This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-16) for 19 April
2002. Sponsored by the TT Field Naturalists' Club, our aim is to promote
birding and ornithology in the southeastern Caribbean by fostering
communication among resident and visiting birders regarding the study of
birds in the region. The SCBA and information about the TTFNC are accessible
at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc; our photo gallery is
accessible at
http://www.geocities.com/secaribbirds.
Reports should be sent to Floyd Hayes
by phone at 662-9327 (H) or 645-3232 x2206 (W), or by e-mail at
floyd_hayes@hotmail.com. The TT Rare Bird
Committee requests details for
species indicated with an asterisk (see SCBA website above and 'BIRD BRAINS'
below).
PHOTO GALLERY: Photos recently added to the SCBA website include a
White-tailed Tropicbird (Little Tobago), Cliff Swallow (Trinidad) and
Laughing Gull with deformed bill (Trinidad). In addition, a new "Mystery
Bird" photo and the answer to the last "Mystery Bird" photo have been
added.
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Along the North Coast of Trinidad, two BLACK
HAWK-EAGLES* were noted somewhere between Sans Souci and Toco on 12 April.
Along the west coast of Trinidad, a YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKE was seen at
Waterloo on 17 April and two BANK SWALLOWS were at Waterloo on 14 April. The
only unusual bird noted at San Fernando on 14 April was the LAUGHING GULL
with a deformed bill among 45 conspecifics and two COMMON TERNS. At
Cacandee, a COCOI HERON, a CLAPPER RAIL, a MANGROVE CUCKOO, a NORTHERN
SCRUB-FLYCATCHER and a MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET were tallied on 12 April.
Also on 12 April, two GREATER ANIS, a GREEN-BREASTED MANGO and three
RED-CAPPED CARDINALS were noted in Caroni Swamp.
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, two YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHERS were
reported from Las Lapas on 10 April.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: The Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism
Institute in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, will be sponsoring a Birdwatching /
Birding Guide Certificate Programme. Scheduled for Monday and Wednesday
evenings at 5-8 pm from 6-22 May, the programme will include a series of
evening lectures by local ornithologists/birders/tour guides plus two field
trips in Trinidad. For further details, please contact Claudelle McKellar
(tel. 634-1314, e-mail: claudemckellar@hotmail.com).
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: In concluding our theme of species concepts, N. K.
Johnson, J. V. Remsen, Jr. and C. Cicero (1999. Resolution of the debate
over species concepts in ornithology: a new comprehensive biologic species
concept. Pp. 1470-1482 in Proc. 22nd Int. Ornithol. Congr., Durban. BirdLife
South Africa, Durban) recently proposed a "comprehensive biologic species
concept" that synthesizes valid aspects of other species concepts: "An avian
species is a system of populations representing an essentially monophyletic,
genetically cohesive, and genealogically concordant lineage of individuals
that share a common fertilisation system through time and space, represent
an independent evolutionary trajectory, and demonstrate essential but not
necessarily complete reproductive isolation from other such systems."
BIRD BRAINS: Do we believe what you see? We want to! Many of the
identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. The TT Rare Bird
Committee, formed in 1995, requests details for all rare birds observed (see
Species Review List at our website). Please submit details to the TTRBC
Secretary: Martyn Kenefick, 36 Newalloville Ave., San Juan, Trinidad and
Tobago; e-mail: martynkenefick@netscape.net.