Lesser Antilles Mar 19—28, 2011
Posted by David Ascanio
David Ascanio
David Ascanio, a Venezuelan birder and naturalist, has spent the last 26 years guiding birding tours throughout his native country, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the Amazo...Related Trips
When Birds of the West Indies was published in 1936, little was known about the ecology of these Caribbean islands and much less about the book's author, James Bond. Prior to this publication, ornithologists were aware that these small promontories in the Caribbean were rich in endemism, but the way the birds colonized was much ignored since early exploration focused solely on bird identification. One good representative of the collecting period, Frederick Albion Ober, made surveys of the Lesser Antilles around 1876–1878 and collected 22 bird taxa new to science. Therefore, to say that the 1936 book marked an important milestone in the history of ornithology of the West Indies is not an exaggeration, but a tribute to James Bond.
To make this story more fascinating, when Birds of the West Indies was published, Bond was virtually unknown out of scientific circles. However, by the 1950s Bond's name had become well-known to the general public and synonymous with espionage, beautiful women, and "shaken martinis." The novelist Ian Fleming, a keen birdwatcher, had been looking at Birds of the West Indies when trying to decide upon a name for the British Secret Service Agent in his next novel. So, the relationship between Agent 007 and the passionate ornithologist was not just a mere coincidence!
The Lesser Antilles host a rich history. The battles between French and Spanish or Portuguese and British were so intense that several islands passed hands various times, and this is reflected in the names of locations. Looking at the bays on any given island, one can find a beach with a French name, a town with a British meaning, and a landmass with a Spanish spelling!
Do you want to know some old-timer secrets of the Lesser Antilles? In the past, not everyone was aware that 4 species of endemic parrots occur (Dominica hosting two) and that House Wren is unusual in St. Lucia and Dominica. Today, not everyone is aware that orioles abound (they might have colonized the islands from South America) and that there once was a macaw now considered extinct. In reality, no one can be sure that such a macaw ever existed, or if it was a Scarlet Macaw brought from the mainland.
By the 70s, many of these secrets were revealed due to the illegal parrot trade that almost drove some to extinction. Almost simultaneously, international pressure took place and conservation efforts were undertaken. Thanks to such actions, the Lesser Antilles islands that host parrot species claim to have seen those populations increase, and habitat protection legally sealed. This was not a matter of luck. A constant effort involving education campaigns and expensive fines for parrot smugglers continues to guarantee that such endemic beauties won't disappear due to human pressure.
Although it is known today that islands are sensitive ecosystems, pressure continues in the form of subsistence farming, and sugar cane and banana plantations. Also, introduced species have caused a lot of damage (mongoose, rats, plants), and human colonization has followed several waves, from Amerindian to European, each bringing different threats to the native flora and fauna.
Going back to the secrets of the Lesser Antilles, do you know the last remaining mystery of these islands? It is a small warbler. Somewhere in the impenetrable mountains of tiny St. Lucia, a remaining population of Semper's Warbler (Leucopeza semperi) might survive, although it is now considered to be extinct, possibly due to a mix of habitat pressure and mongoose predation. This was the only endemic species we missed on our tour (the last confirmed record dates from 1934!).
I hope the birdlist from our 9-day tour to 4 different countries brings back great memories from the time we spent together. We saw all the endemic birds we wanted to see, but also enjoyed the local cuisine, tasted the local beer, tried to understand the variable English of each island, and enjoyed beautiful scenery.