Not only birds, all nature is threatened by humans’ burgeoning population, our demand and consumption of more resources. Faraaz Abdool sounds the alarm: where the birds go, there goes our wellbeing.
It is an established fact that we are on the verge of a major ecological collapse. More than 16,000 species of plants and animals are currently listed as endangered, and a far greater number are still experiencing precipitous declines. We are losing species at a rate never previously experienced in human history – and there is little or no effort being made to change our ill-fated trajectory.
Right here in the Caribbean we are still in the process of discovering new species. The commonly seen horsewhip was described as its very own species only in late 2020 – now officially called Rutherford’s vine snake. Further north, a tiny bird flitting around in the pine forests of the Bahamas was recognised as a distinct species in a release by the American Ornithologists Union on July 1. This endearing little bird, the Bahama nuthatch, unfortunately had its fate sealed over the course of many years in the recent past. From pine logging to tourist developments, feral cats and most recently several devastating hurricanes – the Bahama nuthatch, an official species since July 2021, is likely already extinct.
[caption id="attachment_903921" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Although they migrate here in their thousands, the semipalmated sandpiper is listed as "Near Threatened." - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]
Birds we may take for granted such as the ubiquitous orange-winged parrot are experiencing population collapse. Even the ever-present magnificent frigate birds are in decline. Birds we rely on for a solid footing as we navigate a new future in ecotourism are also under threat. The resplendent red-billed tropic birds which visit north east Tobago every year to breed are decreasing in number overall. While these three species are officially listed as “Least Concern,” care must be taken to avoid their becoming species of concern.
Several local species are recorded under the category of “Near Threatened,” including the charismatic white-tailed sabrewing of Tobago’s Main Ridge Forest Reserve. While much more commonly seen now – they were thought to have disappeared after Hurricane Flora in 1963. It would bode well for the population to properly establish itself as strongly as it can, should the island be forced to weather another hurricane. The responsibility may not be solely ours to provide everything possible for threatened migratory species like red knots, semipalmated sandpipers and cerulean warblers – but at least we can do our part by ensuring that they have the appropriate food and lodging available when they visit.
On Trinidad, the endemic Trinidad piping-guan is still listed as “Critically Endangered” – a short step away from complete extinction. There is reason for hope here: the Trinidad piping-guan’s population is increasing due to ardent efforts by local and international conservationists working tireless
