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• Text account
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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
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	winter	2001-2006	6 individuals	C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter	2001-2006	360-423 individuals	B2, C6
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	winter	2001-2006	370 individuals	C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2000-2006	970 individuals	B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	20,341 individuals	A4iii, C4

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
Podiceps auritus	Horned Grebe	20	6	individuals	30	very unfavourable
Recurvirostra avosetta	Pied Avocet	360	423	individuals	100	favourable
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	430	370	individuals	87	near favourable
Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit	585	970	individuals	100	favourable
Calidris alpina	Dunlin	6150	4548	individuals	74	near favourable
Species group - waterbirds	A4iii	23216	20341	individuals	88	near favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - unspecified species	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - abstraction of ground water (agricultural use)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	other ecosystem modifications	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

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	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	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)
Prattshayes	Nature Reserve	22	protected area overlaps with site	0
Exmouth	Local Nature Reserve	214	protected area contained by site	0
Exe Estuary	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	2,367	protected area contained by site	2,346
Exe Estuary	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	2,346	protected area overlaps with site	2,346
Exe Estuary	Nature Reserve	171	protected area overlaps with site	0
Exe Estuary	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2,191	protected area overlaps with site	2,136
Exe Estuary	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	0	protected area overlaps with site	0
East Devon	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	26,929	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dorset and East Devon Coast	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	2,550	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dawlish Warren	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	181	protected area overlaps with site	239
Dawlish Warren	National Nature Reserve	153	protected area overlaps with site	162
Dawlish Warren	Local Nature Reserve	25	protected area overlaps with site	0
Dawlish Warren	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	59	protected area contained by site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland	Humid grasslands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers and streams, Water fringe vegetation	-
Marine Neritic		-
Marine Intertidal		-

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

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Exe Estuary. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/exe-estuary-iba-united-kingdom on 03/10/2023.