The Bahamas

Audubon has a history of conservation work in The Bahamas, having been engaged with collaborative efforts in the country since the 1950s. To date, Audubon has helped bring the American Flamingo back from the brink of extinction by hiring the first ever wardens for the country to manage the flocks, delivered the science that helped create the first ever Land and Sea Park globally in the Exumas, and helped develop science that supported the establishment of legislation to protect birds across the country, including for the most recent designation of Joulter Cays National Park.  

About The Bahamas

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas extends 760 miles and covers 95,462 square miles between the southeastern shores of the United States and the northern shores of Cuba. Included in this vast area are more than 700 islands and 2,500 cays. The distinct environment of The Bahamas gives rise to numerous irreplaceable habitats and species, including vast expanses of Caribbean pine forest that support migrating songbirds, extensive tidal flats and mangroves that support shorebirds and waterbirds, and isolated cays that support important breeding seabird populations. Of the 300 bird species documented for The Bahamas, more than 50 percent are migrants from the U.S and Canada, including Audubon’s priority species Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher. Locally important endemic species include Bahama Yellowthroat, Bahama Swallow, Bahama Woodstar, the critically endangered Bahama Oriole restricted to Andros Island (only a few hundred remain), and the Inagua Woodstar, a recently split species from the Bahama Woodstar that is restricted to Great Inagua and Little Inagua islands.

How Audubon Works with Partners in The Bahamas Today

Audubon continues to support science and conservation action across The Bahamas with the Bahamas National Trust, the BirdLife International partner in The Bahamas, and other conservation organizations. Our focus evolves around four areas:

• Science and Monitoring: Through the use of new and emerging technologies, we will continue to deliver state of the art science to measure conservation success and monitor bird populations.
• Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas: With the support of our science work, we will identify, expand and help effectively manage a network of National Parks and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas across The Bahamas that support Audubon’s priority bird species and other wildlife. Current focal islands identified through our science include: Andros Island, Berry Islands, Long Island, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Inagua.
• Community Engagement: We will improve community education, appreciation and engagement with the National Parks System of The Bahamas.
• Capacity Building: National Audubon and Bahamas National Trust will work together to build local conservation capacity that elevates bird conservation and supports more effective, targeted actions and improved management of National Parks and other priority areas.