What do you do when you see a rare bird? Until I read this story, it would certainly be a mystery to me! A remarkable, rare White Fern sighting at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge by St. Croix Environmental Association executive director Jennifer Vallulis is not only exciting for bird enthusiasts, but also for everyone who enjoy nature and the wildlife on island. According to the VI Consortium, Ms. Valiulis took several photos of the visitor, and tried to verify the bird’s identity. She ultimately shared the images she had captured with a local birding group chat. Ornithologists in the group concluded after further research that the bird was indeed a White Tern, which is usually found in the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii. It has also been spotted in the southern Atlantic region, but much less commonly.
Take a look at this inspiring story and learn what to do when you spot a rare bird! Read the St Croix Source article here and the VI Consortium article here.
Also check out other birding organizations if you want to connect with the birding community:
American Birding Association, American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, and BirdsCaribbean