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BS030
Sandy Point
Location Bahamas, San Salvador
Central coordinates 74o 33.72' West  23o 56.84' North
IBA criteria A2, B4i, B4ii
Area 884 ha
Altitude 0 - 18m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Bahamas National Trust (Partner Designate)



Ornithological information Wintering migrant Black-bellied Plovers, Snowy Plovers and Wilson's Plovers and summer migrant breeding Least Terns have been seen at this site. Also, Boobies have been seen fishing offshore. Common landbirds reported in the nearby area known locally as Owl's Hole include Barn Owls, West Indian Woodpeckers, Bahama Mockingbirds, Pearly-eyed Thrashers, Thick-billed Vireos, Bananaquits, Yellow Warblers and migrant warblers. A note, this area is open and walkable but be careful of many sink holes.

Site description Sandy Point site area is located at the southwestern end of the island. This site is a primary public beach area. The ruins known as Watling's Castle and the residential subdivision of Columbus Landing 4 is also part of this site.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster non-breeding  2005  frequent individuals  poor  B4ii  Least Concern 
Least Tern Sterna antillarum breeding  2006  common breeding pairs  medium  B4i  Least Concern 
Bahama Woodstar Calliphlox evelynae resident  2007  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Thick-billed Vireo Vireo crassirostris resident  2005  frequent individuals  poor  A2  Least Concern 
Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii resident  2005  common individuals  poor  A2  Least Concern 
Pearly-eyed Thrasher Margarops fuscatus resident  2005  common individuals  poor  A2  Least Concern 

Habitats

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

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
urban/industrial/transport major
tourism/recreation -

Management considerations Present and future development poses a real threat to the destruction of habitat. Household pet dogs and cats and rats bring danger of predation to nesting 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: Sandy Point. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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