Bird Island Villas - Profile of Bird Island

location
Bird Island is part of the Exuma Cays, Bahamas. It is located three miles north of Shroud Cay and two miles south of Norman Cay within the Great Bahama Bank.

geographic co-ordinates
24.36°N 76.40°W

area
The total land area of Bird Island measures twelve acres (48,552 sq m).

habitat
The island's habitat is a combination of Coastal Beach and Tropical Deciduous Forest.

terrain
The terrain is generally flat, with some rounded hills. Dense palm grove covers most of island.

coastline
White sand beaches and calm, crystal-clear waters skirt the island. There are more than two and a half miles of coastline. Coral rock and mangrove trees are found at the northern end of the island where a sandbar appears during low tide. A magnificent coral reef lies 300 meters from the windward shore and a blue hole is found two miles north of the island.

climate
The official climate is wet-and-dry tropical maritime. Moderated by the Gulf Stream, the average winter temperature is 77°F/25°C and the average summer temperature is 86°F/30°C. There are an average of 330 days of sunshine per year. The average rainfall is 43in/110cm per year.

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Max shade temp. 25°C
77°F 25°C
77°F 26°C
79°F 27°C
81°F 29°C
85°F 31°C
88°F 31°C
88°F 32°C
90°F 31°C
88°F 29°C
85°F 27°C
81°F 26°C
77°F

Daily hours sunshine 8
8 8 9 9 8 9 9 9 7 7 7

Average rainfall 2.54cm
1" 2.54cm
1" 2.54cm
1" 5.1cm
2" 12.7cm
5" 15.2cm
6" 15.2cm
6" 12.7cm
5" 17.7cm
7" 15.2cm
6" 7.6cm
3" 2.54cm
1"

vegetation
The majority of the island is covered in coconut palm and scrub. There is a small grove of banana trees on the south-west end of the island. Seagrape and mangrove grow along the water's edge and there are a few mango and guava trees. Sea-side almond, frangipani, ernodea, ixora and hibiscus grow wildly across the island, as does razor grass, straw lily, passionflower and the night-blooming cereus. Sugar cane can be found growing on the northern end of Solitude Beach.

population
0

animal life
Birdlife on the island is rich. The exuma emerald is endemic to Bird Island, found nowhere else in the world. There are countless year-round, breeding and non- breeding residents; migrants and wanderers. Scarlet ibises are often spotted resting on Ibis Point.

A number of reptiles and lizards live on the island including the curly-tailed and blue-backed lizard; the bahamian dragon (iguana); the gecko; 200-year-old giant tortoises; and sea turtles, which lay their eggs on Vireo Beach.

Thousands of varieties of coral, fish, mollusks, sponges and anemones make their home in the reefs which surround the island. Further out to sea live sailfish, marlin, manta rays and tuna. Humpback whales and dolphins are often spotted off the island's windward shore.

Common butterflies include the yellow sulfur; the zebra longwing; the swallowtail; and the red-tipped livingstone (amongst others).

There are no land-dwelling mammals on Bird Island.

surrounding area
The nearest amenities to Bird Island are found on Highborne Cay, where there is a small marina and provisions store. Highborne Cay is six miles to the north of Bird Island. The nearest town, and the main settlement of the Exuma Cays, is Staniel Cay, 45 miles to the south of Bird Island. It has a post office, medical clinic, church, library, grocery store and weekly market. Exuma Cays Land & Sea Reserve is within three miles of Bird Island, and covers 175 square miles of protected sea. It ranges from Compass Cay in the south to the top of Shroud Cay in the north.

The nearest airport to Bird Island is located on Staniel Cay. It accepts private planes, as does the larger George Town Airport, located on Great Exuma Island to the south. The Nassau Airport, on New Providence Island, is the Bahamas largest airport and is located 64 miles to northwest of the island. Most US carriers service this route, with the majority of flights arriving from Florida.