Wild Tobago

Faraaz Abdool writes about the birds that you might see in wetlands all around Tobago. Let’s learn to recognize them and allow them to co-exist in our space. All photos by Faraaz Abdool   On an island as small as Tobago, inland bodies of water are not exactly common. It seems like somewhat of a reversal for a land mass wholly surrounded by water to then encase other bodies   of water. Whether there is a connection to the surrounding ocean or not, inland waterways support unique and essential ecosystems. The gentle topography of southwest Tobago allows water rushing down from the central hills to come to a relaxed pace, depositing sediment and widening passages en route to the ocean. While we tend to associate webbed feet with water – ducks, gulls, and terns – there are countless other species that rely heavily on the presence and flow of water through the land.    After spearing a fish, an Anhinga tosses it into the air to position it for swa...

Faraaz Abdool discusses these elegantly shaped wading birds. If you enjoy his way of helping us to see birds, look for the newest birding publication on Amazon, Casual Birding in Trinidad and Tobago. All photos are by Faraaz Abdool. Some of the most commonly encountered birds are members of the family Ardeidae, with their distinctive shape and gait. Often long-legged and long-necked, these lithe masters of the sit-and-wait are fixtures around coasts and waterways all over the world. This global family consists of around 63 species, of which more than a third has been recorded within Trinidad and Tobago. Herons, bitterns and egrets share many of the same characteristics. They all have a long, pointed bill at the end of a long neck that is often held in an ‘S’ shape. When retracted, these birds look comically stocky – but let this not fool you. This is the proverbial coiled spring, the cocked gun, and the drawn bow – ready to let fly at a moment’s notice. That poi...

Faraaz Abdool discusses how the resident birdlife of Bon Accord Lagoon signals a welcome for visiting species; making this part of Tobago a birdwatchers’ haven. (All photos courtesy Faraaz Abdool; see faraazabdool.com) First published in the Tobago Newsday, March 29, 2018 One of the most densely populated areas in Tobago holds a treasured and under-appreciated secret. In low-lying marshy southwestern Tobago,  a vibrant and unique ecosystem supports all forms of life, from crabs that spend all their lives clinging to mangrove roots to birds that fly halfway around the world and back every year. During their breeding season, heightened hormonal levels cause subtle changes in the plumage of some species of Herons such as this Green Heron. The Bon Accord Lagoon and surrounding wetlands have unfortunately been described as “barren” and in need of “development” – as if it isn’t already a complex, functioning system of critical players essential to the survival of not only...