Codrington Lagoon and Creek IBA is on the north-western side of Barbuda. It is a large (c.12 km long and 2 km wide),almost enclosed salt-water lagoon that is bordered by mangroves and sand ridges. The best developed mangroves border the lagoon along the eastern and north-western sides, and also along Codrington Creek which connects the lagoon to the sea in the north. Dry scrub vegetation borders the lagoon on the north-east side.
This IBA supports the largest breeding colony of Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens in the Caribbean, estimated at 1,743 nests and 5,300 birds in March 2008. A significant population (c.200) of Vulnerable West Indian Whistling-ducks Dendrocygna arborea occurs in the lagoon, as do four (of Antigua and Barbuda’s 11) Lesser Antilles EBA restrictedrange birds. The Near Threatened endemic Barbuda Warbler Dendroica subita occurs and the presence of up to 1,000 Laughing Gulls Larus atricilla is globally significant.
Non-bird biodiversity: This is a major nesting site for the Critically Endangered leatherback Dermochelys coriacea and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata turtles. The lagoon is also of considerable importance as a major breeding ground for (economically important) fish and lobster.
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Codrington Lagoon and the Creek. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/06/2021.