Muizenberg, Curaçao (20913)
Curaçao (to Netherlands), Caribbean

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Muizenberg, Curaçao

Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.1575, Longitude: -68.9188

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 13 to 31

Area of KBA (km²): 0.64161

Protected area coverage (%): 72.79

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Muizenberg is an intermittent shallow lake and wetlands, in the northern suburbs of Willemstad, formed from the damming of a stream that drains the surrounding low hills. The perimeter is bounded on all sides by rather heavily travelled roadways which on the west side directly abut the wetlands. On the northeast side the area is flanked by agricultural lands with small farms. Unfortunately the area is used as a dumping ground for garbage. Kaya Fortuna is an unnamed small pond, at the crossing of the Seru Fortuna Road with the Cabo Verde Road, a few hundred meters west of Muizenberg. The IBA covers an area of c. 1.5 km2 from about 5 to 10 m asl.

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: Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaeacaribbaea is a year-round resident on both lakes, with congregations of up to 800 birds observed during the wet season. Breeding has been confirmed at both lakes; 100s of birds are observed regularly at a time (115 counted in March 2000; Wells pers. Obs.). Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber is occasionally seen, feeding in flocks of up to 170 birds, but does not breed in the area (40+ counted in March 2000). The Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus is also confirmed as a breeding resident. Area has hosted breeding Pied-billed Grebe, White-cheeked Pintail. Other species documented here include Neotropical Cormorant, Blue-winged Teal, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Crested Bobwhite, Black-necked Stilt (40+ in March 2000), Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Frigate Bird, Common Tern (Debrot pers obs. June 2005). Non-bird biodiversity: The endemic freshwater fish Poecilia vandepolli is present in the ponds (Vonk et al. 2007).

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Two artificial lakes, that retain a small amount of typically water even during the dry seasonfor more than 6 months each year. Depending on rainfall patters occasionally water is present year-round. Surrounding areas consist of periodically inundated grassland where the invasive rubbervine Cryptostegia grandiflora and the native Acacia and waterlogging-resistant Prosopis shrubs thrive, and residential areas.

Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	5
Artificial - Aquatic	95

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Pollution, drainage of surrounding wetlands, recreational disturbance.

Additional information

References: Debrot A.O. 2003. A review of the freshwater fishes of Curacao, with comments on those of Aruba and Bonaire. Caribbean Journal of Science 39 (1): 100-108. Debrot, A. O. and J. A. de Freitas. 1991. Wilderness areas of exceptional conservation value in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Nijman et al. 2007. Conservation status of Caribbean coot Fulica caribaea in the Netherlands Antilles, and other parts of the Caribbean. Submitted to Neotropical Studies in Fauna and Environment. Prins et al. (in prep.) Birds of the Netherlands Antilles. Prins, T.G. & Nijman, V. 2005. Historic changes in status of Caribbean coot in the Netherlands Antilles. Oryx 39 (2): 125-126. Prins, T.G., Roselaar, C.A. & Nijman, V. 2005. Status and breeding of Caribbean Coot in the Netherlands Antilles. Waterbirds 28 (2): 146-149. Vonk R. et al. 2007. Freshwater fishes of the Netherlands Antilles. Unpublished report, ZMA, Amsterdam. Voous, K.H. 1983. Birds of the Netherlands Antilles (2nd ed.). De Walburg Pers, Zutphen.