This duck species was named by 19th century Jamaican naturalist Richard Hill.
Island residents and tourists of all ages are invited to the free grand opening of the exhibit Women, People of Color, and the Making of Natural History in the Caribbean, on Tuesday, February 9 from 6-10pm at Amuseum Naturalis in Grand Case.
The exhibit is a special series at Amuseum Naturalis, created to shine a light on the contributions of women and people of color in the study of natural history in the Caribbean, from the 1600s to the early 1900s. The exhibit brings their discoveries, explorations and stories to life with vivid biographical snapshots and reproductions of beautiful historical zoological and botanical illustrations, engravings, portraits and maps.
“The historical contributions of women and people of color to science have often been hidden, suppressed, or simply not as well publicized as those of their white male contemporaries, and this is just as true in the Caribbean as elsewhere,” explains Jenn Yerkes, Amuseum Naturalis co-curator and Les Fruits de Mer President. “We wanted to create an opportunity for people to discover the fascinating stories of these incredible women and men who helped to build the scientific heritage of the Caribbean.”
The exhibit’s launch will include the 19th century mixed-race Jamaican naturalist and abolitionist Richard Hill.The free, public exhibit will launch Tuesday night with the first installation of the series, which will include captivating figures such as naturalist and scientific artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 – 1717), known for her expedition to Suriname to document Caribbean insects, reptiles, birds, and plants; Graman Quassi (ca. 1690 – ca. 1780), a renowned Surinamese healer and botanist of African descent; Richard Hill (1795-1872), a trailblazing mixed-race naturalist and anti-slavery activist from Jamaica; and Felipe Poey (1799-1891), a Cuban zoologist known for his pioneering study of Caribbean marine life. The upcoming installations will be added throughout the run of the exhibit, so there will be new additions for visitors to enjoy every week. The exhibit will coincide with Black History Month and run through International Women’s Day, March 8, 2016.
Women, People of Color, and the Making of Natural History in the Caribbean will be on display in the special exhibit hall of Amuseum Naturalis, Les Fruits de Mer’s free pop-up museum of natural history located at 96 Boulevard de Grand Case. Amuseum Naturalis is open to the public on Tuesdays during the Mardis de Grand Case street fair, and is sponsored by Delta Petroleum.
Zoological images like this hummingbird, named by 19th century mixed-race naturalist Richard Hill, will be on display at the exhibit.
We want to send out a special thank you this morning to Seagrape Tours, a local company doing nature tours on St. Martin. They set aside $2 from every guest to support local non-profits working with nature and conservation, including Les Fruits de Mer and Nature Foundation St. Maarten. They came by Amuseum Naturalis on Tuesday to drop off a donation of $150!
Obviously, this is great for our association, which depends primarily on donations and sponsorships to create wildlife education experiences like our festivals, museum and free publications. It also shows how three basic elements can strengthen and reinforce each other in the interest of preserving our natural heritage. Les Fruits de Mer is focused on education, with the aim of stimulating interest in and passion for nature. Nature Foundation St. Maarten works to protect the local environment and manage protected areas. Seagrape Tours is creating an economic incentive to preserve nature and use it in a sustainable way. We believe all three components are complementary and necessary parts of the conservation process and crucial to the future of the island.
If you watched Scrub Island Rescue, you may have noticed that Les Fruits de Mer finally has its official theme song. If you just can’t get enough of it, we are releasing it as a ringtone. Download it today!
I just wanted to thank Destination St. Martin/St. Maarten Magazine for giving us the chance to tell the story of the island’s fascinating wetland birds in the 2016 issue. Wildlife—at least of the animal sort—may not be the first thing on people’s minds when they think of St. Martin, but the nature of the island is a fascinating and unique part of what the island has to offer and we love to share our passion for it.
For our coming festival
We thought it would be nice
To make an ebook just for kids
Called Bugs in Paradise.
With photos to astound the eye
Of creatures where they dwell
The text is written all in verse
And will delight as well.
We are called Les Fruits de Mer
Our event is Birds & Bugs.
All kinds of things will happen there
That you are sure to love.
A place for learning, fun and free
All ages we invite
To the farm called Loterie
For all manner of delights.
See the creepy, crawly things
So wondrous, every one.
Observe the banding of song birds
And how science is done.
Come take a guided birding walk
Along the forest stream,
And art activities for kids
Will have a nature theme.
It happens on December 6th
From 9am to noon.
Tell your family, tell your friends,
It will be coming soon.
Learn more on our web site,
Or Facebook if you dare,
Anything we couldn’t rhyme
We will list over there.
In the meantime, get the book,
Download it to your device,
Read it with your family
At least just once or twice.
This window on a hidden world
To make you laugh and think,
Is available already,
Just go right to this link: https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/resources/books/
Anyone with an interest in Statia and its wildlife is in for a real treat: a free ebook—Wild Statia—was just released by naturalists Hannah Madden and Mark Yokoyama. The 55-page book is illustrated with captivating photos taken by the authors.
The book’s fifteen chapters each take a closer look at a unique aspect of Statia’s wildlife, from majestic tropicbirds to extraordinary nocturnal insects, and all the lizards in between. Readers will also discover more about the habitats that support wildlife and the work being done to understand and protect natural heritage. The format of the book emphasizes the fascinating stories that are often left unexplored by scientific publications.
Madden and Yokoyama will be in the field this week doing research for their upcoming guide to the wildlife of Statia, which will be the first book of its type for the island. The authors aim to complete the wildlife guide in 2016. This project is managed by the non-profit association Les Fruits de Mer, with support from the St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation and funding from NuStar Terminals, N.V..
In addition to documenting the animals themselves, the authors are excited to learn about wildlife from the people of Statia. According to Yokoyama, “One thing that you will notice in Wild Statia is a passion for connecting natural history with human culture—the names given to animals, the stories told about them and the ways that we have impacted nature over time. If you have any information about wildlife on Statia, we’d love to hear it.” Stories, info and names for Statian wildlife can be shared by sending them to [email protected].
Get the latest updates about Migratory Bird Festival 2015 from The Daily Herald today or your favorite online news sites: Soualiga Newsday, Pearl Radio and SXM Island Time.
In preparation for the upcoming 2015 Migratory Bird Festival, the Les Fruits de Mer association has released a free eBook, Shadow of a Drought, a stunning and poignant photo essay of how drought on St. Martin affects the island’s wildlife and important habitats. The book is available for free download in English and French on the association’s website, https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com. The Festival itself will be held on Saturday, October 17th from 9am to 1pm at University of St. Martin in Philipsburg.
Shadow of a Drought, the latest work from wildlife photographer and naturalist Mark Yokoyama, captures dramatic stories of struggle and survival, and starkly illuminates the ravages of climate change and pollution here on the island. “Drought’s impact is visually striking and thought-provoking, but also temporary. I wanted to explore that in a way that will still be engaging after a couple months of rain. Our collective memory provides context for both extreme events and long-term changes. It helps us understand the present and prepare for the future,” says Yokoyama, author of The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin and Eye on Endemics.
“This eBook is really a one-of-a-kind documentation of the effects of drought on this island, and it heavily features the wetland habitats that are crucial to migratory birds,” explains Jenn Yerkes, President of Les Fruits de Mer. “These ecosystems are already vulnerable, and they’re a precious part of St. Martin’s natural heritage. They’re why this island is so important for so many migratory birds. Every year, these species journey across the globe to St. Martin because we have something that many other islands don’t–the wetland habitats where these birds can find the foods they need as well as the right spots to nest, rest, and mate.”
Selected photography from the eBook will be on display at the Shadow of a Drought Exhibition at the October 17th Migratory Bird Festival. The free, public Festival will also feature guided birdwatching tours, migratory bird presentations, a “Portable Pond” Observation Station for aquatic invertebrates, art activities, a free giveaway of heritage Gaïac seedlings, and a special Heritage Salt Walk led by archeologist Jay Haviser at 9:30am. The 2015 Migratory Bird Festival is presented by Les Fruits de Mer and University of St. Martin, and is made possible by the hard work of many volunteers and the generosity of event sponsors Hotel L’Esplanade, Calmos Cafe, Delta Petroleum and Aqua Mania Adventures.
For more information about the event, or to download the free Shadow of a Drought eBook, visit https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com or find Les Fruits de Mer on Facebook.
Our October newsletter went out this weekend. It includes news about the upcoming Migratory Bird Festival, our new “Around the World” feature where we share news from members wherever they are, plus a free ebook, Fruits and friends at the International Coastal Cleanup and an interesting Gaïac story. Check out the newsletter online here. You can subscribe right at the top of that page!
We are very excited to have the Migratory Bird Festival at University of St. Martin for the second year in a row. It’s a fantastic place to celebrate our migratory birds, located right on the Great Salt Pond. We are grateful to the staff of the University for their help in putting on this event and look forward to seeing you there! Interested in learning more about USM? Check the out on Facebook.
University of St. Martin
The University of St. Martin is committed to offering quality career and academic education that will provide students with a solid foundation to enter the field of their chosen career or to pursue further academic studies. The University of St. Martin was founded on the principle that education can improve the quality of life for people on St. Martin and in the region, and continues to be steadfast in its commitment to the community. For over two decades, USM has been offering students the opportunity to discover their potential and helping them realize their academic and professional goals. http://usmonline.net
The third annual Migratory Bird Festival will be held on Saturday, October 17th from 9am to 1pm at University of St. Martin in Philipsburg.In a region that seems blessed with eternal summer, one of the most noticeable signs of autumn is the arrival of countless migratory birds. Leaving their summer breeding grounds in North America, they transform Caribbean wetlands and forests with their colors and songs. Events celebrating these birds and their miraculous migrations are also arriving this month with International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD).
IMBD is coordinated across the Western Hemisphere by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), and events are held in over 700 locations from Canada to Argentina. BirdsCaribbean is the regional coordinator for events throughout the Caribbean, which begin in October.
Two Caribbean IMDB events have been announced for St. Martin. The third annual Migratory Bird Festival will be held on Saturday, October 17th from 9am to 1pm at the University of St. Martin in Philipsburg. Organized by the non-profit association Les Fruits de Mer, the event will include guided bird walks on the Great Salt Pond, a Portable Pond Discovery Station where visitors can see the tiny animals that many of these birds eat, presentations about migratory birds, art activities for children and more. The event is free and kid-friendly.
International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated throughout the Caribbean starting in the month of October.Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) will be hosting a guided bird walk at Little Bay Pond on Sunday, October 4th. Learn more and sign up on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/epicislands.
The theme of IMBD this year is “Restore Habitat, Restore Birds.” This theme is particularly relevant in the Caribbean, where natural habitats share limited island real estate with dense human populations and intensive development. The migratory pathways and overwintering grounds of the Caribbean are an indispensable part of the life cycle of about 350 bird species, from egrets and ducks to hawks and songbirds.
“We use birds as an inspiration to restore forests and wetlands,” explains BirdsCaribbean President Leo Douglas. “The underlying truth is that supporting habitat restoration is always a wise focus. Healthy local habitats are essential for human health, our agricultural base and the natural beauty that drives tourism.” Douglas further notes that the mangroves that protect us from storm surges and form critical fish nurseries are simultaneously important habitat for birds. Similarly, island forests, which shelter a rich diversity of bird life, are critical for preventing erosion and devastating land-slippages and mud slides.
St. Martin’s Migratory Bird Festival will highlight habitat restoration with a giveaway of Lignum Vitae seedlings, also known as Gaïac. Les Fruits de Mer’s heritage tree project—Club Gaïac—aims to restore this endangered native tree to both minds and gardens. The Festival team will share an interactive map of Lignum Vitae trees on St. Martin, tips on how to cultivate seedlings and information about the history and ecology of this tree. Hundreds of seedlings have been distributed since the Club Gaïac project began earlier this year.
The free ebook Heritage Plants is a guide for backyard beautification and habitat restoration using native Caribbean plants and trees.As part of this year’s festivities, BirdsCaribbean has produced a free ebook about native trees: Heritage Plants. This illustrated book explains the importance of native trees to birds and other animals, includes a guide featuring dozens of native trees of particular value, and serves as a resource to foster habitat restoration within local communities.
“Planting a native tree is a fantastic way to beautify your backyard or neighborhood,” notes BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “Along with birds, native trees are some of the most iconic features of the Caribbean landscape, and their roots are deeply intertwined with both the wildlife and the cultures of the region.”
The ebook Heritage Plants is available for free download on the Resources page of birdscaribbean.org. For additional IMBD resources, visit www.migratorybirdday.org. For more information about the Migratory Bird Festival and Club Gaïac, visit www.lesfruitsdemer.com. The 2015 Migratory Bird Festival is hosted by Les Fruits de Mer and University of St. Martin, and funded by sponsorships from Hotel L’Esplanade, Calmos Cafe, Delta Petroleum and Aqua Mania Adventures.
Aqua Mania Adventures is another repeat sponsor for Les Fruits de Mer, and we are grateful for their continued support in sharing wildlife education on St. Martin.
They also have lots of great ideas for getting the most out of the island experience: “Take an adventurous day trip to Saba for hiking or diving, or a lavish day in exquisite St. Barts for shopping, French cuisine and beach time; our high speed ferry Edge is the way to go. Hop on our beautiful catamarans Tango and Lambada for day sails to Anguilla and Prickly Pear with crystal clear waters and powdery white beaches as far as the eye can see. Sail into the sunset on our evening cruises, along St Maarten’s golden coastline, with cocktails in hand and a chance to spy the green flash. To explore St. Maarten’s underwater beauty, choose Sand Dollar for half day snorkel trips to Creole Rock or enjoy Scuba Diving with our friendly dive instructors at Dive Adventures.”
Aqua Mania Adventures
Aqua Mania Adventures is a one-stop vacation shop that offers departures to Saba, St. Barths, Anguilla and Prickly Pear, as well as sunset cruises around St. Maarten. Lovers of marine life can book half-day snorkel trips to Creole Rock or scuba diving with Dive Adventures. Strategically located at the Simpson Bay Resort marina, the “Leisure Technicians” at Aqua Mania Adventures will help you plan an unforgettable vacation. https://www.stmaarten-activities.com – Aqua Mania Adventures on Facebook
As part of this year’s International Migratory Bird Day festivities, BirdsCaribbean has released a free ebook—Heritage Plants—with information about some fantastic, bird-friendly native plants and trees that you can add to your backyard or neighborhood. It is available for free download now from the BirdsCaribbean website. The theme of this year’s IMBD, including St. Martin’s Migratory Bird Festival is Restore Habitats, Restore Birds. We will be sharing information about habitat restoration and giving away Lignum Vitae/Gaïac seedlings at the event, so be sure to put it on your calendar and invite your friends!
Hotel L’Esplanade are more than just sponsors of the Migratory Bird Festival, owners Kristin & Marc Petrelluzzi have been members of the association from the beginning and have helped us out as volunteers at almost every event we’ve ever done. And not just the easy stuff—they led a beach clean-up in Cul-de-Sac at the very first Migratory Bird Festival. Les Fruits de Mer wouldn’t be where we are today without them.
Hotel L’Esplanade
This hotel has established a cult following from guests that enjoy an authentic, luxurious, unpretentious and un-touristy Caribbean experience with a homey feel. Acknowledged by TripAdvisor as one of the Caribbean’s “Best Hidden Gems”, and more recently named #19 of the top 25 hotels in all of the Caribbean. Hotel L’Esplanade has been a benefactor member since 2013 and has sponsored many Les Fruits de Mer events. http://www.lesplanade.com – Hotel L’Esplanade on Facebook
You know who’s helping make this year’s Migratory Bird Festival Possible? These guys are! Delta has been one of our sponsors from the beginning. One reason why we’ve done so many things is that we know we can count on their support.
Delta Petroleum
Founded in 1985, Delta serves the Caribbean with superior performance diesel, gasoline and LPG meeting U.S. and European standards. Delta is a proud and growing member of the communities from the Virgin Islands to Martinique. Delta Petroleum was a sponsor of many of our events. http://deltapetroleum.com
Do you want all the good feelings that come from supporting wildlife education on St. Martin? Would your company like to do something for the community and get recognized for it? Contact us! We are more than happy to welcome new sponsors and corporate members.
You can’t save a species if you don’t know what’s hurting it. In this week’s Wild Statia we take a look at how field research can point the way to the conservation efforts that will make the biggest difference, and what’s going on with Red-billed Tropicbird eggs on Statia.
It’s not just the best place in Grand Case to watch the sunset while enjoying a cool drink, they also support wildlife education on St. Martin, including this year’s Migratory Bird Festival.
Calmos Cafe
Located on the beach in Grand Case, St. Martin, Calmos Cafe is a restaurant and bar serving great food in a friendly, casual atmosphere seven days a week. Calmos Cafe has been a benefactor member of Les Fruits de Mer since 2013 and a sponsor of many of our events. http://lecalmoscafe.com
Do you want to support wildlife education on St. Martin? Do you think you could convince your boss to support it? Contact us! We are more than happy to welcome new sponsors and corporate members.
The theme this year for our Migratory Bird Festival—and hundreds of other International Migratory Bird Day events from Canada to Argentina—is Restore Habitat, Restore Birds. For us, that means Club Gaïac will be back, and we will be doing education about this amazing tree and giving away as many seedlings as we can.
Do you know what you need to make seedlings? Seeds! Right now happens to be a great time to gather them. Many trees are dropping their seeds and the ground beneath them is covered in dry fruit and seeds. For trees that are growing over concrete or other flat surfaces, you can actually use a broom and dustpan to sweep up the fruit and seeds and then sort them later. In some cases it only takes about five minutes to gather a thousand seeds, and sorting them at a table is a lot easier on your back than picking up seeds one-by-one off the ground.
Be sure to put the Migratory Bird Festival on your calendar: Saturday, October 17th, 9am-1pm at University of St. Martin. You can also join the event on Facebook and use the “Invite” button to invite your friends.
We are very excited to be putting on the Migratory Bird Festival at University of St. Martin this year. It is a wonderful location for easy access to migratory birds and they are a fantastic event partner.
About University of St. Martin
The University of St. Martin is committed to offering quality career and academic education that will provide students with a solid foundation to enter the field of their chosen career or to pursue further academic studies. The University of St. Martin was founded on the principle that education can improve the quality of life for people on St. Martin and in the region, and continues to be steadfast in its commitment to the community. For over two decades, USM has been offering students the opportunity to discover their potential and helping them realize their academic and professional goals. http://usmonline.net
Everyone on St. Martin—not to mention the plants and animals around us—is deeply familiar with the drought that has gripped the island in recent months. To the migratory birds that are just arriving from North America, it must be quite a surprise. What will they find when they arrive? We take a look in this week’s Bird Watch SXM.
Mark Yokoyama offers some advice during his event photography workshop. (Photo by Leno Davis.)Every two years, bird educators, scientists and conservationists from throughout the Caribbean and beyond gather for BirdsCaribbean’s International Meeting. At this year’s meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, over 200 international delegates from 33 countries/islands gathered to share the latest in Caribbean bird science, conservation and education. Representing St. Martin, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama facilitated two media-related workshops during the meeting and released a free ebook, Look Sharp! Promote Your Organization with Great Photography.
Birds—Connecting Communities and Conservation was the theme for the meeting, and the event photography workshop presented by Mark Yokoyama focused on forging that emotional connection through the power of great images. Michaela Roberts of ECHO Bonaire found the workshop “very dynamic, fun and informative” and Leno Davis commended the hands-on portion as excellent, delivering “instant results.” Deanna Albert from the University of the West Indies commented that it was “good to know how to make non-governmental organizations visually appealing to the public—locally, regionally and internationally.”
The conference opened with “Jamaica Day—A Celebration of Jamaica’s Unique and Wonderful Birds” which included a dozen presentations about Jamaica’s birds, from the latest research in tracking Jamaican seabird populations to the role of birds in pest control on Blue Mountain coffee farms. The extended look at Jamaica’s birds also included reports on the launch of the Caribbean Birding Trail program in Jamaica and Jamaica’s historical contribution to ornithology. Other highlights included the announcement of the rediscovery of the Black-capped Petrel in Dominica over 150 years after it was last documented and the release of a new book—The Endemic Birds of Cuba—by Nils Navarro.
In addition to over 120 presentations, workshops and panel discussions, the delegates enjoyed a variety of field trips to explore Jamaica’s wilderness areas first-hand. Conference trips visited Hope Gardens, Goat Islands, Cockpit Country, Portland Bight Protected Area, and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, amongst other destinations. Many meeting participants were particularly eager to catch a glimpse of some of the 29 bird species endemic to Jamaica that can be seen nowhere else in the world.
The event photography ebook is available for download on the websites of both BirdsCaribbean and Les Fruits de Mer. The free, 26-page book draws from experience working with many talented photographers on St. Martin as well as advice from local journalists and media experts about how to use photography to promote non-profit events and activities. Mark, a member of BirdsCaribbean’s Media Working Group, also hosted a workshop to help bird educators partner more closely with the Media Working Group to promote their activities more effectively through traditional and online media.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Lagoonies Regatta on Saturday to get your free Gaïac seedlings. We gave out about 50 seedlings to folks all over the island. Hopefully some of them will be big, beautiful trees in 100 years! We’ve also added some additional trees to the Gaïac Map, so be sure to check that out if you haven’t seen it recently!
Club Gaïac is a heritage tree restoration project.Learn about one of our island’s most amazing native trees and take home a free seedling to plant in your backyard or neighborhood at the Lagoonies Regatta, this Saturday, June 27th. This seedling giveaway is part of Club Gaïac, the Les Fruits de Mer association’s heritage tree project. The Gaïac, also known as Lignum Vitae, is an endangered native tree.
Sometimes called the Tree of Life for its alleged medicinal properties, the Gaïac is a hardy, slow-growing tree native to our region. Prized for their incredibly strong wood—the densest of any tree in the world—these beautiful trees were over-harvested for centuries, particularly during the colonial era, and are now officially endangered. Like other native trees, they provide food and shelter to many of the island’s animals. Replanting these trees, even in our own backyards, helps create habitat for native animals and helps restore this important heritage tree for future generations. The Club Gaïac project promotes Gaïac restoration through seedling giveaways and other outreach activities, both online and at events.
Sixty Gaïac seedlings were grown for the giveaway at Saturday’s regatta.Sixty Gaïac seedlings have been raised specifically for the giveaway at the 2015 Lagoonies Regatta. They will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis at Les Fruits de Mer’s Club Gaïac station at the event, which will also feature displays and presentations about the Gaïac’s role in the local ecosystem and its fascinating historical uses on this island and around the world. Anyone with a Gaïac tree in their yard is encouraged to bring seeds that can be cultivated for future seedling giveaways.
The Lagoonies Regatta will be held from 9am-5pm, followed by an awards ceremony and free live rock concert, on Saturday, June 27th at Lagoonies Bistro, located at the Lagoon Marina, Wellington Road 33-35 between ELECTEC and FKG in Cole Bay. The Club Gaïac station will be open from 10am to 6pm.
BirdsCaribbean is the Caribbean region’s largest conservation organization.St. Martin’s connection to the regional conservation community just grew a little bit closer. Local non-profit association Les Fruits de Mer recently became the first institutional member of BirdsCaribbean in the French Caribbean. BirdsCaribbean is the largest regional organization devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean. Although the two organizations have been working together for almost two years, joining helps integrate Les Fruits de Mer, St. Martin and the French Caribbean into the regional bird education and conservation community.
“Working with BirdsCaribbean has really helped us have a big impact quickly, even though we’re a young association,” explained Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “They’ve provided training and materials developed for the Caribbean that have really enhanced many of our events and educational workshops. Simply being part of something bigger also makes an event more meaningful and interesting to our members and the public.”
BirdSleuth Caribbean is one of many BirdsCaribbean programs Les Fruits de Mer participates in.Les Fruits de Mer has collaborated with BirdsCaribbean on a number of projects and events over the last two years, primarily in the areas of education and outreach. Les Fruits de Mer’s annual Migratory Bird Festival and Endemic Animal Festival events are part of Caribbean-wide programs organized by BirdsCaribbean to celebrate migratory and endemic birds: International Migratory Bird Day and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival. Les Fruits de Mer has also added birdwatching sites to BirdsCaribbean’s flagship eco-tourism project, the Caribbean Birding Trail.
Les Fruits de Mer works closely with BirdsCaribbean on multiple education programs. Last year, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama received training on two ecology-oriented programs: Wondrous West Indian Wetlands and BirdSleuth Caribbean. In addition to incorporating activities from these programs into their outreach and education programs, Les Fruits de Mer has partnered to help translate materials into French and train local educators in the BirdSleuth Caribbean curriculum.
The organizations began working together after a Les Fruits de Mer member attended BirdsCaribbean’s international meeting in 2013. “For someone new to wildlife education, it was a real eye opener,” according to Yokoyama. “It’s probably the only opportunity to spend a week with hundreds of Caribbean educators and conservationists, learning, sharing and tackling issues on a regional level. More than anything, BirdsCaribbean is a network of inspired individuals and organizations. Being a part of that network is key to our mission, and being the only member organization in the French Caribbean makes our role even more important.”
Membership also gives Les Fruits de Mer a chance to help BirdsCaribbean. “We support our member organizations, but our accomplishments are also the work of our member volunteers,” explained BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “Les Fruits de Mer are partners in many of our education and outreach programs, but members are also part of internal working groups managing BirdsCaribbean’s media and technology.”
The Brown Pelican is featured in a new collection of desktop wallpapers of St. Martin birds released to commemorate the partnership.Les Fruits de Mer have released a collection of desktop wallpaper and screensaver images to celebrate the partnership. It features 24 images of St. Martin birds and can be downloaded for free from their web site. Looking to the future, Les Fruits de Mer will continue to collaborate with BirdsCaribbean on education and awareness projects. Yokoyama will also lead a workshop at the 20th International Meeting of BirdsCaribbean in Jamaica this July. Once again, it will be a chance to connect St. Martin—and the French Caribbean—to the regional conservation community.
It seems that the marlin were the big winners this year, since all those that were caught were released. We did get some mahi-mahi and wahoo stomachs to analyze and found a few parasites, some small fish and squid and in a couple cases, a significant amount of sargassum. We also collected more traditional fish names and had a lot of fun overall.
Yesterday was the opening day of the St. Martin Billfish Tournament, and we were at our booth doing marine life education. It was a good day for the fish—no marlin big enough to keep were caught—so we didn’t get to analyze any stomach contents. We did begin gathering local knowledge about fish and fishing, including many of the traditional local names for fish on St. Martin and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Stop by today 4pm-9pm or Saturday 11am-10pm and share your knowledge about local fish and fishing.
In the latest Bird Watch we look at the Gray Kingbird and why one subspecies lives only in the Lesser Antilles, while the only other subspecies is spread around the hemisphere.
Once again we were blessed with fantastic support from local and regional media for the Endemic Animal Festival. We had exceptional coverage which helped bring record crowds to the event. Below are some press clippings and links to online coverage of the event.
The Endemic Animal Festival was a huge success this year and we will be sharing more about the event in the coming days as we recover and unpack, but first some wonderful images from Marc Petrelluzzi. Also, a huge thank you to all the volunteers, the event couldn’t have happened without you, and it wouldn’t have been amazing if you weren’t amazing!
The Green-throated Carib hummingbird depends on a steady source of flower nectar to feed herself and her chicks.
“Restore Habitats, Restore Birds” is the theme for this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF). At dozens of events throughout the region, participants of all ages will learn how restoring local habitats can benefit the unique birds found only in the Caribbean. Events on many islands will include habitat restoration activities like clean ups and distribution of native tree seedlings for planting.
The festival, now in its 14th year, is led by BirdsCaribbean, the largest organization devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean. The month-long festival includes Caribbean-wide activities beginning today – Earth Day (April 22), through to International Biodiversity Day (May 22), in more than twenty countries. The event celebrates the 150 bird species that are found only in the Caribbean, known as endemics. The highly successful program attracts over 80,000 participants and volunteers each year.
CEBF on St. Martin kicks off with the Endemic Animal Festival on Saturday, April 25th from 9am to noon. This festival was created by the association Les Fruits de Mer to celebrate all of St. Martin’s endemic animals, from birds and lizards to insects and spiders. The free event will take place at the Discovery Farm and Garden at Seaside Nature Park in Cay Bay. At the event, Les Fruits de Mer will launch Club Gaïac, a habitat and heritage restoration project centered around one of the most iconic native trees in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Elaenia can live in both forest and scrub areas, but only lives in the Caribbean.
“Over the last several hundred years, natural habitats in the Caribbean have been degraded and destroyed in every way imaginable,” explained Leo Douglas, President of BirdsCaribbean. “Many unique Caribbean birds are now extinct, and many others are threatened. Restoring habitat helps endemic birds and also restores the natural heritage of Caribbean people.”
Habitat restoration is a boon to birds, but benefits abound for people, too. Mangrove wetlands, for example, prevent erosion, serve as nurseries for fish, and reduce the impact of major storms on our coastlines. Restored habitats and their restored bird populations may also open the door to a growing industry: birdwatching tourism.
“Birding and wildlife tourism is a huge market that is just starting to make a real impact in the Caribbean,” commented Lisa Sorenson, who is leading BirdsCaribbean’s regional bird tourism project called the Caribbean Birding Trail. The United States Fish & Wildlife Service estimated that birding travel spending was US$15 billion for 2011 in the United States alone, over half of which was spent on food and lodging. “Our endemic birds are a unique asset because they can’t be seen anywhere else. Restoring their habitat can bring revenue and jobs to the region, while also protecting nature.”
The goal of the month-long Festival is to increase public awareness of the region’s exceptionally rich and threatened bird life, using the Caribbean’s celebrated endemic birds as flagships of conservation. Festival activities include a diverse array of public events. In addition to the annual Endemic Animal Festival on April 25th, this year a “Mystery Birding Tour” is being organized for May 16th by birding guide Binkie Van Es with help from Nature Foundation St. Maarten, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean and Les Fruits de Mer. The free tour will include presentations about local birds and guided bird watching at multiple sites on the island. Sign-ups for the tour will be available at University of St. Martin and on Facebook. To find out more about the Endemic Animal Festival, visit https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/events/endemic-animal-festival/.
The Zenaida Dove depends on the seeds of many local plants for its diet.
Here are Les Fruits de Mer we are excited about the upcoming launch of Club Gaïac, a multifaceted heritage tree project. The project is centered on the Gaïac tree, also known as Lignum Vitae or Tree of Life. It is a magnificent native tree that is endangered because it was overharvested for its wood—the hardest in the world. The project includes an interactive map of local Gaïac trees (please help us add any that you know about), a crowdsourced experiment to develop and document the most effective growing practices, a repository of information about the biology, heritage and local use of the tree, and ongoing plantings of the tree to restore habit on St. Martin.
Come to the Endemic Animal Festival on Saturday from 9am-noon to participate and take home a seedling.
Things are looking good for the upcoming Endemic Animal Festival! On Saturday we got together with a few of the volunteers to work out some of the planning and activities and enjoy the beautiful coastal scrub at Seaside Nature Park. Our “preview event” with volunteers is a fun tradition that helps us make sure we’re organized for the actual event and also gives volunteers a chance to experience some of the activities, because they are often too busy to do so at the event. Without our amazing volunteers, none of what we do would be possible!
We’ll be releasing more info soon about the activities at this year’s festival, including a great new project related to the “Restore Habitats, Restore Birds” theme of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, which includes dozens of events in the region, including ours. For now, enjoy some photos from Saturday and don’t forget to share the event info and invite friends on Facebook.
We’re getting ready for the Endemic Animal Festival by releasing a free eBook about some of our regionally-endemic birds: Eye on Endemics. You can download the PDF from the Resources page on our site. Be sure to mark your calendars for the festival itself, which is coming up on Saturday, April 25th!
The Lignum Vitae, also known as Gaïac, is a beautiful tree native to the Caribbean that is now endangered due to overharvesting, primarily for its extremely hard wood. This slow-growing tree has beautiful blue flowers and intricately-packed branches in its wide crown. It is sometimes described as a small tree, but this may be primarily because so few old, large trees are left.
In order to promote this wonderful heritage tree, I have been experimenting in order to develop best practices for germinating seeds, growing seedlings and transplanting them into permanent locations. Here are some images and notes about the germination process.
Small, orange fruits contain two seeds each. The seeds themselves are covered in a red, fleshy coating called a sarcotesta.
I started by separating seeds by the presumed age, based on how much of the sarcotesta remained.
I attempted germination by keeping them in damp paper towels.
After a week or so, the seeds retaining a sarcotesta began to mold and none germinated, even after several weeks.
Seeds without a sarcotesta (because it had worn off before I collected them, or because I had removed it) did not mold, but they didn’t germinate, either.
It turns out, the key is to remove the black casing around the seed. This time-consuming, but not too difficult to do with a pocketknife. To make the process easier, it seems that exposing the radicle, the embryonic first root, is all that is necessary, so one can scrape off just the casing around the rounder end.
Prepared this way, the seeds germinate surprisingly quickly, usually in just a couple days. So far, the best process I have found is to soak the seeds in water for a day or so: this helps remove any fleshy sarcotesta so the seeds won’t mold. It may also help kickstart the germination process. Once the seeds are clean, I scrape the round end to expose the radicle and leave them in moist paper towels in a warm room. So far, the majority of seeds prepared this way seem to be germinating.
This morning we went on a nature walk to see the birds and other animals that live on the island. We were able to see many species that are endemic to the region or have a regional sub-species, like the Zenaida Dove, Carib Grackle, Black-faced Grassquit and Caribbean Elaenia. It was also just a lot of fun to take a walk and see how the local critters are doing in the scrub and around a couple ponds. Thanks to everyone who came!
After Hurricane Gonzalo delayed what would have been a fall workshop, we had the pleasure of doing a workshop with students from French Quarter during their spring break instead. This year, the activities included creating a portable pond to study the freshwater animals—insects, fish and shrimp—that live on St. Martin, and decorating bird feeders made from local calabash while learning about the different foods eaten by different birds.
Our workshops are part of a larger program of activities offered to select students by the Foyer socio-educatif du collège de Quartier d’Orléans.
A banner day for Les Fruits de Mer was mired in controversy when naysayers claimed the association’s newly redesigned logo appeared to share similarities with the French flag. The special launch promotion, featuring the new logo on flags throughout the island, was hailed with enthusiasm by most, but besmirched by accusations from a vocal minority.
“After working on this unique new design for months, it is shocking that some people would focus on any superficial ‘similarities’ between the strikingly different designs,” complained designer Stephen Winkel, “It really makes you wonder about their motivation.”
Les Fruits de Mer stand by their groundbreaking logo redesign with pride. “We’re ready to compare our new logo and the flag of France side by side in front of Parliament if that’s what it takes,” declared association President Jennifer Yerkes. “If anyone truly feels the flag of France is too similar to our logo, perhaps it is time to change the flag of France.”
A little controversy hasn’t stopped individuals and businesses from promoting the association’s new logo.
For now, the new logo and the flag promotion continue to fly. Local businesses and individuals continue to feature the new Les Fruits de Mer logo atop their flagpoles with pride. French Président François Hollande declined to comment on the controversy, but has appeared in photographs with a flag featuring the association’s new logo.
Creating a brand new logo for a globally-recognized brand is no small undertaking. Team Les Fruits de Mer knew this from the start and committed to spending months in search of an original design that would be both instantly recognizable and inextricably linked to their mission and their attitude.
The process took months of long days and late nights. The team developed countless original designs—many of which were worthy in their own right—before finally developing the perfect visual metaphor for the association.
In this rare, behind-the-scenes photo essay we see the collaborative efforts of the team, and a bit of the heat that was used to forge this unique design. Photographer and association member Olivia Roudon was given unprecedented access to the team and their work space, and the amazing chance to capture the difficult birth of this astounding new logo.
Not just creative inspiration: logo development is painstaking, exacting work.Even designs that were ultimately rejected often went through many revisions.Each member of the team contributed unique ideas about the logo and how it should function.“Thinking caps” play a key role in maintaining creativity during long design sessions.The team often used a combination of traditional and digital design tools.Exacting measurements were necessary to deliver the visceral proportionality of the final design.Even many of the rejected designs could be considered graphic design masterworks.Tension filled the room as the team came closer to a final design.The culmination of months of work was a moment of ecstasy for the team.
Three new colors are brightening skies—and flagpoles—all over the island for the launch of the new logo of the Les Fruits de Mer association. The updated icon is being celebrated with an exciting large-scale publicity campaign: flags showcasing the redesigned logo are flying all over St. Martin and even around the world.
The non-profit association Les Fruits de Mer, dedicated to wildlife and heritage education, spent the last few months developing the new look. Countless creative designs were considered before the team decided on the new logo, chosen for its visual appeal, originality and symbolic meaning. The logo features a unique “trilogy” of equal-sized color blocks: red representing the red hat worn by Commandant Jacques-Yves Cousteau, white symbolizing the blank page upon which the future is written, and blue for the boundless depths of the sea, the cradle of all life.
Les Fruits de Mer co-founders pose beneath a flag of the association’s new logo at Fort Louis in Marigot.
“Creating the final design, I felt an electricity coursing through me,” explained designer Stephen Winkel. “The logo was so unique, but also so simple, as if a mystical force had revealed to me a design that had existed since the dawn of time, waiting to be discovered.”
Rather than simply unveil the new logo online, the association decided to promote the launch with flags featuring the novel design. “We felt the flag concept was a great way to introduce the new logo, but we had no idea how popular it would be,” said association President Jenn Yerkes. “It seems like overnight the Les Fruits de Mer flag is everywhere, from businesses and schools to public buildings. You really can’t miss it!”
Local businesses have started featuring flags of the new Les Fruits de Mer logo.
With the success of the new logo, Les Fruits de Mer is considering updating other aspects of the association. According to co-founder Mark Yokoyama, “We may rework the official motto of the association to focus more on our core values of freedom, equal rights and the spirit of brotherhood.”
Les Fruits de Mer co-founders proudly display a flag with their new logo in Grand Case.
Les Fruits de Mer had a great season with our booth at the Mardis de Grand Case street fair. We presented on seven different topics this year, connecting with locals and visitors of all ages. Here are links to all the presentations we gave:
