• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2007 baseline)
Battowia, a privately-owned island, and its sister islet Battowia Bullet are among the most easterly of the Grenadine islands. They lie approximately 6 miles (10 km) to the south-east of Bequia (the largest Grenadine Island) and approximately 5 miles (8 km) to the north–east of Mustique. They also lie about 3 miles (5 km) north-east of All Awash island. Because of its location, Battowia is constantly exposed to the Atlantic. The island is therefore sparsely covered, particularly during the dry season. Its vegetation is primarily patchy coastal Dry Scrub Woodland, with the healthiest stands found within the islands few sheltered coves on the west. An unknown population of goats resides on the island and further impacts on the island’s vegetation. Battowia’s steep sides give rise to a saddle at the summit. Access is relatively difficult, particularly on windy days when surrounding waters and coastlines can get quite choppy. Annually, Battowia supports the second largest population of nesting seabirds numbering several thousand individuals (D. Hazell and R. Ragguette, pers. comm.). As a Wildlife Reserve, a number of management objectives have been identified for the site. These include habitat and wildlife protection, biodiversity conservation, research, recreation, education and heritage tourism.

Key biodiversity
As with many of the other Grenadines islands, data on bird populations are non-existent. However, the island is a key roosting and nesting site for a variety of seabirds, namely larger species such as frigatebirds, gulls and boobies (Plate 29).

Non-bird biodiversity: Data on these species are unavailable. However, it is believed that the regionally endemic Congo snake M. bruesi occurs on the island.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Battowia Island (St Vincent and the Grenadines). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/battowia-island-iba-st-vincent-and-the-grenadines on 22/11/2024.