Welcome to Cooper's Island Nature Reserve!
Cooper’s Island is a 77 acre (31 hectare) peninsula located in St. David’s toward the northeast of Castle Harbor. It was formerly a cluster of islands, until in 1941 when material dredged from the bottom of Castle Harbour was used to form Clearwater Beach and the connection of Cooper's Island to St. David's Island. Today, this area features an assortment of beaches, hiking trails, parkland, nature reserve and so much more.
Historically Cooper’s Island serviced as a multipurpose facility for many years by the US government. Government agencies that occupied the land included, the US Navy, US Army, US Air Force and NASA up until 1995. Today, the main island has remains of the old NASA tracking station, a large water catch, reservoir, water treatment facility, military storage bunkers, roadways and multipurpose buildings. Access was restricted until May 24, 2008 when, as a gift to Bermuda, the nature reserve was opened to the public.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with support from HSBC Bermuda, has recently begun the multiphase restoration and management plan for Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve. Several buildings have been removed and several areas have been replanted with native and endemic plant species.
Visitors are welcome to snorkel, picnic, walk and swim throughout the park and nature reserve. The island displays both large and small beaches, sand dunes, native and exotic upland coastal woodland, rocky coastal habitats, open spaces and a newly restored salt marsh community. Towards the tip of the peninsula is a renovated watch tower offering wonderful views of Bermuda’s coastline, waters, whale watching and opportunities to see a variety of migratory birds.
Along the south west part of the shore visitors can see Nonsuch Island, coral reefs and the chain of Castle Islands. Nonsuch Island is a natural living museum that features many habitats found throughout Bermuda and provides a refuge for the rare and endangered wildlife. It is home to the endemic Cahow or Bermuda Petrel (Pterodroma cahow) and Bermuda Skink or Rock Lizard (Plestiodon).
Many interesting and unusual native and endemic fauna and flora can be found on Cooper’s Island. Things to look for include: White-tailed tropic bird (Phaethon lepturus), the endemic Bermuda Killifish (Fundulus bermudae), a resident in the tidal salt marsh, an assortment of corals, sea grasses near the beach front, Bermuda Cedar trees (Juniperus bermudiana), Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus), a Prickly Pear (Opuntia) a coastal cactus, the native Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Bermuda’s endemic national flower Bermudiana (Sisyrinchium iridoides).
Public transport:
Bus # 6
Disclaimer
- This geocache has approval to be placed at this location on property managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
- The following items may not be placed in the geocache: food, illegal substances, medications, personal hygiene products, pornographic materials, hazardous materials, or weapons of any type.
- By searching for the cache, visitors agree that they are responsible for their own actions, and acknowledge that neither the Bermuda Government nor the cache owner is responsible for any loss or injury that may occur in relation to such search.
- Report any incident, problem, or violation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
