Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
San Salvador is a small island only 5 miles by 12 miles with a population of less than 1,000 persons. It contains a high proportion of wetlands.
The Great Lake occupies a considerable proportion of the inland of this island, accessable from only a few places. Here can be found Double-crested Cormorants, egrets and herons. West Indian Woodpeckers present on San Salvador.
Non-bird biodiversity: The Endangered San Salvador Rock Iguana is the smallest West Indian Rock Iguana and it is believed that there are only approximately 500 individuals survivors. They can be found on nearby remote cays and in the interior lake areas.
The primary habitat at this site is saline inland wetlands which is home to many species of waterfowl and wading birds. Secondary, is dry scrubland which provide habitat for resident land birds and migrating woodland birds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Resort development is always an underlying threat to habitat destruction and disturbance to birds. The expanded airport has recently caused considerable habitat destruction.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Southern Great Lake (Bahamas). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/southern-great-lake-iba-bahamas on 23/11/2024.
