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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2001 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
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis	LC	non-breeding (-)	3,750 birds	A4i
Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus	VU	resident (1992)	780 birds	A1, A4i
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus	LC	non-breeding (-)	1,000 birds	A4i
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis	LC	non-breeding (1983)	275 birds	A4i
African Spoonbill Platalea alba	LC	non-breeding (-)	150 birds	A4i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	non-breeding (1998)	1,000 birds	A4i
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (-)	17 pairs	A4i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	non-breeding (1998)	500 birds	A4i
Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris	LC	non-breeding (-)	1,400 birds	A4i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis	LC	non-breeding (-)	10,000 birds	A4i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	non-breeding (-)	500 birds	A4i
Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca	LC	non-breeding (-)	500 birds	A4i
Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula	VU	non-breeding (1998)	uncommon	A1
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	non-breeding (-)	1,000 birds	A4i
Shoebill Balaeniceps rex	VU	resident (1983)	232 birds	A1, A4i
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius	LC	non-breeding (-)	1,000 birds	A4i
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus	LC	winter (-)	200 birds	A4i
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	winter (-)	20,000 birds	A4i
African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis	LC	non-breeding (-)	500 birds	A4i
Great Snipe Gallinago media	NT	winter (1998)	300 birds	A1, A4i
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	non-breeding (-)	1,000 birds	A4i
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus	LC	winter (-)	2,000 birds	A4i
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus	NT	winter (1998)	present	A1
Racquet-tailed Roller Coracias spatulatus	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
White-faced Barbet Pogonornis macclounii	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	winter (1998)	present	A1
Miombo Tit Melaniparus griseiventris	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Chirping Cisticola Cisticola pipiens	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Sharp-tailed Starling Lamprotornis acuticaudus	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Miombo Scrub-robin Tychaedon barbata	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
White-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris talatala	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Ploceus katangae	NR	resident (1998)	present	A3
Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Fülleborn's Longclaw Macronyx fuelleborni	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	rapid decline (>30% 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	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1971	Bangweulu	Game Management Area (VI)	51
1971	Isangano	National Park (II)	7
1971	Chambeshi	Game Management Area (VI)	5
1971	Kalaso Mukoso	Game Management Area (VI)	5

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	49
Shrubland	20
Wetlands (inland)	15
Artificial/Terrestrial	10
Grassland	4

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bangweulu Swamps (Zambia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bangweulu-swamps-iba-zambia on 22/12/2024.