• About Us & Our Partners
  • Media Gallery
  • Contact Us
Sunday, January 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Cari-Bois Environmental News Network
25 °c
Port of Spain
  • Home
  • Agriculture
  • Pollution
  • Climate Change
  • Mining
  • Oil & Gas
  • Forestry
  • Fishing
  • Wildlife
  • Governance
  • Home
  • Agriculture
  • Pollution
  • Climate Change
  • Mining
  • Oil & Gas
  • Forestry
  • Fishing
  • Wildlife
  • Governance
No Result
View All Result
Cari-Bois Environmental News Network
No Result
View All Result
Home Caribbean

The importance of wetlands for waterbirds in Haiti

by Caribea Initiative
May 23, 2022
in Caribbean, Wildlife
0
The importance of wetlands for waterbirds in Haiti

Himantopus mexicanus or Black-necked stilt. Taken by: Frank Schulenburg

0
SHARES
67
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Whatsapp

This article was written by Lens Jerry Saint-Louis and Jeffey-Mackenzy Paul and originally published on Caribaea Initiative. An edited version is republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement with CariBois.


In the heart of the insular Caribbean, a world major biodiversity hotspot, the territory of Haiti also possesses an abundant fauna, as evidenced by the 270 species of birds that can be observed, including 155 waterbird species. A recent inventory provides valuable information on these birds.

Research on Haitian birds continues. After a study on birds living in urban green spaces (read the article), a new study focussed on waterbirds, with a meticulous inventory of those living in this country where poverty and the lack of scientific expertise at the local level are often an obstacle to scientific studies.

In order to study Haitian waterbirds, Lens Jerry Saint-Louis, during a project supported by Caribaea Initiative, selected five sites in Haiti, including Lake Azuei, the largest lake in the country with its 170 km², the estuary of the Massacre river, on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, or the famous Lake Miragoane, recent scene of several major scientific advances such as the discovery of a new species of fish (read the article). The birds at each of these sites were inventoried and counted during the winter, during the nonbreeding period, using several methods: stationary counting, itinerary counting walking along the shoreline, or even counting from a pirogue. The results obtained thus provide an overview of both resident and wintering species.

Some of the species that have been observed : Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon (© Menke Dave), Osprey Pandion haliaetus (© Peter Massas), Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus (© EyeLoveBirds), Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (© Walter Siegmund), Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres (© Ómar Runólfsson), Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea (© Dario Sanches), Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris (© Becky Matsubara), American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber (© Ettore Balocchi).

An impressive total of 10,265 birds were counted, belonging to 34 different species, with overall similar proportions of resident and wintering species and a specific richness (number of species) that varied between the sites. Among these species, some such as the blue-winged teal (Spatula discors) have been observed in large numbers at a single location. Others have been seen in varying numbers in several sites, such as the great white egret (Ardea alba) or the killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). Finally, only one individual of Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) and Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) were observed. While all the species observed are classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, some species such as the American coot (Fulica americana) or the White-Cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) are however considered locally threatened.

The study, which provides a baseline survey of waterbird species in Haiti, also confirms that this country has unique habitats suitable for these species throughout the year, and especially during winter for North American birds. These data, which once again underline the importance of wetlands, thus confirm the crucial need to protect them. Indeed, Haiti is unfortunately still one of the countries that have not ratified the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, particularly as habitats for waterbirds, and aimed in particular at their conservation.

Tags: caribaea initiativeconservationhaitihaiti biodiversityJeffey-Mackenzy PaulLens Jerry Saint-LouisWildlife
Caribea Initiative

Caribea Initiative

Caribea Initiative is a nature-conservation organisation that undertakes actions across all Caribbean islands, regardless of linguistic, cultural or political barriers.

Next Post
Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean

Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean

Explore by Location

  • Nationwide
  • North-West Trinidad
  • North-East Trinidad
  • Central Trinidad
  • South-West Trinidad
  • South-East Trinidad
  • East Trinidad
  • Tobago
Facebook Twitter Youtube RSS

About Us

Cari Bois is a national community that brings together communities, activists, academics, scientists and journalists, to tell their own stories around the environmental impact of the extractive sector in Trinidad and Tobago, and wider irresponsible development.

Article Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Caribbean
  • Central Trinidad
  • Climate Change
  • East Trinidad
  • Fishing
  • Forestry
  • Industry
  • Mining
  • National
  • Natural Disaster
  • North-East Trinidad
  • North-West Trinidad
  • Oil & Gas
  • Policy & Governance
  • Pollution
  • South-West Trinidad
  • Special Report
  • Tobago
  • Trinidad
  • Uncategorized
  • Wildlife
  • World
  • World Wildlife Day Article Series
Cari-Bois Environmental News Network

Supported under the 'Caribbean Natural Capital Hub' of ANSA Merchant Bank and ANSA Bank. Learn more here.

© 2020 Caribois Environmental News Network. All Rights Reserved.
The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the project partners and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Explore by Industry
    • Agriculture
    • Climate Change
    • Fishing
    • Forestry
    • Mining
    • Oil & Gas
    • Policy & Governance
    • Pollution
    • Wildlife
  • Explore by Location
    • North-West Trinidad
    • North-East Trinidad
    • East Trinidad
    • Central Trinidad
    • South-East Trinidad
    • South-West Trinidad
    • Tobago
  • Media Gallery
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

© 2020 Caribois Environmental News Network. All Rights Reserved.
The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the project partners and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.