Dominica participates in 10th Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival

In 2002, The Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds introduced the Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival to raise public awareness and appreciation of the region’s rich and threatened bird life.

Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Matthew Walter, has said that the Sisserou and Jacko parrots are the only two species endemic to Dominica. As a result, his Ministry has gone to lengths to raise awareness for the conservation of these endangered species along with other species of birds.

“Over the years, the Division, with the support of my Ministry and assistance from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation and several local partners, has placed great emphasis in producing a high quality programme for the annual Endemic Birds Festival and the division achievements in the field of bird conservation and public awareness have already been noted at the regional level,” he said.

This will be the eighth consecutive year that Dominica will participate in this bird festival.  The theme chosen for this year’s festival is, “Go Wild… Go Birding.”

“This theme is of particular relevance to us here in Dominica and I urge as many of us Nature Islanders as possible to engage in forest based recreational activities. This includes hiking the trail networks in Dominica’s national parks, the Waitukubuli National Trail and our many other nature trails that run along the coast and traverse the interior of the island,” the minister stated.

The Minister for Agriculture and Forestry is encouraging the youth and elderly alike to become more aware of bird life here in Dominica and how they contribute to the economy.

“Besides our lakes, rivers, waterfalls, Sulphur Springs and lush tropical forests, Dominica’s bird life is also considered to be one of our natural attractions and each year, several visitors from overseas come to Dominica specifically to catch a glimpse of our parrots, hummingbirds and some of our other rare birds. In so doing, those visitors bring much needed exchange into the country and add to the local economy. In the process, several sectors and individuals such as the taxis, hotels, restaurants, tour guides, vendors and others benefit directly from the visit of these birders to the island as they engage in their birding activities and experience the many attributes that make the Nature Island special,” he pointed out.

Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Matthew Walter officially launched the 2011 Caribbean Endemic Birds festival last Thursday.

The festival usually runs from earth day which is April 22nd to world bio-diversity day which is May 22.

Activities for this year’s festival will include presentations on local birds and birding field trips with schools, radio quizzes on the islands four stations and the publishing of a news article among others.

The Dwivayez, Dabex and Pye Cho hiking clubs will again go birding while hiking with the division on May 14th in the Morne Diablotin National Park.

For the third consecutive year, Dominicans who can imitate the vocalization of birds will show off their talents in the “whistle like a bird” contest on May 19.