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Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
Sandy Point site area is located at the southwestern end of the island. This site is a primary public beach area. The ruins known as Watling's Castle and the residential subdivision of Columbus Landing 4 is also part of this site.
Wintering migrant Black-bellied Plovers, Snowy Plovers and Wilson's Plovers and summer migrant breeding Least Terns have been seen at this site. Also, Boobies have been seen fishing offshore. Common landbirds reported in the nearby area known locally as Owl's Hole include Barn Owls, West Indian Woodpeckers, Bahama Mockingbirds, Pearly-eyed Thrashers, Thick-billed Vireos, Bananaquits, Yellow Warblers and migrant warblers.
A note, this area is open and walkable but be careful of many sink holes.
Primary habitats at this site is beach and shrubland.
Having a residential community in the immediate vicinity together with visiting tourist would naturally create a fair amount of recreational traffic at this site.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Present and future development poses a real threat to the destruction of habitat.
Household pet dogs and cats and rats bring danger of predation to nesting birds.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sandy Point (Bahamas). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sandy-point-iba-bahamas on 23/11/2024.