The Caribbean is critically important for a number of North American breeding migrants (or Neotropical Migratory Birds) during the boreal winter months. Migrant passerines in particular are disproportionately concentrated in this region (and Central America), yet little is known about how well existing initiatives, site priorities or the current protected area networks cater for their long-term conservation.  Whilst not the highest conservation priority for the region, interest in migratory birds provides a potential opportunity to strengthen existing Caribbean bird initiatives and to help deliver SCSCB bird conservation goals, and move us a step closer to “All Bird” conservation in the region. A Conservation of Migrants Workshop at the 2005 SCSCB meeting in Guadeloupe explored what the opportunities might be.

Download the full workshop report (PDF)

Conserving IBAs for Neotropical Migrants in the Caribbean

Around 200 migratory bird species are known visit the Caribbean each year, either to spend the winter or as a stage on their journey. Less is known about the relative abundance of these birds, or their distribution within the Caribbean.

A new project, Conserving Important Bird Areas for Neotropical Migratory Birds in the Caribbean, will collate information on migrant birds and ensure that the sites they use are adequately covered by the IBA network. The information will be drawn from published and unpublished sources, including BirdLife’s World Bird Database, monitoring initiatives in different Caribbean countries, birdwatchers’ notes and tour company reports.  The project is supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.

The information together with visual resources such as photographs will be made available online, where it can be updated, shared and discussed with groups like SCSCB BirdsCaribbean Yahoo group.

For more information contact David Wege or Veronica Anadón