The search for the elusive Jacquot, the emerald island’s national bird
A few months ago I went birdwatching to St Lucia in search of the elusive Jacquot, the island’s national bird, and learnt about biodiversity, endangered species and the power of environmental activism.
My wife and I are nearing the end of an eight-hour hike up a vertiginous mountain trail. We are in the heart of Des Cartiers, the lushest rainforest Saint Lucia has to offer. Still no sign of the St Lucia Parrot. It is like searching for a green needle in a green haystack. Only harder. The problem is that this bird’s feathers are precisely the same shade as the emerald vegetation. These birds blend into the surroundings more effectively than chameleons.
The biodiversity on Saint Lucia is enough to make your head spin. This tiny island – just 27 long and 14 miles across – simply thrums with nature. It is blessed with an astounding variety of landscapes, from 3,000-feet mountains (including the awe-inspiring Pitons, the two volcanic peaks that erupted out of the Caribbean Sea millions of years ago and are now protected by UNESCO World Heritage Site status) to brochure-ready…
