Cayman Parrots - RarePlanet

.
, CONSaRVATION EDUCATION
IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands
and
The RARE. Center for Tropical Conservation
would like to thank the following contributors to the Cayman programme:
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The Conservation and Research Foundation
The Prospect Hill Foundation
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The William l? Wharton Trust
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0 mhe David and Christine Pasant Foundation cearnr
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TEL: (215) 5680420
I F M (215)%a-0516
&Zter for tropical conservation
Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
TREASURER
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Dear
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October, 1992
For the millions of overseas visitors that travel to th
annually, the islands of the Caribbean are pristine fra
paradise.
Paradise is not without its problems, and too often p s ine is
only a veneer that covers the harsh realities of is A fife.
The effects of population growth and an increasing demand for
material wealth place heavy burdens on finite natural resources.
Examples include beaches mined for construction aggregate;
mangroves drained and filled for yacht marinas or hotel sites;
forests cleared for agriculture and development.
Most fragile of all, and often the first to slip quietly into
extinction, are native species of wild plants and animals.
Island endemics represent an integral part of the fabric of their
country's environmental heritage and often stand as symbols of an
area's beauty, uniqueness, and fragility.
Yet conservation is a difficult concept to sell. We constantly
say that conservation is not anti-development, and that
sustainable growth must be built on the husbanding and wise use
of the planet's natural resources. While this might be true in
the long term, it is difficult to say that this is the case in
the short: conflicts result and negative attitudes abound.
Even where environmental attitudes are not negative, they are
most often replaced by apathy. The masses view the environment
as having little to do with their day to day lives and see
expenditures on its protection as wasted resources better spent
on the provision of schools, hospitals, roads, and employment
generation.
Parallels can be drawn between selling a difficult product and
wselling'' a difficult concept, that of conservation. There are
many vdifficult't products on sale today ... in theory it should be
impossible to sell cigarettes: not only are they harmful to the
smoker's health, but warnings are even written on the packet -
yet millions are sold daily.
RARE Center for Tropical Conservation has initiated an approach
that uses marketing techniques to *'sellu the need for wildlife
preservation and natural resource conservation.
Working hand in hand with local people, island governments and
?roJif, volunteer orgonrzarron dedzcared to the < onservalron of endangered lroprcal waldltfe and rls hahrrals)
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indigenous NGOs, the concept has produced tangible results in countries
like Saint Lucia, Dominica, Saint Vincent, and the Bahamas.
The Cayman Islands are a spectacular archipelago already deeply
committed to marine conservation; they are home to two endemic subspecies
of the Cuban or White-headed Parrot.
In most Caribbean islands, native wildlife is viewed with apathy; in
the Caymans, parrots are perceived by many as being nuisance birds that
feed on crops and are of little value except as interesting pets.
Parrot capturing and hunting is steeped in tradition. Cayman's parrots
have only been protected since 1990 - more than a century after
neighboring islands passed wildlife laws protecting their own endemic
flora and fauna.
Cayman provided RARE Center with a new challenge: developed, not
developing; an island archipelago comprising three islands separated by
miles of ocean; home to not one but two unique parrot sub-species which
carry no symbolic status conferring pride, but rather the yoke of being
considered agricultural pests. 1
Noting the enormous erforts put in place to protect the marine
environment, RARE Center encouraged The National Trust for the Cayman 1
Islands to take up the challenge and implement a conservation marketing
campaign to promote the protection of the Cayman Parrot and its
habitat. In the National Trust and project counterpart Pat Scharr, we
found staunch support and unrelenting dedication. 1
This report is their story ... it is a tale that has pitted them against
traditional attitudes, but which with diplomacy and understanding is
showing tangible gains. The vast majority of Caymanians now understand
the plight of their native wildlife and the need to protect the
remaining vestiges of their natural patrimony.
The project has served as a catalyst for the procuring of a parrot
reserve on Cayman Brac, an area which will not only help to protect the
breeding grounds of Amazona leucocephala hesterna, but the other
wildlife that abounds there.
This is the beginning and not an end. As RARE Center's Director of
Conservation Education, I urge the reader to take note of the report's
recommendations and to assist in their funding and implementation.
The Cayman Islands are worthy of your fullest support, and I take this
opportunity to commend and congratulate the island's National Trust and
Pat Scharr on an outstanding job.
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RARE Center
P.O. Box 1537
Castries
Saint Lucia

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1
I. INTRODUCTION 2
A. The Natural History of the Cayman Islands
B. The Current Status of the Environment
C. The Cayman Brac Parrot
D. The Grand Cayman Parrot
E. The Existing Protection for Cayman's Parrots
1. Legislation
2. Terrestrial Reserves
3. Other Factors
11. CAYMAN PARROTS CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMME 11
A. Overview and Objectives
1. Programme Overview
2. Programme Objectives
B. Pre-programme Support Materials
1. Posters and Badges
2. Fact Sheets
3. Questionnaire
C. Programme Elements
1. Pre-Assessment Survey
a. Methodology
b. Results
c Discussion and Analysis
2. Poster Distribution
3. Badge Distribution
4. Fact Sheet Distribution
5. Public Education Through the Medii
6. Children's Song
7. Design and Construction of Parrot Costumes
8. Parrot Puppet and Play Writing
9. Parrot Balls
10, Schools Visitation Programme
11. Parrots on Parade in Batabano
12. Parrots go to Summer Camps
13. Parrots in the Sand
14. Parrots Make a Hit at The Nationd Trust Fair
15. Bumper Stickers
16. EssayIArt Competition

17. SongslSchools Radio Broadcsts
18. Community Outreach
19. Target Species Population Census
20. National Trust Newsletters
2 1. Sermons
22. Billboards
23. Parrots Fkhibit at the National Museum
24. The Parrot with a Pirate on its Shoulder
25. Music video
26. Farmer Visitation Programme
27. Legislation LeafletlReview Legislation
28. Stamps
29. A-Z of Birdlife
30. Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve
31. Post-Assessment Survey
a. Methodology
b. Results
c. Discussion and Analysis
d. Conclusions
111. RELATED RESEARCH ON CAYMAN'S PARROTS
A. The Bradley Study
B. Research on the Cayman Brac Parrot
1. The Cayman Brac Parrot Census, 1991
2. Cayman Brac Parrot Breeding Studies, Summer 1991
3. Cayman Brac Parrot Nest Cavity Study, December 1991
C. Research on the Grand Cayman Parrot
1. Captive Breeding of the Grand Cayman Parrot
2. The Grand Cayman Parrot Census, 1992
3. Grand Cayman Parrot Crop Damage Studies
IV.
RECOMMENDATIONS
h Habitat Protection
1. The National Development Plan
2. Establishment of a Reserve System
3. Public Education Programmes
B. Legislation
1. The Animals Law
2. The Development Plan Law
3. CITES
4. RAMSAR Sites

C. Research
1. Research on Cayman Brac Parrot
2. Research on Grand Cayman Parrot
3. Research on Other Native Flora and Fauna
D. Consenation Management
1. Cayman Brac
2. Grand Cayman
3. General
E. Eco-tourism
APPENDICES
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Fact Sheets and Support Materials
Media Coverage
Directions for Making Parrot Balls
Directions for Parrots in the Sand
Museum Exhibit
About the National T ~st
About the Counterpart
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
Table 1.
Table 2.
Table 3.
Table 4.
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Figure 4.
Figure 5.
Population Distribution in the Cayman Islands
Pre-assessment Survey Volunteers and
Questionnaire Distribution
Comparison of Number of Students to number
of Programme Contacts
Post-assessment Survey Volunteers and
Questionnaire Distribution
Location of the Cayman Islands
Dominant Natural Non-marine Ecosystems
Educational Materials and Activities as
Tailored to Specific Age Groups
Summary of Major Programme Activities in the
Cayman Islands by Month
Photocopy of Born and Bred in the Cayman
Islands Poster

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report is dedicated to Dace McCoy-Ground in appreciation for her constant support,
encouragement and friendship, and to Paul Butler, Caribbean Programme Director of
RARE for his many new ideas and his infectious enthusiasm and inspiration.
The effort of many individuals went into this year's activities and into this report. There
is no way to properly thank them all, yet it is hoped that they know the importance of their
contribution. Some of these individuals are:
Dace McCoy-Ground, Executive Director of the National Trust for the Cayman
Islands, for her constant support and involvement in the programme activities and
in the preparation of this report.
Fred Burton, Director ofscience for the NationalTrust for the Cayman Islands, for
his work on conservation of Cayman's parrots and his contributions to the natural
history and research sections of this report.
Andrew Robinson, Chris Mann, Fran McConvey, Mark Fraser, John Broad, Elspeth
McQueen, Hyacinth Conolly and the many other teachers who creatively implemented
these conservation concepts in their classrooms.
Barbara Oliver, whose creative talents produced our spectacular parrot costumes
and to Rimi McDonald, Joe Caputo, Michael Grundy and Tom Abate who spent
so many hours in them.
Phillipe Bush for producing so many beautiful drawings and Gina Ebanks-Petrie for
her support and advice.
Anita Ebanks and the staff at the Cayman Islands National Museum for lending
their expertise to our Parrot Museum Exhibit.
Otto Watler, for sharing his love ofparrots, his gentle husbandry and his honey with
the children of Cayman.
The Barefoot Man for lending his original music, C & B Studios for their technical
assistance and the students from Cayman Islands High School who lent their voices
in song.
Cayman Horizons, the local media, Northwest Airlines, Serv-u-Wel1,The Cayman
IslandsTennis Club and the many other local businesses who supported our efforts.
These are just a few of the many individuals who made a programme of this size so
successful. Everyone who participated in any aspect of the "Year of the Parrot"can
share in the pride of accomplishment that comes with a job well done.

1. INTRODUCTION
x°CIAL QC The NationalTrust for the Cayman Islands, established by an act of the
$Q 3 Legislative Assembly in November 1987, is a non-profit, non-govern-
0 E, & mental organization dedicated to the preservation of historic sites and
?&>3ek+!? structures, conservation of lands given into its care and the protection
-4 N I~tP' of native flora and fauna.
The Trust is membership based and structured on "grass roots" principles. Members of
the Trust are also members of their local District Committees, each of which elects a
Chairman who sits as a member of theTrust Council. The other members of the Council
are thirteen officers and members elected by the full membership and three Government
appointees. The Trust Council is predominantly Caymanian, and the Trust is dedicated to
the idea that if Caymanians perceive it as their own and feel that what the Trust owns
belongs to the people ofthe Cayman Islands, their support will be the strength oftheTrust.
One of the people who worked hardest at the beginning to see that aTrust was established
in Cayman was Patricia Bradley, author of The Birth ofthe Cayman hhd. Although she
is no longer resident in the Cayman Islands, she continues to work for the preservation of
Cayman's flora and fauna. It was Mrs Bradley who sent us both Dr James Wiley and Paul
Butler, who, between them, have helped theTrust establish a comprehensive conservation
programme for the highly endangered Brac Parrot, Amazona letlcoctphala hesterna.
In the four years theTrust has been established it has acquired almost 800 acres of land and
established a fairly comprehensive public education programme on minimal resources.
Although the Trust receives varying grants from Government, its work is funded through
membership dues, fund raising and the solicitation of international grants. We are
supported by a membership of 800 adults, 600 children and forty corporate sponsors in
Cayman, and have been quite successful at fundraising locally. Internationally we have
greater difficultybecause Cayman is perceived as rich, and indeed, by Caribbean standards,
we are well off. Nonetheless, the kind of land reserve and conservation programmes the
Trust is attempting in Cayman will only succeed if some international assistance is
available.
In the four years that theTrust has been working, has formed strong links with a number
of international conservation groups such as RARE, ICBP, WWF-UK and The Nature
Conservancy. Each of these organizations has funded some of its work, or, in the case of
The Nature Conservancy, given us invaluable technical assistance and assistance with land

acquisition. While none of these grants have been large, it is difficult to explain how very
valuable they are to us, mainly in demonstrating to the people of the Cayman Islands that
things they have always taken for granted - theG'bush", the parrots and the iguanas - are,
in fact; considered by the outside world to be of great international value.
This report describes the Trust's conservation programme for Cayman's parrot, and
particularly the work done through the RARE programme. Like every other Caribbean
territory that has worked with this small but innovative and very effective conservation
organization, the people ofcayman have had their eyes opened to issues that theyhad never
before considered, and are coming to see conservation as something essential to preservation
of their way of life.
A. The Natural History of the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are a group of three low lying, small islands with a combined area of
263 square kilornetres, in the Caribbean Sea some 250 krn. south of Cuba and west of
Jamaica
Figure 1. Location of the Cayman Islands
They were formed by the uplifiing of the southern rim of the North American tectonic
plate, as part of a largely submarine ridge running west from the Sierra Maestra of Cuba.
The surface rocks consist of Pleistocene limestones and marls overlying an emergent core
of Tertiary dolomite: both formations erode into characteristic pinnacled karst.
The indigenous flora and fauna is essentially Greater Antillean, with strong &niries with
both Cuba and Jamaica, but with a modest degree of divergence: there are some 21 plant
species and varieties considered to be endemic to the Cayman Islands, 21 endemic reptile

species and subspecies, possibly as many as 30 land snails, 16 endemic bird subspecies, one
bat subspecies, and in less well studied groups, 37 insect endemics (not all yet described),
and 6 other known endemic arthropods.
The two dominant natural non-marine ecosystems in the Cayman Islands are mangrove
swamp formations, which occupy two thirds of Grand Cayman and a third of Little
Cayman, and Dry Evergreen woodlands and thickets, which occupy the limestone and
dolomite karst terrain above sealevel. A narrow coastal shelf supports awe11 developed coral
reef and sea mass ecosystem, with reef enclosed lagoons and deep w~ e n v i r ~
MANGROVE SWAMP
I .... FRINGING REEF
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....-.@ urn ~t.
SWAMP
. .....; CENTRAL MANGROVE
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NORTH
SOUND
Figure 2. Dominant, Natural Non-Marine Ecosystems in the Cayman Islands
The economy of the islands rests on tourism and a thriving offshore finance business.
Tourism development in the Cayman Islands has focused on the marine environment,
notable for clear water, thriving coral reefs, and attractive cord sand beaches.
B. The Current Status of the Environment
Much emphasis has been placed by the local government on marine conservation, and a
highly successful marine parks programme is now in operation. However this effort has not
prevented a progressive degradation of the marine environment resulting from extensive
coastal development in western Grand Cayman, which was underway long before the

Marine Parks legislation was conceived. Siltation from dredging in the North Sound,
runoff of fine particulates from coastal development, and sediment plumes from the
anchoring of cruise ships off GeorgeTown are some of the major stresses still acting on the
reefi &d lagoons of western Grand Cayman.
Terrestrial habitat conservation is a concept that has arrived late to the Cayman Islands.
Until the creation ofthe National Trust for the Cayman Islands late in 1987, the only non
marine conservation areas were a number of Animal Sanctuaries designated by the
Government under the Animals Law. These were all brackish water ponds of some
importance to migratory waterfowl, and included no dry land habitat. The Animals Law
has proved lacking in many aspects, several of these Animal Sanctuaries have been
deregulated by Government or otherwise violated, and enforcement has foundered on the
absence of any compensation offered to owners of property designated as sanctuary.
Significant areas of primary or near-primary lowland woodland still remain, largely
unrecognized when the islands' flora was first studied in detail, because of lack of access
through the inhospitable terrain. The human population was very low in the early 190OYs,
and it has been only in the last 30 years that development and the associated exponential
increase in human population has resulted in major encroachment into the interiors of
central and eastern Grand Cayman, and the central plateau on Cayman Brac.
Primary (undisturbed) dry woodlands and thickets of Grand Cayman are now mostly
fragmented by development and agriculture. Significant areas remaining include about 30
acres in south George Town, a large contiguous block of about 1,000 acres in "the
Mountain", and various fragments intersected with roads and agricultural development
in the Beach Bay area and in East End.
The mangroves on Grand Cayman can conveniently be divided into two blocks, the
mangroves west of Savannah, and the Central Mangrove Swamp. The Central Mangrove
Swamp (about 2,000 acres) is almost all in its original, natural state: the mangroves west
ofsavannah are all severely disturbed by mosquito control dyking, and approaching 50%
of these have been destroyed for development over the last 50 years. The rate of mangrove
destruction has accelerated greatly in recent years with the lifting of the moratorium on
dredging.
On Cayman Brac, the woodlands of the Bluff were extensively degraded by timber
extraction earlier this century, recovery has begun, but it will take many decades. A few
undisturbed areas are also present. Construction of roads throughout the Bluff in the
1980's has greatly increased the threat to these woodlands.

On Little Cayman, the natural environments are still substantially intact, though
development seems likely to commence on quite a large scale in the very near future.
The need for significant woodland reserves on all three islands is dear, and establishment
ofthese becomes more urgent by the day as land prices rise and development moves further
into virgin territory. Efforts are being made within Government to address these
conservation concerns, at the level of development planning, and in revision oftheAnimals
Law. The Trust is involved in these processes.
However, conflicting concerns within Government, for promotion of agriculture, promotion
of development in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and for protection of local
landowners' rights to realize financial gain from their land holdings, make it unlikely that
Government will be able to realize adequate terrestrial reserves by these means, within the
time window left before the last pristine areas begin to be degraded.
Faced with this situation, the Trust has embarked on a major programme to establish
terrestrial reserves in the Cayman Islands.
Major factors working against attempts to protect natural environments in the Cayman
Islands indude:
The absence of an effective Development Plan.
Government initiatives to build roads into inaccessible areas, for agriculture and to
stimulate development.
Government's vested interest in keeping land salable, to maintain income from land
transfer taxes.
High land prices.
Private ownership of wetlands.
Tradition of landowners' freedom from Government restricttions on land use.
Government policy to stimulate development on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Rapidity of habitat loss.
Low degree of public accountability in the development planning and permitting
process.
Inadequacy of present environmental legislation.

C. The Cayman Brac Parrot
Description:
The Cayman Brac Parrot, Amazona hocephala hesterna, is the
smaller of the two Cayman subspecies of the Cuban Amazon.
Visually it is not easy to distinguish from the Grand Cayman form,
the subtle differences being somewhat variable: generally the
forehead is pure white rather than rose tinted, the white eyering is
broader that the Grand Cayman form, and red on the throat and
abdomen is more extensive. However, in behaviour the two are
quite distinct: their vocal repertoires are remarkably different,
and the Brac subspecies shows an array of cryptic behaviour
patterns that are normally associated with avoidance of aerial
predators, unlike the bold, conspicuous Grand Cayman parrot.
Amazona leucocephala hesternabreeds in tree cavities in the evergreen woodland formations
which cover much of the central plateau of Cayman Brac, and like all Amazon parrots is
primarily a fruit eater, taking a diverse range ofwild and cultivated fruits, as well as flowers
and bark of certain species.
Population:
The Cayman Brac Parrot occupies the smallest range of any Amazon Parrot in the West
Indies, being restricted to the island of Cayman Brac, a mere 38 square kilometres.
Described as "not uncommon" by Brown in Bangs, 1916, then as "uncommon" by
Johnston in 1975, "rare" by King in 1979, there is some evidence that the population has
been declining slowly throughout this century. Sequential estimates by Noegel similarly
suggest adecline, from 150 in the early 1970's, about 130 in the mid 19703, and only 45
by the early 1980's (R. Noegel, in Bradley, 1986).
In 1985, l? Bradley estimated a total population of only about 26 adults, and 11 to 15
juveniles in the wild on Cayman Brac.
Endangerment:
Evidence ofhistoric decline, and the extremely low population estimate in 1985, indicated
that the population was in immediate, critical danger of extinction.

D. The Grand Cayman Parrot
Description:
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The Grand Cayman Parrot, Amazona leococephala,
caymanensis is a slightly larger and much more conspicu- (
ous form of the Cuban Amazon, differing from the
Cayman Brac form as described above.
1
Like the Cayman Brac Parrot, this subspecies is a tree hole
nester, but in addition to using trees in the dry evergreen
woodland, the Grand Cayman Parrot frequently nests in
black mangrove trees in the extensive mangrove swamp
woodlands of Grand Cayman.
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Pooulation:
Amazons ~ucocephaka caymanensis as a subspecies is
endemic to Grand Cayman: it ranges widely across most of this
island, which has an area of some 197 square kilometres. I? Bradley
conducted intensive surveys of the rand Cayman population during 1985 (Bradley,
1986), and estimated a total population of between 9 15 and 1,714 individuals.
Endangerment:
Bradley (1986) considered the Grand Cayman population to be thriving and reasonably
secure in the short term, but under chronic pressure from a variety of sources including
habitat destruction and the harvesting of chicks for the local pet trade. In the long term,
accelerating habitat destruction for real estate development and agriculture will inevitably
lead to a decline, and projections for the development rate of Grand Cayman give no
reassurance for the stability of Grand Cayman's parrots over the next few decades. The
subspecies is considered vulnerable.
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E. The Existing Protection for Cayman's Parrots
At theend of 1990, some protective mechanisms were in place which affected the parrots
of the Cayman Islands. These are listed below.
1. Legislation
In 1979 the Cayman Islands became signatory to the CITES Convention, via the United
Kingdom. This placed absolute restrictions on international trade in wild parrots from the
Cayman Islands: international trading of wild caught parrots had been occurring before
this, although not apparently to any devastating extent. The problem had been most
significant on Cayman Brac, according to anecdotal accounts. At that time, parrots were,
however, still listed as game birds in Cayman Islands law, so it was legal to shoot and capture
parrots within the islands.
In January 1990, the Cayman Islands Government passed an amendment to the Animals
Law, removing both subspecies of parrot from the game bird list. This revision gave legal
protection to parrots in the wild, making it illegal to shoot or capture them. It, however,
failed to address the fact that large numbers of parrots were already in captivity as pets. The
change made it technically illegal to own a pet Cayman Parrot, yet this was apparently not
an intentional consequence of the legislation, and this aspect has therefore never been
enforced. In any case, no effective means of enforcement exist for any terrestrial
conservation aspect of the Animals Law.
2. Terrestrial Reserves
On 8th December, 1988, the Cayman Islands Government transferred ownership of an
undemarcated parcel of mixed woodland, thicket and wetland on Grand Cayman to the
National Trust for the Cayman Islands, for conservation. The land had been in Crown
ownership in absence of private claims at the time ofthe original land adjudication for the
Islands.
The land comprises some 650 acres, about 50% of which is wetland. The balance of dry
habitat includes much woodland and thicket utilized heavily by parrots, for foraging and
nesting (the wetlands do not include any mangroves of nesting size). The area is known
as the Salina Reserve, named for the traditional name of the wetland, which although
basically a fresh water system, develops a crust of bleached dead algae visually similar to
a salt pan at the height of the dry season. The majority of the Reserve is primaryvegetation,
with very little human impact evident anywhere.

The Salina Reserve was designated by theTrust as under total protection for conservation
of its flora and fauna, and will be declared inalienable under the Trust Law once all the
boundaries have been surveyed. This offers the highest level of protection available under
Cayman Islands Law.
On 13th March, 1990 theTrust came into joint ownership with Government of a 60 acre
parcel of low elevation disturbed thicket, for development as a Botanic Garden.
The core of this area proved to have retained diverse indigenous vegetation, and has been
designated as a conservation area within the master plan of the Botanic Garden. The area
is part of a large area utilized by parrots for feeding, and there are plans to try and encourage
nesting in pseudo-natural nest cavities.
These National Trust owned conservation areas were the only truly terrestrial reserves on
the Cayman Islands as of December, 1990: areas protected under Government legislation
are restricted to marine conservation zones and landlocked brackish water ponds, neither
of which have habitat value for parrots. The combined area of the Salina Reserve and the
conservation zone of the Botanic Garden site, about 700 acres in total, is significant in
terms of parrot habitat protection, but by any measure severely insufficient alone to
safeguard the parrot population in the face of long term, island wide deforestation.
3. Other factors
Both subspecies of Cayman Parrot feed on cultivated fruit, in particular mangoes.
Mangoes are damaged at flowering, in early immature fruit, and at the ripe fruit stage.
Particularly on Grand Cayman, where parrots are more numerous and farmers are
cultivating grafted mango strains for commercial purposes, there is strong feeling among
farmers that parrots are a pest, and should be controlled, not protected. Although no
research has been carried out to evaluate the economic significance of parrot damage to
commercial mango crops, the farmers' opinion carries political weight, and the Government
is reluctant to press too hard on enforcing and strengthening conservation legislation
for parrots.
Caymanians have kept pet parrots for longer than living memory, and it is very hard to
convince people to cease robbing parrot nest for pets when this has been so much part of
their traditional way of life. Again, the relative abundance of the Grand Cayman
subspecies, combined with its conspicuous behaviour, makes it difficult for people to see
that the bird is under any threat, and that there is any need for them to do without their
pet parrots.

11. CAYMAN PARROTS CONSERVATION EDUCATION
PROGRAMME
A. PROGRAMME OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
1. Programme Overview: An Unexpected Ally
At the time Paul Butler, Caribbean Programme Director of RARE, approached
the National Trust for the Cayman Islands about participating in
the a programme, the Trust was already committed to habitat preservation
for all endemics and was in discussion with Dr. James Wiley about
conducting research on the Cayman Brac Parrot.
TheTrust had also been involved in a number ofsmall publiceducation programmes. The
creative and innovative approach of the programme fitted well into the scheme of
things already started.
The primary focus of both the RARE programme and the public education programme
of the Trust encompasses protection of habitat as well as protection of particular species.
Butler's approach of using Cayman's parrots as a "flagship" for habitat protection appealed
to the Trust.
One reservation the Trust had was the anticipated reaction from farmers whose mango
crops suffer from parrots destroying budding flowers and dipping young fruit. However,
Mr Butler explained that he would assist us with networking through the scientific
community for information which might help us identify non-lethal control methods.
After meeting with Government oficials about the programme, it became apparent that
although the Government had no objections to the programme, the Trust would be on its
own. No supportwould be forthcoming from Government, either financially or in naming
the parrot as the National Bird.
However, the Trust Council felt that the programme would accrue several benefits:
1. From a conservation point of view, the programme would be valuable in that it
would further expose the Trust and the goals of the Trust to the general public. It
offered an immediate action plan to assist in the preservation ofcayman Brack most

endangered parrot. And if the programme was well received, it might possibly
influence Government to take a stronger stand on enforcement of the law.
'2. The implementation of conservation education in the school system and in the
community would make inroads into public opinion and might subsequently be
adapted to cover other "flagship" species and other environmental concerns.
3. The anticipated financial assistance from RARE and local businesses would be
supplementary to the Trust's budget and enable an expansion of the public
education potential of the Trust in its mission to protect habitat;
4. The international publicity garnered by the programme would assist theTrust to
solicit additional international support and funding to further its land acquisition,
public education and research programmes. It was also felt that this exposure would
also enhance the image of the Cayman Islands as an ecotourism destination.
2. Programme Objectives
Implementation of the RARE programme in the Cayman Islands required a split focus to
some extent because of the different circumstances surrounding the endangered Cayman
Brac parrot and the vulnerable Grand Cayman parrot. The objectives of the programme
differed somewhat from Island to Island.
General Objectives:
To raise public awareness about the uniqueness of Cayman's parrots.
To develop a sense of identification and national pride in these unique creatures.
To increase understanding of the causes of their endangerment with emphasis on
the need to protect their habitat.
To raise public awareness of local and international legislation protecting Cayman's
Parrots.

Cayman Brac Objectives:
To make residents of Cayman Brac aware of the level of endangerment of the
Cayman Brac parrot.
To develop a sense of identification and local pride in the Cayman Brac Parrot.
To stimulate a more protective attitude towards the Brac Parrot.
Grand Cayman Objectives:
To increase general awareness ofthe need to protect habitat for all Cayman's endemic
wildlife and the parrot in particular.
To increase general awareness of both the Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac parrots.
To work with farmers to better understand parrot crop damage and work together
to identify non-lethal solutions.
To facilitate this programme, RARE provided the counterpart with "A Conservation
Manual for the Caribbean" written by Butler and two days of training to set up the
programme.
On page 14, Figure 3 shows that educational materials and activities were tailored to all
age groups in the Cayman Islands.
On page 15, Figure 4, is a summary of major activities by month and indicates that this
programme was adopted for the calendar year of 1991. This chart has been amended to
reflect activities tailored to the Cayman Islands.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES
TAILORED TO SPECIFIC AGE GROUPS
IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
YOUNG ADULTS
National Trust Fair
Museum Exhibit
Pirates Week Float
Tourism Awareness Week
Figure 3. Educational Materials and Activities Tailored to Specific Age Groups in the Cayman Islands

Figure 4. Summary of Major Programme Activities in the Cayman Islands by Month
I

B. PRE-PROGRAMME SUPPORT MATEFUALS
1. Posters and Badges
RARE produced four colour, Audubon Society quality posters, designed by Tracy
Pedersen, a professional artist specialising in wildlife art. Information on the posters was
based on the Patricia Bradley population study done in 1985. Copy and layout were
reviewed by st& from the Trust and the Natural Resources Unit of the Cayman Islands
Government. It was agreed to personify the parrots as "Grand Caymanian" and "Cayman
Bracker" to help identify their unique characteristics and establish a sense of pride and
"ownership" among Caymanians, especially among Brackers. (See Figure 5, page 17, for
reduced copy of poster)
2,000 posters were supplied to theTrust byRARE. Theseposterswereofaveryhigh quality
and were highly fade resistant.
The same art workwas reduced and replicated on 4,000 badges with the words "Cayman's
Parrots - Protect them in the wild. The words here reflect a continuous thread running
throughout our programme, that of habitat protection.
2. Fact Sheet
This fact sheet was prepared by our counterpart with input and review from the Natural
Resources and the Mosquito Research and Control Unit of the Government and stafffrom
RARE. The art work from the poster was photocopied and reproduced in one colour as
a part of our fact sheet. Originally, 10,000 copies were printed in green on white paper.
A subsequent version of this fact sheet was produced at a lower reading level for use in the
schools. (See Appendix for samples of each of these fact sheets.)
3. Questionnaire
A questionnaire was designed for pre- and post-programme evaluation of public knowledge
and attitudes based on the questionnaire used in other RARE Programmes. The
Cayman Questionnaire, however, was altered to seek information about each of our
endangered sub-species separately. The questionnaire was also reviewed by staff from the
Natural Resources Unit of the Government. These questionnaires were produced in-house
at the Trust and numbered consecutively. A copy is included here on page18-19.

Hunting
Pet Trade
Clearing of Habitat
reason-if is against the law'
Join Ule National Trust for the Cayman
Islands (Tel. 90121).
HELP US PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR PARROTS
THEY A RE ENDANGERED!
"r~O*"**
c-
".mClOEl)"~n ,,.+" ?* 8no-l
@ 0 ,-n, w, -.2
17
&% '-'\.A RYIC".. !",,

~ ~
NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE
CAYMAN ISLANDS
DEAR FRIEND,
\.
As Caymanians we should cherish our natural environment and protect it. This is the work of the
National Trust For The Cayman Islands and the responsibility of every Caymanian. We are Very
interested in your opinions.
We believe that Cayman's birds are symbolic of our Island's natural beauty and heritage. By
answering the following questions, you will help us undersmnd how to protect them.
1. DOES CAYMAN HAVE A NATIONAL BIRD 1
I. YES () 2. NO () 3. DON'T KNOW ()
1-4 IF YES, WHAT IS IT ?
2. IS 'I'ELE. GRAND CAYMAN PARROT FOUND ONLY IN GRAND CAYMAN ?
1.YES () 2. NO () 3. DON'TKNOW ()
ZA IF NO, WHERE ELSE ?
3. IS TEE CAYMAN BRAC PARROT FOUND ONLY m' CAYMAN BRAC ?
1. YES 02. NO 03. DON'T KNOW ()
3.A IF NO, WHERE ELSE ?
4- HOW SCARCE IS TEE GRAND CAYMAN 5. HOW SCARCE IS THE CAYMAN BRAC
PARROT P PARROT ?
1. LESS THAN 100 IN THE WILD () 1.LESSTHANIOOINTHEWILD (1
2.101-250 IN THE WIW () 2.101-250 IN THE WILD ()
3.251-500 IN THE WILD () 3.251-500 IN THE WILD ()
4.501-999 IN THE WlW () 4.501-999 IN THE WILD ()
5. MORE THAN 1,000 IN THE WILD () 5. MORE THAN 1,000 IN THE ()
6. DON'T KNOW () 6. DON'T KNOW ()
6. WEAT IS THE MhIN -ON FOR THE GRAND CAYMAN PARROT BECOMING RARE?
6. DON'T KNOW ()
7. -T IS TE MNN REASON pOR THE CAYMAN BRAC PARROT BECOMING RARE?
6. DON'T KNOW ()

8. WHAT IS THE FJNE FOR EUNTlh'G OR 9. mahT IS TEE FINE FOR ILLEGALLY
TRAPPING OUR PARROTS 7
CLEARING IAND IN AN ANIMAL
SANCTUARY 7
1. 850. () 3. $50. ()
2. $250. () 2. $250. (1
3. $500. () 3. $500. ()
' 4. $2500. () 4. $2500. (1
5. $5000. () 5. $5000. (1
6. DON'TKNOW () 6, DON'TKNOW ()
10. PROTECTING OUR PARROTS IS GOING TO COST MONEY. MONEY THAT COULD BE USED
FOR OTHER THINGS. DO you TBW lT IS WORTANT THAT GOVERNMENT SPEND TIME
AND MONEY ON OUR PARROTS 7
1. NOT IMPORTANT ()
2. IMPORTANT (1
3. VERY IMPORTANT ()
4. DON'T WOW ()
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA:
11. WHAT IS YOUR AGE 7
1-1 1 YEARS ()
12-16YEARs ()
17-25 YEARS ()
26-35 YEARS (1
36-45 YEARS ()
46-55 YEARS O
56-65 YEARS (1
65 f YEARS 0
12. WEAT IS YOUR JOB 7
1. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ( )
2. FARMER/LABOURER (1
3. PRIVATE SECTOR 0
4. UNEMPLO~ED ()
5. HOUSEWIFE ()
6. STUDENT 0
7. OTHER ()
13. WEN ARE YOU MOST U[KELY TO
LISTEN TO TEE RADIO ?
(Check one only please)
600 - 7:30 a.m. ()
730 - 9:00 a.m. ()
9:00 - 12:OO noon ()
12:OO - 2:00 p.m. ()
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. ()
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. ()
7:OO- 10:00 p.m. ()
10:OO p.m. 'ril close ()
9. never ()
14. WEAT LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR
MAGAZINE DO YOU READ MOST
OTHER THAN TEE COMPASS 7
1. THENEWCAYMANUN ( )
2. NFTAR ()
3. KEYTOCAYMAN 0
4. CAYMAN HORIZONS (1
5. OTHER ()
6. NO OTHER, OI&Y COMPASS ( )
7. DON'T READ NEWSPAPER ( )
'IXANK YOU FOR FIUING OUT THIS QUESTIONAIRE. PLEASE
RETURN IT TO THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS,
P. 0. BOX 10, GEORGE TOWN

C. PROGRAMME ELEMENTS
1. Pre-Assessment Survey
The purpose of this survey was to assess the knowledge of and attitudes about Cayman's
parrots in a random sample of the population of the Cayman Islands. This pre-assessment
is necessary to formulate an effective public education campaign and will also act as a
baseline against which to measure the effectiveness of the one year Cayman Parrot
Education Programme.
The questionnaire was designed by Paul Butler, Caribbean Programme Director of the
RARE Center for Tropical Bird Preservation, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Assistant Scientific
Officer, Natural Resources Unit and Patricia Scharr, National Trust for the Cayman
Islands. It parallels similar questionnaires used in other Caribbean islands but was
customized for the Cayman Islands because there are two unique sub-species ofArnazona
leucocqhekz.
One per cent of the population was surveyed based on the 1990 Census, by Electoral
District. Only Caymanians were surveyed.
Table 1. Cayman Islands Population Distribution
CAYMAN ISLANDS POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
DISTRICT 1990
CENSUS
GEORGE TOWN
WEST BAY
BODDEN TOWN
EAST END
NORTH SIDE
CAYMAN BRAC
LITTLE CAYMAN
TOTAL
In all 254 questionnaires were completed with 100% return.

a. Methodology
The NationalTrust recruited surveyors and held a training session with all surveyors. The
key points emphasized during the training session were:
Politely introduce yourselfand state the purpose of the questionnaire. Inform them
that they will remain anonymous.
Emphasize that it is acceptable to respond "don't know"; that there should be no
stigma real or imagined attached to this choice; that we are really interested in what
they think; that it is important to find what out what they don't know as well as what
they do know.
Slowly read each question and record the answers on the question sheet.
Do not let the questionnaire out of your possession. If possible fill it in for the
person.
Remain completely objective. Encourage the person to state their opinion freely.
Under no circumstances answer the question for the person.
In cases where a person gives more than one answer, record the first one given.
Once all questions have been answered, go over the questionnaire and correct
answers with the person, complementing them on their accurate responses and
tactfully correcting misconceptions.
The questionnaires were given to the following people on the 1st ofDecemberwith an ideal
target completion date of 15 December 1990.
Table 2. Pre-assessment Questionnaire Volunteers and Distribution
QUESTIONNAIRE # VOLUNTEER I DISTRICT
PHIL BUSH
GINA EBANKS
PATRICK SCHMIDT
HARWELL MC COY
JEANNE DACOSTA
JEAN MASTERS
PATRICIA SCHARR
KAY WATT
GEORGE TOWN
GEORGE TOWN
WEST BAY
BODDEN TOWN
SAVANNAH
NORTH SIDE
EAST END
CAYMAN BRAC
Questionnaires from East End and North Side were completed within the deadline. All
others were completed by 25 January 199 1.

. Results
Data collected was tabulated by a programme given to the Trsut by RARE. All figures
represent persentages of individuals surveyed.
1. Does Cayman have a national bird ?
ANSWER
YES
NO
???
B.T.
32.4
23.5
44.1
C.B.
73.3
13.3
13.3
E.E.
45.5
36.4
18.2
G.T.
55.5
15.6
28.9
N.S.
00.0
00.0
100.0
W.B.
39.3
32.1
28.6
NAT.W.
41.0
20.2
38.9
If yes, what is it?
BIRD B.T.
Parrot 25.0
Egret --.-
Mkbd 66.0
Booby 9.0
Thrush -- -
Heron --.-
move --.-
Gradde
ZenDove
Frigate
Humbird
- - -
- -
- - -
--.-
C.B.
55.0
27.0
--.-
--.-
-- . -
18.0
--.-
-- -
-- -
-- -
--.-
E.E.
40.0
20.0
--.-
20.0
20.0
--.-
-
- - -
- - -
- - -
G.T.
69.0
18.0
--,-
--.-
2.0
--.-
-- -
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.0
N.S
50.0
50.0
--.-
--.-
--.-
-- -
--.-
--.-
--.-
W.B.
45.0
45.0
5.0
-- -
-- -
-- -
5.0
-- -
-- -
-- -
-- -
NAT. W.
47.3
26.6
11.8
4.8
3.6
3.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.3
2. Is the Grand Cayman parrot found only in Grand Cayman?
DIST
YES
NO
???
B.T.
67.6
8.8
23.5
C.B.
66.7
20.0
13.3
E.E.
81.8
00.0
18.2
G.T.
37.5
38.3
24.2
N.S.
44.4
22.2
33.3
W.B.
41.1
33.9
25.0
NAT.W.
56.5
20.5
22.9
3. Is the Cayman Brac parrot found only in Cayman Brac?
DIST
YES
NO
???
B.T.
41.2
8.8
50.0
C.B.
53.3
40.0
6.7
E.E.
18.2
9.1
72.7
G.T.
26.6
29.7
43.8
N.S.
11.1
22.2
66.7
W.B.
35.7
23.2
41.1
NAT.W.
31.0
22.2
46.8

1 4. How scarce is the Grand Cayman parrot?
.
ANSWER
0-100
101-250
251-500
501-999
1,000<
?????
B.T.
5.9
2.9
14.7
35.3
35.3
5.9
C.B.
00.0
13.3
20.0
6.7
46.7
13.3
E.E.
00.0
9.1
36.4
00.0
36.4
18.2
G.T.
8.6
12.5
18.0
10.9
23.4
26.6
N.S.
00.0
00.0
00.0
11.1
00.0
88.9
W.B.
7.1
10.7
19.6
19.6
10.7
32.1
NAT.W.
3.6
8.1
18.1
13.9
25.4
30.8
I 5.
How scarce is the Cayman Brac parrot?
ANSWER
0-10
101-250
251-500
501-999
1,000<
?????
B.T.
14.7
11.8
20.6
14.7
2.9
35.3
C.B.
6.7
20.0
13.3
6.7
40.0
13.3
E.E.
9.1
00.0
00.0
00.0
00.0
90.9
G.T.
12.5
9.4
7.6
0.8
3.3
66.4
N.S.
00.0
00.0
00.0
11.1
00.0
88.8
W.B.
10.7
28.2
0.9
00.0
3.6
56.6
NAT.W
9.0
11.6
7.0
5.6
8.3
58.6
What is the main reason for the Grand Cayman parrot becoming rare?
ANSWER
Kill
Pet
Habitat
Storms
Other
?????
B.T. C.B.
4-m
- G.T.
28.9
N.S.
44.4
11.1
11.1
00.0
00.0
33.3
W.B.
17.9
30.4
12.5
00.0
5.4
39.9
NAT.W.
31.8
22.4
19.2
00.0
7.9
18.7
-- - I . -.
What is the main reason for the Cayman Brac parrot becoming rare?
ANSWER
Kill
Pet
Habitat
Storms
Other
?????
B.T.
29.4
11.8
26.5
00.0
00.0
32.4
C.B.
33.3
6.7
20.0
00.0
20.0
20.0
E.E.
9.1
27.3
9.1
00.0
00.0
54.5
G.T.
22.7
5.5
13.3
00.0
4.7
53.9
N.S.
11.1
00.0
11.1
00.0
00.0
77.8
W.B.
10.7
19.6
5.4
00.0
3.6
60.7
NAT. W.
19.4
11.8
14.2
00.0
4.7
49.9

8. What is the fine for hunting or trapping our parrots?
ANSWER
'$ 50.
$ 250.
$ 500.
$2,500.
$5,000.
???????
- B.T.
32.4
2.9
8.8
2.9
2.9
50.0
N.S.
11.1
00.0
22.2
00.0
00.0
66.7
W.B.
7.1
3.6
21.4
00.0
00.0
67.9
9. What is the fine for illegally clearing land in an animal sanctuary?
ANSWER
$ 50.
$ 250.
$ 500.
$2,500.
$5,000.
??????
B.T. ~C.B. ~E.E.
I G.T. IN.S.~ W.B.~ NAT.~.
00.0 100.0 100.0 I 00.0 I00.0l 1.8 1 0.3
10. Protecting our parrots is going to cost money - money that could be used for
other things. Do you think it is important that government spend time and
money on our parrots? -
ANSWER B.T. C.B. E.E. G.T. N.S. W.B. NAT. W.
Not IMPT 29.4 00.0 18.2 7.0 44.4 8.9 18.0
IMPT 50.0 60.0 63.6 35.2 55.6 51.8 52.7
Very IMPT 17.6 33.3 18.2 47.7 00.0 33.9 25.1
??????? 2.9 6.7 00.0 10.2 00.0 5.4 4.2
N.S. W.B.

What is your job?
Other 8.8
- E.E.
27.3
18.2
45.5
00.0
00.0
9.1
00.0
- -
When are you most likely to listen to the radio?
G.T. N.S. W.B.
18.0 33.3 28.6
17.2 11.1 35.7
0.8 00.0 1.8
7.0 00.0 5.4
8.6 00.0 1.8
19.5 22.2 17.9
17.2 11.1 5.4
NAT. W.
21.8
20.8
3.9
8.0
3.2
18.8
12.3
0.9
10.2
I 14.
What local newspaper or magazine do you read most other than The
Compass?
Newstar
Key to Cay
Horizons
Other
Only Comp

c. Discussion and Analysis
In general, it was apparent that there was a substantial lack of knowledge about Cayman's
endemic parrots and little comprehension of the impact of development on the environment.
It was also surprising to see that only 16% know of the existing legislation. This
is likely due to the fact that removing the parrots from the game bird list was effected
through a change in regulation and was not publicized. Of even greater concern was the
total lack of awareness of the existing Animal Sanctuaries. On the other hand, the fact that
78% thought that it was important to preserve our parrots, seemed an encouraging
beginning.
*41% of those surveyed said Cayman had a national bird. 20% said no and
39% didn't know. Of those who said Cayman had a national bird, 39%
indicated the parrot; 26% egret; 20 % mocking bird.
*56% of those surveyed knew that the Grand cayman Parrot was only found
in Grand Cayman. 43% said no or did not know.
*Only 36% knew the Brac parrot was only found in the Brac. 22% said it
was found elsewhere and 47% did not know.
'25% surveyed knew the approximate number of Grand Cayman parrots in
the wild. 44% underestimated it. 31% did not know.
*Only 9% of those surveyed knew the approximate number of Brac parrots
in the wild. 58% did not know.
*32% sited killinglhunting as the main reason for the parrot's endangerment
in Grand Cayman. 23% chose the Pet trade and 19% selected development1
destruction of habitat.
*In the case of the Cayman Brac parrot, 19% chose huntinglkilling; 12%
indicated the pet trade; 14% felt its endangerment was due to development.
But 50% indicated that they did not know.
*68.7% did not know that there was a fine for huntingltrapping parrots.
Only 16% knew the correct answer.
*78.7% did not know there was a fine for illegally clearing land in an animal
sanctuary. Only 13% knew the correct answer. Many asked if Cayman had
any animal sanctuaries.
*In response to the question about whether Government should spend time
and money on our parrots, 53% felt that it was important; and additional
25% felt it was very important; only 18% chose not important and 4% were
undecided.

2. Poster Distribution
As part ofour emphasis on the Brac Parrot, a decision was taken to initiate the distribution
ofthe 2,000 posters in Cayman Brac. While a nine-man team from theTrust was carrying
out the Cayman Brac parrot census in February, 1991, the Counterpart visited every school
in Cayman Brac, talking to every child in every school, and held teachers workshops about
the Cayman Brac parrot, its endangerment and the RARE programme. At this time 250
posters were distributed to the population. When Cayman Brackers saw the poster and saw
that the Brac Parrot was featured, they glowed with pride. Posters were put up all over the
island including in police and fire stations, post offices, schools, the library, the museum,
and in restaurants, hotels and government offices.
In Grand Cayman a similar pattern was followed. In keeping with the Trust's philosophy
ofeducating the population through the children, everyteacher was sent apacket including
fact sheets, support materials and a poster for every classroom in every school in Grand
Cayman. Several faculty workshops were held to educate and motivate teachers to
incorporate this conservation information into their classes.
Additional posters were distributed through government offices, banks and businesses,
supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, church halls, post offices, doctor and dentist's offices and
the hospital. A notice was put in the paper that posters were available from the National
Trust and many groups and individuals contacted us for posters. We made a concerted
effort to distribute the posters to Caymanians who could vote and make a difference in the
long term rather than giving them to transient tourists. It is interesting to note that even
after a long meeting between the counterpart and the farmers where parrot crop damage
was the main topic, every farmer at the meeting wanted a poster to take home.
We earmarked 300 posters for distribution in the schools at the beginning of the 1991-
1992 school year. The Cayman Brac teachers informed us that they had liked the posters
so much that they had laminated them so that they would last. A special issue of theTrust's
newsletter, Update, was produced which featured an article about the Cayman's Parrot
Conservation programme and the Cayman Islands National Museum Exhibit. Even
though we have given out all of the posters, we continually receive requests for the posters
and are considering reproducing the poster as a fund raising retail sales product.
The exposure of our original 2000 posters was significantly enhanced when Cayman
Horizons, a local tourist publication which serves as the in-flight magazine for Cayman
Airways, offered to run the fact sheet and poster for a cost to the Trust of the colour
separations. This increased the circulation of our poster and fact sheet by 60,000, and
ensured that it was read by every person flying Cayman Airways.
27

3. Badge Distribution
A decision was taken early on not to give out the Cayman parrot badges to those who
complkted the questionnaire. It was felt that many in Cayman were too sophisticated for
that. It was decided instead to disseminate the 4,000 badges during the schools visitation
programme. This was effectively accomplished.
4. Fact Sheet Distribution
The adult level Cayman Fact Sheet was first professionally printed in aquantity of 10,000.
1,000 fact sheets were distributed in Cayman Brac during the February visit in
conjunction with the posters. In addition, a fact sheet at the appropriate reading
level was supplied for every child in every school in Cayman Brac. Additional adult
fact sheets were left for distribution where posters were displayed in the two main
banks and three main supermarkets in Cayman Brac.
In Grand Cayman, the fact sheet was inserted in the local daily newspaper
(circulation 6,000 to all three islands) in conjunction with aspecial section featuring
Cayman's parrots,
Fact sheets of an appropriate reading level were distributed to every child in every
school in Grand Cayman.
Additional fact sheets were also distributed at several locations where posters were
displayed.
This same information was integrated into several issues of The Trust Times, the
Trust's junior members newsletter, during the year.
Fact sheets were also used extensively in summer camps in conjunction with field
trips to Otto Watler's Captive Breeding facility,
Fact sheets were also distributed at several events held during the year including
school fairs, the National Trust Fair, Tourism Awareness Week and the Heritage
Days held during Pirates Week.
In all, well over 10,000 adult fact sheets, 6,500 children's level fact sheet and 60,000 in
Cayman Horizonswere distributed during the year. As morewere needed, we photocopied
them in-house.

5. Public Education Through the Media
In the Cayman Islands the following information media exist:
The Caymanian Compass - a daily newspaper
The New Caymanian - a weekly newspaper
Newstar Magazine - a monthly magazine
Radio Cayman - a Government owned am and fm radio station
Radio ICCI - a part time, fm radio station run by the staff and students of the
International College of the Cayman Islands.
- a local cable TV station with links to CNN in the United States
All of these media were supportive of the programme and offered opportunities for
publicity and public education during the course of the programme with good results with
the exception of the magazine. The counterpart, who is an accomplished writer, produced
a number of newsworthy articles which also reinforced the objectives of the public
education programme. Radio Cayman and CITV ran several news features based on
articles appearing in the newspapers. CITV covered several aspects of the programme
locally and sent some footage on to CNN for international exposure.
The local press is both supportive of the National Trust and sympathetic to conservation
issues, and the programme received very good support from the local media with the
exception of Newstar magazine. This magazine, in January of 1992, produced a feature
article criticizing the Trust for "jumping the gun" on saving the parrot. The author
criticized the Trust for mounting a forceful, and effective multimedia campaign based on
suppositions and no substantialdata as to whether the parrots were endangered or not. He
then proceeded to make a case that the parrots were not in fact endangered in Grand
Cayman, based on comments from local farmers but otherwise totally unsubstantiated by
any scientific data. Although this article and magazine are not as widely read as the local
newspapers, it may have contributed to some of the "don't know " answers recorded in the
post programme questionnaire.

6. Children's Song
Afier a number of unproductive attempts to have local musicians create a children's song,
the Counterpart contacted a local song writer, George Nowak, known as "The Barefoot
Man". On a prior occasion he had allowed the Trust to use his music with new lyrics for
asimilar project. He agreed to allow theTrust to use the music from his original song, "We
are the Children of the Caribbean" with a new lyric especially written for the Cayman
parrots conservation education programme by the RARE Counterpart.
This songwhich appears on the next page, was taught to every child in the Cayman Islands,
with the exception of the students of the two schools which were not visited during the
campaign (due to lack of response from their respective principals), and in all the summer
camp programmes in which the Trust was involved.
The Cayman Islands Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Mrs Fran McConvey,
recorded this song with the assistance of Radio Cayman and our counterpart for use on
the Trust's new video.
A local recording studio, C & B Studios, worked with our counterpart who had prepared
a number of high school students to produce a professional recording of the Cayman
Parrots Song. This same group also performed it at the opening of the Cayman Islands
National Museum's Parrot Exhibit.

I
I
I
I
I
I
We Are the Children
the Cayman Ishnds
(Sung to the tune of the Bar@ot Mani song, 'We
are the Children of the Caribbean': The
National Trust would like to thank The Barefoot
Man for his generous ofiring of his music.)
1 a time, in the land of ole Cayman,
of pretty parrots flying free throughout our land
They could feed on berries, sea grapes, nuts and seeds.
There was plenty woodland for them and you and me.
I
We are the children of the Cayman Islands
The Creator's Glory in the land around us
Help save our parrots, for our sons and daughters
Let God be pleased by His children in the West Indies.
Then people came to Cayman, her population grew.
And clearing land became the common thing to do.
By making room for people, many parrot homes were lost.
Development has made us rich, but parrots paid the cost.
-
CHORUS
Today our pretty polly some think to be a pest,
Her range declined, food hard to find an' little place to
Our parrots have been driven to raid the farmers crop.
But if we work together, we can make the damage stop.
CHORUS
Dear Mum and Dad we're asking for you to lead the
Obey the laws of conservation. Save our tomorrow tod
You'll be our example by what you say and do.
When one day we are parents, we'll be thanking you.
CHORUS

7. Design and Construction of Parrot Costumes
Based on the ideas in the RAREManual, local artist and seamstress, BarbaraOliver created
two pirrot costumes, one Grand Cayman parrot and one Cayman Brac parrot. Based on
photographs taken by Richard Ground and drawings by Phil Bush, she designed patterns
so that the Cayman Brac parrot would be slightly smaller that the Grand Cayman parrot.
The costumes include several layers starting with yellow tights and a green leotard. On top
ofthis a pair of baggy green bloomers are worn to simulate our parrot's chubby thighs. Next
achest plate full ofbrightly coloured feathers is donned. Alarge and elaborate set ofbrightly
coloured wing and tail feathers is the last piece before the head piece is tied on. It takes two
people to dress one of our parrots but they are splendiferous when complete.
A special series of "how-to" directions and slides were produced and sent to our
counterpart in the Bahamas who started the programme a few months after Cayman.
B. Parrot Puppets and Play Writing
The RARE Manual has extensive suggestions regarding puppets and puppet theatres.
These ideas were shared with many teachers in a series of Teachers' Workshops designed
and conducted by our counterpart in various schools.
The Head of English at the Cayman Islands Middle School expressed an interest in
integrating the parrot conservation themes and information into a creative writing
unit. a special Teachers'
Workshop with our counterpart,
he held aday long seminar for his
staff on original play writing,
again using the parrot conservation
themes. This was their way
to field test the unit they were
planning for their students. A
wonderful political satire on a
parrot conservation theme was
the end result of their day, in
addition to their well made lesson
plans.
"Punch and Judy" style puppet theatres produced by
students at the Cayman Islands Middle School. Photo by
RARE Counterpart, Patricia Scharr.

Teachers from this Department also assisted the Counterpart in re-writing the fact sheet
for lower-ability readers.
The materials to construct: the PVC pipe puppet theatre were donated by a local business,
Serv-u-well and the unit was constructed. However, the teachers involved felt that the
puppet theatre was too large for reasonable use in their classrooms. They developed instead
some fairly creative "Punch and Judy" style puppet theatres made from cardboard boxes.
These proved to be more usefulwithin the structure oftheir English classes. Several original
plays were written as well as songs and poems. Several different types ofhand puppets were
also used by the students: Sock puppets, marionette puppets and tennis ball puppets. The
best of these original plays written by students in the Cayman Islands Middle School were
taken on tour to primary schools in the area Other original works were used in a special
parrot production for the Schools Radio Broadcast and was aired for all schools in Cayman.
9. Parrot Balls
One outcome ofthese exercises at thecayman Islands Middle School was the development
of "Parrot Balls" as an activity. (See directions in the Appendix.) The concept was simple
and inexpensive. A tennis ball was used for the parrot's head. This idea was then further
refined by its originator, Head ofArt, CIMS, Chris Mann. The tennis ball was cut so that
when you squeeze the sides, theV-shaped slit opens like aparrot's beak. The head was then
painted to simulate the natural colouration ofour parrots with acrylic paint. With this type
of project each child can have
their own "pet parrot". The tennis
balls were donated by a The
Cayman Islands Tennis Club.
This activitywasvery popular in
several summer camps and lead
to many role playing opportunities
to stimulate children's imaginations,
and to sympathise and
empathise with the parrots' circumstances.
Parrot balls in the hands of an imaginative child offer
endless hours of enjoyment. Photo by RARE Counterpart,
Patricia Scharr.

10. Schools Visitation Programme
The Cayman Islands School System is composed of both public and private schools. These
are broken into pre-schools, primary schools, middle schools and high schools. There were
basically three unique elements in this programme.
Cayman Brac Schools
Pre-school through high school in Cayman Brac were targeted for two schools presentations:
an introductory presentation about Cayman Brac's unique parrot; and the regular
schools visitation programme later in the year. All schools in Cayman Brac (one pre-school,
three primaryand the combined middle and highschoolwitha total enrollment about 300
children and teachers) were addressed by the Counterpart in February 1992. This
presentation included the information on the posters and fact sheets, as well as information
about the Trust's Cayman Parrot Census Project which was underway at that time. This
had a strong positive impact on people in the Brac which was evident by the friendly
inquiries made by Brackers who saw the parrot census-takers standing in the bush.
Schools Presentation
Beginning in April 1991, an entertaining and informative assembly programme was
offered to all the schools with appointments beginning in May and continuing through
December 1991. During that time four pre-schools, six of the seven government primary
schools, five of the six private primaryschools, and all middle school students werevisited.
The actual programme had several elements. The Counterpart addressed the children,
tailoring remarks to suitable age groups to achieve the following objectives.
At the end of this assembly the students will be able to:
-list three characteristics of Cayman's parrots;
-state the Latin name of each sub-species;
-identify three characteristics which varied from the caymanenric subspecies to the
hatema subspecies;
-state three things threatening the existence of Cayman's parrots.

These cognitive objectives were achieved through lecture, story telling, demonstration and
song. The assembly presentation followed this outline:
1. Cayman's Parrots - special, unique and only in Cayman
2. The Story of the American Passenger Pigeon
3. An audience participation story- "Consenration, The Intelligent Management
of Resources." This is a make-believe story about a child who wakes
up to find nobody home and no food in the house on a school day. They do
however find something shiny on their pillow: "Cent, five cent, ten cent,
dollar" (The catchy refrain of acurrent best-selling record in the Caribbean).
As the child finds his way to school he meets several individuals who ask him
what he has in his pocket. Each time he answers "Cent, five cent, ten cent,
dolla" until he meets the Candy Man. Now each child has to make a decision
about how to spend their resources -how much should they save for lunch?
How much should they spend on candy? Most children made reasonable
decisions spending one cent or five cent on candy while saving the rest for
lunch, giving the Counterpart the opportunity to compliment them on
already knowing how to intelligently manage limited resources. However, it
was interesting to note that children from more affluent families more often
said they would spend all their money on candy.
4. Cayman Parrots Song-- The Counterpart then taught the children the
Cayman Parrots song chorus.
5. Parrot appearance - On a given cue, (the playing of the hit song "Cent,
Five Cent, Ten Cent, Dolla"), the two Cayman parrots, Cappy from George
Town and Polly from Cayman Brac came flying into the room, displaying
slightly raucous behaviour, as Cayman parrots do, to the delight of the
students and surprise of the teachers. To prove that they were truly West
Indian creatures, they also demonstrated that they could dance "Dolla
wine". The students loved it.
6. Show and Tell - The Counterpart then had the two parrots stand still
together so that she could point out the similarities and differences for all to
see.

7. Cayman Parrot Badges -The Counterpart then asked the children if they
would like to see Cayman's parrots preserved. The children also promised to
wear the parrot badges as a sign of their personal commitment to preserving
Cayman's parrots in the wild. Then the children sang the Cayman parrot's
song. The Counterpart sang the verses and all present sang the chorus
complete with hand motions for the younger children. While they sang, the
parrots went around and pinned a badge on each student. Students were
again encouraged to wear the Cayman Parrot badge as a sign of their
commitment and spread the word to their friends and families.
8. The Finale - The parrots showed their appreciation and said good-bye
flying away in their typical raucous manner, occasionally nuzzling their beaks
on a teacher or two on the way out, to the glee of their students.
9. The Counterpart then thanked everyone on behalf of the National Trust
and Cayman's parrots and showed everyone the special parrot issue of the
Trust Times and the Cayman Parrots Colouring Bookwhich she left for each
student.
This programme was very well received in both Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman.
High School Visits
As high school students are a bit more sophisticated, a different presentation was given at
that level. The Counterpart presented a lecture augmented with slides to achieve the same
cognitive objectives. All students were addressed in assemblies during the Cayman Islands
High School Heritage Week, the focus ofwhich was preserving Cayman's natural heritage.
A large display was also set up in the school library featuring the displays produced for the
Trust Fair. There were also several small group lectures given in the biology classes at the
request of individual teachers. These focused on the concept of ecosystems, balance in
nature and what causes animals to become extinct. Other lectures were given in English
Department to assist students preparing term papers on endangered species, in particular
parrots.
In all the number of counterpart contacts with individual school children was 5453.
Table 3 on the next page shows a comparison of the number of students in schools with
the number of counterpart contacts.

Table 3. Comparison of Students to Counterpart Contacts
SCHOOL # OF STUDENTS # OF CONTACTS
CIHS 1,000 1,200
CBHS & MS 115 230
CIMS 750 950
GOV'T PRIMARIES 1,490 1,520
PRIVATE SCHOOLS 1,430 1,430
PRE-SCHOOLS 153 123
TOTAL 4,938 5,433
11. Parrots On Parade In Batabano
Although Cayman does not traditionally have a carnival like many Eastern Caribbean
countries, in recent years the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman has been sponsoring a street
parade and dance similar to carnival celebrations on other islands, but on a much smaller
scale. The Trust Parrots and a brownie group dressed as baby parrots were entered in the
parade along with the Counterpart and Paul Butler carrying theTrust Banner. The parrots
danced their way for the one mile plus parade route through George Town to the delight
of thousands of parade watchers. The parrots made frequent stops to pin parrot badges on
children lining the parade route. The surprise and delight on the faces in the crowd were
evidence of their success. The parrots performance was video taped and clips were used in
the National Trust promotional video tape.
12. Parrots go to Summer Camps
The National Trust is involved in a number of summer camps in Grand Cayman offering
optional support services and materials. This summer there were several parrot related
activities.
Support materials: Both the special Cayman Parrots issue of The Trust Times and
the Cayman Parrots Colouring Book were offered and used in several camps.
Field Trips: A field trip with the Counterpart as guide was offered to groups of
twenty or fewer students to Mr Otto Watler's Captive Breeding Facility for Grand
Cayman Parrots. The Counterpart briefed the children on the following:
-Parrots breed once a year.
-Conditions must be just right, i.e. nest, seclusion, food.
-Both parrot parents care for young: egg sitting, feeding, fledging.
-Fledglings are vulnerable to trapping and predators.
-A healthy diet is important to parrots, too.

Then Mr. Otto talked to children, reinforcing the above with stories about several of his
individual birds. As some of his birds were given to him by former pet owners when the
bird became sick, lost colour and feathers or became too fat to fly, he also talked about pet
care and diet.
Cayman Parrots Song: The counterpart went to several camps and taught the song to
campers who sang it. In some cases, the camps were vacation bible school camps and the
song was integrated into a religious service.
Parrot Balls: This activity developed in the CIMS proved to be very successful in the
summer camps.
13. Parrots in the Sand
Several years ago theTrust in conjunction with
local artist Chris Mann, developed aprogramme
for sand sculpturing activities for Marine Conservation
Week. It was easy to make the transition
to use aparrot theme. Grand Cayman is
surrounded by miles of beautiful white sand
beach and playing on these beaches is a part of
life here. With an abundance of fine white
sand, we have the necessary ingredient. One
dozen "frames" were constructed out of l'xl'
lumber in a 3' x 4' rectangle. These are simply
dropped on the sand and the children/adults
have to work within this frame. Line drawings a
of parrots in various postures were available to
help in design. Most groups started with apiece
ofdriftwood to simulate a perch or tree branch. Parrot sand sculptures on Cayman,s
Once they shaped theirparrot, then they looked beache.. photo by counterpart,
for bits of plants or shells to decorate their Patrida Scharr.
animal. One group used small sea grape leaves to give texture to the breast feathers. Another
used needles from the Australian Pine tree for long tail feathers. Because Cayman's parrots
are so colourful, red, green, blue and yellow food dyes were mixed in separate buckets of
wet sand. This coloured sand was then used to put the finishing touches on the birds. This
was one of our most popular activities. (See directions in appendix)

14. Parrots Make a Hit at
The National Trust Fair
199 1 was the first year of the National
Trust Fair, a major fund raising event
and public education went. Cayman's
parrots played a prominent role and
were a recurring theme in the 1992
Trust Fair.
There were two important displays
involving parrots. "Protect Them In Parrots signing autographs at the Trust Fair.
The Wild" included a series of posters showing the beautiful colouration and explaining
why it is necessary to protect them in the wild. Asecond display explained what conditions
are required to keep pet parrots healthy and happy. Although the Trust does not condone
keeping pet parrots, it is so much a part of the local culture we felt it necessary to give this
information. A localveterinarian who specializes in birds, Dr. Brian Donahue, was present
at this display to answer questions and give out handouts on pet care. Between these two
displays, was a large cage containing two of Otto Watler's captive parrots, which are in
spectacular good health.
The Cayman Islands Humane Societyhad adisplay in their booth explaining the need for
neutering pets, especially cats, to help reduce the number of feral cats which prey on young
parrots.
The two human parrots, Gappy and Polly, made several appearances, signing autographs
and giving out the last of the parrot badges. The Governor had selected a picture of the
Grand Cayman Parrot for his oficial Christmas card in December 1990. The leftover cards
were given to theTrust. The cards were altered so that a description of the parrot, Amazona
leucocephala caymanensis, appeared instead of the seasons greeting message. It was amazing
to see the children wiggle their way on to the parrot's lap while waiting for the special
signature. The parrots roamed through the Fair and were seen carefully examining the
farmers' fresh produce on sale and jumping in the Magic Castle.
Through out the nine environmental displays exhibited by the Trust, parrot graphics were
used to enhance the informative displays.
Thevisual Arts Society mounted and displayed over 60 original parrot paintings done by
students from Cayman Islands High School under the supervision of the Art teachers,,
Mark Fraser, John Broad and Elspeth McQueen.
39

15. Bumper Stickers
The Trust had been involved with the Environmental Health Department and several
comm'unity groups in the development of a scheme to bring recycling to Cayman. The
Recycling Public Education Campaign was designed around "Cappy" who would have
been the "spokesparrot" for recycling and conservation in general. Stickers for recycling
bins, trucks and bumper stickers were designed. Unfortunately, the Government did not
approve the project because of private sector pressure to let an individual pursue recycling
as a profit making venture. Therefore the bumper stickers were lost, along with the whole
recycling programme.
16. EssaylArt Competition
Because theTrust works closely with the schools, it is aware of the large number of art and
essay competitions. These often create artificial situations and interrupt the normal flow
of activities within the schools. A decision was taken, based on input from a
number of teachers, to stimulate activities within the normal flow of activities rather than
offer yet another competition. The fruits of idea were many and varied,
The Cayman Islands High School used parrots as a theme for painting. Over sixty excellent
works were produced. A teacher in the CIHS English Dept required an essay to be written
on endangered species. The Counterpart was invited in to be a resource for the students
who selected parrots as their endangered species. The Cayman Islands Middle School Art
Department also used parrots as a theme. A number of beautiful clay sculptures and well
as the parrot balls came from this department. The CIMS English Department selected
the theme of the parrots' endangerment for a creative writing unit. The Counterpart
briefed the English teachers on the status of the parrot. Teachers then held a day long
workshop to develop their plans. Thecounterpart then made presentations to the students
about the parrots and their endangerment. She was then invited back to see the plays,
poems, stories and songs the students produced. Some of these were used in a Schools
Radio Broadcast. Others were taken "on the road" to primaryschools in the area. A number
of other schools integrated the information into their curricula in various way. One of the
private schools held a 25th anniversary parade which had our parrots as the main theme
on one so the floats.
17. SongsISchools Radio Broadcasts
Cayman's popular music industry is not as highly developed as thoseofJamaicaorTrinidad;
the professional musicians here are not producing volumes of original works, but a number

of items were produced by school children. Some of these were used in a schools radio
broadcasts designed for upper and lower primary schools. Rap is the music of the day for
many preteens these days. One of the better rap songs, "Live and Let Live", written by two
CIMS' students, Karenza Elliott and K im Morrison, is featured below.
18. Community Outreach
Live and Let Live
Yo CMP. Let's kick it!!
Hi! lin KMan and this is Brac Base
We're here to tellyou 'boutyourparrot craze.
You like to cabh us andput us in cages.
Howiiyou like to be behind banfor ages?
Would you like it? I don't think so.
That's why we say ...
Help save us parrots 'cause we wanna live on
We don't want our Ridr to have to sing this song.
So, live and kt live!
It's a good thing some people care
But still us parrots go through a scare
Nowadays there is a%
Ifyou casch a parrot it's considered a crime.
Ha! You Lzugh - but then you pay
Five hundred dollars is what they say.
You come w our nest with your bigyellow monsters
Cracking and banging andjiigbtening our youngsters
You put us in cages thinking we will reproduce
butfor pawots in cages, it's just no use.
So don't harm parrots cause we want to live on
We don't want our kidc to have to sing this song.
So live and let live!
The NationalTrust is an established, non-profit entity in the Cayman Islands with general
fund raising schemes as well as a number of specific fund raising activities. In a small
community like Cayman fund raising is a tricky business and it was felt that other
programmes already on line like the proposed recycling and the development of a Botanic
Park were more likely to get positive support. The support needed for the parrot
programme was solicited in a rather low key way or taken from general Trust funds.

19. Target Population Census
With two separate subspecies, one ofwhich was considered on the brink of extinction, the
Trust glready had the wheels in motion to do a Cayman Brac parrot census in February of
199 1, with plans to do a Grand Cayman parrot census in 1992. See section 111 of this report
for details of the census and other research.
20. National Trust Newsletters
TheTrust produces quarterly newsletters, Update, and an annual report. All issues in 1991
featured an article about parrots and the RARE programme. The Trust also produces a
quarterly Junior Member newsletter, the Trust Times. One complete issue was dedicated
to Cayman parrots and a second smaller special edition on parrots was produced later in
the year. Two special communications were also sent out to teachers highlighting parrot
information. TheTrust's Annual Report featured Cayman parrots on the cover and carried
a broad review of both the public education and research aspects of the programme. (See
appendix for samples.)
21. Sermons
The success ofgetting ministers to preach on environmental issues has been directly related
to their personal interest in the environment. Two ministers, in particular, have given
excellent sermons. One has been aired on the radio on two separate occasions.
22. Billboards
Billboards are not common in Cayman and are only seen near the airport. These are on long
term contracts and none were available during 1991. This element was not considered
feasible in Cayman. In lieu of this element, a museum-quality exhibit was developed for
the Cayman Islands National Museum.
23. Parrots Exhibit At The Cayman Islands National Museum
The purpose ofthis exhibit was to reinforce the public education goals ofthe programme.
The production of this exhibit was a joint effort between theTrust and the Museum. The
exhibit had several elements.

on display outside the Museum. Phito by
Diane Solomon, The Caymanian Compass.
Cayman's Endancered Parrots This area
featured seven photographs and text blocks
which explained the various factors contributing
to the endangerment of Cayman's parrots.
Prese~n~ Cayman's Parrots This featured
the RARE poster and a text block about
RARE.
Protect Our Parrots In The Wild This
featured five photographs of parrots in the
wild accompanied by a text explaining the
need for in situ conservation.
Helo Protect Cavman's Parrot's This section
featured a review of local legislation and a list
of things individuals could do to help preserve
Cayman's Parrots.
Parrot Banner A local artist, John Broad,
painted a 12' x 6 ' vertical format painting
which was mounted on canvas and displayed
on the second story porch in the front of the
Museum for the duration of the Parrots
Exhibit.
Cavrnans' I Jniaue Parrots This was the first
wall viewed upon entering the exhibit. It
described eachsubspecies and explained their
unique characteristics. Two large colour transparencies
were back lit to create a window
into their natural habitat.
Parrot Habitat4 This element featured amap
which showed the current distribution of
the parrot population as compared with
projections of 50 years ago.
This stuffed parrot, a road kill, is on permanent
display at the Museum. Photo by
Diane Solomon. The Cavmanian Comoass.

All these display areas were professionally produced by the Museum staff. Pictures and text
blocks were set in life-like papier mache trees with cloth leaves. In the center of the room
was a real Cayman parrot which had been mounted by a taxidermist recommended to us
by the~merican Academy of Science. This animal was a road kill which was frozen until
the taxidermist arrived (courtesy ofNorthwest Airlines.) The finished bird was beautifully
groomed and displayed in a Lucite acrylic case in the centre of the room.
In the next room several locally made stained-glass art pieces with a parrot theme were
displayed as well as thirty ofthe CIHS parrot paintings. The balance of the paintings were
displayed in Cayman National Bank lobby with information about the Museum exhibit.
There was an official opening of the exhibit with a short ceremony. Afier some opening
remarks from the Governor, the CIHS Choir sang the Cayman Parrots Song. Refreshments
were all donated by members of the Trust and the Museum.
This exhibit ran from September 1991 through January 1992 with over 3,000 residents
and visitors viewing it. (See text in appendix.)
24. The Parrot With The Pirate On His Shoulder
TheTrust, with support from the Cayman Islands National Museum, entered a float in the
Pirates Week Float Competition. The competition theme was Cayman fantasy Our fantasy
was that all facets of the community worked together for conservation - the intelligent
management of resources. Our float was constructed on a flatbed truck, 10' x 10. Our
signature statement, "W~rkingTo~ether
Protect Our Parrots" was displayed of the back
of the cab overlooking the whole float. On the float were a lot of trees and plants and the
large, colourful parrot painting borrowed from the museum. We also drove a small
caterpillar backhoe onto the flat bed. On board our float were teenagers dressed as a farmer,
a hunter and a developer, our two Cayman parrots, "Cappy and Polly" and about 20
children dressed in NationalTrust t-shirts. As the float moved down the parade route, the
farmer, hunter and developer danced with "Polly" to "Dolla wine"' while Cappy drove the
backhoe. Cappy had a small stuffed pirate which he waved around and often perched on
his shoulder. Our float attracted much attention and amusement and we won first prize
in our division.
Parrots were also evident in all the Pirates Week Heritage Days displays mounted by the
NationalTrust. Cappy made a special guest appearance at the GeorgeTown Heritage Day,
presiding over a special children's activity called "Pick-a-Parrot", an idea borrowed from

the Bahamas RARE programme. A tall native Caymanian mahogany tree was decorated
with note cards depicting our very own amazona leucocephala caymanensis, with a
question inside. If the child could give the correct answer, helshe was given a prize. This
was a good combination of fun and education.
25. Music Video
At the time of this programme, facilities for producing a music video were not available.
However, theTrust was producingadocumentaryon the work oftheTrust during this time
and there were several clips ofparrot activities included in this. The closing credits are over
CIMS children singing the Cayman Parrots Song. (Complimentary copies are available on
request.)
26. Farmer Visitation Programme
Since theTrust was concerned about crop damage due to parrots, the Counterpart met with
farmers in the Agricultural Society early on. At the first meeting, she presented theTrusth
definition of conservation as the intelligent management of resources and expressed the
Trust's desire toworkwith farmers. Although therewas some politically motivated rhetoric,
farmers were genuinely concerned about minimizing crop damage. Many were glad to
know that theTrust was interested in their problems. Theywere also glad to know that we
felt feral cats and dogs were a problem which needed more attention, since several livestock
farmers reported instances where calves and goats were killed over night by packs of wild
cats and dogs. Following that meeting, open lines of communications were maintained
between the Trust and the Agricultural Society, as well as between the Trust and the
Agriculture Department.
Meanwhile, the Trust solicited information and tried to identify expertise in avian crop
damage with the invaluable assistance from Paul Butler, RARE'S Caribbean Programme
Director. After writing to experts all over the world, theTrust found the Denver Wildlife
Research Center, a group of research biologists who develop avian pest control measures
using non-lethal control methods. Arrangements were made by the Trust to bring one of
their staff, Dr. James Keith, to Cayman for two weeks in August to assess the situation in
Cayman and make recommendations for further research. Several local farmers were very
cooperative and supportive. Dr Keith left a summary report and followed this up with a
more formal proposal.
The ChiefAgricultural Oficer created a special task force to deal with crop damage. This

was later called the Advisory Committee on Agriculture and Wildlife Management. The
concept here was to create a forum for farmers and conservationists to talk and work
together. The advisory committee has had one meeting to date. Unfortunately members
of the' Agriculture Department did not see Dr Keith's proposal in a favourable light,
expressing the opinion that research was not as important as immediate intervention. They
also said that they did not have financial or manpower resources to support the proposal.
That being the case, theTrust took a decision to allocate their resources to continue on with
our research, believing that valid control mechanisms needed to be based in solid data.
Since then we have been contacted by Forestry Oficials in Dominica who are beginning
to see some crop damage to citrus fruit. TheTrust has sent copies of all related research to
them.
27. Review of Legislation/Legislation Leaflet
Cayman Islands legislation covering the protection of animals and designation of animal
sanctuaries is contained within the Animals Law, 1976 and its associated regulations. This
is the key legislation concerning parrots which affects the general public. A list of "game
birds" designated under the Animals Law was revised in 1990, to remove the Cayman
parrots from the list of birds it was legal to hunt in season. This had the effect of making
the parrots protected species under this law.
Unfortunately this legislative change failed to address the fact that therewere (and are) large
numbers of Cayman parrots in captivity as pets, and made no arrangements to make these
legal by some kindofamnestyor to require their release. Neitherwas the change publicized
by the Government at the time.
This and many other anomalies led to theTrust and the Government's Natural Resources
Unit joining forces in a committee to revise the relevant sections of the Animals Law. The
group met for several months during 1991, but failed to receive any official recognition
from the responsible Portfolio beyond verbal encouragement. In the absence of a formal
undertaking by the Portfolio to support change in the legislation, it was considered unlikely
that these efforts would bear fruit.
While this process was underway, it was considered inadvisable to produce a legislation
leaflet that could only serve to highlight the inadequacies ofthe law and possibly antagonize
Government at a time we were seeking their cooperation. Therefore rather than distribute
a leaflet, we selectively publicized those aspects of the law prohibiting shooting and
trapping parrots, in much of our public education material and in the Museum exhibit.

28, Stamps
In an effort to get Cayman parrots issued in stamps during 1991, the Trust Director was
appointed to Government's Stamps Advisory Committee. Success was limited: Cayman
parrots were submitted as part of an international stamp issue for WWF, and may still be
produced, although the status of these stamps is unknown at this time. There was success
in getting parrots and other Cayman endemics onto the five year schedule for future stamp
issues, but this, of course, bore no fruit during 1991.
29. A-Z of Birdlife
Early on in the programme, a Cayman Parrots Colouring Book was produced. Art work
was drawn by local artist Phillippe Bush, based on photographs taken by wildlife
photographer Richard Ground. Text and graphic layout were done by the Counterpart.
Three thousand copies of the book were printed and it has been distributed throughout
all primary schools and summer camps. This was especially well received at the Primary
level in most schools as the text was written on that reading level.
Plans were made to produce a "Creator's Glory" Colouring Book as a companion text to
the Trust's publication, Creator's Glory, a book of wildlife photographs. Two talented
young artists produced line drawings under the direction of the Head ofArt for Cayman
Islands High School, Mark Fraser. It has only been due to a lack of suficient time and
competing responsibilities that this project has not been completed. As of the writing of
this report, this project is about 50% complete.
30. Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve
In December 1991 as the "Year of the Parrot" was drawing to a dose, 100 acres of prime
hesterna parrot habitat on the Bluff in Cayman Brac was donated to the National Trust in
a complex land transfer mediated by The Nature Conservancy. The Government waived
the land transfer taxes. At the actual transfer ceremony representatives of TNC, RARE,
ICBP, and the Trust were present to accent the positive outcome of inter-agency
cooperation and to celebrate the establishment of the first terrestrial reserve in Cayman
Brac. This land is at the center of the Trust's research programme on the Cayman Brac
parrot. The Trust considers this the first piece of a larger reserve system needed to help
preserve Cayman Brac's parrots.

This event received international
press coverage and motivated
Coors Brewing Company and its
local distributors, Jacques Scott
Co to offer the Trust a rebate on
every case of Coors and Coors
Light sold in the Cayman Islands
in the first three months of its
distribution.This amounted to a
donation of CI$2,000.
Signing of the land transfer documents and establishment
of the Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve. Photo by RARE
Counterpart, Patricia Scharr
3 1. Post-Assessment Survey
The purpose ofthis post-project surveywas to assess the knowledge of and attitudes about
Cayman's parrots in a random sample of the population of the Cayman Islands at the end
ofour RARE conservation education programme. This post-assessment is necessaryas one
means to evaluate effectiveness of the public education campaign.
a. Methodology
The same questionnaire, designed by Paul Butler, Caribbean Programme Director of the
RARE Center for Tropical Bird Preservation, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Assistant Scientific
Officer, Natural Resources Unit and Patricia Scharr, National Trust for the Cayman
Islands, was used in both pre-assessment and post-assessment. It parallels similar
questionnaires used in other Caribbean islands but was customized for the Cayman Islands
because there are two unique sub-species of the Amazona kucocephela.
As with the pre-programme survey, one per cent of the population (a total of 254) was
surveyed based on the 1990 Census, by Electoral District. Only Caymanians were
surveyed. In all, 254 questionnaires were completed with 100% return in both the pre and
post assessments.
The National Trust counterpart recruited surveyors and held a training session with all
surveyors, both experienced and new. The same key points were emphasized as in the pre-

assessment training, with the benefit of experience added. Table 5 shows volunteers and
questionnaire distrubution. They were given out during the week of January 6-10, 1992
with a projected completion date of 31 January, 1992.
Table 4. Volunteers and Questionnaire Distribution for Post-assessment
QUESTIONNAIRE ( VOLUNTEER I DISTRICT
1- 50 I *P. BUSH I GEORGETOWN
*G. EBANKS
*l? SCHARR
R BENNETT
M. COOKSLEY
H. SOLOMON
*J. DACOSTA
*J. MASTERS
'l? SCHARR
'K. WATT
Questionnaires from East End and North Side were again completed within the deadline.
Questionnaires from West Bay Bodden Town and Savannah were received one week late.
Questionnaires from GeorgeTown and Cayman Brac due to a number of problems were
finally completed on February 28th, 1992.
b. Results
dicates experienced SUNeyOrS
GEORGE TOWN
GEORGE TOWN
WEST BAY
WEST BAY
BODDEN TOWN
SAVANNAH
NORTH SIDE
EAST END
CAYMAN BRAC
All data was entered and the following analysis resulted from the programme given to the
Trust by RARE. All figures represent percentages of individuals surveyed.
1. Does Cayman have a national bird?

If yes, what is it?
BIRD B.T. C.B E.E. G.T. N.S. W.B. NATN
Parrot 73.0 50.0 60.0 78.0 ----- 70.0 66.2
Egret ----- 50.0 20.0 15.0 ----- 15.0 20.0
Mkbird ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Booby ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Thrush ----- ----- 10.0 2.0 ----- ----- 2.4
Heron ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
move ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Grackle ----- ----- ----- 1.0 ----- 3.0 0.8
ZenDove ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Frigate ----- ----- 10.0 ----- ----- ----- 2.0
Humbird ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Nightgale 27.0 ----- ----- 1.0 ----- 9.0 7.4
Sea gull ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 3.0 0.6
Banan& ----- ----- ----- 1.0 ----- ----- 0.2
Crabcatch ----- ----- ----- 1.0 ----- ----- 0.2
Mosquito ----- ---- ----- 1.0 ----- ----- 0.2
2. Is the Grand Cayman parrot found only in Grand Cayman?
7
ANSWER B.T. C.B. E.E. G.T. N.S. W.B. NATN
YES 67.6 80.0 72.7 65.6 60.0 64.9 68.5
NO 14.7 20.0 9.1 23.4 40.0 19.3 21.1
???
.
17.6 00.0 18.2 10.9 00.0 15.8 10.4
3. Is the Cayman Brac parrot found only in Cayman Brac?
ANSWER B.T. C.B. E.E. G.T. N.S. W.B. NATN
YES 41.2 86.7 45.5 66.4 70.0 57.9 61.3
NO 32.4 6.7 27.3 14.0 00.0 14.0 15.7
??? 26.5 6.7 27.3 19.5 30.0 28.1 23.0

I 4.
How scarce is the Grand Cayman parrot?
ANSWER
0-100
101-250
251-500
501-999
1 ,OOO<
???????
B.T.
2.9
8.8
5.9
17.9
29.4
35.3
C.B.
00.0
13.3
33.3
13.3
20.0
20.0
E.E.
00.0
00.0
9.1
00.0
72.2
18.2
G.T.
13.3
13.3
7.0
16.4
22.7
27.3
N.S.
00.0
00.0
00.0
10.0
70.0
20.0
W.B.
5.3
10.5
10.5
8.8
19.3
45.6
NATW
3.6
7.7
11.0
11.0
39.0
27.7
I 5.
How scarce is the Cayman Brac parrot?
ANSWER
0-100
101-250
251-500
501-999
1,000s:
???????
B.T.
11.8
2.9
8.8
14.7
8.8
52.9
C.B.
26.7
33.3
26.7
00.0
00.0
13.3
E.E.
00.0
9.1
9.1
9.1
00.0
72.
G.T.
19.5
10.9
21.9
7.8
3.9
35.9
N.S.
00.0
00.0
20.0
10.0
00.0
70.0
W.B.
12.3
8.8
7.0
1.8
3.5
66.7
NATW
11.7
10.8
15.6
7.2
2.7
51.9
I
6.
I
I 7.
What is the main reason for the Grand Cayman parrot becoming rare?
ANSWER
Kill
Pets
Habitat
Storms
Other
??????
B.T.
17.6
38.2
26.5
00.0
00.0
17.6
E.E.
54.5
9.1
9.1
00.0
00.0
27.3
What is the main reason for the Cayman Brac parrot becoming rare?
ANSWER
Kill
Pets
Habitat
Storms
Other
??????
B.T.
8.8
17.6
23.5
00.0
00.0
50.0
C.B.
20.0
00.0
53.3
00.0
00.0
26.7
C.B
6.7
6.7
46.7
00.0
00.0
40.0
E.E.
9.1
9.1
00.0
00.0
00.0
81.8
G.T.
28.9
19.5
30.5
00.8
03.1
17.2
G..
19.5
18.0
22.7
1.6
3.1
35.2
N.S. WB.
30.0 29.8
00.0 17.5
10.01 28.1
00.0 1.8
00.0 1.8
60.0 21.1
N.S.
20.0
00.0
20.0
00.0
00.0
60.0
W.B.
10.5
15.8
15.8
00.0
3.5
54.4
NATW
30.2
14.1
26.2
00.4
00.8
28.3
NATW
12.4
11.2
21.4
00.3
1.1
53.6

8. What is the fine for hunting or trapping our parrots?
ANSWER
$ 50
$ 250
$ 500
$2,500
$5,000
??????
B.T.
00.0
5.9
38.2
2.9
2.9
50.0
C.B.
6.7
00.0
53.3
00.0
00.0
40.0
E.E.
00.0
00.0
9.1
00.0
00.0
90.9
G.T.
1.6
6.3
47.7
2.3
2.3
39.8
N.S.
10.0
00.0
20.0
00.0
00.0
70.0
W.B.
5.3
1.8
19.3
1.8
5.3
66.7
NATIW
3.9
2.3
31.3
1.2
1.8
59.6
9. What is the fine for illegally clearing land in an animal sanctuary?
- E.E. N.S. ~W.B. I NATIW
00.0 00.0 100.0 1 00.1
10. Protecting our parrots is going to cost money - moneythat could be used for other
things. Do you think it is important that government spend time and money on
our parrots?
ANSWER
Not IMPT
IMPT
Very IMPT
????????
B.T.
17.6
52.9
23.5
5.9
C.B.
6.7
46.7
46.7
00.0
E.E.
00.0
45.5
27.3
27.3
G.T.
9.4
50.8
35.2
4.7
N.S.
60.0
30.0
00.0
10.0
W.B.
14.0
57.9
14.0
14.1
NATIW
18.0
47.3
24.4
10.3
What is your age?
ANSWER I B.T. I C.B.
--
- E.E. G.T.
00.0
9.1
9.1
18.2
00.0
9.1
27.3
27.3
-
8.6
23.4
15.6
23.4
18.0
3.9
4.7
2.3
N.S.
00.0
00.0
00.0
00.0
20.0
40.0
10.0
30.0
W.B.
15.8
5.3
7.0
24.6
8.8
17.5
14.0
7.1
NATIW
4.6
11.0
8.2
13.6
13.7
23.5
11.3
14.2

I 12.
What is your job?
ANSWER
'Govt
Farmer
PvtSector
Unemployd
Housewife
Student
Other
B.T.
5.9
2.9
29.4
2.9
11.8
23.5
23.5
C.B.
46.7
00.0
26.7
6.7
00.0
13.3
6.7
E.E.
18.2
00.0
36.4
18.2
18.2
9.1
00.0
G.T.
18.0
2.3
36.7
2.3
4.7
31.3
4.7
N.S.
20.0
20.0
10.0
00.0
30.0
00.0
20.0
W.B.
22.8
1.8
28.1
00.0
7.0
21.1
19.3
NATN
21.9
4.5
27.9
5.0
11.9
16.4
12.4
I 13.
When are you most likely to listen to the radio?
ANSWER
600- 7:30
R30- 9:OO
9:OO-12:OC
1200- 2:OO
200- 500
500-ROO
ROO-1O:OO
10:OO-close
Never
B.T.
58.8
5.9
5.9
8.8
2.9
11.8
5.9
00.0
00.0
C.B.
46.7
6.7
00.0
00.0
6.7
13.3
6.7
00.0
20.0
E.E.
27.3
27.3
9.1
00.0
00.0
9.1
9.1
9.1
9.1
G.T.
32.8
11.7
3.1
1.6
21.9
14.1
8.6
2.3
3.9
N.S.
10.0
10.0
00.0
00.0
00.0
30.0
30.0
00.0
20.0
W.B.
36.8
10.5
8.8
00.0
7.0
12.3
8.8
3.5
12.3
NATN
35.4
12.0
4.5
1.7
6.4
15.1
11.5
2.5
10.9
I 14.
What local newspaper or magazine do you read most other than the Caymanian
Compass?
ANSWER
New Cay
Newstar
Key to Cay
Horizons
Other
Only Comp
None
B.T.
38.2
17.6
00.0
2.9
17.6
20.6
2.9
C.B.
60.0'
6.7
13.3
00.0
6.7
13.3
00.0
E.E.
54.5
27.3
00.0
00.0
00.0
9.1
9.1
G.T.
62.5
15.6
3.1
3.9
00.8
11.7
2.3
N.S.
30.0
00.0
10.0
00.0
00.0
60.0
00.0
W.B.
45.6
8.8
1.8
3.5
3.5
29.8
7.0
NATN
48.5
12.7
4.7
1.7
4.8
24.1
3.6
-

c. Discussion and Analysis
1.' Does Cayman have a national bird?
Results
The percentage of people giving the correct answer, "NO", increased from 20.2% to
22.4% whereas the number thinking that Cayman had a national bird increased from 41 %
to 52.2%. Of those who thought Cayman did have a national bird, 69% said it was the
parrot. This was an increase from 39% in the pre-assessment.
Discussion
The question of making the parrot the national bird was considered to be rather
controversial by both the Trust and the Government due to the crop damage problem
expressed vociferously by local farmers. Because of this, the programme was focussed on
the uniqueness and endangerment of the parrots rather than a concerted effort to have the
bird named as the national bird. The significant shift in this area is the increase in those
perceiving the parrot as the national bird anyway.
2. Is the Grand Cayman parrot found only in Grand Cayman?
Results
The national average of respondents selecting the correct answer increased from 56.5% to
68.5%. The percentage responding with no stayed virtually the same with 20.5% to
21.1%. And the number selecting don't know was reduced from 22.9% to 10.4%
Discussion
Areview ofthe District totals show no particular pattern with the exception ofthedata from
West Bay where fewer knew the correct answer, more were undecided and more selected
the wrong answer. This may indicate an inconsistency in the administration of the
questionnaire or a distinct difference in the individuals sampled in the population. This
District was surveyed by two new individuals who moved in rather different patterns in
the community than the individual in the first instance who may have had a tendency to
deal with the more educated people in the District.

3. Is the Cayman Brac parrot found only in Cayman Brac?
Results
The national averageselecting thecorrect answer doubled as it moved from 31% to 61.3%.
Both the percentage selecting the wrong answer and selecting "don't know" decreased.
Discussion
It is interesting to note how effective the campaign was (86.7% correct) in Cayman Brac
where the parrot is more threatened and less of an agricultural pest. Because ofthe critically
endangered status of the Brac Parrot we made several special efforts in Cayman Brac.
4. How scarce is the Grand Cayman Parrot?
The percentage selecting the correct answer increased from 25.4% to 39 % and the number
selecting "don't know" decreased by 3%. The percentage underestimating the number of
parrots decreased by 10%
Discussion
It is interesting to note that 33% of those surveyed underestimated the number of parrots
in Grand Cayman. This might reflect a general concept prevalent here that Cayman's
heritage is slowly bur inevitably slipping away. This may also be due to the fact that where
the population is concentrated (and parrot habitat has been significantly reduced), there
are very few parrots.
4. How scarce is the Cayman Brac Parrot?
Before presenting the results it must be noted that at the start of the campaign and in the
first waves ofliterature, press releases and posters, it was stated that fewer than 50 remained
in the wild. During the second month of the programme the Trust conducted a field
population study under the direction of Dr. James Wiley. The results were made known
to the Trust in June, however, there was some reluctance to publish these results which
showed a population ranging from a minimum of 250 to a maximum of 400. These
numbers were finally released in a rather low key way towards the end of the programme.
This may have caused some confusion as to what is the correct answer to this question.

Therefore, those selecting a,b and c are considered to have selected a correct answer for the
purposes of this discussion.
Results
The number of individuals selecting a correct answer increased from 20% to 38%. A
substantial shift to the correct answer was noticeable in the Districts of Cayman Brac and
George Town.
Discussion
The three Districts where farmers complain about the parrots, remained fairly stable in
their contention that they "did not know". This may indicate a resistance to accept any
information about the parrots in this campaign.
6. What is the main reason for the Grand Cayman parrot becoming rare?
Results
The percentage of those selecting the correct answer, destruction of habitat, almost
doubled, increasing from 14.2% to 26.2% the number selecting "don't know" also
increased from 18.7% to 28.3%.
Discussion
The increase in "don't know" reflected a trend in the Districts where farmers who complain
about crop damage due to parrots tend to state that the parrots are not rare at all. Th' 1s was
exacerbated by a rather negative article in a local magazine claiming that the birds were not
rare which was in circulation during the administration of this survey. The 30.8% who
selected hunting and killing as an answer were no doubt influenced by farmers anti-parrot
rhetoric.
7. What is the main reason for the Cayman Brac parrot becoming rare?
The percentage of those selecting the correct answer, "destruction of habitat", increased
from 14.2% to 21.4%. But the same trend was noted in the increase of those choosing
"don't know".

Discussion
Again,in Cayman Brac the programme was more effective showing a doubling of those
selecting the correct answer, increasing from 20% to 46.7%. However, it must be noted
that the percentage selecting "don't know" also doubled from 20% to 40%.
8. What is the fine for hunting or mapping out parrots?
Results
The number selecting the correct answer doubled, increasing from 16.5% to 31.3%. The
percentage choosing "don't know" decreased from 68.7% to 59.6%.
During the pre-assessment survey 68.7% stated that they did not know it was against the
law. The actual law wasn't changed, but the parrots were removed from the game bird list
by achange in regulation. This change in regulation was not publicized when made. When
the programme publicized this, it is caused great consternation among the farmers some
of whom felt hunting parrots was the only way they could protect their crops. The
Government still has made no pubic statement about this and the law itself is virtually
unenforceable since there is no registration programme to help law enforcement officials
determine if birds were taken illegally. Many do not accept that this is against the law.
9. What is the fine for illegally clearing land in an animal sanctuary?
Results
The results in this instance showed virtually no change.
Discussion
There are only two animal sanctuaries in Grand Cayman and one in Cayman Brac. Two
others in Cayman Brac were "de-sanctified in 1988. They are all bodies of water and
Government owns the water, but not the land surrounding it. There are no signs posted
nor is the public aware that there are in fact animal sanctuaries. Although some attempts
have been made to educate the public as to their existence, this was not a major focus of
the pubic education programme so little change was expected.

10. Protecting our parrots is going to cost money - money that could be used for other
things. Do you think it is important that Government spend time and money on our
parrots?
Results
The total selecting importantlvery important shified from 77.8% to 71.7%. 18%
remained firm in their opinion that this was not important. And there was little change,
(.7%) in those who selected very important. However, there was a 6% increase in those
who "did not know".
Discussion
Caymanians are feeling the economic depression from North Americaat a time when the
country is contemplating several major capital expenditures like a new hospital. Government
expenditure has become amajor issue in Cayman. This economicdebate and slowed
down business activity may be reflected in the shift from important to "don't know". The
18% who selected 'not important" was mainly farmers although it is interesting to note
that no East Enders selected this choice and it is a rural farming District.
The age and occupation spread were comparatively close between groups.
d. Conclusions
The overall survey results indicate that the campaign was very successful in Cayman Brac
and fairly successful in Grand Cayman.
The overall effectiveness of the programme was reduced by the following factors.
1. The parrot was not declared the national bird. The absence ofGovernment endorsement
and support made theTrust's position just one ofseveral points ofview rather than allowing
the Trust to appeal to the national pride of the population. The success of this programme
in other countries was ensured by such Government support.
2. The vocal, anti-parrot rhetoric of the farmers "on the Marl Road" and in one magazine
article which unfortunately appeared during the implementation of the post-programme
questionnaire caused confusion and clouded the true results of the programme.

111. RELATED RESEARCH ON CAYMAN'S PARROTS
A. The Bradley Study.
Serious scientific research on the Cayman parrots began in 1985, when P. Bradley
conducted a detailed study of both subspecies in a project funded by the Cayman Islands
Government. Her study, published in 1986, established the basic details of the population
size and breeding habits ofthe Grand Cayman Parrot, and attempted to gather similar data
for the Cayman Brac subspecies.
Bradley concluded that the Grand Cayman Parrot was in thriving condition, with an adult
population of 674 to 1,239 in June 1985 before the fledging of young, rising to 915 to
1,714 in September 1985 with juvenile recruitment. She made a number of recommendations
to secure the future of this subspecies, principally involving legal protection ofwild
parrots, protection of large nesting trees and parrot habitat generally, publiceducation, and
population monitoring.
On Cayman Brac, Bradley's work was seriously hampered by the dificulty of access:
however she attempted a census, and located two nesting areas. Her estimate for the
population size was between 37 and 45 birds after fledging of young, in the summer of
1985.
B. Research on the Cayman Brac Parrot.
1. The Cayman Brac Census, 1991.
In late 1990, parallel with the initiation of the RARE program, Patricia Bradley (by then
no longer living in Grand Cayman) put the NationalTrust for the Cayman Islands in touch
with Dr. Jim Wiley, who at the time was working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
on the California Condor Project. The Trust, established in late 1987, was seeking advice
on steps towards the conservation of the Cayman Brac Parrot, spurred by the fact that
beyond a change in the Animals Law conferring paper protection on parrots in the wild,
no action had been taken by Government in response to Bradley's alarming assessment of
the plight of this subspecies.
Wiley's initial response was to recommend asecond census, since five years had passed since
Bradley's pioneering study, and there was an urgent need to assess how severe the situation
had become. The Trust conducted a week-long census effort, led by Dr. Wiley: nine
participants manned 56 fixed stations for a total effort of 213 man-hours. The results of

this work (Wiley et al., 1991) indicated a larger population than.~radle~'s work had led
us to expect: the population in February 1991 stood at between 299 and 430 birds.
This census effort coincided with the launch of the RARE Programme on Cayman Brac.
During the interactions with the public arising from the RARE work it became apparent
that the Brac residents had always held the opinion that parrots were more abundant than
Bradley's study indicated. Our new census figure was in much closer accord with local
knowledge.
Wiley et al concluded that the discrepancy between this work and Bradley's study did not
indicate adramatic recovery in the Brac Parrot population between 1985 and 1991, rather
that with limited access and working alone, at adate before many of the roads on the bluff
had been constructed, Bradley was unable to survey the extent of territory accessible to
observers in 199 1.
During this field work session, Wiley also developed, with Trust staff and volunteers, a
research plan intended to supply the information needed to establish appropriate
conservation measures. This was the initiation of an ongoing collaboration between the
Trust and Dr. Wiley, whose expertise on the biology and conservation of West Indian
parrots has been key to the research programme.
2. Cayman Brac Parrot Breeding Studies, Summer 1991
In June 1991 Wiley returned to lead a three week field research session, funded by ICBP,
to study the breeding biology of the Cayman Brac Parrot. Seven workers participated in
nest searches and observations, resulting in the location of nine active nests. It was during
this period that we learned how extremely secretive the Brac Parrot could be.
A start was made on assessing nest cavity characteristics, nest productivity threats, feeding
behaviour and breeding behaviour. Several more years ofthis kind ofworkwill be required
to amass sufficient data to draw firm condusions. The second phase of this work is
underway at the time of writing.
3. Cayman Brac Nest Cavity Study, December 1991.
As a first step towards understandingwhat factors may be limitingthe sizeofthe Brac Parrot
population, Wiley and theTrust's Director of Science, Fred Burton, spent 10 days in late
December 199 1 examining 0.25 hectare plots in parrot nesting habitat, to determine the
frequency of cavity formation in various tree species, and to measure cavity statistics, in

order to assess whether nest cavityavailability might be limiting. Burton and Wiley, (report
in prep.) focused on two areas found to contain nest trees during the June study.
One oftheseareas was theaBrac Parrot Reserve", a 100 acreofwoodland in central Cayman
Bracwhich was donated to the Trust on 6th. December 199 1. The donation was originally
to the Nature Conservancy in the U.S.A., from the U.S. landowner Donald Pennie.
Negotiations between theTrust andTNC during 1991 culminated inTNC passing on the
donation to theTrust, on the understanding that this would be the seed for a larger reserve
system for Cayman Brac.
The nest cavity study identified the main tree species of importance for cavity formation,
and revealed the true extent to which selective logging of the woodlands early this century
degraded the habitat. The selective removal of large trees of particular species had
undoubtedly had asignificant effect on parrot breeding, and the impact will last for many
more decades. However, sufficient apparently suitable cavities were found to suggest that
scarcity of cavities alone could not account for the rarity of this subspecies.
C. Research on the Grand Cayman Parrot
1. Captive Breeding of the Grand Cayman Parrot
TheTrust have been offering technical assistance to a farmer on Grand Cayman, Mr. Otto
Watler, who as a purely private, non-commercial venture had set up facilities to captive
breed Grand Cayman parrots for conservation. Mr. Watler now carries on these activities
legally under the auspices of the ~ational Trust, and in 1991 his facility fledged its first
captive bred chicks.
TheTrust's involvement in this project has enabled us to assess the practicalities of setting
up such a facility for the Cayman Bracparrot, and theTrust has gainedvaluable experience
against such a time as captive breeding of A. 1. hesterna may prove necessary.
2. The Grand Cayman Parrot Census, 1992
In February and March 1992, theTrust undertook a census ofthe Grand Cayman parrot,
as originally planned during the Brac census a year before. The need for this work was
heightened by the publicity stimulated by the RARE program, which generated some
heated discussion about the status of the Grand Cayman as acrop pest. Some farmers were
claiming that as a result oflegal protection for the parrots, numbers were climbing and crop
damage was escalating.

First analysis of the census results, which involved occupation of 177 stations by 35
volunteers over 9 successiveweekends, indicates that the Grand Cayman parrot population
has remained roughly stable since Bradley's 1985 work. The estimate for March 1992 was
between 1,414 and 1,755 birds, as compared to Bradley's June 1985 estimate of 91 5 to
1,7 14 birds.
3. Grand Cayman Parrot Crop Damage Studies
Dr. James Keith, ofthe Denver Wildlife Research Center, visited Grand Cayman in August
1991, as guest oftheTrust during a field trip funded byAPHIS to evaluate selected wildlife
problems in the Caribbean. He spent 8 days in the field assessing parrot damage in mango
orchards and related factors.
As a result of this preliminary assessment, Keith saw a need to quantiFy the various factors
causing losses in the marketable mango crop, since it was apparent that parrot damage was
but one of an array of interacting factors, both natural and man-made, and it was by no
means clear to what extent any "solution" to the parrot problem would result in economic
gains to the farmers.
Keith developed a research proposal with theTrust, which was ultimately proposed to the
Cayman Islands Government's Department ofAgriculture for funding. To date no funding
for this work has been identified, and no further work has been carried out on this aspect.
One indirect consequence of this initiative has been to improve communication between
farmers, Government and the National Trust, with the formation under the Department
of Agriculture of an Advisory Council on Agriculture and Wildlife Consewation.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Habitat Protection
1. A National Development Plan
The present review of the Development Plan should be carried through to completion as
awry high priority for the Cayman Islands Government. The new Plan should encompass
all three islands, and should commit the islands to carefully controlled development with
due emphasis on conservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity in conjunction with
development of necessary infrastructure to safeguard the environment.
With reference to parrot conservation, major issues for the Development Plan Review are
the protection of the Central Mangrove Swamp (which includes a major part of the Grand
Cayman Parrot's breeding habitat), support for the Trust's initiative in establishing
terrestrial reserves (see below), strict controls on clearing land, and measures to ensure the
retention ofsignificant amounts of indigenous vegetation, either original or replanted, in
developed areas.
These issues are being addressed in detail in a position paper on the Development Plan
Review, now dose to final draft form, which will be submitted to Government in response
to their invitation to provide input. Government should give serious attention to this
position paper, and encourage public debate of the issues it raises.
Recommendation: TheNationalTrust should make public its position paper on the
Development Plan Review and stimulate public debate and commitment of
candidates running for election.
mmendation: The National Trust should be given a formalized role to play in
the planning approval process.
2. The Establishment of Terresuial Reserves
In early 1992, the Trust developed a mission statement after examining in depth its role
in conservation in the Cayman Islands.(see appendix) It has set as its highest priority the
establishment of large terrestrial reserves on all three islands, in an attempt to protect
biodiversity and natural systems in the fice of escalating dev+-t
increasing population. The program is being managed by a Scientific Advisory Council set
up within the Trust, composed of local scientists, with consulting specialist scientists

overseas, and representation from local conservationists and the business community.
This programme will require significant capital funding over the next few years, and
suppok from Government in terms of integration of certain undaimed Crown lands in
remote areas, and cooperation from Government Departments involved. For the long term
protection of the parrots of the Cayman Islands, and all the islands' wildlife, this is perhaps
the most important initiative of all, and will succeed or fail depending on theTrust's ability
to attract financial support both locally and internationally for purchase of critical
conservation lands.
Recommendation; The National Trust should proceed with all speed to identify
priority land parcels for integration into the reserve system.
RecommendatiotxThe National Trust should embark on an aggressive campaign
to raise funds and land donations from companies and individuals both within the
Cayman Islands and overseas, and from international conservation organizations,
for the purposes of establishing terrestrial reserves in the Cayman Islands.
Recommendatioa; The National Trust should actively solicit those parcels of
unclaimed Crown land which are identified as potential components of the reserve
system.
3. Public Education for Conservation
Just as the RARE parrot program serves as a tool to focus public attention on the need for
protection of wild areas, other flagship species can reinforce this message too.
Recommendation: The National Trust should mount an annual "flagship" species
public education campaign, perhaps to coincide with the academic school year.
mmendation, The National Trust should solicit finding for such annual
programmes from international groups.
Recommendation: The National Trust should solicit funding to develop and
produce educational support materials especially suited for the Caribbean.
-The
NationalTrust should take advantage of thesupport offered
by the RARE Centre for the implementation of their next "flagship" species,
Cayman's Blue Iguana scheduled for the 1992-1993 school year.

B. Legislation
1. The A nid Law
Legal protection of terrestrial wildlife in the Cayman Islands is embodied in Part VII of
the Animals Law, 1976. The law creates protected classes of animals which may not be
hunted, enables the creation ofAnimal Sanctuaries, creates Game Wardens and gives them
enforcement powers. The law is very sketchy, somewhat outdated, and most of all,
unenforced. No Game Warden has even been appointed in the twenty-six years since the
passage of the law, and no prosecutions have ever been carried out under it. An effort by
the Natural Resources Unit to stop a landowner from clearing in an Animal Sanctuary has
led Government to question whether it actually stands behind its own legislation. There
is no effective wildlife protection legislation in Cayman today.
Recomm&tion: The Cayman Islands Government should appoint acommittee
to revise the Animals Law, drawing on expertise from the Department ofAgricul
ture, the Natural Resources Unit, and the National Trust, and put the revision up
to the Legislative Assembly for enactment as a matter of urgency.
Recommendatio~ The Cayman Islands Government should allocate manpower
resources to enforce terrestrial conservation regulations.
2. The Planning and Development Law
Government's Legal Department has drafted legislation under the Planning and Dwelopment
Law to make provision for "Tree Preservation Orders," which would give legal
protection to individual trees or stands of trees designated on a case by case basis.
Tree Preservation Orders could then be implemented for small areas of particular tree
species which have particular importance for parrots: salient examples being stands of Royal
Palms in the eastern District of Grand Cayman, which provide nest habitat.
T i Protection Orders need not preclude environmentally sensitive development, and
could provide a useful tool for enforcing retention ofa proportion ofindigenous vegetation
on developed sites:. low density residential development and parrot habitat need not be
mutually exclusive.
dndation: The drafted amendment to the Planning Law making provision
for the passing of Tree Preservation Orders, should be adopted without delay

3. CITES
The local enabling legislation for the CITES Convention is seriously deficient, in that
amendments to the appendices of the CITES Convention are not automatically incorporated
into the Cayman Islands Law, but require separate enactment for each revision. In
practice, updates to the appendices have not been enacted in this way
I
Recommendation: The Cayman Island Government should revise the enabling
legislation for CITES to ensure that updates made to the appendices at the periodic
meetings of CITES signatories are automatically incorporated into local law.
4. RAMSAR Sites
Proposed RAM= sites in the Cayman Islands have been on the books for many yeats,
but no enabling legislation has been drawn up to enable the U.K. to extend this important
convention to the Cayman Islands.
Recommendation: The Cayman Islands Government should draft and enact
legislation to implement the RAMSAR Convention in the Cayman Islands.
Recommendation; The Cayman Islands Government should designate the pro
posed RAMSAR sites under this legislation, and should give serious consideration
to adding the Central Mangrove Swamp to the RAMSAR listing in the medium
term future.
I
C. Research
Effective conservation plans for wildlife can only be developed on the foundation of agood
understanding of the complex interactions the species has with its environment, and the
basic biology of the species itself. Research is vital to establish this scientific grounding for
conservation efforts, and the Cayman Islands parrots are no exception. The NationalTrust
has a projected five year research schedule and these perceived needs form the basis of these
recommendations.
1. Research on The Cayman Brac Parrot.
The Trust's research program on Cayman Brac Parrot, designed by Dr. Jim Wiley, has in
the past been funded predominantly from the Trust's limited resources, and has been
restricted in duration and extent as aconsequence. Although ICBP funded one field session

in June 1991, further external funding will be required to sustain this research effort.
Specific research objectives are as follows:
*Repeat censuses at three year intervals, and fine-tune census techniques.
*Study breeding behaviour and nesting success over at least a further five seasons,
in order to gain statistically meaningful data on reproductive success and cases of
nesting &lure.
*Determine population dynamics and age structure.
*Determine feeding ecolow including documenting the phenology of food plants.
*Assess competition, predation, parasitism and other pressures on the population
*Survey the woodlands of Little Cayman to assess theviability of reintroduction to
that island.
*Complete the habitat map of Cayman Brac under preparation by the Trust, to
provide information to develop the reserve strategy.
*Conduct a feasibility study on control of the very large feral cat population on
Cayman Brac, which is seen as a severe problem to a range ofwildlife, including the
parrots.
*Assess the extent to which pet Grand Cayman parrots have naturalized themselves
in the wild on Cayman Brac.
Recommendation: The NationalTmst should perform regular population censuses
of the Cayman Brac parrot, and should seek to secure funding to make chis possible.
Recommendatioa; The National Trust should give high priority to ongoing
research into the biology and ecology of the Cayman Brac parrot, and should seek
funding from bodies such as the ICBP and the World Parrot Trust to ensure this
continues.
-dation: The National Trust should seek funding for a re-establishment
of the Cayman Brac parrot on Little Cayman, should research suggest that this has
the potential to succeed.
NationalTmst should collaborate with the Department of
Agriculture to investigate the possibility of effective feral cat control on Cayman
Brac, and the prevention of feral cat establishment on Little Cayman.
Recommendation: The National Trust should complete a habitat map of Cayman
Brac, as a tool for development of a reserve strategy.

2. Research on The Grand Cayman Parrot.
Recommendation: The National Trust should repeat population censuses of the
a Grand Cayman parrot at regular intervals, in order to recognize any trend towards
serious decline at an early stage.
Crop Damage: There is an urgent need to research thoroughly and in depth the economic
significance of parrot damage to agticultural crops. The perceived loss in the mango crop
attributed to parrot damage is a major fictor against public support of parrot conservation,
and it is important to have farmers involved in a study which examines all the factors
controlling economic return from mango orchards, and assesses whether solutions to
parrot damage would indeed make any economic difference to the fbmers.
Recommendation: The National Trust and the Department ofAgriculture should
jointly seek funding for a comprehensive study into the interacting factors afFecting
mango crop returns, including parrot damage and non-lethal means to
mitigate it.
3. Research on Other Native Flora and Fauna
The Trust's conservation program for the two subspecies of Cyclura nubib rock iguana
endemic to the islands should continue to receive high priority Funding additional to the
WWF-UK 1991 grant of 6,800 pounds sterling will be required to complete captive
breeding enclosures at the Botanic Park on Grand Cayman. Ongoing funding will be
required to support field research on the Grand Cayman subspecies, commencing this year
with support from the U.S. National Zoo, to carry this through to monitoring a release
program in protected areas on Grand Cayman, and to research and develop a conservation
plan for C. n. caymanensis on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
Recommendation: TheTrust should continue collaboration with the US National
Zoo and the Universiryoflennessee, and seek funding to continue the Programme.
Recommendation: The Trust and Cayman Islands Government should continue
to facilitate research by visiting scientists on the flora and fauna native to the
Cayman Islands.

D. Conservation Management
1. Cayman Brac
Conservation management recommendations identified for Cayman Brac at present are
as follows:
Recommen -TheNationalTrust should attempt a reintroduction ofthe Brac
Parrot to Little Cayman, where it was extirpated in 1932, by a hurricane; (This
will depend on the results ofthe preliminary survey, and will be catried through only
if ndications show that it could be a viable strategy.)
Recommend& Should successive censuses show any significant decline in the
wild population, the National Trust should initiate a captive breeding program, in
order to be able to provide support for the wild population if this becomes necessary
(e.g. by fostering captive chicks into wild nests, incubating wild eggs to induce
double clutching, etc.)
Recommen~The NationalTrust should work to maximize the availability of
suitable nest cavities in protected areas, principally by rehabilitating damaged nests
and modifying natural cavities.
RecommendatimThe National Trust and the Department ofAgriculture should
seek funds for, and collaborate on, a major feral cat control programme, by means
determined in the feasibility study above.
RecommendbThe NationalTrust should make every effort to trap and remove
any Grand Cayman parrots found in the wild on Cayman Brac.
2. Grand Cayman
Conservation management recommendations identified for Grand Cayman at present are
as follows:
Recommendation; The National Trust should monitor the Grand Cayman
parrot population through periodic censusing.
Reco-
The National Trust should continue to agressively pursue its
land acquisition programme to protect habitat for this species.

3. All Islands
In order to make thehimals Law more inforcable, aparrot registration programme should
be enacted. Pet owners should be given every opportunity to register their parrots and have
them ringed. Thii could also offer an opportunity to have a veterinary checkup and free
advice on care and caging. Thereafier, it would be illegal to own an unregistered pet, and
transfers and deaths of animals should be recorded.
It is recommended that the Government institute a pet parrot
registration program with a finite time limit. After this time the existing fines in the
Animals Law should be enforced and those taking or in possession of captive parrots
illegally should be prosecuted.
&commendation; A comprehensive Public Education program should be imple
mented with this registration program to both educate and motivate the public to
cooperate.
Comprehensive controls should be required on the acquisition and ownership ofcayman
Parrots as pets. It is unlikely in the short term that the practice of keeping pet parrots can
be effectively discouraged, so the preferred approach at this time is to license pet parrots
in thesameway that domesticdogs are presently licensed, and to strictly control the sources
of these animals. An outline strategy is as follows:
*Private captive breeding facilities (one exists at present) should be licensed to sell
captive bred young locally as pets: each year's hatch should be ringed by a central
authority (Government, or theTrust) soon after hatch, and its movements recorded
thereafter.
*Licensed captive breeders, and licensed parrot trappers, may be permitted a quota
of chicks to be harvested annually, to be set and adjusted in response to periodic
censuses: standards of sustainable harvest should be set and enforced, with
particular emphasis on harvesting less than thewhole brood from nest cavities which
are not damaged in the process, so that a harvester can draw from the same nest sites
year after year. No harvesting from the wild should be permitted for the Cayman
Brac subspecies at this time. Harvested chicks should be ringed and registered on
capture.
*New registrations should not subsequently be issued for birds which appear in
captivity other than through the licensed trapper or breeder scheme: such animals

if discovered should be released to the wild, and the owner prosecuted.
Recommendation; The development of a Pet Parrot Registration program should
'include regulations controlling captive breeding and sustainable harvesting of
chicks.
Feral animal controls are needed for all three islands : Cats and dogs on Cayman Brac and
Grand Cayman, with Little Cayman at risk, Monk Parakeets on Grand Cayman, Grand
Cayman Parrots on Cayman Brac, and other exotic psittacines are the main concerns at
present. Import controls may be appropriate for exotic cage birds, and significant
strengthening of the Department of Agriculture's resources for handling these kinds of
problems would appear to be appropriate.
RBcommendatiaThe Government should substantially increase support to the
Department ofAgriculture so that an aggressive feral animal control program can
be implemented to help both farmers and our endangered species.
The development of ecotourism, (the desire of travellers to experience natural pristine
environments and see unique flora and fauna), into a major trend eficting tourism
economies, has several implications for conservation organizations like the NationalTrust.
Although many fear that increased tourist traffic in environmentally sensitive areas may
negatively effect these ecosystems, this type of development does recognize the need for
preserving natural features and creatures. In the Cayman Islands, there is a history to
support this. When the concept of marine parks was first introduced it was not favourably
received by the general public. However, once the need for marine parks was explained
int he context of sustaining tourism, a mainsmy of Cayman economy, the legislation was
easily passed.
It is important to work with the Department of Tourism to develop ecotourism attractions
which wil increase appreciation of a country's natural heritage. The challenge to
conservationists is to steer the ecotourism development away from critically sensitive areas
held in conservancy and assist with the reasonable development of those areas which have
ecotourism potential.
Recommendation; The National Trust should identify both those areas of critical
sensitivity and those areas with potential for ecotourism development with minimal
negative impact.

Recommendation: The NationalTrust should continue to work with Government
to support the development of ecotourism attractions in non-environmentally
'sensitive areas.
Recommendation: The National Trust should initiate and promote public educa
tion information about ecotourism and ecotourism attractions through all media
as yet another good reason to preserve Cayman's natural heritage.
Recommediition: The National Trust should review its own properties to
determine a)which would be suitable for ecotourism development and b) which
would yield a reasonable ecotourist income.

APPENDIX A
FACT SI-IEETS AND SUPPORT MATERIALS

PROTECT THEM IN THE WILD
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
and unicj~ie sul7-species of Amazon l'arrots:
the Grand C:ayman I'arrot (Arnmzona
shades of red. 'I'he
Grand Cayman Parrot has
a pale rose blush on its
white forehead but the (:a?-
man Brac parrot does not.
Both birds have a ring of white
unicluely Caymanian sub-species that are
found no where else in the world.
Our [xlrrots, considered by many to be the
most colourful in rtie Am:~zon family, are an
iritlescent green \vittl :I \vhite li)rehr:~d and
breast where it takes on a scarlet cast. In the
Our 1x1rrot.s are great talkers and scluawkers.
'i'lle! can be seen and 1ie:lrti in flocks in Janu-

for life, in March to nest. Both of our parruts
are cavity nesters. 'l'hey like to builtl
their nests in the cavities of large older
trees, often in empty nests made by woodpeckers
or hollows caused by fungal or ter-
cageswhicti :trc ~ oo small and fed thc wrong
food. 'l'hese are two reasons often given to
explain why they are rarely able to reproduce
in captivity.
mite action, and they return to the same / lJntil recently, the parrot was on the gamenest
year after year. In April and May, our bird list here in Cayman. Now our parrots
parrots lay their eggs. It takes ahout 18 days are irlternationally recognized as endanfor
the eggs to hatch and hatchlings are gered species. It is against the law here in
fledged after about four weeks. Young par- the Cayman Islands to hunt, capture, take
rots take about 5 years to mature in the u~ilil eggs or disturb the nests of our parrots --
into productive adults.
with a CIS500.00 fine.
~oth of our parrots are now considered (:aymanians have long enjoyed their pet
endangered species by international stan-
I
( "l3ollysn - it is time to make sure they are
dards and the Cayman Brae parrot has been I around for future generations.
I
showing declining populations. Destruction 1
of habitat is listed by most authorities as the What can you do ?
main cause. Severe hurricanes knock down ;
trees which were suitable nesting sites. But , Help us spread the word about our precious
the large ;imount of land clearing done in birds. 'l'he more people know about how
both Islands in recent years is clearly a special these hirtls are, the more likely they
rnxjor factor in the decline in the popula- are to help protect them.
tion of thcse birds.
Don't catch or buy parrots from the wild.
Another major reason our parrots are en- Speak out ;~g;~inst those who woulri go into
clangered is hunting and trapping. Some r the land ;tnd trap or snare parrots. 'l'ry to
have hunted our parrots as a game bird, convince then1 1,y explaining that it is
others claiming it is a pest who damages against the law. Ileport them if rhey persist.
tlieir crops. But the pet traders often do far
more long term darnage. In their quest for If you have a pet parrot or know someone
I
young parrots. they hack up or break up
1 who does, make sure the cage is large
hollow nesting trees, thus destroying the i enough to allow the bird room to fly
nest for future use. When unfledged parrots around. And make sure these animals h;~.r-c
:ire snared many don't survive. Those who a varied tiiet like they would get in the wilcl.
tlo are sold as pets and are often kept in
Help us protect and
preserve them in the wild

$r--$. e Trust Times
o@AL +&
0 ,I- W
-5-dqQ
4-
4 IS+
Preserving Our Heritage - Natural and Historical
One ptece at a time
Jun for Members Newsletter May 1991 Volume 1
Conservation - It's your challenge
Conservation - the intelligent use of
our natural resources - that is the challenge
beginning to face all of us today.
And even though you junior members are
not making national decisions, you will be
some day in the future. That's why it is so
importantfor you to learn aboutconservation
now. Cayman's parrots are just one
example of the conservation problems we
are now facing.
Some people are conser-maniacs. They
will run around screaming "Save the parrot!
Save the Parrot!" but they will ignore
the farmers whose crops the parrots damage
or the need for continued growth and development
of the country's economy. On
the other side, some people say "Who
cares about the parrots? Let nature take its
course. If the parrots don't survive, itwas
probably meant to be." Both of these
extremes are dangerous because they don't
look at the whole picture.
The parro& are endangered as is the
whole environment. The parrots' case is a
goodexampleofthestressesmakingmany
animals, including people, endangered
today.
Man has developed the land and taken
away much of the natural habitat of these
and other creatures. These animals have
been pushed backintosmallerareasin the
Outer Districts, with less space, less shelter,
and less food. As the population ofthe
world increases, people face these same
problems. Natural disasters like hurricanes
are always a danger for man and creatures.
And environmental degradation has harmful
side effects on all living things. In addition,
man puts additional stresses on parrots by
hunting parrots for sport or because they are
a pest to crops, by trapping them to keep
them as pets and by allowing feral cats and
dogs to become wild predators.
Of all of God's creatures, Man has the
greatest ability to change things. By being
good stewards of our natural resources, we
have a chance to change the future We can
not save the parrots without helping the
farmers. Managing resources is what we
must do, for together we can make a difference.
This issue of the T ~st Times is dedicated
to parrots. As you read through it you
may be surprised to see that in many ways
parrots are like people. And in some ways
people are like parrots. Our parrots are very
special and beautiful birds and only found
here. They are uniquely Caymanian and part
of our Caymanian Heritage. It would be a
shame if they disappeared as so many other
animals have from other countries.
Also included with this mailing toMEM-
BERS ONLY are a parrot poster, a parrot
colouring book and a parrot button. If you
agree that we should try to save the parrots,
wear your button and tell your friends and
family about what you have read in this
newsletter.
You can make a diflerence.!

CAYMAN'S PARROTS--
PROTECT THEM IN
eyes. The Grand Cayman
parrot ha5 a little
it of pink in the white
ot on its forehead and in
Now our parrots are different from the feathen on is lower belly.
parrots in Cuba, or anywhere else in the Our parrots can be seen and heard in
world. They are Ca~manian, just like us. flocks during January and February. They
Our parrots are members of the pair off in March. Cayman parrots keep the
.4mazon Parrot family. They are the most same mate for life. If one dies, the other may
colourful members of their family. They not mate again. They are cavity nesterswhich

year - if both parents are still alive and free
and if the nest has not been destroyed. They
lay their eggs in April. The eggs hatch in
twenty-eight days. The chicks have feathers
after four weeks. When they are sixty-five
days old they are fledged - made to fly out of
the nest. For the first year baby parrots stay -
very close to their parents. It takes four
years for a young parrot to grow into an K O & DO PARROTS PROTECT
adult. THEMSELVES ?
Both kinds of Cayman parrot are in Animals that live in the wild have
danger. There are over 1,000 Grand Cay- dmeloped ways to protect them5elves From
man parrots in the wild. But there are only natural predators and pressures. One
about 300 Cayman Brac parrots in the wild. very simple method of protection is called
Scientists are worried about both parrots protective colouration. Prntective colourabecause
the number of parrots is not the tion refers to the colour characteristics of
only thing that makes them endangered. an animal which enable it to blend into its
One reason is their homes are disappearing. surroundings and hide from predators.
The trees are being chopped down when Both of our Amazon parrots are green.
land is cleared. Many trees are destroyed to They blend in with the trees and it is
make room for new buildings. Another difficulttospotthem. Some more brightly
reason is that some birds are hunted and coloured birds have become extinct, in
killed or trapped. Sometimes theyare killed part because they were not able to protect
by accident when someone tries to catch themselves in this way.
one for a pet. Once put in acage, parrots do As youcan see from the picture on the
not breed. If we don't leave the parrots in nextpage, the parrot's back is mainlygreen
the bush to breed, soon there won't be any and blue. Since our parrots most often fly
parrots left.
just below the canopy (where the green
The National Trust is trying to help the leaves meet the blue sky) this helps to
parrots. You can help spread the word too. camoflageour parrots in flight. This makes
It'sagainst the lawto hunt ortrap parrots, or them very difficult to see especially as they
disturb their eggs or nest. Not many people are flying away from you and or danger.
know about this law. We need to help the Although parrots can not change their
parrots. Here is what you can do. colours like some other animals, they can
1. Tell people about our parrots. Many hide their colours by keeping their wings
people don't know how special they are, folded up. They can display their colours
and that they are in danger.
by spreading their wings.
2. Don't disturb parrot5 in the bush. Another defense mechanism parrots
Leave them to have their chicks in peace. use to protect themselves is the variety of
3. Explain to people why they shouldn't sounds they make. Their vocabulary indisturb
parrots and that it's against the law. cludes alarm calls, flight calls, contact calls
4. If you have a pet parrot, take good and perching calls. If one bird senses
care of it. Make sure the cage is big enough danger, it will alert the other birds around
for it to fly in. Make sure your parrot gets to the danger. The birds may then either
goodfoodlikefreshfruitandvegetablesand hide in their nests or fly away to a safer
rice and peas, not just seeds.
place.

Our Cayman Parrots are among the most colourful in their family. Try to
colour these pictures according to the key to see exactly why this is so. Using
coloured pencils will be easier and give you better results.
G - Green W - White TQ - Turquoise LG - Light Green
YG -Yellow Green
DG - Dark Green
Y - Yellow BG - Blue Green BB - BlueBlack

We Are the Children
of the Cayman islands
(Sung to the tune of the Barefoot Man's song, 'We are the
Children of the Caribbean". Tbe National Trust would
like to thud The Barefoot Man for hLs generous ogertng
a time, in the land of ole Cayman,
ts of pretty parrots flying free throughout our land
They could feed on berries, sea grapes, nuts and seeds
There was plenty woodland for them and you and me.
CHORUS:
We are the children of the Cayman Islands
The Creator's Glory in the land around us
Help save our parrots, for our sons and daughters
Let God be pleased by his children in the West Indies.
Then people came to Cayman, her population grew
And clearing land became the common thing to do.
By making room for people, many parrot homes were lost
Development has made us rich, but parrots paid the cost.
CHORUS
Today our pretty polly some think to be a pest,
Her range declined, food hard to find and Little place to ne
Our parrots have been driven to raid the farmers crop
But if we work together, we can make the damage stop.
I
i
CHORUS
Dear Mum and Dad we're asking for you to lead the way,
Obey the laws of conservation, Save our tomorrow today
You'll be our example by what you say and do
When one day we are parents, we'll be thanking you.
CHORUS

LIVE AND LET LIVE
Yo C.M.P. Let's kick it!
Hi! I'm K-Man and this is Rrac Base
We're here to tell you 'bout your parrot
You like to catch us and put us in cages.
I~low'd you like to be behind bars for ages?
Would you like it? I don't think so.
That's why we say ...
We don't want our kids to have to sing this
So live and let live!
It's a good thing some people care
But still us parrots go through a scare
Now a days there is a fine
Ha! You laugh - But then you pay
$500 dollars is what they say.
You come to our nest with your big yellow monsters
Cracking and banging and frightening our youngsters
You put us in cages thinking we will reproduce
but for parrots in cages, kids are just no use.
So don't harm parrots cause we want to live on
We don't want our kids to have to sing this song.
So live and let live!
by Karieza Elliott and Keiva Morrison
Students at CIMS

Did You Know.. . ..
That the bones in
arrot's wings are
similar to the
s in your arm?
Well they are. A bird's
rm has a shoulder girdle,
bone like the
an humerus, an ela
forearm or forewith
two bones and
That parrots (like most
@
birds) have two stomachs? When
our parrot eats something it first
oes into their "crop". This is basially
a storage area so that a bird can
eat now and digest later. They regurgitate
(push the chewed food back up and
out) to feed its young "parrot baby foocl".
Their secondstomach also ha5 two parts to it:
the Proventiculus where digestive juices are
mixed with the food and the gizzard where
the food is churned and mechanically broken
down.
That the red feathers on our parrots
become redder in the breeding season?
Other special mating behaviours can also be
observed. The parrots feed each other and
preen each other and they build their nest together.
lhat once the baby parrots are hatched,
both parents take care of the young? Both
parents make their own home- made parrot
"baby food" to feed their young. Young
parrots stay with their parents until the next
breeding season. Once the baby birds can fly,
they are herded together by the adults into a
"creche" - a "baby bird daycare centre "-while
the adults go out in search of food.
That parrots can get addicted to sunflower
seeds? If you always feed your pet
parrot sunflower seeds he will not want to eat
other natural fruits and vegetables. A diet
of sunflower seeds is very high in fat content.
Just like people who eat adiet high in
fats, the parrots can become overweight
and have parrot heart attacks.
That parrots mate for lik? Although
there are occasionally a few parrot divorces,
must parrots do mate for life according
to parrot expert Dr. Jim Wiley.
This may be why some single parrots caught
in the wild and put in cages seem to pine
away. They miss their mates. Some people
have noticed that when they hang their
caged pet parrot out of doors, they often
attract other wild parrots.
That parrots need toys? Yes, just
like kids, parrots need recreational activities
and toys. When parrots get bored,
they get nervous and can eventually have
little nervous breakdowns. When they are
bored, they pull their own feathers out.
'I'his is very serious. If it happens to your
pet parrot, you should take him to your
local veterinarian.
The Grand Cavman Parrot
Alright stop, and carefully listen
Grand Cayman parrots are on the verge
of extinction.
It's just not fair, the way we don't care
Something has to be done,
so away with the gun.
Release them from their captivity.
Don't you think they deserve a
little liberty?
Don't kill them, just let them fly.
Don't harm them, don't make them die.
They're just like us, theywannabe free.
Have a little fun and feel happy
So please don't kill them,
I beg you my friend, 'cause you'll
regret it for sure, in the end.
Luana Look Loy, Age 12 , CIMS

Cayman Parrots Quiz
Test your knowledge about Cayman's special parrots. If you
will write your answers on a separate page, you can give this test
to your friends and family. By giving others this test and
correcting their wrong answers, you will be helping to spread
the word about our endangered parrot.. . This will help to save
our parrots, because the more people know and understand
' about our parrots, the more likely it is that theywill he saved. Select
' the best answer andwrite iton aseparate pieceof paper. Checkyuur
answers by looking at the answer key on the back page.
1. Does Cayman have a national bird?
(YES, NO, DON'T KNOW) If yes, what is it?
2. Is the Grand Cayman Parrot found only in Grand Cayman?
(YES, NO, DON'T KNOW) If no, where else?
3. Is the Cayman Brac Parrot found only in Cayman Brac?
(YES, NO, DON'T KNOW) If no, where else
4.How scarce is the Grand Cayman parrot in the wild?
(Less than 100; 101-250; 251-500; 501-999; Over 1000)
5. How scarce is the Cayman Brac parrot in the wild?
(Less than 100; 101-250; 251-500; 501-999; Over 1000)
6.What is the main reason for the Grand Cayman parrot becoming rare?
(Loss of habitat, hunting, pet trade, hurricanes, other)
7.What is the main reason for the Cayman Brac parrot becoming rare?
(Loss of habitat, hunting, pet trade, hurricanes, other)
8.What is the fine for hunting or trapping our parrots?
(None; CI$50.; $250.; $500.; $2,500.; $5,000.)
9. What is the fine for illegally clearing land in an animal sanctuary?
(None; CI$50.; $250.; $500.; $2,500.; $5,000.)
10.Do you think it is important to preserve Cayman's natural heritage?
WS; NO; AND PLEASE EXPLAIN
Please correct your answers by comparing them to the answer key on the back page.
We would love to read about your answers, especially #lo. If you would like to share your
ideas with us, please write to us at:
The National Trust, l? 0. Box 10, George Town.

Kid's Z%ou~bts
(Here are some thoughts from kids at ayman Prep School)
I he mangrove environ- I also noticed that gar- Department insist on saving
ment in the North Sound is in bage is being dumped in the some of them? Trees are so
danger of being destroyed by ponds which is the home for important, especially to the
the land developers. To lose our birds and ducks. parrots who live (in them)
the mangrove would mean I think it should be and eat the nuts and fruit off
the loss of many forms of stopped because it is spoil- the trees.
marine life which live among ing our environment and that Laura K Bromley, Age 9
the mangrove. is very harmful! I am very disturbed
I would recomend that Our laws should be about howthe reefs are being
government make laws to enforced so that people will treated. The reefs also play
protect all trees on the Island, stop distroying our natural an important part in taking
in particular the mangroves. resources.
care of our beaches.
This would mean that chil- Information should be The reefs are not only
dren in the future would be sent to our schools so our the home of most of the
able to enjoy the mangroves youth can help with these marine life but are beautiful
just as we do today and the problems.Thanks for listen- scenes for diving. All of this
little fishesandcrabs whocall ing.
is vital to tourism as tourism
the mangroves home will be Kristin Jackson, Age 10 is vital to the well being of
always grateful for this pro-
these islands.
tection. It's such ashame to lose I am therefore asking
'I'hankingyou for always so many trees when some- that the laws of protecting
listening to the little people one builds a house or hotel. our reefs are properly enwhen
they express their views. Can't they save some of these forced.
Kristopher Gomez, Age 9 trees? Couldn't the Planning Justin Hart, Age 10
, .
Cayman Brac.
capture for pet trade is a
Cayman Parrots
4.0ver 1000 'Today sci- very close second.
entists believe that there are 7.Loss of habitat
Answer Key well over 1000 parrots in Because there were always
I. No The Cayman Grand Cayman. However, it fewer birds on this smaller
Islands Government has is not the number of parrots island, the capture of birds
never officially recognized a here that makes them endan- for pets is much more of a
national bird.
gerd, it is the amount of stress danger than in Grand Cay-
2. Yes Although other on them. man.
species and subspecies of 5.250-500 The Brackers 8. CI$500. Although
green parrot are found on were right. The recent parrot this was not much publiother
islands, no other is- study indicates that there are cized until recently, there is
land has aparrotexactly like at least 300 parrots on Cay- a fine.
our Grand Cayman Parrot. man Brac in the wild. 9.C1$500. Grand Cay-
3,Yes Although at one 6.Lossofhabitat This is man has two animal sanctutime
the Cayman Brac par- the main threat to all our en- aries, Meagre Bay Pond and
rot was found on Little Cay- dangered species in Grand Colliers Bay Pond.
p

Born and Bred
in the
1 A Little Colouring Book for Little People
From the National Trust for the Cayman Islands

My name is Cappy. I live in Grand Caymarl
in the wild. I was born here. I am
Caymanian.
I
I I

This is my cousin Polly. She lives in Cayman
Brac on the Bluff. She was born in Cayman
Brac. She is Caymanian too.

Our feathers are green, blue, yellow and
red. My forehead is white and pink. Polly's
forehead is snowy white but I am bigger.
!

We like to talk. We like to squawk. We like
to fly up in the sky. We make our nests in big
old trees. But today there are not too many of
these.

We like to eat fruit and vegetables, especially
sea grapes and almonds. We like wild
mangoes best of all.

We like to fly free, just over the trees. But
sometimes people try to catch us. That is
against the law. It hurts us and makes us sad.
Can you help to keep us free?

Remember -
Protect us in the wild.
o~*L q,
Produced by: Be National Trust
for the Cayman Islands
3-2 written by: Patricia Scharr
+41v Illustrated by: Phillipe Bush
2 I
o nu- w

FEATURE
TII,:,~AY,\,ANIAN CM,,ASS - ~.rm,c.t> I! fbcc,,,!~r ~,>JI
National Trust owns a piece of Bluff
servotion organirstiona
worked with the National
Trurt and the
Cayman islands govern.
mont 0 make thip happen.
Brad Narthrup of the
Nature Conservancy exreaaed
the rupport of
pis organization for the
fins work bein done by
the National &st and
his expeststion that thlr
will be n long a:~d fruitful
relationship. Pscl
Butler =pealung on be-
half @$RARE the OUP
which has finderthe
Trust's year long
Cayman parrot public
education progra,mme,
paid "Conrervathon is
not ;bout pretty birds.
its about people .
working toge,ther
to preserve our ennronment.
Thin ir what
maker this ceremony w
special:
Mrs. Gvound read a
statement sent b Dr
Martin Kslney of ~CBP
Ca t Keith Tibbetts (seated) notarisestha aper that make the
lan%&nefer to the National Rust o%cxaL I& is atserved b MR.
I(sy Watt of the Brae Txyt Committee; Mr. JePINoh of'& ~ a :
(International Council tvre Conservancy, whnch handed the Land over; an1 Polly, the
for Bi~d Preservation) Cayman Brac parrot
which said in pwt. The
dedication and rofer study. The foundation being held for future
rionali~m of the 8atim: is now firmi laid and enerstions of Cayman
al Trust in an example ICBP looks forward ta ti rackerr. We are gratefar
the whole Caribbean promoting the work of ful to Mr. Pennie and
and are qualities thst the National Trust in look fornard to his coneveryone
on the the next steps to con- tinued friendship and
Cayman Islands can feel serve forever the uni ue involvement in our emproud
of. Thanks to national heritaes dhe munity."
their initiatives, the fu. ..-.. The . . Trllrt'r . . . narrot
ture of the Cayman
marcot ~ollG-.thi the land come backinto
~rac parrot seems more Dintrict Cam- Cayman' Brae parrot the hands of
secure, achieved missioner James Ryan war on hand to help Caymamans and to
throvph the IY:C~SS~Y~ dvri?, his remarks port ri ns on the prop- know that it will be
blend of public ~nvolve. raid ft is a wonderful erty inficatin that it ra preserved and protected
ment and re~entific thin; to see this land protected 1-8:
forfvtvre gencrationa."

APPENDIX B
EXAMPLES OF MEDIA COVERAGE

~ -
THECAYMANIANCO~~PASS~ ~anb.y 18 \(arch IWI LOCAL
Advice from
parrot experts
ro PLI but orr.ficinl rrentanc barer
P;edetiou. both by "aural prednrarr
n rhz wild Itkc frm. r ~ and ~ hrmbn r
wavs in which to control the crao
..,,.. %""* ~.
.... ~ ..*,,." .,,, ... "*.*
programme. Mr. Butlerhas been in
comtsct wlth serveral lnernational
organisntions an the subjeet and
recommends that the Trust bring in a
rpecislist with svinn crop pests ro
work with Cnyman'a farmers in developin
strategies for dealing with
this pro%lam that are praetlenl and e i
feetive far local farmers.
3. Legislation and Enforcement: In
an effort to help sovc our parrots, the
Government removcd the Cayman
arrotr from the smc bird llrt as o!
januely 1990. ~6ir means that it is
an offence a ainst the law for anyone
to trap or kip a pamt or tamper rid,
its nest. Ex erts around the re '~n
have praireXthir move as 8 wo?Terful
example of a government actln ia
protect its natural herttaqe. 6nfortunately
many Caymanlsns are
not aware of the changes in the law
as indicated by the Rust's recent run
vey. Public eduration on this has been
recommended.
Some t pe of registration TO
grnmme &r pet ppvatt would ge ;
necenrary prerequlnte to renr?nahle
enforcement of the law. Wlthov:
some sort of ~e&trntion, it I5 impossible
fer a policeman to tell ifa
parrot in ca tivity were taken before
or afterthe Ew war changed.
4. Pet Parrot Registration: Pas:
Butler of RARE has recommended a
iegistratien of pet parrots: ,'In 9.
Lueia, St. Vincent and Dommlra, this
type of programme has worked veq
well raid Mr. Butler. "pet owners
were' glad to hrin their precmur pew
in for the free &esk.up and were
proud to display their certificates oT
oi\ner$hio".
C.L. FLOWERS & SONS
Quality Blocks Pavers Fancy Blocks T;
Dr. Jim \vile)., expert, and Fred Buriqn. Depup Dircepr and
avid nat~rnl~st, they plan parrot watching stntlon dvrtng the
rrrenr namt .me" on cavmao Braf
in S:. Luria, pet parrat ownern 'cated that Otto Watler has made a
tnng :heir pairots in to the Govern- very ood start at his facility in
ment iorc3try officer. The hird ir G Caymen ~ Cayman parrat. ~ ~ He with also % the nug Grand ested
givpn a cherk.up by the veterinarian.
The owner is roun$elled, if neeesssy. that a ca ove breeding focility%e es-
33 direasc prevention, proper nutrr- tablishel in Cayman Brnc for the
rim and care of their hird. The bird is Cayman Brac Pnrmt.
given a leg hand with its ragrtratlon ~n additional breeding facilit is
nurnbir on it and the omer rr given a needed as a backup becaupo he ieln
certificate. "ARer this type of pro- the Cnnnan Brae oarrot is severely
amne war up and runn~ng", said endangereo
Cr. Butler, .then we were able to en-
%ice the law preventing capture from
rie ,uild".
Dr. James Wile:, agreed. "Governnenr
should cermnly consider such a
prrpranme. This would give govern.
zenr an accurate count ~f brrds in
captivity, a way to control any poten.
:;el disease problems and a viable
prior rare public iducation
pmxe Eventually, offsprin Prom
rnprire breedjng may he ussffor a
avrt~ oipeU m the future."
5. Errahiirh captive breeding pie.
-ammi: Dr. Wiiey strongly rug-
&iti that a captive breeding pro.
qamne be started in both islands for
:,a Carman Brac parrot. He ,"dl-
h0rnPk-s
6. hoper per care. hl s n Y
Cnvrnanlans hnvc oet oarrorr Good
ca;e and adequatd diit can pmlong
the life .I a pet parrot to 30 years or
more.
a. Adequate space: Pet parrots
shovld be kept in large cages at lesrt
3' x 3' r 3tninvmvm with several er
eher. Rerh fwd and water shoulfal:
ways be available.
b. Proper diet: A healthy parrot's
diet should include a variety offooodr.
not jest reeds. Fresh vegetables and
{mi*. are very important And parrot
nuttitionirrs strongly recommend nee
and pear, as long as they are freshly
cooked. Pnrrotr are very rvnreptlble
M o n - 8
Advice from parrot experts
with frenh water and eentlv sorsv
r. 6i$eoscr from the bacteria in left your parrot. The par,; wlf 9 'uea
cser or rpo:led food.
and rquswk and hen upside jori
< ~raucted enwronment Parrow and rhaic our its teatlers ~hi3 WII
.x cades should he kept our oid2rc.L he' to keep its beautiful colourl
~ ~ ~ l and ~ psrron i : breezes. Whcn bn%
ttcy are 10 the rilfthey stay m the f. Obey the laws: Do not take par.
thnde b-d u, thr lee oftha md. rot6 from ihe wld And do not er..
d Mcqcere eeonty. Parrots need courage ocher6 to Lske them either
rays- to keep them busy. Glva them Buylng or accepting an ~lle~slly d e n
~03.s chines U) play w+. Ibkt t m ~ l parro~ BP B OR makes )OU equlll)
aid 1ea.r~ 'r an ~ cc~sl~nal manco ~UIICY of the OR~&P
r.-
t Keep rhcm clean: 'Pnnorn can be ualj bho either shoot parrots or a:.
eve" a rhoref and they teally cnpy tazcr ro snare psnota for the pet
me ar:mlon once fhev Z P used ~ ra 1L. nsie lc )P imn016lhlc for the rxllrrr u
rays Jim Wiley. SaGeand carefully epforce the laws without -the ar.
clean a pump spray bottle. R11 it rlstaneeofthe public.
~
For More Information
Phone 95299 Fax 90595
Business Hours 8:00- 4:30 Mon - Fri
8:00 - 11:30 Sat
i
It's tastefdy created for you with Wendy's whole
chicken breast fillet, natural swiss cheese, 2 slices of
tender succulent ham, plus to fish it off we use the
1 best French Dijon Mustard and mayonaise.
C'est Magnifiquel
Only avoilnble for a limited time at:

A2 WEEKENDER ~ I I I ~ ~ A ? < ~ c:>$I,:>s# ~ , ~ YI, I ,.,a% . ~ ~ \!.:,,,
Born in #he Cayman Islands

~ ~
~I~LC\Y~~,WIAVCOWPASS FAY I M=R~ IN[
WEEKENDER
Treasure hunters meet in Cayman
~';n&h~~~~ Jr.--he of
the Pirates Munevm on
W. .-- D .- ~ -,.
Rau Road--has .
farmed a new treasure
hunting com an that
will meet at 8e doliday
Inn this week !o hear
treasure huntin ex
pert. from srauns th;
world tnlk'about Poaaiblefutvre
operstions.
The new company,
called MAREX, was
formed in Memphis.
Tennessee in the US
recently and i+ goal is
to look fm notpi ahal-
Ioi water wrecks but
dye? Z e r wroekage
and 'valosble c-."
hnntrs from around
~ -
the world discuss re.
search, new hi-tech erploration
and recovery
techniques, film os
sibilitres OF Punien
shins. and the marketing'.(
ancient coins and
jewelry recovered from
wyecks.
We want to letpeople
know what we're domg
and what our plans are
far 'the future naidMr.
numphreys, who began
diving Toy sunken
treasure as a hobby
several earsaw.
~r;dmphreys made
it a int to say that no
run%-reiaing work 1s
d0.e by h~mrelf or
MAREX That's handled
strict1 by Marltlme
capital ~ o u ont.of p
Chicago.
Amon the apeakejn
the MAKREX group wt~l
hear from nre Henri
DeLsuze of Marseilles,
fiance on underwriter
en ineorin Mike
hieraon af cornwall,
England, the former
head d UK Salavsga
Associates; Robert
Stenuit of B~?ur%ls. Bel-
pm,
B mter and un.
erwatrr research expert:
Ralph. White, an
underwater 61m maker
from Los Angeles;
Bahamas researcher-
Dan Koaki; jeweler
Jerry Chaver; and Jsm
Whittaker of Flonda an
new remvery techniques
for dee water me&.
Mr. gurnphreys also
operates a Csyman-
based ram any called
MAR whir! has been
What Cuymanians think
working in the
Bnhamss the past few
at the wreck of
the Spanish galleon
Marovilla
he new compan dif
rers cram MAR in Xat iE
inviter inve~ter psrtisiand
will also go
after ''valuable ~argo'
slvags euch as trm aod
platinum ar,oppoaed Lo
~t~irtly s,ns~ent coins.
gold and s~lver. . ,
The informal meelmgs
on Grand Cs man are
considered to kmom of
a holiday for the new
company and itsnnvertora
said a
apokeaperson hr Mr.
Humphreya.
NO ,s~vsge operations.
near the Cayman Islands
are planned, raid :
the apohspmn.
I On your money with
: Lombard in Jersey
7Ot0.
-
Question:EIow scarce is the Cayman Brsc
Prnt7
Per onpe 58 3% admxrud that they dJd not knou
at alfwrh some ssklng tf there were lndeed any
parrots an Cayman Brnc The vnde spread of other
responges rndtented thsr most people were not
ahare of the plaeht of ..he cr>ueally endangered
Cayman Brsc a&r
Quesrion:&ar is the main reason far the
Grand Cayman p-or becoming
Rer onri 31 8% af those surveyed,listed hunt.
ing/k$ling=s &e main reason. 22.4% ldentified the
et trade as the main rearan. 19.2% cited loss of
Rebitst (thmugh,develapment). No?e chose hurri-
~snednatural dxpasters as s slgnlfieant factor.
1.9% indilated some 0th answer and'l8.7% said
Cayman's Newest
Restaurant Sensation
&;id-i$i-&,' 4.j96*;G;o&;other r;aran,
~uebtion:~hat is the fine for huntimg or
Fallowing these question were s fey uestions
about the respondent. The a es of i%ividuala
were spread across alf age ranger. OF.
cupations represented included avernment employees(20.8).
famernabourer($.f%), pryate sector(35.4%)
unem la cd(lO%I houscwrfe(9.8%),
.t.,a..aln k,angot~er(ii.j%i
.~ ~
A, the end afthew year long isnot ronsevnuon
yrugrsmrne. the Tmrt vrll condun o rrmllsr s~rvey
m .. n..-.. s~rr ~ I chance C m alllc~d. ma e&cllrc!arrl of
~
their programme.
Taatalidng Seafwd
with a rral mole Flavor
S~caks andnhcrhe Swialdss
all sct among the most inniguing
Salt Water Aquariums
at me Ncwcly Rcdccmted
Grand Pavilion Hotel
Won Bay Road
CasualDrcss
AmplePaddng
Tuesday Thzu Sunday -
6:W PM - I0:W PM
Phone 74666 For Rcsmadons
Relax &Enjoy
re-DinnciCocklails on
The Waterfall Tcrracc
uilh Live Enlenainmcnt
Monday Thm Friday - 5:W PM - 7:W PM
"Due to Popular Demand, we ore now
Open 7 nigh1 o ucek."
'

Farmers sound off Mini I

I
r
: . M I S S w I I I __ LOCAL NEWS 3
Signing session . HELP COORS PROTECT
Fred Burton. PeterDutton. Todd Appleman and Da& Ground d rid
a toast to the B racpmt in Cools beer.
Sup a beer, save
a parrot
Cooro Brewin Comgmy
and the QIacgues
rott Group are to
donate 50 cents to the
Ca man Islands Nariana1
crust for every ease
of Coors beer sold in the
islands between now
and 31 March 1992.
There is guaranteed
minimum of CIS2,OOO.
The funds will be used
to benefit the Parrot
Reserve on Cayman
BTBC.
At the launch of the
scheme. Mr. Peter Dutton,
a director of Jscues
Scott, said that
8
aors had not wanted to
come into the Cayman
market without making
rome positive contribution.
The company had
fired on the Cayman
Brsc parmt
A census af the birds
in February had shown
that there were only be
tween 300 and 450 par-
rot~ in the wild on the
Brat.
MT. Fred Burton.
director of science and
stewardship for the National
Trust. said that
Ca man had two
enLmic parrot, both
are sub-species of the
Cuban parrot. One oceurr
tin Grand Cayman,
the other on the Brac.
The rub-speciea an the
Brac was conridered one
of the most endan ered
parrots in the world
Mrs. Dace Ground, executive
director of the
Natiansl Truat exglained
that the bust
ad been donated 100
acres of land an the
Brac Bluff by the Nature
Conservancy gar-
iier in the month. 'The
land would form the
heart of the Brae parrot
conservation pro.
gramme.
MI. Todd Applema?, a
corporate communlcationr
manager from
Coora said that his
cornpiny had been in.
voived in en\ironmental
schemer for rome time.
One war "Pure Water
2000' which had been
going three years. The
company had donated
$3m to varraus of its
pmgammes. Being asb.e
in the environmontsl
community the eompany
had wanted to do
amnothing positive in
Cayman.
Jacques Scott will be
carrying Coon Original
and Coorr Light in the
Islands.
O3 f \ * 24 HOUR
@ BANKING.
Wh.lgmd~a~tdywmlhmxrclllo~r~onuncbndrudafirr
bvnrrrr hr9 EIprwlly whm 1,'s
!k only umc mmnlrnl k )nu
mh %siur 24 HW B- you can wal~nw kpau ud d e r
fmn om amant lo uaUKr You un m n ckk p r xnvm Mmr
Awm Dy a&, SmulPlur I4 Havr wrgptdcryou with uC
WE .M mmtrnf rasra m ywr wwnl Mh prur a n Srmslu
14 b r &lung urd p un rnjq urn i& ud rnmtucac
luw uX p r Xollbsrk bnoeh hw, you M rrrrlrr p. own SmuaPIu
24 How m g cud ud run b.n*lnl r your comcnomnc
ScotiaPlus
I 1
Now... that's banking.
g
Scotiabank 3
Now Serving at Cardinal Avenue in George Town Tel: 97666
and in Industrial Pnrk Tel 97666

APPENDIX C
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING PARROT BALLS

I
I
I
I
I
I
MAKEYOUR OWN
PARROT BALL
PUPPETS
A Conservation Education Activi~ from
The National Trsutfor the Cayman Islanth

PARROT BALLS
A project developed during the National Trust for the Cayman Islands' Year of the Parrot
by Chris Mann and RARE Counterpart, Patricia Scharr.
This simple to make and inexpensive puppet can be used in a number ofenjoyable and
educational activities, limited only by your imagination.
Materials needed:
Instructions: -
1. White or ell ow-green tennis balls
2. Black indelible marking pen (laundry marker)
3. Exacto razor blade cutting instrument
4. Acrylic paints corresponding to the colours found on your parrot.
qQ\
1. Hold tennis ball with name of manufacturer
down in the palm of your hand.
You ball forms will note a natural that one line ofthe which seams will be in used the
as the upper beak definition line. Note
the centre line drawn in thediagram. This
is an imaginary line. Do not actually draw
this line.
8
2. Draw the two nose holes with your
indelible marker pen just below the upper
beak definition line. Drop down the
centre line from the nose holes about one
and one quarter inches and make another
dot on the centre line. This dot is for the
tip of the beak.
3. Next draw eyes just above the upper
beakdefinition line. Make sure eyes are at
least one quarter inch in diameter and
symmetrically placed on either side of the
centre line.
1
I
I

4. Now draw acurved line from the outer top
side of one eye to the outer top side of the
other eye. This outlines the white forehead
found on our Cayman Amazonaleucocephala
5. Next outline thecheek areaon each side by
drawing a circular line from where the eye
joins the upper beakdefinition line, back and
around until it joins the upper beak definition
line again. This outlines the rosy red
cheeks found in our Cayman Amazona leuco
6. With the Exacto razor, cut a curved line as
shown in diagram from the beak tip dot, back
to the cheek area on each side.
7. Now when you squeeze the ball between
thumb and fingers, the beak will open.
8. Next assemble acrylic paints, brushes and
egg cartons. Use one brush for each colour
and rest the painted parrot balls on the egg
cartons. Paint the parrot's head to correspond
with the colours ofyour own endemic parrot.
The diagram shown here is keyed to the
coloration of the Cayman Amazona
leucocephala species.
9. When parrot balls are completely painted
and dry, have each child name their parrot
and write the child's name and the parrots
name on the underside of the ball for identi-
10. Now you are ready to work with the

PARROT BALL ACTIVITIES
Created by Patricia Scharr, RARE Countelpart,
during the National Trust for the Cayman ZsLznds' Year of the Parrot
Once you have made your parrot balls, activities are endless. Here are a few examples
of activities which have worked well for us both in the classroom setting and in
recreational summer camps.
These parrot balls in the hands of children can:
SOUAWK. - TALKAND WALK- In play activitesor in more formalized puppet
plays, kids can spend endless hours play acting stories. With a little direction,
these can easily have conservation themes.
SING - After teaching children your parrot song, they can hold the parrot ball
in their hand and sing while they make the parrot ball "sing the song". .
FLY- Although theseballsdon'tbounceaswellas they oncedid, they can be used
for any variety of throwing and catching games from a simple game of catch to
"Parrots flying to their nest" by decorating a bucket or basketball hoop as a tree
hole nest. Points gained for balls which stay in the nest and additional points
can be gained for increasing the distance from the pitcher to the target.
This activity is so inexpensive that we found it viable in classrooms and well as in
recreational summer camps.
LANGUAGE ARTS -These worked well in the Cayman Islands Middle School
English classes as a stimulus for creative writing. Poems, plays, stories, songs
and even rap music were produced.
SOCIAL STUDIES - These special creatures can be used to focus attention on
conservation issue like land use, populations and customs.
SCIENCE - Parrot balls can be used to draw attention to identifying character
istics, the stereoscopic vision birds have and bird biology in general as well as
conservation issues like the carrying capacity of land or what makes an animal
endangered etc.
ART- This project started out as an art project and can be expanded upon by
creating a parrots body from cardboard, cloth or papier mache.
And there is an added benefit to this activity. If each child has their own individual
puppet they take it home, the child continues tocommunicate our conservation
message to everybody he or she comes in contact with.

APPENDIX D
DIRECTIONS FOR PARROTS IN THE SAND

PARROT SAND SCULPTURES
A project developed during the National Trustfir the Cayman Islands' Year cf the Parrot
by Chris Mann and RARE Counterpart, Patricia Scharr.
Although this concept was designed for a Marine Conservation activities, it was
particularly effective when parrots were used as the theme. The materials and
instructions here were designed for a group of 50 children at the beach but can easily
be adapted for other situations.
Materials needed:
-sandy beach
-12 wood frames constructred out
of 2 " x 2" pine, joined securely at
the corners.
- 12 buckets
-24 bottles of food colouring (red,
blue, green, yellow)
-twigs, sprigs, leaves, shells, seaweed
and things naturally found
on or near the beach.
Instructions:
Sandv beach - Select an area where children can lay their frames in the sand, near the
water so that they can get water but not so close that the waves wili wash away their
creations. There should be at least six feet between frames so that there's room to work.
Wood Frames: Frames are 3 feet by 4 feet in dimension. They should be made out
of 1 inch by 1 inch pine, neatly joined and sanded so that children will not get splinters.
These can be saved and used over and over again.
Buckets and Food Colourin~: Plan to mix two smll bottles of food colouring per gallon
bucket of wet sand. We used sea water to wet the sand. This works particularly well
with blue and yellow. For red and green, it may be more effective to drop a spot of food
colouring directly on to the sculpture and let the kids "work it" in to the area.
It is helpful for children to collect things they wish to use to decorate or give texture
to their sculptures in advance. It is also helpful to have children engage in drawing or
colouring pictures of parrots in advance so that they have an experiential idea about
shapes and proportions.

Sand Scul~ture Contest Rules:
A project developed during the National Trustfor the Cayman Islandr'~f
the Parrot
by Chris Mann and RARE Counterpart, Patricia Scharr.
1. Teams must consist of at least 2 but no more than four children.
2. Each team will be assigned one frame in an areawith room to move around and easy
access to the sea.
3. Each team is responsible for bringing their own "tools" (if necessary) and collecting
items to decorate their parrots with.
4. Sculpture must be completed out of natural coloured sand before any coloured sand
can be used to decorate it.
5. A time limit will be set by the judges (approximately one hour) during which all
workmay be completed. 15,lO and 5 minute warnings will be given as the deadline
approaches. Judges may extend time limit if they so desire.
6. Sculptures will be divided into categories by the ages of children as follows:
Primary Level - ages 5-7 with close adult supervision
Upper Primary - ages 8 -10 No adult assistance
Middle School - ages 11-13 No adult assistance
High School - ages 14-17 No adult assistance
7. Sculptures will be judged on originality, accuracy, colour and texture.
8. Polaroid colour snapshots should be taken to post with awards.
It is also helpful to take black and white photos for the newspapers.
9. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category.
10. Decision of the judges is final.
These contests were held on the public beach to the delight of tourists and residents alike.
Prizes for the contest were donated by local businesses.

APENDIX E
MUSEUM EXHIBIT

PARROTS EXHIBIT
A jointproject hueloped by the National Trustfor the Cayman Islands
and the Cayman Islands NationalMuseum
Written by RARE Counterpart, Patricia Schaw.
CAYMAN'S UNIO-UE PARROTS
When Columbus landed in the Caribbean, there were 27 species of parrots. Today there are
only 13 species left and all are endangered. The Cayman Islands is lucky enough to have two
separate sub-species of the Cuban parrot (Amazona leucocephala). One is found only on
Grand Cayman (Arnazonaleucocephalacaymanensis) and the other is found only on Cayman
Brac (Arnazona leucocephala hesterna). The term "Amazona" places them in the group of
parrots whichwere descended from ancestors in theAmazon basin ofSouthAmericahundreds
of thousands of years ago. The term "leucocephala" refers to the characteristic white patch
on their foreheads. Long prized as pets by Caymanians because they are very intelligent birds
and could easily be taught to speak, these Caymanian sub-species are the most colourful of
all the Cuban parrots.
The Grand Cayman Parrot, (Arnazona leucocephala caymanensis) is a very gregarious, noisy
bird. These parrots have awidevariety of sounds and calls, often made while in flight. They
are slightly bigger that the Cayman Brac parrot and are found in far greater numbers. The
population size was last estimated at about 1,000 in 1985, however, many feel that there are
1,500 to 2,000 on Grand Cayman, The National Trust is planning to do a census of these
parrots in February, 1992. The Grand Cayman parrot is one ofthe more healthy populations
of endangered parrots in the Caribbean although it is still considered an endangered bird
because of its small range and the number of threats it lives under.
The Cayman Brac Parrot (AmazonaIeucocephalahesterna) is aquieter bird. It isverysecretive,
when sensing human presence and especially protective of its nesting places. It rarely makes
any noise when in flight. In fact, it is so quiet that researchers call it the "stealth parrot". The
current population of this bird is estimated at about 300 by a recent census carried out by the
NationalTrust in early 1991.The Cayman Bracparrot is far more endangered than the Grand
Cayman parrot because it has always had a smaller range and smaller population. It is
considered to be one of the rarest parrots in the Caribbean.
PARROT HABITAT
Both sub-species of Cayman parrots will establish breeding colonies in dense, mature
woodland areas. They like tall old hard wood trees like Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani),
Cedar (Cedrela ordorata), Ironwood (Chionanthus caymanensis) and many others. They will

also nest in thedead trunks ofRoyal Palm trees (Roystonea regia). Grand Cayman parrots nest
extensively in Black Mangrove trees (Avicenniagerminans). Our parrots are cavity nesters and
will occupy old nests hallowed out by West Indian Woodpeckers (Melanerpes superciliaris)
or other cavities made by fungi or natural rotting of the wood. Mature old trees with girths
of about 30 inches or more can form suitable nest cavities.
Although the parrots will fly over awide range ofland, they tend to nest away from developed
areas and people. You will note on the maps below that the concentration of parrots is now
in the northern and eastern Districts ofGrand Cayman and nesting is limited to the Blufflands
in Cayman Brac. There are no parrots nesting in Little Cayman at this time.
CAYMAN'S ENDANGERED PARROTS
1. The Cayman Islands have always had a very small land mass. Even before man inhabited
these islands, the parrots range was limited to 197 square kilometres (76 sq. miles) on Grand
Cayman, 38 square kilometres (14.7 sq. mi1es)onCayman Brac and28 square kilometres (1 0.8
sq mi1es)on Little Cayman. This magnifies the impact of development and the other stresses
on the birds.
2. Loss of habitat is probably the major cause of endangerment of Cayman's parrots as with
most other parrots in the Caribbean. Our parrots limited range has been further reduced by
development. Although development is inevitable, sustainable economic growth can only be
achieved with the intelligent management of sustainable resources.
3. Hunting has been another major threat to the parrots. The parrots were on the Game Bird
List here until January 1990. Theywere hunted for sport, as agricultural pests and for the pet
trade. Now our parrots are on the local list of protected birds. It is illegal to hunt, kill, trap
or tamper with their nests or eggs.
4. Harvesting chicks for pets has become the second most serious threat to our parrots. It is
estimated that the majority ofchicks taken for this purpose die due to exposure, poor nutrition
and injury. In the process of harvesting chicks, the nests are often destroyed. Since parrots
return to the same nest each breeding season, and suitable parrot nesting sites are declining
as development escalates, the loss of each nest cavity takes on increasing significance.
5. The risk of natural disasters like hurricanes and droughts is a fact of life in Cayman.
Hurricanes kill the birds, knock down trees with nest cavities and strip trees of fruits, berries
and flowers that parrots like to eat.(It is estimated that 50% may perish in asevere hurricane.)
Even severe rain storms can flood nests and drown chicks. Droughts diminish the supply of
wild fruits, berries and flowers as well as fresh water.
G.Another serious threat, especially to the young parrots is the presence of feral cats and
sometimes rats. Both are able to climb trees and prey upon eggs and chicks in their nests.
Newly fledged chicks are particularly vulnerable to feral cats. These feral animals are also a
threat to other endangered species such as our Blue Iguana.

7. Our parrots are ratherslow breeders. It takes four years foraparrot to reachsexual maturity.
They only breed once a year and usually have only three or four eggs in a clutch. Lack of
available nesting sites and/or the supply of food in the wild can negatively effect their
reproduction. They are extremely difficult to breed in captivity After four years ofeffort, local
breeder Otto Watler was able to successfully hatch six chicks in 199 1. The birds above are one
of those families. Pictured are the parrot parents and their two chicks.
PRESERVING CAYMAN'S PARROTS
In late 1990 the NationalTrust for the Cayman Islands was approached by the RARE Centre
for Tropical Conservation to jointly sponsor a public education programme for the residents
of the Cayman Islands about their unique parrots. At the start of the programme 1% of the
population was randomly surveyed. At that time, although many did not know how many
parrots there were or if there were even any parrots in the Brac, 77% expressed their desire to
see the Cayman parrots preserved. Since then several projects have been positively received.
This exhibit is yet another part of the RARE Conservation Education Programme.
PROTECT OUR PARROTS IN THE WILD
Nothing symbolizes freedom more than the sight ofparrots flying free. Preserved in the wild,
they represent mankind's responsibility to care for the earth.
Protecting Cayman's parrots in the wild will retain their uniquely Caymanian identity. The
rich array ofsocial behaviours and vocal calls exhibited by our parrors is as much a part of their
uniqueness as theirshape and colour. Aparrot raised incaptivity does not develop these natural
features and is a mere shadow of the birds living in the wild. To preserve these birds in all their
glory, we must preserve them in the wild,
Protecting parrots in the wild also protects the habitat for numerous other plants and animals
which live naturally in the same areas and helps retain the uniquely Caymanian characteristics
of our woodland areas.
Parrots are an integral part of the woodland ecosystem they inhabit. By feeding on the fruit
ofwild trees, they disperse seeds, helping retain the balance in nature necessary for countless
other plants and animals to survive. Captive parrots cannot fulfill this vital role.
Finally, protecting our parrots in the wild is an important part of retaining our Caymanian
quality of life. The sight of parrots flying freely, the sound of parrots talking and squawking,
and the observation of their behaviour and their antics, have always been a part of life here.

The preservation of Cayman's parrots is the responsibility of all Caymanians who value their
natural heritage.
HELP PROTECT CAYMAN'S PARROTS
Obey the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Since the parrot has been removed from the game bird list (effective January 1, 1770)
it is an offense against the Animals Law to hunt, kill, trap or tamper with their nest or
eggs. Such an offense carries a fine or CI$500.
Do not purchase parrots taken illegally from the wild.
As it is an offense against the law to take parrots from the wild, it is important to refrain
from and discourage others from obtaining wild parrots. The Cayman Islands are
signatoryto C.I.T.E.S. (Convention on the InternationalTrade in Endangered Species)
It is against the law to import or export our endangered species.
I
If you have a pet parrot take good care of it.
While preserving parrots in the wild is more desirable, a pet parrot cared for properly
may live 30 or more years. Make sure it is in a cage large enough to fly around in; it
is fed a proper diet; and it is taken for regular check ups at your local veterinarian. At
any signs of abnormal behaviour take it to the vet.
1 Encourage developers to clear land selectively.
Although some development is inevitable, individuals clearing land for a residential
dwelling or agricultural development should be encouraged to leave the mature trees
standingwhenever possible. After all it took 50 or more years for many ofthem to grow.
Help control feral cats and dogs.
House pets should be licensed and neutered. Letting house pets roam at night allows
them to breed with stray animals. This increases the wild or feral cat and dog
population. Ifyou notice feral animals in your neighbourhoodcall the Humane Society.
If you have a pet or know someone with a pet who doesn't want it any more, call the
Humane Society.

APPENDIX F
ABOUT THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

Cayman history on I tape
Story and pietvrc
by Carol Winkcr
The master copy of a
local documentary
filmed in 1975 wan pre-
sented to the Nntionni
Museum this wcck by
it9 mentor, Mr. Dorcn
Miller.
Alongwith the mnrter
Mr. Miller has donated
Trust parrot programme
gains momentum
The Natiolol Rurt re arts positive
eommumtv rnterest an1 suooort for
their par& education prigramme.
This year-Ion* pnrrnt conservation
pro amme, developed in conjunction
WitRthe RARE Centre for tro ieal
bird preservation, is mainly Aura.
tionel in nnturc.
The first ob'eetive af the programme
is ta make davmsnians aware that
wa to protect ero i and parrots.
'.$Je have nrkea~rankiin Smith to
work with the rcientirk and hope that
other farmers will too. Together, we
hope they will find viable solution
far the parrots runm.al and tho pro-
L~CY hewe tho Untque and rare arratr tection of the farmers' croor." . . Mlr.
chat no other count ~n the \.ox?d has GrGnd said.
rhc 6rrr task, thckrr reports, ~ 2 % Continued publicity and public edu.
to csnduct a svnev . of . one . . nerr~nr ... . of
. cation programmer include diatribu
tho population to ram le the knowl- lion of the Trust's Cayman Parrots
edge and attitudes oPCaymnnians Pact Sheet the four ealour portel,
about pnrmte. 'The response was for publie speak' ~ng engagements, adult
the most part very oritive" said
Patricia ~cherr, coorknutor fir the
Trust's arrot programme. "It war
vlcasanth surorisine to hear so man"
ieaple saL, Tliank iou far asking m'e
there questions. I really learned
something I didn't know'."
.uter ==king the rurvey questions.
the answers were reviewed with each
rerpondent. Public reaction war pas!.
live and rupportive for the most part.
Fanners questioned in the survey expressed
the view that perrots
damaged crops. This factor must be
taken into acravnt when one conriders
rats" says Dace Gmund. "The fnrmera
Lave s very reel ~roblem. The
Trust is working to bring in speeinlirtl
in crop damage to identify the best
ecturea and teacher workshops.
he Rust's panat porter, 'Born and
Bred in the Cayman lrlan r" is avall
able to nurt member3 any into.,:
ested party who will display one in a
publie plarc. ,The pollei features an
hdubon Society ~uslity four rolovr
pi~tnre af both the Grand Cayman
panot and the Cayman Brae srrot as
name infamatian agout the
Donotr. here posters and ndd~tlonal
fact sheet are available from the Tnst
and the public is encouraged to call
the (9-0121) for further inform?-
tion or reouost a speaker for their
ronservatiao measurer for the par.
COME ONE!!!
all ri&+rr in porpetui~y. "Upon the Scns: A
so that ~idcotnp coplcr Study afthe Cnymon In.
can bc n reaenrch lands' wan conceived
resource and also be written diiccted and
sold by the Murcunj as produreh b Mr. Miller
an ongoing fundraisor. er part of Caymnn's
"Pesti~al of the Arts''
lpredceermr of Pirates
Week).
The 45.minute pro.
gramme conveys on en.
cplopedic rumman of
ayrnan'r history and
heritage, illustrated
through interviews and
scenic footage an Grand
Cayman and Cayman
Brer, sn well as old
mnpr and pictures. .
COME ALL!!!
To Beautiful North Side For ATranquil
Sunday and The Greatest
All You Can Eat Buffet
Menu includes: Fish Cayman Style,
Curry Chicken,Pepper Steak and our
delicious Conch Stew.
A variety of Salads.
All served with Rice & Beans, Fried
Plantains, Cassava
and Mixed Vegetables.
Featured sc entr include
the Cte Mr.
Ernest Panton, Ca t
Rayal Bodden and ir:
Ray llcTaggnrt, each of
whom played n prominent
role in the countv's
de\,elopment.
Dr. Roy and his wife,
the late Ernrly McTagcart.
heloed vnderwite
ihe iost6fthe 61m.
The \Iden is now avail- Mr. Doren Miller presents "A S!udy of the
able throvgh the Museum
eiR shooforUS$25.
Cayman Irlands".to Mvreum D~rector Ms.
Anita Ebsnlcr. Coprer mny be purcha~ed.
/ red SDOP~S
LAST CHANCE
DIVE
CERTIFICATION
COURSE
- 1)
cl$200
(Normally CI $352)
Red Sail Sports Scuba School offers a
March special for
local residents!
This special price includes: manuals,
class room and pool instruction, boat
dives and all equipment. No other costs!
The chance you've been waiting for!
Your choice in Scrumptous Desserts, Classroom lessons during the evening.
i.e. Coconut and Apple Pies, Cassava Cake,
Pool work and boat dives
Fruit Cocktail.
on weekends.
THIS YOU JUST CANT MISS:
NOW IS YOUR LAST CHANCE
or just$14.95 per person DON'T MISS OUT!!
I
FOR MORE DETAILS CALL:
RED SAILS SPORTS
97965
I

*wnrr20u
-
L D X W SPY
I-.WI,IF
-= Wll.) WLD I rn -
26thYear FFUDAY 6 FEBRUARY 1991 25Q
WUQ L,,
CAL T U~S New plans for Brac

CONTRIBUTORS (CONTINUED)
CIHS Music Department
Facultv: Robert Chapman
Students: LoriSmtth (soloist), Charmtn Wood, Chevanese
Lumsden, Desrem Btnm, Nicole Watler, JewelHinds, Caro-
line GnffSin, Trista Belfoure, Amber Bothwell; Patricia Anneford,
Pauline McField, Amy Watson, Niosby Carter,
Donovan Ltndo, Lenford Wilkes Cpercussionist).
SDedaltbanks to the BarefootMan for permission to use
the melody from his song "We are tbe Children of the
Caribbean.
Reception Committee
PZannZnn: Heidi Harre, Rarrlda Schart; Margaret Stelling,
Penny Cliflord
Donatiom: Mary Lee Rowlandson, Merrelt Chollette,
Heather Mchughltn, Mary Boxall, Vernida Watler, Cillu
Aylen, Molly Wbitelock, Sandra Joseph, Bn'gltta Dallison,
Miranda Barwick, June Ratcliffe, Pat Nicholson, Betty
Hall, Annick Lietaer, Maureen Collins, Diana Mulone,
DavidFoster, (Fosters Food Fair), B yce Merren, (Cayman
Imports), Charles Kirkconnell, (Kirk's Supermarket), Jacques
Scott and Company, l%e Wine Cellar, Mike's Ice.
Bartenders: Nlcbolas Munyard, Maizie St. Louis, Marilu
Hagen, Cheryl Cooper, LowellPanton
Sibecial tbanks to Radisson Resort Grand Cayman, Lowell
Panton, Public Work Dement, EnvimmataIHealth
Department, Cayman Islands Royal Police Force
Programme sponsored by Columbus Ltd.
CAYMAN PARROTS
PROTECT THEM
IN THE WIL
int dibit of the
Cayman Islanu3
National Museum
tbe National Trust
fw the Cayman Zslana3

Preserving Cayman's parrots in the wild will retain their
uniquely Caymanian identity, protect habitat for countless
other species offlora and fauna, and retain the balance of
nature in the woodlands ecosystem they inhabit. In an effort
to help preserve ourparrots in the wild, the National Trust
for the Cayman Islands and the Cayman Islands National
Museum present this joint exhibit.
CAYMAN PARROTS
Opening Ceremony
September 2 7th, 1991
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Governor's Remarks
Recognition of Contributors
The Cayman Parrot Song
Raising of the Parrot Banner
Governor's party tours the exbibit.
Exhibit opened to invited guests.
Gina Ebanks-Petrie
His Excellency
Gou. Alan J. Scott
Gina Ebanks-Petrie
CIHS Choir
Bob Chapman
Please remember that smoking, drinks and
food are notpermitted inside the Museum.
Your cooperation is appreciated.
Contributors
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands and the Cayman
Islands National Museum would like to thank the followfng
individuals and groups for making this exbfbitpossible.
North west Airlines Mark Nelson
Tddermist S. Peter Getman
Banner Artist John Broad
Photographers
Richard Ground
Michael Gnrndy
Michael Hislop
Dace McCoy Ground
Courtney Platt
PaMcia Scharr
Dr. James Wley
Stained Glass Arttsts
Lori Adams
Iris Chomyn
Lawrence Chomyn
Pam de Lisser
Valerie Maragh
CIHS Art Department
Facultv: Mark Frazer, John Broad, Ekpeth McQueen.
StudentstSasha Myles, Z Young Olin Ebanks, Jerome Pyke,
Ivan Webb, Donnette Morris, Joanne Whittaker, Delcia Merren,
Trinity Mdn, Tanya Ti bbem, Jeny Mi U , Andrew Sbap,
Carol Phelps, Tamara Bostock, Luis Miller, Laura Ramoon,
Randy Wade, CharlesJackson, Kevin Wright, WillfamMdarin,
Tamaicha Millwood.
S~eciaE thanks to Cayman Fine Arts and the Visual Arts
Society for mounting thepaintings.

NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
MISSION STATEMENT
(Adopted by the Trust Council on 31 March 1992)
The mission of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands is:
* To protect the biological diversity ofterrestrial and marine
environments;
* To protect the public's access (bothvisual and physical) to
the sea;
* To protect selected traditional footpaths throughout the
Islands;
* To facilitate the preservation of historic and cultural sites,
structures and character;
* To acquire and maintain sites and structures of outstanding
historic or cultural significance, for which ongoing funding
assured.

GOALS - ENVIRONMENTAL
GOAL 1: To protect Biodiversity
l(a) Develop Reserve System in order to protect critical habitat for
Cayman's flora and fauna
1 (b) Preserve key endemic plants and animals
I(c) Significantly increase the use of native plants in landscaping
GOAL 2: Encourage scientific research to ensure that Trust
actions are based on the best scientific knowledge.
2(a) Form Scientific Advisory Council.
2(b) Attract the best-qualified scientific experts to work with the Trust
staff and advise Trust committees.
GOAL 3: To influence public opinion on conservation issues.
3(a) Establish Trust's credibility as a responsible, fact-based
environmental authority.
3(b) Influence public opinion on need for conservation-based
Development Plan.
3(c) Develop plan for Trust's role in protection of North Sound.
3(d) Influence public opinion on need for permanent moorings for
cruise ships.
GOAL 4: To use Trust's power to hold easements for the
public to acquire and protect access easements.
4(a) Have Trust listed as the holder of access easements to beach, in
order to give the Trust the authority to ensure that they remain
open.
4(b) Develop a Trust Position Paper supporting previous "high water
mark" basis for public access.
4(c) Identify traditional pedestrian footpaths through key parts of the
Islands, and work to ensure that they are kept open and that the
public is aware of them. Consider instituting "public footpath"
signage system.

GOALS - HISTORIC
GOAL 5: To promote preservation of existing historic areas/
districts through documentation and education which
encourages others to preserve sites and structures in their
ownership.
5(a) Identify significant sites, structures and elements which make up
Cayman's special character.
5(b) Develop Historic Tours for every District, including historic markers.
GOAL 6: To preserve knowledge about traditional Caymanian
building styles.
6(a) Cooperate in programmes to document details of buildings which are
to be demolished.
6(b) Cooperate in programmes to salvage elements of old buildings being
demolished which may be used in reconstruction or for historic
information purposes.
6(c) Use the Heritage Gardens area of the Botanic Park to demonstrate
each of the major architectural styles.
GOAL 7: To encourage new development to maintain
Caymanian character.
7(a) Develop information on Caymanian traditional building and design
styles which can be used as reference for those who would design
compatible modern structures.
7(b) Establish design prize for new development which embodies
Caymanian traditional building styles
GOAL 8: Seek ownership of historic sites and structures of
outstanding significance only.
8(a) Identify structures and sites which Trust should seek to acquire, based
on list developed under 5(a).
8(b) Ensure that funding for restoration and maintenance are established
before acquisition.
>

About the National Trust. . .
P%".
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The NationalTrust for the Cayman Islands, established by an act of the Legislative
Assembly in November 1987, is a non profit, non-governmental organization
dedicated to the conservation of land, the protection of native flora and fauna and the
preservation of historic sites and structures.
The Trust is membership based and structured on "grass roots" principles.
Members of the Trust are also members of their local District Committees, each of
which elect achairman who sits as amember of theTrust Council.The other members
of the Council are thirteen officers and members elected by the full membership and
three Government appointees. The Trust Council is predominantly Caymanian, and
the Trust is dedicated to the idea that if Caymanians perceive it as their own and feel
that what the Trust owns belongs to the people of the Cayman Islands, their support
will be the strength of the Trust.
In the four years theTrust has been established it has acquired almost 800 acres
of land and established a fairly comprehensive public education programme on
minimal resources. Although theTrust receives variable grants from Government, its
work is predominantly funded through membership dues, fund raising and solicitation
of international grants. We are supported by a membership of 800 adults, 600
children and forty corporate sponsors in Cayman, and have been quite successful at
fundraising locally.
In the four ears that theTrust has been working, we have formed strong links with
a number of international conservation groups such as RARE, ICBP, WWF-UK and
The Nature Conservancy. Each of these organizations has funded some of our work,
or, in the case ofThe Nature Conservancy, given us invaluable technical assistance and
assistance with land acquisition. While none of these grants have been large, it is
difficult to explainhow very valuable they are to theTrust, mainly in demonstrating to
the people of the Cayman Islands that things they have always taken for granted - "the
bush", the parrots and the iguanas - are, in fact, considered by the outside world to be
of great international value.
Now, and in the future, theTrust will continue its conservation work through its
public education programmes and by establishing a system of reserves.

National Trust
Cayman Islands

Chairman - Kirkland Nixon
Vice-Chairman - Errol Bush
Secretary Deborah Ebanks
Treasurer - Ian Wight
Elected Members:
Alson Ebanks
Karen Hunter
Joe Heavener
Mrs Joan Scott
Greg Merren
Charles Farrington
Bobby Bodden
Henry Propper
Marylee Rowlandson
George Town
Chairman - Gordon McLaughlin
Vice-chairman - Alfonso Wright
Suzan Merren
Errol Bush
Bob Henning
Venessa Godfrey-Banks
Consuelo Ebanks
Deanna hkloy
Carolyn Furman
Janet Walker
James A Bodden
West Bay
Chairman - George Ebanks
Vice Chairman -Alice Mae Coe
Treasurer - Bruce Orr
Secretary - Elspeth Ebanks
Raul Nicholson-Coe
Charles Farringon
Wayne DaCosta
Debra Ebanks
Della Robinson
Erna Jane Ebanks
Lads Ebanks
Dan Ebanks
Dabian McCarthy
Jeffrey Rivers
Miriam Muirhead
Rupert Ebanks
Trust Council
Co-opted Members
Ian Boxall
Reginald Parsons
John Doak
Alfonso Wright
Government Members:
Gina Ebanks-Petrie
Anita Ebanks
Deanna Lookloy
District Committee Chairmen
also sit on the Trust Council
District Committees
Little Cayman
Chairman - Gladys Howard
Vice Chairman -James Ryan
Secretary - Nancy Sefton
l'reasurer - Bruce Eldemire
Cayman Brac
Chairman - Kay Watt
Deputy Chairman - Billy Dodden
Secretaryflreasurer - Bruce Olsen
Fundraising - Karen McNamara
Membership - Captain Keith 'llbbetts
Ex Officio - James Ryan
East End
Chairman - Vernicia Watler
Deputy Chairman -Alan Ebanks
Secretary - Pat Scharr
'l'reasurer - Makie (:onolly St I.ouis
Sybil Mclaughlin
Sylvia Watlrr
Johnnie Mcl~an
Darrel Rankine
Savannah
Chairman -Jeannie DaCusta
I larwell McCoy
I Iubert Bodden
Jay Bodden

Message from the Chairman
This year marks the fourth anniversary of the
passage of the Trust Law. We are beginning to feel
that the National Trust for the Cayman Islands is
coming of age. The Trust is no longer the "new kid
on the block" - rather, we are viewed as an established
organization, with all the joysand problems
that brings.
The greatest joy continues to be the strength of
support the Trust receives from the community -
Government, the business community and private
individuals. The Trust Fair and Charter Day were
both exciting occasions for us, as volunteers ~ med
out in the dozens for both events. The fact that
both events were so well supported by the service
clubs and the response from the public so strong
makes us feel that the Trust is truly taking its place
in the community.
Our support comes not just in terms of volunteer
hours or on special days like the Fair and Charter
Day, butalsoon adailybasis from themany people
who have taken on responsibility for the management
of major Trust projects - volunteers who
handle our membership, do our bookkeeping,
manage development projects, manage the shade
house, manage the herbarium, manage our retail
sales, chair committees -- these are the backbone
of the Trust, and watching this group grow in
strength is another of the joys of coming of age.
In more tangible matters, coming of age for the
Trust means that we are beginning to receive
international recognition and support for our
conservation programmes. Grants from two major
international conservation organizations to
support our work and the gift of one hundred
acres of the Bluff in Cayman Brac mark the beginning
for us of what we hope will be long partnerships
with organizations such as The Nature
Conservancy and the International Council for
Bird Preservation.
we do very carefully in order to ensure that we can
work realistically within our funding. It takes a lot
more money to run the Trust than it did a few years
ago, although I believe that as you read through
this report you will see that Funds donated to the
Trust get very good value for money. We have
always gotten about one-third of our operating
budget from Government and raised the rest from
the private sector. Our fundraising committee is
becoming increasingly inventive, but in the end it
comes down to generosity and support from individuals
and the community, as it always has.
This sense ofcoming of age, ofcourse, doesn't stop
us from feeling that we've come an incredibly long
way in fouryears. As you read through thishnual
Report, I hope you will share our sense of accomplishment,
and will see that you have truly made it
I
The major problem which comes with reaching
full operational capacity is money and the allocation
of resources among all the possible projects
we would like to do. The first job is setting priorities
and completing those projects we have started
this is very much our focus for 1992. We can do
many good things, but we must pick the projects
n~e
Trust's Cbairnrarr, Kirkland
NirOn, PIPSE~Z~S the Natlonal Trust
Auard to Otto Watler

THE YEAR OF THE PARROT
The Trust is charged under the Trust Law with protection of Cayman's native flora and fauna. The local
animals which are considered most endangered by international standards are Cayman's parrot9 and
iguanas. The Trust has therefore developed conservation programmes for both of these
endemic animals.
I I
Cayman has two sub-species of Amazon parrot -
one each on the islands of Grand Cayman and
Cayman Brac. The population of the Grand
Cayman parrot is considered to be in fairly stable
condition, while the Cayman Brac parrot is listed
as possibly the most endangered of all parrots in
the Caribbean, and thus is considered to be in
danger of extinction. The Trust's parrot programme
for 1991 has involved a major public information
campaign and research programmes.
RARE Centre Public
Information Programme
Fuelled by a grant from the RARE Centre for liopical
Conservation, the Trust mounted a comprehensive
parrot conservation education programme.
The objectives of the programme were to raise
public awareness about the uniqueness and endangered
status of our Cayman parrots and awareness
of the laws protecting them.
The programme began with a pre-assessment questionnaire
given randomly to one per cent of the
country's population. The results indicated that
knowledge of the facts about Cayman's parrots
was very limited, and knowledge of the laws protecting
parrotswaseven more limited. Thisset the
stage for a major public education campaign which
involvedall themedia, mostschwlsandanumber made two stunning
of other opportunities to bring parrots to the costum,tod,shumansas
public's attention.
Cayman parrots. Named "Cappy"
and "Polly," the two costumes are ac-
The "Year of the Parrot3'started in January. Several curate in he details of each bird, and can
major public education pieces were published in be used to teach children the differences bethe
local Press and a malor campaign began in the meen our two sub-species. Phillippe Bush creschools.
Beautiful fourcolour posters provided as ated a set of line drawings with accurate colour
part of the RARE grant were distributed through- keys of the birds' plumage which has been used to
out the Islands and one was Put in every class- create a colouring book, a well as in art classes.
room.
Finally, theBarefwt Man'slovely song "Weare the
Children" was fitted up with new lyrics to explain
The year's activities requjred the preparation of the plight of the endangered parrot.
special materials: Barbara Oliver designed and

Every school in the country was contacted and in the Pirates Week Float Parade, thanks to the
offered teacherworkshops, support materials and sight of Cappy sitting in the seat of a miniature
presentations. The schools in Cayman Brac, where bulldozer.
the most endangered of the two parrots is found,
were most receptive and every school was visited A strong emphasis was placed on parrot conservatwice.
Schools in Grand Cayman were visited tion education in the summer camps. Special
during May and ~une with the remainder of visits recognition should be given here to Otto Watler
scheduled for November this year. Each school who toured hundreds of children around his captive
visit included a short educational presentation by breeding facility for the Cayman parrots. Our
our RARE counterpart, Pat Scharr, teaching the Cayman Parrots song became so popular that a
children our Cayman Parrots Song and a very en- professional recording has been made of it.
tertaining visit from Cappy and Polly. All the
children who then promised to help us spread the The Trust Fair provided another major oppoi-tuword
about our special parrots and their endan- nity to give the public information about why it is
gered status were given a Cayman parrot badge.
important to protect our parrots in the wild. The
campaign to encourage people who have pet par-
Thanks to the involvement of a number of local rots to give them proper care was begun here, with
teachers, several new support materials and activi- the help of Dr. Brian Donahue.
ties were designed and field tested. By hr the most
popular were the "parrot balls". Chris Mann, The last major public education programme was
Head ofArt at the Cayman Islands Middle School, the development of a Cayman Parrots Exhibit at
invented asimple puppet made from a tennis ball. the Cayman Islands National Museum. This ex-
The simplicityof the project and the fun of squea- hibit includes a parrot mounted by a professional
ing the ball and seeing the parrot open its beak to taxidermist, photographs by local photographers
speak thrilled children and adults alike. From and a text that highlights our unique parrots, the
these parrot puppets came songs, poems, plays causes of their endangerment, the need for preser-
and raps.
vation in the wild andsuggestions for what we can
do to help save our parrots.
.,
Throughout the year, our parrots made appearances
at Batabano, The Trust Fair and Pirates As our Year of the Parrot is winding down, we are
Week. Watching Polly in the Bouncing Castle with preparing to again survey one per cent of our
the children at the Trust Fairwas a delight, and we population to assess the effectiveness of our prowere
very pleased to win first prize in our division gramme.
Mr Otto's Parrot Programme
One of the telling signs of the gradual decline of offered technical assistance: the project is now
parrotson Grand Cayman hasbeen thedecreasein under the umbrella of the Trust, and therefore is
nesting in the western and central districts. Otto conducted legally under the Trust's exemption
Watler, fuming in the Lower Valley area where he from Sections 66 - 78 of the Animalslaw. Although
was brought up as a child, knows individual trees the Grand Cayman Parrot isstill abundant, it is unthat
used to hold parrot nests year after year but doubtedly under pressure from habitat loss, huntwhich
are now deserted.
ing and the pet trade and lessons learned from
Otto's programme are an insurance against the
Not content to stand by and watch these birds he day that human pressures may begin to overlovesdisappear,
Ottosetup hisowncaptive breed- whelm this intelligent, extroverted bird.
ing program, and after years of trial and error
began successfully breeding from captive birds In recognition oEMr Otto's initiative, hews awarded
earlier this year. The Trust had recognized the the first National Trust Award on Charter Day,
conservation value of Otto's undertaking, and 1991.

Parrot Research
The kist year has seen a major expansion of the
Trust's committment to conserving the Cayman
Islands' two endemic parrots. Hand in hand with
the RARE education campaign, we have developed
a comprehensive strategy for conservation
of the endangered Cayman Brac parrot, once
thought to number less than 50 birds in the wild.
In February this year, a large group of Trust staff
and volunteers descended on Cayman Brac for a
week long census effort, masterminded by a world
famous expert on Caribbean Pmts, Dr. Jim Wiley.
The result: Cayman Brac in early 1991 is believed
to have supported a population of between 300
and 450 parrots. Dr. Wiley has agreed to remain
closely associated with our work on the Brac
Parrot, and returned in June to commence studies
on nesting. He will visit again this December and
in 1992, to continue research that is critical to
planningconservation for this fragile population.
His work has been funded by the international
bird conservation group, ICBP.
An initial analysis was done for us by the Denver
Wildlife Research Center and subsequently a proposalforinitialstudiesws.s
madewhich iscurrently
under consideration. The ChiefAgriculture Officer
has appointed an Advisory Board on Agriculture
and W~ldlife Conservation to formalize the good
working relations that have been established between
the AjyicultureDepartment, the farmersand
the National Trust.
With Dr. Wiley's help, we have developed a long
term formal conservation strategy fc" Cayman's
unique parrots. This policy has been adopted by
the Trust Council and now guides our work.
Research focusing on the Grand Cayman parrot
took a far different tack. Because the Grand Cayman
parrot has a fairly healthy population and
because it is responsible for what many feel is
substantial crop damage, we focused our energy
I of finding some crop damage experts to assist us.
I
A Piece of the Bluff
Early this year we recieved word that a private
landowner on Cayman Brac, Donald Pennie, had
donated part of a 100 acre parcel of blufftop land
to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a major land
conservation organization based in the USA. In
subsequent discussions with TNC, it emerged
that the full 100 acre parcel was destined to be
donated for conservation, and TNC were interested
in vesting control of the land with a local
conservation organization.
The upshot of much discussion is that in December
this year, TNC will transfer to the Trust the
land already donated, and a simultaneous transfer
of the balance to the Trust via TNC will enable
the donor to realise tax advantages, 'I'NC to escape
stamp duty and the Trust to gain 100
acres of prime woodland as &yman firac's firs!
woodland nature reserve. l'he parcel includcs part
ofan important parrot nestingarea, which will gain
much-needed protection.
Our understanding with TNC includes a committment
to trying to expand the arcaof protected
woodland in Cayman Brac, and we are developing
a habitat map of thenluff to identify those areas of
highest conservation value. With 'INC's asis~tance,
ourgoalisareservesystemsufficient tosupport,for
the indefinite future, the Cayman nrac Parrot and
all the Drac's other characteristic huna and flora.

The Bird Club was formed in April 1990 as a forum
for anyone interested in birding in the Islands.
Activities focus mainly on field work, in particular
assessing and monitoring bird populations and
learning more of the life cycles of the indigenous
species. The field work has shown that several migrants
are more frequent than had previouslybeen
thought but that numbers of some resident species
may be declining, probably because of habitat
destruction. The status of the Whistling-Duck on
Grand Cayman is of particular concern.
% w~sr Indian
The Bird Club is closely associated with the Trust
and meets at Trust House on the first Tuesday of
each month -- all members of the Trust are welcome.
Th~here are also weekly field meeting throughout
most of the year, at which help with identification
techniques is given. The Club has a records
committee to assess reportsofall rare and unusual
birds and is compiling a new checklist of species
which will be available to the public.
Blue Iguana Breeding Programme
Our other major focus on preservation of native U.S. National Zoo (Smithsonian Institute), visited
fauna is Cayman's endemic iguanas -- the Grand this November to help set up arrangements for
Cayman Blue Iguana, Cyclura nubila lcwisi, and serious census work to start next summer. An-
C n caymanensis, a brown iguana found on Little other distinguished herpetologist, Professor Sandy
Cayman but nearly extinct on the Brac . The Trust Echternacht at the University of Tennessee, will be
has been breeding the nearly-extinct Blue Iguana supervisingadetailed iguana population study on
in captivity since 1989 -- and numbers are rising Little Cayman, where the subspecies of iguana
dramatically. From the modest beginnings of a unique to the Sister Islands is still abundant enough
single pair arriving in 1990, we have recently had to make such work relatively easy.
to expand our facilities to accommodate six adults
and twenty juveniles. Swen hatched in October Plans are well advanced for the major captive
this year from eggs laid by "Sara", a female once breeding complex in the Cayman Botanic Park,
familiar to many as an exhibit at Pirate's Caves, where we hope to make the first reintroductions
now rehabilitated to full breeding condition. of captive bred animals to the wild. So far, the
outlook is optimistic: with hard work and mntin-
1992 will be the 'Year of the Iguana", with a full ued support from our many volunteers, visitors to
scale public education programme modeled on the Botanic Park in years to come are likely enthe
RARE parrot campaign, and the start ofavitally counter an animal now so rarely seen, and a testaimportant
field research programme. In prepara- ment to the Trust's commitment to saving Caytion,
Dr. Dale Marcellini, head of reptiles at the man's natural heritage.

Cayman Botanic Park
The Trust's most important development project three alternatives for the park, two of which inis
the Cayman Bolanic Park, cluded a school reserve. After agreement with
which will embody almost Government's architects that the proposed reallasw
of the T&s serve would, in fact, accommodate a school, we
purposes in Cay- have proceeded with planning and development
man's first terres- of the park. Theschool reserve will be maintained
aial park ?he idea as natural woodlands with walking trails. This
of the park is to area contains many interesting areas with mahogmake
the terres- any, thatch palms, zamia (bulrush), cocoplum,
trial environment agave (sisal), etc, so the trails in this area should be
of the Cayman Is- an important part of the park's trail system. Govlands
accessible ernment has made it very dear that it has no plans
and understand- to put a school on the site at this time, but since a
able. Nature trails major review of theeducation system is underway,
through untouched it would be unwise for them to eliminate any
woodlands will show the options prematurely.
great beauty and diversity
of our native woodlands, The process of analysing the site, designing the
while display gardens and park, agreeing on the land use plan with Governinterpretive
centres will ment and acquiring planning approval was a long
teach about how Caymani- one which has left many of our more "hands-on"
ans have lived with the land members rather frusttated, but it is finally comover
the centuries, about the plete and work has begun on the development of
native flora and fauna and about the need for the park. The core committee of park volunteers
conservation of our terrestrial resources.
has been broken into four working task forces,
eachwith plentyofhands-on work: the Wild Ateas
The Park is being developed according to the Task Force (headed by Fred Button) ; the Orchid
Mission Statement adopted by theTimst Council in Task Force (Frank Roulstone); the Display Gar-
September, 1990. Beczuse this statement guides dens TaskForce (Margaret Batwick) and the Conwety
aspect of the park's development, it is re- structioniDesign Group (Henty Propper.)
printed in full on page 8.
The Master Plan for the site (for which the final
The sixty-acre site is jointly owned with Govern- draft is now under review) is a plan for a complex,
ment, with theunderstanding that halfthe site may well-developed parkwhich will take many years to
someday be used for a school. The first step in the build. The first step was to decide which elements
developmentof the parkwasan analysisof thesite, should be built first. The Botanic Park Committee
including a detailed vegetative survey. The put- has decided on three elements to make up Phase 1;
pose of this was twofold: first, to determine what when they are complete, the parkwill be ready for
patts of the site were important to preserve un- visitors. Phase 1 indudes the administtation buildtouched
for conservation purposes and what ar- inglpropagation facility; the loop trail and the
eas could be disturbed for the development of Heritage Garden area.
display gardens, buildings, etc; and secondly, to
lay out a site for a 500-student school, in order to Administration Complex
ensure that the land held as the "school reserve" A small, inexpensive building is now under conwould,
in fact, accommodate a school, should struction which will serve as offices, convenience
Government decide at some point in the future to facilities for workers and volunteers and a
build one.
coming centre for visitors. The Display Garden
TaskForce is developinga one-halfacre garden for
The Trust's designer, Judith Evans Parker, laid out the administration building which will demon-

strate the use of native plants in gardeninmndscaping.
Next to the administration building is the
nursery and shadehouse. Since our shadehouse
facility in George Town is packed to capacity, a
large propagation centre is needed to grow the
plants for the display gardens. The nursery is
planned over the longer term to offer plants for
sale to the public, especially cultivated specimens
of endangered Cayman plants.
The Loop Trail
The backbone of the walking
trail system is the "Loop
Trail" which enclases the
main woodland preserve
in the northern
part of the site. As
the first element of
the walking trail system,
the loop trail will
allow the visitor access
to the entire site, and
will pass through the
different micro-environments
of the site. Once
the trail is developed, it
will be posted with a varietyof
interpretive materials
in order to give the visitor a
full appreciation ofwhat he
is seeing as he walks through.
The trail has now been marked out and a very
rough version of the trail cut - it is just under one
mile in length. This is slow work because it must
all be cut by hand. Since this will eventually be an
eight-foot trail (allowing access by very small vehicles
for maintenance and safety purposes) i s development
will take several months. Assuming the
funding is available, it is anticipated that it will be
ready in March. The other trails will be much
smaller and rougher (five foot width), allowing access
only by foot, so it is expected that they will be
far less expensive to develop.
The Heritage Gardens
This area will include the entrance to the park and
will be the heart of what most visitors to the park
will see. The idea is to use old Cayman-style buildings
for the various park uses (ticket booth, book
shop, tea room, etc) and set them in gardens which
evoke the style of old Cayman.
To be included are traditional sand gardens, plantations,
fruit trees, medicinal plants, economic
crops, es. While the general layout ofthis areawill
be done in the master plan, the designs for these
gardens is where the Display Gardens Task Force
will be putting much of their creative energy.
Funding
Funds for the Admin Building Complex and the
first part of the loop trail are in hand, andworkon
them is well underway. However, from that point
on, the progress of the park will be determined by
our ability to raise funds. The total cost of Phase 1
is estimated at approximately $500,000.
Orchid Task Forcefire Plant Rescues
Hand in hand with the development of our Rare plant rescues like thisare a routine part of the
Botanic Park, comes increasing awareness of
Botanic Park's Orchid Task Force's activihow
vulnerable many of our unique plants
ties, and as time goes by the Botanic Park
are. An extreme example, a giant brome-
will become a safe haven for more and
liad known to scientists as Hohen-
more endangered plants displaced by
bergla caymanenesis, is restricted
development. The Orchid Task Force,
to a few fragments of woodland south
led by Frank Roulstone 111, has also
of George Town, and occurs nowhere
been successful in initial attempts to
else in the world. As a private devel-
flask-propagate two rare orchid speoper
prepared to clear a house lot in
cies, with two more in the works. The
one of the last remaining Hohenbergia
purpose is to supplement the wild
areas, the Trust obtained permission to
population of the rarest orchids and to
remove the endangered plants, many ofwhich are serve as safety net against extinction.
now growing in the Botanic Park.

Mission Statement for the Botanic Park
The National Tmst for the Cayman Islandswill establish a National Park for the people of the
Cayman Islands and their visitors to enjoy a glimpse of Caymanian natural and cultural history.
The mission of the park will encompass stewardship of the land, education, research and
conservation of native wildlife, with special emphasis on those species of flora important to
Cayman's cultural traditions. The park itselfwill be designed to enhanceawareness of thevalue
and beauty of Cayman's natural terrestrial environment and the importance of environmental
conservation, both in Cayman and worldwide. The park shall serve as a key component of an
integrated effort to conserve the wildlife of the Cayman Islands by the National Trust and
cooperating bodies.
Goals for the Proiect:
I To meet the following needs for the
Cayman Islands:
,
from other areas of the Cayman Islands
encouragement of native animals through maintenance
of appropriate habitats
A. Education and information
Provide public education and information on the
Cayman environment, and on ecologic problems
and solutions for Cayman, the Caribbean and the
world through:
-classes, publications, outreach programmes
-herbarium and library
-interpretive trails and displays
B. CulturaVEnvironmental History
1. Provide information through plantings, displays,
signage and education programmes on the
plants which have played an important part in
Cayman's traditional culture, including:
-plants and rreg such as smokewood and candlewood,
which have been important to Cayman's
cultural history
-trees such as ironwood and mahogany important
in both construction and shipbuilding
-fruit trees and other important food crops
such as bullrush
-plants used in the healing arts
2. Use traditional Caymanian buildingsfor all park
uses in order to illustrate the ways that Caymanians
lived with the land, help explain man's historic
impact on the Cayman environment and highlight
traditional methods of agriculture.
C. Conservation
1. The Botanic Park site itself to serve in part as a
nature reserve:
-interpretive trails with signs, maps and guides
-protection of the flora of the site, which is
diverse and represents a significant portion of
Cayman's indigenous flora
-cultivation of threatened native plant species
2. Botanic Park Nursery
Provide cultivated specimens of endangered plants
(especially orchids) as an alternative to wild collecting,
in order to protect the plants in the wild
3 Comprehensive Records
Maintain proper scientific records for conservation
and research including proper documentation
of:
-any new introductions to the Park's collections
-records of existing flora and fauna on site, to
the greatest extent possible
-any changes to the site in the development of
the Park
4. Preservation of endangered fauna through
captive breeding of selected species (including
Cvclura nubila lewisi - the Grand Cayman Blue
Iguana)
D. Appropriate Horticulture and Landscaping
Support and encourage local horticulture in two
ways: to increase and improve use of l a d species
for gardening and also to identify appropriate
exotics which would be beneficial for introduction
for local gardening.
-classes and publications to educate people on
plant types and techniques
-use of specific areas of 130tanic Park as rxperimental
and demonstration plots
cooperation with nurseries, landsalxrs, clubs
and other botanic gardens
-RotanicParkNunerywhich would make available
both locally propagated native species and
new exotics determined to be appropriate for
introduction.

E. Recreation
A park which provides beautiful and interesting
walks through the Cayman interior
F. Research
Serve as a research station on native flora and
fauna and preservation of local endangered speciesand
horticulture-workinginconjunctionwith
the Government agencies (MRCU and Natural
Resources Laboratory) which serve as coordinating
bodies for environmental research.
G. Ecotourism
-provision of a high-quality, ecologically oriented
activity for the non-specialized tourist
-provision of facilities to attract the specialist
"ecotourist."
I1 To Contribute to Related Efforts within
the Cayman Islands and World-wide
gerve as a key element in the Trust's overall
conservation programme
contribute towards other scientific p rowmes
in Cayman
-patticipate with and/or help to develop local
scientific and horticultural clubs, societies and
study groups
-support other ecologically-oriented tourism
project^ in Cayman
collaborate with other Caribbean consemtion
efforts
contribute towards world consenation efforts,
mcularly through coordination with the IUCN
Botanic Gardens Secretariat and implementation
on a local basis of the Botanic Gardens
Consemtion Strategy
Research on Cayman's Native Flora
Visiting Botanists
Cayman Herbarium
In November 1991, the Trust hosted a significant An integral part of the Trust's work on protecting
visitor: Dr. George Pmtor, foremost expert on our native flora is the maintenance of an herbarthe
taxonomy of West Indian flora, and author of ium, a collection of carefully identified, dried and
Flora of the Cayman Islnnds. As we write, Dr. mounted specimens which can be referenced by
Proctor is cataloguing new plant forms never be- researchers who work on plant classification or
fore recorded in the Cayman Islands or perhaps who need to be able to identify plants in the field.
anywhere, and forming an assessment of how The herbarium has been built kom a core collec-
Cayman's unique wild plans are faring in the face tion made during the preparation of Proctor's
of modem development. His assessment of how Florn of tbe Caymanlslands, which was passed on
the situation has changed in the years since he did to the Trust by MRCU Director Dr John Davies in
his pioneering work here in 1948 will help shape 1990. Under the direction of Penny Clifford, the
our floraconsemtion strategyat the Botanic Park, Trust's volunteer herbarium manager, the collecand
publications arising from his work here will tion has grown to over 500 specimens. This complace
us firmly on the map of modern botanical re- prehensive reference collection of preserved plans
search.
is an essential tool for promoting and developing
the undetstandina of Cayman's native flora.
Accompanying Dr. Proctor is Dr. Albetto Ateces
Mallea, a Cubanbotanist specializing in Cactus. Dr
Areces is doing ground-breaking research on
Cayman's cactus populations, which is likely to
result in acomplete revision of thethinking on this
subject. Cayman's flora shares many characteristics
with Cuban plans, and we welcome the op
portunity to collaborate with a scientist from an
island which holds life forms ancesttal to so much
of our own flora and fauna.

The First Annual National Trust Fair
This year saw the inauguration of the Trust 's first
annual fund raising project, The National Trust
Fair. The purpose of the Fair was twofold: public
education and fund raising. Thanks to the hard
work and tremendous support of our members
and especially from our District Committees, it
was a smashing success on both bonts.
The Fair was modelled on the concept of a State or
County Pair. Set up in the new Lions Centre
(where we did not need toworry about rain plans)
were banners, stalls, displays, the set of "Lavinia
Lee", childrens' games and a host of other elaborate
installations. The Centre was transformed!
The heart of the Fair was the information displays.
"Trust Central" designed nine display areas covering
the full range of the Trust's activities. Several
other groups supported the Fair with educational
displays including the Departments of Tourism,
Environmental Health, Natural Resources, MRCU
and Agriculture. The Cayman Islands National
Museum, the Cayman National Cultural Poundation,
the Visual Acts Society, the Humane Society,
theWatersportsAssociation, theBird Club and the
Astronomy Club also put up exhibits.
The morning hours were devoted to children:
instructional classes for our junior members including
art classes, plaiting classes, nature walks,
ring plays and Quadrille Dancing. Our giant plant
sale also attracted a number of early arrivals.
The fundraising aspect of the Fair largely involved
sales: The Trust's plant sale was a
great financial success, thanks to the
hard work of Karen Hunter and
Jennie Leigh Lane. Awide variety
of indigenous and exotic plants
were sold, and Cayman
Mahogany seedlings
A
were priced at CIJ.50 ,
for our iunior members.
Locally grown produce
was sold bv the Cavman
Islands ~g;ic~ltuA SOaety.
Franklin Smith sold
freshly squeezed juices
made from his fruit and
donated all the proceeds
to the Savannah District
-
Committee. And then
there was the food!
All food concessions were organized by our Trust
District Committees. Local favourites including
conchs, whelks, turtle, stew beef and curried &&en
were only a few of the local treats available. The
George Town District Committee tantalized everybody's
sweet tooth with their "Sweet Shoppe"
which featured locally made peppermint, coconut
candies, fudge, and other treats.
The Fair offered a fun-filled day of activities for
everyone. There were carnival rides for children
and a petting too courtesy of the Agricultural Society.
Youcould look through thehtronomy Club
telescope or play computer games. There was an
air conditioned video theatre showing nature-oriented
videos all day and featuring Courtney Plan's
internationally acclaimed "Cayman Mystique". The
Cayman National Cultural Foundation offered
scenes from Joy Brandon's award winning play,
"Lavinia Lee" and Trust member Betty Ebanks
organized a delightful hour of entertainment featuring
Radley and the Happy Boys, the East End
Quadrille Dancers, Julia Hydes, Aunt Sookie and
other treats.
In summary, a good time was had by all!

The total profit, net of expenses, was nearly
CI$20,000, with much ofthat going to the District
Committees' funds for their projects. We feel that
this first year showed what the Trusr Fair could be
and showed that a good profit can be made on an
event which celebrates Cayman's heritage and
environment. Having had such a successful first
try, we expect the next Trust Fair to be even more
successful.
The First Annual National Trust
Charter Day
Saturday, November 16, was declared National Clubs, Rotary Central and the Overseas Students
Trust Charter Dayby His Excellencythe Governor, Association. Fundswere also solicited in East End,
to mark the fourth anniversary of the passage of Bodden Town and Cayman Brac. As we write,
the National Trust Law. The Trust's birthday was funds are still coming in, so final figures are not
celebrated with a major fundraising campaign available, but it is clear that the street solicitation
and the first annual Charter Day Dinner. campaign raised well over CI$5000.
Charter Day Chairman was Mary Boxall, who
worked with a dedicated crew of volunteers to
organize the events. The fundraising campaign
had two elements: first was a letter of solicitation
to all members of the Chamber of Commerce sent
out by Chamber President David Bird. Dozens of
businesses responded with donations. The second
was a two-day street solicitation campaign.
We started on the Friday afternoon with a payday
bankblitz - fifteen ofour junior members, backed
up by eleven adult volunteers and the Trust staff,
took up sixstations outside the major banks. The
kids brought back more than CI$850 in their
collecting tins.
Street solicitation is hard work, and our volunteer
coordinator, Pat Scharr, really had to work to get
out the people. However, the response to our
soliciation was so friendly and positive that most
of the workers really enjoyed themselves -- we
think that will make recruiting much easier next
year.
The celebration ended with the Charter Day Dinner
atwhich 206Trust supporters enjoyed alovely
evening at the Wharf Restaurant. Twelve of our
most dedicated volunteers were awarded Outstanding
Senice Awards, and the National Tmst
Award was presented to Mr Orto Watler.
Saturday morning Trust volunteers were every- Like the Trust Fair, a lot of very hard work went
where! All entrances to the District of West Bay into Charter Day - this was fundraising one dollar
were fully staffed by members of the West Bay at a time! But like the Fair, the enthusiasm of the
District Committee who raised over CI$1000 Trust volunteers and the warm response from the
towards their projects. Eight stations in and community made the experience so positive that
around George Town were manned by sixty other the money became almost secondary to the expevolunteers,
many ofwhom came from theKiwanis rience.

Public Education Programmes
Since our Education Officer came on board full Tmvelling and Presentations
time, our public education programmes havebeen
substantially expanded. The Trust now has active The Trust has played a far more visible role in
four public education programmes: publications, community events this year. The National Trust
travelling displays and presentations, support Fair was the largest public education event ever
services forteachersand schools, and junioractivi- held in the Cayman Islands with the Trust exhibitties
and membership.
ing nine displays plus the displays done by each
District Committee. Large displays featuring the
Publications
work of the Trust were shown at all five District
meetings during Tourism Awareness Week, at
' Since our last annual report, the format of our District Heritage Days in Bodden Town, East End,
adult ,,-letter has been revamped to keep West Bay and George Town. At all of these funcmembers
up to date with the progress of our tions collateral literature was distributed and
ongoing projects and Trust news events as well as memberships were
offering opportunities for members to get involved
in various projects and events. It has also been Then there was fun! The Trust's Cayman parrots,
produced on a more consistent time schedule Cappy and Polly, danced their way through Caythan
in past years.
man's street carnival parade, Databano, in April,
charming and surprising the crowd with their
~h~ aim of our infomation activities is to antics and giving away their parrot pins. In late
raise awareness of the Trust and support for con- October the Trust won first prize in the youth/
servation, ~ ~ ~ to the d d i releases, ~ ~ schools ~ division of the Pirates Week Float Contest
over one dozen feature articles on various Trust and parade with a Cayman Our
projects have appeared in the Caymanian Com- fantasywas that all facets of the communitywould
pass, Newstar Magazine, Key to Cayman and Cay- work together to protect our natural heritage, in
man Horizons, We have placed more emphasis particular our parrots. It was depicted by one of
this year on the quarterly glossy magazines be- our parrots perched on a tiny bulldoter while the
cause of their longer life and the wide audience other parrot danced with a farmer, hunter and
they reach - and because of the ability to print in developer. Children in Trust t-shirts symbolized
colour, Features have focused on par- the hope of the future. Our concession to Pirates
rots, endangered species, traditional Caymanian Week was that our parrot had a pirate on his
houses, Cayman's heritage preservation (both shoulder.
historic site presenation and conservation of lands),
the progress of the National Trust and the Trust's
role in the development of ecotourism. This latter Services for Teachers
feature not only appeared in the Compass' special
supplementforTourismAwareness~eek, butwas Because we believe that a teacher never knows
also printed in the Department of Tourism news- where his influence stops, support services for
letter which is sent all over North America and
Europe.
teachers were increased this year to include an
expanded Heritage Resource Centre, lesson planning
assistance, increased production of support
The other major publication was the development materials, teacher workshops and guest speaker
of avideo programme which explains the work of SuPPort.
theTrust. This 19-minute production, narrated by
Alson Ebanks and featuring many Caymanians The Heritage ksource Centre, although still growspeaking
about preservation of our heritage, has ing and in need of volunteers to help organize
been distributed to the schools, to the Life Mem- materials, has increased the number of books,
hers and is available to anyone who wishes to videos, tapes and slides available for teachers to
share infomation about the ~r,,st with others. borrow. The number of support materials featur-
14

ing endemic and endanged animals has i n d parrot issue, one of our RARE fourcolour posters,
significantly thanks m the input from several teach- a copy of our "Born and Bred in the Cayman
ers and the grant from the RARE Center for Tropi- Islands Colouring Book" and a Cayman parrots
cal Conservation. Lesson planning assistancecon- badge.
tinues on an individual personalized basis for
interested teachers.
Four issues ofTheTrust Timeswere publishedthis
year. First was the Parrot issue. The second Trust
Teacher Workshops were held on parrots and on Times featured a listing of all the summer camps in
Trashbusters for several faculties. During these which the Trust was involved so that our junior
workshops teachers were given an update on rele- members (and their parents) could get them in-
vant information, samples of teaching sup volved in Trust summer time activities. The
port materials available
ird issue of the Trust Times this year
discussion and teacher input
featured the junior member activiapplication.
Fair so that our
embers could have priority
The Trust continues to
The fourth issue
assist teachers with find-
onaaditionalCayman
ing appropriate guest
This issue was
speakers and arranging
mailed in a packet also confield
trips as requested.
taining one of our Cayman
Over 1,000 Cayman stu-
Houses kits and a special
dents were taken on
members-only parrot up
mus of the George Town
landfill as part of our
Trashbusters programme
Easter Vacation
which is offered in conjunc
Camp, "Kidstuff" was held at
tion with the Environmen
the Trust House. The need for
Health Department.
such programmes was evidenced
the fact that registration was complete
At the beginning of the school F, mly exher within forty-eight hours after we announced the
in the country was sent a packet of information camp. Campers spent each day investigatinga diffrom
the National Trust including a special publi- krent aspect of Cayman's natural heritage: Trashcation
called "Teacher's Update" which outlined busters, Blue ~guanas, Cayman parrots and plant
the special services and mate* aMilable teach- identification. Activities included a short lecture,
ers and samples of current support materials such a field trip and arts and craft projects. This half-day
as our Cayman House Kit and one of our RARE camp was a great success.
"Born and Bred in the Cayman Islands" parrot
posters, a sample of the Trust Times and other During the summer the Trust played an major
items.
supportive role in a number of summer camps
including the St. George's Anglican Day Camp, the
Junior Activities and Membership NCVO Summer Camp, Fit Kids Summer Camp and
the East End Heritage Camp. Support took the
This year also saw expanded services to our junior shape of planning advice, support materials, field
members. We try to reach all students in the trip guides and organization and arts and crafts
schools with key publications such as the Cayman activities. One of the biggest hits this summer was
Houses issue oftheTrust Times, while alsomaking the endangered parrots sand sculpture contests
sure that our junior members get special mem- where campers were encouraged to recreate our
bers-only treats such as our kit for making a model beautiful parrots using natural materials and
of the Trust House.
coloured sand. Seven Mile Beach and beaches in
North Side and East End were transformed into
Special mailings to junior members also included multi-coloured parrots by the loving hands of
aspecial parrot package including The Trust Times Cayman's children.

Cayman Islands Memory Bank
The Memory Bank project is Cayman's oral history writing of the interview summary sheets. These
programme, which records the memories of older summary sheets now function rather like theTable
Caymanians. It was started by the Cayman Islands of Contents in a book and make it easy for one to
National Museum in theearly 1980's; theTrustwas find a particular topic or anecdote on a tape.
brought into the project in 1989. Despite hercu- --An article about the Memory Bank was written
lqn efforts to run the project on avolunteer basis, and published in the KEY magazine. Titled "Unby
1990 it was clear that the programme simply
was notworking, and we were losing our narrators
before their memories could be preserved. In
June, 1990, the Tmst Council decided to hire
a full-time coordinator and a part-time assistant
for the Memory Bank with the
understanding that at the end of on
year the funding for the Project
would be taken over by the
National Archive and National
Museum, the Trust's partners
in this endeavour. The Council
took this action in the hope
that by doing this, the Memory
Bank would become firmly established.
Since that time several thine have
been accomplished:
- The number of tapes in the Memory Bank increased
from 70 to 356. The 'master' copies of
these tapes are turned over to the National Archive
for safe-keeping as the interviews are completed.
-- The number of Narrators @eople interviewed)
increased from 24 m 169. These people represent
wery District in the Cayman Islands and virtually
every walk of life.
- The number of typed transcripts of interviews
increased from 10 to 100.
-- Ten new interviewers were trained and several
volunteers recruited to do surveys and set up
interview appointments.
-Acertificate for narrators, to recognize their contribution
to the Project, was designed and produced
and is presented to each narrator upon
completion of the interview.
- The question of making the information on the
tapes more easily accessible was studied at some
1ength.A~ a first step toward this end, a 'thesaurus'
of termswas dweloped and is being used in the
- A weekly series of articles called TIME WAS ... ,
featuring excerpts from the Memory Bank, was
started and appears regularly in the Weekender
section of the Friday Compass.
- The Memory Bank Management Committee formulated
a policy on association with researchers.
Peggy Leshilcar-Denmn became the first researcher
to be associated with the Memory Bank and the
tapes of interviews she conducted as part of her
research into the Wreck of the Ten Sails now form
part of the Memory Bank.
- The Management Committee also formulated a
policy for use of transcripts and reached an agreement
with two teachers, with the consent of the
narrator involved, to make the relevant transcripts
available for the purpose of writing a play on the
Narrator's life which the students will perform.
-- A book, titled Cayman Yesterdays, has been
completed and delivered to the printers. It consists
of anecdotes fron the Memory Bank about

childhood, illustrated with awonderful collection
ofold photos, manyofwhich have never been seen
in Cayman before. It will go on sale during November.
-- Several requests for information about ancestry,
customs in the past, etc. have been received and in
most cases we have been able to provide the
information requested. In October the Memory
Bank made presentations at C.I.H.S. to all third
year students as pan of Heritage Week activities.
The theme of these presentations was how the
Memory Bank tapes supplement the official reports
stored in the Archive.
-- On behalf of the Memory Bank, the National Archive
has membership in the Oral HistoryAssociation.
This gives us access to a great deal of important
information, publications, etc.
These accomplishments are the result of a lot of
work by a dedicated group of people, both paid
staff and volunteers, many of whom are Trust
members. The increase in transcripts is thanks to
the fact that the National Archive has made funds
available to pay transcribers and as a result, we
have had three people working almost full-time
transcribing since August; two working in the
Trust office and one at the Museum.
In July, 1991, theyearagreed on by theitust came
to an end with the Trust's goals for the Memory
Bank having been met -- and in some cases exceeded.
At that time the National Archive assumed
financial responsibility for the Memory Bank with
some contribution from the National Museum, as
previously arranged. The Memory Bank has continued
to be located at the Trust House because
the Archive building is not yet ready, but it is
expected that from January itwill be located in the
Archive building as part of the National Archive
andeventually, of the Instituteof Caymanian Heritage.
When the move to the Archive building is completed,
the Memory Bankmay t ~lybe said to have
come of age, and the members of the National
Trust can be proud ofhaving played a most significant
role in making the dream of having an oral
history of the Cayman Islands a reality. It is also an
example of how the Trust, with more flexibility in
accessing funds, can take the initiative to get a
project moving which can later be taken over by
other organizations with similar aims but with
more constraints on them.
While the Trust will no longer have a financial
responsibility to the Memory Bank it will, of course,
continue to take a keen interest in its growth and
development, and Trust volunteer efforts will
continue to be vitally needed and much appreciated.
Ifeather Mclaughli,~p~~oud@
displaplajls rbc/irml copy of bcr
,IOU book Ca~,nza,t l'cslerda~n
as it is soat lo lbopri?llor

District Committees and Projects
The Trust is set up to be operated largely by its District Committees, and this year has seen several
Districts really come alive. West Bay has shown the greatest progres under the enthusiastic direction
of George Ebanks, while George Town and East End continue their steady work. New committees were
formed this year in Cayman Brac and Savannah, with good projects and enthusiasm coming from each
of them. And Little Cayman continues to be the smallest District with the largest membership. It is a
matter of real concern to the Council that we do not have active committees in North Side or Bodden
Town, but we hope to have a better report on these District next year.
GEORGE TOWN DISTRICT COMMITTEE WEST BAY DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Chairman Gordon McLaughlin
Chairman George Ebanks
George Town received a wonderful gift this year -
the Watler Cemetery. It is a lovely example of the
traditional Caymanian family cemetery, with graves
datingback to theearly 19th Centuryandasrecent
as the last ten years. The donor, Mr Thomas
Watler, has also given the Committee a stipend to
help with its upkeep. The cemetery is located
adjacent to the ProspectYouth Centre, and will be
opened to the public, with information signs explaining
about Cayman's cemeteries, and especially
to dispel the "pirate graves" myths. The
Elmslie Elders have granted us access across the
Youth Centre site, but we are waiting until construction
work is completed there before putting
in the path to the Cemetery.
The District Committee from West Bay had a very
active and successful year under George Ebanks'
enthusiastic direction. With good member turnout
for their monthly meetings, they spent a great
deal of time considering the renovation of the Old
Boatswain Bay Schoolhouse. They were able to
successfully solicit donations of over $6000 towards
this project, and ran social activities and
clean-up projects on the site. The project ran into
a serious snagwhen it was declared that the building
must be demolished and rebuilt from the
ground up, at a cost of some $90,000, but it is not
in the naNre of West Bayers to give up, and they
are now pursuing overseas expertise on the project.
Fort Georgecontinues tobeamajorproject for the In the meantime, as the Schoolhouse project is on
Committee. Lighting was installed on the site to hold, West Bay has adopted a new project - the
create a soft evening illumination, and the major West Bay Historic Trail. The project was started
interpretive sign for the site designed and built.
with an early morning walking tour for the comminee,
and plans include designating historic places
The George Town Historic Walking Tour bro- with interpretive signs and the production of a
chure was updated and reprinted this year - de- brochure similar to the "Walking Tour of George
mand was so good for this publication that the Town". Drawing on Arthurlyn Pedley's years of
Department ofTourism paid to have 20,000copies inte~ewing West Bayers for the Memory Bank,
printed. Several members of the District Executive they hope to tell the history of West Bay through
Committee led groups of children on guided his- the Trail.
toric tours as part of the Trust's summer camp
activities.
The District Committee continued their successful
fund raising activities which have made them the
George Town, under ConsueloEbanks' enthusias- richest District Committee. They had a very suc-
ticleadership, had an excellentdisplayat theTrust cessful display and food sale at the Trust Fair, and
Fair and good presence at the District Heritage raised over $1000 for District projects on Charter
Day. At the Fair, George Town's Sweet Shoppe, Day.
selling traditional sweet treats such as peppermints,
was part of a very successful food concession.
At the District Heritage Day, the Trust had a
major display, including our parrot Cappy running
his "Pick-a-Parrot" contest.
18

EAST END DISTRICT COMMI'ITEE
Chairman Vernicia Watler
The District of East End took on three major
projects: the development and design of the East
End Lighthouse Park, the East End Heritage Camp
and a food concession at the National Trust Fair.
Under the leadership of Vernicia Watler and with
assistance h m a young Caymanian architect, Danny
Owen, a proposal to make a parkon the siteof the
East End Lighthouse currently operated by the
Port Authority was developed. The park plan features
both endemic and indigenous plants, his
toric markers and interpretive signs and simple
tourist accommodations like picnic tables and
park benches. This proposal was very well received
by the Port Authority and has been ap
proved by Executive Council, so all systems are
"go" on the project for 1992.
The East End Heritage Camp was expanded to two
weeks this year and ran at full enrolment for both
weeks under the joint direction of Darrel Rankine
and Pat Scharr. The first week focused on Cay-
man's historic sites and buildings. Campers did
the George Town Walking Tour andvisited the National
Museum and well as historic sites in the Dis
trict, like the Wreck of the Ten Sails. Of course traditional,
home-aoked, East End meals, organized
by Marvel McIaughlin, were served and the kids
got to swim every day. On the last day of camp,
they built Fort George Sand Sculptures and enjoyed
fish tea on the beach in East End.
The second week focused on Cayman's naNral
heritage. Campers learned about endemic endangered
species including our Cayman parrots, the
Blue Iguana and several endemic orchids. With
neighbourhood walks and bush walks to identify
plants and learn about Cayman's woodlands and
visits to the Trust's captive breeding facility for the
Blue Iguanaand Otto Watler's parrots, they had an
opportunity to get up close and personal with
their natural heritage. Although the modest tuition
for this camp was only CI$25 per child per
week, thanks to the many generous
donationsof goods andsenices-from the
community this camp was a successful
fund raising project for the District.
During the Trust Fair, the East End District
Committee was able to run a very
successful food sale organized by Vernicia
Watler and Sylvia Watler. As the reputation
of excellent East End cooking preceded
them, all the food was sold out
before any other District, again raising
funds for the East End project.
In the coming year their goal is to begin
physical work on the Lighthouse Park
and complete work the project during
1992.
Eat End campers drb tbeirprire-winning
Blur Iguana sand scu$rure

CAYMAN BRAC DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Chairman Kay Watt
Cayman Brac has revived its District Committee
this year, andare makinga great showing as late arrivals.
Before electing an Executive Committee,
the District held a membership drive which increased
membership in the Trust from 12 to over
50. With what they then felt was a proper base, an
Executive Committee was elected, and projects
begun.
The Committee isveryinterested in creating information
on the Brac to guide tourists to the best
sites. Included in this plan is a desire to create
access to Haymon's Pond. Three nature walks to
the Pond were run under the leadership of Mr.
Billy Bodden. This nature trekis not for the faint of
heart, but the trips reinforced the feeling that
access to the site is really worth developing.
At the Creek Primary School Family Fun Day Brac
District Committee members ran Trust Booth and
several games with the assistance of "Polly" our
Cayman Brac parrot. Our Cayman Brac members
were well represented at the Trust Fair. Brac
Chairman Kay Watt led the contingent which displayed
Bracart and crafts andbeautiful Brac photo
albums featuring old homes and boats, sold sno
cones, and ran a "Nicka Guess". The closest guess
won a trip for two to Cayman Brac and a weekend
at the Tiara Beach Dive Resort.
Future plans include work on the driving tour of
Cayman Brac. District Committee members feel
there is so much to see in the Brac that they are
considering several small walking and bicycling
tours as well.
LITTLE CAYMAN DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Chairman Gladys Howard
This - -- District Committee boasts more members
than the entire Island's population, thanks to the
effotts of Chairman Gladys Howard. The Committee
has been very busy: They started with an all-
Island clean-up on the roadsides. The Mule Pen
has been cleaned up and restored to its original
configuration. The Salt RockNatureTrail hasbeen
two-thirds cleared and and the Committee is still
working on that. Signs and plant labels have also
been put out on the nature trails.
The Committee has been monitoring the breeding
population of the West Indian Whistling-Duck on
the Island, and Gin report 75 successfully hatched
ducklings.
Mrs Iloward senred on the Government committee
to review the Development Plan for Little
Cayman, and isve-ryactive in efforts to preserve the
rustic beauty of the Island. Little Cayman was well
represented at the Trust Fair with a beautifully
decorated f d stall sellingvarious flavoured pop
corn.
Billy B
irr

SAVANNAH DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Chairman Jeannie DaCosta
Residents of Savannah convinced the Trust to
allow them to form a "Savannah District Committee"
and they continue to focus on the Savannah
School house restoration project. Much of their
time during the year was spent working out the
details of architect's design, viable cost estimates
and cooperative usage plans with the Savannah
Primary School. Thesite is now leased to the Trust,
the plans complete and the contract documents
for restoration job are being finalised. This is
another of these projects which has taken a long
time to get to the point ofactual construction, but
which will see a lot of progress very East.
BODDEN TOWN
Although there is currently no District Committee
active in Bodden Town, the Trust has taken on a
project there in hopes that a committee may develop
around it. Government acquired the site of
the Bodden Town Guard House a few years ago,
and asked the Trust to develop the site into a small
park for tourist use. The site is important to
Boclden Townen, so the Trust tookon the project.
While there is considerable information about the
use of the site as a defense, there is no historic
information about how the site was configured,
giving our architect considerable creative leeway.
Rodney Frederick of Onions, Bouchard developed
an interesting design for the ark which gives a
----s-2< 0 2
Savannah made their appearance at the Trust Fair
with short history of the Schoolhouse on a lovely
three panel display explaining their project. They
also ran a successful food concession at the Fair.
sense of the fact that it was a defensive site, and
uses the full site as a park.
Phase One was completed for Pirates Week: a
coralstone wall with cannon embrasures and pmper
mounts for the two cannon that were on the site.
Public Works produced a top-qualitysign, and will
install parking spaces in the next phase of the
project. The Guard House will be reconstructed
and finedwith information signs about the history
of Bodden Town, making it a good facility for
tourists on their round-the-island tours.
This is one of those cooperative projects in which
everyone has oitched in: the Prison with on-site
labour and the building of the cannon
mounts in their woodshop;
Gordon McLaughlin of Unit Construction
doing the site management
and providing the stoneworking
skills of Richard Bodden;
Hubert Bodden with donations of
materials and the use of his frontloader
to mount the cannons; CUC
with the donation of poles for the
fence, Public Works, Planning Department
and others. We will, of
course, need continued cooperation
to finish the park, and we
hope thatthis generous precedent
will continue.

Organization of the Trust
Membership
Our membership lists are growing in a good, steady way. After the painful process of
dropping from the list those members who did not renew for 1991, our total adult membership
is now 738. This includes 224 Life Members and another 85 members who have
bankers orders in place to renew their membership automatically.
Our junior membership list was put on computer this year. We have been soliciting juinior
members for years at camps, schools and all sorts of activities, and many children had
joined several times. After all the duplications and members without good mailing addresses
were removed from the list, it totalled 451 junior members. This is fewer than we
thought we had last year, but this year we know that the number is right!
Em rn m
Life Members 184 205 224
Annual Members 321 362 514
Total Adult Members 505 567 738
Junior Members 430 650 45 1
Corporate Members
Our corporate members provide an essential core of financial support - money which we
can budget for. The list grows each year (we now have 39, but what is more gratifying is
that our first corporate sponsors are still with us -we have not lost a single corporate
sponsor.
Sustaining Corporate Members ($1 1000 per year)
Royal Bank of Canada Coutts and Co Bank of Butterfield
Cayman National Bank and Trust BankAmerica Trust and Banking
Corporate Members ($500 per year)
Ansbacher Ltd Heritage Craft Ltd Guardian Bank and Trust
Caledonian Bank Cayman Economy Cars Bank of Nova Scotia
Cable and Wireless Hampstead Ltd Johnson and Higgins Ltd
Cayman Aggressor KMPG Peat Marwick Ernst and Young
Julius Baer Bank Cayman Drug Ltd Barclays Bank PLC
CIBC Bank and Trust Cayman Free Press Cayman Islands Port Authority
Chandler Insurance Management British Caymanian Insurance Company
Business Members ($250 per year)
First Home Banking First Cayman Bank Dextra Bank and Trust
Andro Electric Bank of Bermuda Telecheck Cayman
Sta-Mar Enterprises Fordsar (Cayman) Fiduciary Trust
Christopher Evans & Co BCQS WS Walker and Company
Supplies Unliminted Marsh and McLennan Management Services

Support for the Trust
The Trust is very dependent on the generosityof individuals, Government, and the business community
--virtually everything the Trust does involves donations of funds, goods or services. The following
list reflects donations of land, funds, goods and services made during the last year. We would like to
express our profound thanks to all who have helped so generously.
$50,000 or more $500 or more
Cayman Islands Government Corporate Members - page 25
$10,000 or more
Aall Trust and Banking
Thomas R Mtler
RARE Centre for Tropical
Conservation
$5,000 or more
Esso Standard Oil SA Ltd
ACE, Ltd
Caribbean Utilities Corporation
Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu
Price, Wtterhouse
James Robinson
Island Paving
Quarry Products
Onions Bouchacd McCulloch
Horizons Magazine
$1,000 or more
Sponsoring Corpo~ate Members
(see page 25)
ICBP
Tim Ridley
Ingrid Pennelli
Albert Good
Charles Adams
Hampstead Ltd
Earth Day 1990 Committee
Guardian Bank
Third Coast Productions
Columbus Limited
McAlpine Ltd
BCQS
Unit Construction
Thompson Shipping
Ramada Treasure Island Resort
Lions Club of Grand Cayman
Radio Cayman
I
Julius Baer Bank
Belize - Cayman Association
Bill and Janet Walker
The Foster Group
Visual Arts Society
Horace Duquesnay
Cayman Refrigeration
Andm Electric
Brainard Watler
Kirkconnell Brothers Ltd
Barbara Oliver
North West Airlines
Peter German
Peter Milburn's Dive Cayman Ltd
Don Foster's Dive Grand Cayman
Ltd
Row1 Bank of Canada
cable and Wireless
First Home Banking
Caribbean Stone
Cayman Aggregate and Cement
Cox Lumber
Prestige Printers
Northward Prison
$100 or more
Business Members - page 25
Chalmers Gibbs Martin Joseph
Bank of Nova Scotia Trust
Cayman Glass
Garden Club
Business and Professional
Women's Club
Chris and Marylee Rowlandson
Peter Tompkins
Dr Peter Fitzgerald
Conrad Rutkowski
John Collins
Alan Roffey
Lee Aronfeld
Clarence Flowers
Jan Barwick Adams
Blanche Blackwell
Chris Evans
Designcraft
Tropicana Tours
Sunset Photo Centre
Tiara Beach Hotel
Roland Bodden
Hyatt Hotel
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Swiss Bank and Trust
Motor and General Insurance
British American Insurance
C & B Studios
Franklin Smith
And our grateful thanks to
the following service clubs
who supported the Trust's
activities with hundreds of
hours of donated manpowei:
Rotary Club of Grand
Cayman Central
Rotary Club of Grand Cayman
Inner Wheel
Red Cross
KiwanisClub of Grand Cayman
Kiwanis Club of Seven Mile Beach
Lions Club of Grand Cayman
Overseas Students Assoc
Leos Club
Rotaract

Staff and Volunteers
The Trust operates with a core staff and and with committed volunteers who manage a variety of the
Trust's basic functions. This year, we were extremely grateful to have Fred Burton posted to the Trust
from Government, thus greatly increasing our staff capacity without increasing our budget.
Fulltime staff:
Executive Director - Dace McCoy Ground
Director of Science and Stewardship - Fred Burton
Manager of Information Services - Pat Scharr
Horticulture Manager -Jennie Leigh Lane
Gardener - Trevor Leslie-
Volunteer staff:
Membership Manager - Debbie Wight
Bookkeeper -Jane Moon
Retail Managers - Tom and Phyllis Abate
Herbarium Manager - Penny Clifford
Shade House Manager - Margaret Stelling
Gardener Trainee - Dean Knight Maritime Artifacts Restoration Manager -
Carolyn Furman
Volunteers
It is impossible to say enough about the Trust's volunteers. Events like Charter Day and
the Trust Fair bring out all our manpower, and people are incredibly generous with their
time and sweat1 Listed here are the group of people who most regularly report for duty
and support our programmes:
Office:
Deborah Bibby
Tom Abate
Phyllis Abate
Valerie Wood
Katie Moore
Maizie St Louis
Judith Walker
Design and Construction:
Margaret Barwick
Rodney Frederick
Jim Scott
Eddie Thompson
Hubert Bodden
Heith Hill
Danny Owen
Dennis Marsden
Gordon McLaughlin
Henry Propper
John Doak
Parrots:
Barbara Oliver
Rimi McDonald
Joe Caputo
Mike Grundy
Ray McLaughlin
Flora and Fauna:
Frank Roulstone I11
Consuelo Ebanks
Penny Clifford
Chris Bibby
Geddes Hislop
Otto Watler
Michael Marsden
Dr Brian Donohue
Golde Chesler
Kim Peters
Sally Hislop
Memory Bank
Phoebe Spence
Mary Woodward
Pat Smith
Mary Miller
Jeanne Masters
Jill Knights
Ann Sedgwick
Jere Parker
Fundraising:
Jeremy Hurst
Suzan Merren
Mary Boxall
Education:
Philippe Bush
Janet Walker
Edgar Dorman
Peggy Leshikar-Denton
Mark Frazer
Andrew Robinson
Chris Mann
John Broad
Amanda Cope
Lorraine Gunby
Marjorie Rankine
Carmen Conolly
Sue Trull
Ann Grabowski
Val Anderson
Michael Hislop
Henry Lindo
Alan Ebanks
Fran McConvey
Bob Chapman
Marvelle McLaughlin
Derek Tyler
Malcolm Saunders
Hyacinth Conolly
Stanwyck Myles
Alma McKenzie

Tigether we endeavour to recapture,
prmdbhgtofaos theprecious,
some times hidden tteasures in our midst,
[,I
0 a a0
m . 8 4 m n m m m m ~ m m ~
This Annual Report was printed in part with funds
provided by First Home Bankingone
of the Trust's long-time supporters
Photos by
Patricia Scharr
Dace McCoy Ground
Caymanian Compass
Government Information Services
Drawings by
Judy Steele
John Doak
Phillippe Bush
, RARE Centre
Written and laid out by the Trust staff:
Dace McCoy Ground
Patricia Scharr
Fred Burton
Printed in Grand Cayman by the Cayman Free Press
National Trust for the Cayman Islands'
Box 10 - George Town
Cayman Islands
Tel809 949 0121
Fax 809 949 7494

The National Trust
for the
Cayman Islands
I
Saving the Cayman Islands-
One Piece at a Time
Fpnding for the printing of this Annual Report
donated by
Cayman National Bank and Trust
--the Trust's First
Sustaining Corporate Member

~izowing off izer tennis bull p~ippet,
n Cq,narlinn girl trikes n stcznd fur
coilservrltion
RARE Center News: How did you
hear about RARE's program?
Pat Scharr: Paul Butler came to us. It
was imp,ossible to resist his
salesqanship. He not only offered an
excellent program with support
services, but grant money as well. As
he explained it, RARE is interested in
helping countries that already have
some (conservation work)
infrastructure. They noted the
Cayman's success in marine
conservation and offered to help us
move into terrestrial conservation.
RCN: What was the reaction when he
announced what he wanted to do?
PS: We were very impressed with the
caliber and scope of the RARE
program. We had been doing a lot of
bits and pieces similar to the RARE
program in terms of public education,
for example, Marine Conservation
Week. But Paul was talking about
doing this, not just for a week, but a
whole year.
The fact that we would be able to
tailor the program to our own country
was very important. As we spoke to
our leadership and some government
officials, we realized that this might be
a difficult program here because our
Grand Cayman parrots, although
endangered, are pests to farmers'
crops. Caymanians have always had a
lovelhate relationship with parrots.
Many have a parrot as a pet and many
complain about the crop damage. But,
using the parrot's plight as a flagsbip
to bring the message about protection
of habitat fit in so perfectly with the
goals of the National Trust that we
decided to take the challenge.
KCN: How has your background
prepared you to take on this program?
PS: I taught General Science at the
junior high school level for many
years in the United States. That
experience gave me an invaluable
insight to the needs and interests of
teachers and how to present concepts
to them. Also, I have been writing
articles (and shooting pictures) for
teachers and scuba diving instructors
about teaching methods for many
years.
Finally, both in the States and here in
Cayman, I have been involved in event
coordination. Organizing both small
and large events has helped me to
establish a strong network of local
connections and an appreciation of
how things are done in Cayman. A
prograni will only work if it is in
harmony with the local culture ilnd
customs.
KCN: What sort of programs have
you been coming up with?
PS: Well, we're following the CEC
program manual fairly closely but
altering it to suit our local needs. For
example, instead of selecting one bird
we have two because there are two
unique sub-species of Amazon parrot
in the Cayman Islands. That has led to
posters, fact sheets, newsletters,
projects such as making puppets from
I I tennis balls. and lots of support
materials to ca~iip directors. We have
produced a fairly high caliber Cayman
Parrot exhibit for the Cayman Islands'
I I
National Museum. The display
includes a Grand Cayman parrot that
has been professionally mounted for
display in a lifelike position, several
)1 beautiful photographs and a text that
we wrote, with the theme "Protect our
Parrots in the Wild."
I I
RARE Center News hirerview: 1 1
RCN: Have any additional conserva-
I I
PAT
UNTERPART
FOR CAY ISLANDS
CONSERVATW PROGRAM
by Marisol Villamil, RARE Center News
Pat Scharr was born and raised i nited States, but these days she
co~~ld be mistaken for a native of the Cavman islands. Scharr arrived on the
islands to be the manager of a Cay scuba diving business and didn't
intend to stay long. Now,
later, she's the manager of
information services for thc.Nationa.1 Trust of the Cayman Islands. In her
work, and in taking on RARE'S C tion Education for the Caribbean
(CEC) program, she has become in the effort to save the Islands'
two endangered parrots and
more aware of the need to
preserve its
sings for the Cayman
National Choir as well as a
9
band. is well versed
in knowing how '#a message out.
coloring books etc. with two parrots.
We have enthused enough teachers
about our program that we were able
to have several art exhibits with
paintings of our parrots by children.
One teacher in the Brac has produced,
with her classes, almost 100 limericks
about parrots. Other teachers have had
their students use parrot conservation
themes for puppet plays, poems,
stories and songs.
During the summer, we shifted our
youth activities to the summer camps
offering field trips to see parrots, an
1 1 tion programs grown out of the RARE
mfl~ative?
I' I
I I
I I
PS: Because of RARE, we have
develooed a five-year olan dedicated
to the'preservatibn oi the Cayman
Brac parrot. It began with a census of
the parrot organized and conducted by
Dr. Jim Wiley. Based on his
suggestions, we did a subsequent
study on nesting behavior. During
field studies, food availability was also
evaluated. Wiley has been invaluable
to us. A census of the Grand Cayman
parrot is scheduled for February 1992.
Paul Butler has also really helped us
Icurn about international funding
practices. Finally, we have also used
the RARE network to locate scientists
to work with us in developing nonlethal
pe$t control methods to help our
farmers. Dr. James Keith of the
Denver Wildlife Center visited
Cayman for two weeks for an initial
assessment. A plan is being developed
for crop damape assessment and an
evaluation of a number of different
strategies.
RCN: What have you been doing to
get people motivated?
PS: I've been listening to what people
are saying and what they are willing to
volunteer to do. I am also listening to
their ideas. Shared ownership is a
necessary element in the success of
any program.
We're in a country that, economically,
developed very quickly. People here
have finally begun to realize how
quickly their cultural and national
heritage can disappear. So, we've been
sowing the seeds of conservation
oriented attitudes for a few years. It's
a long-term process.
Now, not everybody you meet is
walking around saying "Save the
parrot" but we are trying to give the
guy on the street the basic information
that be needs to make intelligent
decisions abo.ut how to manage his
national resources. By taking that
approach we are finding people to be
extremely receptive. People are
hungry for this kind of information. A
few years ago many people I talked to
thought endangered species were, like,
lions and tigers in Africa. We then
began a campaign to educate the
public on what makes an animal or
plant endangered. To do it again,
within the structure of the RARE
program, was the perfect way to
reinforce these concepts. As they
internalize these concepts it becomes
easier to motivate them.
RCN: I've heard that you're a great
motivator? Is that true?
PS: I would put it a different way. I
would say that, if you understand what
you are trying to get across, believe in
it, and are enthusiastic about a
program, then that enthusiasm
becomes infectious. It's like when
somebody you don't know smiles at
you, it's hard not to smile back.
Pot Schrrrr ( left ) be1ie1~e.s tliczt
entl~~rsinsrn is infectious

APPENDIX G
ABOUT THE R.A.R.E. COUNTERPART
PATRICIA SCHARR

About the RARE Counterpart, Patricia Scharr
Born and raised in the United States, the Cayman Islands RARE Counterpart, Patricia
Scharr, has found asecond home in thecayman Islands. After completing aB.A. at Hunter
College, CUNY, and an M.S. at the University of Illinois, she taught science and physical
education at an inner city parochial school in Chicago for several years.Conservation
education has always been one of her interests. During these school years she gained
valuable experience in curriculum design and the development of support materials and
in training student-teachers and presenting in-service teacher training workshops.
Her successful career in teaching led to an even more successful career in the diving
industry. Scuba diving, the first developed form of ecotourism, involved her in a different
aspect of conservation. Her expertise in training was evident in the articles she wrote for
professional journals and in the leadership training she organized. She was elected to the
Board of Directors of the National Association of Underwater Instructors in a national
election by her peers and served a four year term.
Wanting to broaden her experience, sheworked as Manager of Retail Sales for alarge diving
operation. She revamped the training programmes to become profitable and then went
on to become General Manager of a small diving resort with great ecotourism potential.
During these years she also served as the elected Secretary for the Cayman Islands
Watersports Operators Association and was instrumental in organizing major international
diving conferences including IQ15-NAUI Dives Cayman and four Scubabowls.
After several years teaching scuba diving and managing scuba diving operations with
conservation in mind, she moved into conservation work on a full time basis, working for
the National Trust for the Cayman Islands from its inception. In the early years, she
designed and developed the Junior Activities and Membership Programme, the Trust's
adult and junior member newsletters as well as theTrusti major fund raising events. Now
Manager of Public Education and Special Events, she designs, develops and implements
public education programmes, Trust publications, publicity and coordinates fund raising
events.
She enthusiastically accepted the challenge to implement the RARE programme in the
Cayman Islands. Her teaching experience were an asset in her work on RARE'S Conservation
Education Programme. An accomplished writerlphotographer, many of Pat's
articles and photographs related to the RARE Programmewere published locally. And her
extensive experience in went coordinating was evident in the innovative exposure parrot
conservation received in major public events in Cayman during the year.
Currently, she is employed by theNationalTrust for thecayman Islands, but is considering
alternative employment outside of the Cayman Islands.

RESUME
Patricia M. Scharr
Objective:
National Trust for
the Cayman Islands
(1989 - Present)
Cayman Islands
Government
(1988-1990)
J & M Walter
Realty
(1987)
Cayman Diving
Lodge
(1985-1987)
National Trust for the Cayman Islands
PO Box 10 GT
George Town, Grand Cayman
Phone: (809) 949-0121 FAX: (809) 949-7494
A management position in conservation education offering career opportunity
and challenge that will enable me ro use my capabilities and experience to make
significant contributions to my employer and the community.
Manager of Public Education and Special Events
Responsible for design and implementation of all public education programs.
Responsible for design and ~roduction of Trust publications.
Responsible for generating media coverage for Trust programmes and events.
Responsible for design and implementation of fund raising events.
Secretary for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Executive Secretary to this government statutory body responsible for all
correspondence, minutes, research and the production of two annual reports.
Designed and sewed as Deputy ChairmanlEvents Coordinator of the first
"Choose To Be Drug Free "Week.
Real Estate Agent
Facilitated real estate transactions independently and as co-broker.
Responsible for the relocation and re-organization of sales offices.
Developed an integrated, cross-referenced listinglfiling system.
General Manager
Responsible for the overall operation and administration of this self-contained
resort including hotel, bar, restaurant, dive operation and boutique.
Instituted staff development and training for local staff.
Shared business resources to support community projects and activities.
Developed in conjunction with owners, markering strategies, promotional
literature, vacation packages and represented this business at trade shows.
Represented this business in the C. I. Watersports Operators Association.
Sewed as Scubabowl '85 and Scubabowl '86Coordinator
-Responsible for the design, set-up and organization ofBob Soto's Scuba Centre.

Bob Soto's Diving Training Manager
Ltd.
(1983 - 1984) Responsible for design, set-up and organization of Bob Soto's Scuba Centre.
Responsible for the administration, saleslmarketing and profitability of the
Scuba Centre including budget, income projections, expense controls, reservations
and scheduling.
Developed a comprehensive instructional program ranging from cruise ship
resort courses to instructor training; and trained staff to teach these courses.
Served as Scubabowl '84Coordinator and assisted with organization of ZQ-15,
NAUZ Dives Cayman.
Retail Manager
Responsible for the operation of three retail outlets.
Refined and standardized retail procedures.
Developed staff training programs and increased the number of local employees.
Coordinated all reservations for dive packages and diving services.
Served as Scubabowl '83 Coordinator.
Illinois Institute of Managing Director
Diving
(1975 - 1983) Responsible for the administration, sales and operations of this small business.
Implemented standard small business bookkeeping and reporting procedures
with accounting firm.
Managed full time oficestaff (3), Instmctorstaff(8) and part timevolunteer staff
(40).
Directed operations for all instructional and recreational programs.
Designed and implemented marketing strategy which increased sales by 20%.
Reorganized records keeping system for improved information access.
Training Director
Designed and implemented a complete, individualized leadership development
program.Updated and standardized curricula and evaluation procedures.
Supervised the staff training and safety procedures for all diving activities.
Improved public relations through personal contact, public speaking engagements,
published articles, media exposure and cooperative programs with other
agencies.
Taught scuba in university, community recreation and high school settings.
Developed training techniques and specialty programs.
Organized dive trips in the Mid-West, Florida, Canada and the Caribbean.
Actively recruited new staff members as well as customers.

Villa Park As Program Supervisor
Recreation
Department Administered Summer Swim Instruction Program.
(1978 - 1981) Expanded program from standard American Red Cross curriculum to include
programs for tiny tots, adults, synchronized swimming, life saving and skin
diving.
Trained and evaluated instructional staff.
Improved public relations through personal contact, development of progress
reports and positive media exposure.
St Philip Neri Professional Educator
Elementary School
(1971 - 1979) Responsible for the Junior High School Science program and K-8 Physical
Education program.
Expanded Physical Education program by introducing co-educational classes,
individualized instruction, life time sports and developed both intra and
extramural sports programs (11 sports).
Produced exciting, effective learning systems by synthesizing new concepts (e.g.)
individualized instruction, behavioral objectives, student accountability, contract
learning) with multi-media support materials.
Directed various activities from other leadership positions including Unit
Leader, Science Coordinator, Physical Education Coordinator, Chairperson of
Self-study Evaluation Project.
Educational Hunter College, C.U.N.Y. B.A. Physical Education 1968
Background University of Illinois M.S. Physical Education 1969
Personal Single, Born: 29 November 1946
Background Excellent Health, Ht: 5'5.5" Wt. 140 Ibs
Interests: Music, singing, photography, scuba diving, hiking and fitness
activities, reading, travel.
References:
Available upon request.