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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | LC | resident (2004–2006) | 1 males | C6 |
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 | high | 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 | ||
| Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | 1 / 4 (males) | 25 | very poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Pollution | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| 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 comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Not assessed | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay | RSPB Reserve (-) | 100 |
| 1972 | Arnside and Silverdale | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 100 |
| 1974 | Leighton Moss & Morecambe Bay | Nature Reserve (IV) | 85 |
| 1984 | Leighton Moss | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Broadleaved deciduous woodland |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Leighton Moss (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/leighton-moss-iba-united-kingdom on 26/12/2024.