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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 208 birds | B1i, C2 |
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 17,972 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 11,257 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 4,119 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | passage (1990–1995) | 3,210 birds | C6 |
| Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | LC | winter (1990–1995) | 5,850 birds | C6 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter (1990–1995) | 1,910 birds | B2 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | passage (1990–1995) | 370 birds | C6 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | winter (1990–1995) | 770 birds | B2, C6 |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | NT | winter (1990–1995) | 6,500 birds | B1i, B2, C3 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | passage (1990–1995) | 3,070 birds | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | LC | winter (1990–1995) | 2,470 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus | LC | breeding (2002) | 1 pairs | C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding (2000) | 554 pairs | C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding (2006) | 962 pairs | C6 |
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | LC | breeding (2000) | 54 pairs | C6 |
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | LC | breeding (2006) | 663 pairs | C6 |
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | LC | breeding (2000) | 894 pairs | B1i, B2, C2, C6 |
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | LC | breeding (2006) | 1,137 pairs | A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (1990–1995) | 56,793 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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | good | low | high |
| 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 | ||
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | 208 / 23 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Brent Goose Branta bernicla | 11,257 / 10,700 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | 4,119 / 2,080 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | 962 / 565 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | 663 / 280 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | 1,137 / 530 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | 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 | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Strangford Lough (Part 1) | Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) (-) | 10 |
| - | Strangford Lough (Part 2) | Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) (-) | 5 |
| - | Strangford Lough (Part 3) | Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) (-) | - |
| 1955 | Strangford Lough | Nature Reserve (V) | 16 |
| 1955 | Mount Stewart | Nature Reserve (V) | <1 |
| 1972 | Strangford Lough | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | - |
| 1975 | Dorn | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 5 |
| 1977 | KILLARD | National Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1987 | NORTH STRANGFORD LOUGH | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 7 |
| 1987 | BALLYQUINTIN POINT | National Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1988 | STRANGFORD LOUGH PART 1 | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 10 |
| 1988 | STRANGFORD LOUGH PART 2 | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 3 |
| 1989 | STRANGFORD LOUGH PART 3 | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 10 |
| 1989 | Strangford Bay & Sandy Island | Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1995 | KILLARD | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | <1 |
| 1995 | BALLYQUINTIN POINT | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | <1 |
| 1995 | Strangford Lough | Marine Nature Reserve (IV) | 100 |
| 1998 | QUOILE | Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI) (IV) | 1 |
| 2005 | Strangford Lough | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 94 |
| 2010 | STRANGFORD & LECALE | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NI) (V) | 100 |
| 2011 | Strangford Lough | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 92 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - | |
| Marine Intertidal | - | |
| Marine Neritic | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Fens, transition mires and springs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| hunting | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Strangford Lough and islands (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/strangford-lough-and-islands-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.