Puerto Rico Critical Wildlife Areas - Puerto DRNA - Gobierno de ...

White-crowned pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala, Scaly-naped pigeon P. squamosa, Whitewinged
dove Zenaida asiatica, Mourning dove Z. macroura, Key west quail-dove Geotrygon
chrysia, Mangrove cuckoo Coccyzus minor, Yellow-billed cuckoo C. americanus, Smoothbilled
ani Crotophaga ani, Puerto Rican Screech owl Megascops nudipes, Short-eared owl Asio
flammeus, Chuck will’s widow Caprimulgus carolinensis, Common nighthawk Chordeiles
minor, Black swift Cypseloides niger, Antillean Mango Anthracothorax dominicus, Puerto
Rican mango A. viridis, Puerto Rican Emeralds Chlorostilbon maugaeus, Belted kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon, Puerto Rican toddy Todus mexicanus, Puerto Rican Woodpecker Melanerpes
portoricensis, Yellow-billed sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius, Gray kingbird Tyrannus
dominicensis, Loggerhead kingbird T. caudifasciatus, Puerto Rican Flycatcher Myiarchus
antillarum, Puerto Rican lesser Antillean Pewee Contopus portoricensis, Caribbean elaenia
Elaenia martinica, Tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor, Bank swallow Riparia riparia, Barn
swallow Hirundo rustica, Cave swallow Petrochelidon fulva, Caribbean Martin Progne
dominicensis, Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos, Pearly-eyed thrasher Margarops
fuscatus, Red-legged thrush Turdus plumbeus, Puerto Rican Vireo Vireo latimeri, Blackwhiskered
vireo V. altiloquus, Red eyed vireo V. olivaceus, Bananaquit Coereba flaveola, Black
and white warbler Mniotilta varia, Worm eating warbler Helmitheros vermivorus, Northern
parula Parula americana, Cape may warbler Dendroica tigrina, Black-throated blue warbler D.
caerulescens, Yellow warbler D. petechia, Yellow rumped warbler D. coronata, Black-throated
green warbler D. virens, Adelaide’s warbler D. adelaidae, Bay breasted warbler D. castaena,
Blackpoll warbler D. striata, Palm warbler D. palmarum Prairie warbler D. discolor, Common
yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas, American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla, Northern waterthrush
Seiurus noveboracensis, Louisiana Waterthrush S. motacilla, Kentucky Warbler Oporornis
formosus, Hooded warbler Wilsonia citrina, Canada warbler W. canadiensis, Antillean
Euphonia Euphonia musica, Puerto Rican tanager Nesospingus speculiferus, Greater Antillean
Grackle Quiscalus niger, Greater Antillean Oriole Icterus dominicensis, Troupial I. icterus,
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Shinny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis, Pin-tailed whydah
Vidua macroura, Napoleon weaver Euplectes franciscanus, Orange cheeked waxbill Estrilda
melpoda, Red eared waxbill Estrilda troglodytes, Strawberry finch Amandava amandava,
Hooded weaver Lonchura cucullata, Black headed nun L. malacca, Silverbill L. malabarica,
Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum, Puerto Rican Bullfinch Loxigilla
portoricensis, Indigo bunting Passerina cyanea, Black-faced grassquit Tiaris bicolor, Yellowfaced
grassquit T. olivacea (Colón 1983). Recent sightseen report (2005) the engandered West
Indian Wisthling Duck Dendrocygna arborea in the lagoon (M. Rodriguez pers. comm)
Threats:
Do to past agricultural practices; most of the lagoon is now choked with vegetation that
impedes the normal flow of water and restricts nesting and feeding for waterfowl. The primary
threat to this area now is a boom in housing development and second home construction. Also,
intentional fire and illegal dumping occur in the refuge.
Conservation Recommendations:
The primary conservation recommendations are to protect additional areas within the
Lajas Valley from residential developments, allowing restoration of the large Lajas Valley
ecosystem to proceed. The major recommendation for Cartagena Lagoon is to restore water
management capabilities, remove cattail, and increase the amount of open water in the lagoon
(similar to historical area).
232