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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus | LC | breeding (2000) | 2,677 breeding pairs | A4i, B1i, B3 |
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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | favourable | low | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus | 2,677 / 1,150 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (within 4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Horse Island | RSPB Reserve (-) | 100 |
| 2005 | Horse Island | Nature Reserve (Ia) | 74 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Horse Island (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/horse-island-iba-united-kingdom on 07/01/2025.