US, Dominican experts work to protect rare songbird

Santo Domingo.- EnvironmentMinistry officials on Tuesday met with a high-level mission of the US Fish andWildlife Service to coordinate actions to protect the migratory bird Bicknell’s Thrush which is in danger of extinction anda resource that both countries share.

Bicknell’s Thrush isa species that migrates at this time of the year from the US as well as fromCanada specifically to the ecosystems of Sierra de Bahoruco (southwest) and theLoma Quita Espuela wildlife sanctuary (northeast) near San Francisco de Macoris.

As an endangered varietythe United States could include it in its legislation to ensure its survival.

The meeting at Environmentheadquarters was headed by US Fisheries Service regional director Cindy Dohner andProtected Areas and Biodiversity deputy minister Daneris Santana, who said amongthe actions to protect the migratory species figure construction of new watchtowers,more park rangers in areas where the bird winters and continued research and analysisof its habits.

As part of the jointstrategy to protect Bicknell’s Thrush the experts will tour the bird´sranges starting Wednesday, and promote it as an attraction for birdwatchers andthose who enjoy ecotourism adventures.

Senior EnvironmentMinistry officials Patricia Acevedo, Ydalia Abreu and Jose Alarcon Mella; USWildlife Service Migratory Birds director Pamela Toschik and USAID ClimateChange Office chief Carlos Hasbun also took part In the meeting.