Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-winged Flufftail Sarothrura ayresi | CR | non-breeding (1998) | 10–15 birds | A1, A4i |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | very poor | high | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Grassland | very poor (<40%) | moderate (70–90%) | very poor |
| Wetlands (inland) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| 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 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 90 | |
| Shrubland | 10 | |
| Grassland | - | Grassland - highveld |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| other | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Murphy's Rust (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/murphys-rust-iba-south-africa on 27/12/2024.