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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata | LC | breeding (2006) | 21 pairs | C6 |
| Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus | LC | breeding (2005) | 22 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus | LC | breeding (2007) | 47–58 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Merlin Falco columbarius | LC | breeding (2006) | 6 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 | good | medium | 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 | ||
| Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata | 21 / 16 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Circus cyaneus | 47 / 23 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Merlin Falco columbarius | 6 / 10 (pairs) | 60 | not assessed | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Birsay Moors | RSPB Reserve (-) | 28 |
| - | Hobbister | RSPB Reserve (-) | 11 |
| 1962 | West Mainland Moorlands | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 57 |
| 1971 | Cottascarth & Rendall Moss | Nature Reserve (IV) | 4 |
| 1972 | Hobbister | Nature Reserve (IV) | 11 |
| 1973 | Birsay Moors | Nature Reserve (IV) | 28 |
| 1973 | Orphir and Stenness Hills | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 20 |
| 1973 | Glims Moss and Durka Dale | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 4 |
| 1988 | Keelylang Hill and Swartaback Burn | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 21 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | Humid grasslands |
| Shrubland | - | Scrub; Heathland |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Blanket bogs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major (>10) |
| not utilised | major (>10) |
| other | minor (<10) |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ornkey Mainland Moors (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ornkey-mainland-moors-iba-united-kingdom on 28/12/2024.