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close| Location | Bahamas, Mayaguana |
| Central coordinates | 72o 43.07' West 22o 19.29' North |
| IBA criteria | B4ii |
| Area | 2,338 ha |
| Altitude | |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Ornithological information In 1997, Sprunt confirmed that Brown Boobies were nesting on Booby Cay. There are reports of a non-breeding resident flock of Greater Flamingos also residing on this cay. During December 1997, Bendon while on an Iguana research trip saw a flock of about 80 flamingos on a beach and in the shallow water at Booby Cay.
Site description Booby Cay is an uninhabited island located off the northeastern end of Mayaguana. It encomposes about 75 hectares and is approximately one and a half hours by boat from Abraham's Bay, Mayaguana. The northwestern shoreline is comprised of sandy beach, dips in the centre of the cay forms lakes which shrink and grow in water level and salinity according to rainfall and the extreme southeast portion has inpenetrable vegetation.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Booby Sula leucogaster | breeding | 2006 | common individuals | medium | B4ii | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Coastline | Intertidal mud, sand & salt flats; Sand bars, banks & spits; Sea cliffs & rocky shores; Shingle & stony beaches | major |
| Shrubland | Arid lowland scrub; Riparian scrub & thickets | major |
| Wetlands (inland) | Freshwater marshes & swamps | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| not utilised | major |
Other biodiversity There is an endemic race of Rock Iguana on Booby Cay. In March 1997, Bendon visited this site and reported a healthy population of about 200 of these iguanas surviving in wild.
Management considerations Predation of nest and birds by introduced predators such as cats and goats.
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. Colorado Springs, CO. 302pp. Bainton, Aileen M. and Anthony W. White. 2006. A Bibliography of Birds, Ornithology and Birding in The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands. Media Enterprises Ltd. Nassau, Bahamas. 96pp. John Bendon. 1997. Moon Over Mayaguana: Return to Booby Cay
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Booby Cay. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
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