fp Turks and Caicos

Bird lovers will be thrilled with the recent announcement from the Turks and Caicos National Museum proclaiming July 11-15 as the official Turks and Caicos Bird Week.

In partnership with the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF), bird walking and driving tours will formally open in Grand Turk and be made available to the public as the Caribbean’s first sanctioned bird trail.

The self-guided trail tour will take bird enthusiasts through TCI’s natural habitat with the help of official “Bird Guide Cards” that will be available for sale from the museum. Excursions offered include a 15-stop walking bird tour that takes about one hour at a comfortable walking pace, or a 20-stop driving tour.

Observers can also join leading ornithologist Dr. Mike Pienkowski on a driving tour July 14 at 5 p.m. to get up close and personal information on the island’s beautiful creatures. Cost is $20 per person, and transportation, binoculars and a light meal at Jacks Shack is included.

A special movie night will take place Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. at the museum with a short presentation by Dr. Mike Pienkowski about the Bird Tours. A free student-dedicated walking tour will take place on Wednesday, July 13, at 7 a.m. with the ornithologist and conclude with a tour of the Botanical and Cultural Gardens at the museum.

The museum has plans to work closely with the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources’ Junior Park Warden Program to educate youths on the importance of TCI’s salt ponds and wetlands and how they attribute to the many species of birds found in TCI.

Some 170 bird species frequent the islands, including great blue herons, flamingos, osprey, pelicans, egrets, terns, frigates, boobies and other water birds. Most species can be found feeding near salt ponds and inland marshes.

More than 12 of TCI’s smaller surrounding cays have been set aside as breeding grounds for the many breeds of birds and other wildlife living on the islands. Bird watching fanatics commonly visit the salt ponds and marshlands to see the great variety of birds.

This tour, along with the Botanical and Cultural Gardens, have been made possible by a grant from the Carnival/TCInvest/TCIG Government Infrastructure Fund.

For more information, contact the museum at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Photo: Pearly eyed thrasher (Kathleen Wood)