Hurricane devastation in the Caribbean from Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Jose, Sep 19, 2017

I figured I would do an update on the recent hurricanes that have devastated a number of islands in the Caribbean and what impact these storms had on the various warbler species that call these islands home.  As I mentioned in a previous post Barbuda was absolutely destroyed by a direct hit from the powerful Category 5 Hurricane Irma.  Satellite images show the complete denuding of all vegetation on the island with the previous tropical green color replaced by a dingy brown.  The entire islands human population was evacuated immediately after the storm as the damage was that extensive (the first time in over 300 years that no humans were on the island).  Before the storm the endemic Barbuda Warbler population was thought to number between 1500-2000 (about the same as the human population on the island).  A brief return by a few researchers to the island found no warblers at all.  The hope is that some were able to ride out the storm but the road ahead for them will be difficult with no vegetation left to provide cover and the all important insects the birds depend on.  Certainly there is hope but it is not good news for this endemic.  Thankfully the island just avoided more major hits when Jose veered off to the north a bit and Maria stayed south.  This is one warbler species I have never seen and one I had plans to catch up with in the next couple years...hopefully I will still get a chance.

Elfin Woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Hurricane Maria developed quickly and reached Category 5 status before landing a direct hit on the small, mountainous island of Dominica, home to the Plumbeous Warbler (found also on the nearby island of Guadelope).  The damage on the island sounds like it is just as extensive as in Barbuda.  Hopefully the mountainous terrain protected a few pockets of birds.  I have plans to be down there in a few months and I hope the birds, the people and the island recover enough to allow the trip to go forward.  After hitting Dominica the storm continued northwest and struck Puerto Rico directly on the southeast coast and traveled across the island bringing strong winds and heavy rain island wide.  There are two endemic warbler species on the island, Adelaide's Warbler and Elfin Wood Warbler.  The Elfin Woods Warbler is the rarer of the two and is considered endangered.  I'm sure the population took a hit but hopefully a decent number pulled through.  I was down in Puerto Rico last year and managed to find both warblers and I hope to make a return visit there someday to see them once again.  Post from my visit there: Puerto Rico Dec 2016
Hurricane Maria should continue off to the northwest and then north hitting the Turks and Caicos and southern Bahamas which may impact a number of migrant warblers including the endangered Kirtland's Warbler that winters in the area.

The hurricane season is not yet over and there is certainly a chance of additional storms to impact the area but hopefully the worst is behind them.  The birds here have evolved with the existence of hurricanes but the difference is that habitat destruction and reduction due to human development and a variety of other human involved issues have moved ever smaller populations into smaller areas making the birds less able to recover from the storms.  In addition the storms have continued to become stronger and more frequent as the climate continues to change due to global warming.

What can you do to assist?...you can always make a donation to Birds Caribbean to assist those that will be on the front line assisting the birds that made it though.  Link here:  Birdscaribbean-Hurricane-Relief

2016 warbler wrap up with loads of photos

Adelaide's Warbler, Roosevelt Roads/Ceba, Puerto Rico, Dec 

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Wrenthrush, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

It was a great 2016 with loads of great sightings and a number of new species as I continue on my quest to see all the new world wood warbler species.  I added three new species this year including Elfin woods Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler in Puerto Rico and Wrenthrush in Costa Rica bringing my total to 64.  I found a total of 41 warbler species during my travels in 2016.  I already have a few trips planned for 2017 that should add some more.

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Mourning Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 21, 2016

Black cheeked Warbler, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Flame throated Warbler, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Collared Redstart, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Prairie Warbler, Cabo Rojo NWR, Puerto Rico, Dec 4, 2016

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Apr 5, 2016

Yellow throated Warbler, Disney Wilderness Preserve, Poinciana, FL, Jan 16, 2016

Besides the new warblers mentioned above my trips to warmer climes produced a number of other species including both residents and migrants.

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Mourning Warbler, UMASS Amherst, MA, May 28, 2016

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 5, 2016

Nashville Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 30, 2016

American Redstart, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Sep 14, 2016

Cerulean Warbler feeding nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 8, 2016

Louisiana Waterthrush, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2016

Yellow breasted Chat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2016

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Worm eating Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 12, 2016

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 6, 2016

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2016

Wilson's Warbler, UMASS Amherst, MA, May 10, 2016

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2016

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2016

Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2016

Louisiana Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 18, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 24, 2016

Within Hampshire County it was another spectacular year for warblers with a total of 32 species with highlights including an incredible ten Connecticut Warblers (most years feature 1-3!), a Golden winged Warbler, five Mourning Warblers, four Orange crowned Warblers (including my second spring record) and two Yellow breasted Chats.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2016

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2016

Canada Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2016

At home I had a total of 22 warbler species including my first record of Connecticut Warbler as well as my second records for both Mourning Warbler and Orange crowned Warbler.  I have now had 28 species of warbler on the two acres here in Belchertown but have still not yet had a Blue winged Warbler!  This year will be the year for sure!

Elfin woods Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler on a trip down to Puerto Rico -Dec 1-5 and end of the year summary

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

I recently made a trip down to Puerto Rico with the intention of catching up with the two endemic warbler species down there, the endangered Elfin woods Warbler and the more widespread Adelaide's Warbler. The Elfin woods Warbler was only described to science in the 1971/1972 time frame and occurs in only a couple of spots on the island.  I managed to catch up with both species with the Adelaide's Warbler seen and heard in multiple locations including a very obliging individual at the old Roosevelt Roads naval station that came in and perched on the mirror of the car. The Elfin woods Warbler was a bit tougher to catch up with. It was missed in El Yunque but I caught up with a few of them in Maricao forest in a mixed species flock on Saturday and got some identifiable photos. We had them once again in nearly the same spot on Sunday but they remained even more hidden and afforded no opportunities for photos. It is a unique looking species that seemed to be hanging out in a mixed flock that included a Black and White Warbler and a couple Black throated Blue Warblers as well as a few Puerto Rican endemics. It is surprising this species remained unknown to science for so long but I guess not enough people were looking in the right spots. The two warblers on the island became warbler species #62 and #63 for me.

Prairie Warbler, Cabo Rojo NWR, Puerto Rico, Dec 4, 2016

Palm Warbler (western), Ceiba/Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Besides the two endemic warbler species I also found a number of migrant warblers including Northern Waterthrush, Black and White Warbler, Northern Parula, Black throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler (western), American Redstart, Yellow Warbler (golden subspecies) and Prairie Warbler. Most were seen in small numbers but the amount of Prairie Warblers at Cabo Rojo NWR in the southwest part of the island was amazing. While checking out some of the mudflats near sunset there was a steady stream of Prairie Warblers moving by totaling several dozen. Every small bush seems to contain several individuals at once...the most Prairie Warblers I have ever seen in one location.


Below is a summary of the year in warblers by month with a running tally of warblers for the year, warblers per month and warblers by month for Hampshire County.

Warblers (running tally for year)

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
7          7           7          21        32          32      32       32        33        33        33        33


Warblers overall per month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
7          0          1           20        29          20      16       13        24        12        1         19


Hampshire County warblers by month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
0          0           1          20        29          20      16       13        24        12        1         0