New bird records for the island of St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean, with notes on other significant sightings
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Abstract: The avifauna of the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius has been little studied. We document 22 new bird species for the island and update the status of several important species based on our recent observations. The documented avifauna of the island amounts to 75 published species records. We conclude by pointing out several positive developments in the avifauna and ascribe these to the combined effects of reduced hunting, the legal establishment of protected park areas, and a growing environmental awareness among the island’s inhabitants.
Keywords: avifauna, Dutch Caribbean, Netherlands Antilles, St. Eustatius
Resumen: La avifauna de la isla San Eustaquio de las Antillas Holandesas ha sido poco estudiada. Basados en nuestras recientes observaciones documentamos 22 nuevas especies de aves para la isla y actualizamos el estado de muchas especies importantes. La avifauna documentada de la isla asciende a 75 registros publicados. Concluimos destacando que hay muchos avances positivos para la avifauna y que se pueden atribuir a los efectos combinados de la reducción de la caza, el establecimiento legal de áreas protegidas y el creciente interés medio ambiental entre los habitantes de la isla.
Palabras clave: Antillas Holandesas, avifauna, San Eustaquio
Résumé: L’avifaune de l'île caribéenne de Saint-Eustache dans les Antilles néerlandaises a été peu étudiée jusqu’à présent. Nous mentionnons ici vingt-deux nouvelles espèces pour l'île, et actualisons le statut de plusieurs espèces importantes, sur la base de nos observations récentes. L'avifaune de l'île compte 75 espèces faisant l’objet de mentions publiées. Nous concluons en soulignant plusieurs évolutions positives pour l'avifaune pouvant être attribuées aux effets combinés de la pression de chasse réduite, de la désignation de zones protégées et de la prise de conscience croissante des habitants de l'île vis-à-vis de l'environnement.
Mots clés: Antilles néerlandaises, avifaune, Saint-Eustache
References
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Berkowitz, B. 2014. The state of Antigonon leptopus (Corallita) on St Eustatius in 2014. Unpublished report. STENAPA, Gallows Bay, St. Eustatius.
BirdLife International. 2015. Patagioenas leucocephala. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015:e.T22690229A850
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Brown, A.C. 2008. Results of terrestrial bird studies on St. Martin: winter of 2008. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A.C. 2009. Assessment of bird populations at Princess Juliana International Airport, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A.C. 2012. Extirpation of the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin, West Indies. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 25:31–34.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2004. A new breeding population of Oxyura jamaicensis (Ruddy Duck) on St. Martin, Lesser Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science 40:259–263.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2006. Two new bird records for the Lesser Antilles: Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) and Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). Caribbean Journal of Science 42:273–275.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2007. Waterbirds in Saint Martin. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2008. Pond surveys of St. Martin: 2008 report. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
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Brown, A., and R. Newman. 2007. First record of Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) for St. Martin. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 20:45–46.
Burg, W.J. van der, J. de Freitas, A.O. Debrot, and L.A.P. Lotz. 2012. Naturalised and invasive alien plant species in the Caribbean Netherlands: status, distribution, threats, priorities and recommendations. Unpublished PRI report no. 437 and IMARES report no. C185/11. Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Buurt, G. van, and A.O. Debrot. 2012. Exotic and invasive terrestrial and freshwater animal species in the Dutch Caribbean. Unpublished report no. C001/12. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Collier, N.C., and A.C. Brown. 2003. Report to St. Eustatius National Parks: surveys of sea and terrestrial birds. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Debrot, A.O., and R.J.F. Bugter. 2010. Climate change effects on the biodiversity of the BES islands: assessment of the possible consequences for the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Dutch Antilles and the options for adaptation measures. Unpublished Alterra report no. 2081 and IMARES report no. C118/10. Alterra-IMARES, Alterra Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Debrot, A.O., J.C.J. Hazenbosch, S. Piontek, C. Kraft, J. van Belle, and A. Strijkstra. 2015. Roaming livestock distribution, densities and population estimates for St. Eustatius, 2013. Unpublished report no. C088/15. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Debrot, A.O., M. Ruijter, W. Endarwin, P. van Hooft, and K. Wulf. 2014. Predation threats to the Red-billed Tropicbird breeding colony of Saba: focus on cats. Unpublished report no. C011/14. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Freitas, J.A. de, A.C. Rojer, B.S.J. Nijhof, and A.O. Debrot. 2014. Landscape ecological vegetation map of Sint Eustatius (Lesser Antilles). Royal Netherlands Academy of Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Geelhoed, S.C.V., A.O. Debrot, J.C. Ligon, H. Madden, J.P. Verdaat, S.R. Williams, and K. Wulf. 2013. Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean Netherlands. Unpublished report no. C054/13. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Haseth, C.P. de, S. Strik, and A.O. Debrot. 2015. The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) breeding in the Dutch Caribbean and notable new records for the Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 28:25–27.
Hoogerwerf, A. 1977. Notes on the birds of St. Martin, Saba and St. Eustatius. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 54:60–123.
Howard, P.J., and A.C. Brown. 2013. Nearctic-Neotropical migrant wood-warbler populations in St. Martin, West Indies. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 26:26–32.
Levesque, A., and P. Clergeau. 2002. First colonization of the Lesser Antilles by the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). El Pitirre 15:73–74.
MacGregor-Fors, I., L. Morales-Pérez, J. Quesada, and J.E. Schondube. 2010. Relationship between the presence of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and Neotropical bird community structure and diversity. Biological Invasions 12:87–96.
MacRae, D.R., and N. Esteban. 2009. The Quill/Boven National Park and Botanical Garden Management Plan 2009. Coastal Zone Management, St Agnes, Cornwall, UK and STENAPA, Gallows Bay, St. Eustatius.
McNair, D.B. 2008. Conservation implications of the current breeding distribution and abundance of the White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala at St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Caribbean Journal of Science 44:311–320.
Mowbray, T.B. 1999. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea). In The Birds of North America Online, no. 479 (A. Poole, ed.). Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/479.
Nijman, V., M. Aliabadian, A.O. Debrot, J.A. de Freitas, L.G.L. Gomes, T.G. Prins, and R. Vonk. 2008. Conservation status of Caribbean coot Fulica caribaea in the Netherlands Antilles and other parts of the Caribbean. Endangered Species Research 4:241–246.
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Observation.org. 2015b. Statia.observation.org: an online database of biodiversity, distribution and abundance on St. Eustatius. statia.observation.org.
Prins, T.G., J.H. Reuter, A.O. Debrot, J. Wattel, and V. Nijman. 2009. Checklist of the birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, South Caribbean. Ardea 97:137–268.
Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 2003. Birds of the West Indies. Helm Field Guides, Christopher Helm, London.
Rojer, A.C. 1997. Biological inventory of Sint Eustatius. Unpublished report. KNAP project 96-10. Carmabi Foundation, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.
Roobol, M.J., and A.L. Smith. 2004. Volcanology of Saba and St. Eustatius, Northern Lesser Antilles. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Voous, K.H. 1955. The birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 6:1–82.
Voous, K.H. 1983. Birds of the Netherlands Antilles. De Walburg Pers, Zutphen, The Netherlands.
Voous, K.H., and H.J. Koelers. 1967. Check-list of the birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Ardea 53:115–137.
Berkowitz, B. 2014. The state of Antigonon leptopus (Corallita) on St Eustatius in 2014. Unpublished report. STENAPA, Gallows Bay, St. Eustatius.
BirdLife International. 2015. Patagioenas leucocephala. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015:e.T22690229A850
70807.
Boal, C.W. 2011. Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea). In Neotropical Birds Online (T.S. Schulenberg, ed.). Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=177941.
Brown, A.C. 2008. Results of terrestrial bird studies on St. Martin: winter of 2008. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A.C. 2009. Assessment of bird populations at Princess Juliana International Airport, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A.C. 2012. Extirpation of the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin, West Indies. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 25:31–34.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2004. A new breeding population of Oxyura jamaicensis (Ruddy Duck) on St. Martin, Lesser Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science 40:259–263.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2006. Two new bird records for the Lesser Antilles: Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) and Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). Caribbean Journal of Science 42:273–275.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2007. Waterbirds in Saint Martin. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A.C., and N. Collier. 2008. Pond surveys of St. Martin: 2008 report. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Brown, A., N. Collier, A. Debrot, A. Del Nevo, and J. Wells. 2009. Dutch Caribbean. Pp. 179–186 in Important Bird Areas Americas - Priority Sites for Biodiversity Conservation (C. Devenish, D.F. Díaz Fernández, R.P. Clay, I. Davidson, and I. Yépez Zabala, eds.). BirdLife International, Quito, Ecuador.
Brown, A., and R. Newman. 2007. First record of Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) for St. Martin. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 20:45–46.
Burg, W.J. van der, J. de Freitas, A.O. Debrot, and L.A.P. Lotz. 2012. Naturalised and invasive alien plant species in the Caribbean Netherlands: status, distribution, threats, priorities and recommendations. Unpublished PRI report no. 437 and IMARES report no. C185/11. Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Buurt, G. van, and A.O. Debrot. 2012. Exotic and invasive terrestrial and freshwater animal species in the Dutch Caribbean. Unpublished report no. C001/12. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Chipley, R.M. 1991. Notes on the biology of the Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea). Caribbean Journal of Science 27:180–184.
Collias, N.E., and E.C. Collias. 1967. A field study of the Red Jungle Fowl in north-central India. Condor 69:360–386.
Collier, N.C., and A.C. Brown. 2003. Report to St. Eustatius National Parks: surveys of sea and terrestrial birds. Unpublished report. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, St. Maarten.
Debrot, A.O., and R.J.F. Bugter. 2010. Climate change effects on the biodiversity of the BES islands: assessment of the possible consequences for the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Dutch Antilles and the options for adaptation measures. Unpublished Alterra report no. 2081 and IMARES report no. C118/10. Alterra-IMARES, Alterra Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Debrot, A.O., J.C.J. Hazenbosch, S. Piontek, C. Kraft, J. van Belle, and A. Strijkstra. 2015. Roaming livestock distribution, densities and population estimates for St. Eustatius, 2013. Unpublished report no. C088/15. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Debrot, A.O., M. Ruijter, W. Endarwin, P. van Hooft, and K. Wulf. 2014. Predation threats to the Red-billed Tropicbird breeding colony of Saba: focus on cats. Unpublished report no. C011/14. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
eBird. 2015. eBird: an Online Database of Bird Distribution and Abundance. eBird, Ithaca, NY. www.ebird.org.
Encyclopedia of Life (EOL). 2015. Patagioenas leucocephala White-crowned Pigeon: detail. eol.org/pages/1064943/details.
Engbring, J. 1983. Avifauna of the southwest islands of Palau. Atoll Research Bulletin 267:1–22.
Evans, P.G.H. 1990. Birds of the Eastern Caribbean. MacMillan Education Ltd., London.
Freitas, J.A. de, A.C. Rojer, B.S.J. Nijhof, and A.O. Debrot. 2014. Landscape ecological vegetation map of Sint Eustatius (Lesser Antilles). Royal Netherlands Academy of Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Geelhoed, S.C.V., A.O. Debrot, J.C. Ligon, H. Madden, J.P. Verdaat, S.R. Williams, and K. Wulf. 2013. Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean Netherlands. Unpublished report no. C054/13. IMARES, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Haseth, C.P. de, S. Strik, and A.O. Debrot. 2015. The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) breeding in the Dutch Caribbean and notable new records for the Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus). Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 28:25–27.
Hoogerwerf, A. 1977. Notes on the birds of St. Martin, Saba and St. Eustatius. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 54:60–123.
Howard, P.J., and A.C. Brown. 2013. Nearctic-Neotropical migrant wood-warbler populations in St. Martin, West Indies. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 26:26–32.
Levesque, A., and P. Clergeau. 2002. First colonization of the Lesser Antilles by the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). El Pitirre 15:73–74.
MacGregor-Fors, I., L. Morales-Pérez, J. Quesada, and J.E. Schondube. 2010. Relationship between the presence of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and Neotropical bird community structure and diversity. Biological Invasions 12:87–96.
MacRae, D.R., and N. Esteban. 2009. The Quill/Boven National Park and Botanical Garden Management Plan 2009. Coastal Zone Management, St Agnes, Cornwall, UK and STENAPA, Gallows Bay, St. Eustatius.
McNair, D.B. 2008. Conservation implications of the current breeding distribution and abundance of the White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala at St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Caribbean Journal of Science 44:311–320.
Mowbray, T.B. 1999. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea). In The Birds of North America Online, no. 479 (A. Poole, ed.). Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/479.
Nijman, V., M. Aliabadian, A.O. Debrot, J.A. de Freitas, L.G.L. Gomes, T.G. Prins, and R. Vonk. 2008. Conservation status of Caribbean coot Fulica caribaea in the Netherlands Antilles and other parts of the Caribbean. Endangered Species Research 4:241–246.
Observation.org. 2015a. Saba.observation.org: an online database of biodiversity, distribution and abundance on Saba. saba.observation.org.
Observation.org. 2015b. Statia.observation.org: an online database of biodiversity, distribution and abundance on St. Eustatius. statia.observation.org.
Prins, T.G., J.H. Reuter, A.O. Debrot, J. Wattel, and V. Nijman. 2009. Checklist of the birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, South Caribbean. Ardea 97:137–268.
Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 2003. Birds of the West Indies. Helm Field Guides, Christopher Helm, London.
Rojer, A.C. 1997. Biological inventory of Sint Eustatius. Unpublished report. KNAP project 96-10. Carmabi Foundation, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.
Roobol, M.J., and A.L. Smith. 2004. Volcanology of Saba and St. Eustatius, Northern Lesser Antilles. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Voous, K.H. 1955. The birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 6:1–82.
Voous, K.H. 1983. Birds of the Netherlands Antilles. De Walburg Pers, Zutphen, The Netherlands.
Voous, K.H., and H.J. Koelers. 1967. Check-list of the birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Ardea 53:115–137.
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