NA013
Walvis Bay


IBA Justification

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
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis LC non-breeding (-) 2,050–4,030 birds A4i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus LC non-breeding (-) 11,350–31,800 birds A4i
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor NT non-breeding (-) 14,200–33,060 birds A1, A4i
African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini LC non-breeding (-) 110–204 birds A1, A4i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC non-breeding (-) 818–2,340 birds A4i
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola VU winter (-) 816–3,360 birds A4i
White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus LC non-breeding (-) 1,010–1,610 birds A4i
Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus LC non-breeding (-) 1,810–6,040 birds A4i
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT winter (-) 2,110–4,420 birds A4i
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea VU winter (-) 11,180–22,700 birds A4i
Sanderling Calidris alba LC winter (-) 2,110–7,360 birds A4i
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus LC non-breeding (-) 1,710–5,170 birds A4i
Damara Tern Sternula balaenarum LC non-breeding (-) 60–265 birds A1, A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia LC non-breeding (-) 70–230 birds A4i
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC winter (-) 5,410–23,610 birds A4i
Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii LC non-breeding (-) 350–1,660 birds A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a non-breeding (-) 50,000-99,999 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2001) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2001 not assessed high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Climate change and severe weather happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1995 Dorob National Park Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (UA) 100

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Grassland 63
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Walvis Bay (Namibia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/walvis-bay-iba-namibia on 23/12/2024.