Scouting the Limbe rice fields - Trip 3

Look closely for the flock of around 80 glossy ibis passing over the rice fields!

17 Mar. 2020 On our way back to UCNH after teaching about birds at Bon Berger school on the outskirts of Limbe, Wilnise, Elio, and I stopped to see the birds that flock to the rice fields along National Route 1. Each morning large flocks of glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) fly from the east to these fields, and each evening return to wherever they roost, perhaps along the Baie de l’Acul. We walked into a small patch of mango trees to find a suitable place to regularly survey with our spotting scope. We saw at least 100 glossy ibis! As well as cattle and great egrets and one green heron.

We planned to return during a morning to spend more time surveying. And also planned to return to the mangroves at Camp Louise that coming Saturday. But two days later on 19 March, two confirmed cases of COVID19 were discovered, Haiti shut down its borders to people entering and exiting the country, and I was left scrambling for a flight back to the US. So this project is on hold until people are able to freely travel in Haiti. Thanks to BirdCaribbean for helping us with this great start! Our conference to train the local school teachers in using BirdSleuth materials is on hold until I can get back to Haiti. In the meantime, I left materials with my assistants so they can commence birding and teaching once the pandemic passes and kids resume school, this fall I hope.

Wilnise and Elio teaching about birds at Bon Berger.