This is the SOUTH EASTERN CARIBBEAN BIRD ALERT (2003-13) for 14 April 2003. Sponsored by the T&T Field Naturalist Club, our aim is to promote birding and ornithology in the southeastern Caribbean by fostering communication among resident and visiting birders regarding the study of birds in the region. The SCBA and information about the TTFNC, T&T Rare Birds Committee and Photo Gallery are accessible at http://www.wow.net/ttfnc. Reports should be sent to Martyn Kenefick by phone at 674-7609 or by Email at "martynkenefick@hotmail.com" The TTRBC requests details for species indicated with an asterisk (see website above and RARE BIRD REPORTING below).

BIRDING NEWS :- In the northern US Virgin Islands, several species of intratropical migrants have reappeared in recent weeks to breed. In St. Thomas, only three LAUGHING GULLS were at Charlotte Amalie on 29 March but by 6 April the number had swelled to 275. The first CARIBBEAN MARTINS of the season were noted on 6 April at Fortuna, where 11 were tallied. Two WILSON'S PLOVERS were at Perseverance Bay on 6 April. Eight LEAST GREBES were tallied island-wide on 6 April, including three at Bordeaux and five at Red Hook; a ninth at lily-choked Turpentine Run was relocated on 9 April. Only five BLUE-WINGED TEAL were found island-wide on 6 April, including three at Bordeaux and two at Red Hook. On 6 April two WHITE-WINGED DOVES were noted at Compass Point and one at Red Hook. A leisurely drive through Charlotte Amalie on 6 April produced 67 ROCK DOVES and 22 HOUSE SPARROWS. Previously recorded only a few times from the island, a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER flitted about Frydendal on 3 and 4 April.

In St. John, four WILSON'S PLOVERS were noted at Leinster's Bay and four WHITE-WINGED DOVES at Coral Bay on 13 April. A WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON was seen at Calabash Boom on 2 April. Ten WHITE-WINGED DOVES and 20 HOUSE SPARROWS were tallied on 2 April at Coral Bay, where a resident reported observing 80 WHITE-WINGED DOVES a few days earlier. The first BLACK-WHISKERED VIREOS of the season were heard calling on 2 April at Europa Bay, where a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA were seen. A LEAST GREBE and a PIED-BILLED GREBE were reported from Caneel Bay, but only the latter was seen on 2 April.

In south west Trinidad, single LITTLE CUCKOO and MANGROVE CUCKOO were found at South Oropouche swamp on 30th and 31st March respectively. Further north up the coast, at Brickfields 2 GREATER FLAMINGOES were found on the mudflats on 31st March.

In eastern Trinidad, a GREEN HERON was identified in the Kernaham area of Nariva swamp on 29th March.

In the northern range of Trinidad, at Asa Wright Nature Centre, a male BLACKPOLL WARBLER, moulting into breeding plumage, was seen on 28th March. Further up the Blanchisseuse Road at Las Lapas lookout, a group of about a dozen Chaetura swifts, likely to be CHAPMAN'S SWIFT, were carefully studied amongst a flock of CHESTNUT COLLARED SWIFTS.

In SCBA 2003-12, we reported on the total absence of seabird migration from north east Trinidad. From Barbados, comes similar news where a 4 hour pelagic reaching a maximum of c. 8 nautical miles off the island's SW on March 29th had virtually the same result - only 3 birds seen: 1 FRIGATEBIRD sp at c. 6 nm out, a RED BILLED TROPICBIRD at 7.5 nm and a WILSON'S PETREL at 5.4 nm.

ORNITHOLOGICAL TIDBIT: The following abstract is from: Manolis, T., and A. Cruz. 2002. Mating and nest-searching behaviour of Shiny Cowbirds associated with different host species in Trinidad and Tobago. Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:155-165.

The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a brood parasite of a wide variety of passerine species in South America and the Caribbean region. We examined the mating and nest-searching behaviour of cowbirds parasitising various hosts in different environments in Trinidad and Tobago. Breeding cowbirds congregate at nesting colonies of Yellow-hooded Blackbirds (Agelaius icterocephalus) in marshes in Trinidad in the rainy season. Most female cowbirds visiting territories and nests of blackbirds do so singly or in groups of two or more females. Little evidence of cowbird pair formation was observed at blackbird colonies. We observed a different pattern of cowbird mating behaviour in rural areas of mixed agricultural plots and woodland, where House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon), which have more uniformly dispersed nesting attempts than the colonial blackbirds, are the primary host. At one such site, we documented stable pair formation over a period of a few weeks within a small population of colour-banded cowbirds. Cowbirds also showed a greater likelihood to visit House Wren nests and territories in male-female pairs than for other potential hosts. Combining various lines of evidence (grouping patterns, mating and nest-searching behaviour, and pair formation among colour-banded birds) offers some support for a hypothesis that cowbirds are promiscuous where host (and cowbird) densities are highly clumped (e.g., blackbird colonies), and monogamous where hosts are fairly common but uniformly dispersed (e.g., House Wren territories). Shiny Cowbird mating behaviour seems to show considerable flexibility, both within and between populations. More extensive studies with a greater range of hosts over a broad range of habitats throughout the cowbird's range are warranted to elucidate the effects of host type and availability, as well as other ecological factors, on its mating behaviour.

RARE BIRD REPORTING :-  Do we believe what you see ? We want to ! Many of the identifications reported in the SCBA are tentative. For birds found in Trinidad & Tobago, the T&T Rare Birds Committee, formed in 1995, requests details for all rare birds observed (see Species Review List at our website) Please submit details to the TTRBC Secretary : Martyn Kenefick, 36 Newalloville Ave, San Juan, Trinidad - Email "martynkenefick@hotmail.com"