Partners
EPIC, Lista Light, and regional island partners

Project Dates
February 2009 - July 2010

Project Location
Lesser Antilles

Project Description
Land and water based surveys for all breeding seabirds and invasive predators were conducted in those areas for which insufficient data has been collected. Over two years, one survey in winter and one in spring/summer were conducted to account for varied breeding seasons. Local media, technical training, and presentations were used to raise awareness of seabird and marine conservation issues. Local partnerships are an essential component to the success of this program. A hard copy of the completed Atlas will be provided to participating island governments and non-profit agencies as well as regional bodies. The book Seabird Breeding Atlas of the Lesser Antilles can be purchased through CreateSpace as well as through Amazon and Kindle. Purchases through CreateSpace and Kindle return a greater percentage of royalties back to EPIC to help cover costs incurred during field work and publication. The Atlas data is available online at regional and global databases: OBIS-SEAMAP, WICBIRDS, and BirdLife's Data Zone.

Project Importance
By systematically documenting the breeding seabirds of the rapidly developing Lesser Antilles, EPIC created the first comprehensive regional perspective on seabird populations using a consistent methodology during a discrete time period. Seabird atlases have proven to be effective tools for management around the world. From Australia to Europe to North America, these documents provide a unique view of a region and a framework for integration of future studies. A complete Atlas of the Lesser Antilles is essential for an effective regional preservation programs and the Caribbean Waterbirds Conservation Plan, which will be drafted by the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB).The next phase of the project will be to address conservation issues identified for priority sites.

Visit our partner Lista Light's website.

Project gallery