Dominica joins Regional Caribbean States with Endemic Birds Festival to highlight laws protecting birds

“Spread Your Wings for Bird Conservation” is the theme for this year’s celebration of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.
At dozens of events throughout the region including Dominica, participants of all ages will learn about the different laws and programs that protect the region's unique birds, and how everyone can participate in activities that help safeguard their long-term survival.
According to a release, the festival, now in its 15th year, is led by BirdsCaribbean, the largest organization devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean. The month-long festival includes Caribbean-wide activities beginning Earth Day (April 22), through to International Biodiversity Day (May 22), in more than twenty countries.
The festival also celebrates the 173 bird species that are found only in the Caribbean, and attracts over 80,000 participants and volunteers each year.  “Keeping wild birds as pets in cages is engrained in some Caribbean cultures,” commented Leo Douglas, President of BirdsCaribbean.
He continued “Through education campaigns carried out as part of our festival, we want to make sure people know these activities are illegal and could cause a species to decline, and eventually become extinct. It’s up to all of us to be good stewards of our environment, so that our invaluable natural heritage is preserved for all Caribbean people to enjoy.”
Festival activities include a diverse array of public events including bird-watching excursions, lectures, seminars, photographic exhibitions, school-based art and costume competitions, church services, media campaigns, and theatrical productions all in recognition of the region's rich bird life, natural heritage, and interconnectedness of regional habitats to global events.