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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 91 birds | B2, C6 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 255 birds | B2, C6 |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | breeding (1990) | 4 pairs | C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 20,543 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 | good | high | 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 | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 255 / 83 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Suffolk Coast and Heaths | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 100 |
| 1979 | Suffolk | Heritage Coast (V) | 40 |
| 1979 | Suffolk Coast | Heritage Coast (-) | - |
| 1987 | Ramsholt Cliff | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1987 | Ferry Cliff, Sutton | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1991 | Deben Estuary | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
| 1998 | Sutton Hoo | Nature Reserve (V) | 4 |
| 2011 | Deben Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 67 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) | Scrub |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Deben Estuary (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/deben-estuary-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.