Wildlife· Booby Cay· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Booby Cay
22° 19.5′ N · 72° 43.2′ W
An uninhabited 43-hectare limestone cay about 500 m off Mayaguana's eastern tip, inside the reef - the last refuge of the critically endangered Bartsch's rock iguana and home to nesting brown boobies, ospreys and visiting flamingos.
Practical
Government-owned; proposed as a national park since 1983 and an Important Bird Area since 2007 (Wikipedia). Bartsch's iguana (Cyclura carinata bartschi) survives only here, around 1,500 in 2001; goats were removed 2008-2014 and rat eradication has been studied. Brown boobies breed (about 50-250 estimated in 2006). Surrounded by shallow reef water - approach by dinghy from Southeast Point in calm conditions and good light. Do not land dogs, do not feed or handle iguanas, keep away from nesting birds.
Best for
Seeing an iguana found nowhere else on earth
Nearby
- East Reef and Booby Cay reefs (Mayaguana)1.2 NM away
- Golden Rock Anchorage (Mayaguana)5.4 NM away
- Horse Pond Beach (Mayaguana)10.4 NM away
- Mayaguana cruise and cargo port project12.8 NM away
- Curtis Creek (Mayaguana)13.6 NM away
- Abraham's Bay ATM and cash (Mayaguana)13.8 NM away
- Abraham's Bay Town Square13.8 NM away
- Guano Point Light (Abraham's Bay)13.8 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).