Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 2009 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis | LC | non-breeding | 2003 | 75,000 individuals | A4i |
| American Avocet Recurvirostra americana | LC | passage | 2003 | 50,000 individuals | A4i |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | LC | resident | 2003 | 35,000 individuals | A4i |
| Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus | NT | breeding | 2003 | 200 breeding pairs | A4i |
| Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa | VU | passage | 2003 | 10,000 individuals | A4i |
| Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri | LC | passage | 2003 | 75,000 individuals | A4i |
| Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus | VU | passage | 2003 | 5,000 individuals | A4i |
| Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus | NT | passage | 2003 | 60,000 individuals | A4i |
| Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis | LC | non-breeding | 2003 | 500,000 individuals | A4i |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | non-breeding | - | 100,000-499,999 individuals | A4iii |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2009) may differ.
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole area/population (>90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | very high |
| Pollution | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected areas | Management plan | Other action | Result |
| Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Salton Sea - Irrigation District | Unknown | 34 |
| - | Sonny Bono Salton Sea | National Wildlife Refuge | 20 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Salton Sea (USA). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/salton-sea-iba-usa on 23/11/2024.