Curtis & Cheeseman Islands (31224)
New Zealand, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Curtis & Cheeseman Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -30.5428, Longitude: -178.5565
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 137
Area of KBA (km2): 0.43818
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: IBA Trigger species: Little (Kermadec Little) Shearwater, Black-winged Petrel, White-bellied Storm Petrel*, Grey Noddy (Grey Ternlet). * Taxonomic uncertainty for white-bellied storm petrel complex. Besides the trigger species the following are confirmed breeding or resident on these two is-lands: Wedge-tailed Shearwater, White-bellied Storm, Petrel, Tasman (Masked) Booby, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, Black Noddy, Grey Noddy. Other species recorded: Christmas Island Shearwater, Black Shag, White-faced Heron, Australasian Harrier, Pacific Golden Plover, Turnstone, Asiatic Whimbrel, Wandering Tattler, Siberian Tattler, Red-crowned (Kermadec) Parakeet, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Silvereye, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Starling.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human disturbance – No Predation by alien species – No Habitat loss or degradation – No Contamination – No Natural disaster – Yes - Curtis Island is an active volcano and a major eruption would have a devastating impact on breeding birds. Other - No
Additional information
References: Gaskin, C.P. 2012. Seabirds of the Kermadec Region: their natural history and conservation. Science for Conservation 316. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 71p. Greene, T.C.; Scofield, R.P.; Dilks, P.J. 2004: Status of Kermadec red-crowned parakeets and the likely effects of a proposed kiore eradication programme. Macauley Island Expedition July 2002. DOC Science Internal Series 179. Department of Conser-vation, Wellington. 33 p. Greene, T. C., Scofield, P. R., Dilks, P. J., Griffiths, R., & Barkla, J. W.. 2014. Additional notes on the birds and vegetation of the southern Kermadec Islands, 2002 and 2006. Notornis 61: 1-9. Greene, T. C. (2014). Assessing minimum population size of Kermadec parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus) on Macauley Island, Kermadec Islands. Notornis, 61: 154-161. Merton, D.V. 1970: Kermadec Islands expedition reports: a general account of birdlife. Notornis 17: 147–199. Sykes, W.R.; West, C.J.; Beever, J.E.; Fife, A.J. 2000: Kermadec Islands flora: a compilation of modern materials about the flora of the Kermadec Islands. Special edition. Manaaki Whenua Press, Landcare Research, Lincoln. 216 p. Veitch, C.R.; Miskelly, C.M.; Harper, G.A.; Taylor, G.A.; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2004: Birds of the Kermadec Islands, South-west Pacific. Notornis 51: 61–90. Waugh, S.M., Tennyson, A.J.D., Taylor, G.A., Wilson, K-J. 2013. Population sizes of shearwaters (Puffinus spp.) breeding in New Zealand with recommendations for monitoring. Tuhinga 24: 159-204.