Big Year Update: March

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron 

I was still playing catchup in March, because of the poor start I had in both big year challenges, but April could be the make or break month.  With the island recording cases of COVID-19, government understandably was force to restrict the movement of citizens  until the middle of April.   April normally is a slow period for birding, added to that, the drought conditions that  we are now facing have left most of the wet areas dry, thus affecting the likelihood of attracting migratory birds. But it is the start of the northern migration period and though not as impactful as the winter - southern migration, in terms of the number of birds passing, it does present the opportunity for a few year birds and/or even lifers. I also still need a few images of a few wintering birds that may not be here by the end of April. This  though will depend on if the government's restrictions does not go pass the middle of the month. Lets hope not because it would mean our situation has worsen, and that would not be good.

Please join the fight by staying at home and practicing social distancing and we will beat this virus.

Here are the updates:
For the Big Year 2020 challenge, I added three species, moving my year tally to seventy-six for the year. There were:

• Masked Duck - Nomonyx dominicus
• Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
• Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax

And for the Photographic Big Year six new images of ending the month with fifteen images:

10. Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

11. Barbados Bullfinch (Loxigilla barbadensis)

12. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

13. Ruff (Calidris pugnax)

14. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

15. Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Just remember birding is a hobby so please make wise choices, practice social distancing and follow the regulations the government put in place in the region you are in. Stay safe!