Bubali Wetlands (20856)
Aruba (to Netherlands), Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Bubali Wetlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.5598, Longitude: -70.0497
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1 to 1
Area of KBA (km2): 0.52694
Protected area coverage (%): 95.70
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Located towards the west end of the island between the high-rise and low-rise tourist hotels the wetlands were created to contain water from a waste water treatment facility. The wetlands have undergone some management in the past but are now suffering from rapidly expanding aquatic vegetation and reeds that are minimizing the open water areas.
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: A significant nesting area for caribbean coot (Fulica caribbaea, >30 pairs), also common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), white-cheeked pintail (Anas bahamensis, 25+ prs.), least grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus), pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) and green heron (Butorides virescens). The mixed desert scrub vegetation along the south (seaward) side of the wetland contains nesting white-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus cayennensis), yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), burrowing owl (Athene arubensis), ruby-topaz hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus), eared dove (Zenaida auriculata), common ground dove (Columbina passerine) and bannaquit (Coereba flaveola) amongst others. A large roost of up to 400+ individual neo-tropical cormorants (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) occupies a section of trees on the south side of the wetland. The wetland contains several hundreds of shorebirds during spring and autumn migration during which time the entire area contains several species of neo-tropical passerines, particularly warblers and flycatchers. Non-bird biodiversity: The in filling of the wetland by encroaching reeds is slowing the water flow and leading to sedimentation and terrestrial plant growth. Current (June 2007) area of open water is approximately 4-5 hectares compared to approximately 8-10 hectares in 1999.
Delineation rationale: Final maps are done. These will be send to Mark (December 2007).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Diminishing area of open water surrounded by hotel and commercial development to the east and west and a road to the north.
Land use: water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 67 | |
| Forest | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The wetland is under severe threat of in filling due to aquatic plant encroachment and an associated lack of wetland management.
Additional information
References: Personal observations of Dr. Adrian del Nevo. http://www.wellsbirding.com/arubabirds/aboutBirds/BubaliBirdSanctuary.htm
Contributors: We are very thankfull to the author of this information Dr. Adian del Nevo, and Theo Wools and Facundo Franken for their reviews.