Low Cay, High Cay and Sandy Hook (20595)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Low Cay, High Cay and Sandy Hook
Central coordinates: Latitude: 23.9505, Longitude: -74.4858
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 4
Area of KBA (km2): 12.24305
Protected area coverage (%): 69.86
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is located at the southeast end of San Salvador Island. Sandy Hook is an urban subdivision of Columbus Landing Development. It is bounded on the north and west by Pigeon Creek and by Snow Bay Beach on the east with the Atlantic Ocean on its south shore. Low and High Cays are located offshore to the southeast of Sandy Hook.
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: Flocks of Roseate, Bridled and Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies, Audubon's Shearwaters have been seen feeding in this area during fall. Least Terns and Wilson's Plovers can be seen along the beach.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: There are several habitat types at this site, sea, coastline, rocky cays, mangrove swamps and scrubland.
Land use: not utilised | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 30 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 30 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Further development is highly possible which will cause habitat destruction and disturbance of birds. Cays visited by tourists from Club Med Resort on jetskis and local 'guides' using the cays for commercial purposes.
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.