MH03
Bikar Atoll


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important 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 List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus LC breeding 1967 37,000 adults A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a breeding 1967 38,800 individuals A4iii

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2012) may differ.


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 Reference Actual Units % remaining Result
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 52,000 52,000 breeding 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 (beyond 4 years) whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now whole area/population (>90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place low

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Desert major (>10)
1. IUCN Habitat classification.


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 23/11/2024.