Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
location in the US Virgin Islands
Map showing the location of Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge (the U.S. Virgin Islands)
LocationVirgin Islands, United States
Nearest cityChristiansted, VI
Coordinates17°46′1″N 64°39′57″W / 17.76694°N 64.66583°W / 17.76694; -64.66583
Area14 acres (0.06 km²)
Established1977
Visitors0 (in 2006)
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteGreen Cay National Wildlife Refuge
Designated1980

Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge, encompasses the 6 ha (14 acre) island of Green Cay lying midway between the town of Christiansted and Buck Island Reef National Monument, just north of Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands of the Caribbean. It is administered as part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife complex. There is a smaller "Green Cay" off the coast of Saint Thomas (18°18′37″N 64°54′28″W / 18.31028°N 64.90778°W / 18.31028; -64.90778).

Wildlife

Saint Croix ground lizard

The wildlife refuge preserves habitat for the largest remaining population of the endangered Saint Croix ground lizard. Much smaller populations of ground lizards live on nearby Protestant Cay (17°44′59″N 64°42′10″W / 17.74972°N 64.70278°W / 17.74972; -64.70278) and on Ruth Island. Its extirpation from the mainland of Saint Croix is generally attributed to the introduction of the small Indian mongoose. In 2008, the National Park Service reintroduced the lizard to Buck Island, translocating 57 individuals from Green Cay.[1]

Important Bird Area

Green Cay has, along with the nearby Southgate Coastal Reserve, been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support populations of green-throated caribs, Antillean crested hummingbirds, American coots, brown pelicans, laughing gulls, least terns, royal terns, Caribbean elaenias and pearly-eyed thrashers.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Michael Louis Treglia. "A Translocated Population of the St. Croix Ground Lizard" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  2. ↑ "Southgate and Green Cay". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.



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