Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
Green Cay is a small six hectare volcanic island comprised of igneous bedrock reaching a maximum elevation of 30m, covered in xerophytic coastal scrub. The island is currently privately owned and is a proposed protected areas to be included within the system of national parks.
Green Cay is an important nesting site for the Roseate Tern. In 1996, a total of 1755 Roseate Terns, were counted making Green Cay the largest breeding colony in the US and British Virgin Islands.
Non-bird biodiversity: The terrestrial vertebrate fauna on Green Cay is limited to a few species of common lizard, primarily Anoles.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Continued high visitation to the adjacent island of Sandy Spit by the yacht industry will result in disturbance to the nesting site unless mitigated.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Green Cay (Virgin Islands (to UK)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/green-cay-iba-virgin-islands-(to-uk) on 23/11/2024.
