Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis | LC | resident (1982–1992) | 1,000–1,623 nests | A4i |
| Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii | LC | resident (1982–1992) | 2,000–6,080 nests | A4i |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2019) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2019 | not assessed | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | - | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Pollution | likely in long term (>4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% 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 | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | high |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Great Barrier Reef | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) | 100 |
| 2001 | Michaelmas and Upolu Cays | National Park (II) | 100 |
| 2004 | Great Barrier Reef Coast | Marine Park (II) | 97 |
| 2004 | Great Barrier Reef | Marine Park (II) | 96 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | major (>10) | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Michaelmas Cay (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/michaelmas-cay-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.