Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2011 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus | LC | resident (2007) | 500–1,796 pairs | C6 |
| Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia | LC | passage (2009) | min 500 birds | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| European Shag Gulosus aristotelis | LC | resident (2007) | 112 pairs | B3 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | NT | winter (2010) | 79–278 birds | A1, C1 |
| Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | LC | resident (2008) | min 17 pairs | C6 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2011. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2008 | very poor | very high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Neritic | moderate (70–90%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Pollution | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Urdaibai | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | 100 |
| 1989 | Urdaibai | Reserva de la Biosfera (VI) | 12 |
| 1998 | Gaztelugatxe | Biotopo Protegido (III) | 1 |
| 2014 | Espacio marino de la Ria de Mundaka-Cabo de Ogoño | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 71 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 90 |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 25 |
| agriculture | 10 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Urdaibai - Matxitxako (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/urdaibai--matxitxako-iba-spain on 24/12/2024.