birds of the west indies

[...]... impacts on birds Though reports of such impacts are rare in the West Indies, this does not mean damage has not occurred The near-absence of insect-eating birds on New Providence in the Bahamas may well be the result of intensive spraying for mosquito control While none of these factors individually has been proven to be a major factor in the decline of the West Indian avifauna, each is, or has the potential... decline of several rail and goatsucker species 12 INTRODUCTION Other causes: Various other factors have a negative impact upon the avifauna of the West Indies Capturing wild birds for house pets or for the international bird trade has reduced native parrot numbers particularly The collecting of eggs for food has been detrimental to flamingos and a number of colonial nesting seabirds The shooting of birds. .. threatened, but the status of the species is stable throughout the remainder of its range, whether within or outside the West Indies, such mention is made only in the text Examples include the Pine Warbler on Haiti The table also identifies what are believed to be the primary causes of the species’ endangerment These causes include both past and present impacts This list is derived from the published... native birds including the young of the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot St Christopher’s Mount Misery has suffered the affliction of the African green monkey (Cercopethicus aethiops) for centuries In fact, it is often these insidious, inconspicuous changes we cause to our environment which are the most threatening because their impacts often go so long undetected Given the extent of development in the West. .. hunters, bird aficionados, and the birds themselves Introduced predators: Prior to colonization of the West Indies, either by Amerindians or Europeans, the avifauna evolved on most islands in the absence of mammalian predators Colonization dramatically altered that situation with the introduction of black and brown rats, cats, dogs, pigs, and mongooses, among others These non-indigenous creatures have... islands, for example the White-cheeked Pintail Maroon indicates that the species occurs on the island for only a portion of the year and migrates elsewhere to breed Species that breed in the West Indies but migrate elsewhere during the non-breeding season are represented by orange PLATES The color plates depict every species for which there is an account in the text The plumage of some birds differs noticeably... decline Bulldozing the last remaining stand of trees sheltering a species, or releasing exotic animals that prey on the young of ground-nesting birds, are hardly natural events Not surprisingly, given the extensive development of the Caribbean over the past few centuries, virtually every bird species presently considered endangered or threatened in the West Indies has become so as the result of human-induced... forest regeneration resulting from the use of gas and electricity as a replacement for charcoal, and by the abandonment of marginal agricultural lands resulting in a shifting of rural populations to cities The forests of some West Indian islands are in better shape now than they were a century ago, but others are decidedly worse off Considering the ever-increasing threat of the chainsaw, population growth,... found is presented MAPS The map displays the range of the species within the West Indies Maps are included only in cases where they can be helpful in portraying a species’ distribution at a glance Maps are omitted for species that occur throughout the West Indies or inhabit only one or two islands Green indicates that a species is a permanent resident on an island, though the birds may move periodically... habitat destruction does not continue to be the single greatest threat to West Indian birdlife Hunting: Historically, hunting is a traditional pastime on most islands of the West Indies It was widely practiced without adequate attention to the biology of the game species hunted, or to controls regarding the numbers of birds taken This has resulted in dramatic declines of formerly common species, particularly . respect their birdlife that they ever come to protect it. The book also aims to facilitate the study of West Indian birds by both novice and professional alike. GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE The West Indies. aficionados, and the birds themselves. Introduced predators: Prior to colonization of the West Indies, either by Amerindians or Europeans, the avifauna evolved on most islands in the absence of mammalian. threatened, but the status of the species is sta- ble throughout the remainder of its range, whether within or outside the West Indies, such mention is made only in the text. Examples include the Pine