Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
Three barren and cliffy volcanic islands, time ago joined, now separated by two little straits. From north to south: Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. The Ilhéu Chão is plain in the top and holds a diverse vegetation. Great part of Deserta Grande suffered desertification, but a valley in north area, formerly cultivated, holds now maritime Macaronesic vegetation. The Bugio is an elongated basaltic island with slopes and unstables cliffs. It's constituted by two main areas (north and south) each one with a little grass-covered plateau.
It's a extremely important place for five seabird species (Procellariidaea) who breed in Madeira. It's the only European breeding area of
Pterodroma feae (Macaronesian endemic species) who breeds mainly at the south plateau of Bugio. Here we can also find important colonies of
Bulweria bulwerii,
Calonectris diomedea and
Oceanodroma castro. Another seabird,
Puffinus assimilis, breeds here in significant numbers. In all three islands also breed
Sterna hirundo and
Larus cachinnans, and some other Macaronesian endemic birds like
Apus unicolor,
Anthus berthelotii and
Serinus canaria.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
In the ilhéu chão there was a hare population wich is extinct for 20 years with the consequent recuperation of vegetation. With a LIFE project support, rabbits and goats populations in Deserta Grande are being eradicated since 1996. The flora recuperation becomes the island attractive to breeding seabirds. In the past, procellariform species were predated by fishermen, but now, the Nature Park of Madeira controls and watches the area. The Bugio still holds big rabbits populations that could harm species who breed on the ground like
Pterodroma feae. The main IBA's threats in the future are tourism and fishery.
National: Natural Reserve of Ilhas Desertas, Special Protection Area Ilhas Desertas (PTDES0001)
International: Special Protection Area Ilhas Desertas, Biogenetic Reserve of the Council of Europe.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ilhas Desertas (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ilhas-desertas-iba-portugal on 23/12/2024.
