Monitoring migratory and resident birds at

Los Roques archipelago (Venezuela)

J.C. Fernndez-Ordez*, Anglica M. Len* and Toribio R. Mata*
*Fundacin Cientfica ARA MACAO, Apartado 94, 2201 San Carlos, Cojedes, Venezuela.
E-mail: aramacaovenezuela@gmail.com
This work pretends contribute through censuses and bird banding, to update information about species
that breed, migrate or spend some time at Los Roques archipelago (Venezuela). Also to demonstrate the potential value of
key locations on the migratory routes of some American birds, offer educational strategies in local communities, and
promote standardized protocols for monitoring migrant and native birds on islands. We conducted banding sessions and
transects at Mosqu Sur Cay, Gran Roque Island, Francisqu and Madrisqu cays, and other islets.

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia obscura)

Adult male & Juvenile
Habitat diversity has allowed Los Roques to be, of all the Venezuelan islands
(excluding Margarita Island), those with the greatest bird diversity. We have
recorded 102 species. Of these, 40 are North American migrants and 62
waterbirds (including seabirds) that breed. A total of 24 resident species (5
landbirds and 19 waterbirds) nest at Los Roques. In addition, the archipelago
has 6 endemic landbird subespecies: Common Ground-Dove, Brown-crested
Flycatcher, Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Black-whiskered Vireo, Yellow Warbler
and Black Bananaquit.

Laughing Gull
(Leucophaeus atricilla atricilla)

Common Ground-Dove
(Columbina passerina tortugensis)

Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola lowii)

Adult
Breeding (Resident)
(Migrant)
Non-breeding (Migrant)
Endemic subesp.
Total species recorded

Species
24
62
40
6
102

Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres morinella)

Acknowledgements - Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following persons and institutions: Lisa Sorenson, Will Mackin,
Ann Sutton and Jennifer Wheeler (BirdsCaribbean), Chris Hayne (Defenders of Wildlife), Lawrence Larry Niles and Idea Wild
(USA); Capt. Luis Farage and Med.Vet. Gilberto Borges (Fundacin de Investigaciones Marinas Francisco de
Miranda/FUNDAIMAR-Territorio Insular Francisco de Miranda), Blanca Machado and Magaly Camargo (Fundacin Cientfica Los
Roques, FCLR), Pedro Daz (Restaurant La Chuchera) (Venezuela); Manuel Grosselet (Mexico); Antonio Espaa (Spain); and Jim
Smith and Lesley Howes (Canada).