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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 384 birds | C6 |
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 | very poor | low | low |
| 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 | ||
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | 384 / 195 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | 1,623 / 5,700 (birds) | 29 | very poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| No known threats | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% 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 | Unknown | Unknown | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Erth Barton and Erth Island | Nature Reserve (V) | 4 |
| 1986 | St John's Lake | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 14 |
| 1987 | Lynher Estuary | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 27 |
| 1991 | Tamar - Tavy Estuary | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 58 |
| 1995 | Tamar Valley | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 77 |
| 2004 | Lopwell Dam | Local Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 2005 | Plymouth Sound and Estuaries | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 75 |
| 2011 | Tamar Estuaries Complex | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 74 |
| 2014 | Tamar Estuary | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 62 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Forest | minor (<10) | Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland |
| Grassland | minor (<10) | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | minor (<10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) | Water fringe vegetation; Rivers and streams; Fens, transition mires and springs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tamar Estuaries Complex (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tamar-estuaries-complex-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.