Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
Long Island is about eighty miles long and maximum four miles wide. It lies northwest to southeast. Points of interest include; the historic Columbus Monument, the Long Island Museum, Hamilton's Cave, Dean's Blue hole and Clarence Town harbour. The entrance to Cape Santa Maria Resort is located on Galliott Cay approximately 8 miles south of this point is the Stella Maris Resort. Hog Cay is a privately owned island on the leeward side of northern Long Island. The owner has consistently provided daily feedings for the large flock of West Indian Whistling Ducks which roost on this cay at night.
The above area has one of the largest flocks of the endangered West Indian Whistling Ducks in the world, estimated to be approximately 450 birds. Common resident birds include; Bahamas Mockingbird, Northern Mockingbird, Common Ground Dove, Thick-billed Vireo and Greater Antillean Bullfinch, White-crowned Pigeon, Mourning Doves, Black-faced Grassquit, Bananaquit, Bahama Pintail,Blue-winged Teal Ducks plus several species of herons, egrets, sandpipers, plovers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. In summer Sandwich and Roseate Terns are present on Hog and Galliott Cays. Gray Kingbirds and Greater Antillean Nighthawks are common summer birds.
Long Island is made up of varied habitats; shrubland, coppice, freshwater/saltwater wetlands, mangroves swamps and tidal flats. Wetlands are scattered throughout the interior of the island and roadside ponds occur frequently.
Fishing and farming are the main occupations. The land is utilized for residential, agriculture and hunting purposes.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Illegal hunting, feral cats, wild goats and pigs are common.
Destruction of habitat due to urban development.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Long Island and Hog Cay (Bahamas). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/long-island-and-hog-cay-iba-bahamas on 23/12/2024.
