Trinidad program
Bringing Red Siskins back to the wild
The Red Siskin is a small finch with a large problem: its color made it a target for the cage bird trade. The Center has worked on methods for returning captive bred birds to island habitat in Trinidad.
A bird shaped by the trade
Red Siskins are native to northern South America and nearby islands. Their red plumage has long made them valuable in the pet trade, and trapping has reduced wild populations. The species is listed as endangered.
The Trinidad project asked whether captive bred siskins could be released in a way that gives them a real chance to survive and reproduce. The answer would depend on site choice, preparation, and follow up.
Planning a release
In the late 1990s, field associate Floyd Hayes studied possible release sites on mainland Trinidad and its offshore islands. His feasibility work looked at habitat, plant and bird communities, and human activity. The record describes a trial release on Nelson Island and a larger planned release near the lighthouse on Chacachacare Island.
The release method
The plan called for a period of preparation in Texas, then a move to an aviary at the release site. Keepers would supply local foods, seed, and water. Once the birds settled, the door would be left open so they could explore and return at will.
The first releases were planned with young males, which are easier to observe in the field. If those birds survived, later releases would include females. Monitoring was to rely on observation and, if the birds could carry the weight, radio telemetry.
Education first
The team did not treat the release as a standalone event. A national education effort was planned first, focused on the harm done by trapping and the importance of seedeaters that live nowhere else.
The Center worked with the University of the West Indies and the Government of Trinidad. The project's larger aim was to develop a method that could be used in Venezuela and Colombia if suitable sites and local support could be found.