Manageability, Availability, and Performance in Porcupine ...
April – May : Tail end of spring and full of...
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Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre May 2019 [email protected] Tel: (868) 667-4655 By Martyn Kenefick Here at Springhill, it has been a case of good views of nice birds for all, but nothing to set the pulses racing, except for two “one-person sighting incidents”. On 11th April, a guest described what could well have been a male Rufous-shafted Woodstar and on 12th May, our Landscape Co-ordinator, Mukesh, photographed an Amethyst Woodstar. Sadly, neither have been subsequently seen. A Brown Violetear has intermittently appeared in front of our veranda and Black Hawk-Eagles have been a regular sight soaring over. Now there is a saying in the birding world that ultra-rare birds can turn up anywhere and at any time. Potentially, these last two months have added a further two species to our country’s Official List of Species. On 23rd May, a Squacco Heron was photographed well at Bon Accord, Tobago. The only previous South American records of this Mediterranean and West African heron come from an island off of the Brazil coast. On 30th May, a tern, thought to be an Arctic Tern in first summer plumage, was photographed on the Orange Valley mudflats. This is an incredibly long distant migrant travelling each year from northern Canada to the tip of South America. It has previously been reported in Barbados. Both of these sightings will keep the Rare Birds Committee busy in the coming weeks. Historically, the Scarlet Tanager has been a very rare, yet just about an annual, visitor passing through T&T with virtually all northbound sightings coming within a narrow window between 8th – 28th April. A fine adult male photographed from Brasso Seco on 4th May was obviously a late traveller. Secretive and rarely seen resident species found during the period include a report of an Azure Gallinule at Tobago Plantations on 27th April (the only previous Tobago record was from this same site); a Ruddy Quail Dove from the forest behind Brasso Seco on 5th May; a Mangrove Cuckoo showing close to the Caroni Visitor Centre on 13th May and two Trinidad Piping-Guans close to the quarry at Cumaca on the 26th. April – May : Tail end of spring and full of surprises THE T&T BIRDING SCENE Other scarce reports include the first Aplomado Falcon of the season at Nariva on 13th May and a first winter plumaged Lesser Black-backed Gull on the windward coast of Tobago on the 28th. Arctic Tern Photo by Nigel Lallsingh Squacco Heron Photo by Jason Radix
Transcript of April – May : Tail end of spring and full of...
Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre
May 2019 [email protected] Tel: (868) 667-4655
By Martyn Kene� ckHere at Springhill, it has been a case of good views of nice birds for all, but nothing to set the pulses racing, except for two “one-person sighting incidents”. On 11th April, a guest described what could well have been a male Rufous-shafted Woodstar and on 12th May, our Landscape Co-ordinator, Mukesh, photographed an Amethyst Woodstar. Sadly, neither have been subsequently seen. A Brown Violetear has intermittently appeared in front of our veranda and Black Hawk-Eagles have been a regular sight soaring over.
Now there is a saying in the birding world that ultra-rare birds can turn up anywhere and at any time. Potentially, these last two months have added a further two species to our country’s O� cial List of Species. On 23rd May, a Squacco Heron was photographed well at Bon Accord, Tobago. The only previous South American records of this Mediterranean and West African heron come from an island o� of the Brazil coast. On 30th May, a tern, thought to be an Arctic Tern in � rst summer plumage, was photographed on the Orange Valley mud� ats. This is an incredibly long distant migrant travelling each year from northern Canada to the tip of South America. It has previously been reported in Barbados. Both of these sightings will keep the Rare Birds Committee busy in the coming weeks.
Historically, the Scarlet Tanager has been a very rare, yet just about an annual, visitor passing through T&T with virtually all northbound sightings coming within a narrow window between 8th – 28th April. A � ne adult male photographed from Brasso Seco on 4th May was obviously a late traveller.
Secretive and rarely seen resident species found during the period include a report of an Azure Gallinule at Tobago Plantations on 27th April (the only previous Tobago record was from this same site); a Ruddy Quail Dove from the forest behind Brasso Seco on 5th May; a Mangrove Cuckoo showing close to the Caroni Visitor Centre on 13th May and two Trinidad Piping-Guans close to the quarry at Cumaca on the 26th.
April – May : Tail end of spring and full of surprises
THE T&T BIRDING SCENE
Other scarce reports include the � rst Aplomado Falcon of the season at Nariva on 13th May and a � rst winter plumaged Lesser Black-backed Gull on the windward coast of Tobago on the 28th.
Arctic Tern Photo by Nigel Lallsingh
Squacco Heron Photo by Jason Radix
M AY • PAGE 2 May 2019
Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre
By Johanne RyanMay 4th was Global Big Day (GBD). On that day, birders across the globe, ready with their binoculars and eagle-eyed birdwatching team, went out to spot as many birds as possible in 24 hours. What a wonderful way to celebrate the beauty, charm and diversity of our feathered friends…and to have some healthy competition. This year, a new world record was set for GBD: in one day 34,000 people from 173 countries found 6,816 species of birds. That’s two-thirds of the world’s bird species. In Trinidad and Tobago, 195 species of birds were recorded. This was the largest number of species recorded by a country in the West Indies. This highlights the high biodiversity that T&T has inherited from its geological ‘parent’- South America.
The millions of bird sightings from GBD are available on eBird and can be used to inform scientists, educators and birders. eBird is an online platform that anyone can join. Being part of eBird allows you to manage bird lists, photos and audio recordings, to see real-time maps of species distribution and even to get alerts when your ‘target’ species have been observed. As a citizen science project, members of the general public can contribute to bird conservation. Anytime you visit AWNC, you can add to our growing data set by submitting a checklist of the birds you found here to eBird. Be sure to select the right location when you do: Asa Wright Nature Centre. And if you have been on our other tours like those to Nariva or Caroni Swamp, you can also submit checklists for those locations. Visit eBird here https://ebird.org/home.
GBD shows how much we can accomplish when we work together for a common goal. What will you be doing for GBD next year?
Global Big Day 2019
American Flamingoes were one of the species recorded in Trinidad on Global Big Day Photo by Wendell SJ Reyes
It is good news that Blue-and-Yellow Macaws were also seen on the count day. This species was extirpated from Trinidad in the 1960’s and reintroduced to the island between 1999 and 2004. Photo by Wendell SJ Reyes
M AY • PAGE 3 May 2019
Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre
By James Fitzmyer DoughertyThe Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis), also called the tree porcupine, is a well-known resident of AWNC. On the wall of the main house living room, to the left of the mirror, is a picture of researcher John Dunston a� ectionately holding one up. Dunston is the same individual after which the oilbird caves are named. He visited the property before it was established as a nature centre. A friend of Asa Wright and her husband, he particularly enjoyed studying animals.
Brazilian porcupines belong to the family, Erethizontidae, and are classi� ed as mammals. Found throughout northern South America as well as Trinidad and Tobago, these animals spend roughly 85% of their time in trees. Mostly inactive during the day, they move around in the evening when daylight starts to fade and remain active into the night. As a result, they are considered nocturnal.
Brazilian porcupines tend to be slightly less than a metre long, but their tail accounts for almost half their total length. They use their tails for movement along branches, and their feet have four long toes with claws for grasping. The snout is short and round with whiskers, and just around the snout is
The Brazilian Porcupine: Long-time Friend of AWNC
an area of especially light coloration. The outside of the back, legs, head, and beginning of the tail are covered in white barbed quills, but also feature dark and soft hairs interspersed. Quills can be as long as 6.5cm, and they are used as a defence mechanism. If a Brazilian porcupine sticks a threat with its quills, the quills will release from the porcupine and stay latched to the threat due to the quill’s barbs.
Fruit, leaves, seeds, bark, roots, � owers, and stems comprise the Brazilian porcupine’s diet. It is a herbivore which primarily forages in the trees, but it also forages on the ground. Two large front teeth help it to cut into its food.
Males and females mate to produce one o� spring, which is red to brown in coloration and early on has soft quills. However, not much is known about Brazilian porcupine reproduction, such as when they mate.
Brazilian porcupines are wonderful animals and they have been recorded at Asa Wright. They are also protected by law in Trinidad and Tobago.
Works Cited
Charles, Rica. “Coendou Prehensilis (Tree Porcupine or Brazilian Porcupine).” The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago, University of the West Indies, 2011,
A porcupine photographed by a camera trap on one of AWNC’s trails
The photo of John Dunston and his pet porcupine that hangs in AWNC’s living room
James Fitzmeyer Dougherty is currently interning at Asa Wright Nature Centre through a program coordinated by the Centre for Peace & Global Citizenship (CPGC) and Koshland Integrated Natural Sciences Centre (KINSC) at Haverford College, United States of America.
Design and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature CentreDesign and Layout courtesy Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Ltd, a friend of the Asa Wright Nature Centre
M AY • PAGE 4 May 2019
YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTOF THE MONTHIf you think your child, aged 5-16, has done something helpful to preserve the environment, please feel free to share it with us. Either write a short story or send a few pictures to [email protected]. He/she may be selected as our Young Environmentalist of the Month. Once your child is featured in our monthly newsletter, he/she and two adults will be given a complimentary day visit to Asa Wright Nature Centre, which includes viewing birds/animals on the verandah, a nature tour and use of the clear water pool.
Sip & Paint at Asa Wright Nature CentreJoin us for art and enjoyment in the Arima Valley!
Our very � rst Sip & Paint event will take place on Saturday 27th July 2019 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
No prior art experience needed.
Materials provided and you take your masterpiece home with you.
Pastries and a glass of Asa Wright’s Rum Punch.
10% discount on one night’s accommodation for Trinidad and Tobago residents who are participating in this event.
Adults: TT$285.00 per person
Children: TT$245.00 per person
A $100.00 TTD per person down payment is required to secure your booking.
For more information:
Email: [email protected]
OR
Call: 689-1046
Edward painting hermit by J.R
