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close| Location | Seychelles, Mahé |
| Central coordinates | 55o 27.00' East 4o 34.00' South |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2 |
| Area | 20 ha |
| Altitude | 250 - 458m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. The site holds the largest colony of Collocalia elaphra known in Seychelles, comprising 600–800 pairs (March 1997 estimate). The colony is located on the roof of a large cave of difficult access, at c.10 m from the ground, and consists of a single mass of nests between 6–8 m in length. A few pairs of Falco araea are also present, as well as the three more common endemics Alectroenas pulcherrima, Hypsipetes crassirostris and Nectarinia dussumieri. Streptopelia picturata picturata also occurs, as well as Phaethon lepturus and Gygis alba which nest at low densities in trees and rocks.
Site description This IBA is situated on slopes of the highest mountain of the northern cape of Mahé. A short, dense shrub woodland vegetation is dominated by introduced species, mainly Tabebuia pallida, Cinnamomum verum and Chrysobalanus icaco. Scattered taller trees include Paraserianthes falcataria, Sandoricum indicum and Pterocarpus indicus, while some endemic species such as Deckenia nobilis, Phoenicophorium borsigianum and Paragenipa wrightii are also found. There are some rocky areas with large boulders and caves. The woodland was exploited for the cinnamon industry, firewood and timber until 20–30 years ago. Only some selective cutting now occurs.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A2 | Vulnerable |
| Seychelles Blue-pigeon Alectroenas pulcherrima | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A2 | Least Concern |
| Seychelles Swiftlet Collocalia elaphra | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A2 | Vulnerable |
| Seychelles Bulbul Hypsipetes crassirostris | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A2 | Least Concern |
| Seychelles Sunbird Nectarinia dussumieri | resident | 1999 | present [units unknown] | - | A2 | Least Concern |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| other | - |
| Notes: Selective cutting. | |
| not utilised | - |
Other biodiversity Small numbers of endemic reptiles and amphibians are present.
Management considerations Regular monitoring of the Collocalia elaphra colony is conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Transport. Introduced predators (such as Rattus spp. and Tyto alba) have been implicated as predators of swiftlet colonies elsewhere. These may here predate Collocalia elaphra and could be a threat. However, the colony’s size and location, high and deep in the cave, appears to provide good protection, including from human disturbance. Urbanization in the La Gogue area and fire are also potential threats.
References Joubert and Rémie (1992), Rocamora (1997b).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Montagne Glacis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
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