Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 419 birds | B1i, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2001–2006) | 21,378 birds | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 22,232 birds | A4iii, C4 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very poor | low | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | 419 / 685 (birds) | 62 | poor | ||
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | 291 / 430 (birds) | 68 | poor | ||
| Anas crecca | 3,286 / 4,550 (birds) | 73 | moderate | ||
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | 370 / 505 (pairs) | 74 | moderate | ||
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | 308 / 3,300 (birds) | 10 | very poor | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 22,232 / 36,504 (birds) | 61 | poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Abberton Reservoir | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 36 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | - | Arable land |
| Grassland | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Abberton Reservoir (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/abberton-reservoir-iba-united-kingdom on 27/12/2024.