Dominica's Birds

• Description

This fully illustrated book describes local and Caribbean endemic species found on Dominica, as well as several neo-tropical migrant species. The first section describes interactions between birds with humans, followed by a brief overview of Dominica's bird life. The next section examines local laws as they pertain to birds on the island, as well as the protection of the country's bird life. The following section, "Birds in Our Everyday Lives" presents examples of Dominican mountains, place names and establishments, sports and cultural groups, fruits, plants, etc. that have been named after local birds. Two other sections are devoted to the "avian heritage" of Dominica, with local proverbs and metaphors (in the native Kweyol language) centered around birds. The most important section, which describes 65 species of birds, also presents local folklore associated with some of the species such as the story of the Mangrove Cuckoo, the origin of the "little cap" of the Antillean Crested Hummingbird, the fidgety movements of a perched scaly-naped pigeon, and the reason why the broad-winged hawk allegedly "steals" chickens, among many other tales.