Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
McLaughlin's Enterprises, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Pirates Point,
and Paradise Villas; see
Where to Stay
, beginning on page 228, for contact
information.
Eco-Travel & Sightseeing
Birding
Booby Pond Visitors Centre
,
345-948-1010, fax 345-948-
1011. Operated by the National Trust, Booby Pond, the 1.2-mile-
long brackish mangrove pond is home to a breeding colony of mag-
nificent frigate birds and the Caribbean's largest breeding colony of red-
footed boobies (
Sula sula
). Approximately 30% of the Caribbean popula-
tion of red-footed boobies resides at this pond. Even without the help of
telescopes or binoculars, you can view the large white birds (or their large,
gray offspring) in the trees surrounding the pond. Over 7,000 of the birds
make their home here. The area is home to egrets, herons, West Indian
whistling ducks, black-necked stilts, and more.
The visitors center is set in the 206-acre Booby Pond Nature Reserve. It in-
cludes exhibits on the island's indigenous species, from the common crab
(
Eurytium limosum
) to the seed shrimp (
Ostracoda
) to the pond's many
resident birds. Friendly volunteers staff the center and welcome questions
about the wildlife and island life. Admission is free, although donations
are welcomed.
The reserve, which has been designated an international RAMSAR site.
For this recognition, which falls under the United Nations convention to
protect wetlands for waterfowl habitats, a site must meet strict environ-
mental criteria.
Occasionally, Booby Pond will smell like rotten eggs or sulfur. The odor is
the result of hydrogen sulfide gas created from decomposing organic mate-
rial in the pond. Under normal conditions, the gas is dissolved in the pond
water, but when the water level drops occasionally the harmless gas is re-
leased into the air.
