Monday, 19 January 2015 10:07

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — For the past 15 years Grand Bahama Island has participated in the so-called “Christmas Bird Count” a census that began 115 years ago in the United States and now includes Canada, the Bahamas, Caribbean, South and Central America.

The American Bittern was a rare sighting in the count.

Between December 15th and January 5th on one chosen day, birds are counted within a circle of 15 miles from sunrise to sunset. This year over 60.000 participants observed and recorded birds in their respective countries thereby contributing valuable information to the longest running database in ornithology.

 

Visiting Birders from Scotland, Rev. Rodger Neilson, Alison Neilson, his wife and brother Stuart Neilson.

The primary objective of the annual count is to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere. When results of the count are entered into the Audubon database we begin to gain a clearer picture how bird populations have changed over the years.

This Purple Gallinule was a rare bird at Reef Golf Course.

The information is also vital for conservation. For example, local trends in bird populations can indicate habitat fragmentation or signal an immediate environmental threat, such as groundwater contamination or poisoning from extensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Erika Gates and team taking count lunch break: Louise Durocher, Baiss and Cath Magnusson from Seattle, Deana Williamson, Ingrid Nicholson, Tiggi Boak.

The first Christmas Bird Count was held on December 25th, 1900 in the U.S. Up until that year it had been a tradition for persons that liked the outdoors to engage in the Christmas Bird Hunt. People would go into the fields and forests in teams and shoot any bird the saw. Whoever brought in the biggest pile of dead birds by day’s end would be the winner! Many persons became concerned about the indiscriminate, senseless slaughter of these beautiful feathered creatures and worried about declines in bird populations. Ornithologist, Frank Chapman, an officer in the growing Audubon Society, an environmental movement, called for an end to the barbaric tradition. He suggested, that rather than shooting birds, people could count them instead. So began the Christmas Bird Count in the year 1900 with 27 dedicated birders counting birds rather than killing them!

Birders enjoying refreshments at the Gates’ house after orientation – Louise Durocher, Cath Magnusson and Nikki Meith.

On January 4th forty Grand Bahama Birders gathered in five teams that were led by experts from the US and the Bahamas. The teams met for an orientation and social get-together the night before at the Gates’ home where they enjoyed delicious home-made chili and beverages as well as freshly prepared dips by Nikki Meith, visiting birder from Switzerland.

Teamleaders: Shamie Rolle, Bruce Purdy, Erika Gates, Dr. Elwood Bracey, Tony White.

Team leaders were Dr. Elwood Bracey from Abaco, one of the outstanding birders in the Bahamas. “Woody” as he is affectionately called, set a Bahamian record in 2012 by having observed 242 bird species in the Bahamas within one year!

Woody Bracey and his team – Chaz Tuchel, Duncan Mullis, Mary Tarzwell, Judith Dawkins, Ben Rose.

We were delighted to have Tony White return as a team leader from Bethesda, Maryland, who is not only the founder of the Grand Bahama Christmas Birdcount but was also the count compiler for 10 years. Tony serves on the record committee with the American Ornithologist Union for Bahamian Birds. He is the Author of the American Birding Association’s “Bird Finding Guide to the Bahamas”.

Team leader Tony White (left) chatting with Bruce Purdy , Count compiler (right) and visiting shorebird researcher, Dr. Sidney Maddock, from North Carolina (center).

Shamie Rolle of Calabash Ecoadventures lent his expertise to the count once again. Shamie’s passion for the environment and the birds are complemented by his knowledge about the marine life of the Bahamas, especially the cave and blue hole environment. Being on his team inspired especially the novice birders!

Shamie Rolle and his team (from left) Keith Cooper, Michael Flowers, Melanie Darville, Barbara Zill, Jahaim Russell (12 years old and the youngest birder in the count).

Bruce Purdy, the count compiler, traveled from north Florida to Grand Bahama again this year to tally the results in the evening of count day during the “tally rally” and dinner at Garden of the Groves. Bruce not only led a team but he will be submitting the count results to the Audubon Society. Bruce also serves as a reviewer for submissions of observations of Bahamian birds into the eBird checklist program at Cornell University in New York.

Bruce Purdy and team members Delores Kellman, Rev. Rodger Neilson and wife Alison, Linda Barry-Cooper.

All 5 teams were out in the field for more than 8 hours that day and appreciated being pampered by Julie Ryan and her staff with a wonderful dinner at the Garden of the Groves’ Café.

Pinetree Stables have been supporting the Birdcount for over 10 years – from left to right Chris May, Annie Roberts, Linda Buchanan and Valerie Barry at Tally Dinner.

Erika Gates of Garden of the Groves who has been organizing the Christmas Bird Count for the past 10 years was delighted with this year’s results. “We recorded 104 species on count day and were able to add 5 more during count week, bringing the total to 109. I am happy that this event is becoming an attraction for visitors from abroad. Grand Bahama Island is truly becoming known as a birding destination. Our local birders have helped to put the island on the map by submitting their observations throughout the year with eBird at Cornell University.”

Grand Lucayan’s birder friendly Reef Golf Course, designated a Birding ‘Hotspot’ by Cornell University’s eBird database.

“Before a birder from abroad decides on a birding destination, he consults the sightings and birding sites on eBird where Grand Bahama ranks high in number of bird species and easily accessible birding locations! As a matter of fact one of the so-called “Hotspots” by Cornell University is Grand Lucayan’s  birder friendly Reef Golf  Course where to date 147 species have been recorded!”

“Come down to see me on ‘birdorable’ Grand Bahama Island!” (photo by Erika Gates)

 

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