Mangrove Cay (20577)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2013
National site name: Mangrove Cay
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.2397, Longitude: -77.6650
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 7
Area of KBA (km2): 22.28468
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mangrove Cay is a significant part of the several islands constituting Andros, lying between Big Wood Cay and South Andros. The population occupies the east side of the island where a mangrove creek runs parellel to the seashore behind the sand dune. The mangrove creek has been severly degraded in places by causeways and other obstacles cutting off the flow of water. The west side of the the island is uninhabited, consisting of pine forest broadleaf coppice and wetlands.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The mixed habitat of pine forest, broad-leaf coppice, inland wetland, coastal wetland and coastline provides a rich variety of birdlife. There are the resident birds which include all three endemics of The Bahamas e.g. Bahama Yellowthroat, Bahama Woodstar and Bahama Swallow. The mangrove creek supports a wide variety of waterbirds year round, warblers and migrant shorebirds are present in winter.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: This site has a large area of pine forest, large percentages of inland wetland, coastal wetland, coastline and broad-leaf coppice. There is evidence that the residents are active in domestic agriculture and fishing.
Land use: agriculture | military | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 19 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 4 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 19 | |
| Forest | 38 | |
| Shrubland | 19 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Development is gradually creeping in as the community expands.
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. 2006. Carolyn Wardle and Predensa Moore field trip report to Mangrove Cay and South Andros unpublished document available at Bahamas National Trust.