• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2001 baseline)
Extent of this site: consists of Big and Small Cat Islets. Cat Islets are in the southwestern seas of the Penghu Archipelago; they are 50 km to Makung, 20 km northwest of Chimei Islet; and 25 km west-southwest of Wangan Islet. The peak of Big Cat Islet, in the center of the islet, is 79 m in elevation. It is also the highest peak of the Penghu Archipelago. Small Cat Islet is 100 m to the southeast of Big Cat Islet, with a peak of 50 m. Both islets are named after their cat-like landforms. Surrounded by steep rocky cliffs, the islets are difficult for humans to climb up on. Totally 19 species in 12 families of plants have been recorded here. Chenopodium virgatum is the dominant ground cover on both Big and Small Cat Islets in summer; Silky-haired Crab Grass Digitaria serricea and Formosan Peacock-plume Chloris formosana are the dominant species in winter. The major bird species in Cat Islets are Common Noddy and Bridled Tern, which account for over 95% of all birds.

Key biodiversity
IBA A4iii Criterion Species: include a variety of gulls and terns breeding here in summer. • The average single count of Bridled Terns during 1987 and 1988 was 4,000-6,000 birds. The average count during the 1997 breeding season even rose to 8,000. • The average single count for the Common Noddy during 1987-1998 was 2,000-3,000 birds. The average count in 1997 rose to over 4,500. The accuracy of the estimation is higher than 80%.

Non-bird biodiversity: • Nineteen species of plants in 12 families have been recorded.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cat Islet Seabird Refuge, Penghu County Refuge (Taiwan, China). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cat-islet-seabird-refuge-penghu-county-refuge-iba-taiwan-china on 23/12/2024.