Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 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 | winter (2002–2006) | 130–295 birds | B1i, B3, C2, C6 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2009) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2009 | good | low | 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 | 189 / 165 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | 0 / 48 (birds) | 0 | not assessed | ||
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | 173 / 65 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula | 720 / 247 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | 86 / 42 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in long term (>4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| 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 management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Lough Oughter | Wildfowl Sanctuary (-) | - |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | 70 | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 10 | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes |
| Forest | 10 | Broadleaved deciduous woodland |
| Grassland | 10 | Humid grasslands |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 70 |
| agriculture | 20 |
| not utilised | 10 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Oughter (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-oughter-iba-ireland on 23/12/2024.