Goulding Cay Wild Bird Reserve (20339)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Goulding Cay Wild Bird Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.0205, Longitude: -77.5698
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1
Area of KBA (km2): 4.11844
Protected area coverage (%): 78.87
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Goulding Cay is located off the west end of New Providence, directly offshore of Jaws Beach, near Lyford Cay.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Each summer, May through August, Bridle Terns, Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies by the hundreds return to nest on Goulding Cay. Starting 2004 the Ornithology Group of the Bahamas National Trust has monitored this site each summer and feel confident that up to 2007 the site was doing well.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Goulding Cay is an uninhabited offshore rocky cay with low coastline vegetation such as bay marigolds, bay lavender, bay cedar, sea purslane and railroad vines.
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 40 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Marine Neritic | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Illegal egging and disturbance of birds. Because of its proximity to the densely populated city of Nassau and New Providence island, disturbance of nesting seabirds and possible threat of egging by residents, boaters and offshore divers is a major concern. The protected status of this island is not yet established.
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.