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close| Location | Bahamas, Conception Island |
| Central coordinates | 75o 6.83' West 23o 50.14' North |
| IBA criteria | A4ii, B4i, B4ii |
| Area | 2,905 ha |
| Altitude | |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Ornithological information During spring and summer White-tailed Tropicbird, Audubon's Shearwaters, Bridled Terns, Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies nest on the island and its offshore rocks. Conception Island is believed to have the largest concentration of nesting Tropicbirds in the Bahamas, and Booby Cay which lies off the northeast corner has one of the largest nesting colonies of Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies. Landbirds such as Bahama Mockingbirds, Bahama Woodstar, BananaQuits, Black-faced Grassquits, White-crowned Pigeons, Common Ground Doves, Yellow Warblers and Ospreys can be found year round. In summer Gray Kingbirds and Antillean Nighthawks are common. Ducks, herons and shorebirds are common in the interior lagoon.
Site description Conception Island is approximately 3 miles by 1.5 miles,located 25 miles west-southwest of San Salvador. It is unhabited and its pristine reefs and beaches make it an attractive destination for yachts. Conception Island is a national park under the protection of the Bahamas National Trust. Booby Cay and South Rocks and the surrounding shallow water are not included in the protected area.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri | breeding | 2005 | abundant individuals | poor | B4ii | Least Concern |
| White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus | breeding | 2006 | abundant breeding pairs | poor | A4ii | Least Concern |
| Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus | breeding | 2005 | abundant individuals | poor | B4i | Least Concern |
| Brown Noddy Anous stolidus | breeding | 2005 | abundant individuals | poor | B4i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky areas | major | |
| Sea | major | |
| Shrubland | - |
Other biodiversity Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles
Management considerations Hunting, illegal egging by boaters and fishermen stopping over on the island can cause disturbance of birds. The mouth of the large inland creek is sometimes illegally blocked by fishermen in order to catch fish and turtles trapped in the creek.
Further web sources of information
References White, A.W. 1998b. A Birder's Guide to the Bahama Islands (Including Turks and Caicos). American Birding Association. Colorada Springs, CO. 302pp.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Conception Island. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013
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