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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | resident (-) | 60–90 breeding pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | non-breeding (-) | 150–250 individuals | A1, A4ii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2011) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2011 | favourable | high | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | 135 / 90 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 | |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | - | Inselbergs, kopjes & inland cliffs |
| Unknown | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| unknown | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Colleywobbles Vulture Colony (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/colleywobbles-vulture-colony-iba-south-africa on 25/01/2025.