Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2015 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus | CR | breeding (2000–2012) | 75–95 breeding pairs | A1 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2015. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | unfavourable | medium | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor | 50 / 50 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius | 4 / 4 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus | 300 / 160 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos | 4 / 4 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus | 2 / 2 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | 100 / 100 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Shrubland | good (>90%) | poor (40–69%) | unfavourable |
| Savanna | good (>90%) | moderate (70–90%) | near favourable |
| Grassland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in short term (within 4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | 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 | low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | |
| Savanna | - | |
| Shrubland | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dronfield (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dronfield-iba-south-africa on 14/01/2025.