From mountains to mangroves… and the sea: Challenges and opportunities for Caribbean seabird conservation, research, and monitoring in a changing world
From Black-capped Petrels digging their burrows in the highest Caribbean mountains, to Brown Pelicans building nests in mangroves across the region, Caribbean seabirds perhaps best embody the theme of this year’s BirdsCaribbean conference. With more than 20 seabird species breeding across 30 territories, the region stands as a critical habitat for seabird populations worldwide, yet faces substantial threats from coastal development, invasive species, and climate change. During this symposium and the associated round table, we will discuss how conservation, research, and monitoring can help safeguard these avian treasures.
Organizers: Yvan Satgé, Clemson University, Anne Sutton, BirdsCaribbean, Rhiannon Austin, University of Liverpool, Natalia Collier, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, and Jennifer Wheeler, BirdsCaribbean. Emails: ysatge@clemson.edu, asutton@cwjamaica.com, r.e.austin@liverpool.ac.uk, ncollier@epicislands.org, jennifer.wheeler@birdscaribbean.org
Purpose: Participants will exchange knowledge and experiences on seabird conservation, research, and monitoring in the region. The symposium will focus on results of the 2023-24 Caribbean Seabird Census, presentations representing the wide range of seabird-related projects from across the Caribbean are encouraged nonetheless.
Overview: From Black-capped Petrels digging their burrows in the highest Caribbean mountains, to Brown Pelicans building nests in mangroves across the region, Caribbean seabirds perhaps best embody the theme of this year’s BirdsCaribbean conference. With more than 20 seabird species breeding across 30 territories, the region stands as a critical habitat for seabird populations worldwide, yet faces substantial threats from coastal development, invasive species, and climate change. During this symposium and the associated round table, we will discuss how conservation, research, and monitoring can help safeguard these avian treasures.
Objectives:
To share updates and lessons learned from seabird conservation, research, and monitoring projects from across the Caribbean, in particular from the 2023-24 Caribbean Seabird Census.
Strengthen connections within the Seabird Working Group and encourage members and newcomers to develop seabird-related projects.