Data Zone
Country/territory: Antigua and Barbuda
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2007)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 95 ha
Site description (2007 baseline)
Christian Cove IBA is at the head of Willoughby Bay on the south-east coast of Antigua, just north of Christian Point. The IBA is south-east of Bethesda Dam IBA (AG012). The road to Bethesda forms the western boundary of the IBA. Christian Cove is a wetland basin comprising fringing mangroves (shorter mangroves to the north and taller stands on the south-east side), saltmarsh, and a small freshwater marsh. The freshwater marsh is in the north-western corner of the IBA, and is fed by a stream that is bisected by the Bethesda road. Dry woodland of manchineel Hippomane mancinella and Acacia spp. surrounds the wetland.
Key biodiversity
This IBA is globally significant for its population of 400 Laughing Gulls Larus atricilla. The wetland supports a wide diversity of shorebirds and waterbirds (including ducks, herons, egrets and terns). The Vulnerable West Indian Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea and Near Threatened Piping Plover Charadrius and Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis have all been recorded, although not in significant numbers.
Non-bird biodiversity: Nothing recorded.
Acknowledgements
Authors Joseph Prosper, Victor Joseph, Andrea Otto, Shanee Prosper (Environmental Awareness Group)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Christian Cove (Antigua and Barbuda). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/christian-cove-iba-antigua-and-barbuda on 22/11/2024.