Birds in Paradise
Nevis is named on international bird lists because of its varied array of bird species. The island is considered to be a premier birding spot worldwide. There are 126 species of birds on the island-from the perky bananaquits, who may visit your breakfast tables looking for sugar, to the impressive hawks that glide through the air (there are eight species of hawks). There are four species of white birds-in the egret and heron families--that create breathtaking sights.

Certain species of birds are here only at certain times of the year, so not all can be found year round. The birds live in several different habitats: the wetlands, beaches, rainforest, dry country, and inhabited areas. There are many wonderful birding areas around the island to see these different bird residents. The locations and the birds are described in a locally produced booklet, The Birds of Nevis by Paul Hilder, available at the Museum of Nevis History in Charlestown.

Bat Fauna
At least five species of bats have been identified on Nevis, an important part of the island's natural ecosystem. These lively creatures pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and eat insects, like mosquitoes. They are the only native mammals know to live on Nevis. 

Two types of bats eat insects; two consume fruits and flowers, two types live in rooftops. In recent years, many scientists have come here to study the fascinating bat population. They believe there is a sixth species here, the Caribbean fishing bat.

Bats are mammals bearing live young and suckling them on milk. They belong to the Order Chiroptera, which contain 956 species worldwide, approximately one-quarter of all mammal species. They are the only mammals capable of true flight (as opposed to the gliding flight found in some mammals such as flying squirrels).

There are some negative myths about bats. They do not build nests or lay eggs. They cannot chew holes in wood to gain access to buildings. They are not poisonous. And, they will not bite unless an attempt is made to catch them, which is true of most wild animals.

Whales' Tales and Dolphins
Whales are often considered by fisherman to be harbingers of good fishing. When they appear, the mackerel, tuna, and other fish gather in abundance. But anyone familiar with the entertaining aquatic gymnastics of spinner dolphins and the unbelievable grace of breaching humpback whales also welcome their arrival.

The year begins in January along the coast of Nevis with the haunting songs of the humpback whales. They begin their annual journey thousands of miles away near the Arctic and Canada to head for the warm waters of the Caribbean to mate and give birth. These gentle giants, who filter huge mouthfuls of plankton, crustaceans, and small fish through massive strands of baleen plates that hang down from their upper jaw, pass by Nevis during their courtship and mating rituals.

The males practice the newest version of their ancient love song in hopes of attracting a mate. These otherworldly melodies can be heard underwater from miles away. Occasionally one can view a remarkable show of jumps and tail lobs, fin waving and barrel rolls. By April they move on. 

While the humpbacks are migratory, several other types stay here year round. They include pilot, sperm, fin, sei and minke whales. The largest whale in the world, the blue whale, sometimes passes by and is truly an awesome sight. 

Spinner dolphins are just as entertaining as they spin gracefully, leaping through the air. Their streamlined bodies glide through the water as they ride boat bow waves and their chatter and chirps seem to be cries of joy and pure delight. To be surrounded by a playful pod is a memory beyond compare.

Scuba divers often have the chance to see bottlenose, spinner, and other small dolphins during their dives off Nevis. Sightseeing boats from Scuba Safaris take trips out to see the whales and dolphins between January and April. It's also possible to watch the whales from the top of Saddle Hill, where the U.S. environmental organization Greenpeace has installed a telescope. Call to use the telescope at 869-469-2856.

Sea Turtle Species
There are four species of sea turtles that venture to the beaches to lay eggs: the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas; the leatherback, Dermochelys coricea, and the hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata, and the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta.

On land they lumber arduously past the high tide mark to painstakingly dig nests with flippers designed for swimming and lay 40-150 ping-pong ball sized eggs. In the water, however, they are agile and streamlined and can soar along at up to 35 miles per hour despite their massive bodies which can weigh up to 1500 pounds.

During their life span of about 100 years, they travel the oceans, sometimes hundreds of miles, and eat foods that range from jellyfish to sponges, grass and fish. Despite the large number of eggs per nest, which hatch in 50-60 days, all species of sea turtles are endangered.

The young brave many dangers after they hatch and crawl awkwardly toward the sea drawn by the moonlight on the water. If they survive predators from the land, they must evade many dangers in the sea if they are to grow from the size of an EC dollar to approximately 40 inches. Only 1 in 10,000 survive to adulthood.

Check with the nature hiking guides for supervised viewing of nocturnal turtle nesting activities. Swimming turtles are frequently seen on dive trips organised by Scuba Safaris or Under the Sea, Sealife Education Centre, phone: 869-469-1291. 

Monkeys and Donkeys
Monkey sightings are common on Nevis, and most visitors delight in seeing the energetic creatures run across the road (followed by a family of babies) or swing from tree to tree. These green vervet monkeys live only on St. Kitts, Barbados, and Nevis, brought to this island by British settlers. Local lore says that the French brought them, though the description "French" was actually a derogatory term for annoying British. 

These cute animals, with expressive faces of white contrasting with their darker hair, chatter from the treetops, as if holding conversations between themselves or berating visitors from the ground. They are very safe, carry no human diseases, and are often seen stealing fruits (especially mangoes) and flowers. 

The relative of the monkey, the donkey (phonetically-speaking only) are seen roaming around the island, usually in small groups. They were brought to the island as beasts of burden, but now are only used occasionally for transportation by farmers. Mothers are often seen with their babies-small donkeys with shaggy hair that look like dogs with long ears. People shouldn't approach a mother donkey with her young, as she will defend her young, as will any animal mother.

Sheep and Goats
How do you tell the difference between them? Tails down-sheep. Tails up-goat (To remember, P goes down and T goes up). Other than that, it's often hard to differentiate between these two animals that roam the island, crossing roads, grazing in fields, often with small young ones struggling to keep up with the older herd.

Mongooses
Brought to the island originally in 1870 to get rid of the rodent population, this small, brown ferret-like animal can be see skittering across roads.

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