text: hungry bay nature reserve hungry bay nature reserve is a nature reserve on the east coast of bermuda . it was established in 1986 . it is considered the best example of coastal mangrove swamp on the island . it includes the hungry bay area and the largest mangrove coastal swamp in bermuda . it is protected by a tree preservation order ( ) and designated as an official nature reserve within the parks system of bermuda . the hungry bay mangrove swamp reserve , a wetland site , is one of the seven ramsar sites in bermuda . this designation recognises its international importance as a northerly mangrove swamp , as a habitat for its native crustaceans and as an important destination for migratory birds . most of the reserve consists of mangrove swamp , while in the southern part there is a small area of saltmarsh . much damage was done to the site by a storm in 2003 and residents have expressed concern about possible environmental damage resulting from pollution from the village of seabright . history the reserve was proposed as a national nature reserve under the development and planning act of 1974 . it was part of the development plan of 1983 . while the mangroves are under the tree preservation order , the reserve in general is decreed as a national reserve under the bermuda national parks act of 1986 . the hungry bay mangrove swamp reserve is one of the seven ramsar sites in bermuda . it was approved as a ramsar site of international importance on 10 may 1999 , meeting the criteria ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 8 ) for its unique characteristics . its significance is due to being the largest northerly mangrove swamp in the atlantic ocean , the many migratory bird species which visit during winter , and the many native crustacean species , including the endangered terrestrial hermit crab ( coenobita ) and giant land crab ( ) . during hurricane fabian in september 2003 , the outer ( western ) third of the swamp , accounting for 25 - 30 % of the total area of mangroves , suffered total destruction . global warming has also caused rise in tidal levels resulting in damage to the swamps . more recently , residents have begun to voice concerns over the seabright sewage outflow , which enters hungry bay itself . a resident of the bay noted the persistent appearance of a " shiny slick " emanating from seabright extending to the " reef - line a few hundred yards off " . geography bermuda ’ s largest tidal mangrove swamp is situated in a sea bay on the east coast of bermuda , in an enclosed coast with a narrow opening from the sea , hungry bay . reported as the most northerly mangrove swamp in the world , it is shallow with a depth of about 1 metre ( 3 ft 3 in ) during high tide . the area is small at 2 . 01 hectares ( 5 . 0 acres ) , of which 99 % is of tidal mangrove forest and the balance 1 % is made up of permanent brackish marshes . the soil conditions comprise clay , mud , peat and sand . it has perennial source of water and is of water quality varying from brackish to , saline and in different zones . climatic conditions in the reserve is subtropical with mild temperatures with humidity . storms and gales are a common feature during winter . the reserve consists of dense forest of red and black mangrove trees . a large number of sea water channels flow through the area which rise and fall with the tides . these tidal channels are an important habitat for small fish . crabs and other marine creatures are found here . the trees are the habitat for many species of birds . snails and insects are commonly found in the reserve . the reserve can be reached by road , though access is limited , or by boat traveling directly through the bay . the reserve operates a small wharf capable of receiving boat traffic . flora vegetation in the mangrove swamps consists primarily of black mangrove ( avicennia germinans ) and red mangrove ( rhizophora mangle ) . other species of trees reported around the mangroves are ( erectus ) , rush ( juncus acutus ) , sea purslane ( ) , sea ox - eye ( arborescens ) , sea lavender ( limonium ) , vaginatum , sporobolus , woody glasswort ( perennis ) and west indian grass ( petraea ) . tropical mangrove swamp characterizes the northern areas of the reserve while the southern areas primarily represent temperate saltmarsh . invasive plants , notably among them casuarina , are adversely affecting the growth of the mangrove swamp , and therefore in addition giant land and hermit crabs , endemic snail species . habitat restoration measures are underway to retain the mangroves and other native species . fauna the faunal species reported from the mangrove swamp include several species of crabs : the giant land crab ( ) ( only two colonies exists in the upper regions of the swamp ) , the terrestrial hermit crab ( coenobita ) ( 54 individuals recorded in 1990 ) , and the mangrove crab ( cruentatus ) . avifauna significant avifauna reported in the reserve are the great blue heron ( ardea herodias ) , yellow - crowned night heron ( violacea ) , snowy egret ( egretta thula ) , mallard ( anas platyrhynchus ) , belted kingfisher , megaceryle alcyon and northern waterthrush ( ) , which are all wintering bird species . feral pigeons , which are displacing tropic birds from their nesting sites in cliff - holes and ledges , need to be eliminated from the reserve to preserve the native species of birds , according to efforts made to control their population thus far .