• 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
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	winter	1984-1988	760 individuals	B1i, B2, C2
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle	LC	breeding	2002	819 individuals	B1ii, B2, C3

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
Cepphus grylle	Black Guillemot	425	819	individuals	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high

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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Very little or no conservation action taking place	low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)
Monach Isles	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	600	is identical to site	594
Monach Isles	National Nature Reserve	580	is identical to site	577
Monach Isles	Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area	6,171	protected area overlaps with site	0
Monach Isles	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	600	protected area overlaps with site	577
Monach Isles	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	6,200	protected area overlaps with site	0
Monach Islands	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	0	protected area overlaps with site	0
Monach Islands	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	3,647	protected area contains site	594

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland	Humid grasslands, Machair	-
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		-

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

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Monach Islands. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/monach-islands-iba-united-kingdom on 30/11/2023.