Save British Virgin Islands Marine Area

Birds Sighted at Beef Island Salt Ponds, the British Virgin Islands

Beef Island is adjacent and east of Tortola, the largest and most inhabited of the British Virgin Islands (BVI).  The British Virgin Islands form the eastern extent of the Greater Antilles on the Puerto Rico Bank, 105 km east of San Juan.  To the South East, 130 km, is Anguilla, the northernmost island of the Lesser Antilles.  During the Pleistocene period, BVI was part of the Puerto Rico volcanic land mass.  When the sea level rose, islands formed and isolated biomes were created.   Beef Island with its high tree covered escarpment jutting into Drake's Channel is best known for Lettsome International Airport that serves Tortola.  Beef Island also has the most diverse assemblage of salt ponds of any island east of Puerto Rico.   

Egretta caerula,  Little Blue Heron.  A white immature and dark blue adult were observed wading in  Buff Bay Salt Pond on April 14, 2011. 

Nycticorax violaceus,  Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron.  One was observed at Mangrove Pond on April 14, 2011.  Of the five salt ponds on Beef Island, Mangrove Pond is mostly mangroves.  The Yellow-crowned Night Heron was stalking through the mangroves.

Anas bahamensis, White-Cheeked Pintail.  Five were seen residing on Banana Bluff Salt Pond on April 14, 2011 and again on April 17, 2011.

Rallus longirostris, Clapper Rail.  Three were observed at Banana Bluff Salt Pond on April 14, 2011.  An explosive "kek, kek, kek" staccato from across the pond was immediately answered by" Kekking" perhaps 50 meters to the right.  The caller commenced to chase another over and under mangrove roots.  To me the pursuit looked more laborious than if only the birds had step a little bit onto the shore.  There is reason for locals calling clapper rails "mangrove hens."

Charadrius wilsonia Wilson's Plover.  Two were observed at Buff Bay Salt Pond on April 14 and April 17, 2011.  Eight were observed on Banana Bluff Salt Pond on April 14 and six on April 17, 2011. 

Himantopus mexicanus Black-Necked Stilt.  Four were observed on Banana Bluff Salt Pond on April 14 and were not seen on April 17, 2011.  Very chatty birds calling "whit, whit, whit" courting and breeding.

Tringa flavipes Lesser Yellowlegs. Two birds observed on Banana Bluff Salt Pond on April 14 and 17, 2011.  On shore patrol, lesser yellowlegs walked the edge of pond and shore with Wilson's plovers.

Calidris fuscicollis  White-Rumped Sandpiper.  Seventeen seen on Banana Bluff Salt Pond on April 14 and were not seen April 17, 2011.  These birds were actively feeding showing more tails than heads.

Margarops fuscatus  Pearly-eyed Thrasher.  One was seen walking the ground between Mangroves next to Bluff Bay Salt Pond April 17, 2011.

Bluff Bay Salt Pond (foreground), Hans Creek Lagoon (beyond), mangroves and coral Reefs at Beef Island

I am interested in the salt ponds of Beef Island because foreign developers of global fame at the invitation of government are planning to destroy the salt ponds.  The Virgin Island Environmental Council was formed by Islanders to protect the pristine nature still found on Beef Island and along its shores.  The Ocean River Institute is providing the means for locals to bring barristers from London to defend their natural resources.

To assist the new Virgin Island Environmental Council, the Ocean River Institute is reaching out across the U.S., Great Britain, Bermuda and the Caribbean for your support in writing the to Premier and urging him to hold developers accountable to environmental regulations and to not despoil marine areas of great natural and social value.

VIEC Concerns Justified in Court Hearing

Virgin Island Environmental Council