Subject: Montserrat/Deb Beutler/B&P Rodgers
Date: Oct 01 13:43:36 1997
From: Robert Taylor - taylorrt at geocities.com




Back on 9/26/97 Deb Beutler responded to Ben & Peggi Rodgers posting of
the events on Montserrat.

I have heard nothing further about the volcanic eruptions on the island but
am responding to the comments about the Montserrat Oriole and "Because
Montserrat is an island, there are probably a large number of endemic birds".

Actually, I thought that the Montserrat Oriole was the only endemic.
Looking up the issue in Jame Bond's (who could dispute 007's opinions?), I
verified that it is the only endemic that he recognized for Montserrat.
Not satisfied, I checked a few other sources and have found nothing to
refute that opinion. There are however a larger number of restricted range
birds not limited to Montserrat that can be be (used to be???) seen there.

I also checked in David Quammen's >The Song of the Dodo: Island
Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions<. On page 388 is its only reference
to Montserrat when it is used in a comparison of the Antillean islands of
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Montserrat and Saba plus a hypothetical island. 40,000
sq mi, 4,000 sq mi, 400 sq mi (the hypothetical isle), 40 sq mi
(Montserrat) and 4 sq mi respectively. Birds were not compared for species
diversity but rather amphibians and reptiles (a lot less mobile for
dispersal than birds). The numbers (simplified) were 80, 40, unknown for
the hypothetical isle, 9 and 5.

While I am at it I will make a pitch for his (David Quammen's) book for
anyone interested in natural history because 'island biogeography' is
extremely pertinent to our interests in birds on other than water
surrounded islands, ie., the islands in the sky of SE Arizona's
Chiricahuas, etc. Not a fast read because of the amount to contemplate and
absorb. Anyone else have an opinion on this book?? Anyone heading for the
lands of Wallace, Darwin, and Madagascar and.... and.... and.... should at
least skim it.

Bob Taylor
taylorrt at geocities.com