• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• 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
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus	LC	breeding	1999	1,127 breeding pairs	B3
A4iii Species group - seabirds	n/a	breeding	1999-2000	15,084 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
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus	659	1,127	breeding pairs	100	not assessed
A4iii Species group - seabirds	15,350	15,084	breeding pairs	99	not assessed
A4iii Species group - seabirds	15,350	7,500	individuals	49	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	very high

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
-	Copinsay	RSPB Reserve	100
1972	Copinsay	Nature Reserve	79
1973	Copinsay	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1996	Copinsay	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2011	Copinsay	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	46

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Grassland		-
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-

---

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