Scscb whmsi-final-cwc-workshop-report-20-march-2011

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES/ WESTERN HEMISPHERE MIGRATORY SPECIES INITIATIVE PROJECT

PROJECT PO#259197

IMPLEMENTATION OF A TRAINING ACTIVITY ON MONITORING WATERBIRDS IN CARIBBEAN PROTECTED AREAS FOR

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

FINAL REPORT

SCSCB Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Monitoring Training Workshop

23 - 27 February 2011 Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Date:20March2011 Preparedby:AnnHaynes‐SuttonPh.D&LisaG.SorensonPh.D. For:SocietyfortheConservationandStudyofCaribbeanBirds

Email:[email protected],[email protected]:www.scscb.org

SCSCB/WHMSICaribbeanWaterbirdCensusProject Page2

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Background......................................................................................................................................3

Projectgoalandobjectives ..............................................................................................................3

OutputsandindicatorsofsuccessforCWCproject...........................................................................3

CWCWorkshop ................................................................................................................................4Objectives......................................................................................................................................................................................................4Projectcoreteam......................................................................................................................................................................................5Projectpartners,fundingandsupport ............................................................................................................................................5Workshopformatandagenda ............................................................................................................................................................7Trainingmaterials ...................................................................................................................................................................................7Onlinelearningproductsandservices ............................................................................................................................................9Birdeducationcitizensciencediscussion....................................................................................................................................9Participants ..............................................................................................................................................................................................10Assessmentoftheworkshopbyparticipants.............................................................................................................................12Lessonslearned.......................................................................................................................................................................................12Fundingfornextsteps..........................................................................................................................................................................14Deliverablesdevelopedunderproject...........................................................................................................................................15Nextsteps ..................................................................................................................................................................................................15Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................................................................16

Appendix1:Agendaforworkshop(23‐27February2011)..............................................................................................17Appendix2:Internationalpresentersandfacilitators ........................................................................................................22Appendix3:Workshopevaluationreportandlettersofappreciationfromparticipants ...................................24Appendix4:CWCsmallgrantProposalguidelines ...............................................................................................................40Appendix5:Listofworkshopmaterialsprovidedtoeachparticipant ........................................................................48Appendix6:workshopevaluationform.....................................................................................................................................49Appendix7:LabelforfoldercoverforworkshopmaterialS.............................................................................................54Appendix8:Certificateofparticipation .....................................................................................................................................55Appendix9:Reportofbird‐education‐citizensciencebreak‐outdiscussiongroups ............................................56Appendix10:Draftbirdeducation‐citizensciencestrategy .............................................................................................60Appendix11:CWCworkshopsummaryreportandphotos .............................................................................................64


BACKGROUND

Theproject“ImplementationofatrainingactivityonmonitoringbirdsinCaribbeanprotectedareasforadaptivemanagementandpubliceducation””wasfundedbyOAS/WHMSIandimplementedbetween

November2010andMarch2011bytheSocietyfortheConservationofCaribbeanBirds(SCSCB).

PROJECTGOALANDOBJECTIVES

Goal:TostrengthenconservationformigratoryspeciesintheCaribbeanthroughthedevelopmentofacadreofpersonstrainedinthedevelopment,promotionandimplementationofaregion‐widewaterbirdandhabitatmonitoringprogram.

Objectives:

• ToincreasecapacityforimplementationoftheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)thatwasconceived

attheWHMSITrainingWorkshopinNassau,Bahamasin2009(Haynes‐SuttonandSorenson2009)andrelatedmonitoring,educationandmanagementactivities,basedonanagreedcapacity‐buildingstrategy.

• HostaregionalworkshoptotrainCaribbeantrainersintheapplicationoftheCWCmethodology,andtoeducatethemintheuseofSCSCB’seducationandoutreachmaterials.

• HoldadiscussionoftheuseofcitizensciencebySCSCBtoincreaseawarenessandengagemore

peopleinbirdsandconservation.

OUTPUTSANDINDICATORSOFSUCCESSFORCWCPROJECT

ProjectoutputsandindicatorsofsuccessarelistedinTable1below.

Table1:Summaryofprojectoutputsandindicatorsofsuccess

ACTIVITYHEADING OUTPUTS INDICATORSOFSUCCESS DiscussionofthepotentialforexpandingcitizenscienceactivitiesforSCSCB

Reportofcitizensciencediscussionanddraftstrategy

‐Reportondiscussionanddraftstrategyforcitizenscienceforeducation,awarenessandmonitoringofbirdsandtheirhabitatsprepared

Developmentofmaterials ‐CaribbeanWaterbirdCensusmanual&protocols‐Presentationsandothersupportingmaterials

‐Manualandprotocolsproduced,updatedandshared‐PowerPointpresentations/modulesdevelopedforworkshop‐

Disseminationofmaterials Resourceson ‐RevisedCWCManual,presentationsand


ACTIVITYHEADING OUTPUTS INDICATORSOFSUCCESS online ConserveOnline supportingmaterialspostedWorkshop Workshopheld23‐27

February2011inNassau,Bahamas

‐Totalno.ofparticipants=22(initialtargetwas10)from14Caribbeancountries/islands‐Specialinterestgroupsrepresentedatworkshopincludeddecision‐makers,protectedareamanagers/wardens,scientists,wildlife/forestryofficers,educators,volunteersingovernmentandnon‐governmentagencies,allofwhicharepotentialnationalcoordinators,sitecoordinatorsandsitemonitors‐Avarietyofmoduleswereprepared:28presentationswereincludedintheworkshop‐Evaluationreportshowedveryhighlevelsofsatisfactionwiththeworkshop‐Workshopreportproduced

Projectdevelopmentforfunding

Developprojectforfunding

ProjectproposalsubmittedtoNationalFishandWildlifeFoundationDeepwaterHorizonfund(January2011)andshort‐listedforfunding,pre‐proposaldevelopedandsubmittedtoUSFishandWildlifeService,WildlifeWithoutBordersProgram(March1,2011)

CWCWORKSHOP

OBJECTIVES

TheobjectivesoftheCWCworkshopwereto:

1)ProvidepersonsfromacrosstheCaribbeanwithequipment,materials,trainingandskillsinwaterbirdand

wetlandmonitoringprotocols,sothattheycan:

• Designandimplementalong‐termwaterbirdmonitoringprogramintheirowncountry(orimprove/expandprogramsthatareinplace)

• ParticipateintheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus


• Trainandmentorothers• Formthebasisofaregionalmonitoringnetwork.

2)HoldadiscussionofapossiblestrategytoexpandcitizenscienceintheSCSCB.

PROJECTCORETEAM

ThecoreteamincludedLisaSorenson(SCSCB),AnnSutton(SCSCB),JeffGerbrachtandJenniferFee(CornellLaboratoryofOrnithology),andKenKriese(USFWS)–seeAppendix2.

PROJECTPARTNERS,FUNDINGANDSUPPORT

Theprojectattractedconsiderablecashandin‐kindsupportfromawidevarietyofpartners(Table2),mostofwhomarepartoftheCaribbeanMonitoringCoalitionestablishedin2009inthefirstphaseofSCSCB’s

monitoringprogram(developmentofCaribbeanBirdwatchProgram:http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/caribbeanbirdwatch).

Table2:Listofprojectpartnersthatcontributedcashorin‐kindsupport.

NAMEOFORGANIZATION CONTACTPERSON

CASH/IN‐KIND NOTES

OrganizationofAmericanStates RichardHuber In‐kind

Attendedworkshopandgaveapresentation

WesternHemisphereMigratorySpeciesInitiative&USFishandWildlifeService RichardHuber Cash

1daytrainingworkshopontheCWCfordelegatesattheWHMSImeetinginMiamion10December2010

USForestService,InternationalPrograms CarolLively Cash

Financialsupporttobringadditionalpersonstoworkshop,contributiontofundingforsmallgrantsfor2010participants

RoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds JamesMillet Cash

FinancialsupporttobringadditionalpersonsfromtheUKOverseasTerritoriestoworkshop

OpticsfortheTropics JoniEllis

Cashandin‐kind

Providedbinocularsforallparticipants,andfinancialsupportfortwoCubanparticipants.Alsoassistedwithevaluationofapplicantstoattendtheworkshop.

CornellLaboratoryofOrnithology JeffGerbracht In‐kind

Providedtechnicalsupportandadvice,contributedtowritingandreviewofCWCmanual,&helpedfacilitateworkshop


NAMEOFORGANIZATION CONTACTPERSON

CASH/IN‐KIND NOTES

CornellLaboratoryofOrnithology JenniferFee In‐kind

Providedtechnicalsupportforthecitizenscience‐birdeducationportionoftheworkshop

USFishandWildlifeService FrankRivera In‐kind

Providedtechnicalsupport,mentoringandadvice,contributedtoreviewofCWCmanualanddevelopmentofrevisedprotocols

USFishandWildlifeService KenKriese In‐kind

Providedtechnicalsupportandadviceandhelpedfacilitatetheworkshop

BahamasNationalTrust

EricCarey,LynnGape,PredensaMoore,CarolynWardle,TamicaRahmingandothers In‐kind

Providedlogisticalsupport,conferencefacilities,officefacilities,transportation,guidingforfieldtripsandapresentationonworkingwithvolunteers

BahamasNationalTrust

PericlesandChristinaMaillis In‐kind

Providedfreshfishanduseoftheirfamily’sbeachandpavilionforthefieldtriplunch

WaterbirdCounciloftheAmericas JenniferWheeler, In‐kind

ProvidedtechnicaladviceandsupportfromtheWaterbirdCouncil

WetlandsInternational

TaejMundkur,DanielBlanco,ArneLesterhuis In‐kind Providedtechnicaladvice

WildlifeCounts.com AaronSuring Cash ProvideddiscountonWildlifeCOUNTprogram,CDgiventoallparticipants

Variousgovernmentandnon‐government

ParticipantsinfirstCWC,Feb2010 In‐kind

Providedfeedbackonmonitoringmanualandprotocolstohelpimprovethem

USFWSNeotropicalMigratoryBirdConservationActfunds AndreaGrosse Cash

Fundingfor11smallgrantstoenableparticipantsin2010workshoptoimplementwaterbirdmonitoringprogramsintheirowncountries

TheoriginaltargetwithOAS‐WHMSIfundingwastobring10personstotheworkshop.AdditionalfundswererequestedandreceivedfromtheRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds,USForestService,andOpticsfortheTropicsandothersthatenabledustobringanadditional12participantstotheworkshopmakingatotalof22participants.ThefundingprovidedbyOAS/WHMSIwasmorethanmatchedbycashandin‐kinddonationsto

theprojectbythirdparties.


AdditionalpartnersengagedintheprojectandpartofourlargermonitoringcoalitionincludeBirdLifeInternational,KlamathBirdObservatory,TheNatureConservancy,andTheNationalAviary.

WORKSHOPFORMATANDAGENDA

Theoutlineoftheworkshopwasasfollows(seeAppendix1fordetailedagenda):

Day‐1: Monday,21February‐Facilitatorsarrivedandexploredpotentialfieldtripsites.

Day0:Tuesday,22February–Arrivalofparticipantsandwelcomedinner

Day1:Wednesday,23February–BackgroundinformationabouttheprojectandintroductiontotheCWC.

Whymonitor,designingyourCWCmonitoringprogram,levelsofmonitoringandCWCprotocols,eBirdCaribbean,birdidentification,waterbirdsoftheCaribbean,andhabitatmonitoring

Day2:Thursday,24February–FieldtriptoMontaguForeshoreandParadiseIslandPonds,dataentryfromfieldtrip,introductiontodataanalysis,sampleanalysesfromongoingmonitoringprograms,counttraining

tools,workingwithvolunteers,internationalprogramsforbiodiversityandwetlandconservation

Day3:Friday,25February–FieldtriptoHarroldandWilsonPondNationalPark,dataentryfromfieldtrip,preparingreports,trainingobserversforCWC,organizingandpromotingtheCWC,writinggrantproposals,participantsdiscussideasandworkonwritingsmallgrantproposals

Day4:Saturday,26February–AlldayFieldtrip.Practicalapplicationofsurveymethodsinawidevarietyof

wetlandhabitats,includingtidalflats,seashore,andbrackish,andsaltwatermangrovewetlands.

Day5:Sunday,27February–PresentationsofSCSCBoutreachandeducationprograms,includingCEBF,IMBDandtheWIWDandWetlandsConservationProject,CornellLabofOrnithologycitizenscienceprograms,includingUrbanBirds,ProjectFeederWatchandBirdSleuth,discussiontodevelopacitizenscience‐bird

educationstrategyforSCSCB.Farewelldinnerandawardsceremony.

Day6:Monday,28February–Participantsdeparted.Facilitators’wrap‐upsession.

TRAININGMATERIALS

ThefollowingtrainingmaterialsweredevelopedfortheCWCworkshop(Table3).

Table3:ListoftrainingmaterialsdevelopedfortheCWCworkshop.AllPowerPointswerepresentedattheworkshop.

TITLE TYPEOFMATERIAL

CWManual‐DescribestheCWCbackground&structure,stepstoestablishingamonitoringprogram,levelsofmonitoringandCWCprotocols,fieldforms,and

Document


trainingactivitiesandtools. IntroductiontoSCSCB,CaribbeanBirdwatch&CWCprogramandtheworkshop ppt Whatismonitoring?Whymonitorbirds? ppt eBirdCaribbean:Typesofmonitoring,whatthesedatashowandhowtheycanbeusedforconservationplanningandmanagement

ppt

IntroductiontoCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC):Goals,objectives,proposedstructure,whyandhowtogetinvolved,outlineofstepstoimplementprogram

ppt

Choosingyoursite,askingquestions,settingyourobjectives,sitereconnaissance ppt Generalconsiderationsindesigningyourmonitoringprogram:studydesign,biasanddetectability,andchallengesofcountingwaterbirds

ppt

LevelsofmonitoringandCWCprotocols:Speciesinventories,areasearches,andpointcounts

ppt

BirdIdentification101 pptWaterbirdsoftheCaribbean pptMonitoringCaribbeanWetlandHabitatsfortheCWC pptExaminingthedata:Simpleapproachestodataanalysis pptIABIN/WHMSIandCaribbeanactivities pptDistributionofmigratorywaterfowlinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean:Ananalysisofsurveydataandbandrecoveries

ppt

Whatcanyoulearnfrommonitoringdata?SampleanalysesfromongoingwaterbirdmonitoringinSt.Croix

ppt

Whatcanyoulearnfrommonitoringdata?AnalysesofWIWDmonitoringdatafromAntiguaandBarbuda2003‐2009

ppt

AvianKnowledgeNetwork(AKN) pptWesternHemisphereShorebirdReserveNetwork–AboutWHSRNandimportantsitestomonitorintheCaribbean

ppt

JunkanoointheSky:BahamasIBAProgrammeandopportunitiesandchallengesofworkingwithvolunteers

ppt

TrainingobserversfortheCWC pptOrganizingandpromotingtheCWCineachcountryintheCaribbean pptWildlifeCOUNTprogram–trainingtoolforcountingwildlife/birdsinthefield CDHowtopreparereportsandcommunicateyourresultstodecisionmakers pptHowtoprepareandwritegrantproposals pptCWCSmallGrantsProgramGuidelines pptOverviewofSCSCBeducationsprograms:WIWDandWetlandsConservationProject pptOverviewofSCSCBeducationsprograms:InternationalMigratoryBirdDay pptOverviewofSCSCBeducationsprograms:TheCaribbeanEndemicBirdFestival pptHowCornellengagesthepublicinbirds:eBird,BirdSleuth,UrbanBirds,andotherCitizenScienceeducationprogramsatCornell

ppt

NameThatBird!!!CWCBirdIDTeamCompetition ppt


ONLINELEARNINGPRODUCTSANDSERVICES

TheexistingConserveOnlinesite–CaribbeanWaterbirdCensuswasupdatedandrevisedfinalversionsofallmaterialshavebeenaddedtothesite.WorkshopparticipantswereaddedtoourYahooe‐groupCarib‐

Waterbird‐Census‐Network(http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Carib‐Waterbird‐Census‐Network/);thelistserveisservingwellasaplacetoaskquestions,shareexperiencesandinformationonCWCmonitoringefforts,andnewsabouttheCWC.PhotographsoftheworkshopwerepostedonSCSCB’sFacebooksite

(CaribbeanBirds–SCSCB)andtwonewFlickrsiteswereestablished:1)CaribbeanBirdID–Monitoring

(http://www.flickr.com/groups/1604677@N24/)‐thisgroup,setupattherequestofworkshopparticipants,wascreatedtoserveasanaidforbirdidentificationforpeoplewhoareconductingbirdmonitoring.ThegoaliscreateareferencelibraryofphotosofwaterbirdstohelpwithlearningbirdIDof

residentandmigratorywaterbirds,andalsoasaplaceforpeopletoaskforassistanceiftheyhaveaphotoofabirdwhoseIDtheyareunsureof.2)eBirdCaribbeanRarities

(http://www.flickr.com/groups/1609187@N20/)–ThisgroupisforphotographsofrarebirdsthathavebeensubmittedtoeBIrdCaribbean.Thepurposeistodocumentobservationsofbirdsmadeoutsideofthatspeciesnormalrangeornormalseasonaloccurrence.attherequestofworkshopparticipantsforraritiesandbirdidentificationphotographs.

BIRDEDUCATION‐CITIZENSCIENCEDISCUSSION

Onthelastdayoftheworkshopadiscussionwasheldon“Environmentalawarenessandcitizenscience:howcanweincreaseawarenessandengagemorepeopleinbirdsandconservation?”ThepotentialforSCSCBtoengagemorepeopleinbirds,monitoringandconservationviaanewcitizenscienceprogramwithCornell

LaboratoryofOrnithologywasanimportantpartofthisdiscussion.ThesessionbeganwithLisaSorensonandSheyldaDiaz‐MendezprovidinganoverviewofSCSCB’soutreachandeducationprograms,includingtheWestIndianWhistling‐DuckandWetlandsConservationProject,CaribbeanEndemicBirdFestivalandInternational

MigratoryBirdDay.Participantsalsohadanopportunitytosharewhatoutreachandeducationeffortstheywereinvolvedinwiththeirownorganizationsbackhome.

Next,JenniferFee(CornellLabofOrnithology)gaveapresentationonhowCornellengagesthepublicthroughitsmanycitizenscienceprograms,includingeBird,ProjectFeederWatch,UrbanBirdsandBirdSleuth.Jennifer

stimulatedthoughtfuldiscussionaboutwhatitwasthatledeachoftheparticipantstotheirinterestinnatureandbirdsandacareerinthisfield–manyrelatedthatitwasafirst‐handpositiveexperienceinnatureand/orakeymentorthatfosteredtheirinterest.Thisreinforcedtheimportanceofprovidingpeople,especiallyyouth,

withexperiencesandencounterswithwildlife.JenniferdescribedtheBirdSleuthprogramindetail;explainingthatitisacurriculumresourcethatpromotesscienceandconservationeducationamongstudentsbyencouragingstudentparticipationincitizenscience,providingeducationalresourcesontopicssuchasbird

diversityandidentification,habitat,andmigration,andencouraginglocalinvestigationsandconservationactions.TherewasagreatdealofinterestinthisprogramandhowitcouldbeadaptedtotheCaribbean.


Intheafternoon,participantsdividedupinto4break‐outdiscussiongroupsthatfocusedonthefollowingareastodevelopandexpandcitizenscience:1)Publicoutreachandawareness,2)ProtectedAreas,3)CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus,and4)Schools.Eachgroupdiscussedandansweredthefollowingquestions:

1. Whataretheobjectives?

2. Whoistheaudience?3. Whatarethemainmessages?4. Whathelpdoyouneed?

ThereportofthediscussiongroupsispresentedinAppendix9;basedonthediscussions,“Adraftstrategyfor

citizenscienceforeducation,awarenessandmonitoringbirdsandtheirhabitatsintheCaribbean”wasprepared(seeAppendix10).

PARTICIPANTS

Noticesabouttheworkshopwerepostedon‐lineonSCSCB’sYahooe‐group(BirdsCaribbean),website(www.scscb.org),andseveralothere‐groups.Asaresult,33applicationswerereceivedfrom17countries/islands.Criteriaforevaluatingapplicationsweredevelopedandavolunteerassistedwiththereviewprocess.Basedonthisprocess23personswereinvitedtoattend;22personsfrom14countries/islandsacross

theCaribbeanacceptedtheinvitationandwereabletoattendtheworkshop.

Table4:ListofparticipantsattheCWCWorkshop,Nassau,Bahamas,23‐27February20101

Name Institution Position/Title Email

AdamsToussaint

ForestryDepartment AssistantChiefForestryOfficer,ForestryDepartment

[email protected]

AtoyaGeorge ConservationandFisheriesDept. ProfessionalCadet [email protected]

CorderoBullard

BahamasNationalTrust DeputyWarden [email protected]

DarrenHenry DepartmentofNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment(DNRE)

Forester1:HeadofParksandOpenAreaUnit

[email protected]

DavidCooper

BahamasNationalTrust DeputyParkWarden [email protected]

EricF.Salamanca

DepartmentofEnvironmentalandCoastalResources(DECR)

ScientificOfficer [email protected]/[email protected]

LillianRussell BSITrustCorporation(Bahamas)Limited DeputyCEO/TrustManager [email protected]


LindyKnowles

BahamasNationalTrust AssistantParksPlanner [email protected]

LorraineCallwood

JostVanDykesPreservationSociety EnvironmentalAssistant [email protected]

LuciaMings GilbertAgricultural&RuralDevelopmentCentre

ProjectManager,CaribbeanFlamingotoBarbuda–FeasibilityStudyProject

[email protected]

MarkDaniels BahamasNationalTrust DeputyParkWarden,NewProvidence

[email protected]

MatthewMaximea

ForestryWildlifeandParksDivision ForesterII [email protected]

MaureenMilbourn

NationalEnvironmentandPlanningAgency(NEPA)

EnvironmentalOfficer,ProtectedAreasBranch,ConservationandProtectionSub‐division

[email protected]

LindyKnowles

BahamasNationalTrust AssistantParksPlanner [email protected]

NatalyaHenry

EnvironmentalAwarenessGroup OffshoreIslandsConservationProgrammeCoordinator

[email protected];[email protected]

PrescottGay BahamasNationalTrust DeputyParkWarden [email protected]

SheyldaDiaz‐Mendez

SCSCB CEBFRegionalCoordinator [email protected]

StephenDurand

Forestry,WildlifeandParksDivision AssistantForestOfficer–ConservationandResearchUnit

[email protected]

TamicaRahming

BahamasNationalTrust DirectorofParksandScience [email protected]

TiffanyCummins

Dept.ofPlanningandNaturalResources,DivisionofFishandWildlife

WildlifeBiologist [email protected]

TyroneBuckmire

GrenadaFundforConservationInc. ExecutiveOfficer [email protected]

ErnestoReyesMouriño

CentrodeServiciosAmbientalesMatanzas. Researcher.Biologist [email protected]

AnaySerranoRodríguez

EcologyBirdGroup,InstituteofEcologyandSystematic.

Researcher. [email protected],[email protected]


ASSESSMENTOFTHEWORKSHOPBYPARTICIPANTS

Theparticipantsexpressedaveryhighlevelofsatisfactionwithallaspectsoftheworkshop(seeWorkshopEvaluationReport,Appendix3).TheyespeciallyappreciatedthetrainingontheCWCmethods,fieldtripstopracticebirdidentificationandcountprotocols,andnetworkingopportunitieswiththefacilitatorsandotherparticipants.Commentsincluded...

• Iamverythankfultohavebeengiventhisopportunity.Ihopetobeakeypartingreatsuccessesinmycountryandregion.Thankyou!!!

• IamverygratefulforthenetworkintheCaribbeanandthesupportsystemprovidedbythefacilitators.Iamveryhappythatnotonlyhaveyougivenustheknowledge,butalsothetoolsintermsofskillsandequipment.Thankyouforbeingsoopen‐mindedandfacilitatingourcommentsandqueries.Ialsoliketheopportunitywehadtoshare“bestlessonslearned.”IwillalsoassistthePublicEducationBranchtoincorporateactivitiesonbirdsineducationalprograms.

• IthoroughlyenjoyedALLaspectsoftheworkshop.Itwasawonderfullearningexperienceandnetworkingwithregionalcolleagueswasthebestpartoftheprogram.

• Itwasawonderfulworkshop.Althoughwehadverylongdays,fromasearlyas6:30a.m.Icamebackfeelingenergizedbecauseofthepassionandenthusiasmofthefacilitatorsandparticipantsfortheconservationofourwetlandsandwaterbirds.ItwascontagiousandIlovedit,andIhavenotputdownmybirdguidesinceIreturned.Greatworkshop!

• Knowledgeispower.Thanksalotforsharingyourknowledge.• Facilitatorswerefullofenergyanditwascontagious.Thankyouforgivingmethisgreat

experience.

• WewanttothankyouforagreatweekandanexcellentCWCtrainingworkshop.Weareextremelygratefulforalltheeffortsmadetoensureourparticipationwaspossible.Welearnedalotandwanttoassureyouthatwe'llassistwithCWCmonitoringinDominica.

• Ijustwantedtothankyouagainforgivingmethisopportunity.TheworkshopintheBahamaswasexcellent.Ilearntsomuchandrealizedthatthereisstillsomuchtolearn.Ialsogainedagreaterappreciationfortheimportanceofmonitoringbirds.

LESSONSLEARNED

Theworkshopconfirmedourobservationsfrom2010,thatthereisahugedemandforthistypeoftraininginpracticalapproachestowetlandandwaterbirdmonitoring.Oneofthemostimportantthingswelearnedfromthisworkshop,associateddiscussions,reviewexercises,andfeedbackontheworkshopevaluationswasthatthereisahugedemandforthetypeofbasicmodularandregionalapproachtowaterbirdandwetland


monitoringthatwearedeveloping.ParticipantsintheworkshopandourfirstregionalCWCcountinJanuary2011appreciatedtheassistancetheyreceivedinlearninghowtocountwaterbirdsusingstandardmethodology.Theyalsolikebeingapartofalargereffort,wheretheirdatacontributestoregionalaswellas

localknowledgeofmigratoryandresidentwaterbirds.

DevelopingtheprotocolsfortheCWCprogramcontinuedtobeextremelychallenging.Wespentalotoftimein2010refiningtheprotocols,andpreparingforthefirstregionw‐wideoftheCWC,whichtookplaceinJanuary‐February2011.Sofarmorethan160checklistsfrom10countrieshavebeensubmittedusingtheCWC

optionontheeBirdCaribbeanwebsite.WeurgentlyneedfundingforapaidCWCcoordinatortocoordinatetheprogram,astheamountoftimeneededtomanageitissignificantandgrowing.

Practicallessonslearnedinclude:

Gettingapplicantsatthemeetingcanbedoggedbyunexpectedproblems• CostanddifficultyofCaribbeantravel.Therehardlyseemstobeanyintra‐Caribbeantravelanymore.

AlmostallflightsgothroughMiami,whichmeansthatapplicantsmusthaveUSvisas.GettingUSvisasusuallytakestwomonthsormore,whichmeansthatitisvirtuallyimpossibleforapplicantswhodonotalreadyhavevisasatthetimeofapplicationtogetthem.Routingflightssothattheydonotgothrough

Miamiisprohibitivelyexpensive(duetothenecessityofstayingovernightenroute).Atleastoneapplicanthadtoberejectedforthisreason.Fortunatelytheiremployerwasabletosuggestsomeoneelse.

• OtherunexpectedproblemsincludedanapplicantfromtheDRwhocouldnotgetavisatotheBahamasbecauseshewasconsideredahealthriskbecauseofCholerainHaiti.Anotherpersonfoundoutatthelastminutethattheirpassporthadexpired.

Lessonlearned:AskpeoplefromtheoutsetwhethertheyhaveUSVisas,andifnotsuggesttheyapplyurgently.Remindapplicantstocheckthattheirpassportisvalidfortheperiodoftravel.

Preparations• DespitesendingmaterialsearlytotheBahamastherewerestillproblems.Onesuppliercouldnotexport

materialstotheBahamasandfailedtotellusintime.

Lessonlearned:Ordermaterialsevenearlierinadvance,andchecktheexportstatusofsuppliers.Support

• Therewassomereductioninfinancialsupportasdonoragenciesfeeltheeffectsoftheeconomiccrisis.Volunteersupportremainedveryhigh.

Lessonlearned:Weshouldnotbeshytoaskforvolunteerorfinancialsupport.

Follow‐up• Oneofthethingsthatparticipantsmostlookedforwardtowascontinuedsupportfromthefacilitators

aftertheworkshop.Thisissomethingthatwemustaimtoprovideeffectively,throughourwebsite,


email,e‐groupsandpersonalcontact.Wealsoneedtoprepareprojectstosupportfutureworkshopsandsupport

Lessonlearned:Follow‐upisessentialbuttime‐consuming.Projectfundingshouldreflectthecontinuing

commitment.Demand

• Wehadoriginallyplannedtodevelopanewworkshoptheme,aroundlandbirds.Howeverinthecourseoftheyearitbecameapparentthattherewasalarge,unsatisfieddemandforfurthertrainingtowardstheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC),toconsolidateitandbuildonitsmomentum.Werealizedthatit

wasabetterstrategytobuildonthegrowingCWCratherthantostretchourselvestoothinbyexpandingtheprogrammetoincludelandbirds.FortunatelyOASsupportedourposition.AgainweweremarkedlyoversubscribedandfeedbacksuggeststhatthereisstillconsiderabledemandformoreCWCtraining

fromcountriesthathavenotyetreceivedanytrainingaswellasnewinstitutionsthatwanttogetinvolvedintheCWC.Weconsiderthatathirdtrainingcoursein2012wouldbewellreceived.

Lessonlearned:Consolidateeffortsratherthanspreadingthemtoothinly.Considerapplyingforfurther

fundsforaCWCworkshopfor2012.Inspiration

• Participantsandfacilitatorsalikeweredeeplyinspiredbytheworkshop.Wewereimpressedatthenumberofnewbirderswhoattendedtheworkshopandevidentlygotveryexcitedaboutbirding.Wehavebeenoverwhelmedbytheenthusiasticfeedback,andindependentreportsofattendeesreturning

withnewfoundenthusiasmforbirdsandgettinginvolvedwiththeCWC.Theparticipantsrepeatedlycommentedonhowpassionateandinspiringtheyfoundthefacilitators,whilethecommentedonthepositiveenergyandenthusiasmoftheparticipants,andthefeelingthattheycouldmakeagreat

differencetoconservationintheCaribbeanthroughtheworkshop.Lessonlearned:Theworkshopisarewardingandenergizingexperienceforallthatareinvolved.Becauseconservationworkcanbelonelyandisolated;itisextremelyvaluabletohaveopportunitieslikethis

workshop(andourbiennialSCSCBmeetings)togiveeveryoneachancetolearn,network,andbecomenewly‐energizedandbetterabletomeetthechallengesanduphillbattlesofourwork.

FUNDINGFORNEXTSTEPS

AproposalPromotingWetlandBirdConservationthroughtheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensuswassubmittedtotheNeotropicalMigratoryBirdConservationActforfundinginNovember2009.Theproposalincludedfundingtoaward10ormoreSmallGrantsofupto$5,000eachforCWCmonitoringprojects.Thisprojectwasfundedand11SmallGrantshavebeenawarded.AdditionalfundshavebeensoughtviaproposalstoNationalFishand

WildlifeFoundationandUSFWSWildlifewithoutBorders.WeexpecttohearwhetherfundinghasbeenreceivedfromNFWFinApril2011.IffundedthiswillcoverfurtherCWCSmallGrantsandseabirdmonitoringtraining.ACWCworkshopisplannedfortheupcomingSCSCBbiennialmeetinginJuly2011,inFreeport,Grand

Bahama.Onthefinaldayoftheworkshopparticipantswereinvitedtobegintodevelopproposalstoapplyfor


fundingfromSCSCBorothersources.Detailedguidelineshavebeendevelopedandcirculatedtoallparticipants(Appendix4).

DELIVERABLESDEVELOPEDUNDERPROJECT

Thedeliverablesdevelopedundertheprojecthavebeen/willbesentseparatelyorareincludedaspartofthisreport.Theyincludethefollowing:

• Listofprojectpartnersandco‐financing‐cashandin‐kindcontributions(Table2)

• Listofparticipants(Table4)

• Workshopagenda(Appendix1)

• Listofinternationalpresentersandfacilitators(Appendix2)

• Workshopevaluationreport(Appendix3)

• Listofmaterialsprovidedinworkshoppackages(Appendix5)

• Workshopevaluationsheet(Appendix6)

• Reportsfrombirdeducation‐citizensciencebreak‐outdiscussiongroups(Appendix9)

• DraftStrategyforcitizenscienceforeducation,awarenessandmonitoringbirdsandtheirhabitatsin

theCaribbean(Appendix10)

• Workshopsummaryreportandphotos(Appendix11)

• RevisedCaribbeanWaterbirdsCensusManual(availablefordownloadat:

http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/cwc)

• Workshoppowerpoints(27)availablefordownloadfrom:http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/cwc

• Oneprogressreport(December2010)

• Finalproject/workshopreport

• Financialreport

NEXTSTEPS

Thenextstepswillinclude:

• ImplementingtheCWCwithourfirstandsecondgroupsoftrainees.Thisstartedin2010withpilot

fundingfromtheNeotropicalMigratoryBirdConservationActwhichwillrunto2012.ItishopedthatadditionalfundswillbereceivedfromNFWFtofundnewCWCsmallgrantsin2011.WealsohopethatwewillbesuccessfulinourbidforfundingfromUSFWSWildlifeWithoutBordersforthe

implementationofacitizenscienceprogrammethatinvolvesdevelopinganewbirdeducationprogram(BirdSleuthCaribbean)andavailabilityofnewandexpandedresourcesonSCSCB’swebsite.

• IdentificationoffurtherneedsfortraininginbirdmonitoringtechniquesintheCaribbeanregion.


• Providingcontinuedskills‐buildingtrainingworkshopsandsupportforourpartners(follow‐upworkshopsondataanalysisandstatistics,writingreportsandpublishingresults,communityoutreachandeducation,andcommunicatingwithdecisionmakers).

• CWCworkshopatSCSCBbiennialmeetingFreeport,GrandBahama,July2011.• WorkingwiththeWaterbirdCouncilandWetlandsInternationaltoadapttheprotocolsandapproach

foruseinCentralandSouthernAmerica.

CONCLUSION

Theworkshopwaswellattended,wellsupportedandenthusiasticallyreceived,indicatingthedemandforsuchtraining.ItscontributiontoconservationwillbemeasuredinthelongtermasSCSCBcontinuestodevelopitsrelationshipwiththeparticipantsandothersthatjointheprogramandasweworkwithourpartnerstohelp

themtodevelopandsustaintheirwaterbirdandwetlandmonitoringprograms.


APPENDIX1:AGENDAFORWORKSHOP(23‐27FEBRUARY2011)

Workshop AgendaWorkshop Agenda SCSCB CWC Waterbird & Wetland Monitoring Training WorkshopSCSCB CWC Waterbird & Wetland Monitoring Training Workshop

February 23 – 27, 2011, Nassau, Bahamas

07:00 – 08:30 Breakfast 08:30 - 09:00 Registration 09:00 – 09:30 Welcome, Introduction to SCSCB, Caribbean Birdwatch & Caribbean Waterbird Census Program

and the Workshop, Plan for the Week, Logistics - Lisa Sorenson & Ann Sutton, Society for the Conservation & Study of Caribbean Birds

09:30 09:35 Welcome from the BNT – Eric Carey, Executive Director, Bahamas National Trust 09:35 – 10:05 Round-robin Introductions – Lisa Sorenson 10:05 – 10:30 Coffee break 10:30 – 12:30 Presentations – Why Monitor? Introduction to the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) 10:30 – 11:05 What is Monitoring? Why Monitor Birds? – Lisa Sorenson 11:05 – 11:50 eBird Caribbean: Types of Monitoring, What these Data Show and How They can be Used for

Conservation Planning and Management – Jeff Gerbracht – eBird Project Manager, Cornell Lab. of Ornithology

11:50 – 12:30 Introduction to Caribbean Waterbird Census: Goal, Objectives, Proposed Structure, Why and How

to Get Involved, Outline of Steps to Implement Program – Ann Sutton 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch 13:30 – 15:00 Presentations – Designing Your CWC Monitoring Program 13:30 – 14:15 Choosing your Site(s), Asking Questions, Setting Your Objectives, Site Reconnaissance, Preparing

for your Counts – Ken Kriese, Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service 14:15 – 15:15 General Considerations in Designing your Monitoring Program: Study Design, Bias and

Detectability, and Challenges of Counting Waterbirds – Jeff Gerbracht 15:15 – 15:30 Coffee break 15:30 – 17:30 Presentations –Monitoring Protocols and Count Training Tools

DAY 1 – Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011


15:30 – 16:30 Levels of Monitoring and CWC Protocols: Species Inventories, Area Searches and Point Counts –

Lisa Sorenson 16:30 – 17:00 Monitoring Caribbean Wetland Habitats for the CWC – Ann Sutton 17:00 – 17:45 Bird Identification 101 – Lisa Sorenson 17:45 – 18:30 Birding at The Retreat 18:30 – 20:00 Dinner at The Retreat 20:00 – 21:00 Wetland Birds of the Caribbean – Lisa Sorenson Informal Discussion

06:30 – 08:30 Field Trip to Local Wetland (Montagu Foreshore and Lakeview Ponds, Paradise Island) –

Bird ID and Point Counts 08:30 – 09:00 Breakfast 09:00 – 10:15 Presentations - Data Entry and Basic Descriptive Statistics 09:00 – 09:40 Data entry (eBird) and Analysis from Field Trip – Jeff Gerbracht 09:40 – 10:15 Examining the Data: Simple Approaches to Data Analysis – Ken Kriese 10:15 – 10:30 Coffee break 10:15 – 12:30 Presentations – Monitoring Data Sample Analyses and Count Training 10:15 – 11:00 Data Analysis (cont) – Ken Kriese 11:00 – 11:45 What can you Learn from Monitoring Data? Sample Analyses from Ongoing Waterbird Monitoring

in St. Croix and Antigua – Jeff Gerbracht 11:45 – 12:30 Wildlife COUNT program: Training tool on CD – Ken Kriese 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch 13:30 – 15:00 Presentations – Reporting Monitoring Results and Implementing the CWC 13:30 – 14:30 WIWD Monitoring Data from Antigua and Barbuda 2003-2009 – Lisa Sorenson

DAY 2 – Thursday, February 24th, 2011


14:30 – 15:15 Junkanoo in the Sky: Bahamas IBA Programme and Opportunities and Challenges of Working with Volunteers to Establish a Monitoring Program – Lynn Gape

15:15 – 15:30 Coffee break 15:30 – 17:15 Presentations – International Programs for Biodiversity and Wetland Conservation 15:30 – 16:00 Distribution of Migratory Anatidae in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Analysis of Survey

Data and Band Recoveries – Ken Kriese 16:00 – 16:45 Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network – About WHSRN and Important Sites to

Monitor in the Caribbean – Lisa Sorenson 16:45 – 17:30 IABIN/WHMSI and Caribbean Activities – Richard Huber, Chief, Biodiversity Section,

Department of Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States 18:00 – 19:30 Dinner at Arawak Cay (fish fry)

06:30 – 09:00 Field Trip to Harrold & Wilson Ponds National Park – Bird ID and Area Search Counts 9:00 – 9:30 Breakfast 09:30 - 12:30 Data Entry and Analysis, Preparing Reports, Training Observers 09:30 – 10:15 Data entry and analysis from morning birding trip – Jeff Gerbracht 10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break 10:30 – 11:00 Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) – Jeff Gerbracht 11:00 – 11:30 How to Prepare Reports and Communicate your Results to Decision Makers – Ann Sutton 11:30 – 12:00 Training Observers for the CWC – Lisa Sorenson 12:00 – 12:30 Organizing and Promoting the CWC in Each Country in the Caribbean – Lisa Sorenson 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch 13.30 – 15:15 Planning your Monitoring Program and Preparing Grant Proposals 13:30 - 14:00 How to Prepare and Write Grant Proposals – Ken Kriese 14:00 – 15:15 CWC Small Grants Program Guidelines – Ann Sutton

DAY 3 – Friday, February 25th, 2011


15:15 – 15:30 Coffee break 15:30 – 17:30 Participants Discuss Ideas for Implementing Local Monitoring, Work on Writing Small Grant

Proposals for the CWC with Assistance from Facilitators 18:00 – 19:30 Catered Dinner at The Retreat

06:30 – 18:30 All Day Field Trip to Various Wetlands in New Providence to Practice Counting

Techniques, Site Description, Habitat Measurements and IBA Monitoring 06:45 Depart from hotel with packed breakfast 07:15 Stops at Arawak Cay, South Beach Tidal Flats IBA, Bonefish Ponds National Park, Lake Killarney 12:30 Picnic-barbecue lunch at Maillis beach (Adelaide) and swim 15:00 Walk through Primeval Forest, free time in downtown Nassau 19:30 Dinner at hotel

8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast 08:30 - 12:30 Presentations – Increasing Awareness and Engaging More People in Birds, Monitoring

and Conservation Activities: Developing a Citizen Scientist Strategy for SCSCB 09:00 – 10:15 Overview of SCSCB Education Programs – WIWD and Wetlands Conservation Project, Caribbean

Endemic Bird Festival and International Migratory Bird Day – Lisa Sorenson and Sheylda Diaz-Mendez

10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break 10:30 – 11:30 How Cornell Engages the Public in Birds: eBird, Bird Sleuth, Urban Birds, and other Citizen

Science education programs at Cornell – Jennifer Fee 11:30 – 12:30 Round-robin sharing & questions, divide into 4 breakout groups for discussion 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch

DAY 5 – Sunday, February 27th, 2011

DAY 4 – Saturday, February 26th, 2011


13.30 – 15:15 Discussion (break-out groups) to develop a strategy to expand SCSCB’s education

programs and engage people in birds and bird conservation (via monitoring and other education programs)

15:15 – 15:30 Coffee break 15:30 – 16:30 Four break-out groups report back to the general session about the results of their discussions 17:00 – 17:30 Name that Bird!!! CWC Bird ID Team Competition, Wrap-up Session, Workshop Evaluation 19:00 – 21:00 Farewell Dinner at East Villa Chinese Restaurant – Workshop Trivia Quiz, Presentation of Awards

& Certificates

DAY 6 – Monday, February 28th, 2011 – Participants depart


APPENDIX2:INTERNATIONALPRESENTERSANDFACILITATORS

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTERS AND FACILITATORS

SCSCB WATERBIRD & WETLAND MONITORING TRAINING WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 23 – 27, 2011, NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Lisa G. Sorenson, Ph.D. President, Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB), Project Coordinator of the West Indian Whistling-Duck (WIWD) and Wetlands Conservation Project, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Boston University. Twenty-six years experience working in the Caribbean, including four years of field research on the breeding ecology of White-cheeked Pintails in the Bahamas, field research on West Indian Whistling-Ducks (WIWD) on Long Island, Bahamas, environmental impact assessment work, project planning, and conservation education and training. She has also conducted research assessing the potential consequences of global warming on wetlands and waterfowl in both breeding and wintering areas of North America. Currently Dr. Sorenson is leading/coordinating a region-wide outreach and environmental education program, SCSCB’s bird monitoring programs, and delivering training workshops on monitoring, the importance and value of local wetlands, and birds. (Email: [email protected], URL: www.scscb.org; www.whistlingduck.org).

Ann Haynes-Sutton, Ph.D., is a Conservation Ecologist who has lived and worked in central Jamaica for 30 years. Her main focal areas are wetlands, birds, conservation education, and management of protected areas. For her Ph.D. she studied and applied conservation of Jamaican seabirds on offshore cays. A member of the executive of the Society for Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds for many years, she is Co-chair of the Monitoring and Seabirds Working Groups. She is currently consulting/volunteering with several NGOs, including working on a project to manage, interpret and develop ecotourism in a wetland in the Portland Bight Protected Area in southern Jamaica. In her spare time Ann manages a private nature reserve and leads bird tours. She recently published A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Jamaica. (Email: [email protected], URL: www.scscb.org).

Jeff Gerbracht, eBird Project Manager, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Jeff’s professional career has focused on project management and computer programming. His lifelong interest in ornithology and conservation led him to leave American Airlines and join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as an application developer in 2001. Jeff has developed several interactive GIS, data entry and analysis applications for the Lab, including eBird, the Land Bird Monitoring Program and a Breeding Bird Atlas application. Jeff currently manages the continued development of eBird and Trail Tracker and is developing Neotropical Birds, a project creating online species accounts for all Neotropical bird species not presently covered by the Birds of North America. (Email: [email protected], URL: www.ebird.org, www.neotropical.birds.cornell.edu)

Ken Kriese, Ph.D. is a Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Ken has 15+ years of experience working on waterbird and wetland conservation issues in the Western Hemisphere. For the USFWS, he is currently the national coordinator for the U.S. Joint Venture System, a group of conservation entities that consist of private- and public-sector partners working together to conserve North American migratory birds and their essential habitats. Previous work has included managing the Small Grants program of the USFWS North American Wetland Conservation Act, and as a Regional Biologist with Ducks Unlimited, Inc’s Latin America and Caribbean Program where he coordinated waterbird survey efforts in 10 countries and worked on wetland conservation projects in Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic. His doctoral work focused on the breeding ecology and conservation of the Orinoco Goose in the Venezuelan llanos. Ken continues to work on


wetland conservation issues throughout North America and other conservation efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Email: [email protected] or [email protected], URL: www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/JointVentures/index.shtm)

Jennifer Fee, Manager of K-12 Education Programs, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The Cornell Lab’s Education Program brings the Lab’s exciting research, conservation and citizen science programs to educators. Jennifer joined the Education Program at the Cornell Lab in 2004 to develop and field test the BirdSleuth middle school curriculum, so she’s been with BirdSleuth since its beginning. Originally developed for North American middle school teachers, BirdSleuth has grown to include resources for K-12 schools, afterschool programs, homeschools, and Latin American programs. Prior to joining the Lab, she worked at the Missouri Botanical Garden leading the “Partners for Growing Discovery Units” curriculum. She’s a graduate from the Biology programs at Truman State University and Illinois State University. Email: [email protected], URL: www.birdsleuth.net).

Sheylda Diaz-Mendez, Regional Coordinator, Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, Lecturer and doctoral student at Universidad del Turabo. She has worked as a coordinator and environmental educator for the West Indian Whistling-Duck (WIWD) and Wetlands Conservation Project Puerto Rico. She served as representative of her state for the National Wildlife Federation, and has been involved in the writing of laws to protect wetlands and critical habitat for the Puerto Rican Nightjar and mitigation of the effects of global warming in Puerto Rico. Sheylda’s doctoral work will focus on the behavior and conservation of the West Indian Whistling-duck (WIWD) in Caño Tiburones and for this is collaborating with the Center for the Study of Tropical Birds. (Email: [email protected])

Richard Huber is the Chief of the Biodiversity Section for the Department of Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States. For the GS/OAS he is coordinating the “Building the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)”, and the “Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative” (WHMSI). He has 10 years with the World Bank where he worked in the environmental social impact of loans and task managed several Environmental Management and Protected Areas projects and 17 years with the OAS where he has worked in sustainable development of the Americas Hemisphere. He will talk on several OAS Caribbean initiatives highlighting win-win institutional, legislative, policy, and participatory frameworks for sustainable development. Best practice case studies will be presented on biodiversity informatics and payments for environmental services programs throughout the Americas. (Email: [email protected], URL: www.oas.org/dsd/Working%20Documents/Bioandpay.htm

N. Lynn Gape, Deputy Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust. Formerly the Director of Education for the BNT with over 34 years of experience working in education in The Bahamas. Joining the Trust in 1991 allowed Mrs. Gape to work with the Bahamas Ministry of Education and the West Indian Whistling Duck and Wetlands Conservation Project to develop the widely-used environmental resource Wondrous West Indian Wetlands. She also collaborated in 2007 with the American Museum of Natural History to produce another teacher’s resource Treasures in the Sea, adopted by the Ministry of the Education as the approved resource for teaching about marine life. Working with Birdlife International she developed the Important Bird Areas Programme in the Bahamas and with Dr. Sorenson developed the beginning courses used to teach local IBA Site Support Groups about monitoring their sites for environmental concerns as well as bird populations. (Email: [email protected]) (URL: http://www.bnt.bs/)


APPENDIX3:WORKSHOPEVALUATIONREPORTANDLETTERSOFAPPRECIATIONFROMPARTICIPANTS

SCSCBCWCWATERBIRD&WETLANDMONITORINGTRAININGWORKSHOPNASSAU,BAHAMAS,FEBRUARY23‐27,2011

WorkshopEvaluationReport

MethodologyoftheEvaluation

Evaluationformswerecompletedattheendoftheworkshopbyeachofthe22participants.Participantswereaskedtoassesshowwelltheworkshopobjectivesweremetandtoratethequalityoftheworkshopactivities,theirpersonaloutcomes,andthefacilitators.Theyassessedthevariousareasineachcategoryonascalefrom1to5,with1beingthelowestscoreand5thehighest(1~poor,2~satisfactory,3~good,4~verygood,5~excellent).Ifparticipantsdidnotattendaparticularpresentationoractivity,theywereaskedtoleavethequestionblank.Severalopen‐responsequestionswerealsoontheform.

EvaluationFormQuestionsandResults1.Participantswereaskedtoratetheirsatisfactionwiththefollowingaspectsofworkshoporganizationanddesign:

a. Workshopvenue(BNTRetreat)?b. Hotelaccommodation?c. Mealsandcoffeebreaks?d. Transportation?e. Pre‐workshopinformation?f. Equipmentandmaterialsreceived?g. AmountoftimeallottedtoPowerPointpresentation,timeinthefield,anddiscussion?


Thedatashowsthattheparticipantswerewellsatisfiedwithmostaspectsoftheworkshoporganizationanddesign.Morethanthreequartersoftheparticipantsratedtheequipmentandmaterialsreceivedasexcellent.Morethanhalfoftheparticipantsratedthepre‐workshopinformation,timespentonactivities,andworkshopvenueasexcellent.Inquestionswheremostparticipantsdidnotratetheitemasexcellent,mostparticipantsratedtheitemasverygood.Hotelaccommodationwastheonlyitemthatdidnotfitthispattern,however,themajorityofparticipantsratedthisitemasgood.

Additionalcommentsbyparticipantsonthissection:

• Workshopvenue(BNTRetreat)?o Mosquitoes.o Very“naturalatmosphere.”o Toiletscouldhavebeencleaner.o Ilikedthatitwasoutsideandthatwecoulddosomebirdingonbreaks.

• Hotelaccommodation?o Infestedwithroaches.o Coldwater,roaches.o Roachinroom,nothotwater,nowatertodrink.

• Mealsandcoffeebreaks?o Logisticsforbreakfastcouldhavebeenbetterorganized.Hotdrinkswouldhavebeen

good.• Pre‐workshopinformation?

024681012141618

Workshopvenue(BNTRetreat)

Hotelaccomodation

Mealsandcoffeebreaks

TransportationPre‐workshopinformation

Equipmentandmaterialsreceived

AmountoftimeallottedtoPowerPointpresentations,timeinthe]ield,anddiscussion

WorkshopOrganizationandDesign

Poor Fair Good VeryGood Excellent


o Didagreatjobinorganizing.o Whattobring…(verygood).

• Equipmentandmaterialsreceived?o Provide(ifpossible)pocketweatherstation.

• AmountoftimeallottedtoPowerPointpresentations,timeinthefield,anddiscussions?o Somepresentationswentlongerthanscheduled.o (Participantanswered“excellent”tothisquestion)However,toomanyPowerPoint

presentationsduringoneday.2.Participantswereaskedtoratetheirsatisfactionwiththefollowingaspectsofthefacilitationteam:

Thedatashowsthattheallparticipantswereverysatisfiedwithallaspectsofthefacilitationteam–allwereratedasverygoodorexcellent.Thelargestnumberofexcellentratingswasfor‘providegoodbackgroundinformationandwereknowledgeableoftheissue’and‘giveadequateanswerstoquestions.’


• Excellentworkshop!• Facilitatorstalkedthroughexperience(s).

0246810121416

Providegoodbackground

informationandwerethey

knowledgeableoftheissue?

Giveadequateanswerstoquestions?

Useinteractivemethods?

Usesuf]icientsupportingmaterials?

Doagoodjobfacilitatingdiscussionoftheissues?

Motivateparticipantstousewhatwaslearnedinsessions?

FacilitationTeam

Poor Fair Good VeryGood Excellent


• Thankyouforeverythingandbeingsopassionateaboutallthatyoudo.• Moreinteractivemethodscouldhavebeenemployedinthepresentations.Wouldhavebeen

goodtohavesomeactivitiesforthestatisticspresentations.Perhapscouldhaveuseddatasomeonebroughtfromtheircountry.Couldhaveusedmorevisualsinpresentations.Also,somepresentationswererepetitive.Don’tthinksomuchrepetitionwasnecessaryassomeconceptswerenotnewtous.

• Knowledgeispower.Thanksalotforsharingyourknowledge.• Facilitatorswerefullofenergyanditwascontagious.Thankyouforgivingmethisgreat

experience.3.Theprimaryobjectivesoftheworkshopweretoprovideparticipantswithequipment,materials,trainingandskillsinwaterbirdmonitoringprotocols,sothattheycandesignandimplementalong‐termbirdmonitoringprogramintheircountry(orimproveprotocols/programsinplace),participateintheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus,trainandmentorothers,andformthebasisofaregionalmonitoringnetwork.Participantswereaskedtoindicatetowhatextenttheobjectivesofthetrainingworkshopwasmet:

Allparticipantsratedtheextenttowhichtheprimaryobjectivesoftheworkshopmetaseitherverygoodorexcellent.Morethanhalfoftheparticipantsfeltthattheobjectivesoftheworkshopweremetatanexcellentlevel.


• Afterworkshopsupportiscriticalandthathasbeenpromised.4.Theparticipantswereaskedtorankallbirdmonitoringprotocol/backgroundsessionsandchecktheonestheyfoundmostvaluable:

0

5

10

15

ExtenttoWhichPrimaryObjectivesWereMet

PrimaryObjectivesoftheWorkshop

Excellent VeryGood Good Fair Poor


Morethanhalfoftheparticipantsrated“IntroductiontoSCSCB,”“Whatismonitoring…”“eBird,”“IntroductiontoCWC…,”“Choosingyoursite…,”and“Generalconsiderations…”asexcellentsessions.Atleastthreeparticipantsnotedthateachsessionofthissectionwasmostvaluabletothem.

IntroductiontoSCSCB,

CaribbeanBirdwatch

programandtheworkshop?

Whatismonitoring?Whymonitor

birds?

eBird:LevelsA‐CMonitoring.

Whatthesedatashowandhowitcanbeusedforconservationplanningandmanagement?

IntroductiontoCaribbeanWaterbird

Census(CWC):Goals,objectives,

proposedstructure,whyandhowtogetinvolved,outline

ofstepstoimplementprogram?

Choosingyoursite,askingquestions,settingyourobjectives,sitereconnaissance?

Generalconsiderationsindesigning

yourmonitoringprogram:

challengesofcounting

waterbirds(biasand

detectability)?

Poor 0 0 0 0 0 0Fair 0 0 0 0 0 0Good 0 0 0 1 0 1VeryGood 6 4 7 7 9 6Excellent 14 14 13 12 11 13MostValuable 3 4 3 3 4 4

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

RankingofAllBirdMonitoringProtocol/BackgroundSessionsQ.'s16


Inthissection,themajorityofparticipantsratedthesessionsasexcellent,ifnotequaltothenumberofverygoodresponsesfromparticipants.Allthesessionswereratedasgood,verygood,orexcellentbyparticipants,exceptonesessionwhichwasratedfairbyoneparticipant.Thehighestnumberofexcellentratingswasforthe“BirdIdentification101&WaterbirdsoftheCaribbean”sessioninthissection.

LevelsofmonitoringandCWCprotocols?

BirdIdenti]ication

101&WaterbirdsoftheCaribbean?

Examiningthedata:Simpleapproachestodataanalysis?

IABIN/WHMSIandCaribbeanactivities?

Distributionofmigratory

waterfowlinLAandthe

Caribbean:ananalysisof

surveydataandbandrecoveries?

Whatcanyoulearnfrom

monitoringdata?Sampleanalysesfromongoingwaterbird

monitoringinSt.Croix?


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18



Participantsrated“Dataentryandanalysisfromfieldtrips,”aswellasthe“Howtopreparereportsandcommunicateyourresultstodecisionmarkers”sessionswiththehighestnumberofexcellentratings.Inthissectionofquestions,thelargestproportionofparticipantsratedtheindividualsessionsasexcellent.


Participantsratedthe”Fieldtripstopracticebirdidentificationandmonitoringprotocols”aswellas“HowCornellengagesthepublicinbirdssessions…”withthehighestnumberofexcellentratings.Inthissectionofquestions,thelargestproportionofparticipantsratedeachsessionasexcellent.Overall,inexaminingtheparticipantresponsefromquestions1‐24,participantsratedthefieldtripstopracticebirdidentificationandmonitoringprotocolssessionwiththelargestnumberofexcellentratings.Thissessionwasalsoratedasmostvaluableofallthebirdmonitoringprotocol/backgroundsessionsbythehighestnumberofparticipants.

TrainingobserversfrotheCWC?

Guidanceonwritinggrantproposalsformonitoringprojects?

SCSCBEducationPrograms‐WIWD/Wetlands

Project,CEBF&IMBD?

HowCornellEngagesthe

PublicinBirds:eBird,BirdSleuth,UrbanBirds,andotherCitizenScienceeducationprogramsatCornell?

FieldtripstopracticebirdIDandmonitoringprotocols?

Discussiontodevelopastrategyto

expandSCSCB'seducationprogramand

engagepeopleinbirdsandbirdconservation?


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18



Additionalcommentsbyparticipantsonthissection:• eBird:LevelsA‐CMonitoring:Whatthesedatashowandhowitcanbeusedforconservation

planningandmanagement?o Itcanshowmuchforthebenefitofmigratedbirdtoourshore.

• IntroductiontoCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC):Goals,objectives,proposedstructure,whyandhowtogetinvolved,outlineofstepstoimplementprogram?

o InvolvedinSCSCB.o Muchcanbe.

• LevelsofMonitoringandCWCProtocols?o Neednocturnalspeciesprotocolplease

• IABIN/WHMSIandCaribbeanactivities?o Moreonvaluationnecessary,veryinterestinganduseful.

• Whatcanyoulearnfrommonitoringdata?SampleanalysesfromongoingwaterbirdmonitoringinSt.Croix?

o Ittakesusfromjustcollectingdata,toanalyzingwhywegottheresultscollected.• WIWDmonitoringdatafromAntiguaandBarbuda2003‐2009?

o SuccessstoryfromanotherCaribbeanislandwasexcellent.• WaterbirdCOUNTprogram?

o Lovedtheprogram!• Guidanceonwritinggrantproposalsformonitoringprojects?

o CoulduseanexampleorsampleapplicationonPDF.• SCSCBEducationPrograms‐WIWD/WetlandsProject,CEBF&IMBD?

o Shana’sgreat,Iadoreher.• HowCornellEngagesthePublicinBirds:eBird,BirdSleuth,UrbanBirds,andotherCitizen

ScienceeducationprogramsatCornell?o Jennwasexcellent!Iwillworkwithherfromnowon.o ThepresentationencouragedmetoimplementactivitiesdonewithBirdSleuth.o Thankfulforavailabilityofresources.o Verygoodandinformative

• FieldtripstopracticebirdIDandmonitoringprotocols?• VerygoodwayoflearningbirdID,alsoveryexciting.• Neededmorescopes.• Greatlybenefitedfromexpertiseingroup.Lovedpracticalapplication.• Bathroombreakswouldbecool.

5.Participantswereaskedtolist3aspectsoftheworkshopthattheyvaluethemost?(e.g.,backgroundpresentations,sessionsonCWCmethodology,statistics,dataentryandanalysis,opportunitytogetguidanceandadvicefromfacilitators,networkingopportunities,fieldtripstopracticebirdIDandmonitoringprotocols,proposalwritingsession,etc.).

• Fieldtrips(8)• CWCmethodology(8)


• Networkingopportunities(7)• Dataentryandanalysis(6)• Statistics(6)• Backgroundpresentations(4)• FieldtripstopracticebirdID(4)• Proposalwritingsession(3)• Presentations:Whyarewedoingthis;Whathasbeenachieved;Howcandatacollectedbe

usefultoeveryone(3)• BirdIDandmonitoringprotocols(2)• Opportunitytogetguidanceandadvicefromfacilitators(2)• Guidanceandadvicefromfacilitators(2)• Fieldtripformonitoringprotocols• Birdidentificationwithin‐the‐fieldpractice• AllCWCrelatedtrainingincludingdatacollection,outreachandbirdID.• Grantwritingguidance• Sessionsofmethodology,etc.• BirdID• Opportunitytonetworkandlearnfromothers’experience• Equipmentdonatedforsurveysandresourcematerialsandafterworkshopassistance

providedbyfacilitators.• The“vibes”inthegroup.Itwasateam.Thanksforsettingthetone.Everyonewashelpful

andpositive. 6.Participantswereaskedtopleaselist2or3mostimportantthings(keypointsorconcepts)theylearnedthisweek?

• BirdID(3)• Citizensscience(2)• Theimportanceofmonitoringbirdswithperceivingtheirhabitatsandhowourrecord‐keeping

canbebeneficialtoothersandviceversa.• Appreciation(awareness)iskeytoconservation.• Knowledgeispower(birdIDskilliswayimportantinbirdmonitoringactivity)• Knowinghowtoidentifyspeciesofmigratorybirdscomingtoourshores.• Conductthoroughsearchofwetlands.• Understandingbirdsandtheirrelationshiptotheenvironment.• Howtoidentifyandmonitorwetlandbirds.• Theimportanceofbirdmonitoringandalsohowwecaneffectivelyworktogethertocompare

dataandmaximizeresults.• Availabilityofdatabaseswithworldwideavailability.• WaterfowlID• Keythingstomaintainagoodvolunteerprogram.• Networkingopportunities• Exchangeofideasamongcountries.


• ImportanceofCWCtolargerconservationpicture.ImportanceofgoodcoordinationofCWC,andgoodresultsreports.

• Presentations• Dataentryandanalysis• MonitoringprotocolsforCWC• Surveymethods• Howtosetupamonitoringprogram.• CWCmethodologyandbetterwaysofIDandmonitoringprotocols.• Theimportanceofregularmonitoringofbirdspecieswithinprotectedarea.• Thevalueofdatacollectionandanalysis.• Birdidentificationandmonitoringtechniques.• eBird• Detectability• Methodology• Opportunitiestoserve.• Techniquestobeusedinbirdidentification.• ThattherearemanyresourcesavailableviainternettoassistwithCWCmonitoring.

7.Participantswereaskedtocommentonhowtheywillusewhattheylearnedfromtheweek‐longworkshop?

• IwillassisttheCWCcoordinatorinAntigua‐writemorecolumnsinthepaper,assistwithtrainingothersinAntigua,reportmonitoringdataoneBird,andmuchmore.

• IntegrateCWCinmyannualwork‐plan.Discusswithsupervisor.• Revisitmonitoringplanandmake/reviseplantothemimplement.• Toeducatethecommunityaboutmigratorybirdscomingtoourshore.• Monitoringshorebirdsandimplementingprotocolstomonitoring.• EducatefellowcoworkersofbirdmonitoringandCWC.Initiateregularmonitoringofwetland

anddataentry(eBird);CreatemoreRAMSARsitesandIBAs.• Iplantostrengthenourmonitoringprogramandeducateothersontheimportanceof

monitoring.• IplantoworkwithfellowSCSCBmembersonSt.CroixtoimplementCWCsinourIBAsandto

increasecommunityinterest,educationandinvolvement.• IwilltraintechniciansandpeopleworkinginprotectedareasinCWCwaterbirds’monitoring.• LeadthetrainingoflocalCWCmonitorsandotherP.R.activities.• IwilltrytogetmoreinvolvedandenforcewhatIlearned.• Implementandimprovebirdmonitoringactivities.• Trainothersinbirdidentificationandmonitoring.• Beginamonitoringprogram.• Assistintrainingotherpersons/colleaguesandimplementingCWCmethodologies.• IwillimprovemybirdIDskillsforefficientmonitoringofwaterbirdswithinourparksandIBAs.• Designingbirdconservationevents.


• ToassistincreatingamonitoringprogramonGrandBahama.• DotheCWCmonitoringatLagunaCartagenaatleast4timesayear.Iwillstart

reconnaissancetripinMarchtoimplementfullprogrambyfall2011.• Assistwithmonitoringprogram.• DevelopbettermonitoringtechniquessoIcanbetterassistthenationalcoordinatorinmy

countrywithtrainingandimplementingtheCWCprogram.IhavealsobeeninspiredtogoastepfurtheranddoWIWDmonitoringaswell.IwillpersuademyagencytoincludetheCWCintheoffice’swork‐planaspartofagency’soverallmanagementstrategy.

8.Participantswereaskedtopleaselistthingstheyfeltweremissingofcouldbeimprovedinfutureworkshops?

• Ithinktheworkshopwasexcellent.• Participantstomakeareport(oralorposter)oftheirexperiences(lessonslearned,problems

encountered).• Tomyknowledge,itwasbestasregardtoknowyourbirdsontheislandthatwelived.• Ithinktheprogramisgreatasis.• Bathroombreaksforthelongfieldtripdayandclearcommunicationaboutmeals.Sometimes

Ifeltlostabouthowweweregettingbreakfastordinner.• Ithinkitcouldhavebeenbeneficialtowardstheendoftheweektohavehadasessionwhere

keycommonproblemsfacedbyislands(identifiedthroughouttheweek)wereaddressedinanopenforumtolearnmoreaboutwhatisworking/not‐workinginotherislands.Maybeestablishcollaborativeefforts?

• Overall,itwasagoodmixoftopics.Ihavenocomplaints.• Idonotthinkanythingwasmissing.• Morehands‐onpracticalactivities.• Moreactualworkinthefield‐practiceprotocolsanddataentry.• Morefundingsourcesinformation.• Moreinteractivesessions,especiallyduringstatistics,dataentryandanalysis.• Includeasessiononraisingfundsinourowncountries,donotwanttoperpetuatethe

“welfare”state.• Presentationswereverygood,butneedtobebrokenupwithactivities,evenifitisjustanice‐

breakertypeofactivity.Rememberattentionspannotlongandneedavariety.9.Participantswereaskwhat2mostimportanttopics/questionsrelatedtomonitoringthattheywouldliketoseeaddressedinfuturetrainingworkshopsorinthedevelopmentofSCSCB’smonitoringprograms?

• Dataanalysis(2)• Importanceofwetlandconservation• Birdsasenvironmentalindicators• Standardizedmethodology.


• Reportstobesupportedbyclearpictures• Networking• Sustainability• Education• Possibleappropriatefundingsources(beyondUSFWS),orhowtofindthemonourown• Presentationsofreports• Howdataisusedbyplannersandpolicymakers.• Dataentry• Statisticsandanalysis• Bandingproceduresformigratorybirds• Keepfocusingonpresenttopic.• Howtodesignmethodsaccordingtospecies• Takedataanalysistonextlevel;show“howto”usestatisticsprogramsfreefromtheweb

maybe• Isfundingavailabletoa“privatecitizen?”• IsprivatemonitoringencouragedorshoulditbethroughanestablishedNGO,etc?• Howtomotivatecommunitiesandvolunteerstogetinvolvedandsustainthisaslackofhuman

resourcesisaproblem• Grantprogramsavailableforfunding

10.Participantswereaskedupontheirreturntotheirisland,whatspecificquestionswouldtheyliketousebirdmonitoringtoanswer:

• Whatexistsinourarea?Howarethehabitatsbeingused?Whatarethechangesinthehabitatandbirdpopulationsduringtheyear?

• Whatlevelofbiodiversitydowehave?Howhavebirdpopulationsbeenincreasingordecreasingandwhy?Willmychildrenbeabletoenjoyourbiodiversityinthefuture?

• Supplyofbirdsontheisland,populationsize,mostimportanthabitatforwaterbirds• Howpopulations(shorebirds)varyduetohabitatdisturbanceorclimatechangesinthenext5

years?(populationtrends)• Speciesofconcernstatus/presence;Currentspeciescomposition/populations;Identifykey

wetlandfeatures/traitsinfluencingspeciespresence/populations;Particularlyaddressingspeciesofconcern

• Populationtrendsofwaterbirdsin10years;Relationshipamongbirdcommunitiesandtheirhabitats;Whathabitatsareusedbypopulationsofdifferentspeciesofwaterbirds?Howdowaterbirdcommunitiesvaryamongseasons?

• Theimportanceofwetlandsandhowwecanusemonitoringresultstomakelong‐termdecisions?

• Statusofwetlandandotherbirdhabitats?Statusofmigratoryandresidentwaterbirdpopolations?

• Thepeaktimeofyearmostbirdsarepresent?Frequencyanddistributionofspecies?Speciesstatus?

• Useofhabitatsbyspeciesandwhichhabitats/wetlandsusedbymigratingspecies?


• Whatisthegeneralhealthofourvisitingmigratorywaterbirds?Arethepopulationsincreasingordecreasing

• Whatsitesrequireprotectionasimportantbirdareas?Whatbirdsrequireprotectionstatus?• PopulationdistributionofWIWDandchangesovertime.AlsodatatosupportRAMSAR

designation.• Overtheyears,wouldliketohaveadatabaseofcomingsandgoingsofallbirds.• HowdoIrunaneffectivemonitoringprogramandgetpeopleinvolved?• Climatechangeimpactsonresidentandmigratorywaterbirds.Whateverhappenedtothe

turtledovewhichTortolaisnicknamedafter?11.Participantswereaskedtoratetheiroverallsatisfactionwiththeworkshop:

Allparticipantsratedtheiroverallsatisfactionwiththeworkshopaseitherexcellentorverygood.Morethanhalfoftheparticipantsratedtheiroverallsatisfactionoftheworkshopasexcellent.

AdditionalCommentsprovidedbyparticipants:• Thankyousomuchfortheopportunity.Itwasagreatprogramwithgreatpeople!• Excellentjob.IhavelearntsomuchandIammotivatedtodomore.Greatvibes.• AretheBVIwetlandschanging?Arethereanychangesinthespeciesandnumberofwetland

birds?WhatistherelationshipofwetlandbirdsandtheBVIwetlands?• Ifeelthatthoughcertainaspectscouldbebeenbetterplanned,itwasamostinformativeand

enjoyableworkshopandI’msogladIcouldbeapartofit.Imetsomereallygreatpeopleandlearnedlotsofnewthings.Ithinkeveryoneintheenvironmentalfieldshouldgetthechancetoexperiencethis.Greatjobguys!Thankyou!

0

5

10

15

NumberofVotes

OverallSatisfactionwiththeWorkshop

Excellent VeryGood Good Fair Poor


• Ialwaysappreciatetheopportunityforlearningandgrowing.Inthelast6yearsworkingcloselytotheSCSCBhasmademeabettereducator,betterbiologistandbetterperson.JustmeetingpeoplewiththehumanqualitylikeJenniferFee,LauraPerdomo,Ernesto&Anayyoucan’thelpbutgrow.Dr.Sorensontreatingeveryonelikeacolleagueissowonderful,it’sinspiring!

• IthoroughlyenjoyedALLaspectsoftheworkshop.Itwasawonderfullearningexperienceandnetworkingwithregionalcolleagueswasthebestpartoftheprogram.

• Thankyouverymuchfortheopportunity.IlearntalotandnowfeelmuchbetterpreparedtogetinvolvedinandleadtheCWCprocessathome.

• Iamverythankfultohavebeengiventhisopportunity.Ihopetobeakeypartingreatsuccessesinmycountryandregion.Thankyou!!!

• IamverygratefulforthenetworkintheCaribbeanandthesupportsystemprovidedbythefacilitators.Iamveryhappythatnotonlyhaveyougivenustheknowledge,butalsothetoolsintermsofskillsandequipment.Thankyouforbeingsoopen‐mindedandfacilitatingourcommentsandqueries.Ialsoliketheopportunitywehadtoshare“bestlessonslearned.”IwillalsoassistthePublicEducationBranchtoincorporateactivitiesonbirdsineducationalprograms.

• Thankyousosincerelyforthisgreatopportunity!• Forfuturemeetings/workshops,pleaseconsiderif:• Howcanyouputa“qualitycontrolmechanisms”ineBird(e.g.wrongID?)• Exploretheuseofsatelliteimagestotrackdownbirdmigration(inter‐continental)• Longerperiodondataanalysisandreportwriting.Participantstobringtheirdatasets.• ProvidebirdaudiorecordstohelpbirdIDevenifwecan’tseethebird,butbirdmakingsounds

(singing,etc.)• Addasessionon“digitalbirdphotographytechniques”• Casestudies(good&notsogood)onCWCshouldbepresented.• Manythanksforagreatopportunitytolearnandsharewithsuchawonderfulgroupof

scientistsandenthusiasts.Additionalcommentsprovidedbyparticipantsinmessagestothefacilitatorsaftertheworkshop:Itwasawonderfulworkshop.Althoughwehadverylongdays,fromasearlyas6:30a.m.Icamebackfeelingenergizedbecauseofthepassionandenthusiasmofthefacilitatorsandparticipantsfortheconservationofourwetlandsandwaterbirds.ItwascontagiousandIlovedit,andIhavenotputdownmybirdguidesinceIreturned.GreatworkshopLisa!WewanttothankyouforagreatweakandanexcellentCWCtrainingworkshop.Weareextremelygratefulforalltheeffortsmadetoensureourparticipationwaspossible.Welearnedalotandwanttoassureyouthatwe'llassistwithCWCmonitoringinDominica.


IjustgotbackfrommyworkshopinJostVanDykeBVI(Lorraine'shometown).IgottospendsomemoretimewithAtoya.Theworkshopincludedbirdidentification,birdwatching,andandcountingmethods.AtoyaandIgotakickoutoftryingtoidentifythebirds,andchallengingotherswhenwethoughttheywerewrong!AtoyaandIalsochallengedeachothertoestimatethenumberofWhite‐cheekedPintailinonepond....Iwonderwhereallthatpassioniscomingfrom!

Ijustwantedtothankyouagainforgivingmethisopportunity.TheworkshopintheBahamaswasexcellent.Ilearntsomuchandrealizedthatthereisstillsomuchtolearn.Ialsogainedagreaterappreciationfortheimportanceofmonitoringbirds.

ThanksagainforsuchawonderfulandeducationalexperienceintheBahamas!

FirstIwouldliketosaythankstoeveryonewhowasintheBahamasforalovelylearningexperience.Itwasagreatweekforme,andreinforcedmycommitmenttoensuringthesmoothandsuccessfulrunningofvariousbirdingactivitiesinGrenada,includingtheCWC.

IhavesincemetwiththelocalCoordinatoroftheCEBF,andweareplanningtocollaboratetodoanumberofactivitiesduringtheCEBFperiod,ApriltoMay,aswellasfortheCWCandotherobservationsthroughouttheyear.GrenadaisalsoplanningahostofactivitiestomarkyearoftheForest,andasmuchasispossiblethelinkagesbetweentheimportanceofforestsandbirdswillbehighlighted.

I'vecompletedtheproposalfortheCWCandamabouttosubmitittoourimplementingpartnersforreviewandinput,andwillthenforward.


APPENDIX4:CWCSMALLGRANTPROPOSALGUIDELINES

CARIBBEANWATERBIRDCENSUS(CWC)SMALLGRANTPROGRAMMESCSCBProject:PromotingWetlandBirdConservationThroughtheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)

ProposalFormatandGuidelinesBackgroundtotheProject1TheCaribbeanWaterbirdPlan2identifiedmajorgapsininformationaboutthestatusanddistributionofwetlandspecies,thelackofmanagementorconservationprogrammesforthreatenedspeciesandwetlandsofinternationalimportance,thegeneralneedtoincreasecapacitytoimplementmonitoringandconservationprograms,andtheurgentneedtopromoteenvironmentalawarenessoftheimportanceofwetlandsincountriesoftheregion,especiallyinlightoftheincreasingvulnerabilityofcoastalmangroveandwetlandhabitatsfromclimatechangeimpacts(e.g.,sealevelrise,increasedstormsanddroughts)andthedestructionofthesecriticalhabitatsfordevelopment.TheCaribbeanisalsounderrepresentedinregionalinitiativesincludingtheRamsarConvention,SpeciallyProtectedAreasandWildlife(SPAW)ProtocoloftheCartagenaConvention,WesternHemisphereShorebirdReserve(WHSRN)andtheWesternHemisphereMigratorySpeciesInitiative(WHMSI).Theseissueshavebeenfurtherhighlightedinthecompletionofnationalwaterbirdreports3andanalysisofImportantBirdAreas(IBAs)intheCaribbean4.ThecurrentprojectaimstoaddresssomeofthesegapsandneedsthroughcapacitybuildingtrainingworkshopsanddevelopmentoftheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)5.OuroverallprojectgoalistoincreasesupportforwaterbirdandwetlandconservationintheCaribbeanregionbypromotingmonitoringofwaterbirdsandtheirhabitatsasameanstoimprovescience‐basedconservationplanningandadaptivemanagementofbirds.OurspecificobjectivesaretoimplementtheCWCthrough:a)developmentofmethodology(standardprotocols)tomonitorwaterbirdsandwetlandsandaCWCtrainers’manual,b)enhancing

1ExcerptedfromSCSCBproposalPromotingwetlandbirdconservationthroughtheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensussubmittedtotheUSFWSNeotropicalMigratoryBirdConservationAct(NMBCA)fundingprogram,Nov.2009.

2SCSCB.2004.DraftCaribbeanWaterbirdsPlan2003‐8.SCSCBreport,availableonwww.scscb.org.

3http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/waterbirds/downloads.html

4BirdLifeInternational.2008.ImportantBirdAreasintheCaribbean:Keysitesforconservation.Cambridge,UK:BirdLife

International.(BirdLifeConservationSeriesNo.15).

5TheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensusispartofSCSCB’snewregionalbirdmonitoringprogrammeCaribbeanBirdwatch–trainingworkshopsandstandardprotocolstomonitorlandbirds,seabirds,shorebirdandwaterbirdsandtheirhabitat.


thecapacityofpartnerorganizations,agenciesandindividualstoparticipateintheprogramthroughaskills‐building(‘train‐the‐trainers’)workshop(February2010),andc)offeraCWCSmallGrantsProgrammetoassistpartnersinimplementingtheCWCathighprioritysites.Participantsareencouragedtoshareresultsandconservationrecommendationsthroughlocalandnationalworkshops.Wewillestablisharegionaldatabase(includingeBirdCaribbean)toshareresultsofmonitoring.CWCSmallGrantsProgrammeSCSCBhopesthatwewillreceiveagrantfromtheUSFWSNeotropicalMigratoryBirdConservationAct(NMBCA)FundforaproposalPromotingwetlandbirdconservationthroughtheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus6.Asfollow‐uptoourrecentWaterbirdandWetlandMonitoringTrainingWorkshopinNegril,JA(Feb.2010)7where22participantsweretrainedinCWCmethodology,theproposalrequestsfundingtoaward10ormoreSmallGrantsofupto$5,000each8.ThepurposeoftheSmallGrantsprogramistohelpyouadvanceyourwaterbirdandwetlandmonitoringeffortsandimplementtheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensusinatleastoneimportantwetlandsiteinyourcountry(e.g.,IBA,Ramsarsite,nationalparkorprotectedarea).Ifyouarenotcurrentlydoinganymonitoring,wehopethatthisfundingprogramwillhelpyougetstarted.Ifyouarealreadydoingsomekindofmonitoring,ouraimistohelpyouexpandandimproveyourprogram,forexamplebymonitoringyoursite(s)morefrequently,addingoneormoreimportantsitestoyourprogram,and/orimprovingyourmonitoringmethodology(e.g.,byaddingameasureofdetectionprobability)andassociatedactivitiesandoutcomes(e.g.,writingreportsandsharingresultswithnaturalresourcesmanagersanddecisionmakers,holdinganationalwetlandbirdconservationworkshop,etc.).IftheproposalisapprovedweexpectthatthefundswouldbeavailableinJune2010.EligibleActivitiesfortheSmallGrantProgramme:EachSmallGrantproposalshouldincludeplansforthreeormoreofthefollowingactivities:1)monitoringtrainingworkshopforfieldpersons,2)implementationoffieldsurveysinoneormoresitesofhighimportanceforwetlandbirds,especiallyspeciesofconservationconcern9;

6We’vereceivednoticethattheproposalwasfavorablyreviewedbutfinalapprovalispending.

7ThetrainingworkshopandmaterialsdevelopmentwerefundedbytheOrganizationofAmericanStates/WesternHemisphereMigratorySpeciesInitiative,USForestServiceandRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirdswithin‐kindhelp

andsupportfrommanypartnersandorganizations,includingCornellLabofOrnithology,OpticsfortheTropics,WetlandsInternational,KlamathBirdObservatory,BirdLifeInternationalandothers.

8AdditionalfundsforthisSmallGrantProgrammearependingfromSPAW‐RAC.

9Caribbeanwetlandsprovideessentialstop‐overandwinteringhabitatformorethan126aquaticandterrestrialneotropicalmigrantspecies.Twenty‐six(17%)oftheseareincludedintheUSFWSlistofBirdsofConservationConcern

(http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/BirdList.shtm),includingwetlandspeciessuchasBrownPelican,ReddishEgret,SolitarySandpiper,LesserYellowlegs,Whimbrel,RedKnot,Short‐billedDowitcherandLeastTern,and


3)dataentry,analysisandstorage;4)productionofwetlandbirdconservationreportsforallwetlandssurveyed;5)communityeducationworkshopineachwetlandsurveyed;6)nationalwetlandbirdconservationworkshopatwhichtheresultsandproposalsforconservationactionwillbediscussed,and7)publicationoftheresults(e.g.intheJournalofCaribbeanOrnithology).Theactivitiesthatyouproposewilldependonyourquestions/objectives,yourcapacity(time,resources,etc.)andwhetheryouarejustbeginningamonitoringprogramorhavealreadybeencollectingmonitoringdata.Monitoringtrainingworkshopforfieldpersons.Totrainstafforlocalvolunteersinthemonitoringmethodologyyouwilluse(howtoconductthecountandrecordthedata).Theworkshopshouldcontain“classroom”andfieldcomponentsinordertoteachmonitoringmethods(e.g.,areasearch,pointcounts)andkeyconceptssuchasbias,detectabilityandtheimportanceofstandardization.Ifyourtraineesarenotskilledbirders,itwillbeimportanttospendalotoftimecoveringwaterbirdidentificationusingpowerpointsandthroughmanypracticesessionsinthefield.Unskilledbirdersshouldworkasfieldassistants(datarecorders)untiltheyareabletoaccuratelyidentifymostwaterbirds.AllpowerpointsfromourrecentworkshopinNegrilwillbeavailableforuseinyourowntrainingworkshops.Implementationoffieldsurveysinoneormoresitesofhighimportanceforwetlandbirds,especiallyspeciesofconservationconcern.Brieflydescribewhatsite(s)youwillmonitorandthelevelofmonitoring(1,2,3,or4)andmethodsyouwilluse(areasearchorpointcount,andhowyouwillmeasuredetectability)10.Alsomentionwhathabitatcovariatesyouwillmeasure(e.g.,waterdepth,salinity,vegetation,etc.).Werequestthatataminimum,allmonitoringprogramsparticipateintheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensusbyconductingsurveysatoneormoresitesinJanuary.Dataentry,analysisandstorage.BasicmonitoringdatamaybestoredineBirdCaribbean,wewillprovideaspreadsheetfordatacollectionthatincludesthenecessaryheadingsandcellsformoredetaileddata(repeatedcounts,timeintervals,distancesampling)aswellasexamplesofdescriptivestatisticsandmodeling.Productionofwaterbirdconservationreportsforallwetlandssurveyed.Theresultsofyourmonitoringeffortsmustbesharedinorderforthemtobeappliedtoconservationandmanagement.Tobegin,simplereportscanbepreparedthatdescribewhatspeciesareusingthesiteandtheir

terrestrialspeciessuchastheWhite‐crownedPigeon,Yellow‐billedCuckoo,PrairieWarblerandProthonotaryWarbler.

TheyalsoprovidebreedinghabitatformanyresidentspeciesincludingseveralgloballythreatenedbirdssuchastheWestIndianWhistling‐DuckwhichhasbeentheflagshipspeciesforSCSCB’swetlandconservationefforts(http://www.eco‐

index.org/search/results.cfm?projectID=979).

10Refertothepowerpoint(LevelsofMonitoring)andCWCTrainers’Manualandprotocolsforadescriptionofthedifferentlevelsofmonitoringandmethodstoassessdetectionprobability.


relativenumbers,byseason/timeofyear.Fordecisionmakersaone‐pagereportwithlotsofgraphicsisappropriate.Overtime,youwillbeabletodescribeandtesthypothesestoanalyzetrends—changesinnumbersofbirdsinrelationtochangesinenvironmental/habitatvariablesthatyoumeasure.Reportsshouldbesharedwithnaturalresourcemanagers,localcommunitiesanddecisionmakers.Communityoutreachandeducationineachwetlandsurveyed.Oneofourgoalsistoincreaseawarenessandwillingnesstotakeactiontoconservewetlandsofimportancetomigratoryandresidentwaterbirds.Targetaudiencesincludedecisionmakers,naturalresourceandwildlifemanagers,communityleaders,educators,andthegeneralpublic,especiallyyouth.Activitiesmayinclude:a)providinginformationtogovernmentsaboutthestatusofbirdsinthewetlandyousurvey,b)distributingmaterialspromotingtheCWC,RamsarConventionandSPAWProtocol,c)holdingalocalworkshoptoeducatecommunitymembersabouttheimportanceofkeylocalwetlandsandthebirdsthatusethem,andengagethemtoparticipateasvolunteersintheCWC,andencouragepeopletodevelopandimplementactionstoaddressanyissuesthatmaybeidentified,andd)promotingthecelebrationofWorldWetlandsDayandInternationalMigratoryBirdDay(IMBD)andCaribbeanEndemicBirdFestivals(withawaterbird‐wetlandactivity).Nationalwetlandbirdconservationworkshopatwhichtheresultsandproposalsforconservationactionwillbediscussed.Organizeaforumorworkshoptopresentresultsofyourmonitoringandpropose(orevaluatetheeffectsof)conservationandmanagementactions,suchastheidentificationofnewRamsarsites,IBAs,orprotectedareas,reducingthreatsfrompollution,invasivespecies,ordevelopment,managingwaterlevels,etc.Publicationoftheresultsofyourmonitoringinscientificjournals(e.g.,JournalofCaribbeanOrnithology).AlthoughbasicstatisticsandexamplesofanalysisofmonitoringdatawerepresentedintheJamaicaworkshops,wehopetoofferaworkshopinthefuturethatfocusesonstatisticalanalysisandwritingofscientificpapers.Wealsohopetooffera“mentor”programtohelpyouwithanalysisofyourdataandwritinguptheresultsforpublication.PROPOSALFORMATPleasefollowtheformatbelowinwritingyourmonitoringproposal.Theproposalshouldnotbemorethan2to3pagesinlengthtotal.PART1.INFORMATIONONAPPLICANTName:Title:Organization:Address:Email:Phone:ExperienceManagingSimilarProjects(describebriefly,2‐3sentences,ashortCVmaybeattached):PART2.DESCRIPTIONOFYOURPROPOSEDMONITORINGOBJECTIVESANDACTIVITIESGOAL‐Whyyouareproposingthismonitoringproject–thebigpicture,yourdream


OBJECTIVES–Whatquestion(s)doyouwanttoanswerorwhatdoyouwanttoachievethroughthemonitoringprojectandthisfundingopportunity?MakesureyourobjectivesareSMART(specific,measurable,achievable,relevant,time‐bound)ACTIVITIES‐Whatexactlydoyouplantodotomeetyourobjectives(who,what,when,where,how).RefertothelistofEligibleActivitiesaboveanddescribethesebriefly.EXPECTEDBENEFITS/OUTCOMES–Listthesebriefly(e.g.,numbersofwetlandmonitorstrained,wetlandsitesandsurveyscompleted,partnersthathavejoinedyourmonitoringefforts,participantsincommunityworkshops,reportspreparedandpresentedatnationalmeetingsorworkshops,conservationormanagementactionsproposedoradopted,etc.)PART3.BUDGETSetupasimplebudgettablethatlistseachitemthatneedsfundingundereachproposedactivityorheading.Youmayrequestupto$5,000infunding.Estimatethetotalcostoftheactivityandwhetheryoucanofferorexpecttofindmatchfundingfortheactivity.Seetheexamplebelowofhowabudgettablemightbefilledin(youritemsandcostswillvarydependingonyourplansandresources!).Ifyouneedbinocularsorspottingscopes/tripodsforyourprogram,wecanassistbypurchasingtheseitemsathalf‐priceforyou.SAMPLEPROJECTBUDGETFORMACTIVITYORHEADING SCSCB

SMALLGRANT

IN‐KINDORCASHMATCH

TOTAL

1.CWCTrainingWorkshopforFieldMonitorsandAssistants Venue(2days@$50/day) 100 100Professionalfees,stipendorsalaries(1personx5days@$150/day)

500 250 750

Workshopmaterials‐fieldguides,copiesofprotocolsanddatasheets,clipboards,fieldnotebooks–($30/personx6)

150 30 180

Workshoprefreshments(7personsx2days@$15/person) 210 210Accommodation(3personsx2nights@$100/night) 600 600Sub‐total 1,460 380 1,840 2.FieldSurveys‐Monitor3sites3timesperyear,3countsperseason($50gastosurvey3sites)

Travel/transportation‐$50/surveyx3surveys/yearx3countsperseason

250 200 450

Fees,stipendsforsurveyteamleaders(9surveysx2personsx$100)

800 800 1,600

Sub‐total 1,050 1,000 2,050


3.Equipment Binoculars–6pairs8x40a@$100/pair(discountedprice) 400 200 600Rangefinder–1@$400each 400 400GPS–1@$300 300 300Spottingscopeandtripod(2at$300) 600 600pH,salinityandtemperaturemeter 150 150Sub‐total 1,550 500 2,050 4.CommunityEducationMeeting Venue(1day@$50/day) 50 50Refreshments(30personsx$5/person) 150 150Consultingfeesforteamleader(1personx1dayx$150/day) 150 150Sub‐total 300 50 350 5.StakeholdersPresentationMeeting Venue(1day@$50/day) 50 50Refreshments(30personsx$5/person) 150 150Consultingfeesforteamleader(1personx1dayx$150/day) 150 150Sub‐total 300 50 350AdministrativeOverheads 300 200 500TOTAL 4,960 2,180 7,140BUDGETNOTES:Brieflydescribethesource(s)ofin‐kindorcashmatch;providerationaleforanyunusualitemsrequestedinthebudget.Examplesofin‐kindmatch:IfyouworkforanNGOoragencyandwillbeparticipatingintheCWC(deliveringworkshops,monitoringwetlands,writingreports,etc.)aspartofyourjoboryouarevolunteeringyourtime,thiscanbeincludedasin‐kindmatch.Ifyouremployercanoffersupport,suchasavehicleorgastotravel,useofequipmentoraworkshopvenue,thiscanalsobeincludedasin‐kindmatch.Ifyouareabletoleveragethefundsinthisproposaltoraisefundsfromanothersource,notethisascashmatch.PART4.CHRONOGRAMIncludeasimplechronogramofyouractivitiesintheproposalshowingwheneachactivitywillbecompletedduringthegrantyear(seeexampleonnextpage).CriteriaUponWhichProposalsWillbeRatedYourobjectivesandactivities:AretheySMART?(specific,measurable,achievable,relevant,time‐bound)DotheysupporttheobjectivesoftheCWC?Doesyourplanincludemonitoringofimportantsites(e.g.,IBAs,Ramsarsites)?Willyourmonitoringplanengagepartners(NGOs,governmentalagencies,institutions)andcommunitymemberstobecomeinvolvedintheCWC?


Willyourplanraiseawarenessofconservationandmanagementissuesrelatedtowetlandsandwaterbirdsandwhatcanbedonetoaddresstheseissues?Isyourbudgetrealisticandreasonable?Haveyoumadeanefforttoleveragethesefundstoraisefundsfromothersources?Doestheapplicanthavesufficientexperienceandorganizationalskillsneededtocompletetheactivitiesoutlinedintheproposal?Doestheproposalshowevidenceofthoughtfulplanninganddetails?Didtheapplicantfollowtheproposalguidelines?SAMPLECHRONOGRAM

ACTIVITY or HEADING MONTH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 F

x

9 10 11 12 A S O N D J F M A M J J

A ACTIVITY 1- CWC Training Workshop for field monitors and assistants

1 Prepare workshop agenda and materials x

2 Hold workshop (including field trip with practice bird ID and counts x

3 Continue practicing bird ID and wetland counts with new monitors x x x x

B ACTIVITY 2: Field Surveys for the CWC

1 Preliminary site assessment and Level 1 surveys

x x x x x

2 Prioritize and choose sites to monitor, finalize Level 2 survey methodology (point counts, area search)

x x

3 Conduct first January CWC at 4 sites x 4 Conduct first CWC spring survey at 4 sites x

5 Conduct first CWC summer count at 4 sites x

5 Enter data from all counts x x x x x x x x x x x x

6 Produce basic report to share with community and decision makers x x

C ACTIVITY 3: Community Outreach and Education

1 Celebrate World Wetlands Day with xx activity x


2 Celebrate IMBD and CEBF with wetland bird walk and talk about migratory and resident/endemic birds

x x x

3 Hold community education meeting x


APPENDIX5:LISTOFWORKSHOPMATERIALSPROVIDEDTOEACHPARTICIPANT

Pre‐workshopmaterials

• Applicationform

• Letterofinvitation• Informationforparticipants

• WhattobringWorkshopmaterials

• Folder• WorkshopAgenda

• InternationalPresentersandFacilitators• Areasearchandpointcountprotocolsandnotes

• SiteDescriptionFormandIBAThreatsMonitoringForm• WildlifeCOUNTprogram(onCD)

• CertificateofparticipationFielddataforms

• Areasearch• Pointcount

• IBAthreatassessmentFieldequipment

• 1pairbinoculars• Clipboard(thesedidnotarriveintimetotheworkshop;theywillbedistributedlater)

• Tallycounter• WaterproofFieldNotebooks

• Pencil• Reusablenylonbag(ChicoBag)withWHMSIlogo

Books• Raffaeleetal.2003.BirdsoftheWestIndies.PrincetonFieldGuides,Princeton,NewJersey)

SCSCBfieldidentificationmaterials • WetlandBirdsoftheCaribbean

• SeabirdsoftheCaribbean• ResidentandMigratoryDucksoftheWestIndies

• LandbirdsoftheBahamas• MangrovesoftheCaribbeanIdentificationBooklet

• KnowyourDucks(DU)bookletT‐shirts

• InternationalMigratoryBirdDay2011Othermaterialsandsupplies

• OAS‐WHMSIbrochure(English&Spanish)• CornellLabofOrnithologyandeBirdbrochures

• CornellLabofOrnithology–UrbanBirdsandBirdSleuth• NortheastBirdMonitoringHandbook:TenStepstoSuccessfulBirdConservationthroughImprovedMonitoring


APPENDIX6:WORKSHOPEVALUATIONFORM

SCSCB CWC Waterbird & Wetland Monitoring Training Workshop (23-27 Feb. 2011) Evaluation Form

Your name (optional): ________________________

Place an “X” in the box that best represents your opinion, where 1 = Poor, 2 = Fair, 3 = Good, 4 = Very good, 5 = Excellent

1. Workshop organization and design

How do you rate: 1 2 3 4 5 Comments Workshop venue (BNT Retreat)

Hotel accommodation

Meals and coffee breaks

Transportation

Pre-workshop information

Equipment and materials received

Amount of time allotted to powerpoint presentations, time in the field, and discussions

2. Facilitation Team Did they: 1 2 3 4 5 Provide good background information and were they knowledgeable of the issues?

Give adequate answers to questions?

Use interactive methods?

Use sufficient supporting materials?

Do a good job facilitating discussion of the issues?

Motivate participants to use what was learned in sessions?

Additional comments:


3. The primary objectives of the workshop were to provide you with equipment, materials, training and skills in waterbird monitoring protocols, so that you can design and implement a long-term bird monitoring program in your own country (or improve protocols/programs in place), participate in the Caribbean Waterbird Census, train and mentor others, and form the basis of a regional monitoring network. To what extent was this objective met?

Excellent _____ Very good _____ Good _____ Fair _____ Poor _____ 4. Rank all bird monitoring protocol/background sessions and check the ones you found most valuable.

1 2 3 4 5 ___ Introduction to SCSCB, Caribbean Birdwatch program and the workshop (Lisa) ___ What is monitoring? Why monitor birds? (Lisa) Comment: ___ eBird: Levels A-C Monitoring, What these data show and how it can be used for conservation planning and management (Jeff) Comment: ___ Introduction to Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC): Goals, objectives, proposed structure, why and how to get involved, outline of steps to implement program (Ann) Comment: ___ Choosing your site, asking questions, setting your objectives, site reconnaissance (Ken) Comment: ___ General considerations in designing your monitoring program: challenges of counting waterbirds (bias and detectability) (Jeff) Comment: ___ Levels of monitoring and CWC protocols (Lisa) Comment:


___ Bird Identification 101 & Waterbirds of the Caribbean (Lisa) Comment: ___ Examining the data: Simple approaches to data analysis (Ken) Comment: ___ IABIN/WHMSI and Caribbean activities (Richard Huber) Comment: ___ Distribution of migratory waterfowl in LA and the Caribbean: an analysis of survey data and band recoveries (Ken) Comment: ___ What can you learn from monitoring data? Sample analyses from ongoing waterbird monitoring in St. Croix (Jeff) Comment: ___ WIWD monitoring data from Antigua and Barbuda 2003-2009 (Lisa) Comment: ___ Waterbird COUNT program (Ken) Comment: ___ Junkanoo in the Sky: Bahamas IBA Proram (Lynn) Comment: ___ Describing your site, habitat surveys and IBA monitoring (Ann) Comment: ___ Data entry and analysis from field trips (Jeff) Comment: ___ How to prepare reports and communicate your results to decision makers (Ann) Comment: ___ Training observers for the CWC (Lisa) Comment: ___ Guidance on writing grant proposals for monitoring projects (Ken) Comment:


___ SCSCB Education Programs – WIWD/Wetlands Project, CEBF & IMBD (Lisa and Sheylda) Comment: ___ How Cornell Engages the Public in Birds: eBird, Bird Sleuth, Urban Birds, and other Citizen Science education programs at Cornell (Jennifer) Comment: ___ Field trips to practice bird ID and monitoring protocols Comment: __ Discussion to develop a strategy to expand SCSCB’s education program and engage people in birds and bird conservation (Jennifer, Lisa, Sheylda) Comment:

5. What 3 aspects of the workshop did you value the most? (e.g., background presentations, sessions on CWC methodology, statistics, data entry and analysis, opportunity to get guidance and advice from facilitators, networking opportunities, field trips to practice bird ID and monitoring protocols, proposal writing session, etc.). a.

b.

c. 6. What are the 2 or 3 most important things (key points or concepts) you learned this week? 7. How will you use what you learned this week? 8. What do you think was missing or how can we improve future workshops?


9. What are the 2 most important topics/questions related to monitoring that you would like to see addressed in future training workshops or in the development of SCSCB’s monitoring program? 10. When you go back to your island, what specific questions would you like to use bird monitoring to answer? 11. Overall, how would you rate your satisfaction with the workshop?

Excellent _____ Very good _____ Good _____ Fair _____ Poor _____ Additional comments:


APPENDIX7:LABELFORFOLDERCOVERFORWORKSHOPMATERIALS


APPENDIX8:CERTIFICATEOFPARTICIPATION


APPENDIX9:REPORTOFBIRD‐EDUCATION‐CITIZENSCIENCEBREAK‐OUTDISCUSSIONGROUPS

BirdEducation‐CitizenScienceDiscussionNotesfromBreak‐outDiscussionGroups

27February2011

Mainquestion:Howcanweusecitizensciencetoincreaseenvironmentalawarenessandengagemorepeopleinbirdsandconservation?Participantsdividedinto4groupsthatfocusedonthefollowingareastodevelopandexpandcitizenscience:

1.PublicOutreachandAwareness2.ProtectedAreas3.CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)4.Schools

PublicOutreachandAwareness(notesbyNatalyaHenry)1.Whataretheobjectives?

• Buildaconsciousnesswithinthecommunityaboutthebiodiversityofourcountry

2.Whoistheaudience?

• Buddingprofessionals• Consumptiveusers• Families• Politicians• Tourists• Influentialmembersofoursociety

3.Whatarethemainmessages?

• Showingwhatbiodiversityexists,instillinglocalprideandvalue• Showingimportanceofbiodiversity• Minimizingthefearfactoroftheenvironment

4.Whathelpdoyouneed?

• Networkingwithothercountries• Pipingintohighschoolgraduatesandbuddingprofessionals• Resourcematerials,e.g.,birdeducationmaterialslikeIDcards,ConserveOnline,SCSCB

websitewithdownloadablematerialsandresources,powerpoints,etc.


• Competitionandpressurefromothercountries

ProtectedAreas(Pas)(ledbyAnnSutton,notesandverbalreportbyAtoyaGeorge)

1.Whataretheobjectives?

• GettingpeopleintothePAs• Givingthemagreatexperiencewithnature–thisinturnheightensawareness• GetmoresupportforPAs(fromthepublicandactualcommunitythatarelocatedinclose

proximitytothePA)• Showthepublichowtheseareasrelatetothem,i.e.,givethemapersonallinkage,e.g.,

findthecommongroundbetweenwhattheywantandwhatwewant

2.Whoistheaudience?

• Politicians• Media(e.g.,writingletterstoeditors,respondingtopreviousads,etc.)• Religiousleaders(churchasawhole)• Tourismindustry(tourguides,hotels,tourists)• PeoplethatlivenearPAs• Resourceusers• Universityresearchersandstudents


• It’syourcommunityandyourlivelihood


• Onsiteworkshops,trainingandfunding• Powerpointpresentationsonwetlands,mangroves,birdidentification• Linkstosharedinformationsuchaspowerpoints• Repackagingwhatwaslearnedtodayandintheworkshopforusethroughouttheregion

(e.g.,viaawebsite)

CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)(notesbyTyroneBuckmire)


• Raiseawareness,encourageinterestandengagepeopleinbirdsviatheCWC• Tohelpcountriestrainvolunteermonitorstogatherdatatoassistscienceand

conservationineachcountry• Outcomes:useCWCprogramanditsresultstoadvocateforwetlandconservation


2.Whoistheaudience?

• Studentsandyouth(e.g.,YouthBirdingGroup,YouthenvironmentalgroupsorclubsliketheBNTDiscoveryClub)–preparingfutureenvironmentalleaders

• Interestedadults/communitymembers• Experiencedbirders–encouragethemtotransfertheirknowledgetoothers,assistwith

trainingefforts• Stakeholders‐e.g.,ForestryandWildlifeDepartments,NGOs,PAmanagers,could

undergoaparticipatingprocesstoidentifystakeholders.• Naturalresourceagencystaff(governmentsandNGOs):Toensurelong‐termsuccessof

monitoringprograms,thereisaneedtoinstitutionalizeitbecausevolunteers(e.g.,ex‐pats)oftenmoveaway,thusstaffneedstobetrainedandmonitoringincorporatedintoworkplans

• Involvemediatosharestoriesandinformationaboutwaterbirdsandwetlands


• Helpingtogatherdataaboutwaterbirdsandwetlandstoassistscienceandconservationineachcountry

• Conservationofourwetlandsforbirdsandpeople• Citizenscience–everyonehasaparttoplay


• Equipment(binoculars,spottingscopes,GPSunits,etc.)• TraininginbirdIDandmonitoringprotocolsandtecniques• Resourcematerials(hardcopiesandweb‐based)• Networking–centralwebsitetoshareexperiencesaboutwhathasworked,downloadable

materials,etc.• Seedfunding(e.g.,CWCSmallGrants)• Feedbacktovolunteersaboutresultsthroughreports,updates;socialaspectof

participatingisimportanttokeepvolunteersengaged

Schools(notesbyJenniferFee,Sheylda,Lorraine,EricandLynningroup)


• ANewMiddle‐levelProgram.Teacherswouldbereceptive,buttheyneedstep‐by‐stepinstructions—theydon’twanttocreate.Provenprograms,customizedfortheCaribbean(mayneedtoberegional).CurriculumwouldneedtobedonebyAGEnotgrade,sincetheyareallondifferentsystems.

o Resourcewouldneedtobewrittenandprintedratherthandownloadable.


o NeededinEnglishandSpanish

2.Whoistheaudience?

• Summercamps(BahamasandJostVanDyke)• Teachers(Allcountries)• Pre‐serviceteachers(Bahamasespecially)• Middleschoolleveltostart—thenexpand?

*Therewassomediscussionaboutwhetherthe4‐8thgrade(approximately8‐13yearolds)wasthemostappropriatetarget.Duetothecitizen‐scienceaspectsofBirdSleuthbeingmostappropriateforolderchildren,andthelackoflife‐scienceresourcesforCaribbeanteachersofthoselevels,consensuswasthatthiswasagoodplacetostart.

3.Whatarethemainmessages?(i.e.,forteachers,districts)

• Thismeetsstandards(i.e.scienceandsocialstudiesinBahamas)andisproven/tested• SomediscussionaboutthebenefitsoflinkingtoCornell

4.Whathelpdoyouneed?(Howdowemoveitforward?)

• NeedofficialMOUbetweenCLOandPuertoRicoDepartmentofEducation—ShanawouldneedtopresentitonbehalfofTheLab.Wantstostartwithwholedistrictsandsystems.StartconversationonthisEarthWeek.

• Workshopformiddle‐schoollevel(Bahamas)• Fundingtosupportdevelopment,testing,workshopsandresourcematerials.• Timelinetomovethisforward

Eric—wantstoinsertwetlandsinto5thgradecurriculumT&C(UKterritory)—hecanseethisbeingagreatcomplimenttothis.

Teachersinsomecountriesmightsecurepointsorcreditforcontinuingeducationforworkshops.


APPENDIX10:DRAFTBIRDEDUCATION‐CITIZENSCIENCESTRATEGY

WESTERNHEMISPHEREMIGRATORYSPECIESINITIATIVEPROJECT

MONITORING WATERBIRDS IN CARIBBEAN PROTECTED AREAS FOR ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

ADRAFTSTRATEGYFORCITIZENSCIENCEFOREDUCATION,AWARENESSANDMONITORINGBIRDSAND

THEIRHABITATSINTHECARIBBEAN

Preparedby:AnnHaynes‐Sutton,Ph.D.Marshall’[email protected]:SocietyfortheConservationandStudyofCaribbeanBirdsDate:16March2011


1. BackgroundThisdocumentwaspreparedaspartoftheWesternHemisphereMigratorySpeciesInitiative/OrganizationofAmericanStates/SocietyfortheConservationandStudyofCaribbeanBirdsproject“MonitoringwaterbirdsinCaribbeanprotectedareasforadaptivemanagementandpubliceducation”11whichwasimplementedbytheSocietyforConservationandStudyofCaribbeanBirds(SCSCB)withfundingprovidedbyOrganizationofAmericanStates(OAS)/WesternHemisphereMigratorySpeciesInitiativeandotherorganizations(WHMSI)in2010‐11.TheproposalarosefromsuggestionsthatweremadeatSCSCB’spreviousworkshops“LongtermbirdmonitoringintheCaribbean”whichwereheldintheBahamasinFebruary2009(Haynes‐Sutton2009,Haynes‐SuttonandSorenson2009)and“IncreasingcapacityforCaribbeanwetlandsconservation:atrainingworkshopformonitoring,educationandconservation”heldinNegril,Jamaica,February2010(Haynes‐SuttonandSorenson,2010).2. ApproachtodevelopmentofthestrategyAspartoftheNassauworkshop,adaywasdedicatedtopresentationsanddiscussionsofbirdeducation‐citizenscienceandthedevelopmentofastrategyforSCSCB(Sorenson2011).Themainquestionaddressedwas“howcanweusecitizensciencetoincreaseawarenessandengagemorepeopleinbirdsandconservation?”Thisquestionwasdiscussedinaplenarysession,followingpresentationsonbirdeducationprogramsbySCSCBandCornellLabofOrnithology.Inaddition,workshopparticipantsdividedintofourgroupsthatfocusedondifferentareastodevelopandexpandcitizenscience:1)Publicoutreachandawareness,2)Protectedareas,3)CaribbeanWaterbirdCensusand4)Schools3. Issuesidentifiedattheworkshop

• Lackofawarenessoftheimportanceofconservingbirdsandtheirhabitats• Manypeoplehavefearsaboutgoingoutsideinnature(e.g.,theywillbebitbyasnake,

catchadiseasefromaninsectbite,etc.);theseneedtobeaddressedandovercomethrougheducation

• Positiveexperiencesinnaturearecrucialforforgingaconnectionthatinturnpiquesfurtherinterestandheightensawarenessandappreciation

• Largepopulationslackingconservationethicthatcannotbereachedbytraditionalmeans


• SCSCB’sprogramsaremakingadifferencebutmuchmoreisneededtoreachstakeholdersatalllevels

• Newprogrammesneedtobedesignedtoreachbroaderaudiences(bothintermsofnumbersanddiversity)andtoengageyouthinlearningaboutbirds,natureandscienceoveranextendedperiod

• Resourceneedsincludeculturallyappropriatematerials,moreequipment,moretraining,andofcoursemorefunds.

• Areasrequiringspecialfocusinclude:o Publicoutreachandawareness(developingaconservationethicamongadults)o Protectedareas(usingprotectedareastoeducateandconnectpeopletonature)o CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(promotionandexpansion)o Schoolsprogrammes(especiallyformiddleschool).

• Newtechnologiesoffernewopportunities,whichwearenotyetexploiting.• Manyorganizationshavedevelopedmaterialsandarewillingtosharethem• Needtomakeuseofdiverseaudiences(e.g.,media,religiousleaders,etc.)togetour

messageout• Networkingandinformationsharingcouldbegreatlyimproved.

4. Recommendationsarisingfromtheworkshop• Therewasconsensusthatcitizensciencehasanimportantroletoplayinengagingawide

rangeofinterestgroupsintheCaribbean.Itcanimprovescienceliteracyandconnectpeopletotheirlocalenvironment.CornellLaboratoryofOrnithology(CLO)proposedtwomodels(BirdSleuthandUrbanBirds)andtherewasconsensusthatthesecouldbeadaptedfortheCaribbean.TheBirdSleuthprogramwasseenasparticularlyvaluableasitwouldallowfurtherengagementwithmiddlegradeyouth(ages8to14)todeepenunderstandingofscienceandthevalueofwildlifeandtheirhabitats,aswellasanappreciationoftheirlocalandglobalimportance.

• RebuildingandexpansionoftheSCSCBwebsite,toinclude:socialmediaandwiki‐capacitybuilding,on‐linevirtuallibraryofresourcematerials(includingpodcasts,powerpoints,videos),on‐linebirdidentificationtrainingmaterialsandresources,andvirtualbirdingsiteexperiences.ItisalsoimportanttoprovidethewebsiteinEnglishandSpanish.

• ExplorewaysforCaribbeanconservationeducatorstoworktogethermoreeffectivelythroughsharingofmaterialsandexperiences,workshopsandnetworkingopportunities.

• TheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensusisanexcellentmeansofencouraginginterestinandengagingpeopleinbirdsandconservation.Nationalandsitecoordinatorsshouldinvolvelocalcommunitymembersinmonitoringasacitizenscienceinitiative.Studentsandyouthgroupsshouldalsobeinvitedtoparticipate,asameanstopreparingfutureenvironmentalleaders.


Peopleliketheideathattheyarecontributingtoscienceandconservationbyparticipatinginmonitoring,andtheylikebeingpartofsomethinglarger(i.e.,anational,regionalinitiativetounderstanddistributionandabundanceofwaterbirds).

• SCSCB’sexistingprogrammes(e.g.CaribbeanEndemicBirdFestival,InternationalMigratoryBirdDay,andWestIndianWhistling‐DuckandWetlands,CaribbeanBirdwatch,eBirdCaribbean)alreadyincludesignificantcitizensciencecomponents.Weshouldcontinuetobuildonandsupporttheseprogramswithfunding,materialsandotherresources.

• Protectedareasshouldbedevelopedaseducationalandrecreationalresourcesandpeopleshouldbeinvited/encouragedtovisitthem(overcomefearfactor.Theyshouldaimtoprovidepeoplewithagreatexperienceinnature(e.g.,guidedbirding‐naturewalks,trails,interpretivesignage).Theyshouldshowcasewhatbiodiversityexists,whyit’simportant,andinstilllocalprideandvalue.Theyshouldalsoshowthepublichowtheseareasrelatetothem,i.e.,thatit’stheircommunityandtheirlivelihood.

• SCSCBshoulddevelopeducationandawarenessprojectsincollaborationwithCLOandCaribbeanpartnersforcitizenscience.

5. Earlyactions• AconceptnotewasdevelopedandsubmittedtoWildlifeWithoutBordersforaprojectthat

startedtoaddresssomeoftheconcernsraisedinthediscussions.Theproject(entitled”Usingbirdsasatoolsfordevelopingaconservationconstituency”)focusesonteachingstudents,schoolteachersandeducatorsatconservationorganizationsaboutCaribbeanbirds,conservationofendangeredspeciesandbirdhabitats,andbuildingcapacityoflocalpeople/organizationstoparticipateincitizenscienceandconservationthroughexpandedresourcesandmaterialsonSCSCB’swebsite.Theoverallgoalistoincreaseknowledgeandinterestinbirdsandbiodiversitytodevelopastrongerconservationethicamongyoungpeople.

Literaturecited

Sorenson,L.2011.BirdEducation‐CitizenScienceDiscussion.NotesfromBreak‐outDiscussionGroups.ReportpreparedfollowingCWCworkshop2011.SCSCBunpublishedms.

Haynes‐Sutton,A.andSorenson,L.2010.FinalreportonSCSCBCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)TrainingWorkshop,22‐25February2010,Negril,Jamaica.ReportpreparedforWHMSI/OAS.


APPENDIX11:CWCWORKSHOPSUMMARYREPORTANDPHOTOS

SOCIETYFORTHECONSERVATIONANDSTUDYOFCARIBBEANBIRDSWESTERNHEMISPHEREMIGRATORYSPECIESINITIATIVEPROJECT

Implementation of a Training Activity on Monitoring Waterbirds in Caribbean Protected Areas for Adaptive Management and Public Education

CARIBBEANWATERBIRDCENSUS(CWC)TRAININGWORKSHOP23‐27February2011–SummaryReport

SCSCBisworkingtowardsestablishingtheCaribbeanWaterbirdCensus(CWC)12,aregion‐widewaterbirdandwetlandmonitoringprogram13.ThegoaloftheprogramistopromoteconservationofresidentandmigrantwaterbirdsandtheirwetlandhabitatsintheinsularCaribbeanthroughmonitoring.TheobjectivesoftheCWCareto:

• Promoteinventories,surveysandcensusesofwaterbirdsandtheirhabitatsinallCaribbeancountries

• Encouragebroad‐basedparticipationinwaterbirdcountsincludingNGOs,governmentalagencies,institutions,communitiesandvolunteers

• Ensurethatasmanyinternationallyandnationallyimportantwetlandsitesaspossibleareconservedandmonitored

• Increaseawarenessofconservationissuesrelatedtowetlandsandwaterbirdsandwhatcanbedonetoaddresstheseissues.

Twenty‐twoparticipantsfrom14CaribbeanislandstookpartintheSCSCB’sfive‐dayCWCTrainingWorkshop,heldattheBahamasNationalTrustinNassau,Bahamas23‐27February2011.TheparticipantswereprospectivenationalandsitecoordinatorsfortheCWC.TheyincludedwildlifeprofessionalsandprotectedareamanagersemployedbygovernmentsandNGOsandvolunteers,allofwhomshareacommoninterestinlearningmonitoringmethodologiestomoreeffectivelyconserveandmanagemigrantandresidentwaterbirdsandtheirhabitats.Thenewly‐launchedCWCtakesplaceannually,withparticipantsbeingaskedtocountwaterbirdsusingstandardmethodsatleastonceayearinJanuary.Countsatothertimesoftheyearareencouraged,particularlyduringfallandspringtolearnmoreaboutkeysitesformigratorywaterbirds.Theworkshopprovidedequipment,materialsandtraininginimplementingtheCWC,includinghowtodesignandimplementsurveys,levelsofmonitoringandCWCprotocols14,identificationofwaterbirds,counttrainingtoolsandhabitatmonitoring,fieldsessionstopracticesurveymethods,dataentryandanalysis,andpresentingresultstodecision‐makers.Participantswerealsoguidedinthedevelopmentofprojectsandpreparationofproposalstoimplementmonitoringontheirislands.Adaywasdedicatedtoadiscussionofhowcanweincreaseawarenessandengagemorepeopleinbirds,monitoringand

12TheCWCarosefromdiscussionsattheSCSCB’spreviousmonitoringtrainingworkshop“Long‐termBirdMonitoringintheCaribbean–Why,What,WhereandHow?”whichtookplaceinNassau,BahamasinFebruary2009.ItisapartofaregionalbirdmonitoringprogramcalledCaribbeanBirdwatch.Formoreinformation:http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/caribbeanbirdwatch13TheCaribbeanregionwilljoinWetlandInternational’sglobalprogramofwetlandbirdmonitoring,withdatafromtheCaribbeanfillingamajorgapinthecoverageoftheInternational/NeotropicalWaterbirdCensus.Itcanbeusedtopromotesiteconservation,assessimpactsofclimatechangeandotherthreats,anddesignprogramstoprotect,manageandrestorewetlands.14TheCWCoffersahierarchicalandflexibleapproachtomonitoring(employinglevelsofmonitoring)thatenablestheusertochoosetheprotocolandextentofparticipationintheprogramthatisbestsuitedtotheirobjectives,availableresourcesandcapacity.ThebasicCWCprotocols(Level2–areasearchandpointcount)includemeasuresofdetectionprobability,whichareessentialforaccountingforbiasinmonitoring.


conservationviaanewstrategyforcitizenscience,andadraftstrategyforSCSCBwaspreparedasanoutcomefromthediscussions.SCSCBhasreceivedfundingforasmall‐grantprogramtosupportparticipantsinthe2010programandelevenprojectshavereceivedassistance.SCSCBisseekingfurtherfundingfor2011‐12.TheeightfacilitatorsandpresentersincludedRichardHuber(OrganizationofAmericanStates),JeffGerbrachtandJenniferFee(CornellLaboratoryofOrnithology,NewYork),KenKriese(USFishandWildlifeService,Washington,DC),LynnGape(BahamasNationalTrust),SheyldaDiaz‐Mendez(PuertoRico),AnnHaynes‐Sutton(MonitoringCoordinator,SCSCB,Jamaica)andLisaSorenson(President,SCSCB,Boston).Theparticipantsexpressedahighlevelofsatisfactionwiththeworkshopandcommittedtosharetheirexperiences,trainothersintheirislands,andparticipateintheCWC.Tofacilitatethisprocessallthematerialsfromtheworkshop(includingpresentationsandtheCWCManual)havebeenplacedontheCWCConserveOnlinewebsite(http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/cwc)wheretheyareavailablefordownload.SCSCBhopestoofferadditionaltrainingworkshopsandwelcomesparticipationbyallcountriesintheCWC.Theworkshopwasthemainoutputofaprojectcalled“ImplementationofatrainingactivityonmonitoringwaterbirdsinCaribbeanprotectedareasforadaptivemanagementandpubliceducation,”whichwasfundedbytheOrganizationofAmericanStatesthroughtheWesternHemisphereMigratorySpeciesInitiative(WHMSI).AdditionalfundingandsupportwereprovidedbytheUSForestService,RoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds,OpticsfortheTropics,CornellLaboratoryofOrnithology,BahamasNationalTrust,USFishandWildlifeService,andothers.

ParticipantsattheSCSCBCWCMonitoringTrainingWorkshop, February23‐27,2011,Nassau,Bahamas


Participantsgatherforthemorning’strainingpresentationsaboutmonitoring,TheRetreat,BahamasNationalTrustHeadquarters.

PracticepointcountatHarroldandWilsonPondsNationalPark–winteringhometoGadwall,NorthernShovelers,CommonMoorhens,AmericanCoots,LesserYellowlegs,Short‐billed

Dowitchers,LeastGrebes,Pied‐billedGrebes,Sora,andmore.


BirdingattheSouthBeachtidalflats–PipingPloversandothershorebirdsabound.

CheckingbirdIDonthefieldtriptoHarroldandWilsonPondsNationalPark:

KenKriese(USFWS),AtoyaGeorge(BVI)andDarrenHenry(Tobago).


PredensaMoore(Bahamas)andAdamsToussaint(St.Lucia)goheadtohead

intheNamethatBird!teamcompetitiononthelastday.

TeamOspreylooksonanxiouslyasoneoftheirteammatescompeteinthe

NamethatBird!Teamcompetition.


BirdingatTheRetreat,BahamasNationalTrustHeadquarters.

PlayingtheBIrdSleuthSurvivalgameonthebirdeducation‐citizenscienceday.


FieldtriptoBonefishPondsNationalPark–awonderfulmangrovewetland–hometo

manywaterbirdsandnurseryformarinefisheries.

BonefishPondsgazebo:AnnSuttonexplainshabitatmonitoringtotheparticipants–filling

outtheSiteDescriptionForm,habitatcovariatesandIBAthreatsmonitoring.


FieldtriptoBonefishPondsNationalPark–awonderfulmangrovewetland–hometo

manywaterbirdsandnurseryformarinefisheries.

FarewellDinneratEastVillaRestaurant:Workshoptriviaquiz,awardsandpresentation

ofcertificatestoallparticipants.MaureenMilbourn(Jamaica)andLisaSorenson(Boston).


CWCWorkshopcollagebyEricSalamanca(TCI)