TOBAGO NATURAL NATURE
Natural Tobago 
As in Trinidad, the key to Tobago's ecology is diversity. If the theory is correct that
the two islands are a continuation of the Andes, then Tobago represents the cordillera's
easternmost outcrop. Thanks to these continental origins, the island's volcanic Main Ridge
teems with species unknown in most of the Caribbean. In addition to its almost
overwhelming variety of flora and fauna, Tobago enjoys the advantage of being small.
Everything is accessible: the mountains are not too high, the forests not too
impenetrable, the coral reefs not too deep or distant. And very few species could be
considered noxious: even the snakes are non-poisonous, which is always nice to know when
you're walking through the rainforest.
It could be argued that - on land, at least - Tobago's crowning glory is its exuberant
bird-life. The raucous cocricos wake you at dawn; almost as noisy are the flocks of green
parrots that call to each other from the highest branches. At dusk, on quiet roadsides,
the motmots emerge from the forest to perch on the telephone wires, their eccentric tail
feathers hanging behind them like a pair of tennis rackets; and the iridescent jacamars
leave their hillside burrows to scuttle around in the dust.
Hummingbirds are everywhere, little jewels hovering above the hibiscus; at least one
rare species, the white-tailed sabre-wing,is not to be found in Trinidad. Other exotic
denizens of the forest canopy include the collared trogon and the blue-backed manakin;
nightjars and striped owls emerge after dark. And the wetlands of Tobago offer
meal-tickets to a number of heron and wildfowl species. Several areas in Tobago have been
designated as protected reserves or sanctuaries. The rainforest of the Main Ridge is the
oldest forest reserve in the western hemisphere (1764). Another important sanctuary is
Little Tobago Island, which lies just offshore from the fishing-village of Speyside.
This is an important nesting ground for a number of seabird species: Audubon's
shearwater, the red-footed booby, the sooty tern, the red-billed tropic-bird (a wonderful
sight as they dive off the cliffs, their long tails streaming behind them), and more than
30 other species. Little Tobago is one of the prime seabird sanctuaries in the Caribbean.
St Giles' Islands, off the northernmost tip of Tobago, is another, but access to these
rugged little rocks is difficult and, depending on sea conditions, dangerous; the visitor
is best advised to view them through binoculars from the excellent vantage point of
Flagstaff Hill. Apartfrom its birdlife, Tobago is blessed with an abundance of plant,
insect and reptile life. If you're interested in discovering Tobago's amazing ecology,
contact one of the tour operators who organise guided tours into the rainforest, Little
Tobago Island, Bon Accord Swamp, etc.; most hotels will assist in setting these up. Or arm
yourself with map and binoculars and set off to explore on your own. For adventurous
souls, a few suggestions follow.
The Bloody Bay rainforest
The best-marked and most easily identified trail is Gilpin Trace. It is accessed off the
Roxborough/Bloody Bay Road; the entrance is clearly indicated by a sign on the main road.
The trail starts in the mountains and leads downhill past a small waterfall to Bloody Bay.
It is quite a long hike if you have to walk all the way back up; a good idea is to arrange
to be picked up in Bloody Bay village. Or, of course, to turn back before you reach the
bottom!
Rain Forest
History: The Main
Ridge Forest Reserve is the oldest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. It was
proclaimed a Forest Reserve in perpetuity by an Act of Parliament of April 8th, 1776
shortly after the island fell under British rule. Most of this forest remains natural as
it is relatively inaccessible to exploitation, mostly because of its steep and dissected
terrain. In addition, the unstable geology curtailed other land use activities and so we
continue to have a permanent natural vegetative cover. Hurricanes in 1790, 1847, 1963 and
1974 damaged much of the forested area resulting in a relatively young, present day
forest. Location: The main ridge runs from the north east tip south westwards for about
two thirds of the length of Tobago and forms the backbone along the island. Its forested
mountains rise very steeply from the north coast to a maximum height of about 580 metres
and the gentler southern slopes are deeply indented by valleys which run down to a narrow
but fertile coastal plain. Though the northern slopes of the Main Ridge are made of some
metamorphic rocks the mountains are mostly composed of igneous materials.
Climate: The rainfall regime is divided into a dry season and a wet season, the
former from January to May and the latter from June to December. There is a slight
diminution of rainfall towards October. Precipitation is not annually constant. Rainfall
is heaviest on the summits and the Northern slope where, in places, it exceeds 360 cm
annually. It decreases towards the South, which is a rain shadow area.
Importance: The main function of the Main Ridge Reserve is a protective one. It
protects the soil and landscape from erosion by wind and rain; and river valleys and otehr
agricultural areas from floods. It protects the wildlife offering them food, water and
shelter and serves as a most effective wind-breaker by protecting the leeward side of
Tobago from the effects of prevailing North East tradewinds. The forest trees also provide
support for orchids and otehr eptphytes, perches and nesting sites for birds and flowers
from which honey bees obtain nectar. The main ridge forest reserve also serves as a
watershed to a regulate stream flow and water quality, and ultimately the survival of the
fine reefs and beaches found around the island.
Vegetation: The forests on the Main Ridge are all rain forests. That is, they
are tall evergreen trees crowded under a climatic regime where rainfall is seldom scarce
but is well distributed throughout the year. It hosts a diversity of flora with a number
of colourful flowering plants, many typical shrubs and ground vegetation consisting mainly
of ferns and many species of herbaceous plants.
Some common flora found there are as follows: Palm, Trumpet tree, Balisier, Sardines,
Parrot Apple, Maruba, Wild Cocoa, Devilwood, Blue Copper, Bowldish, Galba, Wild Manjack,
Euterpe Spp., Cecropia Peltata, Heliconia spp, Miconia spp., Clusea rosea, Simaruba amara,
Marila grandiflora, Eschweilera decolorans, Guettards scabra, Ficus tobagenisis,
Calopjyllum lucidum, Cordia spp.
The Main Ridge gives visitors some of their most lasting memories. It is a cool,
relaxing and pleasant environment and offers recreational opportunities for hiking,
picnicking, bird-watching, sight-seeing, photography, art and nature study. Every trip to
the forest can be educational, inspirational and rewarding. The Forest Reserve is
maintained by the Forestry Section of the Division of Agricultural, Forestry and Marine
Affairs, of the Tobago House of Assembly.
The Hike: The trip takes you along the Caribbean coast of Tobago with
spectacular views of Castara, Englishman's bay and Parlatuvier not to mention Bloody Bay
where a fierce war between the French and the British resulted in much bloodshed that the
water literally turned to blood, hence the name Bloody Bay.
Little Tobago Bird Sanctuary
Sir William Ingram, an Englishman and newspaper propietor who owned cocoa estates in
Trinidad, conceived the idea of colonishing The Greater Bird of Paradise, Paradise apoda,
on the island of Little Tobago. He secured the services of Mr. Wilfred Frost who, in
September 1909, released 24 males and 24 females on the island. Two females were later
added to the colony.
Sir William Ingram died in 1924 and the island was inherited by his widow for life. She
died the following year. On May 28th, 1928, a deed was drawn up by the heirs of Sir
William Ingram, conveying the island and the Birds-of-Paradise to the Government and
People of Trinidad and Tobago.
Description: The
area of the island is about 100 hectares and it is well covered with vegetation. In fact,
there is a considerable diversity of flora. The island is hilly with the highest peak
being one hundred and forty five metres above sea level. The valleys between the hills
afford excellent cover for the birds. Location: The Little Tobago island lies north east
of Tobago and due east of the village of Speyside. It is located approximately 2.8 km from
the mainland and is separated by a passage which is about 4 km long. A strong current runs
almost constantly through this passage.
Climate: There is a dry period usually from January to May, and a rainy season
from June to December. There is plenty of sunshine between the showers. The average
rainfall is 256 cm (hence the aridity of the dry season) and water must be provided for
the birds during dry spells.
Vegetation: Various palms, shrubs and a variety of other bearing trees produce
fruits for these birds, the silver thatched palm being the dominant species. Banana,
papaya and other fruits were cultivated to ensure a constant supply of food for the birds.
Common flowering and fruiting trees found there are: Fiddle Wood, Wild Plantain, Manjack,
Bromeliads, Fan Palm, Hog Plum, Cabbage Palm, Naked Indian, Dogroot, Heliconia spp.,
Cordia collococca, Bromeliacaea, Coccothrinax australis, Spondias mombin, Roystonea
oleracae, Bursera simaruba, Lonchocarpus domingensis.
General Information: This small offshore island is one of the most important
sea-bird sanctuaries in the Caribbean. It serves as a haven for a number of species
including the Red billed tropic birds, Mot-mot, Hummingbirds, Feral Fowls, Gulls, Yellow
Tails, Bare-eye Thrush, Wrens Pigeons Boobies and Sooties. Also found in large populations
are Termites, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, earthworms, bats, snails, hermit crabs,
snakes, bachac, and lizards.
Note that the Bird of Paradise birds have not been sighted since 1981. The island is
the only place where the Bird Of Paradise ever existed outside of its natural habitat, New
Guinea. Little Tobago is a bird sanctuary maintained by the Forestry Section of the
Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine Affairs, Tobago House of Assembly. Trails are
provided and maintained to give visitors easy access to the island.
Little Tobago, otherwise known as Bird of Paradise Island. The island was once owned by
Mr. Ingram who had the intention of cultivating the island with some form of produce.
After all plans failed, because of the lack of water on the island, Mr. Ingram imported
New Guinea the Greater Birds Paradise. Today the Bird of Paradise is entinct on Little
Tobago but is now home to many birds such as the Red Billed Tropicbird. Driving along the
Atlantic coast of Tobago to the market and then to the Argyll River Waterfall before going
to Jemmas Kitchen for lunch, take the boat over to Little Tobago in the evening.
Information provided by: Ocean Point Hotel