This is the SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2002-11) for 22 March 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).
HOTSHOTS IN HOT SPOTS: Along the west coast of Trinidad, local birders commenced a study of bittern and rail densities in marshes. On 16 March, five STRIPE-BACKED BITTERNS, two LEAST BITTERNS, a CLAPPER RAIL and a YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKE were flushed by birders dragging a long rope across four marshes within several hundred meters of the Caroni Swamp Flyover. In the large marshes just northwest of the runway in the Caroni Rice Fields, an immature GREAT BLUE HERON, roughly 200 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, two early FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS, and a leucistic SEMIPALMATED PLOVER were tallied on 16 March.
At Waterloo, an odd GULL-BILLED TERN with abnormally reddish legs, a heavy carpal dark and unusually dark primaries was carefully studied on 17 March; other birds present included 1500 LAUGHING GULLS, 50 ROYAL TERNS and two COMMON TERNS. A probable YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKE was flushed in the 'Brickfield' ponds. Only 275 LAUGHING GULLS were present at San Fernando during low tide on 17 March; one bird had an abnormally downward-curved upper mandible, resembling that of a Hook-billed or Snail Kite.
In the Northern Range of Trinidad, a YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER was seen at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on 17 March. At Caribbean Union College in Maracas Valley, two colour-banded females mated with a polygynous male TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD were nesting simultaneously in different nests in the same tree. On 12 March, the male apparently flew inside a large building and remained trapped inside until it was captured and released 2 days later on 14 March. It could not be relocated the following day, when a neighboring banded male that had been evicted from the territory a few years ago was singing throughout the territory in an attempt to reclaim it. The trapped male apparently died from the stress or was still recuperating. Meanwhile the two nesting females invested an enormous amount of energy driving away two unbanded birds, thought to be females, which apparently accompanied the intruding male. However, they associated freely with the intruding male. Stay tuned next week for a continuation of this saga.
In Dominica, a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was seen along a fast-flowing stream high in the mountains near the Freshwater Lake on 12 and 18 March.
ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: Continuing with our theme of species concepts, the recognition species concept considers a species to be the most inclusive population of individual biparental organisms which share a common fertilization system. According to this concept, species are bounded by a fertilization system and individuals within a species share the same fertilization system.
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.