Bird Group

The Bird Group has an active program of field trips which provide an opportunity for members to observe the rich avifauna of Trinidad and Tobago. Birders of all levels of experience are welcome.

Field trips are held monthly. The locations selected include all the major habitats - mountain and lowland forest, wetlands, savanna, scrubland and coastal mudflats.

Reports on some of our future field trips will be presented on this page. Also, have a look at the birding section of our Photo Gallery.

Our visit to the Cat's Hill area was well worth the long drive and early 5 am start. The first visit to an area always creates an air of excitement and anticipation that seems to override the thought that you might be losing some much loved sleep. So with sleepy eyes and yawns we set off and even though we didn't see the Lesson's Seedeaters that had been reported, we enjoyed a very productive day's birding that left everyone with a great feeling of accomplishment.

This seemd to be Raptor's Day as they put in a good appearance - two Plumbeous Kites, a White Hawk, a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites, Yellow-headed Caracara and the catch of the day, a black-morph Double-toothed Kite.  Being the first sighting for many in the group of a black-morph Double-toothed Kite made it the highlight of the day and the cause of great excitement. The Kite remained perched for such a long while, enabling us to examine and debate over every detail, thus aiding in it's positive identification. The White Hawk and Caracara would also not be left out as they too sat long enough to have their portraits taken. As we had found on Edwards Road further to the south, the birds were not at all shy, suggesting that they are not being harassed by the hunters.

More details to follow...  Plus pictures in the Gallery. http://ttfnc.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5

Bois Neuf is a forested "island" of high ground in the Nariva Swamp to the west of Bush Bush Island. In the "bad old days" when bird-trapping was rampant, it was reputed to be one of the best areas to find the seed-finches that were popular as cage birds. Sadly, these birds were extirpated a long time ago. However, the site is a relatively undisturbed part of the Nariva basin and is still of great biological interest.

A trip to the area was organised in May 2009. Owing to uncertainties about the weather, availability of a guide, etc., the trip was not included in the official program.

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