Caribbean birdwatching holiday

A multi island birding trip, especially one that incorporates ferry travel between islands, is a much better way to visit several islands of the Caribbean than taking multiple long haul flights to visit and bird on any one individual island on multiple holidays. One international flight gets you to the region, you bird the islands, enjoy the sunshine and head home. The cumulative amount of jet fuel used on small inter-island flights is certainly far less than the cumulative effect of multiple international flights. On top of this we always do our absolute best to ensure that the flights we take between islands are direct with no stops in other islands. We also incorporate the use of ferry travel between islands wherever possible.

Food on this trip is grown by local small farmers who supply our hotels and restaurants, or fish responsibly caught in local waters. The small fish we will consume are caught by local fishermen using spear guns, snorkel and masks and any large fish, such as marlin or tuna, are also caught responsibly by local fishermen on small locally constructed boats using hook and line.

Many of the species of bird we target on this ‘Birds of the Caribbean’ tour are critically endangered. We highlight the causes of this plight to our clients, so as to raise awareness amongst them and inform them of local and international issues contributing to the species’ endangered status. Habitat loss is one of the largest contributors to their plight and we ensure that we inform our clients of this.

We share the ideology and belief that only by developing a vested interest amongst the local population of each island in their environment and the economic advantages to be gained through sustainable ecotourism can we hope to ensure the preservation of the vulnerable species and habitats of the Lesser Antillean region.

We recognize the importance of hiring local transport operators to take us to birding sites, we support local culinary establishments and stay in locally owned accommodation. This helps nurture a sense of inclusion and involvement with conservation policies amongst the local community. This also gives the local communities a financial incentive to preserve the species and the habitats these species rely on, in order to ensure that birding visitors continue to come to their islands.