• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2001-2006	610 individuals	B1i, C2
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	winter	2001-2006	616 individuals	B1i, B2, C2
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	winter	2001-2006	177 individuals	B1i, C2
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	LC	passage	2001-2006	33,951 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	LC	winter	2001-2006	27,775 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2001-2006	44,226 individuals	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	41,085 individuals	A4iii, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	155	610	individuals	100	favourable
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	130	177	individuals	100	favourable
Greylag Goose Anser anser	2,270	619	individuals	28	very unfavourable
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	32,500	27,775	individuals	86	near favourable
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis	480	0	breeding pairs	0	very unfavourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	42,802	41,085	individuals	96	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>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	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Loch of Strathbeg	RSPB Reserve	82
1971	Loch of Strathbeg	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1972	Loch Of Strathbeg	Nature Reserve	81
1994	Loch of Strathbeg	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
1995	Loch of Strathbeg	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Artificial/Terrestrial	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes	20
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	95
agriculture	15

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Loch of Strathbeg (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/loch-of-strathbeg-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.