In March 2022 I returned to Université Chrétienne du Nord d'Haïti (UCNH)
in northern Haiti to reconnect and teach a short biology course. I also visited
the mangroves that I surveyed in March 2020 under a small BirdsCaribbean grant.
This time, Elio took me to the shore side of the mangroves. We walked the
mile-long stretch which was a narrow (<1m) strip of sandy shore covered in
plastic trash for almost the entire length. Two of the 3 paths that we followed into
the mangroves led to areas cleared for charcoal. We heard several yellow
warblers in the mangrove, and saw one sandpiper along the shore, along with
washed up pieces of coral and sponges. In the mainland side of the mangrove, we
saw glossy ibis, greater yellowlegs, and black-necked stilts.
Sponge
Cleared for charcoal
Spotted sandpiper
Trash on the beach.
Black-necked stilt, glossy ibis, greater yellowlegs in front.