The tips below will help improve the data collected for the Christmas Bird Count, the Caribbean Water Bird Census, and for other research purposes.
eBird - Please use eBird. If you are unfamiliar with the app or need assistance using it, please contact the VCHT Birding Team. Merlin is a great companion app, and both are free.
eBird Help Center - Use this link to visit the eBird Help Center, where you will find lots of great resources.
eBird and Merlin iPhone Settings for Vieques, Puerto Rico (PDF)
Lagoons - Due to the importance of lagoons on the island for waterbirds, all lagoons should have a unique checklist and not be combined with non-lagoon routes or locations.
Locations - If a general location is selected that might not make it clear that a lagoon is being surveyed, and you can not find the lagoon in the location menu, then make a note in the comment field that the checklist is for that specific lagoon (e.g., Bahia Tapon, the Salitral-Southside, Kiani, etc.).
Long Routes - If the route is long, for example three to four miles, break the route into separate areas. For example, a route might be from the VNWR gate to Playa La Chiva with side trips to Punta Galindez and Playa Caracas. This should be broken into three checklists—VNWR Gate to La Chiva, the road to Punta Galindez, and the road to Caracas. If a stop was made at Bahia Tapon on the way to Caracas (because Bahia Tapon is a lagoon) that should be entered as a separate checklist. It is also helpful to put your beginning and ending locations in the comments section. eBird routes should never exceed five miles in length.
Shorebird Identification
peep sp. (Calidris sp.) is the taxonomy used when you are unable to identify small, similar-looking shorebirds such as the Least, Semipalmated, and Western Sandpiper. If you are unsure, enter them into eBird as peep sp. and share your best guess in the details field.
shorebird sp. (Charadriiformes sp.) is the taxonomy used when you are unable to identify larger shorebirds such as Stilt Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Pectoral Sandpipers. Because this category is seldom used, you may have to add it to your checklist (Can't find your bird? --> Search All Species) and then eBird will ask you for comments. You can then share your best guess, using size and color and shape as descriptors. After you have used this for a while eBird will adjust and not question your entry.
Lesser/Greater Yellowlegs should be used when you know that the birds are yellowlegs but they are too far away to determine whether they are lesser or greater.
large shorebird sp. (Scolopacidae sp.) does not apply to Vieques and is used for shorebirds found primarily in Europe and Asia.
Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Protocol - Use the CWC Protocol when surveying lagoons and other locations where waterbirds are found. The data goes into a Caribbean-wide data base used to track herons, egrets, rails, shorebirds, etc. Do not use the CWC Protocol, however, when you do a survey of land birds at your house, Cerro El Buey, Mt. Pirata, etc. At locations like these, you will need to revert back to the standard eBird PR protocol as you do not want your land bird checklist sent to CWC group. It is fine to report land birds when doing a waterbird survey, but they should not be the focus of your birding.