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

The site was identified as important in 2012 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Tongan Scrubfowl Megapodius pritchardii	VU	resident	2003	300-500 individuals	A1, A2
Shy Ground Dove Pampusana stairi	LC	breeding	2003	common	A1, A2
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus	LC	breeding	1980	100,000 individuals	A4i
Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio carunculatus	LC	breeding	2003	common	A2
Polynesian Starling Aplonis tabuensis	LC	breeding	2003	common	A2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding	1980	100,000 individuals	A4iii

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2012) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2012) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Tongan Scrubfowl Megapodius pritchardii	400	400	individuals	100	not assessed
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	100,000	100,000	individuals	100	not assessed

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Geological events	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%)	No management planning has taken place	Very little or no conservation action taking place	negligible

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		major (>10)
Shrubland		major (>10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fonualei (Tonga). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fonualei-iba-tonga on 23/11/2024.