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Marine Life

The marine life in Bird Island’s waters is rich and divers, with various fish, turtles, crustaceans, octopi, and sea mammals; but certain ones stand out.

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Sea Turtles

Green Turtles

Green Turtles are an endangered species that are protected in and around the waters off Bird Island. Throughout the year they visit our shores to lay their eggs, but are more commonly seen from June to September. Every few years, they migrate long distances to their nesting beaches around Bird Island. They are more often seen coming ashore in the evenings. There is minimal exterior lighting on Bird Island so as to encourage the Green turtles to lay. This makes it harder to spot them, but whenever our conservation officer encounters one, guests are informed and are welcomed to come and watch this amazing sea turtle.

At Bird Island a small group of juvenile Green turtles frequent Passe Coco. It is the ideal habitat of shallow waters rich in sea grass. Guests may not get the opportunity to see a nesting Green Turtle, but the juveniles are always about. Find out more here.

Hawksbill Turtles

Critically endangered Hawksbill turtles can also be found in our waters. Great care is taken for Bird Island to be their safe haven as well as for all other marine life.

The Hawksbill nesting season runs from October to February, and at its peak in December (check our calendar), up to five Hawksbill Turtles a day come out of the sea and up the beach to dig a nest and lay their eggs. It is unusual not to see a Hawksbill turtle laying during the months of October to January. Likewise from mid December to mid March, not to see their hatchlings emerging. Very often, you will find the same female Hawksbill Turtles returning to the same beach season after season.