Saint Lucia’s Love of Birds

生態保育--在聖露西亞

People that inhabit a particular place for a very long time establish an identity of place deeply rooted in sustained environments and landscapes. The sense of place often becomes a national identity. Essential for the emergence of a national identity is longevity and an appeal to the majority of people. Many countries are beginning to realize that their national identities are closely tied to the environment.

人久居一地後，常會創造出影響當地永續環境和風貌的特色，久而久之，也演變成為國家特色。創造國家特色的必要條件，除了時間的長期累積之外，也需要能引起多數人的興趣。許多國家開始了解到，國家特色與週遭環境緊密相連。

Saint Lucia’s identity is distinctly Caribbean – a warm tropical paradise in a blue sea. Unique to this island’s national identity is some of its wildlife, in particular its birds. Saint Lucia is smaller in area than most of the major cities in the world but within its shores are six species found nowhere else.  Saint Lucia is rightly proud of its unique treasures. Some species have gained notice on postage stamps and in books, and the Saint Lucia Parrot has become the national bird. But for one of the world’s rare birds, time might have run out. Semper's Warbler was an ashy grey denizen of the undergrowth. Once common, the only remnants of the bird are a few skins preserved in North American museums.  Islands around the world hold a disproportionate number of endangered species. The loss of Semper’s Warbler signals that more is at stake than the loss of a nondescript shy bird of the mountains.

在加勒比海國家當中，聖露西亞的國家特色相當突出—在藍色大海中浮現的一處溫暖的熱帶天堂。其中，又以她的生態資源最為獨一無二，尤其是鳥類。聖露西亞國土面積狹小，甚至遠不及許多國家的主要城市。但沿著她的海岸線，卻出現了6種全世界除了聖露西亞之外再也找不到的鳥類。聖露西亞的確有權以她獨特的資源為榮，因為有些鳥類，包括聖露西亞的國鳥—聖路西亞鸚鵡，原本只能在郵票上或書中才能看到。但這些稀有鳥類卻隨著時間流逝，面臨滅種的危機。淡腳森鶯〈Semper's warbler〉是一種擁有濃密絨毛的灰色鳥類。之前相當普遍，但現在只能在北美洲的博物館內，才有機會看到幾隻瘦弱的淡腳森鶯標本。世界上不少島嶼都擁有數目稀少的稀有品種。淡腳森鶯的絕跡，帶來了警訊，這絕對不是深山裡不過少了幾隻不知名的鳥類那樣的簡單。

This book is one small step by which Saint Lucia is attempting to preserve its wildlife. Ecotourism benefits conservation when people appreciate wild birds and animals and put a value on them. Many countries around the world have discovered that their natural environment is a valuable ecotour asset.  Ecotourism relies on unique wild features as a draw for tourists. It also benefits the local economy. Your participation helps in this regard. And for the people of Saint Lucia, preservation of their unique wildlife and environment helps protect a unique national identity.

這本書的出版，是聖露西亞致力於著手生態保育，所邁出的一小步。生態旅遊有助於生態保育工作，因為在人們欣賞野生動物的同時，也會珍視牠們。世界上許多國家已經發現，他們所處的自然環境，是珍貴的生態旅遊資產。而生態旅遊必須仰賴獨一無二的生態特色，才能吸引更多的觀光客，進一步帶動當地經濟發展。您的參與必定能有所助益。對聖露西亞人民而言，保育當地獨特的生態環境，同時也能保存國家的獨有特色。

About 74 species of birds are resident in the island nation of which six are endemic species. Twenty-four of 58 Caribbean specialties are found on St Lucia. These unusual species appeal to birders who are seeking species for their life-lists. Read the book and plan to visit Saint Lucia soon.

聖露西亞大約擁有167種鳥類，而其中6種是當地僅有、獨一無二的。另外，在加勒比海擁有的58種特有鳥類中，聖露西亞就擁有了其中的14種。這些特有的品種，對賞鳥人士而言，絕對是一生中所追尋的目標。在閱讀本書的同時，儘快計畫一趟聖露西亞之旅吧。

Robert Butler

Former President of the Waterbird Society

世界水鳥協會前理事長