Mt. Hartman Dove Sanctuary

Mt. Hartman on Grenada's southern peninsula protects dry coastal scrub, and the reason for it is the Grenada dove, the national bird, which lives nowhere else on earth and whose population is counted in the low hundreds. The habitat it needs is exactly the ground developers want, which has kept the reserve contested. Trails run through the scrub and the dove is heard far more often than seen.

What you actually see

• The Grenada dove - the national bird, found nowhere else in the world.
• The dry scrub - the specific habitat the species depends on.
• The trails - paths running through the reserve toward the coast.
• The coastal peninsula - the ground the reserve occupies in the south.

When to go

December to May is drier and the birds call most in the early morning. The dove calls from around January to June. Midday heat is severe with no shade.

Honest expectations

Seeing the dove is unlikely and hearing it is the realistic outcome. There is no shade and water must be carried. The reserve's boundaries have been contested and signage is poor.

Nearby

Hog Island is east, and Grand Anse is northwest.