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close| Location | Portugal, Madeiran Archipelago |
| Central coordinates | 15o 54.00' West 30o 8.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4ii, A4iii, B1ii, B2, B3, C2, C4, C6 |
| Area | 265 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 163m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2002 |
Ornithological information The Selvagens hold one of the mainest seabirds colonies in the atlantic ocean. In the Selvagem Grande there are important populations of Calonectris diomedea, Bulweria bulwerii, Puffinus assimilis, Oceanodroma castro and Pelagodroma marina, as well as Anthus berthelotti canariensis. In the Selvagem Pequena, where there are no terrestrial birds, are remarcable the great Pelagodroma marina colony and the ocassional breeding of Sterna dougallii and Sterna fuscata.
Site description This small archipelago is located between Madeira (300km) and the Canarias islands (150km) and is mainly constituted by two volcanic rocky islands: the Selvagem Grande and the Selvagem Pequena 18km to the south. The Selvagem Grande presents a 245ha plateau with an altitude of 100m rounden by several slopes and steep banks. The Selvagem pequena, near sea level, presents, besides rocky areas inner sand-dunes. This island and the close islet (Ilhéude Fora) are rounded by shoals that increase the area in low-tides.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea | breeding | 2000 | 15,000 breeding pairs | good | A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis | resident | 1995 | 4,100 breeding pairs | good | A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii | breeding | 1994 | 5,000 breeding pairs | poor | A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| White-faced Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina | breeding | 1999 | 61,000 breeding pairs | good | A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro | resident | 1994 | 1,000 breeding pairs | poor | A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotii | resident | 2002 | 100-200 breeding pairs | medium | B3 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | breeding | - | - | unknown | A4iii, C4 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilhas Selvagens | Nature Reserve | 3,400 | protected area contains site | 0 |
|
| Ilhas Selvagens - PTSEL0001 | Birds Directive | 5,752 | protected area contains site | 265 | |
| Laurisilva da Madeira - PTMAD0001 | Birds Directive | 13,355 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis | - |
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | - |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | - |
| Coastline | Rock stacks and islets; Sea cliffs and rocky shores | - |
| Caves | Caves | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | - |
Management considerations Until the creation of Nature Park and the establishment of a permanent watching post, Selvagem Grande suffered regular hunting expeditions. In 1976, several expeditions reduced considerably the population of Calonectris diomedea, which is still in slow recuperation. As a result of colonization attempts, there are in this island rabbits and mouses (Mus domesticus) that modify ancestral vegetal cover. In 2002, a project to eradicate introducted species in Selvagem Grande was initiated.Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéude Fora maintain the ancestral vegetal cover, they have never suffered species introductions. In Selvagem Pequena there is a watching post from April to November, since during the winter the island is nearly inaccessible.In both Selvagens, vestiges of fuel spills are frequently found.
Protection status National Nature Reserve Ilhas Selvagens, Special Protection Area Ilhas Selvagens (PTSEL0001)International Special Protection Area Ilhas Selvagens
References Jouanin (1964), Jouanin & Roux (1966), Zino (1971), Jouanin et al. (1979), Bannerman & Bannerman (1963),Jensen (1981), Roux (1983), Hartog (1984), Zino (1985), Zino et al. (1987), Mougin (1988), Mougin (1989), Folmer & Ortvad (1992), Faria (1994), Zino &Biscoito (1994), Oliveira & Moniz (1995), Mougin et al. (1996), Câmara (1997), Hagemeijer & Blair (1997), Campos (1998), Faira (1998), Mougin (1999), Oliveira (1999), Mougin & Mougin (2000), Mougin et al. (2000)
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Selvagens. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
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