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TC007
Grand Turk Salinas and Shores
Location Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK), Grand Turk
Central coordinates 71o 8.00' West  21o 27.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, B4i
Area 268 ha
Altitude 0 - 2m
Year of IBA assessment 2007





Ornithological information An important site bioregionally for waterbird populations. The Vulnerable Piping Plover has been seen during the Non-breeding season. Other waterbirds with populations of Caribbean significance include: Brown Pelican (60 individuals); Wilson's Plover (30 breeding pairs), Laughing Gull (900 individuals), Royal Tern (40 individuals), and Sandwich Tern (60 individuals).

Site description Abandoned salt-pans, wells and adjacent coasts throughout Grand Turk, including ones viewable in the centre of TCI's capital. Includes Town Salina, North Salina, South Salina, Great Salina, Hawkes Pond Salina & Hawkes Nest Salina and nearby shores.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis breeding  2005  60 individuals  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia breeding  2005  30 breeding pairs  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus winter  2005  4,000 individuals  poor  A4i  Least Concern 
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca winter  2005  1,000 individuals  poor  A4i  Least Concern 
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes winter  2005  6,000 individuals  poor  A4i  Least Concern 
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla breeding  2005  900 individuals  poor  A4i  Least Concern 
Royal Tern Sterna maxima breeding  2005  40 individuals  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis breeding  2005  60 individuals  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
Least Tern Sterna antillarum breeding  2005  840 breeding pairs  poor  A4i  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)   -
Sea   major

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research -
other -

Other biodiversity Turtle nesting areas on some beaches: Chelonia midas (EN), Eretmochelys imbricata (CR), Caretta caretta (EN), with important nesting beaches.

Management considerations Salt-pans are regarded as waste-land rather than the unique resource that they are, and are being in-filled. They need Statutory Nature Reserve status for both their historic interest and as a major wildlife feature in town. The TCI Government Development Manual requires an Environmental Impact Assessment for any development in a salina, but the Department of Planning does not enforce this requirement.

Protection status Unprotected.

Further web sources of information 

Site profile from Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean: key sites for conservation (BirdLife International 2008)

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Grand Turk Salinas and Shores. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife