MH03
Bikar Atoll


IBA Justification

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
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus LC breeding (1967) 37,000 adults A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a breeding (1967) 38,800 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2012) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2012 not assessed medium low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population poor

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference (units) % remaining Result
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 52,000 / 52,000 (pairs) 100 not assessed

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (>4 years) whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place low

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Desert major (>10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bikar Atoll (Marshall Islands). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bikar-atoll-iba-marshall-islands on 27/12/2024.