Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 1998 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):| Species | Current IUCN Red List Category | Season | Year(s) | Population estimate at site | IBA criteria met |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South African Shelduck Tadorna cana | LC | non-breeding | - | 229-787 individuals | A4i |
| Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma | LC | non-breeding | - | 326-1,132 individuals | A4i |
| Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii | LC | non-breeding | - | 172-404 individuals | A4i |
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | LC | non-breeding | - | 62-152 individuals | A4i |
| Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis | LC | non-breeding | - | 68-1,100 individuals | A4i |
| Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata | LC | non-breeding | - | 18,283-36,000 individuals | A4i |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | non-breeding | - | 20,000-49,999 individuals | A4iii |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1998).
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | unfavourable | high | medium |
| Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | - | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population remaining | Result |
| Tadorna cana | South African Shelduck | 787 | 11 | individuals | 2 | very unfavourable |
| Netta erythrophthalma | Southern Pochard | 1132 | 50 | individuals | 5 | very unfavourable |
| Anas undulata | Yellow-billed Duck | 1443 | 2500 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Podiceps cristatus | Great Crested Grebe | 152 | 341 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Podiceps nigricollis | Black-necked Grebe | 1100 | 201 | individuals | 19 | very unfavourable |
| Phoenicopterus roseus | Greater Flamingo | 1197 | 2890 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Fulica cristata | Red-knobbed Coot | 36000 | 18000 | individuals | 50 | unfavourable |
| Haematopus moquini | African Oystercatcher | 9 | 102 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Calidris ferruginea | Curlew Sandpiper | 4014 | 647 | individuals | 17 | very unfavourable |
| Larus hartlaubii | Hartlaub's Gull | 193 | 954 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Hydroprogne caspia | Caspian Tern | 41 | 296 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Circus ranivorus | African Marsh-harrier | 4 | 10 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Habitat detail | Reference area (ha) | Actual area (ha) | Habitat quantity (% remaining) | Habitat quality (carrying capacity) | Result |
| Shrubland | Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) | 0 | 0 | moderate (70-90%) | moderate (70-90%) | unfavourable |
| Wetlands (inland) | Coastal lagoons | 0 | 0 | moderate (70-90%) | moderate (70-90%) | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | annual & perennial non-timber crops - shifting agriculture | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - agro-industry grazing, ranching or farmin | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - agro-industry plantations | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Biological resource use | fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | drought | happening now | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | habitat shifting and alteration | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | storms and floods | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Energy production and mining | mining and quarrying | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Energy production and mining | renewable energy | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | recreational activities | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | introduced genetic material | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Natural system modifications | dams & water management/use - small dams | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Natural system modifications | fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Pollution | agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Pollution | agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Pollution | domestic & urban waste water - sewage | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Pollution | excess energy - light pollution | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | no or imperceptible deterioration | low |
| Pollution | excess energy - noise pollution | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | no or imperceptible deterioration | low |
| Pollution | garbage & solid waste | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Residential and commercial development | commercial and industrial development | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Residential and commercial development | housing and urban areas | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Residential and commercial development | tourism and recreation areas | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | flight paths | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | roads and railroads | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | no or imperceptible deterioration | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | utility & service lines | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected-area designation | Management planning | Other conservation action | Result |
| Some of site covered (10-49%) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary Marine Protected Area | Marine Protected Area | 11,249 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
| Vogelgat Private Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 676 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
| Rooisand Provincial Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 294 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
| Oude Bosch Private Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 317 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
| Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | 108,288 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
| Hoek van de Berg Private Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 463 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
| Fernkloof Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 658 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
| Coppull Private Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 91 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
| Cape Floral Region Protected Areas | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) | 1,094,742 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
| Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs, Rivers & streams | - |
| Marine Neritic | - | |
| Grassland | - | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - |
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cape Whale Coast. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cape-whale-coast-iba-south-africa on 04/10/2023.
