UK193
Lochs of Harray and Stenness


IBA Justification

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
Greylag Goose Anser anser LC winter (2001–2006) 2,296 birds B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila LC passage (2001–2006) 173 birds B2
Greater Scaup Aythya marila LC winter (2001–2006) 451 birds B2

IBA Conservation

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 low
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 12 / 215 (birds) 6 very poor
Greylag Goose Anser anser 2,296 / 2,050 (birds) 100 good
Greater Scaup Aythya marila 451 / 315 (birds) 100 good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Natural system modifications 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 Unknown Not assessed low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1962 Lochs of Harray and Stenness Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) 100
2001 Brodgar Nature Reserve (IV) 1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) - Standing freshwater; Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture 100
water management 100


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lochs of Harray and Stenness (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lochs-of-harray-and-stenness-iba-united-kingdom on 14/12/2024.