Data Zone
Country/territory: Australia
IBA criteria met: -
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 3,575,881 ha
Site description (2012 baseline)
This Marine IBA is identified using seaward extensions around breeding colonies. It originates from the Australia Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and falls within the Pacific, Western Central FAO ocean region. The site covers an area of 35759 km2 and is 22 km away from the closet coastline. The depth ranges from 0 to 1662 m, with a mean annual wind speed of 1.98 m/s and mean annual sea surface temperature falls between 21.35 and 24.83 °C.
Key biodiversity
3 species trigger IBA criteria at this Marine IBA. Seaward extensions around breeding colony; Capricornia Cays (Great Barrier Reef) include key near-colony areas for breeding populations of Black Noddy (LC) 450000-720000 individuals, Brown Booby (LC) 1500-9600 individuals and Wedge-tailed Shearwater (LC) 1680000-1680000 individuals.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Capricornia Cays (Great Barrier Reef) - Marine. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/capricornia-cays-(great-barrier-reef)--marine-iba-australia on 27/09/2023.
