Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South African Shelduck Tadorna cana | LC | non-breeding (-) | 288–470 birds | A4i |
| Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii | LC | non-breeding (-) | 103–600 birds | A4i |
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | LC | resident (-) | 5–20 pairs | A4i |
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 87–123 birds | A4i |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | non-breeding (-) | 78–452 birds | A4i |
| Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii | LC | non-breeding (-) | 209–377 birds | A4i |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2012) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2012 | very poor | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca | 2,014 / 2,014 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| South African Shelduck Tadorna cana | 489 / 470 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii | 615 / 600 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | 140 / 123 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus | 478 / 478 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 1,256 / 452 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii | 377 / 377 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia | 34 / 31 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| African Marsh-harrier Circus ranivorus | 9 / 30 (birds) | 30 | very poor | ||
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Neritic | moderate (70–90%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | moderate (70–90%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
| Shrubland | poor (40–69%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| Elands Bay environmental group. | 0 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | major (>10) | Shrubland - succulent Karroo; Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) | Rivers & streams; Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Verlorenvlei Estuary (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/verlorenvlei-estuary-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.