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The site was identified as important in 1998 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
Striped Flufftail Sarothrura affinis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Blue Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens	NT	resident	-	present	A1
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A3
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus	VU	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Brown Scrub-robin Tychaedon signata	LC	resident	1998	present	A2
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus	LC	resident	1998	present	A1, A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1998) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Shrubland	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Forest	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Grassland	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	likely in short term (within 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Transportation and service corridors	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Geological events	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium

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 management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Very little or no conservation action taking place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1964	Ida Doyer Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1983	Songimvelo Game Reserve	Nature Reserve	100
2017	Oosterbeek Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
2017	Angel Ridge Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	-
Grassland	Grassland - highveld	-
Shrubland		-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Songimvelo Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/songimvelo-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 22/11/2024.