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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | resident (1989) | 180 pairs | C6 |
| Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus | LC | resident (1995) | 10 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Merlin Falco columbarius | LC | resident (1991–1995) | 10 pairs | C6 |
| Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | LC | breeding (1989) | 8 pairs | C6 |
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 | very high | medium |
| 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 | ||
| Circus cyaneus | 2 / 29 (pairs) | 7 | very poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Biological resource use | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Blood Moss and Slot Burn | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 1980 | Birk Knowes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (III) | <1 |
| 1989 | Greenock Mains | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (III) | <1 |
| 1990 | Garpel Water | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (III) | <1 |
| 1990 | Ree Burn and Glenbuck Loch | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (III) | <1 |
| 1998 | Airds Moss | Nature Reserve (IV) | 2 |
| 2001 | Muirkirk Uplands | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 70 |
| 2001 | North Lowther Uplands | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 30 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | - | Forestry plantations |
| Grassland | - | |
| Shrubland | - | Heathland |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Rivers and streams; Blanket bogs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
| forestry | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/muirkirk-and-north-lowther-uplands-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.