THn JOUnNAL OF CenrBBEAxOnNrrHoLocY FoRTHECONSERVATION BIRDS SOCIETY ANDSTUDYoF CARIBBEAN SoctEDADPARALA CoNssnvacröN y EsruDto on les AvEs CenreeNes AssocrATroNpouR LA CoNsgnvlrroN ET L' ETUDEDESOISEAUXDE LA CARAIBE 2008 V o l . 2 1N , o.2 (rssN1s4449s3) Formerly Et, PITIRRE CoNrENrs RANGEExpANSIoNoF WHITE-whrcEDDovE (ZENATDA ASrAncA)rN THELESSERANru-ss. Niels J. Lttrsenand Anthony Levesque DE ESPECES DE AVESACUÄTTcesPARAISLAog MARCARTTA. NwvOS REGISTROS VENEZUELl'. Luis G. Gonztilez8., Gedio C. Marfn E., Luis G. GonzdlezA., y RaymundoL. GonzdlezA. PRocEEDINcS oF THEl6TH MEETnrcoF THESocnry FoRTHECoNssnveuoN ANDSruny op CeRmsgANBrRos FRoM THEPRsr ro rHs GI-osALzEDFuruRE roR CRRßseau Bm.os.JosephM. Wunderle,Jr. ........... REpoRToF THE"THREATENED BR.DSoF TrrECe.nresgAN"WoRKSHop.David C. We9e............. REpoRTFRoMrHE SyMposruM"EcoI-ocy exo CoNseRVATroN op CRRmSEAN SEABTRDS" AND ..NEXT THEROUND_TABLE DISCUSSION STEPS IN CARBBEANSEABIRD CONSERVATIoN',. PatTicicT Bradley and Jennifur Wheeler Rr,ponr FRoMTHESyMposruMeNo RouNl-Tesls DrscussroN"CoNssnvrNc rss RecroN's ANDWETLANIS-CURI-I-r,NGES. WATERBTRDS ANDSolurtoNs". Lisa Sorensonand SuccESSEs. RepoRr oF THECARIBBEANWnolrn'r, ART WoRKßrc GRoup. Nils Navarro Pacheco RepoRr oF THEMoNIToRßtGWORKNGGRoup. Ann Haynes-Suttonand Chris Woods WoRKßtc GRouP.RosemarieGnam ........... REpoRToF THEPARROT REpoRToF THEMguR WoRKINGGRoup.Leo Douglas ..USßIGPARTICIPAToRy RBpoRr oF THEWORKSHOP ,qsI TooL NeruR,qr- Rn,souRcpMANAGEMENT roR CoNSBRVATION". Nicole Leotaud ..TRAINING ANDROUND-TABLE REPORT OFTHESyITpOSTUU DISCUSSION NEEDSeNo OppoRTTTNITnS roR Pnorecren AneRS MANAGEMENI".Nadra Nathai-Gyan and Lisa Sorenson REpoRToF THERorNo-TnerE DrscussroN"OncANzrNc GRASSRoOTS CAMpATcNS ro Oppose PROJECTS ruRr TuRgetENBtRo HABITAT".AndrewDobsonand BonnieRusk............ R,eponroF THE..SecorvoWrsreRN HEMISPHERE BR.DBANDINGNETWORK WORKSHOP,,, Antonio CelisMurillo and Maria IsabelMoreno .................. ENDEMTc REpoRToF rHE CARTBBEAN Bm.oFesrrvel CoononrRroRs' MEErrNc.ShevtdaN. R,EPORT OFTHEWHTTE,.CROwNED PIGEON(PATAGIqENAS LEUC)CEPHAI"A) WORKD{CGROup. Brqndon REpoRToF THEINvnswg SPECESWoRrwc GRoup. Andrew Dobson and Sarah Sanders CorvseRvnroN PRorr,cr REPORT cyANocEpHALA) AS PRoyECToPAIZ: ruB ENoeNceREo BLUE-FmADED QUAI--DovE (STARNoENAS AN UMBRELLRSppctps FoR BIRD CoNSERVATIoNttlt CuBe. Simon Bruslund Jensen,Juan Pedro Soy,Orlando Alfunso,Amrita Deb, and Guntram G. Meier BooK REVIEW A NATURALTST BR.DS,BpRsrs & BuRE.q.ucRATS: oN e CenmeEANISLAND.John Faaborg Revmwrns oF VoLrrME2l ................ 61 66 69 80 82 91 93 95 91 99 100 l02 105 106 ll2 l15 I 19 120 J. Carib.Ornithol.21:I l5-l 18,2008 CONSERVATION PROJECT REPORT PROYECTOPAIZ: THE ENDANGERED BLUE-HEADED QUAIL-DOVE (STARNOENAS CYANOCEPHALA)AS AN UMBRELLA SPECIESFOR BIRD CONSERVATIONIN CUBA SrvoN BnusluND JENSENT, JueN Penno Soy2,OnLeNDoALFoNSO3, Arrlnlra Dggr, aNo Gwrnnv G. Meten4 'Al \fabra WildlifePreservation, P.O.Box44069,Al Shohaniyah, Stateof Qatar;e-mail: at\,n)[email protected];'Ave. 42 No. 514 esq.a 7", Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba; ac/o e-mail:[email protected];tENPFF. Villa Clara, e-mail'[email protected]: InGrip-Consulting, Hausburgstr.24, D 10249Berlin, Germany,e-mail: [email protected] CuaR quRlrnEs as one of the world's top hotspotsfor biodiversitywith a high rate of endemism, but it is under increasingpressuredemandingurgent conservation action (Mittermeier et al. 1999, Niekisch and Wezel 2003, Vales et al. 1998).The entire island of Cuba is regardedas an Endemic Bird Area (EBA), definedas an areaof specialconservationconcern and importance(Birdlife International 2003). Currentlyonly about 15Yoof Cuba's Iandscape remainsuninfluencedby humanactivities due to a long history of human impact on Cuba's rich biological resources.Hunting and animal trapping have long beenpopularand have severelyimpactedmany bird species,a notableexamplebeing the Cuban Red Macaw (Ara tricolor; Robiller and Grimm 2006). Invasive speciessuch as rats (Rattus spp.), followed by the intentional introductionof Javanmongoose(Herpestesjavanicus)as a predator for their control have, in combinationwith feral dogs(Canis lupusfamiliarrs), cats (Felis catus), and, pigs (Sas domestica),proved to be a serious threat to native ecosystemsand susceptibleendemics (Woodsand Sergile2001). Cuba is home to 12 different speciesof pigeons and doves (order Columbiformes),of which two otherthanthe Blue headedQuail-Dove(Starnoenas cyanocephala)are endemicto a certain degree.The Gray-fronted Quail-Dove (Geotrygon caniceps) is classified as vulnerable (Birdlife International 2009) and it is partially sympatricwith the BlueheadedQuail-Dove;the two subspecies fiom Cuba (G. c. caniceps)and Hispaniola (G. c. leucometopius) may be separate species (Garcido et al. 2002). The Plain Pigeon (Patagioenasinornata) is currently classified as near threatened;the Cuban populationof the subspecies (P. i. inornata)is nearly endangeredand in need of attention(Wege and Anadön-Irizarry2005). The paucity of literature Journal of CaribbeanOrnitholog,t2l(2),2008 regardingthe biology ofthese speciesindicatesthat all three specieswill undoubtedlybenefit from research into the Blue-headedQuail-Dove and its habitat. The Blue-headedQuail-Doveis a terrestrialdove that is endemicto Cuba.Althoughthe species(with colour variations) was reported on Key West by John JamesAudubon in 1834,and later confirmed by Ganido (2005),the speciesappearsto havesince disappearedcompletelyfrom this island (Gibbs et al. 2001). With tlpical Geotrygon facial markings, it possesses a unique feature in the black, whiteborderedbreastbib which, togetherwith the hexagonalscaleson the front of its legs as well as the fact that it lays white eggs (as opposedto buff colouredeggslaid by Geotrygondoves;Ganido 1986), is sufficientto justify retainingit in an independent monotypicgenus.The striking similaritiesin colour betweenthis speciesand the nationalflag of Cuba provides an added advantageto its selectionas a flagship speciesfor ground-doveconservation. The Blue-headed Quail-Doveis a residentspecies with limited dispersal,and is often found in the undergrowth of forestsand sometimesswamps,where it spendsthe majority of its time on the forestfloor in searchof food. It prefers to walk rather than fly, often choosing to run rather than take flight when fleeing. Its food consistsmainly of seedsand berries; it probablyalso eat small invertebrates as well as seedsfrom agriculturalcrops(Gibbset al.2001). The birds occurmostly in pairs,but often a single bird is seenand occasionallylargercongregations of up to 15 birds appearat water holes,a sight that is now exceedinglyrare.Breedingis reportedto occur from April to June(Ganido and Kirkconnell2000). The maleperformsits territorialcall, a simple"huuup" or "whooo-up,"which is repeatedevery3-4 sec at intervalsthroughoutthe day. Calls are given from 115 ETAL.- PRoyECToPAIZ:-SrtnuogN,ts cy,tNcocEpHAzlrN Cuse JENSEN the groundor a low perch.In the courtshipdisplay, the male bows for the female,moving its head up and down, and may also lift its tail and spreadits wings. At the sametime a deep"cooo" or rumbling "bmooh" canbe heard(Gibbset al. 2001, Goodwin 1983, Soy pers. comm.). The nest is placed low, often poorly concealedon a tree stump,a low bush, or on an epiphyte, and one or two distinctive white eggsare laid. Key threatsidentified in the past include hunting, with the tasty meat of the speciescombinedwith the relative easewith which it can be trapped,making it a preferredtarget. It is also vulnerableto predation by introducedand feral predatorssuch as the mongooseand feral domestic cat. Finally, development of pristine lowland scrub forest for agriculture and an increasingincidenceof hurricanesin the region compound existing threats (Birdlife International 2009). Becauseonly an estimated1000-2500birds are thought to exist and the population is thought to be declining,it is officially redlisted as endangered and protected by law throughout Cuba (Birdlife International2009). However, resourcesare often lacking to effectivelyenforcethe laws. No captive populations are known to exist anywhere in the world. PROYECTO PAIZ The project's title, ProyectoPAIZ, was chosen becauseit refers to birds called PalomaPerdiz in Spanish and also resemblesthe Spanish term for "land" or "country" ("pais"). ProyectoPAIZ is a national project of Cuba with the participation and exclusive funding from international partners such as the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation(AWWP) of the Stateof Qatar, and technicalcooperationwith the ZoologicalSocietyfor the Conservationof Species and Populations(ZGAP) in Germany.Proyecto PAIZ is officially administeredin Havana through the national office of the EmpressaNacional parala Proteccidnde la Floray la Fauna(ENPFF). ProyectoPAIZ aims to conservethe Blue-headed Quail-Dove through both in situ and,ex silz methods in protected areas within its natural range. An awareness campaignfor the peopleof Cuba aspires to use the familiarity and uniquenessof the BlueheadedQuail Dove to createa "flagshipspecies,"an icon that will representthe other less charismatic ground-dovesand other sympatricspecieswithin its habitat.The fact that the speciesis monotypic for its genusaugmentsits statusas a conservation priority. Proyecto PAIZ initially concentratesboth in situ work and an educational program in the Cuban 116 provinceof Villa Clara,eastof the province'scapital Santa Clara in the protected area Sabanasde Santa Clara. The site is officially classifiedas a "ReservaFloristica Manejada" (RMF), corresponding to the IUCN category IV (biotope-reservewith strict conservation management).The area has a size of 7.237 ha. since 1986 it has been administered by the ENPFF. The reserve receives around 2000 visitorsannuallyas part of environmentaleducation programmescarried out by the ENPFF in surrounding schools, local councils, and nature clubs. The province also has 32 educationalunits which regularly visit such reservesfor training coursesand workshops.A 500 m buffer zone surroundsthe protectedareaand some smaller villages occur on the outskirts. In the Sabanasde Santa Clara reserve, 157 speciesof animals have been recorded, including the Blue-headedQuail-Dove (O. Alfonso unpubl.data).The total numberof plant however,at speciesis currentlyunder assessment; least 14 speciesof plants are endemic,hencethe designationas a RFM. The existenceof threedams and reservoirs in the area and their impact on the surrounding ecosystemremains to be ascertained, but the most immediate threat to the wildlife remains invasive species,especially the abundant mongoose,believedto be the major invasivepredator, with feral dogs and cats playing a minor role. Some degree of firewood gathering, although prohibited, exists. Nine rangers employed by the ENPFF patrol the protectedareaand are assistedby an additional five wardens from the special antilogging task force of the Interior Ministry-the "Cuerpode GuardaBosques."Hunting is also prohibitedand virtually non-existentdue to the vigilant patrol as well as being limited to firearms in the region, but some trapping using snareshas been reported(G. Meier and O. Alfonsopers.obs.). GOALSoF THEPROJECT Proyecto PAIZ has three goals. The first is the establishment of a captivepopulationof the BlueheadedQuail-Doveand potentiallytwo othernatrve dove speciesfor conservationbreeding.The captive breeding facility, with inbuilt aviaries,a kitchen, offrces, and an educationalfacility, is currently under renovationat the site ofold dilapidatedaviaries within the Sabanasde SantaClara. Additional facilities to ensureelectricityand water supply have also been constructed.The purposesof the captive breeding component are manifold. Although the current data on status,numbers, and threats to the speciesare inadequateto determine how urgent or Journal of CaribbeanOrnithology 21(2),2008 JENSENET AL. - PROYECT}PAIZ: STInuonuIs CYANC)CEPHALIIN CugR significantcaptivebreedingwill be for speciesrecovery, the managementand breeding in captivity of a small number of birds will always act as a safety net and a resource for researchinto many aspectsof the speciesthat will be impossibleto study in the wild. In addition, captivebred birds will play a dual role as ambassadors,given the fact that due to the rarity and elusive nature of these birds, few peoplein Cuba have actuallyseenthem in the wild. It is hopedthat by makingpeopleawareof the presenceand threats to this attractive and exceptional endemic, the direct pressureby hunting and otherhumanactivitieswill be reduced. In February 2007, a group of six birds (three males and three females) was confiscated from a farmer in the Villa Clara Province who had kept the birds illegally in substandardconditions. These birds providedthe nucleusofthe captivepopulation and an important educationaland researchtool for the project. Blue-headedQuail-Doves were formerly kept in aviculture in Europeand North America in the last century but now seem to have vanished from aviaries, at least outside of Cuba (InternationalSpeciesInformation System report from 1993; S. Bruslund and G. Meier pers. obs.). They are reportedto have been fairly easyto breed. It is unclearjust when the Blue-headedQuail-Dove from captivityoutsideofCuba, but it is disappeared likely that someof the last birds wheredisplayedin zoosin the beginningofthe 1980s.The specieswas formerlyeommonin exportsand fairly inexpensive; thus,little effort was takento breedthesebirds and to avoid inbreeding(Rutgersand Norris 1970,Jensenpers.obs.). The secondgoal is to conductin situ researchon the ecology,abundance,distribution,and threatsof the species.The in sila componentof the project will be integratedinto ongoing field studiesby the ENPFFwithin the protectedareasas well as special excursionsto investigateand verifu other localities where the Blue-headedQuail-Dove occurs. The main objectiveis to provide reliableand consistent datato verify conservationstatusofthe speciesand map the distributionand dispersalof populationsin the wild. The floral biodiversity,characteristics, and local conditionsof areasconfirmed to host quaildoves will be comparedwith habitatswhere the birds are absent.The main objectiveof this is to identify the threatsand conditionsresponsiblefor populationdeclines.Similarly, populationswill be monitored in order to identify existing threatsto the speciessurvival.As the projecthasbeeninitiatedin the Villa Clara Province,the current strategyis to Journal of CaribbeanOrnithology2l(2),2008 developeffectivemethodologiesfor censusingand monitoring that can then be replicatedin the rest of the country. Once threatsto the specieshave been identified, additionalconservationmeasuresmay be initiated, such as reforestationof certain areas,establishing corridorsof native vegetationfor reconnectingisolatedquail-dovepopulationswithin a predominantly agricultural environment,and eradicatingor perrnanently controllinginvasivepredators,to ensurethe best use of resourcestowards effective sDeciesrecovery. The third goal is to createan awarenessprogram for endangeredground-dovesusing the Blue-headed Quail-Dove as a "flagship" species.The ENPFF emphasises environmentaleducationwith an active educationunit that visits schools.universities.nature clubs,and local councilsin eachprovince.Although there is no structuredagendafor theseprograms,the tools usedincludepresentations, competitions,and eventheatre-designed with the intentof promoting the importanceof natural habitatsand wildlife. By providing materialsfor theseeducation programs, Proyecto PAIZ aims to work through these existing channelsto disseminateawareness about the plight of the Blue-headedQuail-Dovein Cuba and to promote a senseof ownershipto stakeholdersin local communitieswhere the doves occur. Simulationof the naturalhabitat of the dovesin the breeding centre exhibits will provide information aboutthe speciesand its habitat. CoNcLUSIoNS ProyectoPAIZ is truly an internationalcollaborative effort and the enthusiasm,experience,and commitment of the ENPFF and Governmentof Cuba toward nature conservation,in spite of inconceivable economicdifficulties,is commendable.Funding for the initial phasehas alreadybeen provided by the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservationand constructionwork is almostcomplete.The recentofficial registrationof the project under Cuban law makes Prciyecto PAIZ a pioneering international effort in Cubanbird conservation. The Al WabraWildlife Preservationhas madean initial commitment to Proyecto PAIZ for 3 yr. Althoughthe broaderaims ofthe projectare intended toward securingthe long-term future of the species in Cuba,the initial successof the pilot projectin the Sabanasde Santa Clara nature reserve and in the provinceof Villa Clara will determinethe potential for future developmentand duration of the project. It is expectedthat birds will breed successfullyin 1t7 JENSENET AL. - PROYECToPAIZ: STARN)ENASCYANC)CEPHAa IN CUBA the breeding centre, creating a natural resourcefor expandingthe project to other regions, which may reduce the potential impacts of hurricanes or fire. As a first step, the acquisition of birds for the captive breeding programme, the sexing (using microsatelliteDNA analysis)and captive management of these birds, and the developmentof an in situ researchstudy are already underway in Cuba and the three project partners are optimistic about the further developmentof this project into a wider conservation prograrnme with the Blue-headodQuailDove as a flagshipspecies. LneneruRr Crtn,o BIRDLTFE INreRNertoNAL.2003. Birdlife's online World Bird Database:the site for bird conservation 2.0. Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK. Availableat www.birdlife.org. BIRDLIFEINtenNRttoNAL.2009. Speciesfactsheet: Starnoenas cyanocephala. Birdlife Intemational, Cambridge,UK. Availableat www.birdlife.org. GARRIDo,O. H. 1986.Las palomas.EditorialCientifico-Tdcnica,Ciudadde La Habana. GARRIDo,O. H. 2005. Statusof the Blue-headed Quail-Dove Starnoenas cyanocephala (Aves: Columbiformes)at Key West,Florida.Solenodon 2005:79-90. O. H., aNo A. KnrccowNelr-.2000.Birds GARRTDo of Cuba,ChristopherHelm Publ. , London, UK G. M.. eNo D. R. Gnnnno. O. H.. G. M. KTRWAN ll8 Ceppen.2002. Specieslimits within Grey-headed Quail-Dove Geotrygoncanicpesand implications for the conservationofa globally threatenedspeInternational12:169-187. cies.Bird Conservation ANDJ. Cox. 2001.Pigeons GreesD., E. BARNES, and doves: a guide to the pigeons and doves of the world. PicaPress,Sussex,UK. GooowtN D. 1983.Pigeonsand dovesof the world. 3rd ed. CornellUniversityPress,Ithaca,NY. MITrgnrrIeIEn,R, 4., N. MYERS,C. G. MITTERMETER,AND P. RoBLESGn. 1999. Hotspots: Earth'sbiologicallyrichestand most endangered terrestrialecoregions. CEMEX S. A., Mexico DF. in NrEKrscHM. & Wezal A. 2003. Schutzgebiete Kuba - Entwicklungen und Probleme,Natur und Landschaft 78:360-366. 2006. Der RoBILLER, F., AND H. Gnuv, Dreifarbenara,GefiederteW elt 130:242-244. Rurcens, A., AND K. A. NoRRrs.1970. Encyclopaedia of aviculture. Vol. l. Blandford Press, Poole,Dorset,UK. VALES,M., A. ALVAREZ,L. MONTES, ANDA. AVI. LA (EDS.).1998.Estudionacionalsobrela diversidadbiolögiaen la republicade Cuba.LaHabana, Cuba. (EDS.).2001. WooDS,C. 4., AND F. E. SERGTLE Biogeography of the West Indies: patterns and perspectives.2nd ed. CRC Press,Boca Raton, FL. Journal of CaribbeanOrnithology 21(2), 2008 THB JOUnNAL OF CrnrBBEAxOnNrrHoLocY aNo Sruov oF CARIBBEAN BrRDS Socrlry FoRTHECoNsgRverroN y EsruDIopn r-RsAves CnnrseN,As SocreonopARALACoNsenvecröN DELA CARAIBE AssoctATIoNpouRLA CoNsenvRrroNETL' ETUDEDESOTSEAUX 2008 Vol. 21,No.2 Socrnrv FoRTHECoNsnnvarroNANDSruny or Ca,RrnnnlNBrnus The Societyfor the Conservationand Study of CaribbeanBirds (SCSCB) is the largestsingle regionalorganization committed to the conservationof wild birds and their habitatsin the greaterCaribbeanregion, including Bermuda, the Bahamas,and all islands within the Caribbeanbasin.The overarchingobjective of the SCSCB is to increasethe ability of Caribbeanornithologists,resourcemanagers,conservationorganizations,institutions,and local citizensto conservethe birds of the Caribbeanand their habitats.We aim to achievethis by (l) developingregional conservationprojects,activities,and materialsthat facilitate local conservation,management,and research, and (2) building networksand partnershipswith local, nationaland internationalNGOs that shareour bird conservation goals.Further information about the society,including news and announcements, is availableat the society's website:www.scscb.org. MEMBERSHP Annual membershipdues are US$20.00for individuals, US$50.00for institutionsbasedin the Caribbean,and US$120 for institutionsbasedelsewhere.Life membershipsare availablefor US$300.00,payablein three annual installments.Sendcheck or money order in US funds with completename and addressto: RosemarieGnam, 4201 Wilson Blvd. #l 10-174,Arlington,YA22203-1589,USA; e-mail:[email protected]. Paymentcan also be made by credit card by using the websitewww.justgive.organd searchingfor Society for the Conservationand Study of CaribbeanBirds or key words suchas "CaribbeanBirds." Follow directionsto make your paymentand pleasealso send an e-mail with details to RosemarieGnam (see above). If you do not have accessto a US bank accountor credit card facilities,pleasesendan email to RosemarieGnam (seeabove)to discussother optionsfor payment. JOURNAL The SCSCB publishesThe Journalof CaribbeanOrnithology, a refereedjournal publishing articles,notes,commentaries,book reviews, and announcements on all aspectsof avian biology within the Caribbeanregion. Contributions are welcome in either English, Spanish,or French.Since the journal's humble inception as El Pitine, the society's newsletter,in 1988,JamesW. Wiley single-handedlyedited l7 volumes of the journal, which gradually increasedin quantity and quality over the years as it transformedinto a reputable scientific journal. In 2003 (volume l6) the journal's name changedto The Journal of CaribbeanOrnithology to better reflect the journal's content.Information for contributorsis provided on the insidb back cover. Further information about the journal, including more detailedinformation for contributors,archivesof volumes 1-15, contentsand abstracts,samplepdf files of a recentissue,and informationfor advertisers,is availableat the society'swebsite:www.scscb.org. SocrETYOmcr,ns President: Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer: Past-President: Mr. Andrew Dobson Dr. Lisa Sorenson Dr. Ann HaynesSutton Dr. RosemarieGnam Mr. Eric Carey Journal Editor: Members at lttrge: Dr. Floyd Hayes Mr. Anthony Levesque Dr. LourdesMugica Mr. JosephProsper Mme. FlorenceSergile Mrs. Carolyn Wardle