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April 22, 2022—It’s that time of year again. The migrant birds that winter in our islands have left and our year-round residents begin building nests and raising families in Caribbean gardens, fields and forests. It’s the season when endemic birds come into their own, asserting themselves once more and reminding us how much we love them. The 22nd Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) begins today, Earth Day, and continues until May 22, 2022 (International Biodiversity Day).
But – how could we not love our special birds, our companions throughout the year? With our 2022 theme, Loving Birds Is Human Nature, we encourage our partners and citizens across the islands to express their love and appreciation. The CEBF brings people of all ages together, right across the region, to raise awareness about the 171 species that live only in the Caribbean – many of them facing a range of threats to their survival. All the more reason to value and appreciate them!
Students in Antigua and Barbuda celebrate CEBF, 2018. (Photo by the Environmental Awareness Group, Antigua and Barbuda)
BirdsCaribbean will be celebrating these birds virtually in 2022, while supporting our island partners, who will share information and highlight their activities through social media. We will continue last year’s popular “From the Nest” online series, adding 25 more endemics. Coloring pages for kids, puzzles, videos, drawing classes, and fun activities will appear every day. Informative weekly webinars on drawing skills, bird identification, backyard birding tips, and more will begin on April 28 and continue every Thursday afternoon through June 2. Look out for the launch of an exciting new e-book: A Collection of Cultural Myths, Tales and Beliefs About Caribbean Birds – filled with stories, articles, poems, photographs and artwork from BirdsCaribbean members – which will be available for viewing and downloading from our website.
“We are building a rich online library of our wonderful endemic species with “From the Nest, and we intend to continue until all 171 species are included,” explained Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean Dr. Lisa Sorenson. “Meanwhile, our partners will play their part through their own activities and events, both on and offline. They never fail to amaze us with their creativity and enthusiasm! One new online feature will be our Story and Poetry Competition. Tell us about how a “bird experience” changed your life, or sparked your first interest in birds. There are great prizes to be won!”
The #HumansofBirdsCaribbean have been busy behind the scenes, so be sure to follow us on social media and our website and share with your bird-loving family, friends and networks!
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