Repeating Islands

The Caroni Swamp, home to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary and the lhe largest mangrove wetland in Trinidad and Tobago, is among the nominees for Best Natural Heritage Site at the National Trust Heritage Preservation Awards to be announced on December 29, 2009. Located at the spot where the Caroni River, the largest river in Trinidad, meets the Gulf of Paria, the mangrove forest form waterways that can be navigated by small pirogues. The Swamp is known for many different species, including caimans, swamp boas, crabs of different types, herons and egrets, but in particular the Scarlet Ibis, one of Trinidad’s National symbols. Similar to flamingos, the Ibis gets its rich colour from their diet of crab. The Caroni Swamp is a favorite with visitors to Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in the early evening when the flocks of Ibis are returning to roost in the mangroves. It takes about three years for the Ibis to develop its full colour, remaining a dull grey through adolescence.
Although officially protected as a bird sanctuary, the Scarlet Ibis population, like the manatee of the Nariva Swamp, has declined considerably since 1970 and continues to be at risk from poaching and pollution of the river and Gulf.

The original story, by Nicola Joseph, appeared at http://news.bn.gs/article.php?story=20091223121141948