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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
African Penguin Spheniscus demersus	CR	resident (-)	3,050 breeding pairs	A1, A4ii
African Penguin Spheniscus demersus	CR	non-breeding (-)	9,000 individuals	A1, A4ii
Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus	LC	resident (-)	60–238 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus	LC	non-breeding (-)	150–500 individuals	A1, A4i
Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis	EN	resident (-)	35,580 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis	EN	non-breeding (-)	100,000 individuals	A1, A4i
Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus	EN	breeding (-)	uncommon	A1
African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini	LC	resident (2000)	27–67 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini	LC	non-breeding (-)	160 individuals	A1, A4i
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii	LC	breeding (-)	110 breeding pairs	A4i
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii	LC	non-breeding (-)	280 individuals	A4i
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus	LC	breeding (-)	88–130 breeding pairs	A4i
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus	LC	non-breeding (-)	200–500 individuals	A4i
Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii	LC	breeding (-)	300 breeding pairs	A4i
Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii	LC	non-breeding (-)	750 individuals	A4i
A4iii Species group - seabirds	n/a	resident (-)	100,000-499,999 individuals	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 (2014) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	moderate (70–90%)	good (>90%)	near favourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Pollution	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Residential and commercial development	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Biological resource use	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Dyer Island Conservation Trust	0

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	major (>10)
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dyer Island Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dyer-island-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 19/01/2025.