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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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	passage (2001–2006)	672 birds	A4i, B1i, C2
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter (2001–2006)	1,464 birds	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	LC	winter (2001–2006)	5,217 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (2001–2006)	9,621 birds	B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	winter (2001–2006)	3,920 birds	A4i, B1i, B2, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter (2001–2006)	5,427 birds	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding (2000)	93 pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage (2001–2006)	26,587 birds	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2001–2006)	60,382 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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	1,464 / 1,070 (birds)	100	good
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	7 / 225 (birds)	4	very poor
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	5,217 / 11,500 (birds)	46	poor
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	9,621 / 28,900 (birds)	34	very poor
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula	9,847 / 21,800 (birds)	46	poor
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	3,920 / 3,300 (birds)	100	good
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	5,427 / 5,550 (birds)	98	good
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	93 / 115 (pairs)	81	moderate
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	60,382 / 100,903 (birds)	60	poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Biological resource use	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
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	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1987	LOUGH BEG	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	2
1987	LOUGH BEG	National Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1991	Portmore Lough	Nature Reserve (IV)	1
1992	LOUGH NEAGH	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	78
1992	LOUGH NEAGH- OXFORD ISLAND NNR	National Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1994	PORTMORE LOUGH	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	1
1994	CULNAFAY	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	<1
1999	TOOME	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	<1
2000	PEATLANDS PARK	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	<1
2009	Lough Gullion	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	<1
2012	Shane's Castle	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	-	Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands
Shrubland	-	Scrub
Wetlands (inland)	-	Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Neagh and Lough Beg (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-neagh-and-lough-beg-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.