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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
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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
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus	LC	breeding	1999	4,400 breeding pairs	A4ii, B1ii, B2, C2

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
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus	2,210	4,400	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

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 comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Priest Island	RSPB Reserve	92
1980	Assynt - Coigach	National Scenic Area	100
1980	Priest Island	Nature Reserve	85
1985	Priest Island	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1996	Priest Island	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2014	Wester Ross	Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area	11
2014	Wester Ross	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	11

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland	-
Shrubland	Heathland	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Priest Island (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/priest-island-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.