Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
Grog Pond is located approximately 10 miles northwest of George Town, Great Exuma, bounded on the north by the Queen's Highway, on the east, south and west by Bahama Sound Development. Including immediate surrounding land the pond spans an area of approximately 1-1/2 miles by 1/2 mile. Grog Pond is an inland wetland. It has the potential to become a great asset to the community as an eco-tourism site, recreation area and a centre for students and adults to learn about the environment.
A wide variety of waterfowl, herons, egrets and shorebirds have been recorded at this site. Also various species of coppice dwelling birds such as doves, White-crowned Pigeons, Bahama and Northern mockingbirds, Mangrove Cuckoos, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Thick-billed Vireos and many species of migrating warblers have been observed in the coppice surrounding the pond.
Non-bird biodiversity: Bordering the pond and the beautiful marsh areas is firm land with salt-water grass flats, buttonwood, madeira, logwood, wild tamarind, pigeon plum, palmetto, pond top, gumelemi, sawgrass, airplants, ball moss and the ever present 'poison wood'. Small clams, fiddler crabs, mosquito fish, insects, and a type of 'widgeon grass' provide a rich food source for the variety of waterbirds that utilize the pond.
Grog Pond is a shallow, brackish water lake with clumps of black mangroves where ibises, herons and cormorants roost and a fair amount of shag which provides good cover for waterbirds. Presently it is surrounded by coppice that has been divided into residential plots and is privately owned. Development is imminent.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
This area has been used as an illegal garbage dump despite "No Dumping" signs. Hunting is
also prevalent at this site.
The collection of pond-stone for patios and walkways by local builders.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Grog Pond (Bahamas). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/grog-pond-iba-bahamas on 22/11/2024.
