Parrots! (and a few others)

So the whole reason I am down here in the Bahamas is to work as a research technician for a biologist studying the Bahama race of the Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucecophala).  They are a fascinating and beautiful bird who, on Abaco only (where I am), nest underground.  The population experienced a sharp decline over the past few decades due to a number of factors, but my boss and a few local agencies have worked very hard to save the population, and with great success.  This summer we are first finding as many nesting pairs as we can; the photo-stream below illustrates just how we go about doing that.

First you have to find parrots, so we walk through the Caribbean Pine forest on the southern part of the island and listen for squaking.  Once you find them, hunker down so they don't see or hear you, and watch them.  In this case, I watched the male come into his territory and call the female out of the nest so he could feed her.  

Here the male is feeding the female.  I got an idea of where the nest was by watching her emerge from the cavity.

The male then usually grabs a perch above the nest to make sure the coast is clear for the female to climb back in.

Just doing his best recon of the area.

The female then came into a lower perch on the same tree, which is typical nesting behavior.

These birds are really flippin' spectacular.

I was a little worried she saw me.

She sure acted like I did, but apparently didn't care.

Some last preening...

Then she hopped into her cavity, and I found it!  It was probably about 5 feet deep, and she was sitting on the bottom, likely on eggs.

A few other birds...

We stopped to check out this heron on our way home the other day, thinking from the car it was a Snowy Egret, until we got bins on it.

The bicolored bill...white phase Reddish Egret!  I had never seen the white phase before this one.

This is the Bahama Warbler, only recently split from the Yellow-throated Warbler, common in the United States.  There are a number of differences in every aspect, but I hope to get some more photos of this species and write a blog comparing them later this year.

Banaquit!  Always makes me want a smoothie...or Goombay Smash.

Pine Warbler...on the ground!  Birds are weird here.

Tropicbirds - Angels of the West Indies

Our parrot crew was lucky enough to be invited to a nest survey of White-tailed Tropicbirds at Tilloo National Park, a Cay just outside of Abaco.  Someone donated the island to the BNT a few years ago, and our boss Caroline Stahala discovered this nesting colony.  I had some sort of expectations in mind, but I was not ready for how impressive these birds were.  I have to say they are probably the most beautiful birds I have ever seen.  If you ever visit an area where they might be around, track them down!

Adult WTTR on a nest!  Pretty cool nesting behavior; they tuck themselves into these little rock/vegetation caves right along the coast.

I should also mention another really cool ocean bird we have been seeing: the Magnificent Frigatebird.  I have only ever seen these guys really high up, so it was awesome to see one flying low in Marsh Harbour.  They are BIG!

Bahama Birds!

Not a whole lot of time or energy to write for this post, but I do have quite a few photos to upload!  Needless to say, my coworkers, supervisor, and job are all really great.  This island has a lot to offer in many ways, and these photos will only do the tiniest justice.  I also haven't managed to do any snorkeling since my last barracuda encounter, the water has been pretty rough.

I have added a life bird every day so far!  I would be worried about jinxing myself, but we are surveying a White-tailed Tropicbird nesting colony tomorrow, so the streak should continue.  Here is just a taste of some of the fantastic bird life of southern Abaco (I forgot to watermark these, so don't go getting rich with them):

Mangrove Cuckoo...in my yard!

Wilson's Plover, common nesters on our beach

Black-bellied Plover (non-breeding plumage).  I think they just showed up from up north, these probably being unsuccessful breeders.

I also have a good feeling these are going to flag as rare on eBird.  eBird data is lacking for this island, and lots of my birds have been flagged so far.

Gull-billed Tern!  Another life bird, and listed as uncommon and localized in the Bahamas.

Semipalmated Plover (foreground) with Wilson's Plover (background).  The Semipalms have been flagged as rare.

Willet, common on our beach.

Wilson's Plover scaring me away from her nest.

Ruddy Turnstone (still breeding plumage) with Semipalmated Plover.  Good chance these are both flagged as rare.  

Breeding plumage Ruddy Turnstone and Willet.

Western Sandpipers (non-breeding plumage), will probably flag as rare.

RUTU, WESA, WIPL

Poisonwood, basically poison ivy.

Olive-capped Warbler!  Veyr common in the pine forests in Abaco National Park, where I am doing my field work.

Western Spindalis!  A bird I am really impressed with.  Formerly the Western Stripe-headed Tanager.

Banaquit, another common bird on the island.  Very wren-like, just way more colorful.

Female Olive-capped Warbler

The first active parrot nest cavity I found!

Bahama Mockingbird, common in the pine forest, but replaced by the familiar Northern Mockingbird in the coppice.

Who I am studying...Bahama Parrots!