Ins & Outs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 2023

44 DISCOVER ST. VINCENT B RDS OF THEGRENADINES Published by co-authors Juliana Coffey and Alison Ollivierre, Birds of the Transboundary Grenadines is an innovative avian field guide covering the Grenadine archipelago between St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada. This is the first guide of its kind to specifically focus on these transboundary islands, which are geologically, ecologically, historically and culturally more similar to one another than to their respective mainland islands. Coffey and Ollivierre spent seven years researching and writing the book, which contains 140+ pages of high-quality photographs of the birds and natural areas of the Grenadines. By using detailed profiles, the guide provides valuable information about the identification, diet, habitat, local knowledge, and sightings of 117 species of birds. Further context is added in the form of 14 detailed maps which highlight conservation areas and local toponyms on more than 50 islands and cays. And to inject an extra degree of interest, there is a whole chapter dedicated to previously undocumented local ecological knowledge, folklore, and prehistoric-to- modern-day human values of birds. From the time the authors first discussed the merits of a more regionally specific field guide for the Grenadines back in 2011, their goals increased significantly from merely producing a simple publication for interested locals and visitors, to developing a valuable resource for local bird monitors to learn about the various species and carry out more meaningful surveys. As a bonus, this important educational tool has also gone on to promote sustainable tourism initiatives and enhance the overall conservation and management of Grenadine resources. Thanks to the fact that the authors’ researchwent beyond conventional bird profiles, by conducting extensive interviews to document the unwritten, local ecological knowledge and folklore embedded inGrenadines’ culture, this book has the capacity to preserve that priceless knowledge for future generations. One interesting aspect revealed by these interviews is a rich cultural association with birds throughout the archipelago. Such as the unique local bird names, traditional superstitions, and the representation of birds in art; as well as detailed information on how fisherfolk and sailors often rely on birds to find fish, understand weather patterns Royal Terns & Sandwich Terns of the Grenadines Birds