Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tongan Scrubfowl Megapodius pritchardii | VU | resident (2003) | 300–500 birds | A1, A2 |
| Shy Ground Dove Pampusana stairi | LC | breeding (2003) | common | A1, A2 |
| Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus | LC | breeding (1980) | 100,000 birds | 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 birds | A4iii |
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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2012 | not assessed | high | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | poor | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Tongan Scrubfowl Megapodius pritchardii | 400 / 400 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 100,000 / 100,000 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Geological events | likely in long term (>4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (>4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of area covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | major (>10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fonualei (Tonga). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fonualei-iba-tonga on 23/12/2024.