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BS007
Red Bays
Location Bahamas, Andros
Central coordinates 78o 11.36' West  25o 13.27' North
IBA criteria A1, A2, B4i
Area 1,369 ha
Altitude 0 - 7m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Bahamas National Trust (Partner Designate)



Ornithological information Bahamas Swallows, Hairy Woodpeckers and Red-tailed Hawks. Bahama Woodstar and Cuban Emerald hummingbirds, Bahama Yellowthroats, Pine Warblers, Black-faced Grassquits, Bananaquits and Striped-headed Tanagers abound in this habitat. At the edge of the pinewoods, in the broadleaf coppice are many species of wood warblers during fall/spring migration . There are also the resident White-crowned Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Great Lizard Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Cuban Pewee and many others. At the seashore you can expect to see any variety of Gulls, Terns, Herons, Egrets and smaller shorebirds. The coconut palm trees in the settlement provide habitat for the resident Black-cowled Oriole.

Site description Red Bays is the only settlement on the west coast of Andros, located near the northwest end of the island. It was founded in the 1800s by Seminole Indians and escaped slaves from Florida. Sponge fishing is an active occupation as is the unique woven straw work produced by the residents.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla winter  2006  common individuals  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
Royal Tern Sterna maxima breeding  2006  frequent individuals  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala resident  2006  common individuals  poor  A1  Near Threatened 
Bahama Woodstar Calliphlox evelynae resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Thick-billed Vireo Vireo crassirostris resident  2006  common individuals  poor  A2  Least Concern 
Bahama Swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis resident  2005  common individuals  poor  A1, A2  Endangered 
Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii resident  2006  common individuals  poor  A2  Least Concern 
Olive-capped Warbler Dendroica pityophila resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Bahama Yellowthroat Geothlypis rostrata resident  2006  common [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland   -
Forest   major
Coastline   -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture minor
fisheries/aquaculture major
urban/industrial/transport -
other -

Management considerations  Resort Development causing destruction of habitat and disturbance of birds.

Further web sources of information 

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

References White, A.W. 1998b. A Birder's Guide to the Bahama Islands (Including Turks and Caicos). American Birding Association. Colorado Springs, CO. 302pp.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Red Bays. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013

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