Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 1,118 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 576 birds | B2, C6 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 860 birds | B1i, B2, C2, C6 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | breeding (2002) | 138 pairs | C6 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 1,298 birds | B2 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | NT | winter (2001–2006) | 7,024 birds | B2 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 1,537 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | LC | breeding (2006) | 504 pairs | B1i, B2 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2001–2006) | 25,547 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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very poor | high | 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 | ||
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | 1,488 / 4,420 (birds) | 34 | very poor | ||
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | 2,056 / 5,900 (birds) | 35 | very poor | ||
| Northern Pintail Anas acuta | 1,118 / 695 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 138 / 34 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 576 / 310 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 860 / 170 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | 749 / 3,430 (birds) | 22 | very poor | ||
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | 1,272 / 3,690 (birds) | 35 | very poor | ||
| Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | 122 / 1,160 (birds) | 11 | very poor | ||
| Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | 136 / 730 (birds) | 19 | very poor | ||
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 1,298 / 1,960 (birds) | 67 | poor | ||
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | 398 / 1,310 (birds) | 31 | very poor | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | 298 / 1,140 (birds) | 27 | very poor | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 7,024 / 27,700 (birds) | 26 | very poor | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 4,698 / 16,600 (birds) | 29 | very poor | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 1,221 / 5,800 (birds) | 22 | very poor | ||
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | 1,537 / 3,630 (birds) | 43 | poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% 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 | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Nor Marsh & Motney Hill | Nature Reserve (IV) | 2 |
| 1991 | Medway Estuary and Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
| 2011 | Medway Estuary and Marshes | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 61 |
| 2014 | Medway Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 62 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | major (>10) | Humid grasslands |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | minor (<10) | Arable land |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Medway Estuary and Marshes (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/medway-estuary-and-marshes-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.