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 | breeding (2002) | 261 birds | A4ii |
| Red-footed Booby Sula sula | LC | breeding (2002) | 25,000 birds | A4ii |
| Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis | NT | non-breeding (2012) | 200 birds | A1, A4i |
| Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus | LC | breeding (2002) | 876,000 birds | A4i |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (2002) | 26,489 | A4iii |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | breeding (1973–2007) | 883,570 birds | A4iii |
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 | good | 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 | ||
| Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda | 261 / 261 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Red-footed Booby Sula sula | 25,000 / 25,000 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis | 200 / 200 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 380,004 / 380,004 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| 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 |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Palmyra Atoll | National Wildlife Refuge (Ia) | 100 |
| 2009 | Pacific Remote Islands | Marine National Monument (V) | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Palmyra Atoll (United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/palmyra-atoll-iba-united-states-minor-outlying-islands-(to-usa) on 27/12/2024.