Research continues to locate Black Capped Petrel

DOMINICA:  The Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division is on a mission to locate the Black Capped Petrel locally known as the ‘Diablotin’.
A team from Grupo Jaragua from the Dominican Republic led by Dr. George Wallace of the American Bird Conservancy is currently on island for two weeks to conduct the research.
The Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division is hopeful that with extensive on the ground experience of this group, a nesting site or even a Black Capped Petrel will be found.
At a press conference on Friday April 15^th, Assistant Forest Officer, Stephen Durand, gave some information about the Black Capped Petrel.
“The Black Capped Petrel is a bird that has been on Dominica for a very long time. The last recorded sightings are in Roseau near the Peebles Park in 1932 and the last time someone had a bird in hand was in 2007 in Trafalgar.”
Dr. Wallace says the sole purpose of the American Bird Conservancy organization is to conserve native birds and their habitats. He anticipates a good outcome after this research.
“We look particularly at those species which are most in trouble from a conservation stand point throughout this region. The Black Capped Petrel is specie of concern globally because it is considered endangered and has a population of about five thousand individuals and we know very little about it. That makes it difficult to know what may be threatening the bird and what we could do to overcome those threats.” Dr. Wallace said.
The Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division will be hosting the 13^th annual Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival from April 22nd to May 22nd.