Earlier this year I went to the tropical island of Grenada to search for one of the worlds rarest dove species: the Grenada Dove.
As I look through the videos from birding in Grenada and find out more information about the local species, the thing that strikes me the most is that there is still so much to learn about them. Being so rare and on a relatively small island, few have studied the habits of this bird. While very little is known about the Grenada Dove, here are some things that we do know.
- Grenada Doves are endemic to the island of Grenada (Meaning they are only native to the island)
- The Dove is classified as Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List) with about 130 individuals left (87 mature individuals) according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- The Grenada Dove is the national bird of Grenada
- The introduction of the Indian Mongoose had a negative impact on the Dove’s population
- The Mt. Hartman National Park was established by the Government of Grenada in 1996 to help protect the Dove’s habitat
- When spooked, the Dove is more apt to walk on the ground through the brush than fly away
- The population may be isolated to small areas where their habitat is still present
To learn more about the Dove, stay tuned for the video, coming soon titled “Quest for the Grenada Dove.”
