In a commentary published on June 30, 2026, environmental researcher Dr. Kathleen McNary urged Turks and Caicos Islands residents to turn private backyards into conservation refuges to protect native bird species from habitat clearance and chemical pesticides.
Unlike most countries, the Turks and Caicos Islands have not banned dangerous pesticides known as persistent organic pollutants. McNary notes that birds accelerate environmental recovery by five to eight times through seed dispersal and pollination. However, local pigeon and dove populations have suffered significant declines because property owners routinely clear Poisonwood trees, which provide vital water and food through their fruit, to prevent allergic skin reactions.
To sustain wildlife through local droughts, McNary advises homeowners to set out shallow blue or turquoise ceramic water bowls, changing the water daily to prevent disease. Property owners developing land should avoid toxic chemicals, keep plant clearance to the absolute minimum, and plant native species such as Gumbo Limbo, Strong Back, and Blue Rat Tail to support endemic and regional birds.