Salt Cay (20649)
Bahamas, Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Salt Cay
Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.1560, Longitude: -77.0558
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 9.67668
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Salt Cay, also known as Blue Lagoon Island is located northeast of Paradise Island. It is a tourism and recreation destination at its eastern end. Daily, boats filled with tourists visits the island with music, food, etc. The western end is very narrow and rocky.
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: White Cheeked Pintail Ducks nest on Salt Cay and within 48 hours of fledging the mother swims the brood across to the ponds on Paradise Island. Resident landbirds include Northern Mockingbird, Zenaida Dove, Thick-billed Vireo, Bananquit and several species of migrant warblers. Shorebirds include Ruddy Turnstone, Black-bellied Plover, Wilson's Plover, Spotted Sandpiper and Sanderling. Laughing Gulls,Ospreys, Green Herons and Yellow-crowned Night Herons have also been seen at this site. Roseate Terns is reported to nest at this site.
Other site values: `
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Habitats include sandy beaches, rocky shoreline and shrubland.
Land use: not utilised | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Marine Neritic | 33 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: More development will destroy habitat and cause disturbance of birds. Introduction of predators will destroy eggs, chicks and even adult birds.
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.