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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | LC | breeding (1988) | 370 pairs | C7 |
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 | moderate | 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 | ||
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | 270 / 370 (pairs) | 73 | moderate | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Carrick-A-Rede | Nature Reserve (V) | 67 |
| 1989 | CAUSEWAY COAST AONB | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) (V) | 33 |
| 1989 | Causeway Coast | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 100 |
| 1992 | SHEEP ISLAND | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sheep Island (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sheep-island-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.