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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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter (2003–2008)	4,104 birds	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter (2003–2008)	5,336 birds	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (2003–2008)	1,429 birds	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (2003–2008)	1,233 birds	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding (2006)	134 pairs	B1i, B2, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (2003–2008)	34,245 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (2003–2008)	2,543 birds	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (2003–2008)	5,871 birds	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2001–2006)	3,123 birds	B1i, C3
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage (2001–2006)	176 birds	C6
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	winter (2001–2006)	310 birds	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2003–2008)	76,412 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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	4,104 / 820 (birds)	100	good
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	5,339 / 4,690 (birds)	100	good
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	1,429 / 765 (birds)	100	good
Gadwall Mareca strepera	134 / 155 (pairs)	87	moderate
Gadwall Mareca strepera	1,233 / 370 (birds)	100	good
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	34,245 / 28,500 (birds)	100	good
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	2,543 / 1,550 (birds)	100	good
Anas crecca	5,871 / 3,690 (birds)	100	good
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	18 / 505 (birds)	4	not assessed
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	3,123 / 1,540 (birds)	100	good
Ruff Calidris pugnax	176 / 135 (birds)	100	good
Ruff Calidris pugnax	310 / 135 (birds)	100	good
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	76,412 / 62,914 (birds)	100	good

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
Pollution	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Energy production and mining	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

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
-	Ouse Washes	RSPB Reserve (-)	63
1964	Ouse Washes	Nature Reserve (IV)	61
1984	Ouse Washes	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV)	99

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

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 23/12/2024.