Tee Cay, Goat Cay and Long Rocks (20623)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Tee Cay, Goat Cay and Long Rocks
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.5905, Longitude: -75.8383
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1
Area of KBA (km2): 8.20132
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: These cays are located between northern Cat Island and Little San Salvador but physically nearer to Little San Salvador. Goat Cay has an attractive sandy cove and lies northeast, Long Rocks lies due east and Tee Cay lies southeast off Little San Salvador. They are uninhabited.
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: Little direct information is available on these cays except for reports from boaters that seabirds are present during nesting season. Best birding information speculate the population is made up of Sooty, Bridled and Roseate Terns, Brown Noddies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Brown Boobies. There have also been reports of White-crowned Pigeons nesting on Goat Cay. Non-bird biodiversity: Curly-tailed lizards are present on Goat Cay.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: These cays are uninhabited limestone ridges partially covered with scrubland vegetation such as seagrape, prickly cactus, haulback and other native plants that are rugged and durable.
Land use: not utilised (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Marine Neritic | 40 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Introduced predators and disturbance to birds caused by visiting boaters and refugees.
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. 2001. Yachtman's Guide to the Bahamas (Includes Turks and Caicos) Tropic Island Publishers. 440pp.