Trip question #2, island animals

Barb Y · Post by **Barb Y** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:17 am

Hey I am so glad to see my fellow Western New Yorkers are heading back to paradise. When we get our "blizzard" this weekend just keep thinking STJ. The feeding time at the Westin is unbelievable there are almost too many iguanas to count. Some come up to eat but there are so many more hanging out on branches over this small little pond. My cousin saw an octopus at Trunk. Donkeys were hanging out at Cinnamon and Trunk on our last trip. I have seem Mongoose darting across the road out by Annaberg. I hope you get to check them all off and more. Don't forget pictures. Have a blast!

Bug · Post by **Bug** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:31 am

Pia wrote:Donkey's - Coral Bay - a daily sighting for me, there was even one at Shipwreck tonight
Pia

Pia, your killing me here. Shipwreck is my favorite place and I miss it sooooooo much!!! Did you have the Fish & Chips??? That's my favorite meal on the island

XOXO
Bug

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:57 am

Fish and Chips.............excellent (and coming from an English girl that is saying something

) and yep, hubby had them with extra, extra tarter sauce, but for me, it was their fresh Ponzu Tuna - unbelievable - I always have that when it is a special (usually on Thursday and Friday nights

)

Pia

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:45 pm

Does anyone know how many donkeys are on the island? I'm wondering if there are just a few that really get around, or if there are several small "herds" that always hang out in their own territory?

Dave-a-roni · Post by **Dave-a-roni** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:43 am

WOW!!! Thanks everyone for your input! This is really cool. I really want to make this next trip count, so this helps a lot, especially since were bringing lots-o-family, we want them to see a lot as well.

We visited the Westin on out last trip, and walked around a bit, they had a free drinks thing going on to try to get you stay (A timeshare deal I think?) We walked all around and didn't see any wildlife, and never heard of the Iguana feeding, but we'll check that out this time though. And the parrot's DCPhoto mentioned sound awesome!

A few of you mentioned Octopi in Trunk and Jumbie... where the heck is Jumbie? I cant seem to locate it on my NPS STJ map.

Caneel seems to be getting a good overall rating in a lot of things. I'll have to check that out.

The mongoose still seem to be a random suprise from what I have been reading with your sightings. We really want to see some.
Roberto,
"Mongoose, Dumpster in Coral Bay"

We drove by that sore thumb everyday when we stayed in Coral Bay... never a mongoose sighting, just lucky enough to see litter that never made it in!

BarbY,
Yep, while I'm out in our 20 degree winter wonderland, next trip to STJ is what keeps me (and my wife) going and "feeling" warm

California Girl,
I'd like to know about the donky population too, I think I might ask a Park Ranger that when I get there... they may know.

FlipFlop,
Iguana's not cute? Not a fan? Come on, they're too damn cool! How could you not like a vegatarian reptile?

~Dave

Rachelle & Joe · Post by **Rachelle & Joe** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:05 pm

Hi all, Don't forget the HUGE Cattle & pigs that could be met along the roads!!! just blew me away the first time it happened to us! & let me tell u.......they alway's have the right away!

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:04 pm

Dave-a-roni wrote: I'd like to know about the donky population too, I think I might ask a Park Ranger that when I get there... they may know.

If you find out, please post it!

Dave-a-roni wrote:where the heck is Jumbie? I cant seem to locate it on my NPS STJ map.

Dave, I highly recommend the US Virgin Islands Street Atlas (see the link to buy one at the top of this page). It's an excellent way to locate things, a great resource. I just looked in my copy and Jumbie is located between Hawksnest/Denis Bays and Trunk Bay. I believe there's a wooden staircase leading down to the beach... uh, flip-flop, Mary Beth... care to chime in on this one?

patr · Post by **patr** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:44 pm

Here's a link to a great STJ beach guide:

http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Beaches/beach_home.html

The donkeys out on the East End come up on the road after a rain to get a drink of water. One afternoon after visiting Vie's beach we must have seen a dozen of them, just lapping up the rain from the road.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:37 pm

California Girl, you are right. Dave-a-roni, when you are heading out on the North Shore Road, you'll pass Hawksnest and Gibney Beaches. After that, have your traveling companion start to look to the right for a parking area that holds about three cars. You will see some white stripes in the road too. Park and then walk up to the wooden staircase on the left side of the road. That's the "trail" to Jumbie Beach.

Do you have Feet, Fins, and Four Wheel Drive? If not, please get it! It will tell you where all the driveable beaches are, and the author is a hoot. You'll love it.

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:44 pm

not a great photo but this is on the trail looking back toward the stairs.

Lex · Post by **Lex** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:17 pm

I've also been curious about the donkeys on STJ. How many of them? Do they have territory or do they roam? Who deals with them if they're sick or die? There was a serious study done in the mid-80s:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_o ... 8c67af787a

The abstract doesn't provide much info. Groups of females and young, solitary males. Unfotunately it would cost a bit more to purchase the article than I was willing to put up. I'm curious, but not that curious. It would be interesting to see what the rangers might know.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:54 pm

Thanks Lex! I read the abstract, too, and was surprised to see that they had categorized 18 different "social units". That's more than I would have guessed. But they seem to be limited to 4 -6 donkeys per unit, so it's definitely feasible I suppose.

Dave-a-roni · Post by **Dave-a-roni** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:57 pm

Thanks fot the Jumbie info guys, now I do see it on the NPS map, next to Trunk

. mbw1024, having that photo really helps too, thanks. The donkey article/study was interesting, I'm curious to know what what the park rangers have to say none the less. I plan on bringing my Edirol R-09 digital audio recorder with me to record the frogs and bugs at night (awesome), ambient beach recordings, Cruz bay at night street ambience, etc. I also want to do short interviews with people like the Park Rangers, the artisans at Maho, etc. Other than personal interests and hobby reasons, I want to build up some material first for a podcast someday that I will make myself. Who knows if I'll ever get around to actually doing it though.

Thanks liamsaunt, I'll check out that book you recommended "Do you have Feet, Fins, and Four Wheel Drive", and the beach guide is one of those things I keep looking at online but don't buy it... maybe I'll tell my wife for a late Christmas gift idea

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