Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda | LC | non-breeding | 1974 | 500 individuals | A4ii |
| Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa | EN | breeding | 1966-1968 | 1,000 individuals | A1, A4ii |
| Tropical Shearwater Puffinus bailloni | LC | breeding | - | 5,000 individuals | A4ii |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | LC | resident | 2009 | 3,000 individuals | A4ii |
| Masked Booby Sula dactylatra | LC | passage | - | 1,500 individuals | A4ii |
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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2012 | not assessed | medium | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Reference | Actual | Units | % remaining | Result |
| Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa | 1,000 | 5 | individuals | 1 | not assessed |
| Puffinus lherminieri | 5,000 | 5,000 | individuals | 100 | not assessed |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | 3,000 | 3,000 | individuals | 100 | not assessed |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | 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 |
| 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 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Phoenix Islands Protected Area | Protected Area | 100 |
| 2010 | Phoenix Islands Protected Area | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: McKean Island (Kiribati). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mckean-island-iba-kiribati on 22/11/2024.