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• Text account
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• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2001-2006	341 individuals	B1i, B3, C2
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter	2001-2006	3,968 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	LC	breeding	1992	2 breeding pairs	C6

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name	Common name	Reference population	Actual population	Units	% of population remaining	Result
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	185	341	individuals	100	favourable
Anser anser	Greylag Goose	4490	3968	individuals	89	near favourable
Anser albifrons	Greater White-fronted Goose	410	200	individuals	49	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Loch Watten	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	428	protected area contained by site	428
Loch Watten	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	428	protected area overlaps with site	433
Loch Scarmclate	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	108	protected area overlaps with site	110
Loch Of Wester	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	69	protected area contained by site	70
Loch of Wester	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	69	protected area overlaps with site	69
Loch of Mey	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	68	protected area overlaps with site	0
Loch Heilen	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	104	protected area overlaps with site	104
Loch Calder	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	432	protected area overlaps with site	431
Caithness Lochs	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	1,379	protected area overlaps with site	1,372
Caithness Lochs	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	1,382	is identical to site	1,372
Broubster Leans	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	172	protected area contained by site	173
Broubster Leans	Nature Reserve	293	protected area overlaps with site	0
Broubster Leans	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	173	protected area overlaps with site	172

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland	Humid grasslands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Blanket bogs, Fens, transition mires and springs	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
forestry	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Caithness Lochs. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/caithness-lochs-iba-united-kingdom on 04/10/2023.