Hispaniolan Bird Conservation

Hispaniola supports more endemic bird species than any other Caribbean island except Jamaica. Its contribution to global biodiversity has earned Hispaniola the highest ranking of biological importance in a worldwide assessment of bird protection priorities.

Yet the island's two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, face severe conservation threats. Haiti's remaining forest cover stand at less than 1.5%, while current estimates place forest loss in the Dominican Republic at greater than 90% in the last 20 years.

In addition to its 31 endemic species, Hispaniola also harbors a large percentage of the wintering populations of many North American breeding birds. The most striking example of the dependence of a North American breeding species on Dominican habitat is the Bicknell's Thrush. Breeding only in high-elevation forests of the northeastern U.S. and adjacent portions of Canada, this species winters almost exclusively in moist, broadleaf forests of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, indicating that its future survival hinges largely on the protection of wintering habitat in both countries.

VINS began field studies to assess the distribution, habitat use, and conservation status of Bicknell's Thrush in the Dominican Republic in December of 1994. Ten years and nearly 20 visits later, VINS is spearheading collaborative, islandwide efforts to protect birds and their habitats. Our current work integrates field research and monitoring with local training, outreach, and capacity building.

Learn more about our research efforts in Hispaniola.

New Field Guide to the Birds of Hispaniola
Conservation Biologists Chris Rimmer and Kent McFarland contributed their extensive knowledge of birds in Hispaniola to the Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The book is published in three languages and will be available in bookstores in November.

Hispaniola eBird
eBird has revolutionized the way people record bird sightings in the United States. This web portal allows birdwatchers to keep track of all the birds they observe, from their backyards to remote mountaintops. CBD biologists worked with local bird experts to develop a complete list of Hispaniola birds in four languages so that anyone can enter their bird observations online. Hispaniola eBird is an initiative of VINS, Hispaniola Ornithological Society, the Audubon Society of Haiti, and the National Aviary, in conjunction with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. Enter your current and past observations from Hispaniola today!