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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda | LC | non-breeding (1974) | 500 birds | A4ii |
| Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa | EN | breeding (1966–1968) | 1,000 birds | A1, A4ii |
| Tropical Shearwater Puffinus bailloni | LC | breeding (-) | 5,000 birds | A4ii |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | LC | resident (2009) | 3,000 birds | A4ii |
| Masked Booby Sula dactylatra | LC | passage (-) | 1,500 birds | A4ii |
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 | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa | 5 / 1,000 (birds) | 1 | not assessed | ||
| Puffinus lherminieri | 5,000 / 5,000 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | 3,000 / 3,000 (birds) | 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 (>4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | 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 |
| Whole area (>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 (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Phoenix Islands Protected Area | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) | 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 23/12/2024.