Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival celebrates Year of the Bird

The Great Lizard Cuckoo is endemic to the Bahamas and Cuba; they have a loud ka-ka-ka-ka-ka call and can be spotted perched in trees and running along the branches. (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)

April 22, 2018—This spring, groups throughout the Caribbean will be celebrating the birds that are only found here. 40 events on 14 islands are already on the schedule for this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF). More than 80,000 Caribbean residents, friends and visitors will join in the activities, led by BirdsCaribbean. Earth day, April 22, marks the beginning of the festival, which continues to May 22 – the International Day for Biological Diversity.

2018 was designated “Year of the Bird” by the National Geographic Society to commemorate 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This is a powerful document that has protected birds for generations. The 2018 CEBF theme is “Year of the Bird.”

In the 17-year history of the CEBF, BirdsCaribbean and its enthusiastic partners across the region have always found fun and creative ways to connect people to our Caribbean endemic birds. The festival seeks to inspire people of all ages and walks of life to conserve our birds and our natural environment. This is even more critical in the wake of 2017’s devastating hurricanes. The recovery and the resilience of our bird populations must also be recognized in the coming month.

Why is the CEBF important? Of the 565 species of birds in our region, 173 are unique to us. They are a unique part of the region’s natural heritage. The CEBF is also an expression of who we are and how we connect with the environment. It brings people together. Learning about our birds takes place in a diverse, harmonious setting. In previous years, church services, radio and television interviews, street parades, fairs, information booths, drama and art competitions have all formed part of the CEBF celebrations.

Visit birdscaribbean.org or find BirdsCaribbean on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information about the CEBF, to find events in your area, and see updates throughout the month.

Children having fun on a bird walk and count at Ashton Lagoon, Union Island, SVG. (Photo by Orisha Joseph)

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5 Comments

  1. Parakeet
    April 23, 2018

    where all the parrots gone? :lol: :lol: :lol: Just ask the girls at Four Rest Tree :lol: :lol: :lol:

  2. mexican
    April 23, 2018

    With the callous and wholesale commercial export of the sacred and protected Sisserou and Jaco parrots. Dominica has no right to partake in any matter dealing with endemic birds. Their birds are no longer endemic.

  3. April 22, 2018

    That is great good work kids keep it up get involve in something positive. Where are all the people that always commenting on DLP & UWP give the kids some support

  4. Jonathan Y St Jean
    April 22, 2018

    It is with heavy hearts that we in Dominica, in particular, join this celebration for the year of the bird.Recently our government, which is responsible to all of us and primarily responsible to ensure the protection of our birds, violated protocols and lied about the reasons for a shady midnight transfer of our national birds to Germany.Those whose business and livelihood is based on protection of wildlife informed that the reasons put forward by the Labour party government for transferring the birds to ACTP without and before informing the nation is bogus and has no merit in fact.So it is with heavy hearts that we reflect on the unknown plight of our national symbol and want our birds returned without delay.We applaud the assistance we have gotten so far and want more pressure applied to bring back our birds

    • Weekenz
      April 23, 2018

      Speak for yourself and your politics Johnathan

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