Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Penguin Spheniscus demersus | CR | resident (-) | 5 pairs | A1 |
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | EN | resident (-) | 4,000–6,000 pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | EN | non-breeding (-) | 8,000–15,000 birds | A1, A4ii |
| Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus | LC | resident (-) | 5–10 pairs | A1 |
| Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 100–170 birds | A1, A4i |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | resident (-) | 10,000-19,999 birds | A4iii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | poor | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | - | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| African Penguin Spheniscus demersus | 0 / 500 (birds) | 0 | very poor | ||
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | 18,000 / 18,000 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus | 25 / 170 (birds) | 15 | very poor | ||
| African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini | 2 / 8 (birds) | 25 | very poor | ||
| Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus | 80 / 500 (birds) | 16 | very poor | ||
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | 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 | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Bird Island | Other Area (II) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| agriculture | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bird Island (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bird-island-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.