IS THE ST.KITTS BULLFINCH STILL ALIVE?

Alejandro Sanchez is a Caribbean Naturalist. He is from Puerto Rico, where he is familiar with many land species including birds, and is extremely familiar with the Puerto Rican Bullfinch and the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch. He just visited St. Kitts with two companions, and they trekked up to the creator on Mt. Liamuiga on Friday, November 16, 2012.

When I met him the following day, he confirmed that during the hike, he is very confident that he heard the call of a Puerto Rican Bullfinch high up in the tree canopy. One of his companions also confirmed the call. Regretfully, with cameras at the ready, the bird did not show itself.

Coincidently, this identification by Aleandro occurred one day after the last man to believe that he saw the St.Kitts Bullfinch (1993), Campbell Evelyn, was laid to rest in Springfield Cemetery in Basseterre!

The St. Kitts Bullfinch (Loxigilla Portoricensis Grandis) is a sub-specie of the Puerto Rican Bullfinch, (Loxigilla portoricensis) and both are very similar in sound and visually.

While the St. Kitts Bullfinch has been considered extinct for over 80 years, (since 1929), there is small but growing evidence that it may have survived after all these years

Later this month, there is a small unofficial expedition planned to see if the St. Kitts Bullfinch can be located and equally importantly, be captured in a photograph. The search continues!

Alejandro has his own website on West Indian Natural History and can be viewed athttp://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/