Malpais-Sint Michiel is a 1,100 ha tract of land, a former plantation just north of Sint Michiels Bay, on the southern coast of Curaçao, a constituent island nation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Dutch Caribbean. It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports populations of bare-eyed pigeons, American coots, common terns and Caribbean elaenias, as well as a large brown-throated parakeet roost. It comprises two wetlands – a freshwater dam and a saline lagoon – with their surrounding thorn scrub vegetation. The waterbodies are used by a variety of waterbirds, including American flamingos, and the vegetation is used by resident and migratory passerines as well as by wintering raptors. The area has also been recognised as a Ramsar site as a wetland of international importance.[3]

Malpais-Sint Michiel
Bare-eyed pigeons live in the IBA
Map showing the location of Malpais-Sint Michiel
Map showing the location of Malpais-Sint Michiel
LocationCuraçao
Nearest cityWillemstad
Coordinates12°09′26″N 68°59′25″W / 12.15722°N 68.99028°W / 12.15722; -68.99028
Area11 km2 (4.2 sq mi)[1]
Established2013[2]
Official nameMalpais/Sint Michiel
Designated5 February 2013
Reference no.2117[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Malpais/Sint Michiel". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Malpais/Sint Michiel". Protected Planet. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Malpais-St Michiel, Curaçao". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2020.