Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 1998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Penguin Spheniscus demersus | CR | resident | - | 1,000-3,000 breeding pairs | A1, A4ii |
| African Penguin Spheniscus demersus | CR | non-breeding | - | 4,000-10,000 individuals | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | EN | resident | - | 1,300 breeding pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | EN | non-breeding | - | 10,000 individuals | A1, A4ii |
| Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus | EN | resident | - | 679 breeding pairs | A1, A4i |
| Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus | EN | non-breeding | - | 2,000 individuals | A1, A4i |
| African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini | LC | non-breeding | - | present | A1 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | non-breeding | - | 10,000-19,999 individuals | A4iii |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | resident | - | min 10,000 breeding pairs | A4iii |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1998) may differ.
| Year | Protected Area | Designation | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area | Marine Protected Area | 100 |
| 2009 | Namibia Islands | Marine Protected Area | 100 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mercury Island (Namibia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mercury-island-iba-namibia on 23/11/2024.