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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2007

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2003-2008	4,104 individuals	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter	2003-2008	5,336 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter	2003-2008	1,429 individuals	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter	2003-2008	1,233 individuals	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding	2006	134 breeding pairs	B1i, B2, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter	2003-2008	34,245 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter	2003-2008	2,543 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter	2003-2008	5,871 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2001-2006	3,123 individuals	B1i, C3
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage	2001-2006	176 individuals	C6
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	winter	2001-2006	310 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2003-2008	76,412 individuals	A4iii, C4

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1	Threat Level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Pollution	domestic & urban waste water - sewage	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Transportation and service corridors	utility & service lines	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Condition of key/trigger populations (state)
Scientific	Common	TargetPop	ActualPop	Units	Remaining	Result
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	820	4104	individuals	100	favourable
Cygnus columbianus	Tundra Swan	4690	5339	individuals	100	favourable
Spatula clypeata	Northern Shoveler	765	1429	individuals	100	favourable
Mareca strepera	Gadwall	155	134	breeding pairs	87	near favourable
Mareca strepera	Gadwall	370	1233	individuals	100	favourable
Mareca penelope	Eurasian Wigeon	28500	34245	individuals	100	favourable
Anas acuta	Northern Pintail	1550	2543	individuals	100	favourable
Anas crecca		3690	5871	individuals	100	favourable
Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit	505	18	individuals	4	not assessed
Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit	1540	3123	individuals	100	favourable
Calidris pugnax	Ruff	135	176	individuals	100	favourable
Calidris pugnax	Ruff	135	310	individuals	100	favourable
Species group - waterbirds	A4iii	62914	76412	individuals	100	favourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	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 monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Ouse Washes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2,514	protected area overlaps with site	2,469
Ouse Washes	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	2,493	is identical to site	2,447
Ouse Washes	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	333	protected area overlaps with site	0
Ouse Washes	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	2,469	protected area overlaps with site	2,469
Ouse Washes	Nature Reserve	1,671	protected area overlaps with site	0
Ouse Washes	RSPB Reserve	1,562	protected area contained by site	1,562

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland		-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Water fringe vegetation	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

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

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Ouse Washes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2022.