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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus | VU | winter (2001–2006) | 6 birds | C6 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 360–423 birds | B2, C6 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 370 birds | C6 |
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | NT | winter (2000–2006) | 970 birds | B1i, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 20,341 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 | very poor | medium | medium |
| 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 | ||
| Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus | 6 / 20 (birds) | 30 | very poor | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 423 / 360 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 370 / 430 (birds) | 87 | moderate | ||
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | 970 / 585 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 4,548 / 6,150 (birds) | 74 | moderate | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 20,341 / 23,216 (birds) | 88 | moderate | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Prattshayes | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1983 | Dawlish Warren | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | 1 |
| 1984 | Dawlish Warren | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 9 |
| 1985 | Exe Estuary | Nature Reserve (IV) | 4 |
| 1986 | Exe Estuary | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 83 |
| 1994 | Exmouth | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | 8 |
| 2000 | Dawlish Warren | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 6 |
| 2011 | Exe Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 69 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 7 | Humid grasslands |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) | Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Exe Estuary (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/exe-estuary-iba-united-kingdom on 05/12/2024.