Birding News and Features

Rejection of Cement Plant in Los Haitises Will Benefit Critically Endangered Ridgway's Hawk

The United Nations multi-sectorial team charged with evaluating the decision to install a cement plant in a buffer zone of the Dominican Republic's Los Haitises National Park has concluded that the project is neither viable nor pertinent. Los Haitises is known as one of the world's largest karst reserves, and is an important source of reserve water for the country. In addition, the region is the last stronghold of Ridgway's Hawk, reputed to be the world's rarest and most endangered raptor, with only about 100 breeding pairs remaining. Further, the area has significant cultural heritage, as reflected in Taino cave drawings.

Bird Records Committee Updates Checklist and Rare Bird Documentation Form

The Bird Records committee of the SOH is pleased to announce two new documents for use by the public:

• An updated checklist of all the birds of Hispaniola, and
• A Rare and Vagrant Bird reporting form.

Bird Sounds of the Dominican Republic Re-Released

Cornell Lab of Ornithology has re-release the 1981 LP record album by George Reynard as a CD. It has 99 species found in the Dominican Republic, including most of the 31 endemic species. This guide is designed as an audio companion to field guides such as A Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele et al. (1998) and Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti by Steve Latta et al. (2006). Each species is individually tracked, making access to recordings easy. This CD release has updated taxonomy and some additional recordings. The scientific, English common name, and Spanish common name are provided for each species. The CD may be purchased on CLO's online nature store.

New directory finds almost half Caribbean IBAs lack protection

Of the 770 bird species occurring in the Caribbean, 148 are endemic, with 105 confined to single islands. But only around 10% of the region’s original habitat remains, and 54 of the Caribbean’s bird species are globally threatened, of which 12 are Critically Endangered.

BirdLife's newly-published Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean: key sites for conservation is a milestone for the BirdLife Caribbean Programme, which began in 2001. BirdLife International and its Partners, and a range of other organisations, have identified, documented and mapped 283 internationally significant Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the Caribbean. IBAs are key sites for the conservation of birds and biodiversity, and the building blocks for conservation planning. They are identified nationally, using data gathered locally and applying internationally agreed criteria.

Field Guide to the Birds of Hispaniola

Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti is now available! This is the first comprehensive and fully-illustrated guide to cover the birds of this biologically rich island. There are detailed accounts and color plates for more than 300 species, including thirty-one endemic species. the book is available in English, French and Spanish.