Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis | VU | breeding (1974–2009) | 230,738 birds | A4i |
| King Eider Somateria spectabilis | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 103,897 birds | A4i |
| Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 459 birds | A4i |
| Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 47,435 birds | A4i |
| Sabine's Gull Xema sabini | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 10,410 birds | A4i |
| Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla | VU | breeding (1974–2009) | 143,905 birds | A4i |
| Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 39,253 birds | A4i |
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 50,822 birds | A4i |
| Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus | LC | breeding (1974–2009) | 1,382 birds | A4ii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of area covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barrow Canyon & Smith Bay (USA). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barrow-canyon-&-smith-bay-iba-usa on 27/12/2024.