Birdwatchers will love Grand Bahama Island. Out of all the 700 islands and cays that make up The Islands of The Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island hosts the second-highest number of native bird species. For birdwatchers and nature lovers, the island is a true mecca, a place where they can see 18 of the 28 species of Bahamian birds that are not seen in the U.S., Canada, or Europe.
The Rand Nature Centre is the perfect place for birders to start. It is home to Antillean Peewee birds, Red-legged Thrushes, Stripe-headed Tanagers, and the endangered Bahama Parrot. The Centre maintains a small library with bird books and field guides and can provide information on other ideal birding spots.
The Garden of the Groves has many of the native specialties and, in season, many Neotropic migrants. Grand Bahama Nature Tours offers birding tours which are conducted by certified guides who provide easy access to birding sites by car. Multi-day packages are available for individuals or groups.
West End is a true migrant colony where more than thirty species of warblers and other migrants have been seen.
Owl Hole, one of the blue holes of the Lucayan Cave System leased by the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO), is home to a family of barn owls. Diving is not permitted when the owls are nesting there, usually between August and December.
Fall migrants can be seen in late September and October. Many of these species spend the winter on Grand Bahama Island. There have been rare sightings of the Kirkland’s Warbler and an Eastern Phoebe. Birds migrating north in the spring are best seen during March, April, and May. The best time of year to see the permanent and summer resident species is the summer months.
For birdwatching tours, contact the following provider(s):
