Puerto Rico Critical Wildlife Areas - Puerto DRNA - Gobierno de ...

13- Flamenco Peninsula, Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
Area Description:
Located in the northwestern tip of Culebra Island, the Flamenco Peninsula is part of the
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge. It was a key target range of the U.S. NAVY. In the past, this
area supported a large number of seabirds breeding colonies. Between Punta Tamarindo and
Bahía de Tamarindo, lies an important area for the endangered Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas.
Ownership/Protection:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of Culebra Wildlife Refuge ha administrate
approximately 66 ha; the remainder of the peninsula is administrated by the DNER (Cardona
and Rivera 1988).
Special Recognition:
Because the Flamenco Peninsula is the most important breeding area for the Sooty tern
Sterna fuscata in Puerto Rico and its one of the few localities where the Slippery-backed
mabuya Mabuya mabouya sloanii is found, we still classified the place as a primary CWA.
Wildlife:
Birds
Sooty tern Sterna fuscata nests in Punta Molinos; Bridled tern S. anaethetus and Brown
Noddy Anous stolidus where observed in the Flamenco Peninsula during breeding season
(Cardona and Rivera 1988). Others birds reported in this peninsula are the uncommon Redbilled
tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, the White-tailed tropicbird P. lepturus, the threatened
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii, and the Yellow-crowned night heron Nyctanassa violacea
(NOAA 2000). Actually, the Sooty tern and the Whitetail tropicbird are the sea birds species in
this peninsula (J. Saliva pers. comm.).
Reptiles
The threatened Slippery-backed mabuya Mabuya mabouya sloanii is reported in the
southeastern basal portion of the Peninsula.
Threats:
The continued development of thick pastures and shrubby vegetation could discourage
tern from nesting, causing a reduction in tern use of the area. Also, poaching of eggs can be a
threat for bird colonies.
Conservation Recommendations:
It is important to continue patrolling the area and control public access in order to protect
breeding seabird colonies. Also, a grass management program should be established to improve
nesting sites.
References:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
U.S. Coast Guard, Department de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales, and U.S. Department
of the Interior. 2000. Sensitivity of Coastal and Inland Resources to Spilled Oil; Puerto
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