Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2011 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | resident (2009) | 2–146 breeding pairs | C2, C6 |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | LC | resident (2009) | 54–132 breeding pairs | B2 |
| Slender-billed Gull Larus genei | LC | resident (2006–2009) | 423–431 breeding pairs | B2, C2, C6 |
| Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii | VU | winter (2008) | 3–420 individuals | A1, C1, C6 |
| Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii | VU | resident (2008–2010) | 700–3,823 breeding pairs | A1, A4i, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C6 |
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | LC | breeding (2007–2009) | 45–101 breeding pairs | B2, C2, C6 |
| Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida | LC | breeding (2009) | 13 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 | |
| Shrubland | 10 | Scrub |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| urban/industrial/transport | 40 |
| water management | 20 |
| not utilised | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mata and Torrevieja lagoons (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mata-and-torrevieja-lagoons-iba-spain on 23/01/2025.