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close| Location | Gibraltar (to UK), Gibraltar |
| Central coordinates | 5o 20.75' West 36o 8.50' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4iv, B1iv, B2, C1, C5 |
| Area | 600 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 396m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information Gibraltar is a well-known migratory bottleneck site for birds of prey, with an estimated 250,000 raptors crossing the Strait in a season. If the winds are right then most of these pass over Gibraltar, and numbers may in fact be higher. It is also a stop-over site for passerines and near-passerines, with a rapid turnover of birds on passage during both northward and southward migration.
Site description The Rock of Gibraltar is dominated by a dense cover of maquis and garrigue, including many important fruit-bearing shrubs that support large passerine populations on passage and during the winter.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara | resident | 1967-1998 | 50-75 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | breeding | 1967-1998 | 4-10 breeding pairs | - | A1, C1 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | passage | 1967-1998 | 11-100 individuals | - | A1, C1 | Least Concern |
| A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes | passage | 1967-1998 | 250,000 individuals | - | A4iv, B1iv, C5 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis | 40% |
| Coastline | Rock stacks and islets; Sea cliffs and rocky shores | 20% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Other urban and industrial areas | 40% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| military | 30% |
| tourism/recreation | 30% |
| urban/industrial/transport | 40% |
| nature conservation and research | 8% |
Management considerations A number of military sites are designated as conservation areas. 197 ha of the Rock of Gibraltar are proposed as a SPA under the EC Birds Directive, and as a SAC under the EC Habitats Directive.
Protection status National Low International None45 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Upper Rock, 45 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rock of Gibraltar. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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