Local wildlife

In Elbow Cay we are blessed with a huge array of wildlife.

In the water you can find dolphins, sharks, stingrays, conches, parrot fish … to name just a few.

In the air you can spot ospreys and no end of exotic, fabulously technicolor birds.

And on land watch out for our lounging lizards, there are plenty of species to look out for.

For a wildlife adventure with a difference, why not take a trip to see the swimming pigs of Abaco?! These porcine paddlers can be found on No Name Cay, northwest of Elbow Cay. Regular excursions are available to visit them, or you can take your own boat there.

It’s thought that the pigs were originally put there for hunting or tourism purposes, no one really knows for sure. They rely upon humans for food and water, so visitors are encouraged to take some food for them. But don’t get too close – these are wild animals and will bite!

There are five National Parks in the Abaco Islands. Closest to Elbow Cay is Tilloo Cay National Reserve, home to many native birds, including the rare white-tailed tropicbird.

A little further south you’ll find the underwater Fowl Cays National Park. Next to this is Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park, which is part marine and part land. Both are exceptionally good for snorkeling among the coral and spotting sea turtles.

The Abaco National Park on Great Abaco Island consists of 20,500 acres of protected land and is the native habitat of many of our local species, including the endangered Bahama Parrot.

Finally, the Black Sound Cay National Reserve boasts fabulous mangrove swamps and a wealth of native and migratory birdlife.

Read more at the Bahamas National Trust website.

Our beautiful home is named after another native resident of Elbow Cay; Uniola paniculata (sea oats). This subtropical grass is found in our coastal sand dunes and, in the late summer, has large golden seedheads, which give it its common name.

Sea oats perform an important role in preserving our sand dunes. Their leaves trap wind-blown sand so it doesn’t travel inland and their roots stabilize the dunes to protect them against storms and tides.

We’ve planted sea oats on the ocean side of Sea Oats – adding to our natural environment and creating a smooth visual transition from our home to the dunes.