New Book Alert!

Today, we celebrate 250 years of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. 13 April 1776 marked the end of an eleven-year battle to preserve Tobago’s thickly forested spine, thus cementing in history one of the earliest acts of the ecologically sensible. The deed was done not for the glorious biodiversity within — but for the ridge’s role as a watershed. While it was valued for the water it provided to the surrounding estates, we now understand the contribution of Main Ridge to far exceed what was considered a quarter of a millennium ago.

Tobago’s climate is governed by its rainforest. If it were gone, the island would be much drier and hotter. Denuded hills do little to attract rainfall, and it is this rainfall that is also responsible for transporting nutrients from the island’s rugged interior to its equally rugged coastlines — feeding prolific reef systems around the island. Although we may take note of a clear delineation of Main Ridge’s boundaries on a map and signposted along roadways, the nourishing fingers of this magical rainforest extend throughout the island and beyond.

Those who have experienced the ascent into Main Ridge from either Roxborough or Bloody Bay would attest to the change in atmosphere that accompanies each bend in the road. Subtle changes in vegetation and birdsong follow as one rises into mist-ridden hills. As the road plateaus at the top, it feels like an entirely different world from the rest of the island. Here, there are no pelicans or terns, not even a mockingbird or a grackle. Instead, the air is thick with the gentle, deliberate whistle of Collared Trogons, the excited churring of Blue-backed Manakins, and the exceptionally complex song of Yellow-legged Thrushes. The soil is soft, perpetually moist, and dark. Webs upon webs of root systems crisscross every trail through this rainforest; its largest trees are hidden in lost valleys that managed to escape the wrath of 1963’s Hurricane Flora, which whipped the tops off most. At the highest points on the ridge, trees are short and stunted, with gnarled, moss-coated limbs.

To commemorate this momentous occasion, I present 101 Birds of Tobago’s Rainforest: Celebrating 250 Years of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. This collection of photographs and snippets of bird-related information is merely to pay tribute not only to the undeniable appeal of the rainforest, but also to its role as a provider for the surrounding ecosystems. In this vein, the species featured in this volume include birds that may not be found within the upper reaches of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve — the Tropical Mockingbird being a relevant example — but nevertheless benefit from the bounty provided by the forest ecosystem.

Many of these images were created as part of a pilot project to promote the Northeast Tobago Biosphere Reserve, a worthy designation awarded to half of the island in October 2020. This official UNESCO designation links northeast Tobago with a plethora of biosphere reserves all over the world, and it is a boon for the island, its people, and its flora and fauna. I had hoped to apply my expertise to the reserve with the intention of creating a model for ecotourism, education, and conservation. Sadly, we were unable to take our aspirations past this initial stage, as we were unable to access financial support to continue. I am still grateful, however, as working on this project afforded me the opportunity to photograph all of Tobago’s resident birds — to now showcase them in this format.

This book is available as a paperback, and can be ordered here.

All are connected, and this extends far beyond organisms and individuals. Ecosystems are intricately linked, and it is my hope that these linkages are left to flourish long after our departure.