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BS032
Samana Cay
Location Bahamas, Acklins
Central coordinates 73o 44.71' West  23o 5.15' North
IBA criteria A4i, B4i
Area 8,648 ha
Altitude 0 - 1m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Bahamas National Trust (Partner Designate)



Ornithological information Audubon's Shearwaters, Sooty Terns, Bridled Terns and Brown Noddies nest on Propeller Cay located just east of Samana Cay. In 1996 there were reports of Brown Boobies roosting here but no sign of breeding.

Site description Samana Cay is located twenty miles northeast of Crooked Island. It is completely surrounded by coral reefs and is not recommended as a stop off point without local knowledge. The Cascarilla tree grow profusely here,residents of Acklins collect and export the bark which is then used to make the aperitif Campari.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Royal Tern Sterna maxima breeding  2006  common individuals  poor  B4i  Least Concern 
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus breeding  2006  common breeding pairs  medium  A4i  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Rocky areas   major
Shrubland   -
Sea   major
Coastline   major

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
not utilised major

Management considerations Disturbance of birds in the vicinity where the residents collect the cascarilla bark. Local small time farming, refugees landing for food and shelter.

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: Samana Cay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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