News > The College Collaborates to Protect Endangered Songbird
The College of The Bahamas Collaborates to Protect Endangered Songbird Travelling more than 1,500 miles across land and sea, weary and ravenous, they arrive in paradise hoping to find a place to call home for the winter. The winter nesting grounds for the endangered Kirtland's Warbler are spread throughout the islands of The Bahamas. Research on the small songbird is an on-going project for many avid biologists, scientists, researchers and students who make up The Kirtland's Warbler Research and Training Project. The project's primary focus is to study the migratory patterns of these birds from Michigan to The Bahamas. The College of The Bahamas plays an integral role in the continued research and conservation efforts of the Kirtland's Warbler in partnership with the Bahamas National Trust, U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy. The project began in 2001 in Andros and quickly spread to Eleuthera in 2002 after several of the birds were discovered on that island. According to The Bahamas National Trust, the project's primary goal is to provide field experience and training to Bahamian biologists, while working on an internationally important conservation project examining the winter habitat requirements of birds in The Bahamas, specifically the endangered Kirtland's Warbler. "The College of The Bahamas was contacted by the Bahamas National Trust [BNT] because they felt we could provide the kind of field hands able to do all the necessary research and tests," says Lionel Johnson, Assistant Professor and Chairperson of The College's School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences. "For a number of years, we've been able to recommend excellent Biology-Chemistry majors to work with the project."  Scott Johnson, a Biology and Chemistry major at The College, is involved in the programme, inspired by his passion for nature and zest for research on the Kirtland's Warbler and other endangered species. "I love all animals, I want to become a doctor of vertebra zoology, which means I like to study animals," explains Scott. "I also want to be working with palaeontology, which is the study of ancient life, fossils." His work with the project has afforded him the opportunity to live and work in Eleuthera and Michigan, the Kirtland's Warbler migratory homes. For Scott, partnerships are critical for the preservation of this important bird population. "Partnerships are very important because a lot of the birds found in Michigan come down to The Bahamas, so whatever happens during the wintering grounds is going to affect the bird populations on the breeding grounds. We must have that cohesion between the two powers to manage habitat within The Bahamas," says Scott. Upon returning to The Bahamas, each student working on the project is required to offer public presentations at The College, schools and other public fora. Scott recently hosted a public presentation entitled, "Managing Wildlife Habitat in The Bahamas." In a packed auditorium with more than 70 students, faculty and staff, Scott shared stories about his experiences working for the project and his interactions with various habitats in The Bahamas and, in turn, how research and conservation efforts play a vital role in the maintenance of a balanced ecosystem. Scott hopes his public presentations will spark a greater interest and appreciation for research by Bahamian biologists. "Research is extremely important. Currently there's not a lot of Bahamians going out into the field to conduct research," expressed Scott. "We need more well-trained, experienced Bahamians conducting research on a consistent basis so we do not have to depend on foreigners to do what we are well capable of doing."  "When I get my degree as a doctor, I want to return home and continue to do research and write papers to help further establish The Bahamas as a great place to conduct research." In the meantime, Scott will return to Michigan to continue the Kirtland's Warbler Research and Training Project. His commitment to the conservation of the songbird will help to protect a fragile species for generations to come. Many students and faculty of The College are involved in various research projects aimed at creating the kind of knowledge that can inform policymakers. For more information on the Kirtland's Warbler Project, visit The Bahamas National Trust's Web site at www.bnt.bs.
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