South Tarpum Bay (19828)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: South Tarpum Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.8018, Longitude: -76.2062
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 7
Area of KBA (km2): 175.05627
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: South Tarpum Bay site is located in the Southern part of the Island of Eleuthera. It is a typical residential island settlement with most of the population occupied with farming or fishing.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Large areas of mixed coppice provide habitat for resident and migrant passerines including the endangered Kirtland's Warbler. Two of The Bahamas endemics can be found in this area, Bahama Woodstar and Bahama Yellowthroat. Other resident landbirds found at this site are Bahama Mockingbirds, Great Lizard Cuckoos, Greater Antillean Bullfinches, Thick-billed Vireos, Bananaquits and Black-faced Grassquits. Winter migrants are attracted to this site.
Delineation rationale: Mark has the complete shapefiles.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: In this area there are extensive tracts of land covering a wide range of habitats from abandoned plantation, mature coppice of varying heights, shrubland to coastal coppice. Residential and domestic farming are interposed throughout the area.
Land use: agriculture | not utilised | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 48 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Destruction of habitat caused by increased residential/resort developments create a real threat to the avian population. Slash and burn land clearing is common.
Additional information
References: White, A.W. 1998b. A Birder's Guide to the Bahama Islands (Including Turks and Caicos). American Birding Association. Colorado Springs, CO. 302pp.