• Summary
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• Reference and further resources

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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2003-2008	4,104 individuals	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter	2003-2008	5,336 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter	2003-2008	1,429 individuals	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter	2003-2008	1,233 individuals	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding	2006	134 breeding pairs	B1i, B2, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter	2003-2008	34,245 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter	2003-2008	2,543 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter	2003-2008	5,871 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2001-2006	3,123 individuals	B1i, C3
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage	2001-2006	176 individuals	C6
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	winter	2001-2006	310 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2003-2008	76,412 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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	820	4,104	individuals	100	favourable
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	4,690	5,339	individuals	100	favourable
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	765	1,429	individuals	100	favourable
Gadwall Mareca strepera	155	134	breeding pairs	87	near favourable
Gadwall Mareca strepera	370	1,233	individuals	100	favourable
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	28,500	34,245	individuals	100	favourable
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	1,550	2,543	individuals	100	favourable
Anas crecca	3,690	5,871	individuals	100	favourable
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	1,540	3,123	individuals	100	favourable
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	505	18	individuals	4	not assessed
Ruff Calidris pugnax	135	176	individuals	100	favourable
Ruff Calidris pugnax	135	310	individuals	100	favourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	62,914	76,412	individuals	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid 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	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Ouse Washes	RSPB Reserve	63
1964	Ouse Washes	Nature Reserve	61
1976	Ouse Washes	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	99
1984	Ouse Washes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	99
1991	Ouse Washes	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
1996	Ouse Washes	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	12

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Grassland		-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Water fringe vegetation	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ouse Washes (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ouse-washes-iba-united-kingdom on 22/11/2024.