• 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
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter	2001-2006	2,296 individuals	B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	passage	2001-2006	173 individuals	B2
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	winter	2001-2006	451 individuals	B2

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	215	12	individuals	6	very unfavourable
Anser anser	Greylag Goose	2050	2296	individuals	100	favourable
Aythya marila	Greater Scaup	315	451	individuals	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	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	Unknown	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)
Lochs of Harray and Stenness	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1,788	protected area overlaps with site	1,779
Loch Of Stenness	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	793	protected area contained by site	792
Hoy and West Mainland	National Scenic Area	24,433	protected area overlaps with site	0
Brodgar	Nature Reserve	36	protected area overlaps with site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Standing brackish and salt water, Water fringe vegetation	-

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

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lochs of Harray and Stenness. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lochs-of-harray-and-stenness-iba-united-kingdom on 25/09/2023.