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The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter	2001-2006	738 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter	2001-2006	1,423 individuals	B1i, C3
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	breeding	2007	4 males	C6
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	LC	breeding	2006	3 males	C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	breeding	2007	41 males	B2
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	winter	2001-2006	90 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	29,008 individuals	A4iii, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

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	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	1,640	738	individuals	45	unfavourable
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	1,210	1,423	individuals	100	favourable
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	2	3	males	100	favourable
Ruff Calidris pugnax	95	90	individuals	95	favourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	22,594	29,008	individuals	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium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	% overlap with IBA
-	Nene Washes	RSPB Reserve	83
1982	Nene Washes	Nature Reserve	73
1983	Nene Washes (Whittlesey)	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1993	Nene Washes	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	100
1997	Nene Washes	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2001	Nene Washes	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	5

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Grassland	Humid grasslands	major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Water fringe vegetation, Rivers and streams	major (>10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nene Washes (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nene-washes-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.