The West Indian Breeding Seabird Atlas - wicbirds.net
The purpose of the Atlas is to track reports of breeding by seabirds in the islands in the Caribbean. If you have observed breeding seabirds in the region, please visit this site (click here) and contribute to the database.
The system currently includes: 23 seabird species, 800 sites, and data from 3,100 surveys, based on 90 literature references and 85 contributors. More than 90% of sites have precise coordinates, although minor and some major location corrections must be made. All colonies are assigned a level of importance (2 = Hosts greater than 5% of a regional population; 1 = Hosts less than 5%; and 0 = Extirpated or Severely Impacted). The goal of the GIS is the ability to conduct analyses: for example, the GIS can be queried for information on the most important colonies, or most threatened, or most poorly known. Also, it can be used to generate maps, area and distance estimates for use in population or habitat conservation planning. Work is now underway to make the database information available online and set up a portal where people with access (members, etc) can make queries and get access to the information and maps. Contact creator Will Mackin (visit: www.unc.edu/~mackin).
Seabird and Invasive Species Database
Environmental Protection In the Caribbean (EPIC) announces the release of seabird and invasive species data in an interactive, map-based format at OBIS-SEAMAP (Ocean Biogeographic Information System - Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations). This global program seeks to organize marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle spatial data to advance conservation and collaboration.
Caribbean Lesser Antilles Seabird Colony Atlas 2001-04. Results from breeding colony surveys from 2001-2004 are available at: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/datasets/detail/418
The database is part of EPIC’s goal to create a seabird breeding atlas for the Lesser Antilles region using standardized field surveys. Funding is needed to complete the collaborative surveys and share the information. Undocumented colonies have certainly disappeared without notice. For more information, visit: EPIC or contact Natalia Collier at EPIC.
Schreiber, B.A. 1988. BARBUDA MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD COLONY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN. Unpublished. Project funded by the British Government through a project memorandum between the British Department for Development in the Caribbean and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. (PDF)
Burger, A. and A. D. Lawrence. Seabird Monitoring Handbook for Seychelles. Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman, P.O. Box 1310, Mahe, Seychelles. Tel: +248 60 11 00, Fax: + 248 60 11 00, Email: firstname.lastname@example.org. Available for sale at www.NatureSeychelles.org
Steinkamp, M., B. Peterjohn, V. Byrd, H. Carter, and R. Lowe. 2003. "Breeding Season Population Census Techniques for Seabirds and Colonial Waterbirds Throughout North America" . February 13, 2003 Draft. Unpublished. (PDF, 7 MB)
Paul, Richard T. and Ann F. Paul. undated. Project ColonyWatch Handbook. Published 2004 by Audubon of Florida. 444 Brickell Ave, Suite 850. Miami, FL 33131. (PDF)
Public Education Tools
Save Our Seabirds posters -- Available in English or Spanish - see below
Seabirds of the Caribbean Identification Cards -- English, French and versions in Spanish for Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are available - see below
Contact Lisa Sorenson if you are interested in receiving copies of these materials.
Seabird Working Group Contact List (being updated)
The Co-chairs are Will Mackin and Ann Sutton
Caribbean Seabird Conservation Books
The Seabird working Group announces that "An Inventory of Breeding Seabirds of the Caribbean," edited by Patricia E. Bradley and Robert L. Norton, is available for purchase by University Press of Florida. The book was launched at SCSCB's regional meeting in Antigua, July 2009 (see photo of Rob Norton and Will Mackin at right). It has a Foreword by John Croxall, and 30 chapters contributed by 46 authors. It provides an island-by-island inventory of Caribbean seabirds with colony locations and estimates of the numbers of breeding pairs, discussion of the severe threats that seabirds face, and proposals for research and conservation measures. The book covers seabirds breeding in 25 island nations, with 51 maps, 44 B&W photographs, a GIS Analysis by William Mackin, and an extensive bibliography. ISBN (978-0-8130-3329-7), 8-1/2 x 11, cloth cover.
The book may be ordered direct from the publisher online, University Press of Florida or order by phone (800-226-3822). The price is $75.00. Shipping costs are $6.00 for the first book and $1.00 for each additional copy if ordering in the U.S.; $10.00 for the first book and $5.00 for each additional copy if books are to be shipped outside of the United States.
All proceeds from the books will go to the SCSCB to fund travel of Haitian ornithologists to SCSCB meetings. We are very grateful to the book's editors, Patricia Bradley and Rob Norton, for this generous donation.
Under the auspices of the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative, via funding by US Fish and Wildlife Service, 67 copies were distributed to partners in the region. We thank them for their support and help.
Also available: Status and Conservation of West Indian Seabirds; edited by Dave Lee and B. A. Schreiber. This book was published in 2000 after more than 3 years of hard work by Seabird Working Group members. It has received excellent reviews. Copies can be ordered from Jim Wiley US$12 to addresses in the U.S., elsewhere US$17.