Purpose of the Session

This roundtable discussion will introduce participants to the editorial team and activities of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) and explore opportunities for greater participation by Caribbean researchers, students, and conservation practitioners as authors and reviewers. The session will also highlight underutilized article formats, including Conservation Reports and Data Papers, as important tools for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and increased visibility of Caribbean bird research and conservation efforts.

Background and Rationale

Regional scientific journals play a critical role in advancing ornithological knowledge, supporting conservation, and amplifying regional perspectives and expertise. The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) is an open-access journal dedicated to research, observations, and perspectives on Caribbean birds and bird conservation. In addition to full research articles, the journal publishes research notes, conservation reports, opinion pieces, book reviews, memorials, and other contributions reflecting both current work and the history of Caribbean ornithology.

As the journal continues to grow, there is an important opportunity to increase participation from Caribbean-based researchers, students, and conservation practitioners while also strengthening regional peer-review capacity. Many valuable datasets, conservation experiences, and observations remain unpublished or inaccessible, limiting opportunities for collaboration, synthesis, and broader application.This roundtable will introduce participants to the publication process, current trends within the journal, and emerging opportunities for contribution, including the recently introduced Data Papers category, which provides a mechanism for describing and sharing important datasets and metadata for future reuse and collaboration.

Session Objectives

• Introduce the editorial team and explain the roles of editors, associate editors, and reviewers
• Share recent publication trends and patterns of submissions across the Caribbean region
• Highlight opportunities to contribute research articles, Conservation Reports, Data Papers, and other article types
• Encourage greater participation by Caribbean-based authors and reviewers
• Foster discussion around barriers to publishing and opportunities for improving regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration

Session Structure and Format

The session will begin with a short introduction to the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology and its editorial team, followed by an overview of recent publication trends, submission patterns, and the journal’s different article categories. Facilitators will explain the publication process from submission through peer review and production, while also recognizing the important contributions of reviewers and encouraging participants to become involved in peer review.

The remainder of the session will focus on interactive discussion and audience participation. Possible discussion topics and activities include barriers to publishing Caribbean bird research, opportunities for sharing datasets through Data Papers, identifying priority topics or species in need of updated information, and an informal “Ask the Editors” discussion where participants can ask questions about publishing, peer review, and manuscript preparation.

Target Audience

Researchers, conservation practitioners, NGOs, government agencies, educators, outreach professionals, students, and early-career professionals interested in publishing, peer review, Caribbean ornithology, and scientific communication.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased awareness of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology and its publication process
• Recruitment of new reviewers and increased engagement with the journal
• Greater participation by Caribbean-based researchers and practitioners as authors
• Increased awareness of alternative publication formats, including Conservation Reports and Data Papers
• Stronger connections between JCO and the broader BirdsCaribbean community