Grand Bahama Southern Shore (20382)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Grand Bahama Southern Shore
Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.6458, Longitude: -78.1037
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 3
Area of KBA (km2): 0.44086
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site runs along the southern coastline of Grand Bahama, from approx. one mile east of the Grand Lucayan Waterway and continuing east for about seven miles to Old Freetown.
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: Shorebirds including Piping Plovers can be found here during winter, also herons and egrets. Landbirds are present in the coppice and pinewoods behind the beach.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Miles of sandy beach that provide recreation for hundreds of residents and visitors.
Land use: tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 63 | |
| Shrubland | 31 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 6 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Popular beach for human activity and development that can create destruction of habitat and disturbance of birds. Invasive non-native trees threaten native vegetation behind the beach.
Additional information
References: White, A.W. 1998b. A Birder's Guide to the Bahama Island (Including Turks and Caicos). American Birding Association. Colorado Springs, CO. 302pp. Bainton, Aileen M. and Anthony W. White. 2006. A Bibliography of Birds, Ornithology and Birding in The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands. Media Enterprises Ltd. Nassau, Bahamas. 96pp.