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1 June 2007 A Rigorous Assessment of the Avifauna of a Small Caribbean Island: A Case Study in Anegada, British Virgin Islands
Andrew McGowan, Nancy K. Woodfield, Geoff Hilton, Annette C. Broderick, Brendan J. Godley
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Abstract

The avifauna of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has received little attention from researchers. The lack of baseline information is therefore a major hindrance to the construction of management plans. Here we present detailed monitoring data on the species composition and numbers of each species for the island of Anegada, BVI. We surveyed the birds of Anegada between November 2003 and March 2005 utilising a combination of coastal transects, wetland bird counts, point counts, and species-specific survey methods for nocturnal species. A total of 99 different species were recorded, with a large increase in the number of species and number of individuals centred around peak migration in September. Although there is a depauperate terrestrial bird community consisting of predominately generalist species, it holds important populations of regional avifauna. For example, it hosts five regionally important breeding seabird colonies and its wetlands provide an important stop-over and over-wintering site for many species of shorebirds and waterbirds. In addition, the Eastern salt ponds are also the only breeding site for the greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber, within the territory. We discuss our findings within the current framework of regional conservation and provide recommendations for the implementation of a territory wide monitoring program as a first step towards meeting the UK's commitments under several multilateral environmental agreements.

Copyright 2007 College of Arts and Sciences University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
Andrew McGowan, Nancy K. Woodfield, Geoff Hilton, Annette C. Broderick, and Brendan J. Godley "A Rigorous Assessment of the Avifauna of a Small Caribbean Island: A Case Study in Anegada, British Virgin Islands," Caribbean Journal of Science 43(1), 99-116, (1 June 2007). https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v43i1.a10
Received: 9 January 2006; Accepted: 7 October 2006; Published: 1 June 2007
KEYWORDS
birds
breeding status
conservation
salt ponds
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