Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Eleventh Annual Grand Bahama Bird Count breaks records - Jan 15, 2012 - 5:25:51 PM
Freeport, Bahamas - More than 50.000 observers in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and
the Bahamas participate each year in an all-day census of migratory and resident
bird populations. The primary objective of this "Christmas Bird Count" is to
monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western
Hemisphere.
Grand Bahama Island provided five teams for its eleventh count with
a total of 34 local and visiting field observers that were assigned to
five different count sections in the Freeport/Lucaya area. The event
began Friday evening...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
November Birding Fieldtrip overview by Grand Bahama Birding Group - Dec 13, 2011 - 11:12:44 AM
Freeport, Bahamas -
Over 20 participants set out on a recent birding field trip out east.
Transportation was provided by Garden of the Groves and Kalabash Eco
Adventures. The first stop was made in the pineforest off Grand Bahama
Highway where everybody was excited to observe the Brown-headed
Nuthatches, one of the rarest species in the Bahamas.
A "lifer" for several
in the group was also the Olive-capped Warbler, a bird of the
pineforest canopy that can only be found on Grand Bahama and Abaco...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
New Nature Trail Established in McLean’s Town, Grand Bahama - Nov 29, 2011 - 6:11:09 PM
A new birding trail has been established in McLean’s Town, Grand Bahama on Saturday, 26th
November, 2011 when nineteen (19) birders from Freeport, along with the
principal of the All-age School in McLean’s Town, Mrs. Dorothy Lewis
and a student from Grade 6, Georgette Laing joined Mr. H. Rudy Sawyer
through the trail that he had developed over the previous three (3)
months. Mr. Jock Hall, professional photographer, video taped the
expedition. Among the birders were Mrs. Erika Gates of Grand Bahama
Nature Tours and top naturalist on the island, who organized the birders
and transported them to McLean’s Town from Freeport; Mr. Shamie Rolle,
owner of Calabash Tours and a leading naturalist and birder on Grand
Bahama; and Ms. Renamae Symonette of the Ministry of Tourism -
Sustainable Tourism Division.
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
International Migratory Bird Day Art Competition winners announced - Nov 29, 2011 - 12:38:03 PM
Freeport, Grand
Bahama Island - The student art competition during International
Migratory Bird Month at Garden of the Groves climaxed with the judging
of the best paintings depicting birds migrating to Grand Bahama Island.
Over 30 students presented outstanding works under the theme "Go Wild,
Go Birding" and the judges had a difficult time to determine the
winners. First prize was $ 100.00, second $ 50.00 and two third prizes
were awarded in the amount of $ 25.00 each. All monies to be redeemed
for school and educational supplies at Bellevue Gifts and Bellevue
Business Depot...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Grand Bahama “tourist” tucks into tasty island treat - Nov 28, 2011 - 10:56:03 AM
Freeport, Grand Bahama - A rare visitor to Grand
Bahama – a West Indian Woodpecker – enjoys a lizard it dug out of the bark of a
tree at McLean’s Town at the weekend.
The bird has not been
spotted on the island since the two major hurricanes of 2004 and its return is
further evidence of how nature is gradually recovering seven years later.
It was spotted by a group
of 20 bird spotters who were trying out a new nature trail aimed at attracting
human tourists to the east end community. The photo was taken by Christopher Baker, one of the group
from the Garden of The Groves...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
New birding trail in eastern Grand Bahama - Nov 8, 2011 - 2:16:35 PM
Freeport, Grand Bahama -
We are excited about a new birding
trail on Eastern Grand Bahama. A member of our Grand Bahama Birding
Group, Rudy Sawyer, has been busy travelling out east for many weekends
now in a quest to discover interesting birding sites. Rudy shared many
of his findings with me and sent me an amazing number of his bird
pictures (one of them even a "lifer" for me - an American Golden
Plover!!) Hope to put him on my list soon!
The trail leads along the coastline
and traverses coppice, pineforest, mangroves and beach habitat. It also
leads through the local community of McCleans Town...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Go Wild, Go Birding - Oct 28, 2011 - 12:40:16 PM
Freeport, Bahamas -
This year's theme for International Migratory Bird Day is "Go Wild, Go
Birding" and exciting events are ongoing at by Garden of the Groves
throughout the month.
The Grand Bahama Birding Group will meet at 8 am this coming Saturday at
the Reef Golf Course to welcome some of the new fall arrivals, among
them many of the Sandpiper species that forage on inland waters whereby
the 11 ponds at this particular golf course offer an ideal habitat.
The student's art
competition under the theme "Go Wild, Go Birding" will climax with the
official opening of the exhibition of all the youngsters' works in the
chapel at Garden of the Groves this Saturday at 3 pm. At that time a
panel of judges will select...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
International Migratory Bird Day Students' Art Competition - Oct 17, 2011 - 7:51:45 PM
Freeport, Grand
Bahama Island - During this year's International Migratory Bird Day
Celebration (IMBD) throughout the month of October the Garden of the
Groves is hosting an art competition for young people. The theme of the
contest is "Go Wild - Go Birding" whereby students' imagination is
allowed to picture birds doing wild and funny things!
First prize for the best drawing or painting will be $ 100.00, second
$50.00 and third $ 25.00 to be redeemed at Bellevue Business Depot or
Bellevue Gifts...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Celebration of Migratory Birds in The Bahamas - Oct 8, 2011 - 2:33:06 PM
Freeport, Bahamas -
During the month of October, conservation leaders, researchers and
nature enthusiasts from across the Caribbean and the Bahamas will join
forces to celebrate and promote public awareness surrounding the
incredible phenomenon of bird migration. Each year millions of birds
representing hundreds of species, travel between North America, the
Bahamas, the Caribbean, South America and back.
While
ongoing threats like development, illegal hunting and destruction of
habitat continue to endanger many of the nearly 350 species of birds
that migrate annually between summer and winter habitats, conservation
organizations and individuals have shown that they can make a real
difference.
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Meet "Ivan" and "Como" at the Garden of the Groves' next Bird Walk - Sep 15, 2011 - 11:21:38 PM
Freeport,
Grand Bahama Island - Quite a few migrants have arrived at the Garden
and we look forward to welcoming them this coming Saturday at the next
Bird Walk. We have observed Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black
Throated-blue Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, American Redstart and even
Wallace, our winter resident Great Blue arrived last week.
We have also two new permanent residents: "Como", the rehabilitated Cormorant that is unable to fly but can fish like a pro!
Then there is "Ivan", the Red-tailed Hawk that was found by Ivan Reid
hanging...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
2011 Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) Conference in Review - Aug 19, 2011 - 11:19:39 AM
Freeport, Bahamas -
One hundred and sixty-two delegates representing thirty countries
attended the recent 18th Regional Meeting of the SCSCB on Grand Bahama
Island at the beautiful new conference centre at Pelican Bay Hotel,
resulting in so many benefits for so many. It was the largest SCSCB
meeting ever with the exception of the Cuba meeting of 2001.
It was also the first offshore conference for the new state-of-the art
Canal House at Pelican Bay and the staff went out of its way to make the
delegates feel at home. Special praise is due to the team of Isabel
Allison at Canal House...
News :
Grand Bahama
Nature tour guides ready to host delegates of SCSCB (Society for Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds) conference - Jul 21, 2011 - 10:13:27 PM
Freeport, Bahamas -
Tour Guides of Grand Bahama Nature Tours and Calabash Eco Adventures are
preparing to have over 100 delegates experience the natural beauty of
Grand Bahama Island. Conference participants are in working sessions
throughout the week, however, on Saturday they have the day to enjoy
various nature tours focusing on birding but also integrating kayaking
and "Jeeping" activities.
Ornithologists, wildlife biologists,
environmentalists and conservation managers have not only come to Grand
Bahama to discuss protection and restoration of bird habitats throughout
the Caribbean and the Bahamas, they have also come to observe the
Bahamas' unique bird species, especially those that only occur in our
islands...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Freeport to Host 2011 Regional Meeting of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds - Jul 20, 2011 - 10:39:21 AM
Freeport, Bahamas -
July 21st through 25 will be an exciting time for birding enthusiasts on
Grand Bahama as Freeport has been chosen to host the 2011 regional
meeting of the SCSCB!
This is a great opportunity to meet
ornithologists, writers, environmentalists and bird lovers from the USA,
Mexico and the Caribbean, and anyone can attend! Please visit their
website www.scscb.org and click on the Freeport Conference site for
the programme and information on the speakers .
Meetings will be
held in the conference center at Pelican Bay Hotel and
interested
persons can participate for a day or the week...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Birds Outnumber Birders at Recent Walk at Garden of the Groves - May 30, 2011 - 12:00:24 AM
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island -
Birds outnumbered birders on our recent field trip. However, those who participated were treated to unexpected sightings.
A migratory American Widgeon looked quite comfortable among a crowd of
exotic Ringed Teals, Fulvous Whistling Ducks and a male Mandarin.
It was 8 am Saturday and the ducks were going about the business of
getting themselves pretty and waterproof for a day at the Garden ponds
by preening and zipping up their feathers with "grease"...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Caribbean Waterbird Census Recap - Feb 18, 2011 - 9:56:14 AM
Freeport, Grand Bahama - Hello Birders and Friends of the Garden:
Our February field trip will be this coming Saturday, February 19th. We
will be visiting the Pine Forest and searching for Pine Warbler,
Olive-capped Warbler and the elusive Brown-headed Nuthatch. Meet at 8
am at Thompsons' Real Estate at the Reef Golf Course.
Thanks to everybody who supported our first Caribbean Waterbird Census!
It was fun and educational and a job well done! Here is a recap...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Caribbean Waterbird Census Continues this Saturday - Jan 28, 2011 - 9:19:31 AM
Freeport, Grand Bahama -
In order to comply with the
SCSCB (Society for Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds) protocol
and carry out the required second site inventory of the 11 ponds on the
Reef Golf Course.
Thanks to all of you who turned out for this first CWC on Grand Bahama
Island last Saturday. Thanks to Dr. Lisa Sorensen from SCSCB we were
guided electronically through a proper point count. Jill Cooper and
Sarah Knowles recorded all species and numbers of birds meticulously
and had no problem with the standard abbreviation from the AOU species
alpha codes...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
2010 Bird Count on Grand Bahama Island - Jan 10, 2011 - 9:03:26 AM
Freeport, Bahamas - The 10th annual Christmas Bird Count for the year 2010 was held this past
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011.
The Grand Bahama birding community enthusiastically participated in the
count and joined visiting birding experts to form five teams that observed,
identified and recorded species from sunrise to sunset.
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Christmas Bird Count to take place January 5th in Grand Bahama - Jan 2, 2011 - 2:15:36 PM
Freeport, Grand Bahama - The 2010 Christmas Bird Count will take place on
Wednesday, January 5th from sunrise to sunset. Orientation meeting will
take place Tuesday, the 4th at 5 pm at Garden of the Groves. On the
evening after the count, the popular "tally rally" will take place at
Garden of the Groves with everybody sharing dinner and the excitement
of the day's sightings.
It promises to be an exciting count with experienced team leaders
coming in from the U.S., Abaco and Nassau. Don't miss this opportunity
to make Grand Bahama number one again in the number of bird species
being recorded...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Basic Birding Course Students Graduate - Dec 6, 2010 - 10:41:39 AM
Freeport, Grand Bahama -
Over the past ten years, during the month of November, the Garden of
the Groves in conjunction with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has been
conducting a basic birding course for interested persons of the Grand
Bahama community. Over 200 nature and bird enthusiasts have
participated in this program which is led by Erika Gates. Erika is a
certified Bahamas Birding Guide, has studied Bird Biology with Cornell
University and wrote a book in 1998 on the Bahamian Speciality birds
and their habitat.
During the course students learn how to use binoculars and how to
organize and use their fieldguide for the purpose of bird
identification...
Columns :
Bird Talk - Erika Gates
Looking back at October's International Migratory Bird Day events - Nov 4, 2010 - 7:04:05 PM
Freeport, Bahamas - During the month of October the Garden of the Groves joined forces
with local school teachers and birding enthusiasts to promote public awareness
surrounding the incredible phenomenon of bird migration.
Each year millions of birds, representing hundreds of species,
travel between North America, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and back. Approximately
350 species of birds that breed in North America migrate each year to spend the
winter in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a group they are referred to as
Neotropical migratory birds and they include many species of songbirds, hawks,
egrets and duck...
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