Bubali Bird Sanctuary Explained

Bubali Bird Sanctuary
Location:Aruba
Map:Aruba
Nearest City:Palm Beach
Coordinates:12.5597°N -70.0494°W
Area:0.2km2[1]

The Bubali Bird Sanctuary (Dutch: Bubali vogelreservaat)[2] form a 20 ha[1] wetland area at the north-western end of the island of Aruba, a constituent country of the Dutch Caribbean. It has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it and its surrounding vegetation support populations of a variety of birds, including threatened and restricted-range species as well as large seasonal numbers of migratory waders and neotropical passerines. Originally created as a wastewater treatment facility, the wetland is threatened by encroachment of aquatic vegetation decreasing the area of open water.[3]

Birds

Waterbirds nesting in the IBA include American coots, common moorhens, white-cheeked pintails, least and pied-billed grebes, and green herons. There is a large roost of neotropic cormorants. The desert scrub vegetation along the seaward side provides habitat for nesting white-tailed nightjars, yellow warblers, burrowing owls, ruby-topaz hummingbirds, eared and common ground doves, and bananaquits.[3]

2018 fire

On 10 September 2018, the Bubali Bird Sanctuary caught fire. The fire fighters managed to contain the fire by 3 AM,[4] however 24% of the area was destroyed.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bubali Pond Bird Sanctuary. Protected Planet. 27 April 2021.
  2. Web site: Bubali vogelreservaat. Beautiful Aruba. 27 April 2021. nl.
  3. Web site: Bubali wetlands . . 2007 . BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 16 October 2020.
  4. News: Aruba Left Devastated After Bubali Bird Sanctuary Catches Fire. Visit Aruba. 27 April 2021.
  5. Web site: 24% van de Bubali Plas ging in vlammen op. Government of Aruba. 27 April 2021. nl.