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A New Approach to Protecting a Rare Songbird (10/22/2012)

LAKE PLACID, NY – Launching a new effort to protect the rare Bicknell’s Thrush, an alliance of North American scientists and conservationists is taking the unusual step of funding a team of Dominican biologists to work in the migratory songbird’s Caribbean wintering habitat.

The Bicknell’s Thrush Habitat Protection Fund at the Adirondack Community Trust has awarded a $5,000 grant to Grupo Jaragua, whose biologists will study the thrush in forested mountains on the Dominican Republic’s border with Haiti. The grant recognizes a need to protect the songbird across its entire range, particularly in its threatened winter destinations.

“The Bicknell’s Thrush has two homes – one here in North America and the other in the Caribbean Basin,” said Chris Rimmer, executive director of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, a research group working to conserve the thrush. “Our efforts to protect this vulnerable songbird can’t stop at the water’s edge. We need to concentrate our work where the threats are most severe and imminent.”

Donations to the fund can be made at:
http://www.generousact.org/donate.

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Bicknell's Thrush closeup

Close-up of a Bicknell's Thrush. Credit Steve Faccio.

Bicknell's Thrush with food

Bicknell's Thrush with food. Credit Bryan Pfeiffer.

Deforestation of Bicknell's Thrush winter habitat in Dominican Republic. Credit Chris Rimmer.

Biologists from Dominican Republic and United States studying Bicknell's Thrush together. Credit Vermont Center for Ecostudies.

IBTCG Progress Report Jan-Jun 2012 (6/28/2012)
Juan Carlos Martínez-Sánchez, Bird Conservation Coordinator - Caribbean Region

Summary: During these six months I have concentrated my efforts in building capacity of our partner NGOs, understanding the needs and perceptions of local ornithologists in the DR towards our conservation plans, writing proposals, and language training. I have spent a considerable amount of time travelling and especially solving logistic and bureaucratic issues. For the rest of the year I plan to complete these tasks, expand our activities to Sierra de Bahoruco in the DR, and visit new areas of importance for BITH conservation. Finally, I present an analysis of our current efforts and make recommendations to adjust our current plans to a strategy that seeks to guarantee the long-term success and sustainability of our mission.

New Report Released (5/25/2012)

Timyan, J.C, J.E. Goetz, J.C. Martínez--Sánchez. 2012. Toward an Improved Conservation Strategy for Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in La Visite National Park, Haiti. Unpublished report for Canadian Wildlife Service and BirdLife International.

Conservation Action Plan Finalized (7/1/2010)

International Bicknell's Thrush Conservation Group
802-649-1431 (U.S.) • 506-364-5047 (Canada)
info AT vtecostudies.org
© IBTCG 2013