• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• 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
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	breeding	2007	4 breeding pairs	C7

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
Anas acuta	Northern Pintail	7	4	breeding pairs	58	unfavourable

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	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads	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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Not assessed	low

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)
The Loons and Loch of Banks	RSPB Reserve	83	protected area overlaps with site	76
The Loons & Loch Of Banks	Nature Reserve	83	protected area overlaps with site	0
Loch of Isbister and the Loons	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	105	protected area overlaps with site	104
Loch Of Isbister	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	105	protected area contained by site	105
Loch of Banks	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	43	protected area overlaps with site	43

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	-

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

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
nature conservation and research	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Loch of Isbister. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/loch-of-isbister-iba-united-kingdom on 07/12/2023.