovers have been in residence at the same well as the Jobos Reserve where a single bird was

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 29 LEWIS ET AL . — CHARADRIUS MELODUS OVERWINTERING IN P UERTO R ICO observed, are characterized by relatively long COLLAZO , J. A., B. A. H ARRINGTON , J. S. G REAR , stretches without development. Such beaches are AND J. A. C OLÓN . 1995. Abundance and distribu- disappearing from the island. The other four census tion of shorebirds at the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats, sites (marked by bullets in Fig. 1) that are either salt Puerto Rico. Journal of Field Ornithology 66:424- flat or beach do not shelter the plovers. These sites 438. have more development with nearby houses and COSEWIC. 2005. Canadian species at risk. Com- dogs. Less intensively developed sections of Cuba, mittee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Hispaniola, and the Bahamas may have more birds. Canada. Http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct0/rpt/ Some of the Piping Plovers missing from the 2001 rpt_csar_e.cfm IPPC winter census may be scattered over thou- DRAKE , K. R., J. E. T HOMPSON , K. L. D RAKE , AND sands of km of coastline in the Caribbean and the C. Z ONICK . 2001. Movements, habitat use, and Bahamas. survival of nonbreeding Piping Plovers. Condor As construction-based economic development 103:259-267. transforms beaches that are not part of any refuge EARTH T RENDS C OUNTRY P ROFILES . 2003. Coastal system, the suitability of the beaches for the plovers and marine ecosystems: Puerto Rico. Http:// may decline, and because of their strong site fidelity earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/ the plovers may be unable to respond flexibly. Car- coa_cou_630.pdf ibbean beaches are everywhere under pressure. FERLAND , C. L., AND S. M. H AIG . 2002. 2001 Inter- Continuous monitoring is essential to detect and national Piping Plover census. U. S. Geological understand changes in use of wintering grounds by Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science the birds in response to the intensification of use of Center, Corvallis, OR. 293 pp. the sites by people, and we hope the results of this HAIG , S. M., AND E. E LLIOTT -SMITH . 2004. Piping study will encourage others in the Caribbean to Plover. The birds of North America Online (A. carry out similar efforts. The Caribbean emphasis in Poole, ed.) Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the 2006 winter census (S. Haig pers. comm.) may Ithaca, NY. Http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/ also spur additional interest in this important region. account/Piping_Plover. HAIG , S. M., C. L. F ERLAND , F. J. C UTHBERTY , J. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS DINGLEDINE , J. P. G OOSSEN , A. H ECHT , AND N. We express our appreciation to our colleagues in MCPHILLIPS . 2005. A complete species census the Puerto Rico Shorebird Network who have car- and evidence for regional declines in Piping Plov- ried out monthly censes for the past 3 yr. Partici- ers. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:160-173. pants include Sergio Colón, Cosme Lantigua, Luis HAIG , S. M. AND L. W. O RING . 1988. Mate, site, Muñiz, Alberto Puente, José E. Rodríguez, Rafael and territory fidelity in Piping Plovers. Auk Rodríguez, José Salguero, and José Sepúlveda. 105:268-277. Their careful efforts have increased our understan- RAFFAELE , H. A. 1989. A guide to the birds of ding of patterns of movement of shorebirds through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Princeton Puerto Rico. We also wish to recognize the efforts University Press, Princeton, NJ. of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences RAFFAELE , H. A., J. W ILEY , O. G ARRIDO , A. for their organization and promotion of the Interna- KEITH , AND J. R AFFAELE . 1998. A Guide to the tional Shorebird Surveys and to thank the U. S. Fish birds of the West Indies. Princeton University and Wildlife Service for logistic support. Press, Princeton, NJ. U. S. F ISH AND W ILDLIFE S ERVICE . 1985. Determi- LITERATURE C ITED nation of endangered and threatened status for BROWN , S., C. H ICKEY , B. H ARRINGTON , AND R. Piping Plover. Federal Register 50:50726-50734. GILL (eds.). 2001. The U. S. shorebird conserva- Http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html tion plan. 2nd ed. Manomet Center for Conserva- WILCOX , L. 1959. A twenty year banding study of tion Sciences, Manomet, MA. the Piping Plover. Auk 76:129-152.

30 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:31-35, 2006

FIVE NEW SPECIES OF BIRDS FOR ARUBA, WITH NOTES ON OTHER SIGNIFICANT SIGHTINGS

STEVEN G. M LODIINOW

4819 Gardner Avenue, Everett, WA 98203, USA; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract : A trip to Aruba during mid-March 2005 produced five previously unrecorded species: Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ), Ring-necked Duck ( Aythya collaris ), Greater Ani ( Crotophaga major ), Red-eyed Vireo ( Vireo olivaceus ), and Indigo Bunting ( Passerina cyanea ). Three other species were recorded only once previously. These species were from a diverse set of families and widely differing geographical origins. Also found were a number of passerines generally considered rare to casual in the southern Caribbean Basin. Aruba’s apparent attraction for such vagrants is not clear but may be related to its relatively westerly position and its scarce but easily accessible habitat increasing the observer’s ability to find such birds. Key words: Aruba, Aythya collaris , Crotophaga major , distributional records, Fregata minor , new bird species , Passerina cyanea , Vireo olivaceus

Resumen: CINCO N UEVAS E SPECIES PARA A RUBA Y N OTAS SOBRE OTROS A VISTAMIENTOS S IGNIFICATIVOS . Una expedición a Aruba a mediados de marzo del 2005 produjo cinco nuevos registros de especies: Fregata Grande (Fregata minor ), Pato Cabezón ( Aythya collaris ), Greater Ani ( Crotophaga major ), Vireo de Ojo Rojo ( Vireo olivaceus ), y el Azulejo ( Passerina cyanea ). Otras tres especies habían sido reportadas solo una vez con anterioridad. Estas especies pertenecen a un grupo diverso de familias y de muy diferentes orígenes geográficos. También se en- contró un cierto número de paserinas consideradas generalmente raras o casuales en el sur del Caribe. El atractivo aparente de Aruba para estos vagrants no está claro pero puede estar relacionado a su posición relativamente occidental y a sus dispersos, pero accesibles hábitats, que aumentan la probabilidad de los observadores de encontrar estas aves. Palabras clave: Aruba, Aythya collaris , Crotophaga major , especies de aves nuevas, Fregata minor , nuevos reportes de especies, Passerina cyanea , reportes de distribución, Vireo olivaceus

Résumé : CINQ N OUVELLES E SPECES POUR A RUBA , A VEC DES N OTES SUR D’ AUTRES O BSERVATIONS I NTERESSAN- TES . Un voyage à Aruba mi mars 2005 a permis d’observer 5 espèces nouvelles : la Frégate du Pacifique ( Fregata minor ), le Fuligule à collier ( Aythya collaris ), l’Ani des palétuviers ( Crotophaga major ), le Viréo aux yeux rouges (Vireo olivaceus ), et le Passerin indigo ( Passerina cyanea ). 3 autres espèces observées n’avaient été vues qu’une seule fois auparavant. Ces espèces étaient de diverses familles et d’origines géographiques très variées. D’autres espèces rares ou accidentelles dans le sud du bassin caraïbe ont aussi été notées. L’apparente attraction d’Aruba pour de tels erratiques n’est pas claire mais pourrait être liée à sa localisation relativement à l’ouest et par son habitat rare mais facilement accessible qui augmente les chances pour l’observateur de trouver de tels oiseaux. Mots-clés : Aruba, Aythya collaris , Crotophaga major , distribution des observations, Fregata minor , nouvelles espèces d’oiseaux, Passerina cyanea , Vireo olivaceus

CASEY B EACHELL AND I explored Aruba from 12 shore, there is a line of broadleaf trees with a can- to 18 March 2005, our third such visit. During this opy ranging mostly from 3-6 m in height. The golf time, we repeatedly visited the Bubali Bird Sanctu- course lake is Y-shaped and, when full, about 1 km ary, Tierra del Sol Golf Course, Spanish Lagoon, long and 0.25 km wide. This lake provides muddy and flooded saltflats near Malmok, discovering five and grassy edges as well as a strip of Typha marsh. species of birds previously unrecorded from Aruba Presumably the level of the lake is dependent on plus three species detected only once previously. run-off from the golf course and precipitation. The Bubali Bird Sanctuary and the lake at Tierra del Spanish Lagoon is a brackish 1 km cut into the is- Sol Golf Course provide the only significant perma- land’s interior and is the most prominent mangrove nent freshwater habitat on this arid island. Bubali swamp on Aruba. Finally, towards the north side of was created in 1972 to handle sewage outflow from the island, there is a series of saltpans that have wa- the island’s resorts and hotels. The resultant marsh ter only if there has been sufficient recent rainfall, is about 1 km long and 0.5 km wide, with most of and Aruba’s rainfall from September 2004 through the area covered by cattails ( Typha spp.) and water January 2005 was substantially above normal Aruba lettuce ( Pistia stratiotes ). On the marsh’s west (Meteorological Service Netherland Antilles and

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 31 MLODINOW — N EW OR S IGNIFICANT B IRD R ECORDS FOR A RUBA

Aruba 2004, 2005). During March 2005, almost all flew off. The distinctive bill shape and white eyes contained water fringed by muddy shoreline, but were readily apparent. Greater Ani had not previ- only the saltpan near Malmok was used regularly by ously been recorded on the ABC Islands nor the shorebirds. Full descriptions of all birds reported West Indies (Raffaele et al . 1998, Reuter and Prins, herein are on file at the Zoological Museum of the in prep.). In northern Venezuela, where fairly com- University of Amsterdam. mon from late April to November, they occur mostly as migrants from Amazonia but are also FIRST R ECORDS found in smaller numbers during the remainder of the year (Hilty 2003). Greater Anis are a fairly com- GREAT F RIGATEBIRD ( FREGATA MINOR ) mon resident in Trinidad and Tobago, where they On 15 March 2005 an adult female Great Frigate- inhabit mangrove swamps among other habitats bird was seen at Ceroe Colorado, the southeast cape (ffrench 1991). of the island. It was observed for 4-5 min as close as 50 m. The shape of the belly patch, complete dark RED -EYED V IREO ( VIREO OLIVACEUS ) chest band, and limited white on axillars eliminated At Spanish Lagoon on 13 March 2005, we other frigatebird species (James 2004, D. J. James, watched a vireo for approximately 4 min, observing in litt ). Great Frigatebird has not been previously the lack of a dusky “whisker” mark, bright red eyes, recorded on the Aruba, Bonaire, or Curaçao (the relatively bright green back, and strong facial pat- ABC Islands), Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago or tern. Black-whiskered Vireo ( V. altiloquus ) was the West Indies (Voous 1983, ffrench 1991, Hilty eliminated by the lack of a “whisker,” the relatively 2003). The Atlantic Ocean breeding population is bright green back, the stronger facial pattern, and limited to Trinidade Island and Martin Vas Rocks the relatively smaller bill. Yellow-green Vireo ( V. off Brazil (American Ornithologists’ Union 1998). flavoviridis ) would have had a larger bill, been more In the North Pacific, Great Frigatebirds breed as far brightly colored, and lacked the dark upper border north as Mexico’s Islas Revillagigedo (Howell and to the supercilium. It is surprising that this species Webb 1995) and have wandered as far north as the had not been previously detected on Aruba, as mi- Farallon Islands, California (Richardson et al. grant Red-eyed Vireos from North America are 2003). Great Frigatebird has also been recorded uncommon to fairly common in Venezuela (Hilty once in the eastern United States in Oklahoma 2003), and there are at least six records from Bon- (Tomer et al . 1996). aire and three from Curaçao (Voous 1983, Reuter and Prins in prep.). Its similarity to the resident RING -NECKED D UCK ( AYTHYA COLLARIS ) Black-whiskered Vireo may partly explain the lack On three occasions from 12-16 March 2005 we of previous records. Given this individual’s bright were able to study, at length, two female Ring- red eyes, it was likely of the nominate North Ameri- necked Ducks at the Tierra del Sol Golf Course. can race, rather than one of the South American The distinctive head shape, bill pattern, and diag- races which have browner eyes (Hilty 2003). nostic facial pattern were easily seen. This species winters regularly as far south as the Virgin Islands, INDIGO B UNTING ( PASSERINA CYANEA ) but in the Lesser Antilles it is found less than once A brown Indigo Bunting (likely an immature fe- per decade (Raffaele et al . 1998), and there are but male) was noted 12 March 2005 in a weedy area three records from Venezuela (Hilty 2003). Reuter bordering the sewage treatment plant at the Bubali and Prins (in prep.) list three records from Curaçao, Bird Sanctuary. Black-faced Grassquit ( Tiaris bi- including eight together during 1999, and one from color ) was easily eliminated by shape and lack of Bonaire. There have been several records from olive hues. The relatively dull brown color and lack Trinidad and Tobago (e.g., ffrench 1991, Hayes and of prominent wingbars eliminated Lazuli Bunting White 2000, White and Hayes 2002). (P. amoena ), and Blue-black Grassquit ( Volatinia jacarina ) would have been smaller with a sharper GREATER A NI ( CROTOPHAGA MAJOR ) all black bill. In the West Indies Indigo Buntings are Near noon on 13 March 2005 at Spanish Lagoon regular as far south as the Virgin Islands and San we observed two large birds that landed above us Andres, though they are rarely recorded in the giving a croak-like call. They were large, glossy Lesser Antilles (once in St. Martin, twice in Domin- black, and had exceptionally long tails. We watched ica, once in Barbados; McNair et al . 1999, Islam the birds from about 10 m for 2-3 min before they 2002, Brown 2005) and have been recorded but

32 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MLODINOW — N EW OR S IGNIFICANT B IRD R ECORDS FOR A RUBA once in Venezuela and once on Trinidad and To- PHILADELPHIA V IREO ( VIREO PHILADELPHICUS ) bago (ffrench 1991, Hilty 2003). Surprisingly, there Just after sunrise on 18 March, a vireo with a are multiple records from Bonaire and Curaçao, relatively small bill (when compared to Red-eyed or sometimes involving small flocks, from early No- Black-whiskered) and bright yellow throat and chest vember into late April (Voous 1983), and they are approached within 3 m at Spanish Lagoon. It lacked currently considered regular on Bonaire and Cura- wingbars and had a dark transocular stripe, a whit- çao (Reuter and Prins, in prep.). The lack of pre- ish supercilium, and a gray crown. A Tennessee existing records from Aruba may well be due to Warbler ( Vermivora peregrina ) would have had a relatively poor ornithological coverage. much finer bill, and would not have had the combination of yellow underparts and blue-gray cap or a SECOND R ECORDS bright yellow throat and chest. Red-eyed, Black- whiskered, and Yellow-green Vireo were eliminated LITTLE E GRET ( EGRETTA GARZETTA ) by the solidly yellow throat and chest plus the rela- An individual of this species was observed for 5 tively small bill. A Brown-capped Vireo ( V. leuco- min at some distance, but in excellent light, from phrys ) would have had a whiter throat, brown cap, the observation tower at Bubali early in the morning and less distinct transocular stripe, while Warbling of 12 March. The dark lores and two long filamen- Vireo ( V. gilvus ) would also lack the solidly yellow tous head plumes without shaggy crest were noted. throat and chest and would have had pale lores. The bird associated with several Snowy Egrets ( E. Philadelphia Vireo is less than annual in the West thula ), the yellow lores of which were easily seen. Indies and is unrecorded from the Virgin Islands or An individual of this species allowed close study at Lesser Antilles (Raffaele et al . 1998). It has been Tierra del Sol Golf Course 25-30 March 2003, pro- recorded in South America only in Colombia viding the ABC Islands’ first record (Mlodinow (American Ornithologists’ Union 1998) and there 2004). This Old World species was first recorded in are two prior ABC Island records, one from Spanish the Western Hemisphere at Barbados on 16 April Lagoon on 13 January 2002 (Wells and Wells 2004) 1954 (Bond 1966). Its numbers have increased dra- and one on Curaçao in April 2000 (Wells and Wells matically in the Caribbean Basin since the 1980s, 2001). with breeding first noted at Barbados in 1994 and over 50 records from Trinidad and Tobago, mostly ADDITIONAL R ECORDS OF N OTE from January to April (Massiah 1996, Hayes and During our stay we also recorded a number of White 2001, Mlodinow et al . 2004). There are no presumably unusual neotropical migrants, including records for Venezuela (Hilty 2003). The 12 March 11 Northern Parulas ( Parula americana ), three 2005 bird may well be the same one seen at Tierra Chestnut-sided Warblers ( Dendroica pensylvanica ), del Sol two years earlier. ten Cape May Warblers, a Black-throated Blue Warbler ( D. caerulescens ), nine Prothonotary War- LIMPKIN ( ARAMUS GUARAUNA ) blers ( Protonotaria citrea ), an Ovenbird ( Seirus On the evening of 12 March, we observed a aurocapillus ), a Louisiana Waterthrush ( Seiurus Limpkin for 5-10 min as it stalked the lake’s edge at motacilla ), 13 Common Yellowthroats ( Geothylpis Tierra del Sol. Eventually, it flew to the marshy trichas ), and a Hooded Warbler ( Wilsonia citrina ). portion of the lake, and we were unable to relocate Prior to 2005, Aruba had two records of Chestnut- it that day or on further visits. This distinctive bird sided Warbler, three of Cape May Warbler, three of lacked the white spots on the back typical of A. g. Black-throated Blue Warbler, twelve of Prothono- dolosus from North America, Central America, and tary Warbler, six of Ovenbird, two of Louisiana the West Indies; rather, the pale streaking was lim- Waterthrush, and six-plus records of Hooded War- ited to the head and neck, typical of the nominate bler (Voous 1983, Reuter and Prins, in prep.). Ob- race from South America. Some local movement servations from Bonaire and Curaçao show these occurs in northern Venezuela, where it is most com- vagrants occur at least equally often on these islands mon June to October (Hilty 2003). This species is (Reuter and Prins, in prep.). Furthermore, Voous an uncommon resident on Trinidad and Tobago (1983) listed only ten ABC Island records of North- (ffrench 1991). The only other record for the ABC ern Parula and one of Common Yellowthroat, al- Islands was from Ceru Colorado, Aruba, in Febru- though both have subsequently been found regularly ary 1975 (Voous 1983, Reuter and Prins, in prep.). in small numbers on Aruba (J. Wells in litt,

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 33 MLODINOW — N EW OR S IGNIFICANT B IRD R ECORDS FOR A RUBA

Mlodinow pers. obs.). We found nine parulas during begin to abate with 94 mm rather than the typical 62 March 2003 and six during March 2004. Although mm and by February, precipitation levels had re- we did not find any Common Yellowthroats during turned to normal (Meteorological Service Nether- March 2003, five were detected at Bubali during lands Antilles and Aruba 2005). The island was March 2004. Of the above species, Northern Parula, clearly greener during March 2005 than during the Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue War- previous two years, and the number of dragonflies bler, and Common Yellowthroat are considered and butterflies were well above what we’d experi- vagrants in nearby Venezuela, and Cape May War- enced before. With increased precipitation, and ap- bler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Hooded parently increased insect abundance, it would be Warbler are listed as rare there (Hilty 2003). The easy to imagine that more fall migrants chose to status of these species is similar on Trinidad and winter on Aruba rather than move on to the South Tobago (ffrench 1991). Only Prothonotary Warbler American mainland. Indeed, the increased storm is uncommon to fairly common in Venezuela and activity during the fall migratory period may even Trinidad and Tobago (Hilty 2003, ffrench 1991). have led to more birds being deposited on Aruba. On our previous March trips to Aruba, we had been surprised by the relative abundance of what ACKNOWLEDGMENTS should be rare-to-accidental neotropical migrants I owe a great debt of gratitude to Tineke Prins of based on these species’ abundance in the Lesser the Zoological Museum of the University of Am- Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. This sterdam for her steady supply of data and for putting year furnished even more of these “rare” visitors up with my badgering. I also owe her thanks for than normal. It is not clear why Aruba (and Bonaire reviewing and improving this manuscript. Ruud van and Curaçao) seemingly attract so many more of Halewijn reviewed and significantly improved an these neotropical vagrants than other islands in the earlier version of this manuscript. Francisco southern Caribbean or Venezuela. The relative lack Franken of the Department of Fisheries was kind of habitat may simply make it easier for observers enough to take me out to Aruba’s tern nesting colo- to find them, especially when compared to mainland nies, thereby putting me in the right place at the South America. Furthermore, the ABC Islands are right time to see the Great Frigatebird, and thanks to located farther west than other southern Caribbean Castro Perez of the Department of Tourism for ar- Islands, perhaps increasing the likelihood that spe- ranging the entire matter. The identification of said cies wintering predominantly in Central America frigatebird would have been impossible without the and Mexico may stray there. Of the passerine va- help of David James. I also owe thanks to Facundo grants noted above, Philadelphia Vireo, Chestnut- Franken, Al Debrot, Adam Brown, and Hans Reuter sided Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Hooded for providing useful information. Finally, and per- Warbler, and Indigo Bunting have a predominantly haps above all else, thanks to the kind folks of Mexican / Central American winter distribution. Aruba in general, and those of the Bucuti Beach Aruba is approximately 850 km west of Grenada, Resort in particular, for making our visits utterly the nearest island in the Lesser Antilles, and 850 km enjoyable. east of Costa Rica, which is at the same latitude in Central America. LITERATURE C ITED Furthermore, this year’s success in particular may AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1998. Check- well have been related to the increased precipitation list of North American birds. 7th ed. Allen Press received from September 2004 through January Inc., Lawrence, KS. 2005. During September, mostly related to the pas- BOND , J. 1966. Eleventh supplement to the Check- sage of Hurricane Ivan to the north, Aruba received list of the birds of the West Indies. Academy of 256 mm of rain compared with the long-term aver- Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. age of 35 mm, causing local flooding, a most un- BROWN , A. C., AND N. C OLLIER . 2005. New and usual event on Aruba (Meteorological Service Neth- rare bird records from St. Martin, West Indies. erlands Antilles and Aruba 2004). A high level of Cotinga 25:52-58. rainfall persisted through December, with the Octo- FFRENCH , R. 1991. A guide to the birds of Trinidad ber through December precipitation total being 402 and Tobago. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, mm, well above the average of 200 mm NY. (Meteorological Service Netherlands Antilles and HAYES , F. E., AND G. W HITE . 2000. First report of Aruba 2004). Only in January did the heavy rainfall the Trinidad and Tobago Rare Bird Committee.

34 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MLODINOW — N EW OR S IGNIFICANT B IRD R ECORDS FOR A RUBA

Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and To- Tennessee Warbler, and Red-breasted Blackbird bago Field Naturalists’ Club 1999-2000:39-45. from Aruba. North American Birds 57:559-561. HAYES , F. E., AND G. L. W HITE . 2001. Status of the MLODINOW , S. G., W. E. D AVIS , J R., AND J. I. D IES . Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta ) in Trinidad and 2004. Possible anywhere: Little Egret. Birding Tobago. Pitirre 14:54-58. 36:52-62. HILTY , S. L. 2003. Birds of Venezuela. 2nd ed. RAFFAELE , H., J. W ILEY , O. G ARRIDO , A. K EITH , Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. AND J. R AFFAELE . 1998. A guide to the birds of HILTY , S. L., AND W. L. B ROWN . 1986. A guide to the West Indies. Princeton University Press, the birds of Colombia. Princeton University Princeton, NJ. Press, Princeton, NJ. RICHARDSON , T. W., P. P YLE , R. B URNETT , AND P. HOWELL , S. N. G., AND S. W EBB . 1995. A guide to CAPITOLO . 2003. The occurrence and seasonal the birds of Mexico and Northern Central Amer- distribution of migratory birds on Southeast Far- ica. Oxford University Press, Oxford. allon Island, 1968-1999. Western Birds 34:58-96. ISLAM , K. 2002. Second sight record of Indigo Bun- REUTER , J. H., AND T. G. P RINS . In prep. Checklist ting ( Passerina cyanea ) on Dominica. Pitirre 15: of the birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, 77. Netherlands Antilles. JAMES , D. J. 2004. Identification of Christmas Is- TOMER , J. S., R. B. C LAPP , AND J. C. H OFFMAN . land, Great and Lesser Frigatebirds. Birding Asia 1996. Fregata minor , Great Frigatebird, in Okla- 1:22-38. homa. Bulletin of the Oklahoma Ornithological MASSIAH , E. 1996. Identification of Snowy and Society 29:34-35. Little Egret. Birding World 9:434-444. VOOUS , K. H. 1983. Birds of the Netherlands Antil- MCNAIR , D. B., E. B. M ASSIAH , AND M. D. F ROST . les. De Walburg Pers, Utrecht, Netherlands. 1999. New and rare species of Nearctic landbird WELLS , J. V., AND A. M. C HILDS W ELLS . 2001. migrants during autumn for Barbados and the First sight record of Philadelphia Vireo ( Vireo Lesser Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science philadelphicus ) for Curaçao, Netherlands Antil- 35:46-53. les, with notes on other migrant songbirds. Pitirre METEOROLOGICAL S ERVICE N ETHERLANDS A NTIL- 14:59-60. LES AND A RUBA . 2004. Annual climatological WELLS , J. V., AND A. M. C HILDS W ELLS . 2004. report, 2004. Http://www.meteo.an Photographic documentation of Philadelphia METEOROLOGICAL S ERVICE N ETHERLANDS A NTIL- Vireo on Aruba. North American Birds 57:562- LES AND A RUBA . 2005. Climatological survey 563. Aruba, January and February 2005. Http:// WHITE , G., AND F. E. H AYES . 2002. Second report www.meteo.an of the Trinidad and Tobago Rare Bird Commit- MLODINOW , S. G. 2004. First records of Little tee. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Egret, Green-winged Teal, Swallow-tailed Kite, Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club 2002:51-56.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 35 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:36-41, 2006

ANÁLISIS DE LAS RECUPERACIONES DE EJEMPLARES ANILLADOS DE GARZAS Y COCOS (CICONIIFORMES) EN EL PERIODO DE 1913 A 1998

DENNIS D ENIS A VILA Y H ECTOR M. S ALVAT T ORRES

Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana; Calle 25 entre J e I, Vedado, Ciudad Habana, Cuba; email: [email protected]

Resumen : La técnica de anillamiento y recuperaciones de aves migratorias es uno de los métodos más eficientes para obtener información sobre patrones de movimiento y parámetros demográficos en estas especies. Los miembros del orden Ciconiiformes presentan fuertes procesos dispersivos post-cría que oscurecen los patrones migratorios, sin embargo, se sabe que los humedales cubanos mantienen grandes poblaciones bimodales. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las recuperaciones de individuos de Ciconiiformes anillados en Norteamérica y recuperados en Cuba entre 1913 y 1998, a partir de la base de datos del Departamento de Pesca y Fauna de los EEUU (USFWS). En este periodo se recuperaron los anillos de 273 individuos de Ciconiiformes, de ocho especies. El análisis de los recobrados por década mostró un comportamiento ascendente en la primera mitad de siglo, con un marcado descenso a partir de la década de los 80. Las especies con mayor representación fueron el Guanabá de la Florida ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) y el Coco Prieto ( Plegadis falcinellus ). Los meses de mayor cantidad de recuperaciones correspondieron a la migración invernal, aunque se presentaron recuperaciones en meses intermedios. Las provincias con mayor número de recobrados fueron La Habana, Pinar del Río y Sancti Spiritus y los individuos provenían mayormente de New Jersey, Virginia y Carolina del Sur. Palabras clave: recuperación, anillamiento, Caribe, garzas, cocos, movimientos

Abstract: ANALYSIS OF B ANDED B IRD R ECOVERIES OF H ERONS AND E GRETS (C ICONIIFORMES ) D URING THE P E- RIOD 1913 TO 1998. Banding of migratory birds is one of the most efficient tools used in gathering information on movements and demography. Members of the order Ciconiiformes exhibit strong post fledging dispersal movements that confound migrational patterns. The objective of this paper in to analyze recoveries of ciconiiform birds banded in North America and recovered in Cuba from 1913 to 1998, registered in the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) data base located in Laurel, Maryland. During this period, 273 individuals of eight species of ciconiiform birds were recovered. Numbers per decade demonstrate an increase in the first half of the century, followed by a decrease commencing in the 1980s. The species most represented were Black-crowned Night Heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) and Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus ). The months with the highest rate of band recovery corresponded to winter migration but there were recoveries outside of the migratory period as well. Provinces with the most recoveries were La Havana, Pinar del Río, and Sancti Spiritus, and the individuals were banded mostly in New Jersey, Virginia, and South Carolina. Key words: banding, Caribbean, egrets and herons, ibises, movements , recoveries

Résumé : ANALYSE DES D ONNEES DE B AGUAGE D’ A IGRETTES ET DE H ERONS (C ICONIIFORMES ) E NTRE 1918 ET 1998 . L’analyse des données de baguages est l’un des outils les plus efficaces de collecte d’information sur les dé- placements et sur la démographie des oiseaux migrateurs. Les espèces de Ciconiiformes présentent un erratisme juvénile marqué qui complique la compréhension des schémas migratoires. Malgré cela, il est connu que les zones humides de Cuba présentent une distribution des populations nettement bimodale. L’objectif de cet article est d’ana- lyser les données de Ciconiiformes disponibles dans la base de données de l’USFWS bagués en Amérique du Nord, et obtenues à Cuba entre 1913 et 1998. Pendant la période étudiée, 273 individus de 8 espèces de Ciconiiformes ont été enregistrés. Le nombre d’individus par décade montre une augmentation pendant la première moitié du XXème siècle puis une diminution marquée depuis les années 1980. Les espèces les plus représentées sont le Héron bihoreau (Nycticorax nycticorax ) et l’Ibis falcinelle ( Plegadis falcinellus ). Les mois comportant le plus de données correspon- dent à la migration hivernale mais certaines données concernent la période intermédiaire. Les provinces avec le plus de données sont celles de La Havane, Pinar del Rio, et Sancti Spiritus. Les oiseaux avaient été essentiellement ba- gués dans les états du New Jersey, de Virginie, et de Caroline du Sud. Mots-clés : aigrette, baguage, Caraïbe, contrôles, héron, ibis, déplacements, reprises

LA TÉCNICA DE ANILLAMIENTO y recuperaciones miento y de importantes parámetros demográficos de aves acuáticas migratorias ha sido, históricamen- en estas especies (Baillie 1995). Para la conserva- te, uno de los métodos más utilizados para la obten- ción de las poblaciones de aves acuáticas se requie- ción de información acerca de los patrones de movi- re de una visión transcontinental, ya que es vital que

36 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 DENIS A VILA Y S ALVAT T ORRES — R ECOBRADO DE G ARZAS Y C OCOS EN C UBA los esfuerzos conservacionistas tengan en cuenta las 11 sitios de invernada claves para las garzas migra- zonas de residencia estacional de las poblaciones torias de Norteamérica, cinco de ellos en territorio migratorias. Entre las aves acuáticas existe una dis- cubano y para ello utilizaron datos de 851 recupera- persión amplia y aleatoria de los juveniles desde los ciones de anillos, aunque no brindan detalles especí- sitios de reproducción. Estos movimientos generales ficos en cada área. En Cuba no existen trabajos rela- son bien marcados en el orden Ciconiiformes, y se cionados con este tema para las garzas (Ardeidae) y ha pensado que sea un mecanismo utilizado para la cocos (Threskiornithidae), aunque es conocido que colonización de nuevas áreas (Byrd 1978). humedales cubanos contienen grandes poblaciones Ya desde principios del pasado siglo, Townsend bimodales de todas estas especies, y constituyen un (1931) planteaba que las garzas norteamericanas refugio invernal de importantes cantidades de estas presentan un patrón de migración excepcional, ya aves (Denis et al. 2003). que migran hacia el norte después de la estación de En este trabajo se presenta un análisis detallado cría, por un simple instinto heredado. En Norteamé- de las recuperaciones de las especies del orden Ci- rica la dispersión post-nidada ocurre en todas las coniiformes, anilladas en el continente norteameri- direcciones pero preferentemente hacia el sur-oeste. cano, entre los años 1913 y 1998. Los resultados Estos movimientos que siguen a la reproducción aportan nuevos elementos relacionados con la mi- pueden oscurecer los patrones de migración inver- gración de estas aves, que pueden contribuir al desa- nal en los Ciconiiformes, que son en su mayoría rrollo de programas y estrategias futuras dirigidas a migratorios, y se mezclan anualmente con poblacio- la conservación de especies del orden y sus hábitats nes residentes en las islas del Caribe. naturales. Numerosos estudios se han centrado en aspectos de la migración y áreas de invernada de estas espe- MATERIALES Y M ÉTODOS cies en el continente norteamericano (Coffey 1943, Los registros de recuperaciones de aves anilladas 1948, Dusi 1967, Browder 1973, Byrd 1978, Ryder en Cuba se han obtenido históricamente a través de 1978), sin embargo, en Cuba y otras áreas del Cari- la colaboración de pescadores, cazadores y durante be, se han publicado sólo trabajos puntuales que colectas científicas, y han sido recopiladas por el analizan las recuperaciones en algunos grupos como Laboratorio de Aves Migratorias de Cuba, pertene- Anseriformes (Rodríguez 2004, Blanco y Sánchez ciente al Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática del 2005) o Phoenicopteriformes (Blanco et al. 2003). Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Am- Byrd (1978) analizó 4 459 recuperaciones de garzas biente. Estos datos se unieron a los enviados por los anilladas en el territorio de América del Norte, pero centros de anillamiento del Servicio de Pesca y Vi- apenas hace referencia al área del Caribe. Mikuska da Silvestre de Estados Unidos (USFWS) y por el et al. (1998) identificaron en Bahamas y el Caribe Servicio Canadiense de Vida Silvestre (CWS).

Tabla 1. Número y años de recobrados de los individuos por especie, del orden Ciconiiformes, recuperados en Cuba durante el período de 1930 a 1998.

Años de Recobrados Especie n Mínimo Máximo Guanabá de la Florida ( Nycticorax nycticorax ) 76 1914 1996 Garza Ganadera ( Bubulcus ibis ) 20 1958 1991 Garcilote ( Ardea herodias ) 28 1932 1997 Garzón ( Ardea alba ) 36 1937 1998 Garza de Vientre Blanco ( Egretta tricolor ) 17 1931 1998 Garza de Rizos ( Egretta thula ) 21 1940 1996 Garza Azul ( Egretta caerulea ) 13 1938 1969 Coco Blanco ( Eudocimus albus ) 24 1956 1984 Coco Prieto ( Plegadis falcinellus ) 38 1958 1991

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 37 DENIS A VILA Y S ALVAT T ORRES — R ECOBRADO DE G ARZAS Y C OCOS EN C UBA

60 50 40 30 20 10

No. de recuperaciones 0 1910-20 1921-30 1931-40 1941-50 1951-60 1961-70 1971-80 1981-90 1991-00

Década Fig. 1. Número de individuos de Ciconiiformes, anillados en Norteamérica y recuperados en Cuba por década durante el período de 1913 a 1998.

RESULTADOS mayor cantidad de recobrados son La Habana, Entre 1913 y 1998 se recuperaron 273 individuos Sancti Spíritus y Pinar del Río, mientras que Ciudad anillados del orden Ciconiiformes en Cuba, pertene- de la Habana fue donde menor cantidad de recobra- cientes a ocho especies (Tabla 1). dos hubo. El número de recapturados para las tres El análisis de los recobrados por década mostró provincias con mayor incidencia es de 119 para un un comportamiento ascendente en la primera mitad 43,6 % del total. El bajo número de recapturas en de siglo, con un descenso a partir de la década de Ciudad de la Habana puede ser debido a que las los 80 (Fig. 1). Esta tendencia refleja la importancia áreas de alimentación están reducidas al máximo del anillamiento, que cobró fuerzas en década de los por la urbanización. Las especies más representadas años 30 impulsado por organizaciones ornitológi- entre las recobradas son el Guanabá de la Florida cas. Un comportamiento similar en el tiempo pre- (Nycticorax nycticorax ) y el Coco Prieto ( Plegadis sentaron las recuperaciones del orden Anseriformes, falcinellus ). El caso del Coco Prieto es llamativo según mencionan Blanco y Sánchez (2005). dado los cambios poblacionales marcados que ha La distribución espacial de las recuperaciones ha experimentado la especie en las últimas décadas a incluido todas las provincias de Cuba en proporcio- nivel regional, y en especial, en las zonas arroceras nes relacionadas a la extensión de su territorio y al de Cuba donde sus poblaciones se incrementaron de área de humedales (Tabla 2). Las provincias con forma muy marcada desde la década del 80, al

Tabla 2. Número de individuos de cada especie analizada del orden Ciconiiformes que han sido recuperados por provincias de Cuba, en el período de 1913 a 1998. Ha = Habana; CH = Ciudad de Habana; M = Matanzas; VC = Villa Clara; H = Holguín; PR = Pinar del Río; Ca = Camaguey; Ci = Cienfuegos; SS = Sancti Spiritus; IJ = Isla de la Juventud; CA = Ciego de Ávila; LT = Las Tunas; Gr = Granma; SC = Santiago de Cuba; Gu = Guantánamo.

Especie Ha CH M VC H PR Ca Ci SS IJ CA LT Gr SC Gu Total N. nycticorax 15 0 8 3 6 9 8 3 11 2 1 1 2 4 3 76 B. ibis 3 0 1 6 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 20 A. herodias 7 1 0 2 2 6 1 1 1 0 2 3 1 1 0 28 A. alba 6 0 4 2 7 6 2 1 2 0 1 3 1 0 1 36 E. tricolor 3 1 0 2 2 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 1 1 0 17 E. thula 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 1 4 21 E. caerulea 4 0 0 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 13 E. albus 6 0 4 2 7 6 2 1 2 0 1 3 1 0 1 36 P. falcinellus 1 0 6 3 1 4 5 4 11 0 1 0 2 0 0 38

38 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 DENIS A VILA Y S ALVAT T ORRES — R ECOBRADO DE G ARZAS Y C OCOS EN C UBA

20 No. de recobrados 10

0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Noc Dic Mes

Fig. 2. Dinámica anual de la recuperación de individuos de garzas y cocos anillados en Norteamérica y recuperados en Cuba en el período comprendido entre los años 1913 y el 1998. punto en que se llegaron a detectar en algunos con- años después de haber sido anillados: tres Garcilotes teos poblacionales las mayores cifras de todo el (Ardea herodias ), tres Garzones (A. alba ), una Gar- continente (Acosta 1998). za Ganadera (Bubulcus ibis ), dos Garzas de Rizos En Cuba la dinámica estacional de capturas (Egretta thula ), y cuatro Guanabaes de la Florida. durante el período estudiado (por meses), muestra Todas estas especies pueden sobrevivir en vida libre que el mayor número de recuperaciones de aves se entre 13 y 23 años, según datos de anillados (Clapp produjo durante las épocas residencia invernal (171 et al. 1982). Esta distribución de frecuencias en el individuos) comprendidas entre los meses de octu- tiempo de anilladas puede deberse a que estas aves bre hasta febrero (Fig. 2). Los meses con el valor son capturadas y marcadas en el momento de la máximo de recaptura fueron enero y febrero (40 y reproducción (formación de colonias) y recaptura- 41 individuos respectivas), lo que refleja la existen- das en la migración siguiente, sin haber transcurrido cia en estos meses de una mayor concentración de un año. El individuo con mayor tiempo entre anilla- individuos del orden en Cuba. Los meses de mayor do y recobrado fue un Garcilote (22 años y 9 me- cantidad de recuperaciones correspondieron a los ses). meses migratorios, aunque la presencia de recupera- El conjunto de datos de recobrados, tanto de gar- ciones en meses intermedios demuestra la mezcla zas como de cocos, en Cuba, sugiere que las migra- que se produce entre las poblaciones por el hecho de ciones tienen un mayor número de individuos pro- que existan individuos que permanezcan luego de venientes de New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, South migrar (poblaciones bimodales). Usualmente estas Carolina, Mississippi y Ohio y en menor número, de aves que permanecen en las áreas de invernada son Indiana, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Québec, Kansas, ejemplares jóvenes que no están listas para la repro- Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Minne- ducción, la edad promedio de los individuos recap- sota, Maine, Illinois, Georgia, Delaware y Alberta turados en los meses de junio a agosto fue de 21.8 ± (Tabla 3), aunque esto depende del esfuerzo de ani- 5.42 meses ( n = 22) y para los individuos recaptura- llamiento anual en cada estado. Para las aves de los dos en etapa migratoria fue de 28.9 ± 2.93 meses ( n Estados con mayor número de recapturados en Cu- = 217; prueba de Mann-Whitney, U = 1851,5, P = ba, Dusi (1967) sugiere que estas poblaciones mi- 0,08). Estos resultados coinciden completamente gran al sur y hacia el este a través de la Florida con lo descrito por Blanco y Sánchez (2005) para hacia Cuba o a lo largo de las Bahamas hacia Puerto los anátidos. Rico. Coffey (1943, 1948) sugirió que las colonias La mayor cantidad de las garzas y cocos recobra- del Mississippi se movían hacia el sur durante la dos en Cuba se realizó entre los 4 y los 10 meses migración, siguiendo rutas de tierra desde el sur- después de haberse anillados (46 %). Se recaptura- oeste del Valle del Mississippi a través de Louisia- ron 39 individuos, equivalentes al 14 % de los reco- na, Texas y México y pasando a Cuba por la penín- brados, que estuvieron anillados entre 10 meses y sula de Yucatán. Los individuos de Ohio y Michi- dos años y 13 (5 %) que se recuperaron más de 10 gan, aparentemente, siguen la ruta del sur hasta el

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 39 DENIS A VILA Y S ALVAT T ORRES — R ECOBRADO DE G ARZAS Y C OCOS EN C UBA

Tabla 3. Estados o provincias norteamericanas don- 18 713 cocos blancos anillados en EUA entre 1926 de fueron anillados los individuos anillados del y 1985 y sus recuperaciones y también describen la orden Ciconiiformes capturados y recuperados en importancia de los humedales de Cuba en la migra- Cuba en el período de 1913 y 1998. ción invernal de esta especie (17 recuperaciones). Su quinta recomendación de manejo fue, precisa- mente, la necesidad de coordinar esfuerzos con Estado No. de Individuos científicos y conservacionistas cubanos. New Jersey 53 Las investigaciones que involucran anillamientos Virginia 30 y recapturas son sólo posibles gracias a la labor Carolina Sur 30 cooperativa integrada de muchas personas en un Michigan 30 amplio rango geográfico y de tiempo. Si se recono- Mississippi 24 ce el hecho de que en Norteamérica y el Caribe, Ohio 18 cerca del 20 % de las poblaciones de aves acuáticas Florida 17 está declinando (Wetlands International 2003) los Maryland 16 estudios de este tipo, capaces de detectar y monito- Alabama 14 rear cambios a gran escala son imprescindibles. Ontario 13 Esto es un llamado a la aplicación de un enfoque a Massachussets 10 escala continental de las investigaciones y de la Carolina Norte 10 conservación de las aves acuáticas, independiente Illinois 6 de barreras políticas y culturales. Quebec 4 Georgia 3 AGRADECIMIENTOS Wisconsin 3 Al Dr. Pedro Blanco que puso a nuestra disposi- Delaware 3 ción la base de datos de recuperaciones en Cuba. Al Rhode Island 3 LCAM por su autorización para realizar los anilla- Pennsylvania 3 mientos y por los anillos, y al Dr. J. A. Kushlan, que Maine 3 donó las pinzas de anillamiento. Al Wayne Arendt, Minnesota 2 Leopoldo Miranda y Oliver Komar por revisar el Dakota Norte 1 manuscrito. Se agradece el apoyo de la Sociedad de Kansas 1 Ornitología del Caribe e Ideawild . Debe reconocer- Alberta 1 se el esforzado trabajo de los estudiantes de la Uni- Indiana 1 versidad de La Habana que, voluntariamente, traba- Dakota Sur 1 jaron en la campaña de anillamiento de flamencos y de garzas: Ronar López, Yadiley Estévez, José L. Ponce de León y Gisela M. López. golfo y costa del Atlántico para invernar en áreas de LITERATURA C ITADA Cuba, Jamaica, República Dominicana y probable- ACOSTA , M. 1998. Segregación del nicho en la co- mente en otras islas de las Antillas Mayores y munidad de aves acuáticas del agroecosistema Menores (Byrd 1978). arrocero en Cuba. Tesis en opción al grado de Dr. La Garza Ganadera ( Bubulcus ibis ) tiene altas en Ciencias Biológicas. Universidad de La Haba- tendencias dispersivas que hacen difícil la separa- na, Cuba. 110 pp. ción entre dispersión y migración. Los juveniles BAILLIE , S. R. 1995. Uses of ringing data for the después de la cría se dispersan rápidamente conservation and management of bird popula- cubriendo distancias de 1 900 a 5 000 km. Al pare- tions: a ringing squeme perspective. Journal of cer su tendencia a volar en los grupos mixtos con Applied Statistics 22:967-987 garzas azules y de rizos, hace que explote los tres BLANCO P. R., Y B. O. S ÁNCHEZ . 2005. Recupera- corredores principales del grupo: la vía oriental des- ción de aves migratorias neárticas del orden An- de Nova Scotia por la costa atlántica hasta el Mis- seriformes en Cuba. Journal of Caribbean Ornit- sissippi, el corredor central (del este de Kansas has- hology 18:1-6. ta Panamá) y la ruta de la costa pacífica de Alaska BLANCO , P., B. S ÁNCHEZ , P. DEL P OZO , Y J. M ORA- hasta México (Byrd 1978). LES . 2002. Recapturas del Flamenco Rosado Frederick et al. (1996) analizan la información de (Phoenicopterus ruber ) en Cuba durante el

40 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 DENIS A VILA Y S ALVAT T ORRES — R ECOBRADO DE G ARZAS Y C OCOS EN C UBA

período de 1966 al 2000. Pitirre 15:31-33. en Cuba occidental y central durante el periodo BYRD , M. A. 1978. Dispersal and movement of six migratorio. Tesis de Doctorado, Universidad de North American ciconiiforms. Pp. 161-185 en La Habana, Cuba. 93 pp. Wading birds (A. Sprunt IV, J. Ogden, y S. GONZÁLEZ , H., J. S IROIS , M. K. M CNICHOLLS , P. B. Winckler, eds). National Audubon Society Res. HAMEL , E. G ODÍNEZ , R. D. M CRAE , M. A COSTA , earch Reports no. 7. D. R ODRÍGUEZ , C. M ARCOS , Y J. H ERNÁNDEZ . BROWDER , J. A. 1973. Long-distance movements of 1990. Resultados preliminares de un proyecto Cattle Egret. Bird-Banding 44:158-170. cooperativo de anillamiento de aves en la Ciénaga CLAPP , R. B., M. K. K LIMKIEWICZ , Y J. H. de Zapata, Cuba, enero de 1988. Progress Notes, KENNARD . 1982. Longevity records of North Canadian Wildlife Service no. 197. American birds: Gaviidae through Alcidae. Jour- MYKUSKA , T., J. A. K USHLAN , Y S. H ARTLEY . nal of Field Ornithology 53: 81-208. 1998. Key areas for wintering North American COFFEY , B. B., J R. 1943. Post-juvenal migration of herons. Colonial Waterbirds 12:125-134 herons. Bird-Banding 14:34-39. RODRÍGUEZ , A. 2004. Análisis de los patrones de COFFEY , B. B., J R. 1948. Post-juvenal migration of migración de varias especies de anátidos en el herons. Bird-Banding 49:1-5. neotrópico durante el periodo 1910-2004. Tesis DENIS , D., M. A COSTA , A. J IMÉNEZ , O. T ORRES , Y en opción al grado de Master en Ciencias, Uni- A. R ODRÍGUEZ . 2003. Las zancudas. Pp. 112-127 versidad de La Habana, Cuba. 78 pp. en Aves de Cuba (H. González, ed.). UPC Print, RYDER , R. A. 1978. Breeding distribution, move- Vaasa, Finland. ments, and mortality of Snowy Egrets in North DENNIS , J. V. 1986. European encounters of birds America. Pp. 197–205 en Wading birds (A. ringed in North America. Dutch Birding 8:41-44. Sprunt, IV, J. Ogden y S. Winckler, eds.). Na- DUSI , L. J. 1967. Migration in the Little Blue tional Audubon Society Research Reports no. 7. Heron. Wilson Bulletin 79:223-235. TOWNSEND , C. W. 1931. The post-Breeding north- FREDERICK , P. C., K. L. B ILDSTEIN , B. F LEURY , Y J. ern migration of North American Herons. Pro- OGDENS . 1996. Conservation of large, nomadic ceedings of the International Ornithological Con- populations of White Ibises ( Eudocimus albus ) in gress 7:366-369. the United States. Conservation Biology 10:203- WETLANDS I NTERNATIONAL . 2002. Waterbird popu- 216. lation estimates. 3rd ed. Global Series no. 12. GONZÁLEZ , H. 1996. Composición y abundancia de Wageningen, the Netherlands. las comunidades de aves residentes y migratorias

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 41 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:42-44, 2006

SECOND AND THIRD RECORDS OF WESTERN MARSH-HARRIER (CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS ) FOR THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE IN PUERTO RICO

CHRISTOPHER L. M ERKORD ¹, R AFY R ODRÍGUEZ ², AND J OHN F AABORG ³

¹105 Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, email: [email protected]; ²Calle del Río # 21 Norte, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00680, email: [email protected]; ³ 110 Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, email: [email protected]

Abstract: The Western Marsh-Harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) is an Eurasian species rarely recorded in the Western Hemisphere. We document a female at the Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico from 14 Janu- ary to 30 March 2004 and an immature at the same locality from 11 January to 11 February 2006. These records represent the second and third for the Western Hemisphere and the first for Puerto Rico. Key words: Circus aeruginosus , distributional records, Puerto Rico, Western Marsh-Harrier

Resumen : SEGUNDO Y T ERCER R EGISTRO DE A GUILUCHO L AGUNERO O CCIDENTAL ( CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS ) PARA EL H EMISFERIO O CCIDENTAL EN P UERTO R ICO . El Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental ( Circus aeruginosus ) es una especie euroasiática raramente registrada en el hemisferio occidental. En este trabajo se documenta una hembra en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Laguna Cartagena en Puerto Rico entre el 14 de junio al 30 de marzo del 2004, y un inmaduro en esa misma localidad entre el 11 de enero y el 11 de febrero de 2006. Estos registros representan el segundo y tercero para el hemisferio occidental y el primero para Puerto Rico. Palabras clave: Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental, Circus aeroginosus , Puerto Rico, registros de distribución

Résumé : DEUXIEME ET T ROISIEME O BSERVATIONS DE B USARD DES R OSEAUX ( CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS ) POUR L’ HEMISPHERE O CCIDENTAL A P ORTO R ICO . Le Busard des roseaux ( Circus aeruginosus ) est une espèce européenne rarement observée dans l’hémisphère occidental. Nous fournissons des informations sur l’observation d’une femelle à Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge à Porto Rico du14 janvier au 30 mars 2004 et d’un immature au même endroit du 11 janvier au 11 février 2006. Il s’agit des deuxième et troisième observations pour l’hémisphère occidental et les premières pour Porto Rico. Mots-clés : Busard des roseaux , Circus aeruginosus , distribution, Porto Rico

THE W ESTERN M ARSH -HARRIER (Circus aerugi- Faaborg, Wes Bailey, Courtney Kerns, and Kelly nosus ) is an Eurasian species rarely recorded in the Gamble saw a female Western Marsh-Harrier Western Hemisphere. On 4 December 1994, a fe- (Circus aeruginosus ) at the Laguna Cartagena Na- male Western Marsh-Harrier was reported from tional Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. We observed Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, the bird flying over the open water and surrounding USA (Shedd et al . 1998), but lack of photographic marsh. Although it kept the numerous ducks in con- documentation led the American Ornithologists’ stant flight it never gave chase. Twice the bird Union to relegate C. aeruginosus to the Appendix of landed in woody vegetation on the edge of the lake, the Check-list of North American Birds (AOU perching just above the ground. We observed the 2000). On 11 November 2002, another female bird at midday for approximately 15 minutes using Western Marsh-Harrier was found and photo- Swarovski EL 8.5×42 binoculars, Leica binoculars, graphed at Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin on the island of and a Bushnell Spacemaster 60mm spotting scope Guadeloupe (Levesque and Malglaive 2004), pro- with a 22× wide angle lens. viding the first fully documented record. The spe- In flight the Western Marsh-Harrier gave the im- cies has shown some propensity to stray, with re- pression of a relatively long-winged, long-tailed cords from several islands in the eastern Atlantic raptor of uniform dark brown coloration. The bird’s and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean (Ferguson- flight was buoyant as it glided, swooped, and hov- Lees and Christie 2001). In this note we report the ered with legs extended below. The rump was a second and third records for the Western Hemi- lighter shade of brown, contrasting slightly with the sphere, both from Puerto Rico. darker back and tail. Although we could not see any barring on either side of the squared, apparently OBSERVATIONS uniformly brown tail, the photos do show 4 to 5 On 14 January 2004, Chris Merkord, John dark bars on the underside of the tail (Fig. 1). One

42 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 MERKORD ET AL . — CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS IN P UERTO R ICO

Fig. 1. Female Western Marsh-Harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) at Laguna Cartagena, Puerto Rico, 25 January 2004. Video stills by R. Rodríguez. observer remarked on a pale area at the base of the nued to 30 March 2004 (S. Colón pers. comm.). primaries on the underside of the wing. Whitish On 11 January 2006, John Faaborg and others spots were evident at the proximal leading edge of saw a similarly-plumaged bird, again at Laguna the wing when viewed head-on, although we did not Cartagena. Written descriptions and photographs by note the entire leading edge of the wings to be pale, Rafy Rodríguez (Fig. 2), taken on 11 February as characteristic of females of this species. Most 2006, show a darker overall coloration and lack of striking was the cream-colored crown extending white on the leading edge of the wings, consistent from the bill to the nape, passing just above the with a juvenile Western Marsh-Harrier (Beaman eyes. A slightly less striking but still noticeable and Madge 1998) and noticeably different than the cream-colored throat contrasted with the dark mask adult female from the 2004 sightings. The 2006 through the eyes. sightings would thus appear to represent a separate Local birders reported a dark-rumped harrier in individual from the 2004 sightings. the area as early as 27 December 2003 (S. Colón pers. comm.). On 25 January 2004, Rafy Rodríguez DISCUSSION observed a harrier matching our description at La- The 2004 and 2006 sightings represent the second guna Cartagena and obtained video footage of the and third documented records, respectively, of C. bird with a handheld digital video camera. Stills of aeruginosus for the New World. Only two other that video are presented here (Fig. 1). Reports of a species of Eurasian raptors have been reported from Western Marsh-Harrier at Laguna Cartagena conti- the Caribbean region. A specimen of a Eurasian

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 43 MERKORD ET AL . — CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS IN P UERTO R ICO

Fig. 2. Juvenile Western Marsh-Harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) at Laguna Cartagena, Puerto Rico, 11 February 2006. Photos by R. Rodríguez.

Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ) was taken in Martinique EBELS , E. B. 2002. Transatlantic vagrancy of on 9 December 1949 (Pinchon and Vaurie 1961), Palearctic species to the Caribbean region. Dutch and one was photographed in Trinidad during 17 Birding 24:202-209. December 2003 to 1 January 2004 (Kenefick and FERGUSON -LEES , J., A ND D. A. C HRISTIE . 2001. Hayes 2006). A Black Kite ( Milvus migrans ) was Raptors of the World. Houghton Mifflin Com- found in Dominica on 19 April 1999 (Norton et al . pany, New York, NY. 2003), and a second was found in the British Virgin KENEFICK , M., AND F. E. H AYES . 2006. Trans- Islands in mid-October 1999 (Mazar Barnett and Atlantic vagrancy of Palearctic birds in Trinidad Kirwan 2002). See Ebels (2002) for a summary of and Tobago. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology sightings of 42 other Palearctic species in the Carib- 19:in press. bean region. LEVESQUE , A., AND L. M ALGLAIVE . 2004. First documented record of Marsh Harrier for the West ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Indies and the New World. North American Birds We thank Javier Mercado and Matthew Anderson 57:564-565. for help with identification and Wayne Arendt, MAZAR B ARNETT , J., AND G. M. K IRWAN . 2002. Christopher Conner, Stacy Small, Jennifer White, Published records from the literature: Caribbean. and an anonymous reviewer for reviewing this Cotinga 17:82-83. manuscript. NORTON , R. L., A. W HITE , AND A. D OBSON . 2003. West Indies & Bermuda. North American Birds LITERATURE C ITED 57:131-133. AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 2000. Forty- PINCHON , P. R., AND C. V AURIE . 1961. The Kestrel second supplement to the American Ornitholo- (Falco tinnunculus ) in the New World. Auk gists’ Union Check-list of North American birds. 78:92-93. Auk 117:847-858. SHEDD , D. H., R. D. G ETTINGER , B. L. S HEDD , AND BEAMAN , M., AND S. M ADGE . 1998. The handbook F. R. S COTT . 1998. First record of a Western of bird identification: for Europe and the western Marsh Harrier ( Circus aeruginosis ) [ sic ] in Vir- Palearctic. Princeton University Press, Princeton, ginia. Raven 69:56. NJ.

44 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:45-47, 2006

FIRST RECORD OF THE WESTERN REEF-HERON ( EGRETTA GULARIS ) FOR ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

MICHAEL R. P AICE

8d, Rochdale Way, Deptford, London, SE8 4LY, England; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: An immature dark-morph Western Reef-Heron ( Egretta gularis ), almost certainly of the nominate race E. g gularis , was observed and photographed on Mustique Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on 1 February 2004, representing the 15th record of Western Reef-Heron for the Western Hemisphere and the first for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Key words: Ardeidae, distributional record, Egretta gularis , St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Western Reef-Heron

Resumen : PRIMER R EGISTRO DE LA G ARCETA D IMORFA ( EGRETTA GULARIS ) PARA S AN V ICENTE Y LAS G RANADI- NAS . Un individuo inmaduro del morfo oscuro de Egretta gularis , casi seguramente de la raza nominal E. g. gularis , fue observada y fotografiada en Isla Mustique, San Vicente y las Granadinas el 1ero de febrero de 2004. Este repre- senta el registro número 15 de la especie para el hemisferio occidental y el primero para estas islas. Palabras clave: Ardeidae, Egretta gularis , Garceta Dimorfa, registro de distribución, San Vicente y las Granadinas

Résumé : PREMIERE O BSERVATION DE L’A IGRETTE DES R ECIFS ( EGRETTA GULARIS ) POUR S T. V INCENT ET LES GRENADINES . Une Aigrette des récifs immature de forme sombre ( Egretta gularis ), très certainement de la race no- minale E. g. gularis , a été observée et photographiée sur l’Ile Moustique, St. Vincent et les Grenadines, le 1er février 2004. Il s’agit de la 15ème observation pour l’hémisphère occidental et la première pour Saint Vincent et les Grena- dines. Mots-clés : Aigrette des récifs, Ardeidae, distribution, Egretta gularis , St. Vincent et les Grenadines

THE W ESTERN R EEF -HERON (Egretta g. gularis ) reef off the sandy beach at Lagoon Bay West, mid- occurs from the Red Sea to south-east India and in way down the west coast of Mustique Island, at its West Africa north to western Europe (Snow and westernmost point. The bird was feeding using sev- Perrins 1998). The nominate race, E. g. gularis , eral techniques including the spectacular ‘umbrella’ breeds in West Africa, and E. g. schistacea breeds wing shading action. The weather was warm with in East Africa eastward to India. Although both bright sunshine and a light breeze. The bird was races regularly occur north to southern Europe observed in good light from about as close as 10 m (Dubois and Yésou 1995), the nominate race is con- through 8×40 binoculars and through a tripod- sidered a very rare but increasing vagrant to the mounted 30× telescope. West Indies region, where it has been reported from The bird was approximately the same size as a St. Lucia (four records, one of two birds; Keith Little Blue Heron ( E. caerulea ) that chased it during 1997), Barbados (seven records; Mlodinow et al . our observations. However, the bill appeared longer, 2004), Trinidad (one in 1986, the first confirmed straighter, and proportionately thinner, the head record for South America; Murphy and Nanan appeared smaller, and the neck appeared longer and 1987), and Tobago (one in 2000-2002; Kenefick thinner. The plumage was generally dark grey with and Hayes 2006). A summary of Western Reef- a brownish tint on the back and downy white (or Heron records in the Western Hemisphere through very pale grey) around the vent from behind the legs 2004 is presented by Mlodinow et al . (2004). In this to the tail. The chin and throat were white, with the note I document the first record of a Western Reef- white extending from the base of the lower mandi- Heron for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. ble to beyond the eyes and for about the same distance downward on the throat. The bill was greyish, OBSERVATIONS not black, and lacked a dark tip as in E. caerulea . On 1 February 2004 I observed and photographed The grey lores blended without contrast with the (Fig. 1) a dark heron on Mustique Island in the grey upper head colour. The legs were black with Grenadines from 14:25-14:55 hr and later, while bright lime-green feet, the lime-green colour ex- accompanied by R. Touche and O. Touche, from tending about 2.5 cm up the tarsi. The irides were 15:45-16:15 hr. The bird was observed on a rocky white.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 45 PAICE — EGRETTA GULARIS IN S T. V INCENT AND THE G RENADINES

sphere, on Barbados, where a breeding colony became established with as many as 20 breeding pairs and a total population of about 80 individuals (Massiah 1996). Little Egrets also occur regularly on Trinidad and Tobago, with more than 50 records to date (Hayes and White 2001). They have also been found on St Lucia, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Aruba (Mlodinow 2004, Mlodinow et al . 2004). The Little Egret is white and is thus unlikely to be confused with a dark morph Western Reef-Heron, yet the existence of dark-morph Little Egrets has often been claimed (e.g., Brown et al . 1982, Dubois and Yésou 1995, Snow and Perrins 1998, van den Berg 1999, Borrow and Demey 2001). However, the genetic origin of the dark plumage in such birds is usually unknown and they are very rare (Kushlan and Hancock 2005). Furthermore, interbreeding between Little Egret and E .g. schistacea populations has been reported in western India (Parasharya and Naik 1984) and interbreeding between Little Egret and E. g. gularis has been observed in eastern Spain (Dies et al . 2001). Suspected E. g. gularis × E. garzetta hybrids in eastern Spain were pale grey with variable amounts of white on the head, wings, and underparts, even in adults (Dies et al . 2001). Photographs of birds accepted as hybrids show this plumage range and a bill that is blacker and often thinner than that of E. g. gularis (de Juana 2002; see also the websites of the Dies brothers and Ricard Gutiérrez at www.rarebirdspain.net). Parasharya and Naik (1987) considered blue/grey lores and a black bill as evidence of Little Egret gene flow into the schistacea population. Of the two races of E. gularis , schistacea exhibits Fig. 1. Immature dark-morph Western Reef-Heron more obvious and consistent structural differences (Egretta gularis ) at Mustique Island, St. Vincent and from the Little Egret (Dubois and Yésou 1995). In the Grenadines, 1 February 2004. Photos by M. R. the more westerly populations of schistacea (e.g., Paice. those in the Sinai and Israel), the white morph predominates, comprising 80% or more of the population (Shirihai 1996, van den Berg 1999), whereas in DISCUSSION gularis populations in Senegal, the Gambia, and The combination of a white throat and yellowish Mauritania, less than 1% are white (Dubois and green feet eliminate the similarly sized and similarly Yésou 1995). In comparison with Little Egret, dark Little Blue Heron and Tricolored Heron ( E. Western Reef-Heron has a shorter tarsus in relation tricolor ) of the New World. to its bill length, the bill is usually thicker, paler and The Little Egret occurs in Asia, Africa, and south- slightly downcurved, and the legs are often paler. ern Europe, and has been spreading north-west in Although the bill of the heron at Mustique Island Europe since ca. 1960 (Mlodinow et al . 2004). It appeared rather slender and pointed and its legs was first recorded in the West Indies in 1954 (Bond appeared rather black as in a Little Egret or Little 1966). An increase in sightings in the 1980s culmi- Egret × Western Reef-Heron, the lack of black bill nated in the discovery by Martin Frost in December colouration combined with the well defined white 1994 of the first breeding pair in the Western Hemi- throat patch and lack of white plumage elsewhere

46 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 PAICE — EGRETTA GULARIS IN S T. V INCENT AND THE G RENADINES are more consistent with a dark-morph nominate sional breeding by Western Reef Egret in eastern Western Reef-Heron. The brownish tint on the back Spain. British Birds 94:382-386. and pale belly indicate it was a juvenile. DUBOIS , P. J., AND P. Y ÉSOU . 1995. Identification This sighting provides the 15th record of Western of Western Reef Egrets and dark Little Egrets. Reef-Heron for the Western Hemisphere and the British Birds 88:307-319. first for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The in- KEITH , A. R. 1997. The birds of St Lucia West In- creasing number of sightings of Western Reef- dies. British Ornithologists’ Union Checklist no. Heron in the Caribbean during the last few decades 15. London. suggests that this species may well follow the Little KENEFICK , M., AND F. E. H AYES . 2006. Trans- Egret in colonising the Caribbean. Atlantic vagrancy of Palearctic birds in Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 19:in press. I thank Rodney and Ouda Touche for accompany- KUSHLAN , J. A., AND J. A. H ANCOCK . 2005. The ing me to see this bird and for sharing my interest in herons. Oxford University Press, Oxford. the birds of the island. I also thank Geoff Hilton and MASSIAH , E. 1996. Identification of Snowy Egret colleagues at the RSPB, and John Archer for com- and Little Egret. Birding World 9:434-444. menting on the photographs, and Nick Bertrand, MLODINOW , S. G. 2004. First records of Little Steven Mlodinow, William Murphy, and my father, Egret, Green-winged Teal, Swallow-tailed Kite, E. S. Paice, for commenting on the text. I thank the Tennessee Warbler, and Red-breasted Blackbird staff at the British Library in London and at the from Aruba. North American Birds 57:559-561. London Natural History Museum Library, Tring, for MLODINOW , S. G., W.E. D AVIS , J R., AND J.I. D IES . being so helpful. I especially thank Basil Charles 2004. Possible anywhere: Little Egret. Birding and Dana Gillespie and their charity, the Mustique 36:52-62. Blues Festival, for making my visits to Mustique MURPHY , W. L., AND W. N ANAN . 1987. First con- possible. The Mustique Blues Festival promotes the firmed record of Western Reef-Heron ( Egretta education of disadvantaged St. Vincent children gularis ) for South America. American Birds through the Basil Charles Foundation. 41:16-27. PARASHARYA , B. M., AND R. M. N AIK . 1987. LITERATURE C ITED Changes in the soft part coloration of the Indian BOND . J. 1966. Eleventh supplement to the Check- Reef Heron, Egretta gularis (Bosc) related to age list of the birds of the West Indies. Academy of and breeding status. Journal of the Bombay Natu- Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. ral History Society 84:1-6. BORROW , N., AND R. D EMEY . 2001. Birds of West- SHIRIHAI , H. 1996. The birds of Israel. Princeton ern Africa. Christopher Helm, London. University Press, London. BROWN , L. H., E. K. U RBAN , AND K. N EWMAN . SNOW , D. W., AND C. M. P ERRINS . 1998. The birds 1982. The birds of Africa. Vol. 1. Academic of the Western Palearctic. Concise ed. Vol. 1. Press, London. Oxford University Press, Oxford. DE J UANA , E. 2002. Observaciones de aves raras en VAN DEN B ERG , A. B. 1999. Dark-morph egret in España. Ardeola 49:141-171. Morocco in April 1997. Dutch Birding 21:8-15. DIES , J. I., J. P ROSPER , AND B. D IES . 2001. Occa-

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 47 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:48-51, 2006

STATUS OF THE AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

FLOYD E. H AYES 1, M ICHAEL R. P AICE 2, T ONY B LUNDEN 3, P. W ILLIAM S MITH 4, S USAN A. S MITH 4, GRAHAM W HITE 5, AND M ARTIN D. F ROST 6

1Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; e-mail: [email protected]; current address : Department of Biology, Pacific Union College, 1 Angwin Ave., Angwin, CA 94508, USA; 28d, Rochdale Way, Deptford, London, SE8 4LY, England; e-mail: [email protected]; 314 White Hill Ecchinswell, Nr Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 4UF, UK; e-mail: [email protected]; 415917 NE Union Rd. #69, Ridgefield, WA 98642,USA; e-mail: [email protected]; 5Waterloo Estate, Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago; e-mail: [email protected]; 6Featherbed Lane, St. John, Barbados; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The American Oystercatcher ( Haematopus palliatus ) was first reported from the Grenadine islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1950 by James Bond, who merely stated that it “evidently breeds in the Grenadines (Tobago Cays)” but provided no further information. We report recent sightings of: up to five oystercatchers at Be- quia during 13-22 March 1993, one on 5 August 1999, and one on 25-27 June 2004; up to five at Mustique during January-February 1997, 1998, and 2001-2006; two at Petit Nevis on 5 August 1999; up to two at Mayreau on 25 May 1998, 27 December 2001, and August 2002; and three at Battowia on 26 June 2004. These observations provide evidence that either small numbers of non-breeding birds regularly visit the Grenadines or a small population may breed in the Grenadines. Key words: American Oystercatcher, Battowia, Bequia, Haematopus palliatus , Mayreau, Mustique, Petit Nevis, status, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Resumen : ESTATUS DEL O STRERO ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) EN S AN V ICENTE Y LAS G RANADINAS . El Ostrero (Haematopus palliatus ) fue registrado por primera vez para las islas Granadinas de San Vicente y las Granadinas en 1950 por James Bond, quien solamente señaló que “evidentemente cría en las Granadinas (Islas Tobago)” sin proveer más información. En este trabajo se registran recientes avistamientos de hasta cinco ostreros en Bequia durante el 13 – 22 de marzo de 1993, uno el 5 de agosto de 1999, otro entre el 25-27 de junio del 2004, hasta cinco en Mustique durante enero y febrero de 1997, 1998 y entre 2001-2006; dos más en Petit Nevis el 5 de agosto de 1999, hasta dos en Mayreau el 25 de mayo de 1998, el 27 de diciembre del 2001, y agosto del 2002, y tres en Battowia el 26 de junio de 2004. Estas observaciones proveen evidencias de que un pequeño número de aves visitan regular- mente las Granadinas o de que una pequeña población puede estar criando en ella. Palabras clave: Battowia, Bequia, estado, Haematopus palliatus , Mayreau, Mustique, Ostrero, Petit Nevis, San Vicente y las Granadinas

Résumé : STATUT DE L’H UITRIER D’A MERIQUE ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) DANS S T. V INCENT ET LES G RENADINES . L’Huitrier d’Amérique ( Haematopus palliatus ) a été observé pour la première fois dans les iles Grenadines de St. Vincent et les Grenadines par James Bond en 1950. Celui-ci mentionnait juste que « il niche manifestement dans les Grenadines (Tobago Cays) » sans fournir plus d’information. Nous rapportons ici des observations récentes de, jusqu’à 5 huitriers à Bequia du 13 au 22 mars 1993, une le 5 août 1999 et une autre du 25 au 27 juin 2004 ; jusqu’à cinq à Moustique en janvier et février 1997, 1998 et de 2001 à 2006 ; deux à Petit Nevis le 5 août 1999 ; jusqu’à deux à Mayreau les 25 mai 1998, 27 décembre 2001 et août 2002 ; et trois à Battowia le 26 juin 2004. Ces observations révèlent que, soit un petit nombre d’oiseaux non nicheurs visite régulièrement les Grenadines ou alors qu’une petite population pourrait y nicher. Mots-clés : Battowia, Bequia, Haematopus palliatus , Huitrier d’Amérique, Mayreau, Mustique, Petit Nevis, statut, St. Vincent et les Grenadines

IN THE C ARIBBEAN REGION , the American Humphrey 1994, American Ornithologists’ Union Oystercatcher ( Haematopus palliatus ) breeds lo- 1998, Raffaele et al. 1998). In the Grenadine islands cally along the Atlantic coast of North America of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which are sel- from Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula, the Baha- dom visited by birders or ornithologists, the status mas, Greater Antilles, northern Lesser Antilles, and of the American Oystercatcher remains poorly along the north coast of South America (Nol and known and is the subject of this note.

48 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 HAYES ET AL . — HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS IN THE G RENADINES

RECENT O BSERVATIONS In March 1993, Blunden visited Bequia for 12 days and briefly visited Mustique twice. In the evening of 13 March, five birds were noted in Spring Bay, Bequia, where they appeared to be roosting on exposed rocks. Presumably the same group of birds was heard after dark at the same locality on 22 March. At L’Anse Chemin, west of Bequia Head, Bequia, one was heard calling and another seen eating a shellfish on 16 March; presumably these individuals were different than the ones at Spring Bay. In January and February 1997, Paice spent 19 days in Mustique and observed two at North Point on 4 February 1997. Paice returned to Mustique for Fig. 1. American Oystercatcher ( Haematopus pallia- 17 days in January and February 1998, and ob- tus ) at Lagoon Bay West, Mustique, 28 January served two fly past Pasture Bay on the east coast on 2003. Photo by M. R. Paice. 27 January, three at North Point on 1 February, three at South Point on 4 February, and two at La- goon Bay West on the west coast on 6 February. HISTORIC S TATUS On 25 May 1998, while traveling past the north- The American Oystercatcher was not mentioned western tip of Mayreau aboard the St. Vincent mail- in early chronicles of ornithologists visiting St. Vin- boat, the Smiths observed a pair along the shoreline. cent and the Grenadines (Wells 1902, Clark 1905, These were the only birds seen by them during 4 Bond 1936, Devas c. 1943), suggesting that it was days on Bequia, 2 days on Union Island, and their either absent or overlooked. The first account of its passage of several islands in the Grenadines, includ- occurrence appears to be that of Bond (1950:38), ing Canouan. who briefly stated that it “evidently breeds in the During a 6 day visit to Bequia in August 1999, Grenadines (Tobago Cays)” but provided no further White found a single bird along the rocky coast details. The presumed breeding of American between Friendship Bay and the Fishing Depot op- Oystercatcher in the Grenadines was mentioned posite Petit Nevis on 5 August 1999. About 2 hr repeatedly by the American Ornithologists’ Union later, two were seen foraging on a rocky shelf on the (1957, 1983, 1998), but inexplicably the species northeast side of Petit Nevis; one of the two may was not listed by Raffaele et al. (1998) for St. Vin- have been seen earlier on Bequia. cent and the Grenadines. None were seen during During a 15 day visit to Mustique in January and extensive ornithological field work within the archi- February 2001, Paice observed one on the west side pelago by Joseph Wunderle (pers. comm.) during of Cape Lookout, on the north coast, on 25 January, the mid-to-late 1970s. two at Britannia Bay on the west coast on 28 January, two at North Point on 3 February, and

Table 1. Monthly summary of the maximum number of American Oystercatchers ( Haemaotopus palliatus ) observed on each island of the Grenadines.

Island Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bequia – – 5 – – 1 – 2 – – – – Battowia – – – – – 3 – – – – – – Mayreau – – – – 2 – – 1 – – – 2 Mustique 2 5 – – – – – – – – – – Petit Nevis – – – – – – – 2 – – – –

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 49 HAYES ET AL . — HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS IN THE G RENADINES

Bequia

Battowia Isla à Petit Quatre Nevis Baliceaux

Mustique

Petit Mustique

Petit Savan Canouan

Canouan

Mayreau Tobago Cays

Union Palm

Petit St. Vincent

Fig. 2. Map of the Grenadine islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with arrows indicating localities of recent American Oystercatcher ( Haematopus palliatus ) sightings. three at South Point on 6 February. 28 January and one on 7 February, and five were at While traveling aboard the yacht Hurricane on 27 Lovell, at the north end of Britannia Bay, on 8 Feb- December 2001, Hayes observed a pair at Monkey ruary. In 2005, one was on a rocky islet off L’Anse- Point, Mayreau, which flew eastward over Saline coy Bay, on the north coast. In 2006, two were seen Bay and then returned to Monkey Point. These were at Lovell/Britannia Bay on 18 and 19 January, and the only birds seen during brief visits by boat to one on 22 January. Two were seen on the rocky islet Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union off L’Ansecoy Bay, on the north coast on 21 Janu- Island, and Palm Island on 23, 27, and 28 December ary and one on 27 January, and two were seen on 2001. Wilkes Island (another tiny rocky islet) off the west During 2002-2006, Paice returned repeatedly to coast towards the southern end of Mustique on 26 Mustique during January and February, spending 16 January. days on each occasion. In 2002, one was seen at In August 2002, Wayne Burke (pers. comm.) saw Lagoon Bay West on 23 and 27 January, one flying one at the northern tip of Mayreau. In 2004, Frost south at Britannia Bay on 29 and 31 January, and and Wayne Burke observed one on St. Elairs, a cay two flying south at Britannia Bay on 4 February. In at the mouth of Friendship Bay, Bequia, on 25 June, 2003, three were at Lagoon Bay West on 28 January and one on Semples Cay off Bequia on 27 June. On (Fig. 1). In 2004, two were at Lagoon Bay West on 26 June, Frost and Burke observed three on the

50 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 HAYES ET AL . — HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS IN THE G RENADINES north side of Battowia and one (possibly one of the LITERATURE C ITED three) on the south side. A visit by Frost to Tobago AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1957. Check- Cays and Mayreau on 20 and 21 January 2006 list of North American birds. Lord Baltimore failed to produce any. Press, Baltimore, MD. AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1983. Check- DISCUSSION list of North American birds. 6th ed. American In the northern Lesser Antilles, small oyster- Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC. catcher populations apparently breed locally and AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1998. Check- may be increasing in St. Martin, St. Bartholomew, list of North American birds. 7th ed. American Guadeloupe, and St. Lucia (Benito-Espinal 1990, Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC. Leck and Norton 1991, Keith 1997). Our observa- ANONYMOUS . 1991. St. Vincent and the Grena- tions of up to five birds on multiple islands of the dines: environmental profile. Caribbean Conser- Grenadine islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines vation Association, St. Michael, Barbados. (Fig. 2) at various months of the year with no appar- BENITO -ESPINAL , E. 1990. Oiseaux des Petites An- ent seasonal pattern (Table 1), provide evidence that tilles. Editions du Latanier, St-Barthelemy. either small numbers of non-breeding birds regu- BOND , J. 1936. Birds of the West Indies. Academy larly visit the Grenadines from an unknown source of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. population (northern Caribbean or northern South BOND , J. 1950. Check-list of birds of the West In- America) or a small population may breed in the dies. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Grenadines, potentially comprising the southern- CLARK , A. H. 1905. Birds of the southern Lesser most breeding population in the Lesser Antilles. Antilles. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Given the increasing anthropogenic threats to the Natural History 32:203-312. marine and littoral ecosystems of the Grenadines DEVAS , R. P. C. 1943. Birds of Grenada, St. Vin- (Anonymous 1991), a thorough survey of breeding cent and the Grenadines (British West Indies). seabirds and shorebirds in the islands is urgently Advocate Co., Ltd., Barbados. needed. KEITH , A. R. 1997. The birds of St. Lucia. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list No. 15. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS LECK , C. F., AND R. L. N ORTON . 1991. An anno- We thank E. Nol and J. Wunderle for reviewing tated checklist of the birds of the U. S. Virgin an earlier version of the manuscript. F. E. Hayes Islands. Antilles Press, Christiansted, St. Croix. was funded by a travel grant from the University of NOL , E., AND R. C. H UMPHREY . 1994. American the West Indies. M. R. Paice thanks Basil Charles Oystercatcher ( Haematopus palliatus ). In The and Dana Gillespie and their charity, the Mustique birds of North America, no. 82 (A. Poole and F. Blues Festival, which promotes the education of Gill, eds.). Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila- disadvantaged St. Vincent children through the delphia; American Ornithologists’ Union, Wash- Basil Charles Foundation, for making visits to ington, DC. Mustique possible. We thank W. Burke for provid- RAFFAELE , H., J. W ILEY , O. G ARRIDO , A. K EITH , ing an unpublished observation, J. C. Eitniear for AND J. R AFFAELE . 1998. A guide to the birds of providing a pertinent reference, and A. Levesque the West Indies. Princeton University Press, and F. Providence for comments on the status of Princeton, NJ. American Oystercatcher in Guadeloupe and St. Vin- WELLS , J. G. 1902. Birds of the island of Carriacou. cent, respectively. Part I. Water birds. Auk 19:237-246.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 51 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:52-53, 2006

HISPANIOLAN LIZARD-CUCKOO ( COCCYZUS LONGIROSTRIS ) TETHERED BY COMMON GREEN SNAKE ( UROMACER CATESBYI )

THOMAS H. W HITE , J R.

Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695; current address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rio Grande Field Office, PO Box 1600, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Entanglement of birds by snakes is rarely reported. On 15 July 1998, a Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo (Coccyzus longirostris ) was encountered tethered to a small sapling by common green snake ( Uromacer catesbyi ), which apparently was the intended prey of the cuckoo, in Parque Nacional del Este, Dominican Republic. Key words: Coccyzus longirostris , ensnarement, green snake, Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo, Uromacer catesbyi

Resumen : UN P ÁJARO B OBO M AYOR ( COCCYZUS LONGIROSTRIS ) E NTRAMPADO POR UNA S ERPIENTE V ERDE COMÚN ( UROMACER CATESBYI ). El entrampe de aves por serpientes es raramente registrado. El 15 de julio de 1998, un Pájaro Bobo Mayor ( Coccyzus longirostris ) fue encontrado sujeto a un pequeño arbusto por una serpiente verde común ( Uromacer catesbyi ), la cual aparentemente era una presa pretendida por el pájaro, en el Parque Nacional del Este, República Dominicana. Palabras clave: Coccyzus longirostris , entrampe, serpiente verde, Arriero de la Española, Uromacer catesbyi

Résumé : PRISE AU P IEGE D’UN T ACCO D’H ISPANIOLA ( COCCYZUS LONGIROSTRIS ) PAR UN S ERPENT V ERT A RBORI- COLE ( UROMACER CATESBYI ). L’enchevêtrement d’oiseaux avec des serpents est rarement observé. Un Tacco d’His- paniola ( Coccyzus longirostris ) a été trouvé le 15 juillet 1998 dans le Parc National del Este, en République Domini- caine, attaché à un arbuste par un serpent vert arboricole ( Uromacer catesbyi ), qui était probablement sa proie. Mots-clés : Coccyzus longirostris , prise au piège, serpent vert, Tacco d’Hispaniola, Uromacer catesbyi

ALTHOUGH BIRDS have been reported ensnared or OBSERVATIONS entangled in a variety of items, this occurs most On 15 July 1998, while conducting radiotel- often with plants. For example, over 12 species of emetry of Hispaniolan Parrots ( Amazona ventralis ) small Passerines have been found entangled in seed in Parque Nacional del Este, Dominican Republic, I heads of burdock ( Arctium minus ; McNicholl encountered an adult Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo 1988,1994). Lincoln (1931) reported entanglement struggling vigorously with a 0.5-m long Uromacer in string or nesting material as the cause of 11 catesbyi , which the cuckoo had partially ingested. (0.9%) of 1,136 documented avian mortalities. In As I approached, the cuckoo attempted several Mississippi, Samano et al . (1998) reported the fatal times to take flight. However, before dying the ensnarement of four endangered Red-cockaded snake had tightly coiled approximately 5 cm of its Woodpeckers ( Picoides borealis ) and a Yellow- tail around a small sapling. Because the cuckoo bellied Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus varius ) in mesh apparently could neither disgorge nor dislodge the snake traps used to prevent snake predation at Red- now-dead snake, the bird was effectively tethered to cockaded Woodpecker nest sites. In Costa Rica, the tree. I easily captured the frantically struggling Graham (1997) reported the fatal entanglement of cuckoo by hand and carefully extracted the snake, hermit hummingbirds ( Phaethornis spp.) in spider of which 5 cm had been swallowed, from the webs. There has been at least one reported instance cuckoo. It appeared that the head of the snake, being of a bird entangled by a snake. In Arkansas, Me- slightly broader than the anterior portion of the shaka et al . (1988) reported an immature Red- body, was primarily the cause of the entrapment as I shouldered Hawk ( Buteo lineatus ) that was stran- distinctly felt friction while extracting it. I examined gled by a black rat snake ( Elaphe o. obsoleta ) it had the cuckoo for apparent external injuries and found captured until both were rescued. Here I report the none. No blood was observed in the bird’s mouth ensnarement of a Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo ( Coc- nor did the bird’s throat appear injured from the cyzus longirostris ) by a common green snake encounter. I then photographed the cuckoo and, (Uromacer catesbyi ). when released, it immediately flew away.

52 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 WHITE — COCCYZUS LONGIROSTRIS TETHERED BY A S NAKE

DISCUSSION LITERATURE C ITED I am unsure of exactly how long the cuckoo had ABREU , D., AND K. A. G UERRERO (eds). 1997. been held in such manner. However, it certainly was Evaluacion ecológica integrada Parque Nacional not present when I had passed the same site 2 hr del Este, República Dominicana. Tomo 1: Recur- earlier. Although it is unknown whether the cuckoo sos terrestres. The Nature Conservancy, Arling- would have died as result of this incident, the pres- ton, VA. ence of mongooses ( Herpestes javanicus ), feral cats GRAHAM , D. L. 1997. Spider webs and windows as (Felis silvestris catus ) and the hot, dry climate of potentially important sources of hummingbird the area (Abreu and Guerrero 1997) certainly placed mortality. Journal of Field Ornithology 68:98- the bird in dire jeopardy under the circumstances. 101. This appears to be the first reported case of a preda- LINCOLN , F. C. 1931. Some causes of mortality tory bird actually tethered to a tree by its intended among birds. Auk 48:536-546. prey. According to Raffaele et al . (1998), birds of MCNICHOL , M. K. 1988. Bats and birds stuck on this genus ( Coccyzus spp .) commonly consume burdock. Prairie Naturalist 20:157-160. small reptiles such as snakes, and events of this na- MCNICHOL , M. K. 1994. Additional records of birds ture may constitute a previously unknown, albeit caught on burdock. Ontario Birds 12:117-119. rare, potential source of mortality for these birds. MESHAKA , W. E., S. E. T RAUTH , AND C. F ILES . 1988. Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (black rat snake). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Antipredatory behavior. Herpetological Review I thank W. J. Arendt, W. K. Hayes, and S. C. 19:84. Latta for reviewing an earlier version of this note, RAFFAELE , H., J. W ILEY , O. G ARRIDO , A. K EITH , North Carolina State University and the U. S. Fish AND J. R AFFAELE . 1998. A guide to the birds of and Wildlife Service for financial and logistic sup- the West Indies. Princeton University Press, port during the time that these observations were Princeton, NJ. made, and F. Brammer and K. G. Smith for pointing SAMANO , S., D. R. W OOD , J. C OLE , F. J. V ILELLA , out pertinent references. Special thanks are also due AND L. W. B URGER . 1998. Red-cockaded Wood- Parque Nacional del Este for study area access, and peckers ensnared in mesh snake traps. Wilson also to Jesus Almonte and Jose Luis Hernandez for Bulletin 110:564-566. assistance in the field.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 53 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:54-55, 2006

FIRST RECORD OF AUDUBON’S WARBLER (DENDROICA CORONATA AUDUBONI ) IN JAMAICA

GARY R. G RAVES

Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MRC-116, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D. C. 20013-7012, USA; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: I observed and photographed an “Audubon’s” Warbler ( Dendroica coronata auduboni ) in Kingston, Jamaica, in December 2005. This is the first well-documented record of the auduboni population complex of the Yellow-rumped Warbler ( Dendroica coronata ) in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Key words: “Audubon’s” Warbler, Caribbean, Dendroica coronata auduboni , Jamaica, Yellow-rumped Warbler

Resumen: PRIMER R EGISTRO DE LA B IJIRITA DE A UDUBON ( DENDROICA CORONATA AUDUBONI ) EN J AMAICA . Se observó y fotografió una Bijirita de Audubon ( Dendroica coronata auduboni ) en Kingston, Jamaica, en diciembre del 2005. Este es el primer registro bien documentado del complejo poblacional auduboni de la Bijirita Coronada (Dendroica coronata ) en Jamaica y el Caribe. Palabras clave: Bijirita Coronada, Bijirita de Audubon, Caribe, Dendroica coronata auduboni , Jamaica

Résumé : PREMIERE O BSERVATION DE P ARULINE D’A UDUBON ( DENDROICA CORONATA AUDUBONI ) EN J AMAÏQUE . J’ai observé et photographié en décembre 2005 une Paruline « d’Audubon » ( Dendroica coronata auduboni ) à King- ston en Jamaïque. C’est la première observation bien documentée d’un individu du complexe d’espèce auduboni de la Paruline à croupion jaune ( Dendroica coronata ) en Jamaïque et dans la Caraïbe. Mots-clés : Paruline “d’Audubon”, Caraïbe, Dendroica coronata auduboni , Jamaïque, Paruline à croupion jaune

THE AUDUBONI GROUP of populations of the Yel- that morning, but differed in possessing a bright low-rumped Warbler ( Dendroica coronata ) breeds yellow throat and in lacking a pale supraloral streak in western North America from British Colombia and superciliary (Fig. 1). The warbler’s distinctive south through the mountains of the western United call note was sharper than those of nearby “Myrtle” States to Durango, Mexico (American Ornitholo- Warblers. The photo-documentation represents the gists’ Union 1957, Dunn and Garrett 1997). The first record of the auduboni population complex of auduboni group winters commonly in the western the Yellow-rumped Warbler ( Dendroica coronata ) United States from California, Arizona, and New in Jamaica. Mexico southward through western and highland Brian Schmidt, Ricardo Miller, and I relocated Mexico and sparsely south to Honduras. Individuals and photographed the “Audubon’s” Warbler at with auduboni plumage characteristics occur casu- close range (6-10 m) for more than 1 hr on 20 De- ally in eastern North America south to Florida. The cember (08:30-09:30 hr). It associated closely with only previous report of auduboni in the Caribbean several “Myrtle” Warblers, part of a mixed-species was an inadequately documented sight record from flock that frequented three enormous trees Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (Aldridge (Enterlobium cyclocarpum ) growing on the mowed 1987). In this note I photographically document the lawn. This introduced tree is seasonally deciduous first record for the Caribbean in Jamaica. and the pinnately-compound foliage preferred by On 19 December 2005, I observed and photo- the warblers was beginning to abscise. In addition to graphed an “Audubon’s” Warbler ( Dendroica coro- the “Audubon’s” Warbler and “Myrtle” Warbler, nata auduboni ) in Hope Botanical Gardens, King- the loosely organized flock included Northern Pa- ston, Jamaica (18°01.34’N, 76°44.95’W; WGS-84). rula ( Parula americana ), Magnolia Warbler ( D. The warbler, which appeared to be a male in first magnolia ), Cape May Warbler ( D. tigrina ), Black- basic plumage, was studied through binoculars throated Blue Warbler ( D. caerulescens ), Yellow- (Zeiss, 10×40) at close range (6-8 m) in good morn- throated Warbler ( D. dominica ), Prairie Warbler ( D. ing light for about 5 min (08:45-08:50 hr). The war- discolor ), Palm Warbler ( D. palmarum ), and Ameri- bler was similar in appearance to a male “Myrtle” can Redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla ). Schmidt and I Warbler ( Dendroica c. coronata ) observed earlier returned with Catherine Levy and several other

54 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 GRAVES — DENDROICA CORONATA AUDUBONI IN J AMAICA

Fig. 1. “Audubon’s” Warbler in Hope Botanical Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica, 20 December 2005. Photos by Brian K. Schmidt. See pdf file for color.

observers on 21 December and watched the warbler ACKNOWLEDGMENTS forage in the Enterlobium trees for another 2 hr I thank Catherine Levy and Susan Koenig for (07:30-09:30 hr). The species composition of the comments on the manuscript, Brian Schmidt for flock was unchanged from the previous morning but photographing the bird, and the James Bond and the number of “Myrtle” Warblers had increased Alexander Wetmore funds of the Smithsonian Insti- significantly (four to 15 individuals) suggesting the tution for support. overnight arrival of migrants. The number of “Myrtle” Warblers in the area dwindled to two indi- LITERATURE C ITED viduals by the morning of 22 December and the ALDRIDGE , B. M. 1987. Sampling migratory birds “Audubon’s” Warbler could not be located. and other observations on Providenciales Islands “Myrtle” Warblers exhibit an irruptive abundance B. W. I. North America Bird Bander 12:13-18. pattern in Jamaica and are rare or absent in King- AMERICAN O RNITHOLOGISTS ’ U NION . 1957. Check- ston during many winters (e.g., 2003-2004). The list of North American birds. 5th ed. American correlative evidence suggests that the auduboni in- Ornithologists’ Union, Baltimore, MD. dividual was associated with the pulse of “Myrtle” DUNN , J. L., AND K. L. G ARRETT . 1997. A field Warblers that passed through the Kingston area in guide to the warblers of North America. Hough- mid-December 2005. ton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 55 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:56-58, 2006

GREATER ANTILLEAN GRACKLE ( QUISCALUS NIGER ) PREYS ON ANOLIS GRAHAMI

GARY R. G RAVES

Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MRC-116, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D. C. 20013-7012, USA; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: A female Greater Antillean Grackle ( Quiscalus niger ) was observed to dismember and consume a large male Anolis grahami in Kingston, Jamaica. The entire dismemberment sequence lasted 57 minutes. The large size of the anole indicates that the geographically-widespread grackle may be capable of preying on all size classes of the seven Jamaican Anolis species, with the possible exception of adult male Anolis garmani , the largest species on the island . This observation also suggests that individual grackles may exhibit handedness. Key words: Anolis grahami , Caribbean, Greater Antillean Grackle, Jamaica, predation, Quiscalus niger

Resumen: EL C HICHINGUACO ( QUISCALUS NIGER ) D EPREDANDO ANOLIS GRAHAMI . Una hembra de Chichinguaco (Quiscalus niger ) fue observada desmembrando y consumiedo un gran macho de Anolis grahami en Kingston, Ja- maica. La secuencia completa duró 57 minutos. El gran tamaño del lagarto indica que esta ave, ampliamente dis- tribuida es capaz de depredar todas las tallas de las siete especies de Anolis de Jamaica, con la posible excepción de los machos adultos de Anolis garmani , la mayor de las especies de la isla. Esta observación también sugiere que Quiscalus individuales pueden tener lateralidad. Palabras clave: Anolis grahami , Caribe, Chichinguaco, depredación, Jamaica, Quiscalus niger

Résumé : LE Q UISCALE N OIR ( QUISCALUS NIGER ) EST UN P REDATEUR DE ANOLIS GRAHAMI . Une femelle de Quis- cale noir ( Quiscalus niger ) a été observée en train de démembrer et de consommer un grand mâle d’ Anolis grahami à Kingston en Jamaïque. La durée complète du démembrement a été de 57 minutes. La grande taille de cet anolis confirme que ce quiscale à large aire de répartition est capable de capturer toutes les classes de taille des sept espèces d’ Anolis jamaicains, à l’exception, peut-être, du mâle adulte de l’ Anolis garmani , la plus grande espèce de l’île. Cette observation suggère aussi que des individus de quiscales peuvent montrer une certaine adresse “manuelle”. Mots-clés : Anolis grahami , Caraïbe, Jamaïque, prédation, Quiscalus niger , Quiscale noir

AVIAN PREDATION may exert strong selection on cicadas, stinkbugs, mole crickets, grasshoppers, body size and behavior of Anolis lizards in the Car- crickets, lepidopteran caterpillars, wasps, ants, ticks, ibbean (Schoener 1979), yet the guild of anole and snails, as well as fruit, seeds, and corn predators on each island and the size range of anoles (Wetmore 1916). Vertebrate remains included frogs taken by particular avian species are virtually un- (Leptodactylus sp. and Eleutherodactylus sp.), small known (Lack 1976, Wunderle 1981). Athough a few anoles ( Anolis sp.), and ameiva lizards ( Ameiva dietary studies of anole predators have been con- exsul ). ducted (Wetmore 1916, McLaughlin and Roughgar- Our Jamaican observation was noteworthy for den 1989, Gassett et al . 2000), predation data typi- several reasons. First, it suggests that the Greater cally accumulate as anecdotes such as the one I re- Antillean Grackle is capable of preying upon all port here. size classes of the seven Jamaican Anolis species On 11 February 2004, Brian Schmidt and I ob- with the possible exception of adult males of the served a female Greater Antillean Grackle largest species, A. garmani. Secondly, the observa- (Quiscalus niger ) consume a large male Anolis gra- tions provide insight on the behavioral techniques hami in Hope Botanical Garden, Kingston, Jamaica used by grackles to dismember large, tough prey (18 o01.30’N, 76 o44.89’W; WGS-84). The geo- items. Finally, the anecdote suggests that individual graphically-widespread grackle is known to feed on grackles may exhibit handedness. The bulk of this a wide range of animal and plant foods (Gosse report addresses the behavioral aspects with a par- 1847, Wetmore 1916). Although a comprehensive ticular emphasis on the sequence of events. dietary study of Jamaican populations has yet to be The grackle emerged from a palm grove and car- conducted, grackle stomachs ( n = 74) examined in ried the anole in its bill to a low tree overhanging Puerto Rico contained earwigs, beetles, weevils, the main road through the garden. The grackle was

56 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 GRAVES — QUISCALUS NIGER P REYS ON ANOLIS GRAHAMI thought to be a female because it had glossy plum- and then grasped the hind limbs directly with its age but lacked the distinctive keeled tail characteris- bill. Only a dozen or so species of birds have been tic of males. The anole was limp and undamaged previously recorded pulling suspended food up to a except for an obvious head wound, which I assumed perch (Thorpe 1963, Heinrich 1995). The grackle was inflicted by the grackle. The grackle held the picked some additional bits of flesh from the hind anole against the branch with its left foot and vigor- limbs but finally left the remnants of skin and bone ously grasped and then wrenched and pulled frag- wrapped around the branch. The pectoral girdle and ments of skull, muscle, and then the fleshy tongue, forelimbs were then dropped, perhaps inadvertently, through the anole’s gaping mouth, leaving the skin because the grackle tilted its head and peered down- of the cranial region flaccid. The grackle then ward toward the scrap. The grackle paused only crushed and mashed the anole’s forelimbs by run- momentarily before it began searching a nearby ning them back and forth through its mandibles, and clump of Tillandsia in the canopy . The entire dis- afterwards grasped and jerked, but failed to detach, memberment sequence lasted 57 minutes. the anole’s toes. The procedure was repeated on the Based upon measurement of the recovered fore- hind limbs without visible success. The distal half limbs, the snout-vent length of the anole was ~70 of the anole’s tail was then torn free and crushed by mm (body mass, ~9-12 g), which is near the maxi- passing it back and forth through the grackle’s man- mum size recorded for male Anolis grahami dibles before it was swallowed. The grackle paused (Schoener and Schoener 1971). This indicates that a few seconds while the tail fragment settled in its female grackles (body mass; 0 = 76.0 ± 4.5 g, n = stomach and then grasped and jerked large pieces of 11; S. Koenig, unpubl. data) are capable of preying flesh from the tail stump. on all size classes of the small to medium-sized The grackle flipped the anole several times and Anolis species ( grahami, opalinus, valencienni, picked tissue from its neck region until the orange lineatopus, sagrei, reconditus ) known from Jamaica dewlap was torn half away. The grackle then pene- (Rand 1967, Schoener and Schoener 1971). On the trated the visceral cavity by pecking and enlarging other hand, male grackles (body mass; 0 = 107.7 ± the anole’s cloacal opening. After extracting and 8.0 g, n = 11; S. Koenig unpubl. data) may be able consuming the intestines, the grackle made another to prey on the largest Jamaican species, A. garmani , unsuccessful attempt to tear away the forelimbs and with the possible exception of adult males (snout- pectoral girdle. The grackle was hidden from view vent length ~ 110 mm). behind foliage for several minutes. When it reap- peared, the skin of the anole’s back exhibited a ACKNOWLEDGMENTS large tear. In short order, the grackle consumed the I thank James Schulte for confirming the identity remaining viscera and began ripping away the trunk of the anole with cytochrome b gene sequence data musculature. The hind limbs were ripped free from (Genbank accession number DQ353945), Susan the inside and skinned down to the metatarsals by Koenig for providing body mass data for grackles, pulling on the free end of the limbs. The vertebral Brian Schmidt for field assistance, and William column was completely stripped of loose muscle Hayes, Catherine Levy, and Douglas McNair for tissue and then dropped to the ground. The remain- comments on the manuscript. Research permits der of the carcass was torn in two pieces. The were granted by National Environment and Plan- skinned hind limbs of the anole dangled from a long ning Agency, Kingston. strip of skin held by the grackle’s left foot, whereas the anole’s pectoral girdle and forelimbs were held LITERATURE C ITED to the perch with its right foot. During the observa- CLARK , G. A. 1973. Holding food with the feet in tion period, the grackle made several short flights passerines. Bird-Banding 44:91-99. (1-2 m) with the anole in its bill. Although the GASSETT , J. W., T. H. F OLK , K. J. A LEXY , K. V. grackle’s right foot appeared to be fully functional, MILLER , B. R. C HAPMAN , F. L. B OYD A ND D. I. the bird invariably anchored the anole with its left HALL . 2000. Food habits of Cattle Egrets on St. foot, which seemed to indicate handedness (Vince Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Wilson Bulletin 1964, Clark 1973, Knox 1983). 112:268-271. In one of the more noteworthy maneuvers, the GOSSE , P. H. 1847. The Birds of Jamaica. Bentley, grackle grasped the dangling skin with its bill and Wilson and Fley, London. pulled the suspended hind limbs toward the tree HEINRICH , B. 1995. An experimental investigation limb, anchored the loop of skin with its left foot, of insight in Common Ravens ( Corvus corax ).

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 57 GRAVES — QUISCALUS NIGER P REYS ON ANOLIS GRAHAMI

Auk 112:994-1003. predation and other injury-producing agents from KNOX , A. G. 1983. Handedness in crossbills Loxia injury frequencies. Ecology 60:1110-1115. and the Akepa Loxops coccinea . Bulletin of the SCHOENER , T. W. A ND A. S CHOENER . 1971. Struc- British Ornithologists’ Club 103:114-118. tural habitats of West Indian Anolis lizards I. LACK , D. 1976. Island biology, illustrated by the Lowland Jamaica. Breviora 368:1-53. land birds of Jamaica. University of California, THORPE , W. H. 1963. Learning and instinct in ani- Berkeley. mals. Methuen and Company, London. MCLAUGHLIN , J. F. A ND J. R OUGHGARDEN . 1989. VINCE , M. A. 1964. Use of the feet in feeding by Avian predation on Anolis lizards in the north- the Great Tit Parus major . Ibis 106:508-529. eastern Caribbean: an inter-island contrast. Ecol- WETMORE , A. 1916. Birds of Porto Rico. United ogy 70:617-628. States Department of Agriculture Bulletin 326:1- RAND , A. S. 1967. The ecological distribution of the 140. anoline lizards around Kingston, Jamaica. Bre- WUNDERLE , J. M. 1981. Avian predation upon Ano- viora 272:1-18. lis lizards on Grenada, West Indies. Herpetolo- SCHOENER , T. W. 1979. Inferring the properties of gica 37:104-108.

Puerto Rican Parrot ( Amazona vittata ) Drawing by Tirtsa Porrata-Doria

58 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 J. Carib. Ornithol. 19:59-60, 2006

PRIMER REGISTRO SOBRE LA REPRODUCCIÓN DEL OSTRERO AMERICANO ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) EN CUBA

ERNESTO H ERNÁNDEZ P ÉREZ

Refugio de Fauna “Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso”, Empresa Nacional para la Protección de la Flora y la Fauna, Cuba

Resumen: Se documenta por primera vez la presencia de una pareja de Ostreros Americanos ( Haematopus palliatus ) criando en el archipiélago cubano. La observación tuvo lugar en cayuelo del Mono, ubicado en el Refugio de Fauna Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso, provincia Villa Clara. La pareja se encontró activa desde el día 18 Abril 2005, y mostró conductas de distracción ante depredadores frente a los investigadores. El día 29 Junio 2005 se encontró un pichón volantón, de 460 g de peso, largo total 370 mm, ala extendida 340 mm, largo del tarso 64 mm y largo del pico 69 mm. Palabras clave: Cuba, Haematopus palliatus , Ostrero Americano, reproducción

Abstract: FIRST B REEDING R ECORD OF THE A MERICAN O YSTERCATCHER ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) IN C UBA . We document the first breeding record of a pair of American Oystercatchers ( Haematopus palliatus ) in Cuba. Our observations occurred in Cayuelo del Mono, Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso Wildlife Refuge, in Villa Clara province. The pair was seen from 18 April 2005, displaying antipredator behavior when approached by the research team. On 29 June 2005, we found a fledgling with body mass of 460 g, total length of 370 mm, wing length of 340 mm (flattened and straightened), tarsus of 64 mm, and culmen of 69 mm. Key words: American Oystercatcher, breeding, Cuba, Haematopus palliatus

Résumé : PREMIÈRE O BSERVATION DE N IDIFICATION DE L’H UÎTRIER D’A MÉRIQUE ( HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS ) À CUBA . Nous avons observé le premier couple nicheur d’Huîtrier d’Amérique ( Haemotopus palliatus ) de Cuba. L’observation a été faite à Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso Wildlife Refuge, dans la province de Villa Clara. Le couple a été vu du 18 avril 2005, adoptant un comportement d’éloignement des prédateurs quand il était approché par l’équipe de recherche. Nous avons trouvé le 29 juin 2005, un oisillon de 460 g, de longueur totale de 370 mm, avec une longueur d’aile de 340 mm (aplatie et étendue), un tarse de 64 mm et un bec de 69 mm. Mots-clés : Cuba, Haematopus palliatus , Huîtrier d'Amérique, nidification

EL O STRERO A MERICANO ( Haematopus palliatus ) tuye un sitio de nidificación de la Gaviota Monja es uno de los 11 representantes de la familia Hae- (Sterna anaethetus ), la Gaviota de Sándwich ( S. matopodidae (Hockey 1996). En el Caribe se consi- sandvicensis ) y la Gaviota Común ( S. hirundo ), así dera localmente común en las Bahamas, Puerto Ri- como del Títere Playero ( Charadrius wilsonia ). co, Islas Vírgenes y Guadalupe (Raffaele et al . Durante los tres días de expedición la pareja de 1998). En Cuba se reconoce como un residente in- ostreros se mantuvo en la localidad, mostró conduc- vernal muy raro, con tres observaciones documenta- tas de distracción de depredadores cuando los espe- das en las localidades de Coco, Paredón Grande y cialistas recorrían el cayuelo; específicamente, vola- las ciénagas de Zapata, en los meses de septiembre, ron alrededor del cayuelo mientras emitían un fuerte octubre y enero, respectivamente (Garrido y Kirk- silbido, para luego posarse en sitios más apartados. connell 2000). Debido al comportamiento de la pareja y al mes El 18 de abril de 2005, durante las actividades de en que fue observado (abril, que coincide con la monitoreo de aves marinas realizada por el personal etapa reproductiva de la especie), se consideró la del Refugio de Fauna Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso, posibilidad de que criaran en el cayuelo y se proce- se observó una pareja de Ostrero en Cayuelo del dió a localizar e identificar el nido. Se halló un nido Mono. Este pequeño cayo de 89 m de largo y 60 m con tres huevos que, inicialmente se atribuyó al de ancho, es un montículo de piedra plano (1 m Ostrero, pues no se encontró otra ave en el lugar. En sobre el nivel del mar) que aflora a unos 1 500 m al la segunda visita (2 de junio del 2005), se comprobó Este-nordeste de Punta del Pino, Cayo Pajonal. Su que el nido pertenecía a una pareja de Títere Playe- vegetación es muy escasa, solo un árbol de Mangle ro. En esta fecha ya habían comenzado a nidificar la Prieto ( Avicennia germinans ) y vegetación halófita Gaviota de Sándwich y la Gaviota Común, por lo que crece sobre la roca caliza. Esta localidad consti- que las tareas de búsqueda del nido de Ostrero

Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 59 HERNÁNDEZ P ÉREZ — R EPRODUCCIÓN DEL HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS EN C UBA fueron pospuestas temporalmente para no afectar al yen a esta especie dentro de las aves nidificantes en resto de la comunidad de aves que crían en el ca- el territorio (Garrido y Kirkconnell 2000, Blanco et yuelo. al . 2001). La observación de una pareja de Ostrero En una tercera visita, el 29 Junio 2005, se localizó en Cayuelo del Mono y el posterior hallazgo del en el extremo este del cayuelo un pichón volantón pichón, adiciona una especie más a la lista de aves de Ostrero. El ave se encontró oculta en el diente de de orilla nidificantes de Cuba. perro, muy cercano al rompiente de las olas. Fue capturada y se le realizaron mediciones morfométri- AGRADECIMIENTOS cas, obteniéndose como resultado un peso de 460 g, Este trabajo forma parte de los resultados del pro- largo total 370 mm, ala extendida 340 mm, largo del yecto para el estudio de las Aves acuáticas y de lito- tarso 64 mm y largo del pico 69 mm. En este estado ral, llevado a cabo en el Refugio de Fauna Lanzani- de desarrollo presentó una coloración marrón claro llo-Pajonal-Fragoso. Reconocimientos especiales a en el dorso y blanco en la región ventral, el pico los participantes de las expediciones René E Torres rojo oscuro por encima, anaranjado ó rojo pálido Sierra, Nelson E Montenegro Calderón, Raúl Fer- por debajo con el extremo distal negro, patas rosado nández Rodríguez, Michael Fernández, José R Lar- claro y el aro orbital sin el rojo intenso que presen- go Pérez, Iván Nápoles Pérez, Jorge A Gonzáles tan los adultos. Acosta, Osmani Sardá Reyes, Alberto Gutiérrez En los humedales cubanos las especies que com- Carvajal y Tomás Camacho Truit. ponen al grupo de las aves de orilla son numerosas y abundantes durante el periodo no reproductivo, LITERATURA C ITADA pero hasta el momento solo se conocía de seis espe- BLANCO , P., S. P ERIS , Y B. S ÁNCHEZ . 2001. Las cies que utilizan el territorio nacional como área de aves limícolas (Charadriiformes) nidificantes de cría: Jacana spinosa , Himantopus mexicanus , Cha- Cuba: distribución y reproducción. Centro Iberoa- radrius alexandrinus , C. wilsonia , C. vociferus y mericano de la Biodiversidad, Alicante, España. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Blanco et al . 2001). GARRIDO , O. H., Y A. K IRKCONNELL . 2000. Field No se conoce ninguna referencia bibliográfica pre- guide of the birds of Cuba. Cornell University via que confirme la nidificación del Ostrero en Cu- Press, Ithaca, NY. ba; sin embargo, algunos autores realizaron obser- GUNDLACH , J. 1893. Ornitología Cubana. Catalogo vaciones sobre este aspecto. Por ejemplo, Gundlach Habana, Impresa La Moderna, Habana. (1893) realizó la siguiente anotación referente a la HOCKEY , P. A. R. 1996. Family Haematopodidae reproducción de la especie en Cuba: “Habiendo (oystercatchers). Pp. 308-325 en J. del Hoyo, A. visto la especie en los distintos meses del año, julio, Elliot, y J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the birds septiembre, enero, etc., supongo que anidará en los of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to auks. Lynx Edi- cayos, pero nada he podido observar sobre su propa- cions, Barcelona. gación”. Por otro lado, Raffaele et al . (2000) inclu- RAFFAELE , H., J. W ILEY , O. G ARRIDO , A. K EITH , Y yó a Cuba como uno de los posibles sitios de repro- J. R AFFAELE . 1998 . A guide to the birds of the ducción de la especie en las Antillas Mayores. Con- West Indies. Princeton University Press, Prince- trario a estas dos referencias, las publicaciones re- ton, NJ. cientes realizadas por ornitólogos cubanos no inclu-

60 Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19(1), 2006 INFORMATION FOR C ONTRIBUTORS

The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology welcomes submission of articles, notes, commentaries, book reviews, and announcements on all aspects of avian biology within the Greater Caribbean region, including Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all islands within the Caribbean basin. Language .—Contributions may be submitted in English, Spanish, or French. An abstract in at least one of the other two languages is required but is unnecessary for submission (the editorial board will assist with translation). Form of Submission .—All manuscripts and materials must be submitted electronically, preferably as a Word, WordPerfect, jpg or gif file attachment, to the editor, Floyd Hayes, at [email protected]. Cuban authors should submit manuscripts directly to the new editor in chief, Martín Acosta, at [email protected]. Each research manuscript will be reviewed by at least two referees who will judge its suitability for publication. Format.—Conform to the style of the most recent issue: • Font: Times New Roman, 10 point. • Spacing: single spaced throughout, with one space after a period and an extra space between sections. • Title: all caps and centered, no longer than 20 words; include scientific name(s) for any species. • Authors: small caps and centered; use superscript numbers for multiple addresses. • Addresses: italicized and centered; if multiple authors, use superscripted numbers. • Abstract: include in all research papers, including short notes; <5% of manuscript’s length; heading indented and italicized, followed by a colon. • Key words: up to 10 in alphabetic order and separated by commas; heading indented and italicized, followed by a colon. • Section headings: small caps and centered. • Subsection headings: small caps and left justified. • Bird names: vernacular name followed by scientific name in parenthesis, with only vernacular name used thereafter; vernacular name optional for French and Spanish manuscripts. • Text citations: author(s) and year (e.g., Smith 1990, Smith and Jones 1991, Smith et al. 1992); multiple citations listed chronologically. • Measurements: metric units (e.g., km, m, ha, g, l). • Dates and times: continental dating (e.g., 5 March 2005) and 24-hour clock (e.g., 08:35 hr). • Acknowledgments: precedes Literature Cited. • Literature Cited: cite only publicly available sources; please avoid citing unpublished manuscripts and cite websites only when necessary. Journal Frost, M. D., and E. B. Massiah. 2003. Observations of rare and unusual birds on Grenada. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 16:63-65. Book or report Bond, J. 1985. Birds of the West Indies. 5th ed. Collins, London. Chapter in book Saliva, J. E. 2000. Status of Sooty Terns in the West Indies. Pp. 102-108 in Status and conservation of West Indian seabirds (E. A. Schreiber and David S. Lee, eds.). Society of Caribbean Ornithol- ogy, Ruston, LA. • Tables: insert on separate pages after Literature Cited; each numbered (e.g., Table 1) with a short heading at the top; footnotes alphabetic rather than numeric. • Figures: each must be electronic and preferably embedded within the manuscript; insert on a separate page after Literature Cited; each numbered (e.g., Fig. 1) with short headings; photos should include photographer’s name; only black and white figures will be published in the print version unless the extra costs of printing in color are paid by the author, but color will be available in pdf files. • Appendices: insert each on separate pages after Literature Cited; each numbered (e.g., Appendix 1) with a short heading at the top; footnotes must be alphabetic rather than numeric.

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JOURNAL The SCSCB publishes The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, a refereed journal publishing articles, notes, commentaries, book reviews, and announcements on all aspects of avian biology within the Caribbean region. Contri- butions are welcome in either English, Spanish, or French. Since the journal’s humble inception as El Pitirre, the society’s newsletter, in 1988, James W. Wiley single-handedly edited 17 volumes of the journal, which gradually increased in quantity and quality over the years as it transformed into a reputable scientific journal. In 2003 (volume 16) the journal’s name changed to The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology to better reflect the journal’s content. Information for contributors is provided on the inside back cover. Further information about the journal, including more detailed information for contributors, archives of volumes 1-15, contents and abstracts, sample pdf files of a recent issue, and information for advertisers, is available at the society’s website: http://www.scscb.org.

SOCIETY O FFICERS President: Mr. Andrew Dobson Journal Editor: Dr. Floyd Hayes Vice-President: Dr. Lisa Sorenson Members at Large: Mr. Jeremy Madeiros Secretary: Dr. Ann Haynes Sutton Dr. Lourdes Mugica Treasurer: Dr. Rosemarie Gnam Dr. Adrianne Tossas Past-President: Mr. Eric Carey Mrs. Carolyn Wardle