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 List1 | Season | Year(s) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa | EN | breeding | 2006 | 20 pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba | VU | breeding | 2009 | 30 pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis | LC | breeding | 2006 | 500 pairs | A4ii |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | LC | breeding | 2006 | 4,300 pairs | A4ii |
| Brown Noddy Anous stolidus | LC | breeding | 2009 | 5,000 pairs | A4i |
| Blue Noddy Anous ceruleus | LC | breeding | 2009 | 3,000 pairs | A4i |
| Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus | LC | breeding | 2009 | 300,000 pairs | A4i |
| Grey-backed Tern Onychoprion lunatus | LC | breeding | 2009 | 1,000 pairs | A4i |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | - | 2009 | 309,000 pairs | A4iii |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2012) may differ.
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 | 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 | |
| Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa | 20 / 20 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba | 30 / 30 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis | 500 / 500 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | 4,300 / 4,300 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| Brown Noddy Anous stolidus | 5,000 / 5,000 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| Procelsterna cerulea | 3,000 / 3,000 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| Grey-backed Tern Onychoprion lunatus | 1,000 / 1,000 | pairs | 100 | not assessed | |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 927,000 / 927,000 | 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%) | slow decline (1-10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | likely in short term (<4 years) | 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 |
| 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 | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Rawaki (Phoenix) Island | Wildlife Sanctuary | 100 |
| 2006 | Phoenix Islands Protected Area | Protected Area | 100 |
| 2010 | Phoenix Islands Protected Area | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rawaki (Phoenix Island) (Kiribati). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rawaki-(phoenix-island)-iba-kiribati on 03/12/2024.