Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, Vol. 33: Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

In the Lesser Antilles, the Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata stictipennis) is only found in Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. In Martinique and Guadeloupe, farmers growing bananas used the insecticide chlordecone extensively from 1973 until 1993. Chlordecone is a remnant organochlorine insecticide that bioaccumulates in organisms easily. In 2009, we conducted a survey of the Ringed Kingfisher on Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, traveling 270 km along 44 rivers to assess the effects of chlordecone on habitat selection behavior. During our survey, we encountered 47 Ringed Kingfishers, which we estimated to be 16 different individuals. A habitat selection analysis revealed that the Ringed Kingfishers were located mainly in sections of rivers flowing through the ombrophilous forest but were absent on the ocean shoreline and in the lower parts of rivers. The Ringed Kingfisher’s distribution in Guadeloupe could be negatively associated with areas heavily polluted by chlordecone. We propose that the widespread use of chlordecone in banana plantations in Guadeloupe had adverse ecological consequences and may be responsible for the absence of Ringed Kingfishers in lowland habitats on the island.