KE016
Mida Creek, Whale Island and the Malindi - Watamu coast


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 1999 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
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus LC winter - 1,500 individuals A4i
Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii LC winter - 1,250 individuals A4i
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola LC non-breeding - 800 individuals A4i
Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi LC non-breeding - 5,700 individuals A4i
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii LC breeding - 1,500 breeding pairs A4i

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1999).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2022 very unfavourable very high high
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat medium

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Marine Intertidal 0 0 - moderate (70-90%) very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - motivation unknown/unrecorded happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes problematic native species/diseases - named species happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - sewage happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation 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 high
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Watamu Marine National Reserve 3,200 protected area overlaps with site 0
Watamu Marine National Park 1,000 protected area contained by site 1,000
Mallindi Marine National Park 600 protected area contained by site 630
Malindi-Watamu UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 19,600 protected area contained by site 19,600
Malindi-Watamu Marine National Reserve 24,500 protected area contained by site 24,500
Malindi Marine National Reserve 21,300 protected area contained by site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Forest Lowland forest - dry deciduous, Lowland forest - dry evergreen -
Marine Neritic -
Marine Intertidal -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mida Creek, Whale Island and the Malindi - Watamu coast. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mida-creek-whale-island-and-the-malindi--watamu-coast-iba-kenya on 29/11/2023.