Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
This small archipelago is located between Madeira (300km) and the Canarias islands (150km) and is mainly constituted by two volcanic rocky islands: the Selvagem Grande and the Selvagem Pequena 18km to the south. The Selvagem Grande presents a 245ha plateau with an altitude of 100m rounden by several slopes and steep banks. The Selvagem pequena, near sea level, presents, besides rocky areas inner sand-dunes. This island and the close islet (Ilhéude Fora) are rounded by shoals that increase the area in low-tides.
The Selvagens hold one of the mainest seabirds colonies in the atlantic ocean. In the Selvagem Grande there are important populations of
Calonectris diomedea, Bulweria bulwerii, Puffinus assimilis, Oceanodroma castro and
Pelagodroma marina, as well as
Anthus berthelotti canariensis. In the Selvagem Pequena, where there are no terrestrial birds, are remarcable the great
Pelagodroma marina colony and the ocassional breeding of
Sterna dougallii and
Sterna fuscata.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Until the creation of Nature Park and the establishment of a permanent watching post, Selvagem Grande suffered regular hunting expeditions. In 1976, several expeditions reduced considerably the population of
Calonectris diomedea,
which is still in slow recuperation. As a result of colonization attempts, there are in this island rabbits and mouses (
Mus domesticus) that modify ancestral vegetal cover. In 2002, a project to eradicate introducted species in Selvagem Grande was initiated.Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéude Fora maintain the ancestral vegetal cover, they have never suffered species introductions. In Selvagem Pequena there is a watching post from April to November, since during the winter the island is nearly inaccessible.In both Selvagens, vestiges of fuel spills are frequently found.
National Nature Reserve Ilhas Selvagens, Special Protection Area Ilhas Selvagens (PTSEL0001)
International Special Protection Area Ilhas Selvagens
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Selvagens (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/selvagens-iba-portugal on 22/12/2024.
