About

From Mount Hillaby to Volcano A

13°10' north of the equator, and 59°32' west of the Prime Meridian in the North Atlantic Ocean lies an island formed from the uplifted sediments of the Orinoco River.

             Geologically distinct from its counterparts in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados is primarily composed of limestone, originating from ancient coral reefs.

              The island is unassuming, with a highly developed landscape and just 430 km2 of land space to its name. Yet, hidden characteristics remain that need to be unearthed; a side of Barbados apart from the sun, sea, and sand that should be highlighted.

               Scattered between the hotels and resorts of the South and West coasts are the relics of mangroves forests that once were, while tide pools in the East hide treasure troves of biodiversity. Gullies carved into the limestone landscape host remnants of Barbados’ original vegetation, protected from the dense development sweeping over the island.

Record-holders such as the world’s smallest snake and the deepest diving deep-sea shark call this island and its waters its home, and though species such as the green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) might not be native, they are as ‘Bajan to de bone’ as the rest of us.

              From the isle’s lone mountain to more than 450 mud volcanoes found up to 5,000 meters below the surface of the ocean in its cold, dark, depths, Barbados has a unique natural world waiting to be discovered.

Getting To Know the Island in the Sun

That’s where I enter, please allow me to introduce myself.

              I’m Kyle Foster, a Barbadian with a passion for nature. Adamant to understand how the natural world works, I completed a BSc in Ecology and Conservation Biology, and I am currently on a postgraduate programme pursuing an M.Phil. in Environmental Biology, where I study ecosystems that exist more than 200 m in the deep ocean.

While I study Barbados’ deep sea, which I intend to share more about, I am also interested in learning more about its other ecosystems. I have lived on the island of Barbados for what is bordering 25 years, but there is still so much that remains unknown to me in my own backyard.

              So, I am setting out to do just that, documenting what I find between the pages of my journal. Who knows? I may even stumble across species or behaviours that are new to science.

I look forward to bringing you along on these adventures, so stay tuned!