Join BirdsCaribbean in helping to conserve Caribbean waterbirds by counting birds at your local wetland or beach this winter!

In 2017, the main three-week count period will start on Saturday, January 14, and end on Friday, February 3. This includes three weekends and http://www.ramsar.org/activity/world-wetlands-day-2015" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.ramsar.org/activity/world-wetlands-day-2015&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNGBj-hziBcf-BjhJxIu8O8WuG8zjA">World Wetlands Day on February 2. Please mark your calendars and plan to conduct at least one CWC count of your wetland(s) during this period. If you can carry out 2 or 3 or more counts, that's even better. So if you haven't already planned your counts, join us for another great CWC!

What is the CWC?

The CWC is a region-wide waterbird and wetland monitoring program sponsored by http://birdscaribbean.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://birdscaribbean.org/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNFZxLMPz8qaHjRSQ5_5HCD87hEEWg">BirdsCaribbean. The goal of this program is to learn more about the distribution, status, and abundance of waterbirds in the Caribbean to improve our conservation and management of these beautiful birds and their habitats. Each year, one region-wide count is organized in which everyone counts at the same time during the middle of winter (when birds are most stationary) to get a "snapshot" of waterbird population numbers and habitat use throughout the Caribbean. This helps us learn which wetlands are most important and how populations are changing from year to year.

How to Participate

Joining the CWC is easy and fun, and everyone is welcome.  First, find a wetland to survey. There are many types of wetlands in the Caribbean, including freshwater, saltwater, and brackish wetlands, mangrove swamps, tidal flats, mud flats, and rocky and sandy beaches. Second, decide what type of count best fits your ability and wetland location. Many observers use a Level 1 Area or Point Count (Level 1 protocols can be found http://www.birdscaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Level-1-Basic-Counts-for-the-CWC.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.birdscaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Level-1-Basic-Counts-for-the-CWC.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNHAlY5_iNk_rVBRBhpHjQ8aAROhHQ">here). Third, count birds! Visit your wetland at least once during the count period and conduct your CWC count, doing your best to identify and count all birds in your area. Finally, enter your data into http://ebird.org/content/caribbean/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ebird.org/content/caribbean/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNE-GUtC_YA2zwKSpAy6l_nTkBYEPg">eBird Caribbean. Full instructions for participating in the CWC and many other helpful resources can be found on the BirdsCaribbean website's CWC page, http://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/caribbean-waterbird-census-program/count-waterbirds-in-the-caribbean-join-our-region-wide-cwc-count/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/caribbean-waterbird-census-program/count-waterbirds-in-the-caribbean-join-our-region-wide-cwc-count/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNGzZ1zFFaSpBcW-pzfYqa78ONckTA">here.

International Piping Plover Census

Last year, many Caribbean folks participated in the http://ebird.org/content/caribbean/news/2016pipl/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ebird.org/content/caribbean/news/2016pipl/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNFXwr3cmWnJSS6oYhJeeoCOuYX9JQ">International Piping Plover Census which occurred simultaneously with the CWC. This international census is held once every five years to document winter populations of Piping Plovers. So although there is no "official" Piping Plover census this year, you are most welcome to carry out CWC counts at Piping Plover sites as the data will be most welcome to advance our knowledge of this species.  (we learned so much from the 2016 counts - http://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/07/the-caribbeans-piping-plover-a-matter-of-knowing-where-to-look/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/07/the-caribbeans-piping-plover-a-matter-of-knowing-where-to-look/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNHZS2yG1CFIx7zZDYcjmyhRRai5Iw">here's a summary in case you missed it!). The Caribbean is an important wintering area for this threatened species, we still have much to learn about the most important sites and movements of this species in migration and winter.

Counts at other Times of the Year

If you enjoy the winter CWC, you can also participate in the CWC year-round. There are very large gaps in our knowledge of migratory waterbirds (including waterfowl, shorebirds, marsh birds, herons, egrets, and seabirds) and the sites they use for migration and wintering. We therefore encourage you to carry out CWC counts at least once during fall and spring migration periods in as many wetland sites as possible. If you can carry out 2 or 3 or more counts, that's even better. It is the best way to gather information at the local and regional level about what species are migrating to and through the islands and when, their numbers, and the sites they are using—all vitally important information for conservation and management. As more and more people participate and enter CWC data into eBird Caribbean during both winter and migration, we will be able to greatly improve our understanding of waterbird migration in the Caribbean and help conserve Caribbean waterbird populations.

51 Years of the International Waterbird Census!

Last year we celebrated the https://www.wetlands.org/news/press-release-conserving-wetland-birds-for-50-years-lets-make-it-count/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.wetlands.org/news/press-release-conserving-wetland-birds-for-50-years-lets-make-it-count/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNHIUjwPHI-0bEYjY1b-sSkjjJGZvw">50th Anniversary of the International Waterbird Census (IWC). The IWC is coordinated by https://www.wetlands.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.wetlands.org/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997596000&usg=AFQjCNEuqEIcwlJVzVJ5TyvxYFWCsLQ_BA">Wetlands International - it is a global partnership of national and local agencies and individuals that have volunteered their time and efforts to coordinate and carry out counts around the world. Data from the census is used to regularly assess the status of waterbirds and prioritize conservation. The Caribbean Waterbird Census is part of this network, being responsible for counts in the Caribbean. Counts in other parts of the World include the African-Eurasian Waterbird Census, Asian Waterbird Census, Central American Waterbird Census and Neotropical Waterbird Census. https://www.wetlands.org/blog/why-waterbirdscount-march/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.wetlands.org/blog/why-waterbirdscount-march/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997597000&usg=AFQjCNEYaUbSRzbnRSYk34OnwRKQ2Gva-g">Caribbean counters and waterbirds were featured last March on IWC's website as part of the 50th anniversary celebration! And here's the http://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/03/seventh-annual-caribbean-waterbird-census-a-huge-success/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/03/seventh-annual-caribbean-waterbird-census-a-huge-success/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997597000&usg=AFQjCNHlFJXin2mjRwaOm_EhOvvXipMPJA">wrap-up from the 2016 CWC andhttp://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/11/new-photo-book-celebrates-the-2016-caribbean-waterbird-census/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/11/new-photo-book-celebrates-the-2016-caribbean-waterbird-census/&source=gmail&ust=1484781997597000&usg=AFQjCNFhgs_8d8ky72ToxeLP__PfwBzQxQ"> link to a Shutterfly photo-book that was produced.

Thanks for your help!

Thanks to all of our partners and citizen science volunteers throughout the Caribbean for your AMAZING help with the CWC! Because of your hard work over the last 8 years, we are gaining invaluable new insights into where birds are stopping over on migration and spending the winter, and learning about new sites, large and small, that are important for our migratory and resident waterbirds—information that is helping to inform conservation and management.

We look forward to hearing about your counts in the coming weeks - please don't hesitate to share your photos and observations with us on our list serves and social media (BIrdsCaribbean Facebook pages and twitter @BirdsCaribbean)!