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Us Virgin Isles

Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon ŠSteven O Muskie http://www.outtakes.com/birds/index.html

You will notice that there is no introduction to this section yet.

I would like to fill this gap with an introduction from a local birder [or someone who is a frequent visitor] for every on of the geographical pages. The many thousands of birders now regularly using these pages prefer to read something written by someone who can see the place from an insider's point of view. They know the best spots, not just the ones that first time overseas visitors usually visit or that are on the normal birding trip itineraries.

Each introduction carries the e-mail address of the contributor so that birders can get in touch with them if, for example, they are planning a trip [unless the contributor is unable to do this].

Please get in touch if you feel you can contribute an introduction to this page - you don't have to be an expert; I'm not!

numbers

Number of bird species:224

numbers

Number of endemics:1
Puerto Rican Screech-Owl Otus nudipes

useful reading

A Field Guide to Birds of the West Indies

(Peterson Field Guides) James Bond, Don R. Eckelberry (Illustrator); Arthur B. Singer (Illustrator) Paperback (September 1999) Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN: 0618002103
Buy this book from NHBS.com

A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Herbert A. Raffaele, Cindy J. House, John WiessingerHardcover - 272 pages ( 1 December, 1989) Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691024243
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birds of the West Indies

By Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith & Janis Raffaele
Helm Field Guides Sept 2003 Paperback RRP ?16.99p
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713654198
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

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

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park

http://www.friendsvinp.org/
The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural and cultural resources of Virgin Islands National Park...

Virgin Islands Audubon Society

http://www.audubon.org/affiliate/vi/vi/
We are one of a number of active environmental organizations in the US Virgin Islands. Whether you are a visitor to the Virgin Islands or a resident of one of our islands, you are invited to learn more about us and to attend our general meetings and field trips...

Virgin Islands National Park

http://www.nps.gov/viis/
Virgin Islands National Park, renowned throughout the world for its breathtaking beauty, covers approximately 3/5 of St. John, and nearly all of Hassel Island in the Charlotte Amalie harbor on St. Thomas. Within its borders lie protected bays of crystal blue-green waters teeming with coral reef life, white sandy beaches shaded by seagrape trees, coconut palms, and tropical forests providing habitat for over 800 species of plants

reserves

Frank Bay Pond Wildlife Sanctuary

http://www.audubon.org/affiliate/vi/vi/fbp.html
Frank Bay Pond is an urban salt pond located one half mile southwest of the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock. It is easily reached by following the paved road keeping the ocean on your right...

Sandy Point and Green Cay National Wildlife Refuges

http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/Greencay/default.htm
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge measures 380 acres in size and is surrounded on three sides by the beautiful turquoise Caribbean Sea. It was established in 1984 for the protection of nesting leatherback turtles. Inland from its sandy beaches, which are critical habitat for sea turtles, littoral woodlands, scrub plant communities and wetlands, of value to assorted species of birds, dominate. At least 100 species of birds have been observed on the refuge of which 22 species have been found nesting here...

The Salt Ponds

http://www.maho.org/EnvironmentalInformation.cfm
...Many wading birds (herons, stilts, sandpipers, and sometimes, flamingos) and waterfowl (ducks, teal, coots) feed on organisms in the ponds. Other birds (kingbirds, martins, and swallows) feed on insects that fly over the ponds, and many nest or roost in the surrounding vegetation. Insect and fish-eating bats also frequent ponds in the evening...

Virgin Islands National Park

trip reports

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 cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

1998 [January] - Michael Houle - St Croix

http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/StCroix-01-98.htm
... I am watching the striking Bananaquit, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Royal Tern, Black-faced Grassquit eating grass seed of course, Common Moorhen, Smooth-billed Ani, White-cheeked Pintail, Brown Pelican, Green-throated Carib hummingbird, Scaly-naped Pigeon, Gray Kingbird and many other regulars...

2002 [February] - Mark Lockwood

http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/Caribbean-02-2002.htm
We were walking along Rte 334 before dawn and heard five or six PR Nightjars. We did hear one screech-owl calling just before dawn, but could not see it...

2002 [October] - Floyd, Brett and Marta Hayes

http://maybank.tripod.com/Caribbean/Virgin-10-2002-BD.htm
Bird race notes...

places to stay

Crystal Cove Villas

http://www.crystalcovevi.com
Situated on 1200 feet of Sapphire Beach. Beautiful studios, one and two bedroom air conditioned villas. Fully equipped kitchen, living/dining area, patio. Telephone and cable TV. Washer/dryer facilities available...

St. Croix Accommodations

http://RentaVillaVacations.com/
Comprehensive list of hotels, apartments, etc.

The Buccaneer

http://www.thebuccaneer.com/
Jogging and Nature Trail - A rolling and meandering two-mile trail that includes Par Course work-out stations and signs identifying trees and plants.

mailing lists

VIAudubon ˇ Virgin Islands Audubon Society

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VIAudubon/
To post to list:VIAudubon@yahoogroups.com
List contact:VIAudubon-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:VIAudubon-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Use this forum to report and discuss birding sites or to report unusual birds or marine life. It may also be used to discuss Conservation issues of importance to the Virgin Islands.

Birding in Paradise - St. John, US Virgin Islands

http://birding.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa042697.htm
Over 160 species of birds are listed on the Birds of St. John USVI National Park Checklist I picked up. 40 species are permanent residents with the remainder migratory visitors stopping either to and/or from the North or South American continents...

Guide to Birding Sites in the US VI

http://www.audubon.org/affiliate/vi/vi/birding.html
This page is designed to help the visitor to the Virgin Islands find and enjoy the best places for birding...