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 | passage | 2001-2006 | 672 individuals | A4i, B1i, C2 |
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 1,464 individuals | A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6 |
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 5,217 individuals | A4i, B1i, C3 |
Common Pochard Aythya ferina | VU | winter | 2001-2006 | 9,621 individuals | B1i, C3 |
Greater Scaup Aythya marila | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 3,920 individuals | A4i, B1i, B2, C3 |
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 5,427 individuals | C6 |
Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding | 2000 | 93 breeding pairs | C6 |
A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage | 2001-2006 | 26,587 individuals | A4iii, C4 |
A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter | 2001-2006 | 60,382 individuals | A4iii, C4 |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).
IBA conservation assessment | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
2007 | very unfavourable | high | low |
Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
yes | population | good |
State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population remaining | Result |
Cygnus cygnus | Whooper Swan | 1070 | 1464 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Cygnus columbianus | Tundra Swan | 225 | 7 | individuals | 4 | very unfavourable |
Bucephala clangula | Common Goldeneye | 11500 | 5217 | individuals | 46 | unfavourable |
Aythya ferina | Common Pochard | 28900 | 9621 | individuals | 34 | very unfavourable |
Aythya fuligula | Tufted Duck | 21800 | 9847 | individuals | 46 | unfavourable |
Aythya marila | Greater Scaup | 3300 | 3920 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
Pluvialis apricaria | Eurasian Golden Plover | 5550 | 5427 | individuals | 98 | favourable |
Sterna hirundo | Common Tern | 115 | 93 | breeding pairs | 81 | near favourable |
Species group - waterbirds | A4iii | 100903 | 60382 | individuals | 60 | 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 | marine and freshwater aquaculture - industrial aquaculture | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Biological resource use | hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Energy production and mining | mining and quarrying | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Human intrusions and disturbance | recreational activities | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Natural system modifications | dams & water management/use - small dams | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Natural system modifications | other ecosystem modifications | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
Pollution | agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Pollution | domestic & urban waste water - type unknown/unrecorded | 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 |
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
---|---|---|---|---|
TOOME | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 1 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Shane's Castle | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 143 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Rea`S Wood And Farr`S Bay | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 42 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
PORTMORE LOUGH | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 287 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Portmore Lough | Nature Reserve | 326 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
PEATLANDS PARK | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 208 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Peatlands Park | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 208 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
LOUGH NEAGH- OXFORD ISLAND NNR | National Nature Reserve | 67 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 40,857 | protected area contained by site | 41,188 |
Lough Neagh & Lough Beg | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 50,166 | is identical to site | 50,166 |
LOUGH NEAGH | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 39,532 | protected area contained by site | 39,777 |
Lough Gullion | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 126 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
LOUGH BEG | National Nature Reserve | 148 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
LOUGH BEG | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 1,054 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
CULNAFAY | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) | 8 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|---|
Shrubland | Scrub | - |
Grassland | Humid grasslands, Mesophile grasslands | - |
Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs | - |
Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|
agriculture | - |
fisheries/aquaculture | - |
hunting | - |
nature conservation and research | - |
tourism/recreation | - |
urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-neagh-and-lough-beg-iba-united-kingdom on 26/09/2023.