Wake Island


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 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
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus LC breeding (1999) 200,000 birds A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a breeding (1973–2007) 203,475 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2012) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2012 good medium very low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference (units) % remaining Result
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 178,280 / 178,280 (birds) 100 good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (>4 years) whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% 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%) No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place very low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
2009 Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (V) 100
2009 Wake Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (IV) 100


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wake Island (United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA)). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wake-island-iba-united-states-minor-outlying-islands-(to-usa) on 25/12/2024.