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

Site description (2007 baseline)
Coquillage - Point Est is a coastal system that includes limestone cliffs, inaccessible coastal limestone, beach of white sand, coral reefs and mangroves. Located on the southeastern part of the island of la Tortue (180 km2). Limited north by the slopes of of Morne Ti Clos (154m), south by the Canal of La Tortue, west by Grand Sable and east by Pointe Est, where meet both the Atlantic Ocean and the Canal de la Tortue. The locality of Coquillage is densely populated and counts a guesthouse. This coastal system is exploited by fishermen, boat builders (an interesting industry there) and farmers. In many cases, one person (men usually) can play the three roles, fish, build or own boats and farm. Many houses are well built and different from the traditional thatch roof houses, due to Tortugans immigration in Turks and Caicos and in the Bahamas. Riding by boat from the main port to other locality is easier than on land or on foot and there is regular boat traffic from Port Vincent to Basse Terre and Coquillage. Population estimates are uncertain (probably 4,000 inhabitants), but people of the area live of fisheries (marine), agriculture, wood cutting and lumber, charcoal making, boat rides and boat building, careening renting and ecotourism.

Key biodiversity
Its avifauna includes more than 40 species with 3 unique forms: Flat-billed Vireo (Vireo crassirostris tortugae), (Coereba bananivora nectarea), (Loxigilla violacea maurella) not found on the main land. It is an important area for migratory species including transiting species and Tropicbirds.

Non-bird biodiversity: Endemic subspecies do Île de la Tortue Thick-billed Vireo (Vireo crassirostris tortugae); Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola nectarea); Greater Antillean Bullfinch (Loxigilla violacea maurella). Marine migratory species need to be inventoried; this includes species of the wetlands/mangrove.

Acknowledgements
Florence Sergile, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Coquillage - Pointe Est (Haiti). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/coquillage--pointe-est-iba-haiti on 23/12/2024.