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Eco-Travel

Birding

Birders enjoy the Booby Pond Visitors Centre, open Monday through Saturday, 2-5. Operated by the National Trust, Booby Pond, the 1.2-mile-long brackish mangrove pond is home to the Caribbean’s largest breeding colony of red-footed bobbies (Sula Sula) and a breeding colony of magnificent frigate birds. Approximately  30% of the Caribbean population 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 brackish pond. Over 7,000 of the birds make their home here. The visitors center includes 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.

The visitors center is part of the Booby Pond Nature 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 environmental criteria.

Occasionally, Booby Pond will smell like rotten eggs or sulfur. The odor is the result of hydrogen sulfide gas created from decomposing organic material 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 released into the air.

Admission is free, although donations are welcomed.

THE NATIONAL TRUST

The National Trust welcomes members and donations. Annual dues are US $30; membership includes updates on projects such as the Booby Pond. For information on the Little Cayman District Committee for the National Trust, contact Gladys Howard, Pirates Point Resort, % (345) 948-1010.

Sightseeing

Most of the sights to be seen on Little Cayman are natural rather than man-made. Outdoor activities, especially scuba diving and fishing, draw most visitors.

Even non-birders enjoy the Booby Pond Visitors Centre. Ride a bicycle up to the center and enjoy an early morning on the covered porch and watch the show of birds. For a close-up look you can view the birds from two telescopes (available for use any time) on the visitors center porch. One telescope is positioned low,  for use by those in wheelchairs. The boobies fly about 40 mph and nest in crude constructions made of rough sticks. After a look at the birds, step inside the visitors center to see exhibits on the birds of Little Cayman. A small gift shop sells locally made crafts and artwork.

For a look at Cayman’s local turtles, stop by Bruce’s Turtle Nursery. It’s not the Cayman Turtle Farm, but that’s part of its charm. Just park your car and follow the ropes back to the turtle tanks for a self-guided, free look at these marine creatures. Three tanks hold green sea turtles. The nursery is located next to Bluewater Divers.