Bird of the Week

BLUE-GRAY TANAGER

 

Thraupis episcopus OTHER NAMES: Blue Tanager (arch.), Bluebird (C), raxon tzul (K)

Common throughout; Open Woodland; Pale Grayish blue body, with bright turquoise wings and tail

Identification: 6.5” (16.5 cm). Unmistakable pale grayish blue and darker on back, with bright turquoise blue wings and tail.

Voice: Call 1. Forceful tseeu; 2. High, thin, slightly squeaky eeeant, singly or in a rapid irregular series; 3. In flight, a squeaky see. Song; forced series of alternating thin, higher pitched and squeaky lower pitched notes, see suh see suh see suh seee seee seee.

Habitat. Midlevel to canopy; open areas with scattered trees, towns and villages, parks, orchards, forest edge, Frequents fruiting trees.

Status in Belize: Common resident on mainland, increasingly less common northward, becoming scarce in OW and CO. Occasionally seen on Ambergris Caye.

 

9 November 2009

Jones, H. Lee (2003) Birds of Belize, University of Texas Press Austin

TIDE research will be available on IssueLab

IssueLab is an online publishing forum for nonprofit research. Our mission is to more effectively archive, distribute and promote the extensive and diverse body of work being produced by the third sector. To better promote the work of the Toledo Institute of Development and Environment (TIDE) we will post some of our research (as appropriate) on this site. Scroll down for a link to our research on Waste Management.

Each year billions of charitable dollars are spent on nonprofit research, research which journalists, policy analysts, legislators, students, activists, and grant makers all rely on to effectively address complex social issues. And yet despite the widespread interest in this work and the billions of dollars spent each year to produce it, most nonprofit research remains unpublished, hard to find, underexposed, or archived in issue-specific information silos.

The nonprofit sector clearly needs a better solution than the current piecemeal approach to managing and sharing one of its greatest assets, while journalists, researchers, activists, policy makers, educators, and the general public need a much better solution for locating and accessing social research across issue areas. IssueLab is that solution.

But IssueLab is not simply an online archive. Our efforts are evenly split between aggregating research on social issues and pushing that research back out to other online communities and end-users. Although ambitious, our goal is to mainstream nonprofit research so that users who may not know anything about nonprofits can still learn from the unique perspective these organizations bring to the study of social issues.

We recognize the nonprofit sector as a vital and valuable source of knowledge and believe that by leveraging technology to broaden access to their findings, IssueLab can help users to better understand complex social issues and further healthy debate and dialogue.

Toledo Institute for Development and Environment

Research Works Available:

Punta Gorda Municipal Waste Report
Publication date: 2009-04-08
Date Archived: 2009-11-03

Port Honduras Marine Reserve Benefits the Community

How does TIDE co-management of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve benefit the community bordering the marine protected area in southern Belize?

TIDE is committed to local hire, whenever possible. TIDE contributes to the local economy through hiring, spending locally, and promoting southern Belize as a destination. TIDE uses community members on research projects whenever practical.

Protection of resources within the reserve contributes to the health of the reserve. TIDE conducts monitoring and research on a variety of factors:
a. Water quality
b. Coral
c. Lobster
d. Conch
e. Fin Fish
f. Seagrass
g. Turtles
h. Manatee

Community Training and Capacity Building
a. Tour guide (increasing the number of tour guides and the skills of the tour guides)
b. Life skills training
c. Hospitality
d. Small business management
e. Leadership
f. Fly-fishing
g. Kayaking
h. Birding
i. Research skills
j. Scuba-diving (including advanced and dive master training)
k. Tourism services with emphasis on small business development, hospitality management and culinary arts
l. Marine skills for community rangers, boat handling, reef monitoring, fish and coral identification, and global positioning systems training
m. Specialist tour guide training with a focus on fly fishing, kayaking and bird watching

TIDE recognizes that a well-trained and supported staff will utilize increased abilities and competencies at TIDE and at other organizations and works to build staff capacity through ongoing training.
a. Boat handling and maintenance
b. Communication skills
c. Report writing
d. Facilitating professional opportunities for growth and learning

TIDE Community stewards program focuses on providing training and support to community members to enhance their stewardship and collaborative work with TIDE. Training includes: marine and terrestrial ecosystems, marine and terrestrial laws of Belize and an education exchange visit to Guatemala.

Direct support to communities including a freezer provided to the Rio Grande Fishers Coop, an outboard engine provided to Monkey River Village Council and improvements to the Tour Guide Building (Monkey River)

TIDE Liaison Officer stationed in Monkey River

Use of volunteers at all levels of programming and internships for University of Belize students

The TIDE Environmental Education and Outreach Program includes school visits and presentations “…schools consider TIDE to be a credible, and informed, environmental resource which they and their communities can access and partner with. TIDE is additional described as a service provider of environmental education and resources.” Coombs (2008) Environmental Education and Outreach Program: Critical Review, field visits “Leaders were particularly satisfied that TIDE had sought their collaboration in the implementation of community activities…this approach was crucial…” Coombs (2008) Environmental Education and Outreach Program: Critical Review, Summer Camps “…annual summer camps are eagerly expected and highly recognized features of the summer break in Toledo.” Coombs (2008) Environmental Education and Outreach Program: Critical Review,  the TIDE Freshwater Cup (2008 CEPAL Social Innovation Winner) and the TIDE Scholarship Program.

The TIDE Weekend is a community based event whose goals include: raising awareness of the issue of climate change through the Youth Conservation Competition, involving young people in raising that awareness through the Youth Conservation Competition, providing an opportunity and outlet for local businesses through the Fish Fest, increasing public awareness about the work of TIDE through the entire TIDE Weekend. The vendors of food at the event all sold out, which is great! Waluco’s (the restaurant next door to TIDE) also did outstanding business, selling out on some items, including drink. TIDE is very excited about this aspect of the event, and providing a fun venue for activities that celebrated the fishing heritage of southern Belize.

Port Honduras Marine Reserve – October Bleaching Summary Report

October 2009 – Bleaching Summary Report for Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR)
Nicola L. Foster – Senior Marine Biologist and Marlon Williams – Junior Marine Biologist

On the 1st and 2nd October 2009, a bleaching survey was conducted at six sites within the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (Table 1). Two surveyors used the weighted-bar swimming transect (WBST) to assess the extent of coral bleaching at each of the sites. At each site, 200 colonies, along two transects, were assessed for paleness, partial bleaching and whole bleaching (>90%).

Colonies affected by bleaching were observed at all six sites surveyed in october 2009. The two most severely affected sites were East Snake Caye 2 and Middle Snake Caye, two of the shallowest sites surveyed. The site at Frenchman Caye was least affected by bleaching, with less than 10% of colonies exhibiting signs of bleaching. The percent of colonies affected by bleaching (pale, partial and whole) was notably less than that observed during the surveys 12 months previously in October 2008, 18% versus 48%, respectively. The lower number of colonies affected by bleaching in the current surveys suggests that bleaching is not as severe as 2008 within Port Honduras Marine Reserve. However, given the current dry, warm period surveys are recommended for the following two months (November and December).

Full report is available at the TIDE website

 

Belize Hydroelectric fined for illegal entry, damages to Toledo protected areas

Article from Amandala
http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=9215
Posted: 30/10/2009 – 10:32 AM
Author: Adele Ramos – adelescribe@gmail.com

Chief Forestry Officer, Wilber Sabido, told Amandala yesterday,Wednesday, that the Belize Hydroelectric Development and Management Company Ltd. (BHD) had been levied a $32,000 charge for damages caused to the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve when, as previously reported, workers of the company opened up several miles of road, and cleared camp sites and a helicopter landing pad without getting the required permit from the Forest Department.

Sabido said that the fine for entering the protected areas would have amounted to $1,500, in addition to the $32,000 in damages, and the company has agreed to pay all the costs. However, the company has paid only 50% of the levy and asked for 30 days to pay the balance.

Back in September, BHD had applied for a research permit, which the Forestry Department granted earlier this month, October—this even before the fine has been fully paid.

When we asked Sabido why the company has been granted the permit when there are still outstanding monies to be paid for damages, he said that the fact that BHD has applied for a research permit means “they are not trying to flee the country.”

This is a first for the Forest Department, said Sabido.

Ya’axché Conservation Trust (YCT), in an assessment detailed elsewhere in this newspaper, has indicated that based on its assessment, remediation works alone required to restore the damaged habitats are estimated at $125,000. The YCT additionally suggested other fines, but understands that it is the government that has the final say on the matter.

Sabido claimed, however, that the Department did not see the need to levy a heftier figure for remediation works because Belize’s forests are very resilient and regenerate very fast. He told Amandala that an officer of the Forest Department will accompany BHP workers on their research missions to monitor their activities.

He said that BHP’s research plan is to set gauges along the river to measure water flow.

The Hydrology Department, he said, has also been engaged and will continue to be involved in the process.

Climate Change

Just over 40 people joined TIDE in welcoming Dr. Mark Brown to Punta Gorda Belize on Sunday evening 25 October 2009. Dr. Brown presented an interesting and lively discussion of the impact of Climate Change on the world and on Belize. He shared his personal connection to Belize and his passion for introducing the topic of climate change to as many people as possible.  Dr. Brown urged the audience to calculate their carbon footprint and to share that information with neighbors and friends. Here is the link to the website that Dr. Mark Brown recommended in his presentation last night.  http://www.climatecrisis.net/ If you click on “take action” on the right hand menu, it shows you how to calculate your carbon footprint and also there are some links on how to reduce your impact.

Another way to take action is to sign on to a petition. The first encourage governments to take action at the Copenhagen meetings in December and the second is in support of keeping carbon dioxide levels within safe levels.

http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/

http://www.350.org/

The www.350.org website has a great deal of interesting information and we recommend it highly. If you are interested in the petitions the links above will take you to the sites.

We will continue to post information on climate change and invite speakers to visit in Punta Gorda to help us understand what we face in the future and ways in which we can prepare.

TIDE is hosting a Climate Change Communication Workshop on 12-13 November 2009 in Punta Gorda focused on Training Trainers to provide information to communities for more information, please contact me a rdawson (at) tidebelize.org

 

 

 

Birding Field Trip

On Saturday, 24 October 2009. The Introduction to Bird Watching Class went on a field trip. The class gathered at the TIDE office at 6:00 am (birds are early risers) and proceeded by van to Boom Creek Road. First stop, the class practiced focusing on an iguana and sighted the Keel-billed Toucan (the national bird of Belize). I missed it (again) but am determined to see it for myself soon.

The field trip was led by instructor and TIDE Terrestrial Biologist, Elmar Requena, assisted by Environmental Education Outreach Coordinator, Norman Budna, and Development Director (me) Ruth McLean Dawson. We were very fortunate to be joined by birding experts Mario Muschamp, Manager of Payne’s Creek National Park and TIDE Tour’s Guide and birding enthusiast, Agapito Pop. Also along for the trip was Paul Etienne, IT and Media Manager for TIDE, testing out new video equipment.

We made two more stops – one in a more marshy and forested area where we sighted a number of birds including a Great Egret, a green heron, a Pale-billed Woodpecker and some parakeets – the last stop was along the riverside in Boom Creek Village where we were fortunate to sight the Squirrel Cuckoo, the Yellow-crowned Night-heron, and the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird.

The full list of birds seen on our field trip:
Baltimore Oriole
While collared Manakin
Masked Tityra
Black-headed Salteater
Keel-billed Toucan
Montezuma Oropendela
White-collared Seed-Eater
Brown Jay
Pale-billed Woodpecker
Magnola Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blue-black grassquit
Little Blue Heron
Bat Falcon
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Short-billed pigeon
Olive-throated Parakeet
Green Heron
White-bellied Emerald
Slaty-tailed Trogon
Least Flycatcher
White-necked Jacobin
Rufous-tailed hummingbird
Cattle egret
Squirrel cuckoo
American redstart
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Great Kiskadee
Scaly-breasted hummingbird
Yellow-winged tanager
Black-cowled Oriole
Social Flycatcher
Yellow warbler
Zone-tail Hawk
Gray Hawk
Eastern Wood Pewee
Olive Sided Flycatcher
Common Black Hawk

Birds, birds, birds…..and kids

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of assisting TIDE Terrestrial Biologist, Elmar Requena, conduct an Introduction to Birdwatching session to young people between the ages of 12 and 15. The aim of the course is an introduction to the fantastic bird life that is found in the region (and in our backyards). Also joining the instruction team was Norman Budna, TIDE Environmental Outreach and Education Coordinator and Wilfred Mutrie, National Coordinator for Partners in Flight.

I confess, I was learner right along with the sixteen students participating. I had binoculars, the H. Lee Jones Birds of Belize book and no real idea what to do with these tools.

Following Elmar’s instruction I am beginning to really see birds and to notice the differences in size, shape, tail, beaks, and all of the other tools that birders use to distinguish one bird from another. I share an office with Elmar so he is the kind and patient tutor of all my new learning.

On this coming Saturday we will take the kids to Boom Creek Road, into the field, to practice the identification skills we have learned. We will be joined by Mario Muschamp and Agapito Pop, TIDE staff and bird enthusiasts.

We are ready – we practiced using scopes and binoculars and identification of various birds. We have our assignments for this week – write in our birding book a description of at least two birds that we have observed. I have discovered that the Great Grackle, locally known as the blackbird, is not really black but a beautiful midnight blue on his back and shoulders. I have learned that his tail is too long to be an aid in flight but rather creates his strange hopping or “lazy” flights. I studied the a bird this morning to determine if it a kiskadee or a boat billed fly-catcher, not sure as they look so similar, but I am thinking kiskadee.

I think I am hooked – will the kids be hooked as well? We will learn next Saturday and I will report.

Ruth Anne
(TIDE Development Director)

Climate Change and Belize, Blog Action Day 2009

Belize is small country making minor contributions to the emissions of global greenhouse gases and with a limited capacity to make a significant contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Belize is a small country at immense risk from the hazards associated with climate changes. A recent report Belize and Climate Change: The Costs of Inaction details the issues facing Belize if adaptive actions are not taken at all levels from government to local and is highly recommend reading.  The report characterizes the vulnerability of three economic sectors in Belize – agriculture and fisheries, energy, and tourism. You will find me quoting this outstanding work many times in the future.

Belize is a small country with low-lying coastal areas, beautiful mangrove islands (or cayes), coral reefs, beautiful beaches, marine and terrestrial protected areas and private protected areas that work toward conserving the natural resources that draw people to Belize.

There are definitely things we can do in Belize – educate ourselves about climate change and how it will impact our villages and towns and prepare plans for adaptation to changes. Belize can also recycle – only now is there legislation pending on recycling only glass. Looking at our dump sites, one can only imagine the impact if Belize were to recycle plastic.  Solid waste is an issue – Belize is working on moving sites away from where they can contaminate ground waters but more needs to be done and more quickly.

TIDE is one of several organizations working on conservation issues including Environmental Education and Outreach. Our recent Youth Conservation Competition featured young people creatively educating the audience on the impacts of climate change. On 25 October 2009 in Punta Gorda in southern Belize, TIDE will host Dr. Mark Brown from the United States to make a presentation focused on An Inconvenient Truth. In early November, TIDE will host a Training of Trainers to provide environmental and other educators information and tools to present information about climate change to their communities. TIDE is seeking funding to assist local communities in southern Belize to understand the potential and likely hazards of climate change and to prepare community based plans for adaptation. More needs to be done and we can all be a part of doing it!

Blog Action Day: Climate change resources

Some more great links to explore:

Explore the Climate Org http://bit.ly/30XSnZ

Pew Center For Climate Change Facts and Figures http://bit.ly/2y0jjF

Climate Change 101 at the Pew Center for Climate Change http://bit.ly/1DBUXk

10 Solutions for Climate Change http://bit.ly/uMB6Z

Great Climate Action information http://350.org