Montserrat: Authorities did 16 day hike to find Mountain Chicken, no sighting found

As part of the Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme, the Department of Environment in Monserrate carried out annual historical surveys across the Centre Hills.

Tuesday, 14th June 2022

Monserrate: Authorities do 16 day hike to find Mountain Chicken, no sighting found

As part of the Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme, the Department of Environment in Montserrat carried out annual historical surveys across the Centre Hills. The 16-night hikes were conducted to assess whether Mountain Chickens are present in the wild. These surveys have been implemented annually since the arrival of chytrid in 2009.

The research is carried out as currently, it is breeding season, and the frogs are vocal. Second, being it is the month prior to hurricane season, whereafter, any rains will make the transects too dangerous to undertake.

During each survey, the team sat in silence for 10 minutes at various points along the transect, head torches off, to listen for any Mountain Chicken calls. Whilst out hiking, they kept their eyes peeled for the reflection of the Mountain Chickens' eyes, which reflect red in our light beams.

Although no mountain chickens were found during these surveys, authorities hold hope that one day they will rediscover Mountain Chickens in the wild here on Montserrat. It's a highly endangered frog found only on the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat.