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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
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter (2001–2006)	238 birds	A4i, B1i, B2, C2
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (2001–2006)	1,950 birds	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding (2006)	48 pairs	B2
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding (2006)	present	C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (2004–2006)	1 males	C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding (2005)	14 pairs	C6
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus	LC	winter (1984–1989)	20 birds	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2001–2006)	28,557 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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	238 / 67 (birds)	100	good
Greylag Goose Anser anser	1,950 / 1,050 (birds)	100	good
Gadwall Mareca strepera	48 / 60 (pairs)	80	moderate
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	1 / 2 (males)	50	poor
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	26 / 155 (pairs)	17	very poor
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	14 / 19 (pairs)	74	moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Pollution	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	moderate decline (10–30% 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Mid Yare Valley	RSPB Reserve (-)	15
-	Havergate Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (-)	-
1948	Horsey	Nature Reserve (IV)	7
1958	Hickling Broad	National Nature Reserve (IV)	11
1958	Bure Marshes	National Nature Reserve (IV)	8
1976	Mid Yare Valley	Nature Reserve (IV)	13
1983	Broad Fen, Dilham	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1984	Calthorpe Broad	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1984	Alderfen Broad	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1985	Decoy Carr, Acle	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1985	Crostwick Marsh	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1985	Limpenhoe Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1985	Smallburgh Fen	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1985	Poplar Farm Meadows, Langley	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Upton Broad & Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	3
1986	Burgh Common and Muckfleet Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	2
1986	Shallam Dyke Marshes, Thurne	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1986	Sprat's Water and Marshes, Carlton Colville	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1986	Stanley and Alder Carrs, Aldeby	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1986	Priory Meadows, Hickling	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Hall Farm Fen, Hemsby	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1986	Ducan's Marsh, Claxton	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1988	Broads	National Park (V)	100
1988	Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	22
1988	Yare Broads and Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	14
1988	Geldeston Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1989	Ant Broads and Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	14
1989	Catfield Fen	National Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1990	Barnby Broad & Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	3
1990	Ludham - Potter Heigham Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1990	Hardley Flood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	1
1991	Bure Broads and Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	14
1993	Damgate Marshes, Acle	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	<1
1994	Ant Broads & Marshes	National Nature Reserve (IV)	3
1995	Halvergate Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	13
1995	Ludham Marshes	National Nature Reserve (IV)	1
1995	Martham Broad	National Nature Reserve (IV)	1
1997	Mid Yare	National Nature Reserve (IV)	14
1997	Cantley Marshes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	5
1997	Calthorpe Broad	National Nature Reserve (IV)	1
2006	Sutton Fen	Nature Reserve (Ia)	3
2006	How Hill	National Nature Reserve (IV)	2

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	major (>10)	Mesophile grasslands; Humid grasslands
Wetlands (inland)	major (>10)	Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs
Forest	minor (<10)	Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Alluvial and very wet forest
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Scrub

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Broadland (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/broadland-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.