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Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
The site, south of the Salina and east of the Botanic Park (KY007), in the centre of the eastern districts, comprises dry forest bordered by
Conocarpus wetlands and agricultural plantations. Part of the site, area yet unknown, has recently been purchased by the Crown; the remainder is privately owned and all is unprotected.
The major species are the Near-threatened Cuban Parrot
caymanensis and the Vitelline Warbler
vitellina, each more than 1% of the global population. The largest flocks (150+) of Cuban Parrots on Grand Cayman congregate on the edge of a fruit plantation. There are three restricted-range species: the Thick-billed Vireo
alleni, Yucatan Vireo
caymanensis and Cuban Bullfinch
taylori. The Grand Cayman Thrush was last seen here in 1938. There are five biome species: the Caribbean Dove
collaris, West Indian Woodpecker
caymanensis, Loggerhead Kingbird
caymanensis, Western Spindalis
salvini and the Greater Antillean Grackle
caymanensis.There are 19 breeding taxa: endemic races of Northern Flickers
gundlachii, Caribbean Elaenia
caymanensis and Bananaquit
sharpei; indigenous species are the Whitecrowned Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, White-winged Dove, Barn Owl and La Sagra's Flycatcher; Mangrove Cuckoos and Northern Mockingbirds breed on the forest edge. Wintering migrants include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Grey Catbird, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo and several species of warbler, most commonly Northern Parula, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Palm Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and Ovenbird.
Non-bird biodiversity: Plants endemic to Grand Cayman: Chionanthus caymanensis var. longipetala, Crossopetalum caymanense, Allophylus cominia var. caymanensis; Myrmecophilia thompsoniana thompsonia, Dendrophylax fawcettii and Tolumnia caymanense. Reptiles endemic to Grand Cayman: Anolis conspersus lewisi, Sphaerodactylus argivus lewisi, Tropidophis caymanensis caymanensis and Alsophis cantherigerus caymanensis; the endangered Cyclura (nubile) lewisi occurs in adjacent shrubland.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The threats of habitat loss are similar for all privately owned and unprotected forest in the eastern half of Grand Cayman as clearing and fragmentation causes loss of parrotand other avian breeding habitat. Young parrots are taken as captives from the nest and the nest site is usually destroyed, also illegal shooting of parrots as a crop pestcontinues (over 200 were shot in 2000).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Franklin's Forest (Cayman Islands (to UK)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/franklins-forest-iba-cayman-islands-(to-uk) on 23/11/2024.
