Lance Woolaver

Ridgway's Hawk is one of the most threatened raptors of the Caribbean
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Groups unite at last refuge for Ridgway’s Hawk

01-11-2006

Bird conservation organisations united with community groups and ecotourism guides to celebrate the World Bird Festival at Los Haitises National Park, an IBA in the Dominican Republic which provides the last refuge for the Critically Endangered Ridgway's Hawk Buteo ridgwayi.

Grupo Jaragua, community volunteers from Jaragua, and the Pedernales Association of Nature Guides joined with the eastern guide group Green Brigade for a two-day exchange in the Park. Activities included a nature hike, bird identification, mangrove reforestation, and a round-table of dialogue between the groups.

“Although defined by differences-regional, environmental and organizational- the groups were able to come together to celebrate a common respect for bird life and their conservation," said Benjamin Kushner, a Peace Corps volunteer who helped coordinate the event.

Grupo Jaragua

Participants in the World Bird Festival events at Los Haitises National Park
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Just 80 to 120 pairs of Ridgway’s Hawk survive, confined to less than 208 km² of native rainforest within Los Haitises. Studies published earlier this year (click here for more details) showed alarming levels of encroachment on the park by farmers, and high levels of human disturbance leading some hawks to abandon their nests. “Our group is dedicated to the conservation of this species,” explained Christian Reyes of Sabana de la Mar Green Brigade.

“The success of this event highlights the importance of establishing communication between different bird conservation movements across physical and organizational boundaries in the Dominican Republic,” said Itziar Olmedo, BirdLife International’s World Bird Festival Coordinator.