Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The total IBA extension occupies an area of around 331 km2. Its coastal area is very sheer, with wild and inaccessible ravines that are the Cory's Shearwater's preferred breeding places. The coast features countless reefs, caves and small sheltered bays, as well as various small islands and sandbanks, and the marine part is affected by very strong ocean currents and is very exposed to storms and tidal currents (Ferraz et al. 2004a).
The marine IBA includes the marine area adjacent to terrestrial IBA PT063 (Ponta dos Rosais-Urzelina) and is an important location in the region for species such as Roseate Tern, Little Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater that feed in this area. Some birds from the Faial colonies that were tagged with data-loggers during the course of the Marine IBA LIFE project fed in this area, while en route to more remote feeding places. The IBA is also used by Cory's Shearwaters that breed on S. Jorge and feed here.
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea: This species is fairly abundant in this area. Raft counts have given rise to a population estimate of around 46,192 individuals within the IBA, which represents over 65% of the total population estimated for the whole island. In the area of the IBA, specifically at Ponta dos Rosais, was observed the raft with the largest number of Cory's Shearwaters in the whole archipelago (around 22,300 individuals, Bolton 2001).
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis: This area is used by around 30 to 65 pairs that breed on the adjacent coastal area (Monteiro et al. 1999). Work carried out in Northern Europe reveals a tendency to coastal gatherings (Guilford et al. 2008), suggesting a regular presence in the IBA. However, further studies on its behaviour at sea should be carried out.
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii: This IBA has recently become a very important location for Roseate Tern feeding, given the presence of a population of around 130 pairs registered in the annual monitoring survey carried out in 2008 (DOP-IMAR UAç).
Common Tern Sterna hirundo: There are around 112 pairs that use this area as a feeding ground, and the main colony in this IBA, with around 80 pairs, is located at "Ponta dos Rosais" (Neves 2007).
Other species observed in this IBA: Great Shearwater, Yellow-legged Gull.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
LIFE Project Marine IBAs - LIFE04 NAT/PT/000213
Ponta dos Rosais SCI (PTJOR0013); Resolution 30/98 of 5th February ratified by
Declaration 12/98 of 7th May - 1% coincides with the IBA.
Full Reserve Area for Gathering Limpets; Regional Regulation Decree nº 14/93/A of 31st July - 20% coincides with the IBA.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: São Jorge - Oeste (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/são-jorge--oeste-iba-portugal on 23/11/2024.
