Ecotourism On Grand Bahama Island

Grand Bahama Island is a true nature lover’s paradise. It is home to three national parks, the star of which is Lucayan National Park, the only place in The Bahamas where you can see all six of the country’s ecosystems. Eighteen of the 28 known species of Bahamian birds that are not seen in the United States, Canada or Europe live here. One of the principal birding sites is the Rand Nature Center National Park, home to Antillean peewee birds, red-legged thrushes, stripe-headed tanagers, the endangered Bahama parrot and, occasionally, a Kirtland's warbler. Along the nature trail that winds through the park, at least 130 Bahamian plants have been identified, which are just as fascinating as the birds. The whiskbroom fern, for instance, is believed to have been the first plant in the world to stand upright. Many other species became very useful in the daily lives of early Grand Bahamians. Uniola, a springy grass, was used to stuff mattresses, the sharp-pointed agave leaves served as needles and threads and love vine is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac.