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The site was identified as important in 2008 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
Micronesian Scrubfowl Megapodius laperouse	NT	resident	2005	present	A1, A2
Palau Ground Dove Pampusana canifrons	EN	resident	2005	present	A2
Micronesian Imperial-pigeon Ducula oceanica	VU	resident	2005	present	A2
Palau Fruit-dove Ptilinopus pelewensis	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Palau Swiftlet Aerodramus pelewensis	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Palau Kingfisher Todiramphus pelewensis	NT	resident	2005	present	A2
Micronesian Myzomela Myzomela rubratra	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Morningbird Pachycephala tenebrosa	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Palau Fantail Rhipidura lepida	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Palau Flycatcher Myiagra erythrops	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Palau Bush-warbler Horornis annae	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Giant White-eye Megazosterops palauensis	NT	resident	2005	present	A2
Dusky White-eye Zosterops finschii	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Citrine White-eye Zosterops semperi	LC	resident	2005	present	A2
Micronesian Starling Aplonis opaca	LC	resident	2005	present	A2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2008) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2008. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	-	good (> 90%)	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>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	% overlap with IBA
1956	Ngerukewid Islands	Wildlife Preserve	1
1976	Ngerumekoal	Spawning Area	1
1997	Rock Islands Southern Lagoon	Conservation Area	100
1999	Ngkisaol Sardines	Sanctuary	<1
2012	Rock Islands Southern Lagoon	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Lowland evergreen rain forest (tropical), Beach and atoll forest	major (>10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
tourism/recreation	major (>10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rock Islands (Palau). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rock-islands-iba-palau on 23/11/2024.