Allan's Cays (20614)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Allan's Cays
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.7482, Longitude: -76.8383
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 7.45023
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Allan's Cays Group consists of three separate cays, Allan's Cay, Southwest Allan's Cay and Leaf Cay. They are located in the northern Exuma Cays between Ship Channel Cay and Highborne Cay. There are daily power boat trips from Nassau to these cays.
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: There is an Audubon's Shearwater summer nesting colony on Allan's Cay. This is a noctournal species and they are known to call consistantly at night during breeding season. Non-bird biodiversity: Rock Iguanas on Leaf Cay and SW Allans Cay are the main landbase attraction. They are fed by humans and appear tame but can be dangerous. All iguanas in The Bahamas are protected by law and may not be captured, killed or removed.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The isolation of the rocky seaward cliffs provide a nesting haven for the Audubon's Shearwaters on this site. The shoreline of Allan's and SW Allan's Cays is comprised of mainly honeycomb limestone rock and Leaf Cay has sandy soil and beaches.
Land use: not utilised | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 17 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 | |
| Marine Neritic | 33 | |
| Shrubland | 17 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Barn Owls and wintering Peregrine Falcons are natural predators to nesting Audubon's Shearwaters on Allan's Cay. There is the constant threat of disturbance to the birds and the iguanas by commercial and private boating activity, including dogs taken ashore for exercise.
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.