• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2016 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	21,834-46,239 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	26,094-42,329 individuals	B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	3,883-5,873 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Loon Gavia immer	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	1-3 individuals	C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	554-585 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	123-164 individuals	C6
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	12,230-14,338 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	winter	2011-2015	6,953 individuals	B2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding	2011-2015	159-192 breeding pairs	C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	877-1,088 individuals	C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,951-3,564 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	winter	2011-2015	67 individuals	B3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	14-19 breeding pairs	C6
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	39-57 individuals	C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter	2011-2015	3,379 individuals	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,169-3,642 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2011-2015	127 individuals	B2
Sanderling Calidris alba	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,953-4,185 individuals	B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	31,452-42,646 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter	2011-2015	507 individuals	B3
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	761-1,207 breeding pairs	B3, C2, C6
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding	2009-2014	min 4,393 breeding pairs	B1i, B3, C3
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	1,627-3,628 breeding pairs	B2
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding	2011-2015	89-156 breeding pairs	B1i, C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2011-2015	988-1,245 breeding pairs	C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis	LC	breeding	2011-2015	1,986-2,500 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	31-38 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	14-17 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding	2011-2015	122,080-158,406 individuals	A4iii, C4

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2016).

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	work and other activities	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - unspecified species	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	other ecosystem modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Zwin & Kievittepolder	Natuurbeschermingswet	116	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Zwarte Polder II	Natural Monument	92	protected area contained by site	92
Zwarte Polder	Natural Monument	28	protected area contained by site	28
Zuidgors	Nature Reserve	163	protected area contained by site	163
Westerschelde & Saeftinghe	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	43,683	protected area overlaps with site	27,966
Westerschelde & Saeftinghe	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	43,748	is identical to site	0
Westerschelde & Saeftinghe	Natuurbeschermingswet	43,682	is identical to site	0
Westerschelde & Saeftinghe	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	44,052	is identical to site	48,895
Westerschelde & Saeftinghe	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	19,500	protected area contained by site	19,500
Vlakte van de Raan	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	22,600	protected area overlaps with site	0
Vlakte van de Raan	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	17,521	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Verdronken Land van Saeftinge II	Natural Monument	1,100	protected area contained by site	1,100
Verdronken Land van Saeftinge I	Natural Monument	2,400	protected area contained by site	2,400
Schor van Waarde	Natural Monument	99	protected area contained by site	99
Schor Van Waarde	Nature Conservation Law	21	protected area contained by site	76
Schor Bij Ossendrecht	Nature Conservation Law	34	protected area overlaps with site	34
Schor bij Bath	Nature Reserve	248	protected area contained by site	248
Saeftinghe	Nature Reserve	544	protected area contained by site	544
Rammekens	Nature Reserve	69	protected area contained by site	69
Kapelle Bank	Nature Conservation Law	14	protected area contained by site	14
Inlaag 1887	Nature Reserve	18	protected area contained by site	18
Braakman	Nature Reserve	189	protected area contained by site	189

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Marine Neritic		-
Marine Intertidal		-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Westerschelde & Saeftinghe. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/westerschelde-&-saeftinghe-iba-netherlands on 24/09/2023.