Environmental scientists visit Les Cayes

Dr. Donald Huggins working at a stream.

The Audubon Center of Les Cayes announces the visit of three environmental scientists who will present a water quality workshop to officials in the Southern Department of Haiti during the first week of May.  Dr. Donald Huggins, Dr. Gary Welker, and Prof. Debbie Baker are aquatic ecologists with the University of Kansas and Kansas Biological Survey, USA.  They will present a day-long workshop about the importance of watersheds to the health of the environment and the people, as well as train participants in evaluating water quality of Haiti's lakes and rivers.

In addition, Friday May 3 at 4pm at the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes, Dr. Huggins will give a public presentation about the importance of watersheds.  Everyone is invited! 

Prof. Baker and Dr. Welker on a Kansas lake.

Dr. Huggins and Prof. Baker will also hold a 3-day workshop on these issues for students of the American University of the Caribbean.

Thanks to the University of Kansas for contributing to travel funding for this trip!

March Water Quality and Ecology Workshop

Congratulations to the 17 American University of the Caribbean students who completed the recent Water Quality and Ecology Workshop taught by Chris Bowser of Marist College and the National Estuarine Research Reserve in New York, USA.

Along with children from the nearby HELO orphanage and a Marist College team, the AUC class monitored the stream at the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes, and went to Bamboola Beach to study the estuary and coastal zone.  Some of the AUC students proved to be excellent fishermen!  AUC students became the teachers, each showing small groups of young kids from the HELO school the beauty of local wildlife and conservation messages.

Upcoming events at AUC - Ag Day, birding, and water quality

Chris Bowser

This week, Chris Bowser of Marist College and the National Estuarine Research Reserve in New York, USA is visiting the American University of the Caribbean to teach a water quality workshop to juniors and seniors.

 

Celebrate Agriculture Day at the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes, May 1 - 3.  We may even host a birding watching event the morning of Friday May 3 at the garden.  Contact Debbie Baker (debbieauc at gmail.com) if you are interested.

Debbie Baker and Don Huggins at a lake in Kansas.

 

The first week of May aquatic ecologists Dr. Donald Huggins and Debbie Baker of the Kansas Biological Survey, USA will be at AUC to teach an aquatic ecology workshop to the sophomores.  Dr. Huggins will also give a campus-wide seminar about environmental engineering. 

Visiting the Audubon Center

To make your visit to the Audubon Center in Les Cayes even easier, Bradt recently released its travel guide for Haiti, by Paul Clammer.  Follow this link to facebook to find out more about the guide.

The Audubon Center is located on the campus of the American University of the Caribbean (AUC).  AUC is located in Haiti's 3rd largest city, Les Cayes, on the southern coast of Haiti.  AUC is on Route Nationale #2, on the right just past the 'arch' as one enters Les Cayes coming from the east.  Buses run to and from Port au Prince daily.  Charted flights can be arranged into the Antoine-Simon Airport just north of town.  AUC's address is B.P. 3, Route Nationale #2 Charpentier Les Cayes, Haiti, (509) 3444-0997

Société Audubon Haiti

Société Audubon Haiti has a new website!  If you are in Haiti, there are many birding resources you can purchase at their office at Quisqueya University in Port au Prince (Campus Université Quisqueya, Jean Paul II, Haut Turgeau, PaP, 509-2949-9000).  Or stop by the Audubon Center at the American University of the Caribbean in Les Cayes to preview these books.


       

2012 Christmas Bird Count

Wilson's Plover.

We had a successful Christmas Bird Count yesterday around Les Cayes.  This 3rd annual event started with a talk Friday by the Haiti Audubon Society, lead by AUC graduate Anderson Jean.  Saturday four groups and about 18 participants saw  63 species in our 15 mile circle.  See the 2013 posting for results.

Anderson Jean and Sean Christensen organized this year's count.  (Photos by Debbie Baker and Sean Christensen). 

The Les Cayes bird count circle.

Seminar by the Haiti Audubon Society.

At mangroves east of Les Cayes.

Birding at 300m at Picot.

At sea level at Gelee Beach.

Counting the shore birds at Gelee Beach.

Student and teacher seminars

A teacher demonstrating visual aids.

Last week James and I held two bird conservation seminars at the school MEBSH de Simon.  Twenty-five high school students from 4 local schools attended the Friday afternoon seminar.  Saturday afternoon, 16 primary school teachers from 9 schools came to learn about the importance of birds.  One came from a school 1 hour away.  An AUC student assisted us that day.  We gave each teacher 2 posters donated by the Audubon Society of Haiti.  Several invited us to their schools to teach their students.  Stay tuned for an upcoming post about teaching in these schools with AUC student volunteers.

MEBSH de Simon

James teaching the high schoolers.