KI013
Millenium (Caroline) Island


IBA Justification

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
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor LC breeding (1988) 2,427 pairs A4ii
Red-footed Booby Sula sula LC breeding (1988) 2,221 pairs A4ii
Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis NT non-breeding (1988–1990) 83–300 birds A1, A4i
Black Noddy Anous minutus LC breeding (1988) 8,392 pairs A4i
Gygis alba NR breeding (1988) 3,957 pairs A4i
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus LC breeding (1988–1990) 188,200 pairs A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a breeding (1988) 202,040 pairs A4iii

IBA Conservation

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 high very low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no population medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference (units) % remaining Result
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda 112 / 112 (pairs) 100 not assessed
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor 4,854 / 5,000 (pairs) 98 not assessed
Red-footed Booby Sula sula 4,442 / 2,500 (pairs) 100 not assessed
Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis 192 / 192 (birds) 100 not assessed
Black Noddy Anous minutus 16,794 / 16,794 (pairs) 100 not assessed
Gygis alba 11,482 / 11,482 (pairs) 100 not assessed
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 407,495 / 407,495 (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%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) 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
Little/none of area covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place very low


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Millenium (Caroline) Island (Kiribati). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/millenium-(caroline)-island-iba-kiribati on 23/12/2024.