Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to J. A. Ottenwalder.
The future looks bleak for the manatee population in the waters around Haiti. Results of a survey conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service suggest that numbers have declined drastically over the last 50 years. The best hope for the few remaining is that the hunting expertise will vanish with the older generation.
Isla Beata and Isla Alto Velo are small satellites of the Dominican Republic, lying off its southwestern coast. We visited Isla Beata between 26–30 July 1977 and 20–21 October 1978. We explored Isla Alto Velo on 22 October 1978. In addition we made aerial surveys of the islands in 1977 and 1980. In our surveys we found 34 species, including 16 land birds, not before reported for Isla Beata. The Hispaniolan Parakeet (Aratinga chloroptera) and Hispaniolan Woodpecker (Mélanerpes striatus) are reported for the first time from offshore islands. This brings the number of reported species for Isla Beata to 93, with 44 land birds. We found 22 species on Isla Alto Velo, for a total of 27 species, including 12 land birds, for the island.
Although flamingos in Haiti can still be found in most areas of their historical range, survey results indicate that numbers have declined drastically over the last 50 years. The coastal mangrove lagoons between Grand Saline and Gonaïves, the inland lakes of Étang Saumâtre and Trou Caïman, and Ile de la Gonâve have been, and remained, the major areas used by flamingos. The species has been extripated from areas with high human population densities (Ile à Vache, Les Cayes, and Cap-Haïtien). No evidence of breeding activity was obtained. The last nesting colony known to occur in Haiti was reported in 1928. Available data suggest that Haiti is mostly utilized by flamingos for feeding and roosting during non-breeding, winter dispersal from Great Inagua, and perhaps Cuba. Flamingo numbers in Haiti are estimated at about 900 (±600) birds. Population trends in Haiti are likely declining due to increasing human disturbance, habitat degradation, and exploitation for food and trade.