Virtually the entire
Svalbard population of
barnacle goose (roughly 38,000 as of 2015) overwinters here. More than 140,000 wading birds, including
pink-footed geese,
teals,
goldeneyes,
dunlins,
grey plovers and
golden plovers have been recorded in winter. In addition, many thousands of birds stop while passing through. During the summer around 45-50 species of birds breed at Caerlaverock, including
shelducks,
common redshanks,
curlews and
oystercatchers. Caerlaverock is also home to the UK's most northerly population of
natterjack toads, which live in shallow pools on the landward side of the reserve. SNH estimate that Caerlaverock (and the surrounding areas) may be home to up to 10% of the UK's breeding population. The NNR is classified as a
Category II protected area by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are other national nature reserves on the other side of the Solway firth, in England. The reserve was formerly included among
UNESCO's
Biosphere Reserves. The site was designated in the 1970s, but subsequently the focus of the UNESCO programme shifted from the idea of isolated natural environments to one that allows for the interaction with man in terms of
sustainable living and education. After new criteria for biosphere reserves were agreed in 1995, Caelaverock was among four Scottish sites delisted. ==Visitors==