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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus | LC | non-breeding (1995) | min 1,052 individuals | A4i |
| Florida Scrub-jay Aphelocoma coerulescens | VU | resident (2002) | 300 breeding pairs | A1 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Pine Island | Conservation Area (V) | <1 |
| 1963 | Merritt Island | National Wildlife Refuge (IV) | 73 |
| 1975 | Canaveral | National Seashore (V) | 24 |
| 1991 | Slow Speed | Manatee Protection Zones (V) | 7 |
| 1991 | Maximum 30 MPH | Manatee Protection Zones (V) | 4 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cape Canaveral-Merritt Island (USA). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cape-canaveral-merritt-island-iba-usa on 25/01/2025.