Caribbean Birding Trail

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You are here: Home / Sint Eustatius / Pilot Hill

Pilot Hill

  • About Pilot Hill
  • How to Get There

Pilot Hill is the island’s main nesting site for Red-billed Tropicbirds, supporting some 250 pairs. This boulder-strewn area along the north-west coast should not be attempted without a guide, however anyone wishing to get close to Tropicbirds during the nesting season (November to May) could not ask for a better experience than this.

Red-billed Tropicbird Chick (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Red-billed Tropicbird Chick (Photo by Hannah Madden)

Hannah Madden has been working with Tropicbirds since 2012 and can provide a wealth of information about this iconic seabird. Small groups (maximum five persons) can visit Pilot Hill to find out more about the reproductive and spatial ecology of Tropicbirds. Around 85 nesting cavities can be safely accessed, where visitors will see adults incubating a single egg, adults with chicks, or juveniles in various stages of development. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the life history of this species, or just take incredible photos of Tropicbirds as they cruise the immediate area. A ‘lifer’ for many birders, the Red-billed Tropicbird is one of the most enigmatic seabird species in the Caribbean.

Hannah Madden with Red-billed Tropicbird
Hannah Madden with Red-billed Tropicbird

To access Pilot Hill, drive towards Oranje Bay on the Caribbean Sea coast. Park on the corner below Kingswell hotel. There is no marked entrance, hence the need for a guide. You will pass a former fort and burial ground known as Godet, then take a short walk along the beach until you reach the base of Pilot Hill.

Red-billed Tropicbird (Photo by Hannah Madden)
Red-billed Tropicbird (Photo by Hannah Madden)

Pilot Hill

Sint Eustatius Sites

  • Quill/Boven National Park
  • Pilot Hill
  • Zeelandia Beach

Sint Eustatius Partners

  • Sint Eustatius National Parks


Sint Eustatius Tour Operators

We don't currently have any listings for Tour Operators in this area

Recommended Field Guides

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele

Want to know how you can be involved?

Do you know of a place that should be part of the Caribbean Birding Trail? Are you the owner of a lodge or hotel and want to attract eco-tourists? Are you a guide interested in the birdwatching market? Then, get involved with our project!

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