• Summary
• Text account
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• 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') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus	LC	breeding	1999	35,825 breeding pairs	A4ii, B1ii, B2, C3
A4iii Species group - seabirds	n/a	breeding	1999-2001	43,348 breeding pairs	A4iii, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus	32,500	35,825	breeding pairs	100	favourable
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	1,500	400	breeding pairs	27	not assessed
A4iii Species group - seabirds	36,664	43,348	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Ailsa Craig	RSPB Reserve	100
1957	Ailsa Craig	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1995	Ailsa Craig	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2004	Ailsa Craig	Nature Reserve	89
2011	Ailsa Craig	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	15

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		100

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
not utilised	100

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ailsa Craig (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ailsa-craig-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.