Isla de Aves (Spanish for 'Island of Birds') is a Caribbean islet with sovereignty disputed between Dominica and Venezuela. It lies to the west of the Leeward Islands chain at 15°40′18″N, 63°36′59″W. It is 375 metres in length and never more than 50 metres in width, and rises 4 m above the sea on a calm day. It is sometimes completely submerged during hurricanes. It is 115 miles southwest of Montserrat, 70 miles west of Dominica and 340 miles north of the Venezuela mainland. West Indian redirects here. ... The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ...

For some time the island has been in danger of eroding altogether, and the Venezuelan authorities are considering ways to protect it, along with the territorial claims to the Caribbean Sea which radiate from 'Island of Birds'. The impact of Hurricane Allen in the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season divided it into two parts, but accretions of coral have subsequently reunited it. Mostly sand, a small portion has some scrubby vegetation. Map of Central America and the Caribbean A Caribbean beach in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. ... Hurricane Allen was the strongest hurricane of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. ... First storm formed: July 31, 1980 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... Subclasses Alcyonaria Zoantharia See text for orders. ...

In 1950, a Venezuelan Navy fleet consisting of two patrol boats and one transport boat reached the island and a group of soldiers effectively took control of the island. Twenty-eight years later in 1978, the Venezuelan Navy set up a Scientific Naval Base named "Simón Bolívar", which was permanently inhabited by a group of scientists and military personnel.

The Venezuelan military in 2004 expanded the naval base which was raised on stilts above the water. Several Caribbean island states, including Dominica, have asserted to the UN that Venezuela's claim to an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from Isla de Aves is illegal. They cite the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea provision that prohibits isolated, tiny islets from being used to make any claim beyond the 12 nautical mile (22 km) territorial sea limit. Venezuela is not a signatory to that UN Convention. West Indian redirects here. ...

With the joint-signing of the PetroCaribe S.A. agreement between Venezuela and many of the Caribbean states, there may be decreased pressure by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to continue pushing the sovereignty issue. Petrocaribe S. A. is a Caribbean oil alliance with Venezuela to purchase their oil on conditions of preferential payment, launched in June of 2005. ... The Caribbean Community and Common Market or CARICOM was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas[1] which came into effect on August 1, 1973. ...

The island is a resting and breeding place for seabirds and the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Its low profile makes it a hazard to navigation, and many ships have been wrecked here. Binomial name Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) This page redirects from Chelonia, which is the genus name of this turtle, but has also been used for the order Testudines of all turtles and tortoises. ...

It is not to be confused with the Islas Las Aves in the Los Roques group much nearer to the Venezuelan mainland. The Las Aves Archipelago is part of the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela. ... The Los Roques islands are federal dependency of the Venezuelan government consisting of about 50 islands, cays or islets off the coast of Venezuela with a population of 1,500 inhabitants and approximately 58,000 visitors a year, many of them day-visitors who come from Caracas and the mainland. ...

History

The island was most likely discovered by Avaro Sanzze in 1584, though it was not settled. It was subsequently claimed for Britain, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. From 1878 to 1912 the island was occupied by American guano miners until supplies were eventually exhausted. 1584 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Chincha guano islands in Peru. ...

Isla de Aves was included in Venezuela's territorial reorganization done by President Joaquin Crespo in 1895. By 1905, Isla de Aves was a municipality called "Municipio Oriental" part of Colon Federal Territory.

Aves Island is a particularly rare amateur radio "entity." In 2006 an expedition by operators to the island required 14 years of planning. Despite the fatal heart attack of one member, over 42,000 contacts were made during their week-long stay.y Ham radio station with modern solid-state transceiver featuring LCD display and DSP capabilities Ham radio station with vintage vacuum tube gear featuring separate transmitter, receiver and power supply Amateur radio, often called Ham radio, is a hobby and public service enjoyed by about 6 million people throughout the world. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• Venezuelan Island of Aves
• Venezuelan Territory Isla de Aves
• Aves Island Venezuela
• Page on the island, with maps and images
• Images and information about the island
• Official Communique from the CARICOM heads of government -- Subheader OECS-Venezuela
• BIRD ISLAND: TIME TO ACT - Editorial on the Commonwealth of Dominica taking steps to reclaim sovereignty over the island.
• Aves Island a Strategic Island in the Caribbean Sea - by Thomson Fontaine - Should Dominica Stake a Claim to the Island? (The Dominican, October 21, 2002)
• [1] 2006 amateur radio activity, including pictures.
• NASA Earth Observatory

October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Articles and papers

• "Island' talk for Caricom, Venezuela - (July 7th, 2006) - Barbados NationNews
• OECS searching for Bird Island solution - (March 16th, 2006) - Caribbean Net News
• Shock over Bird Island - (November 10th, 2005) - Barbados Advocate News
• Drama over Bird Island (November 10th, 2005) - Barbados Advocate News
• OECS raps Caracas' claim to island (November 9th, 2005) - Barbados NationNews
• Caricom to meet over Aves Island (October 24th, 2005) - Barbados NationNews
• History proves Venezuelan onwership of Isla de Aves
• VicePresident Rangel thinks that the "empire" is behind claim to Aves Island