Bird Rock (20511)
Barbados, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Bird Rock
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.3320, Longitude: -59.6250
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 1.36142
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bird Rock (N13° 19' 55.46', W 59° 37' 30.41') (All coordinates from Google Earth). Bird Rock is located at the extreme northern end of the island. It is a small rock stack ca. 30 metres off shore of the coastline of cliffs which extend in both directions along the boulder-strewn shore. A narrow footpath leads to a small sandy beach near Bird Rock. At the present, no human settlement encroaches on the rock. According to Dr. Lorna Inniss of CZMU there is a restriction against building within 400 metres of the cliff along this coastline.
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: Hughes (1750) was the first to note shearwaters at Bird Rock. In the 19th century, Fielden (1889) recorded 'considerable numbers' and took specimens and eggs. Frost and Massiah estimate between 50 to 100 nesting pairs based on their counts of birds coming to the site after sunset. Non-bird biodiversity: Not applicable.
Delineation rationale: Mark has the complete shapefiles.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Rock stack without vegetation.
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: At the present the only likely threat would be coastal development that permitted security lighting along the cliff. Lighting would disturb and disorient the birds.
Additional information
References: Fielden,H.W 1889. On the breeding of Puffinus auduboni in the island of Barbados. Ibis, Series 6, 1:60-63 Frost, M. Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) unpublished ms. Do you have the year of the thesis? How many pages? Hughes, G. 1750. The natural history of Barbados. London. (Reprinted in 1972 by Arno Press, New York). Martin Frost, mfrost@hornabbot.bb Dr. Lorna Inniss, Coastal Zone Management Unit, linniss@coastal.gov.bb