The Yearly Return of Caribbean Martins

Caribbean Martin (M) at its
Pile Bay nesting ground

Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement of birds between breeding and wintering or non-breeding grounds.  The Caribbean region is used as a pit stop for birds en route to South America, or the wintering ground for most migrants but a few species do breed in the Caribbean and migrate.

Caribbean Martin  taking a drink - St, Lucy

Caribbean Martins (Progne dominicensis) is one such species.  Research has shown that some birds winter in South America¹ and return to the Caribbean region in February.  Here in Barbados, we are starting to see them returning and hearing them call around breeding sites.  I have heard of, or have seen over ten nesting colonies throughout the island - in and around Bridgetown, using traffic and street lights for nesting, to areas along the east coast, the sea walls at Ocean City, St. Philip, or the roof of the beach facility at Barclays Park St. Andrew to the north at Mount Gay Distillery and Animal flower Cave, St. Lucy.  The Breeding season starts in April through to August² and most birds are gone by November, with a few wintering here.

Female on the power lines preening 
Cattlewash St. Joseph

So as your move around keep an eye out for these outstanding flier, effortlessly hawking for insects over “These fields and hills beyond recall [that] Are now our very own".  Like me, I am sure you will be amazed by the quickness and agility of Caribbean Martins.

¹Geolocator Data Reveal the Migration Route and Wintering Location of a Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) - Noah G. Perlut, Thomas C. Klak, Eldar Rakhimberdiev - The Wilson J. of Ornithology, 129(3):605-610 (2017)

²Birds ofBarbados An Annotated Checklist - Buckley, Massiah, Hutt, et al