Vieques Birding
Community-Based Projects and Activities Supporting Education, Citizen Science, Conservation, and Community Collaboration
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Mission of the Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust (VCHT) Birding Committee
The mission of the VCHT Birding Committee is to inspire the protection and conservation of Vieques' rich environmental, archaeological, and cultural resources. With a focus on education, citizen science, conservation, and community collaboration, the VCHT Birding Committee and its Birding Team actively engage the public in meaningful scientific research through a variety of birding activities. Together, we work toward a future where these precious resources are preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
Key Aspects of the VCHT Birding Committee and Birding Team’s Work:
Education: Conducting bird walks, talks, and educational programs to raise awareness among both residents and visitors.
Citizen Science: Contributing data to eBird to track bird populations and habitat usage, essential for protecting the island's birdlife.
Conservation: Monitoring birds within the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas, which are recognized as an Important Bird Area and an Important Shorebird Site.
Community Collaboration: Conducting annual bird surveys, including breeding bird, shorebird, and waterbird surveys, as well as the Vieques Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
The VCHT Birding Committee and Birding Team invite the public to participate in free, educational bird walks and the Vieques Audubon Christmas Bird Count. We also encourage support through VCHT membership or donations to the VCHT Birding Committee’s dedicated fund for education, citizen science, and conservation.
VCHT Citizen Science Bird Walks
The Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust's Citizen Science Bird Walk program is a community-based, educational bird-watching program on Vieques aimed at identifying, documenting, and counting bird species to monitor population changes.
Participants (citizen scientists) observe and record data—using the eBird platform—to assist in conservation efforts and to better understand habitats such as mangrove forests, wetlands, and lagoons.
Bird Walks are free, but donations are encouraged to help support the work of the VCHT Birding Committee and Birding Team.
Vieques Audubon Christmas Bird Count
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the world, held annually from December 14 to January 5 by the National Audubon Society.
Thousands of volunteers across the Western Hemisphere count every bird they see within designated 15-mile diameter circles, providing critical, long-term data for scientists to track bird population trends and climate impacts.
The fifth annual Vieques Audubon CBC (and Audubon's 127th) will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2027. Preregistration is required and is easy!
Contact the VCHT Birding Team, and we will follow up. We just need your email address, your mobile phone number, your skill level, and your route preferences!
Come join the fun, and don't forget the potluck at 5:00 p.m. on January 2nd, 2027!
Need a Guide?
If you can't make a VCHT Bird Walk or arrive during the off-season, we may be able to help!
We work with several competent and qualified local guides who would love to assist you in your quest for a life bird or the opportunity to take a photograph that has escaped you in your birding travels.
Our guides are knowledgeable about wildlife, plant life, and the island's history. Be it birding or just exploring Vieques, we may be able to help.
Contact the VCHT Birding Team and we will be happy to point you in the right direction!
Balneario Sombe, Laguna Sombe, and Bahia Bioluminiscente de Puerto Mosquito
Why Does It Matter?
On a small island like Vieques, education, citizen science, conservation, and community collaboration are critical for building resilience against natural disasters, managing the toxic legacy of military bombing, and protecting fragile ecosystems.
These efforts empower residents to take local ownership, fostering sustainable economic development, improving data accuracy for coastal management, and bridging the gap between community needs and environmental preservation.
For more information on these topics, click on this link!
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