| An Annotated Checklist | James W Riley | BOC | 2021 | Paperback | 352 Pages | 32 Colour Plates | ISBN: 9780952288688 | £37.50 |
The Publisher’s View: The southern end of the Lesser Antilles is an area rich in neotropical birdlife, especially breeding seabirds. Three biogeographic areas – the island of St Vincent, the island of Grenada, and the shared Grenadine island chain connecting them – comprise two countries, officially named St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. This detailed study of their ornithology treats them ecologically and functionally as three separate entities. Begun around 2009 as an analysis of the avifauna of the nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines, it was fortunately expanded to include the nation of Grenada, together with its Grenadines.
Collectively, 200 species, 81 of which have bred, have been reported from all three island groups. Currently, three single-island endemic species are known (St Vincent Parrot, Whistling Warbler and Grenada Dove), with two more endemics across the region (Grenada Flycatcher and Lesser Antillean Tanager), but with extensive molecular work in progress or planned, up to a dozen endemic species would not be surprising. Unexpectedly, another 85 species in the literature were unable to be confirmed. Many unreported or unconfirmed species probably have occurred or do still occur, some even annually, but coverage remains sparse and erratic over large areas. As evidence of this, the seven new species and two new breeders in the Addendum were added while the book was in production.
This book extends the checklist series from St Lucia south to Grenada, and provides a wealth of information for all students of West Indian birds, from casual birders to university professors.
The Author: James W Wiley was a field biologist and conservationist who became an expert of Caribbean avifauna. He sadly died of cancer in September 2018. This work was almost complete and several people strove to ensure that it was published and that all of James’ meticulous work was not wasted.
Fatbirder View: We birders tend to think a checklist is a convenience for our listing efforts. Obviously, such checklists are gleaned from wider scientific work. A proper ornithological checklist for any given area is a record of the status of all birds recorded in that area in detail.
This calls for much meticulous work collecting and collating data which, naturally changes over time. Sadly, some birds are extirpated or even go extinct, others expand their range or are, often disastrously, introduced by man. Populations wax or wane because of habitat changes, climate and a myriad other reasons.
Good conservation depends on data. Records are compared with these other changes in order to allow restoration projects or warn of impending danger.
So, the late Mr Wiley has established a baseline for these islands, but so much more too, with sections on each island, habitats and more. This is not just some esoteric tome for ornithologists, local birders and visitors will find much information to fuel their studies or observations.
Fatbirder