Data Zone
Country/territory: Sint Maarten (to Netherlands)
IBA Justification: A4i (2007)
Area: 188 hectares (1.88 km2)
Site description (2006 baseline)
Great Salt Pond is the largest pond on St. Maarten/Martin and borders the capital Philipsburg. The pond is bordered on all sides by busy roads and pollution from the urban area and landfill is a major concern.
Key biodiversity
Laughing Gulls congregate at this site prior to the breeding season. The highest recorded population was 5,800 individuals. Based on BirdLife’s Caribbean Laughing Gull population estimate of 15,000 individuals, this congregation represents a significant portion of the regional population. It is not clear if this occurred historically or if the gulls now assemble to feed from the landfill.
The only species confirmed to breed at this site is the Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus (estimated 50 pairs).
Non-bird biodiversity: Not applicable.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Great Salt Pond, Sint Maarten (Sint Maarten (to Netherlands)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/great-salt-pond-sint-maarten-iba-sint-maarten-(to-netherlands) on 06/01/2025.