eBird News and Features
The Red-breasted Merganser Sighted at the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats in Puerto Rico
The Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is a diving duck, considered accidental in Puerto Rico. During this year, possibly for the first time, several bird-watchers have photographically-documented this species in the Cabo Rojo salt flats.
Unusual Sightings at Hacienda La Esperanza during 2011
Hacienda La Esperanza in Manatí, a Nature Reserve protected by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, received copious amounts of rainfall during the month of August in 2011. These prolonged periods of rain caused floods, among other uncomfortable results, but they also provided a unique opportunity to observe certain bird species that are rarely found in the reserve.
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Travels to Puerto Rico in 2012
During the brief period that has passed since the beginning of 2012, several important bird sightings have occurred, including the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), a species that acquired its unusual name from its feeding habits and its preferred source of food, tree sap. This species is a wintering resident who is rarely observed in Puerto Rico.
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) Visits Puerto Rico
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) is a medium-sized shorebird that reproduces in Alaska, Canada, and east of Siberia. During the winter, it travels long distances to tropical and temperate climates in South America.
Five great birding sites to improve your eBird Puerto Rico list
This time of year is the best time to score huge numbers of bird species in the Caribbean. Though many migrants have passed through the islands, you can find more than a hundred species during a serious birding adventure in Puerto Rico. Yes, a more likely average of 50 species is the norm, but if you plan ahead it is very possible to score 100+ species in one day. Start with these five great birding sites and see how far you may go with your list. Following is a brief description of what can be expected in each.
Franklin’s Gull observed in Puerto Rico’s Western Region
During a recent visit to Puerto Rico, an avid bird-watcher who lives in Chicago experienced the thrill of observing a species for the first time. That’s because last December, Luis Muñoz sighted his very first Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan), a migratory species rarely seen in the island.
Join eBird Puerto Rico!
Since its start in 2002, eBird has become one of the most versatile tools for the birding enthusiast. This project, directed by the Laboratory of Ornithology of the University of Cornell and the National Audubon Society, provides a series of internet tools so that individuals with diverse levels of knowledge have access to information related to the abundance and distribution of birds.
