Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus | VU | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| South Island Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi | LC | non-breeding (2009–2012) | 9,446–14,332 birds | A4i |
| Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis | VU | non-breeding (2009–2012) | 2,053–2,253 birds | A1, A4i |
| Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri | NT | breeding (1963–2013) | 85–320 pairs | A1 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | - (-) | 20,000–25,000 birds | A4iii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | unset | - | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Not assessed | Not assessed | Not assessed | not assessed |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Miranda | Conservation Covenant (IV) | <1 |
| 1983 | Miranda Taramaire | Government Purpose Reserve (-) | - |
| 1987 | Miranda | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Miranda Stream | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Kauaeranga River mouth | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1988 | Orongo | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | major (>10) | |
| Introduced vegetation | major (>10) | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Firth of Thames (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/firth-of-thames-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.