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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | LC | breeding (2000) | 2,166 breeding pairs | C2, C6 |
| Common Murre Uria aalge | LC | breeding (2007) | 50,613 individuals | B1ii, C3 |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (1999–2002) | 43,019 breeding pairs | A4iii, C4 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | breeding (1999–2002) | 37,500 breeding pairs | 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 status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | very unfavourable | very high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla | 12,055 / 31,000 (breeding pairs) | 39 | very unfavourable | ||
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | 2,166 / 1,140 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Razorbill Alca torda | 813 / 1,761 (individuals) | 47 | unfavourable | ||
| Common Murre Uria aalge | 50,613 / 60,597 (individuals) | 84 | near favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | 43,019 / 44,965 (breeding pairs) | 96 | favourable | ||
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 37,500 / 32,171 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Not assessed | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Noup Cliffs | Nature Reserve (IV) | <1 |
| 1973 | West Westray | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
| 2011 | West Westray | Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA) | 4 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - | |
| Shrubland | - | Heathland |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 100 |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: West Westray (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/west-westray-iba-united-kingdom on 06/01/2025.