Antigua and Barbuda / Special Interests / Eco/Nature

As a dry island that was largely deforested in centuries past (in order to grow sugar cane), Antigua’s onshore natural life has been somewhat depleted, but there is still enough for an interested naturalist, particularly if the tropics are a new experience. Some of the best places are in fact a couple of Antigua’s undeveloped offshore islands, which lie mainly to the east of the island and in the North Sound to the north-east. These have some indigenous species of reptiles (including an indigenous endangered snake, the Antiguan Racer and many species of lizard) and some exceptional birdlife (particularly in Barbuda, see below).

The only large mammals on Antigua and Barbuda are imported, goats and cattle, and, interestingly, deer. Antigua and Barbuda is the only place in the Caribbean where you will see them. They were imported for livestock and farmed in Barbuda and the small Guiana Island. They can still be seen there in small numbers.

Birdlife

There are reckoned to be about 120 species visible in the island, in a number of different habitats (offshore and on the beach, on the small islands, in lagoons, in mangroves, reservoirs, plains and in dry forest and the small areas of wetter forest). Brown pelicans, known locally as booby are a common sight.  Species commonly found on Antigua include ospreys, gulls, turnstones, herons and egrets, grassquits, Zenaida doves, hummingbirds, bullfinches, black necked stilts, pintails, terns, warblers, yellowlegs, sandpipers, plovers and kingfishers.  Good locations for birdwatching include the North Sound Islands (including Bird Island below), Potworks Dam, Wallings Forest/Dam, Fitches Creek, McKinnon Salt Pond, Darkwood Salt Pond, Boggy Peak, Galley Bay, Christian Valley and of course the Codrington Lagoon in Barbuda.  See Antiqua Birdwatching for more information.

Marine Life

Antigua is surrounded by reefs and the marine life, although under pressure form human activity, is in reasonable condition.  Two endangered species of turtle nest regularly in the islands. Hawksbill and green turtles both grow to about three feet long and to as much as 175 lbs. The females nest several times each year, crawling up onto the beaches, digging a hole with their rear fins and then dropping in around 100 eggs the size of ping pong balls, before burying them and crawling away offshore. Beaches regularly used for nesting include Jumby Bay. Products made from turtle shell are illegal and so you are asked not to buy them if they are offered to you.

Eco Tours on Antigua include:

Adventure Antigua – Eco Tour & Xtreme Circumnav -  Eli Fuller’s Eco-Tour offers a day of activities around North Sound aboard a 52ft power cat. The tour includes snorkelling, a nature trail or cave exploration on Great Bird Island, a swim in the natural Jacuzzi at Hell’s Gates along with snippets of Antiguan history and ecology. Lunch is served on board. There is a fresh water shower and restroom on the boat. Eli also offers the Xtreme Circumnav tour on 45ft off-shore racer (3 x 225hp Four Stroke Yamaha engines), which was specifically designed for the trip. The high speed tour is the only trip to include Stingray City. There is a guided snorkelling trip at the Pillars of Hercules, a tour of Nelson’s Dockyard nearby, a buffet lunch served at Green Island and the chance to beachcomb at Rendezvous Beach.

Antigua Paddles Kayak Eco Adventure, Seatons Village -  A half day trip exploring the North Sound Marine Park by kayak and motor boat, plus reef snorkelling and a visit to Bird Island. Minimum age 7 yrs.