Oranjestad Reef Islands (20857)
Aruba (to Netherlands), Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Oranjestad Reef Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.5097, Longitude: -70.0392
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1
Area of KBA (km2): 3.09317
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Two or more variably sized sand/boulder coral islets adjacent to the central harbor in Oranjestad and the east end of the bay under the flight path of the Queen Beatrice Airport. The islets are subject to considerable variation in size, shape and substrate following winter storms.
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: The islets represent the only alternative nest sites for Cayenne terns on Aruba. In most years the Cayenne terns are divided roughly 70% and 30% between San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands and the Oranjestad Reef Islands. Individually banded Cayenne tern chicks originally banded within San Nicolas Bay have been observed as nesting adults on the Oranjestad islets. Several instances of multiple movements back and forth between these two locations by the same birds in subsequent years have been observed. Up to 26 pairs of Common tern have nested on the islets. Non-bird biodiversity: Marine turtles are occasionally observed in the surrounding waters, but with no evidence of nesting on the islets. The seaward side of these reef islands contain large (but not quantified) numbers of conch - a CITES protected species.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Coral and sand islets, typically no greater than 0.25 ha.
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Largely natural threats from island erosion and substrate change associated with winter storms and hurricanes.
Additional information
References: A. J. del Nevo pers. comm.
Contributors: We are very thankful to the author of this information Dr. Adrian del Nevo, and Theo Wools and Facundo Franken for their review.