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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 3,791–8,724 birds | A4i |
| African Penguin Spheniscus demersus | CR | resident (-) | frequent | A1 |
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | EN | resident (-) | 20,200 pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | EN | non-breeding (-) | 40,000–50,000 birds | A1, A4ii |
| Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus | LC | resident (-) | 500–600 pairs | A1, A4i |
| Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 1,000–1,200 birds | A1, A4i |
| Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis | EN | resident (-) | 4,000–10,000 pairs | A1, A4i |
| Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis | EN | non-breeding (-) | 12,000–32,000 birds | A1, A4i |
| Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus | EN | resident (-) | 220–300 pairs | A1, A4i |
| Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus | EN | non-breeding (-) | 500–600 birds | A1, A4i |
| African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini | LC | resident (-) | 150–170 pairs | A1, A4i |
| African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini | LC | non-breeding (-) | 528–607 birds | A1, A4i |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | non-breeding (-) | 127–307 birds | A4i |
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | VU | winter (-) | 3,643–8,228 birds | A4i |
| Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius | LC | non-breeding (-) | 1,000–2,000 birds | A4i |
| White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 2,000–4,000 birds | A4i |
| Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | NT | winter (-) | 1,963–4,587 birds | A4i |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | NT | winter (-) | 2,504–6,219 birds | A4i |
| Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea | VU | winter (-) | 17,940–25,347 birds | A4i |
| Sanderling Calidris alba | LC | winter (-) | 1,229–2,643 birds | A4i |
| Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii | LC | breeding (-) | 2,000–3,000 pairs | A4i |
| Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii | LC | non-breeding (-) | 5,000–7,000 birds | A4i |
| Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus | LC | breeding (-) | 500–3,347 pairs | A4i |
| Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 1,407–8,000 birds | A4i |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | winter (-) | 1,299–9,658 birds | A4i |
| Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii | LC | breeding (-) | 50–4,070 pairs | A4i |
| Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii | LC | non-breeding (-) | 203–9,000 birds | A4i |
| Black Harrier Circus maurus | EN | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | resident (-) | 50,000-99,999 birds | A4iii |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | non-breeding (-) | 20,000-49,999 birds | A4iii |
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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | good | high | high |
| 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 | ||
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | 7,183 / 8,724 (birds) | 83 | moderate | ||
| African Penguin Spheniscus demersus | 456 / 1,600 (pairs) | 29 | very poor | ||
| Cape Gannet Morus capensis | 30,000 / 50,000 (birds) | 60 | poor | ||
| Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus | 308 / 1,200 (birds) | 26 | very poor | ||
| Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis | 848 / 32,000 (birds) | 3 | very poor | ||
| Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus | 62 / 300 (pairs) | 21 | very poor | ||
| African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini | 137 / 607 (birds) | 23 | very poor | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 249 / 307 (birds) | 82 | moderate | ||
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | 6,432 / 8,228 (birds) | 79 | moderate | ||
| Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius | 348 / 2,000 (birds) | 18 | very poor | ||
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | 2,521 / 6,219 (birds) | 41 | poor | ||
| Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea | 24,951 / 25,347 (birds) | 99 | good | ||
| Sanderling Calidris alba | 7,441 / 2,643 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | 2,026 / 9,658 (birds) | 21 | very poor | ||
| Black Harrier Circus maurus | 7 / 30 (birds) | 24 | very poor | ||
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Shrubland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Marine Intertidal | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | 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 |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | major (>10) | Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| other | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/west-coast-national-park-and-saldanha-bay-islands-iba-south-africa on 22/12/2024.