Important Bird Area

Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - St. Maarten

St Maarten’s IBAs—the country’s international site priorities for bird conservation—cover 815 ha (including marine areas), and about c.36% of the country’s land area. Of the five IBAs, Pelikan Rock (AN005) is protected within the St Maarten Marine Park, and Fort Amsterdam (AN004) is protected as a historical site. The IBAs have been identified on the basis of eight key bird species (listed in Table 1) that variously trigger the IBA criteria. They are centred on wetland and marine sites being primarily significant for their populations four congregatory waterbird and seabird species (including the Near Threatened Caribbean Coot Fulica caribeae. However, shrublands in three IBAs support populations of the four restricted-range species known to occur in the country. With further targeted field research, three additional restrictedrange birds that occur in the montane forest across the border in St Martin would be expected to be found in the semievergreen forest remnants on the St Maarten side. Such a discovery could warrant the identification of an additional IBA for these forest dependent species.

The wetland IBAs of Little Bay Pond, Fresh Pond and Great Salt Pond all face similar, multiple threats such as land reclamation for development, inappropriate development, use for landfill, pollution and contamination from runoff and sewage, inappropriate water management (e.g. maintaining water levels by pumping in sea water), alien invasive predators and disturbance. The Nature Foundation of St Maarten and Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) have variously planted mangroves, constructed bird observation towers and installed educational signage at Little Bay Pond and Fresh Pond IBAs, but it is clear that enforced legislation is critical if the biological integrity of these wetlands is to be maintained in the long term.

The protection afforded Fort Amsterdam (Historical Site) and Pelikan Rock (Marine Park) IBAs appears to be preventing site-based threats although factors outside of these areas are having negative impacts such as disturbance to the mainland pelican nesting colony from jet skis, dive boats, and parasail boats. Over-fishing, oil spills, and plastics entanglement are constant threats to the marine-based seabirds and waterbirds. The regular monitoring of the waterbirds at St Maarten’s IBAs (e.g. as has been undertaken by EPIC) and the monitoring of the other key bird species should be used to inform the assessment of state, pressure and response variables at each IBA in order to provide objective status assessments and inform management decisions (should the necessary legislation be enacted) that might be required to maintain these internationally important biodiversity sites.

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2008
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St. Maarten

Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Aruba

Aruba’s four IBAs cover just 610 ha, but between them they support over 30,000 seabirds and a number of other significant bird populations. Tierra del Sol Salina IBA (AW002) is set

within a privately-owned golf course and is unprotected. The other three IBAs are state owned with differing levels of protection afforded them. Bubali Wetlands IBA (AW001) enjoys de facto protection as a nature reserve, although it is unclear what formal protection status exists for the area. Oranjestad Reef Islands IBA (AW003) is benefiting from nonregulatory

protection provided by the coastguard, harbour authorities and the police, but again, its formal protected status is uncertain. San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands IBA (AW004) is not formally protected, although informal protection is provided by staff of the adjacent oil refinery, and the coastguard. Building these sites into a formalised legislative framework for national conservation and protected area establishment would help facilitate much needed conservation action and management.

The IBAs have been identified on the basis of 12 key bird species that variously trigger the IBA criteria. While four of these species occur within two IBAs, the majority of these birds

(the breeding seabirds) are confined to the San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands IBA (AW004), highlighting the critical importance of these islands for maintaining Aruba’s biodiversity. However, there is a proven between-year movement of breeding Cayenne Terns S. sandvicensis eurygnatha between the colonies at the San Nicolas Bay IBA and Oranjestad Reef Islands IBA (AW003) showing that these two IBAs should really have shared conservation management plans.

Aruba’s ornithological importance is largely focused on its 10 species of nesting terns, and this is reflected in the identification of two IBAs specifically for these seabirds. During the 1950s, the population of terns breeding on Aruba was very low (and for some species non-existent), but they have demonstrated a dramatic increase as a result of the protection (albeit informal) afforded the Oranjestad Reef Islands IBA (AW003) and San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands IBA (AW004). The increasing populations have been monitored on an annual basis since 1999 through the Aruba Tern Project. This monitoring could be used to inform the assessment of state, pressure and response variables at each of Aruba’s IBAs in order to provide an objective status assessment and highlight management interventions that might be required to maintain these internationally important biodiversity sites.

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2008
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Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Curaçao

Curaçao’s five IBAs—the island’s international priority sites for bird conservation—cover 16,280 ha (including marine areas) and c.24% of the land area. At 13,555 ha the Northeast Curaçao parks and coast IBA (AN015) makes up c.83% of this IBA coverage. The North-east Curaçao parks and coast IBA embraces Curaçao’s two terrestrial national parks (totalling c.2,300 ha). The remainder of the IBA is a Protected Conservation Area, a designation common to part of the Malpais-Sint Michiel IBA (AN016) and the Jan Thiel Lagoon IBA (AN018) although in none of these areas is there active management for conservation. Muizenberg IBA (AN017) is designated as protected parkland, but also suffers from a lack of active management. Klein Curaçao IBA (AN019) is not protected in any way. The IBAs have been identified on the basis of five key bird species (see Table 1) that variously trigger the IBA criteria. Each of these birds occurs in two or more IBAs although the majority of the Near Threatened Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea occur in the threatened and unmanaged

Muizenberg IBA (AN017).

All of the IBAs have urgent management requirements if the populations of the birds for which they are internationally important are to thrive. However, securing disturbance free

zones around the tern nesting colonies appears to be one of the greatest needs. If implemented effectively, the tern populations would increase dramatically (as seen at the

protected colonies on Aruba) and perhaps some of the 1,200 pairs of “Cayenne” Tern S. sandvicensis eurygnatha that used to breed (pre-1962) at Jan Thiel Lagoon IBA might return.

Monitoring the populations of the terns and waterbirds should be used for the assessment of state, pressure and response variables at each of Curaçao’s IBAs in order to

provide an objective status assessment as well as to highlight management interventions that might be required to maintain these internationally important biodiversity sites.

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2008
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Curacao

Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Bonaire

Bonaire’s six IBAs—the island’s international site priorities for bird conservation—cover 23,830 ha (including their marine extensions). They embrace c.55% of the island’s land area. Washington-Slagbaai National Park IBA (AN009) and Klein Bonaire IBA (AN012) are formally protected within the national system. Parts of Washikemba–Fontein–Onima IBA (AN011), Pekelmeer Saltworks IBA (AN014) and Lac Bay IBA (AN013) have been identified as proposed protected areas within the Bonaire Nature Management Plan, but these recommendations have not been acted upon. However, the latter two IBAs are designated Ramsar sites, offering them formal recognition of their importance.

The IBAs have been identified on the basis of 10 key bird species that variously trigger the IBA criteria (see Table 1). The majority of these birds occur in two or more IBAs. However, Royal Tern Sterna maxima only nests in Pekelmeer Saltworks IBA (AN014), and the Near Threatened Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea only occurs on the freshwater reservoirs in Washikemba–Fontein–Onima IBA (AN011). Perhaps of greater concern is the fact that c.60% of the Vulnerable Yellow-shouldered Amazon Amazona barbadensis population occurs outside of formal protected areas, leaving the species totally exposed to capture for the local pet trade. For example, Dos Pos IBA (AN010) contains some of the most important breeding and roosting sites for the species on Bonaire but receives no protection from future development (although there are no immediate threats to this area), or poaching.

There is an urgent need to establish secure, protected areas for breeding terns (Sterna spp.) on Klein Bonaire IBA (AN012), the islands in Goto Lake (IBA AN009) and in the Pekelmeer Saltworks IBA (AN014) through the eradication of cats and rats where possible (e.g. on Klein Bonaire), signage, fencing, and regular patrols. Such proactive management

would likely see a dramatic increase in the breeding tern (and plover Charadrius spp.) populations. More attention should also be given to balancing the management of Pekelmeer

Saltworks IBA for its ecological values in addition to its economic value. Washington-Slagbaai National Park IBA would benefit from a concerted program of removing goats, donkeys and pigs that are so dramatically impacting the vegetation. The landbird (and vegetation) monitoring program started in 2007 should help to determine the impact these grazing animals have had.

Amazona barbadensis would benefit from increased patrolling of the Washington-Slagbaai National Park IBA in an effort to stop poaching, although this would be difficult and costly. More practical would be a public awareness campaign to raise local pride in combination with enforcement of the laws prohibiting the possession of unregistered birds, thereby reducing local demand for wild-caught birds. Ideally this would reach beyond Bonaire to the neighbouring island of Curaçao as a (currently unknown) proportion of parrots poached on the island are exported to Curaçao. Amazona barbadensis on Bonaire is perceived by many as an agricultural pest. A detailed study to determine the extent of agricultural damage caused by the parrot, accompanied by measures to address this conflict with humans is also needed. Further research to determine the factors limiting the parrot

population on Bonaire is required to inform management decisions within the IBAs.

State, pressure and response variables at each IBA should be monitored annually to provide an objective status assessment and highlight management interventions that might be required to maintain these internationally important biodiversity sites.

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Date
2008
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Governance
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Geographic location
Bonaire

Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - Saba

The Saba coastline IBA (AN006)—the island’s site priority for bird conservation—has been identified on the basis of nine key bird species (listed in Table 1) that variously trigger the IBA criteria. The IBA covers 2,000 ha of critical terrestrial and marine habitats that support the entire island’s population of breeding seabirds, and also the full complement of the restricted-range birds that still occur on the island. The lack of any legal protection for terrestrial areas is a concern that must be addressed to facilitate pro-active conservation of Saba’s terrestrial biodiversity (including breeding seabirds).

At present, it seems that the globally significant populations of Audubon’s Shearwater P. lherminieri, Redbilled Tropicbird P. aethereus and the restricted-range Bridled Quail-dove G. mystacea in the IBA are declining (or are at least limited) as a result of predation from cats and rats (exacerbated by trampling and grazing from goats). Saba is small enough that complete eradication of some invasive species may be feasible, given sufficient funding, time and local support. In anticipation of both formal protection of terrestrial habitats within the IBA, and a possible eradication program, there is an urgent need to determine the population of P. lherminieri and G. mystacea, and to continue monitoring the population of P. aethereus. Monitoring these populations within the IBA should be used to inform the assessment of state, pressure and response variables at each IBA in order to provide objective status assessments and inform management decisions (such as the necessity for invasive species control) that might be required to maintain this internationally important biodiversity site.

 

Retrieved from Birdlife International

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2008
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Saba

Important Bird Areas of the Caribbean - St. Eustatius

Statia’s two IBAs—the island’s international priority sites for bird conservation—cover 41% of the island’s land area. Both IBAs are formally designated as protected areas—the terrestrial components are covered within the Quill–Boven National Park, and the marine component within the St Eustatius Marine Park. The IBAs have been identified on the basis of nine species that variously trigger the IBA criteria for restricted-range birds and congregatory birds. The Quill IBA (AN008) embraces the island’s forest-dependent species (the restricted-range species), while Boven IBA (AN007) supports nesting habitat for P. aethereus.

Resolving the land dispute within Boven IBA appears to be critical to enabling effective management of grazing and thus the successful recovery of vegetation within the park. It would also facilitate the potential control of goats, cats and rats that almost certainly represent limiting factors for the breeding population of P. aethereus. Enforcement of an animal registry program within the Quill IBA should decrease the incidence of grazing in the park, but both goats and chickens are often present around and within the volcano and presumably impact the native fauna. Surveys to assess the population of each of the IBA trigger species should be a priority. Such surveys should be combined with annual monitoring of state, pressure and response variables at each IBA to provide an objective status assessment and highlight management interventions that might be required to maintain these internationally important biodiversity sites.

Retrieved from Birdlife International

Date
2008
Data type
Other resources
Theme
Governance
Geographic location
St. Eustatius