Here you will find a brief overview of RSCF's eastern Caribbean programs. For in-depth information, click the links below. If you have trouble viewing the documents, click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader, or choose the HTML (no photos) option.

In Dominica, RSCF staff members, working with The Division of Forestry, spend countless hours in the rainforest observing parrots' social behaviors and making photographic and audio records of individual animals. Monitoring nest cavities has been a focal point for this project. In 1998 RSCF was able to record live, video footage of Jaco chicks and eggs in natural nest cavities, using a specially designed video probe. Images like this provide, for the first time ever, information regarding the size and depth of nest cavities, clutch size and infant mortality. In 1998 a remote, time-lapse surveillance camera system was also put into place to observe an active nest tree. Forestry workers on Dominica can now record breeding activity for an entire season using this camera system. Prior to this workers were in the field for up to 18 hours daily monitoring nesting activity.
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Nest Cavity Monitoring

© RSCF
RSCF Director, Paul R. Reillo, Ph.D. and Dominican Forestry workers monitor parrot nest sites using a telescoping camera system.

Jaco Feeding in Rainforest Tree

Since 1997, RSCF and the Dominican government have partnered to research Dominica's Sisserou and Jaco parrots (Amazona imperialis and A. arausiaca, respectively), and to conserve the Sisserou--Dominica's national bird, rarest of all Amazon parrots, and flagship species for the eastern Caribbean's largest, intact oceanic rain forest ecosystem. This program is multifaceted, and includes:

extending formal, legal protection to the forests surrounding Morne Diablotin, the entire home range for the Sisserou

developing management and conservation strategies with the Forestry Division

coordinating support for ongoing research, staff capacity building and education programs with public zoological facilities, other non-profit organizations, and NGO's.

Overcoming nearly 20 years of obstacles and setbacks, RSCF and the Government of Dominica have successfully protected over 9,000 acres of oceanic rain forest on the slopes of the region's tallest volcano, Morne Diablotin, as Dominica's third national park. The Morne Diablotin National Park was officially declared on January 21, 2000 by Dominica's president, Vernon L. Shaw. This conservation milestone will likely produce the second Natural World Heritage Site for the Caribbean, and the second for Dominica. RSCF incurred substantial debt to help create the park on schedule, and now we need your help so we can continue tangible, cost-effective conservation programs in Dominica and other priority areas.
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© RSCF
Dominican coastline.

Click here for a slideshow of images from Dominica.

Click here for images of the Imperial Amazon.

Click here for images of the Red-neck Amazon.

Click here for video footage of a Sisserou chick filmed in a nest cavity.

RSCF proposes to significantly enhance conservation capacity in the Caribbean under the Morne Diablotin National Park program. Underwritten to date by an international blend of conservation partners, this new, replicable and pragmatic conservation model promises to broaden the scope of conservation science and accelerate habitat preservation for Dominica's imperiled ecosystems.

Another component vital to the survival of the Amazon parrots on Dominica is captive breeding. Currently a small group of six Jacos and two Sisserou is housed at the Parrot Conservation and Research Centre located in Rouseau, the capital city. In 1998 RSCF staff helped completely refurbish the aviary exhibits with new perches, privacy blinds, nest box maintenance and dietary suggestions and supplements. The Higgins Group of Miami, FL has generously donated seed and pellets to the aviary, greatly improving the birds' diet.

RSCF will continue to partner with Forestry to manage the captive parrots. With two, young, healthy Sisserous at the PCRC, the Forestry Division now has the opportunity to study pair-bonding and courtship behaviour, development, and reproduction in a controlled setting. A Sisserou breeding program will complement ongoing field and research efforts. Establishing a reservoir population may avert extinction from hurricanes or other catastrophes.
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