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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 5,311 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 509 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | breeding (1992) | 70 pairs | B2 |
| Common Teal Anas crecca | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 5,282 birds | B1i, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2001–2006) | 24,935 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 | 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 | ||
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | 10 / 120 (birds) | 9 | very poor | ||
| Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | 2,000 / 19,200 (birds) | 11 | very poor | ||
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | 52 / 520 (birds) | 10 | very poor | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 10,763 / 31,942 (birds) | 34 | 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 |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (<4 years) | 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 |
| Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Vane Farm | RSPB Reserve (-) | 10 |
| 1956 | Loch Leven | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 88 |
| 1964 | Loch Leven | National Nature Reserve (II) | 87 |
| 1967 | Loch Leven | Nature Reserve (IV) | 12 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | - | Arable land |
| Grassland | - | Humid grasslands |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | major (>10) |
| agriculture | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Loch Leven (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/loch-leven-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.