Dear fellow store owners, I am working with BirdsCaribbean to organize an effort to get hummingbird and bird feeding products to the islands hardest hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. They will then be distributed to residents who are willing to aid native, and in some cases Endangered endemic birds, by offering supplemental food sources as the islands’ habitats slowly recover. Hummingbird feeders and birdseed for species such as grassquits, bullfinches, doves, and parrots (many of which are found nowhere else in the world, and some endemic to single, devastated islands) may be critical in providing food to desperate birds in the coming weeks, and perhaps on some islands, even years. A conversation with a Birds Caribbean Board Member and friend led to the realization that we could assist in this effort. Like you, we’re a small mom-and-pop bird feeding supply store and there’s only so much we could personally do financially. However, the least I could offer was to make a few phone calls to see what I can rally. My first call was to Lizzie Mae’s Bird Seed. Lizzie Mae’s has packed an Island Relief blend and the product is on its’ way to Miami right now. Upon arrival at the FEMA Warehouse the seed will be divided and sent to the different islands in need. The seed will start being placed on rudimentary feeders upon arrival. Aspects, Inc, has also offered a generous donation of tube feeders and this will be part of the next phase of shipments. The next step in the process is where you guys come in. If you are able, we are asking you to donate anything you may be able to from the listing of these products (due to logistical concerns and sorting needs, we are keeping the list short at this time): - Dr. JB’s Hummingbird Feeders (Songbird Essentials) with 32oz, 48oz, or 80oz capacity).
- Big Gulp 40oz hummingbird feeder (Classic Brands)
- Best-1 32oz and 72oz hummingbird feeders (Best-1)
- “Instant” sugar (especially helpful for areas without power or fuel), but ONLY 100% sucrose – nothing with any dyes, preservatives, additional additives, or pre-mixed solutions. This is especially important given the potential volume of nectar that these birds will consume on de-vegetated islands, as opposed to just the usual supplement offered from feeders).
- Hummingbird feeder cleaning supplies, such as bottle brushes and port cleaners.
- Platform feeders: post-mounted or hanging.
- Tube feeders (might be especially important for areas with serious rat problems) that are easy to clean in wet, tropical environments and are long-lasting so we don’t add to the massive refuse problem, such as Aspects Quick-Clean line and Droll Yankees Onyx line.
We ask that you put anything available in a box marked Birds Caribbean and leave it out for the Lizzie Mae driver to take back to their warehouse. Think about it: Birds Caribbean has a goal of 2,000 hummingbird feeders and if we each donated just four feeders, they’re almost half way to that goal! Alternatively, you can make a financial donation to Birds Caribbean to help pay for the shipping costs to the islands. You can do that online here:https://www.razoo.com/story/Birdscaribbean-Hurricane-Relief. It’s been a tough year, from Harvey to Pacific fires to Irma and Maria. And I know you’re probably feeling “donated-out” like we are. But while we too have supported humanitarian efforts, here’s a chance for all of us to use our chosen line of work to focus on a specific, but critical effort to save some truly remarkable birds. I hope you will join me in this effort Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
Freeport, Maine *The islands needing this assistance: St. Martin/ Sint Maarten
US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix)
British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada)
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Dominica
Puerto Rico
Turks and Caicos Islands
Guadeloupe
Martinique
southern Bahamas (e.g., Great Inagua, where the endemic Inagua Woodstar hummingbird lives)
St. Eustatius
Saba About BirdsCaribbean
BirdsCaribbean is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats. We raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems. We are a non-profit (501 (c) 3) membership organization. More than 100,000 people participate in our programmes each year, making BirdsCaribbean the most broad-based conservation organization in the region. You can learn more about us, our work, and how to join at: www.birdscaribbean.org. | 
