Times of the Islands Spring 2022

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SIMON BUSUTTIL Shown here are three of TCI’s breeding seabirds at the National Trust’s Wheeland Pond on Providenciales, one of the best sites in TCI to watch and photograph birds. From left to right are: a Royal Tern, Laughing Gull, and Cabot’s (formerly Sandwich) Tern. don’t hatch because they are taken or are abandoned, inevitably leads to declines. With European colonisation came the additional pressure of the introduction of non-native predatory species such as cats and rats to most islands, and on some, mongooses were introduced to control the previously introduced rats. The impact of introduced predators on species which previously had no experience with them is described in a seminal paper from our own Pine Cay. John Iverson studied Turks & Caicos Rock Iguanas Cyclura carinata there before, during, and after the construction of the Meridian Hotel in 1973/74. His 1978 paper describes the numbers of iguanas falling from over 15,000 to fewer than 30 as a result of predation by cats and dogs introduced to the island by construction workers. Elsewhere, other non-predatory species such as goats significantly change the vegetation on islands which had never had a significant population of grazing animals and the plant communities of which changed through grazing. With over 250, mainly uninhabited, cays it is no surprise that 15 of the 23 Caribbean species of seabirds breed in TCI. Counts of breeding seabirds in TCI from some 15 years ago suggest that there are about 60,000 pairs of seabirds breeding here, mainly on those cays on the edge of the banks that are adjacent to oceanic waters, but there are small numbers across the country even still on Providenciales itself. Since the counts were made much has happened which may have impacted on these important populations—from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to significantly increased numbers of tourists and residents which may cause added disturbance. It is important that we get a clearer understanding of how our breeding seabirds are doing and areas they currently use. This data can inform planning and development decisions so that this asset is not damaged further. There are plans for a full survey of all TCI’s breeding seabirds over the next few years using both human surveyors and a range of recently developed technology such as drones, remote cameras, and acoustic recording. The latter will be particularly important to help understand how many Audubon’s Shearwaters Puffinus Iherminien there still are in the Islands. These birds breed in burrows so are particularly vulnerable to predation by rats. They are also nocturnal so are rarely encountered. They are still here though. Small flocks can be seen beyond the reef in Grace Bay during the spring and summer. 42 www.timespub.tc
The Turks & Caicos Islands are blessed with natural beauty. The threat of destruction from development is obvious but if there is to be a vibrant economy and homes and jobs for people then this is the inevitable trade-off that must be made. There are though far more insidious threats which degrade and eat away at the remaining natural areas. even those protected through legislation. Many of these arise directly from Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS), species which have been introduced either deliberately or accidentally to these islands. The negative impacts of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and alien Lionfish on TCI’s valuable reef and marine life have been effectively communicated locally by the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund and Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR). On land, Green Iguanas Iguana iguana are already present in small numbers on Providenciales. The DECR, National Trust, and volunteers are catching and euthanising them when found. This creature is a significant economic pest. The Cayman Islands Government has just spent over $8 million removing over 1.2 million of these animals from Grand Cayman, an island just twice the size of Providenciales, and will have to spend valuable resources into the foreseeable future managing a species which should simply not be there. If we want to keep TCI “Beautiful by Nature,” we need to work together to keep this species out. A project funded by the UK Government through Darwin Plus is currently underway to highlight the threat this species poses to both the natural environment and the economy of the Islands. What does this have to do with the systematic list of birds of TCI? Another invasive non-native species is the Australian Pine Casuarina equisetifolia which is widespread at the back of beaches and on disturbed ground across the Islands, particularly on the north shore. Around human settlements it has a function of creating shade and is appreciated for the sound of the wind blowing through its leaves. In natural areas it is a disaster, shading out native vegetation that is food for the endemic Rock Iguanas. It was noticeable during our Piping Plover surveys that the birds avoid beaches where tall Australian pine trees create a shadow effect and in January/February 2022, we identified that many sandy spits being used by the plovers as roosts at high tide were beginning to be hemmed in by Australian pines. We do not know what impact the further spread and growth of these trees will have on this marvellous migratory wader for which so much effort is being put into saving by communities in North America. A precaution- The longest established legal practice in the Turks & Caicos Islands Real Estate Investments & Property Development Immigration, Residency & Business Licensing Company & Commercial Law Trusts & Estate Planning Banking & Insurance 1 Caribbean Place, P.O. Box 97 Leeward Highway, Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Ph: 649 946 4344 • Fax: 649 946 4564 E-Mail: dempsey@tciway.tc Cockburn House, P.O. Box 70 Market Street, Grand Turk Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Ph: 649 946 2245 • Fax: 649 946 2758 E-Mail: ffdlawco@tciway.tc Times of the Islands Spring 2022 43
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Times of the Islands Spring 2022

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