North Atlantic Abaco Cays (20385)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: North Atlantic Abaco Cays
Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.8907, Longitude: -77.5632
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1
Area of KBA (km2): 411.65131
Protected area coverage (%): 6.32
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: North Atlantic Abaco Cays covers the range from Walker's Cay southwards to Scotland Cay, excluding Great Guana Cay, Manjack Cay, Powell Cay and Spanish Cay. Gilliam Bay is located at the southeast point of Green Turtle Cay. There are extensive sand flats at low tide.
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: This site is a premier seabird nesting area. Most of them have to be birded from a boat. Bridled, Sooty, Roseate and Least Terns, Audubon's Shearwaters, White-tailed Tropicbirds, Magnificant Frigatebirds, Brown Boobies, Brown Noddies and many other species nest on these isolated rocks and cays each year. Gilliam Bay encompasses a large area of tidal sand/mud flats which is home to many species of resident and migrating shorebirds. It is suggested, if possible to bird this area by boat to avoid flushing the birds.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Many of these Cays are uninhabited and isolated with coastal mangroves and scrub vegetation. Others are sparsely populated all or part of the year. Game and commercial fishing and tourism related products are the primary occupation of the residents. The narrow strip of hard land at Gilliam Bay is undisturbed, except for the east side which is used as a picnic spot for visitors to Gilliam Bay Beach and an almost non-existent track road which leads to the shoreline and flats. The tidal flats are basically undisturbed except for beachcombers and boats small enough to negotiate the shallow waters.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | not utilised | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Marine Neritic | 38 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 38 | |
| Forest | 19 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Development that can cause destruction of vital habitats. Pollution from urban developments and visiting boaters. Illegal egging and hunting. Introduced predators such as household pets that can cause disturbance and predation to nest and birds.
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. Kushlan, J.A. 2006. Seabirds Nesting and Conservation in the Northern Bahamas. Unpublished.