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birding...
Puerto Rico
The avifauna of Puerto Rico includes almost 350 species of birds. However, 93 of these are accidentals (stragglers from other locations that have only been reported a few times). Also, man has introduced 35 of the total bird species, and many of these may not have established sustainable breeding populations. About 120 bird species regularly nest in Puerto Rico, including native species, plus other birds that have been introduced by humans over the last few centuries. In addition to the local nesting avifauna, many other species of birds breed in North America and elsewhere, but spend the winter in the tropics, including Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean. In fact, many of these migrants actually spend more time in Puerto Rico than on their breeding grounds. Puerto Rico is an incubator of evolution, with 16 surviving endemic bird species on an island only 100 by 35 miles in size. In the USA by comparison, the 48 contiguous US states have more than 800 times as much land area, but only 11 surviving endemic bird species. In addition 25 species of birds endemic to the West Indies occur in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has not escaped the Earth`s sixth mass extinction event. At least five endemic birds have become extinct in recent millennia in Puerto Rico - as many as in all of North America. Some of these recent extinctions may have been caused by climate change, others by the Taino Indians, while still modern inhabitants recently precipitated other extinctions. Puerto Rico had a large flightless rail that was hunted by the Taino Indians, an endemic woodcock, an endemic quail-dove, an endemic barn owl, and an endemic finch. In addition, several subspecies in Puerto Rico have become extinct recently. Some species that still survive elsewhere are now extinct in Puerto Rico. For example, the White-necked Crow (Cuervo pescueciblanco Corvus leucognaphalus) was hunted to extinction in Puerto Rico by the mid-20th Century, but still survives on Hispaniola. The Limpkin (Carrao Aramus guarauna) was still hunted in the 19th century in Puerto Rico, but has only rarely been reported on this island recently. Since bird bones are quite fragile and easily destroyed, we may never know about other birds that have become extinct in recent centuries, but have left no recognizable trace. Recent studies have suggested that in all of the West Indies there were 50 to 60 species of endemic parrots, parakeets and macaws at the time humans arrived. Since the arrival of humans all but 12 of those have become extinct. These extinct species - some of which were once common birds - should remind all of us that we cannot take for granted that our children will have the benefit of interacting with the same birds who are co-occupying this planet with us now. If it were not for significant efforts by conservationists starting in the 1960s, the endemic Puerto Rican Parrot and the endemic Yellow-shouldered Blackbird would almost certainly be extinct on Puerto Rico. |
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top sites |
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Caribbean National Forest
Southeast of San Juan is locally called El Yunque. Its forest has many of the endemic bird species but is unique as the only place where the endemic Puerto Rican Parrot occurs. The main nesting area on the west side of the forest is off limits to visitors except by special arrangements with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Occasionally, parrots have been seen flying in late afternoon from the Tradewinds Trail, 1-2 miles west of PR 191, but that trail has frequently been closed due to landslides. They also have been seen recently flying over the Río Espíritu Santo overlook on PR 186.Guánica State Forest
Puerto Rico`s dry forest can best be explored at Guánica State Forest. This area is good for Adelaide`s Warbler, Puerto Rican Vireo, Puerto Rican Flycatcher, Puerto Rican Tody, Key-West Quail-Dove, Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo, and Mangrove Cuckoo. At night, the endemic Puerto Rican Nightjar can be heard along Puerto Rico 333.Humacao Wildlife Refuge
East of the town of Humacao has many waterfowl, plus Least Bittern. It is the most reliable spot for West Indian Whistling-Duck, but you have to be lucky to glimpse them at dawn or dusk as they fly to or from foraging grounds.La Parguera
To the east in the town of La Parguera, the grounds of the hotel Parador Villa Parguera often host the endangered Yellow-shouldered Blackbird which feeds on table scraps there, and can be seen at dawn and dusk in the non-breeding season flying to and from roosts on mangrove islands.Parador Hacienda Juanita
At the nearby Parador Hacienda Juanita (tel: 838-2550) many of the tall trees on the grounds were toppled by Hurricane Georges in 1998, but you can still find Black-cowled Oriole, Green Mango, Puerto Rican Spindalis, and Loggerhead Kingbird, as well as other common forest species. There is a good loop trail leading downhill through the forest just west of the swimming pool where Puerto Rican Screech-Owls call at dawn and dusk.South-western Puerto Rico
All of Puerto Rico`s endemic birds, with the exception of the Puerto Rico Parrot, can be found in a few leisurely days of exploring south-western Puerto Rico. The habitat here varies from wet cloud forest on high mountain ridge tops, to the cactus-dotted subtropical dry forest in the lowlands, where the mountain ranges often block the prevailing north-easterly winds from delivering rain. Key sites in the southwest include the mountains at Maricao State Forest, e.g. on PR 120 near the picnic area at Km 16.2. This spot is one of the most reliable spots for the endemic Elfin Woods Warbler. Listen for its rattling trill of a song, or its odd, buzzy call note, as it explores the tree canopy, often in mixed flocks with other species. Also common here is Puerto Rican Vireo, Lesser Antillean (Puerto Rican) Pewee, Puerto Rican Bullfinch, Puerto Rican Tody, and Puerto Rican Tanager.Southern Tip
At the south end of Puerto Rico 301 on the coast, follow the signs for the Cabo Rojo lighthouse (Faro). The mangroves and salt ponds in the wildlife refuge along the way are some of the best wetlands in the Caribbean for migrant shorebirds such as Stilt Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, and Whimbrel. The mangroves on the way have abundant Northern Waterthrush (winter) and Yellow Warblers. The shrubs along the trail harbor Troupials, Warbling Silverbills, and other dry scrub speciescontributor |
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Mark Oberle
Author, Photographer and Guide
(Seattle, WA. USA)
oberle@mindspring.com
http://www.mindspring.com/~oberle/PRbirds.htm
numbers |
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National Bird: Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
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Puerto Rican Woodpecker Melanerpes portoricensis Puerto Rican Tody Todus mexicanus Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo Saurothera vieilloti Puerto Rican Parrot Amazona vittata Green Mango Anthracothorax viridis Puerto Rican Emerald Chlorostilbon maugaeus Puerto Rican Screech-Owl Otus nudipes Puerto Rican Nightjar Caprimulgus noctitherus Puerto Rican Flycatcher Myiarchus antillarum Puerto Rican Vireo Vireo latimeri Adelaide`s Warbler Dendroica adelaidae Elfin-woods Warbler Dendroica angelae Puerto Rican Tanager Nesospingus speculiferus Puerto Rican Bullfinch Loxigilla portoricensis Yellow-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius xanthomus
useful reading |
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A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Herbert A. Raffaele, Cindy J. House, John Wiessinger Hardcover - 272 pages ( 1 December, 1989) Princeton University PressISBN: 0691024243
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Puerto Rico's Birds in Photographs
Mark W Oberle2nd edition, softcover 132 pages + CD-Rom
See the Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0965010414
Buy this book from NHBS.com
The Birds of the West Indies
By Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith & Janis RaffaeleHelm Field Guides Sept 2003 Paperback RRP ?16.99p
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713654198
Buy this book from NHBS.com
useful information |
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Proact
Coordinator: none (why not apply?) see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: None yet!
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
clubs |
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Centro de Datos Parala Conservacion de Puerto Rico
http://www.natureserve.org/nhp/lacarb/pr/Dotar al Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico de un mecanismo que permita adquirir áreas de alto valor natural, con el fin de protegerlas y conservarlas para el uso y disfrute de ésta y futuras generaciones de puertorriqueños...
Coereba Society/ Sociedad Coereba
7336 16th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98106-1835
The Coereba Society takes its name from what`s by far the most common bird in the Puerto Rico region, the bananaquit...
Sociedad de Historia Natural de Puerto Rico
(Puerto Rico Natural History Association) PO Box 361036, San Juan, PR 00936-1036, 787-723-8915
Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña
http://www.avesdepuertorico.orgAddress: PO Box 195166 San Juan, PR 00919-5166
Email: directivasopi@yahoo.com
Eforum: ospri_sopi@yahoogroups.com
reserves |
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Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge
http://refuges.fws.gov/profiles/index.cfm?id=41521The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 when 587 acres of land in the coastal plain of south-western Puerto Rico were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This area is classified as subtropical dry forest. Previous to the establishment of the refuge the vegetation was severely disturbed by cattle grazing. The Cabo Rojo NWR now includes tracts of secondary forest, grassland and brush habitats.
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.tamarindoestates.com/wildlife_refuge.htmlCulebra National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 400 wildlife refuges administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the United States, Puerto Rico and US territories. These refuges, managed principally for migratory birds and other unique wildlife values, are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Department of the Interior. The Culebra Refuge, which comprises about 1,480 acres, includes 23 islands and rocks in addition to the four tracts on the main island of Culebra. The refuge is well known as a nesting site for a variety of seabirds and preserves important habitat for endangered sea turtles and the Culebra giant anole.
El Yunque Caribbean National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/The Forest contains rare wildlife including the Puerto Rican Parrot, which is largely green in coloration, about 12 inches long, and displays brilliant blue wings in flight. At close range a vivid red forehead is also visible. It is found only in this part of the island. Approximately 50 other bird species are found on the Forest.
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
1999 [April] - Mike Houle
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-04-99.htmI just returned from a trip through paradise. I have never enjoyed a birding experience as much as I enjoyed this trip. I arrived Wednesday, 21 April 1999 at 3pm, and left Sat at 3pm. I was fortunate to see 75 species, 30 lifers, 24 on nests and 13 endemics. These numbers are low, but I was able to observe each of these new birds over and over, up close and personal.
1999 [January] - Mark Oberle - Desecheo Island National Wildlife Refug
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-01-99.htmI had not been to Desecheo Island,(13 miles west of Puerto Rico in the Mona Passage between PR and Hispaniola); since a scuba trip there in May 1977, so my family and some friends went to Desecheo Island National Wildlife Refuge on 1-16-99. The island has been important for seabird nesting. Below is a list of bird species we saw at the refuge in 2+ hours moored off the S. coast...
2000 [August] - Robert H. Packard
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-08-2000.htmThis was my first trip to Puerto Rico, my second to the Caribbean, having visited Grand Bahama. I was encouraged by the great trip reports on the web, and the fact that you can get a quick cheap flight to a U.S. territory.
2001 [February] - Ron Hoff
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-02-2001.htmMy wife, Dollyann Myers and I decided to take a quick trip to Puerto Rico to try and find as many of the endemic and near-endemic birds as possible. After reading several trip reports, we decided that we would try it on our own to minimize our expenses. We were successful in locating 15 out of 16 (according to Mark Oberle`s new book) of these species. Our only miss was the Puerto Rican Parrot. This species is very rare, with only about 40-50 left in the wild and about 50 or so in captivity. I’ll go over each day and what new species we found each day. The complete species list will be at the end.
2002 [February] Mark Lockwood
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/puerto-rico/cruise/cruise-feb02.htmCindy and I recently returned from a southern Caribbean cruise and four extra days in Puerto Rico. The cruise originated in San Juan made stops at Aruba, Venezuela, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Thomas. We birded at every location and made arrangements for guides or transportation on three stops. Below is a brief description of our activities and a few of the highlights...
2002 [January] - Glen Tepke
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-01-2002.htmAt the HQ we met Adrian, the forest manager. He is very interested in having birders visit his forest and was extraordinarily helpful. He asked which species we were looking for and gave us suggestions on where to look for each and then drove off on an errand. A few minutes later he raced back and told us to jump in the vehicle; he had just seen a Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo, one of our target birds, just down the road. We didn`t find that one but did see our lifer Puerto Rican Tanager. If you visit Maricao, be sure to sign the guest book; I suspect his budget is tied to the number of visitors he attracts.
2002 [November] - David Klauber
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-11-2002.htmI had worked in Puerto Rico for 2 weeks in March 1996, and saw all but three of the endemics in just a weekend plus one Saturday. The former Hilton Hotel in Mayaguez had several species when I was there in 1996. The idea was to try for the 3 endemics – PR Nightjar, PR Screech-Owl, and the difficult PR Parrot - as well as a few exotics for my North America list. I also wanted to see several birds again, especially the Elfin Woods Warbler. I did not visit very many sites since I was concentrating on finding the night birds, which required repeat visits to the same locations. I did not see the parrot, and was disappointed not to see the Lizard-Cuckoo this time...
2003 [April] - Thomas L. Marko
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-04-2003.htm...This was my 7th visit to PR, so I was somewhat familiar with finding my way around the island. However, it was my first birding experience in the Caribbean and a solo adventure that put my developing birding skills to the test. I was able to bird from dusk to dawn on the weekends that bracketed my workweek at NSRR. Rather than list the birds found at each location, a detailed species account is provided below...
2004 [May] - Jim Hully
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-05-2004.htm...We arrived around midday at San Juan international airport, picked up a rental car and headed south on route 52 (toll) towards Cidra/Cima for Plain Pigeon. Not surprisingly, our first lifer was Greater Antillean Grackles, they proved to be everywhere. Taking route 156 (exit near Caguas) to the pigeon site was quick except for Aguas Buenas. The location is a school (I never saw a name but according to other reports it’s either Escuela Superior Sabana or Escuela Maria C. Santiago!) with the birds frequenting the edges of the adjoining playing fields. It is easy to find on the west side of route 172 almost a mile south of the junction with 156. Basically, just pull into the small parking lot and scan the tall trees that line the playing field. There were plenty of pigeons flying overhead and many roosting in the trees. After setting up the scope they all turned out to be Plain Pigeons. Nearby were Puerto Rican Todies, Puerto Rican Woodpeckers, Pearly-eyed Thrashers, and Zenaida Doves. We retraced our route back to route 52 and headed towards Ponce on the south coast...
2005 [May] - Niels J Larsen
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-05-2005.htm...We hiked up to the visitor center during the next hour, but only one time heard a sound that possibly was the nightjar. It came from too far into the forest for confirmation. I don’t know if the mongoose we saw on the way can be part of the explanation? We had good birding on the hike down again after enjoying the breakfast we carried. The Guanica area during these two days produced a total of 34 species with 8 Puerto Rican endemics...
2006 [December] - Jennifer Rycenga & Peggy Macres
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-12-2006.htm...We went to the El Yunque El Portal visitor's center, being there when they opened at 9:00 am. We were greeted by Monk Parakeets and White-winged Doves in the parking lot, and our first lifer of the day, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, was perched in a tree near the gift shop at the visitor's center. We then walked the trail below the visitor's center, where we saw many fine life birds: Red-legged Thrush, Puerto Rican Bullfinch (a much more spectacular bird in the flesh than in pictures), Puerto Rican Flycatcher, Puerto Rican Woodpecker, Bananquit, and the bird with the most attitude per ounce, the Puerto Rican Tody (when I explained the Tody to a birder friend, he said it sounded like the Corgi of the bird world: an apt comparison)...
2007 [January] - Bill Brenner
http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/PuertoRico-01-2007.htmThis trip was the result of a desire to extend a several-day work-related conference in Orlando, to make it a whole week off and to include a few days vacation somewhere not too far from Florida. Puerto Rico was ideal, since it had some great endemic birds, nice butterflies, and especially, more new life hummingbird species than I could see anywhere else in the Caribbean, since I’ve already been to Jamaica and some of the Lesser Antilles...
tour operators |
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Adventours
http://www.adventourspr.com/Since 1992 we have been offering customized, guided outdoor itineraries for individuals and small groups looking for unique nature and soft 'green' educational experiences. We follow Green Globe and APIE Codes of Good Practices, plus Leave No Trace Principles...
Amazilia
http://www.amaziliatours.com/EN/puertorico.htmPuerto Rico (8960 km2) is a very popular destination for birdwatchers as it is possible to see all the island endemics species in a short time period thanks to the excellent road network. Among the 250 total species of Puerto Rico, 13 are endemics...
places to stay |
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Casa Cubuy EcoLodge
http://www.rainforestsafari.com/cubuy.htmlA short uphill trek from the house on a paved road brings you to the El Yunque National Forest. From there you can walk the old road to the slide area and beyond, with a couple of trails leading to other rivers. Easily walkable - they take you through jungles of bamboo, palms, ferns, and fern trees. Listen to the birds songs. It is magical.
Casa Flamboyant
http://www.rainforestsafari.com/flamboy.htmlBed and Breakfast in the Rainforest - Listen to the melodies of the coquis - literally a chorus of singing frogs. Be lulled to sleep by the waterfalls that surround your island home. Breathe in the soft Caribbean air. Your mountain top retreat is set on the lush edge of the 28,000 acre El Yunque Rain forest - home to more than 200 species of trees, 50 species of native orchids, and 150 types of exotic ferns...
Copamarina Beach Resort
http://www.copamarina.com/Copamarina, tucked away in the seaside town of Guanica on Puerto Rico`s undiscovered southwestern coast, is a 20 acre landscaped tropical resort with a ¾ mile long beach fronting the Caribbean Sea...
Culebra Hotel
http://www.culebrahotel.com/Culebra was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1909. It is a Sanctuary for Birds of many species, specifically Marine Birds. The refuge supports a variety of breeding sea birds including Laughing Gulls, Bridled Terns, Brown Noddies, Roseate Terns, White-tailed and Red-billed Tropicbirds and three species of Boobies. More than 50,000 sea birds find their way to this tiny dot in the ocean every year to breed and nurture their young. The largest colony, numbering over 15,000 birds, is the Sooty Tern colony located on Flamenco Peninsula. Culebra has Frigate birds floating in the air and Sea Gulls scavenging for some piece of food inland or at Sea. Also we have the mangrove birds like Herons, dancing Putillas and the diving Pelicans to name a few.
Hacienda Juanita
http://www.haciendajuanita.com/El Parador La Hacienda Juanita está localizado en el Pueblo de Maricao, al oeste de Puerto Rico, a una altura de aproximadamente 1,600 pies sobre el nivel del Mar. En una finca de 24 cuerdas, hábitat de una gran variedad de especies de flora y fauna endémica. Al igual que en el bosque estatal de Maricao, la zona es una de carácter principalmente lluvioso y su temperatura promedio es de 72 grados Farenheit...
Mamacitas
http://www.mamacitaspr.com/Welcome to Mamacitas the friendliest little guesthouse in the Caribbean. For information regarding room information, bar and restaurant hours or Culebra Island activities. Culebra is almost exactly betweenthe big island of Puerto Rico and St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands
Río Grande Plantation Eco Resort
http://www.riograndeplantation.com/The mountain spring-fed Río Grande River, which is clean and rarely rushed, flows across the property. Eastern trade winds frequently bring a short afternoon shower, keeping the flora and fauna tropical green year-round, while holding the temperature a few degrees lower than the city. With sixty-three individual species of fruit trees, various tropical flowers, and abundant wildlife on the property, visitors are able to experience the ambiance of the only rain forest in the United States National Forest System...
other links |
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Aves de Puerto Rico
http://www.salonhogar.com/est_soc/pr/avespr/index2.htmThe birds of Puerto Rico [under construction Jan 2003]
Birds of Vieques
http://www.elenas-vieques.com/birds.htmlThe birds of the salt flats of Sun Bay, a key wintering and feeding habitat for waterfowl. Featuring the White Cheeked Pintail (Bahama Duck). This is a species of concern due to it being overhunted, mongeese stealing the eggs and loss of habitat. One quarter of the Puerto Rico population of this bird lives here...
Birdwatching in Puerto Rico
http://www.rainforestsafari.com/birds.htmlThere are 17 endemic species of birds in Puerto Rico and many other birds that stop on the island on their migration routes.
Birdwatching in Puerto Rico
http://www.rainforestsafari.com/birds.html...Two families of birds are endemic to the West Indies, specifically to the Greater Antilles. One of them is composed by the todies (Todidae.) These are small, chunky-looking birds that superficially resemble hummingbirds. However, their closest relatives are kingfishers, with whom they share certain anatomical and behavioral traits. Both groups are placed in the order Coraciiformes...
Puerto Rican Parrot Amazona vittata
http://www.fws.gov/southeast/prparrot/Puerto Rico was once an unspoiled tropical island with an abundance of wildlife, including its endemic Parrot (amazona vitatta). Along with the population explosion and a tremendous growth of housing much of the habitat the parrots were surviving in had been lost. The parrots retreated to their last stronghold, the El Yunque Mountains...
artists |
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Photographer - Mark Oberle
http://www.mindspring.com/~oberle/PRbirds.htmPuerto Rico`s first book to illustrate in colour photographs all breeding birds and common migrants. Over 300 colour photos of 181 species of Puerto Rican birds are included. The English text is designed for students,teachers, tourists, and anyone who wants to understand Puerto Rico`s natural heritage by learning about its fascinating birds. The species life histories are written in a non-technical style for the general reader,and include important lessons for conservation of our natural resources. Most common birds of the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles are also illustrated. Over 80 professional and amateur ornithologists collaborated in this effort. The book comes with a CD-ROM with detailed Spanish and English life history accounts and bibliography of 350 species, plus audio clips, and over 1,250 photos. Translation by José Julián Placer. The CD-ROM is written in HTML, for most PC and Macintosh computers, and allows easy use for student projects in biology, music, and art.
Photographer - Mark Swan
http://losbird.org/mswan/mswan.htmStills from video
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