Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine July 2016

— Continued from previous page
And in Bermuda, besides the annual bluebird nestbox
competition, members of the Bermuda Audubon
Society sailed to Nonsuch Island in search of the
National Bird, the endemic Bermuda Petrel, known
locally as the Cahow.
What was all the activity about? Well, one major clue
in all of the above is the word “endemic.” The annual
Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF), coordinated
by BirdsCaribbean and its energetic partners across
the region, begins on Earth Day (April 22nd) and ends
on International Biodiversity Day (May 22nd). The festival
celebrates the exceptionally high endemism in the
Learning about how birds are captured and banded for research, a child
releases a banded Lesser Antillean Bullfinch at Belmont Estates in Grenada
region — 173 species of birds call the Caribbean home,
that is, they are found nowhere else in the world.
Many of these species live only on a single island, and
many are endangered or threatened. These birds are
unique examples of the Caribbean’s natural heritage,
and they often occupy specialized niches in the ecology
Leader in
Caribbean
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of the islands where they live.
This year, dozens of events involved the active participation
of thousands of islanders, young and old.
The overall theme was “Spread Your Wings for Bird
Conservation”, which raised awareness about the different
laws and programs that protect our unique
birds and how everyone can participate in activities
that help safeguard their long-term survival.
For the organizers of CEBF celebrations across the
region, it is important to reach out to different groups.
Birds — and in particular the “special” endemics that
are unique to each island — have widespread appeal,
touching hearts and minds in different ways. Each
year, CEBF partners such as
Grupo Acción Ecológica in the
Dominican Republic, the
Natural History Society of
Puerto Rico and Jamaica’s
Caribbean Coastal Area
DWAIN THOMAS
Management Foundation
(C-CAM) offer new perspectives
on endemic birds for
visitors from overseas as well
as students of all ages, educators,
local families and youth
groups such as Boy Scouts.
Members of a group of grandparents
(Renacer) were among
those visiting the University of
Havana exhibition. Many
events were advertised via
social media as well as traditional
media.
In Jamaica, C-CAM’s new
Portland Bight Discovery
Centre, in the Salt River wetland
area, was the setting for
an exciting day of activities for
local high school students
and teachers. Prizes (including
Ann Haynes Sutton’s Birds
of Jamaica field guide) were
awarded in four categories for
a student art exhibition. An
exploration of the surrounding mangroves and bird
hide, including binocular practice, was literally an
“eye-opener” for the students.
Over in the Eastern Caribbean, the trans-boundary
non-governmental organization Sustainable Grenadines
Inc took to the seas and led a series of bird-watching
USA EAST COAST-CARIBBEAN - MED
Mv Singelgracht
Palm Beach (FL), USA Sailing 1 10 Mar - 20 Mar 2017
St. Thomas, USVI 15 Mar - 25 Mar 2017
Le Marin, Martinique 18 Mar - 28 Mar 2017
USA EAST COAST-CARIBBEAN - MED
Mv Spuigracht
Palm Beach (FL), USA Sailing 2 11 Apr - 18 Apr 2017
St. Thomas, USVI 05 Apr - 15 Apr 2017
Antigua, Caribbean 18 Apr - 28 Apr 2017
USA EAST COAST-CARIBBEAN - MED
Mv Spaarnegracht
Palm Beach (FL), USA Sailing 3 11 May - 18 May 2017
St. Thomas, USVI 05 May - 15 May 2017
Antigua, Caribbean 08 May- 20 May 2017
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Genoa, Italy
Las Palmas, Spain
Tivat, Montenegro
trips with its Junior Rangers and graduate BirdSleuth
teachers. Their island excursions included an early
morning trip at the invitation of the exclusive Palm
Island Beach Resort (breakfast included); and extensive
seabird and shorebird viewing via boat trips around
Union Island and its surrounding islets and rocks.
The CEBF would be nothing without partnerships,
and new ones are being forged every year on every
island. Non-governmental organizations such as the
Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, in Puerto Rico;
private sector sponsors such as the Bermuda Electricity
Company; government agencies such as Jamaica’s
Forestry Department; and academic institutions such
as the Cuban Zoological Society and the Institute of
Jamaica’s Natural History Museum all bring extra
value to the activities by lending additional local
expertise, materials and funds.
For more information visit the Caribbean Bird Festivals
Facebook page.
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire’s New Website
Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) is a nongovernmental
research and conservation organization
that has been protecting sea turtles since 1991. The
small island of Bonaire is their headquarters and
home to three of the world’s six endangered or critically
endangered species of marine turtles: the hawksbill,
green and loggerhead turtles.
Visit their new website at www.bonaireturtles.org/wp
JULY 2016 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 13
Sailings matching the regatta dates.
CARIBBEAN - NORTHERN EUROPE
Mv Scheldegracht
Antigua, Caribbean Sailing 1 17 Apr - 29 Apr 2017
Sailing 2 05 May -15 May 2017
St. Thomas, USVI
Southampton, UK
Sevenstar Yacht Transport
Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
phone +31 20 448 8590
info@sevenstar-yacht-transport.com
sevenstar-yacht-transport.com
Sevenstar Yacht Transport
Caribbean - Martinique
Phone +596 696 45 89 75
douglas@yachtservices.fr
yachtservices.fr