PL027
Vistula river mouth


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2010 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
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula LC winter 2004-2009 1,500-22,700 individuals C3
Goosander Mergus merganser LC winter 2004-2009 400-6,500 individuals C3
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus VU passage 2004-2009 10-300 individuals C2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT passage 2007-2009 100 individuals C1
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus LC passage 2007-2009 1,500-5,000 individuals C2
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC breeding 2007-2009 40-50 breeding pairs C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding 2007-2009 300-360 breeding pairs C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis LC passage 2007-2009 2,000 individuals C2
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis LC breeding 2007-2009 300-570 breeding pairs C2, C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter 2004-2009 31,700 individuals C4

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2010).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2010 very unfavourable very high low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name Common name Reference population Actual population Units % of population remaining Result
Sternula albifrons Little Tern 45 15 breeding pairs 34 very unfavourable
Sterna hirundo Common Tern 160 50 breeding pairs 32 very unfavourable
Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 190 100 breeding pairs 53 unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification marine and freshwater aquaculture - subsistence/artisinal aquaculture happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: large scale happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Climate change and severe weather storms and floods happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Climate change and severe weather temperature extremes happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - unspecified species happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes problematic native species/diseases - unspecified species happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
No known threats no known threats happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - type unknown/unrecorded happening now whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution industrial & military effluents - type unknown/unrecorded happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas likely in long term (beyond 4 years) 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
Some of site covered (10-49%) No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Żuław Gdańskich Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu 31,700 protected area overlaps with site 0
Wyspy Sobieszewskiej Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu 1,393 protected area overlaps with site 0
Vistula river mouth Baltic Sea Protected Area (Helcom) 1,747 protected area contains site 642
Vistula River Mouth Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 1,748 protected area overlaps with site 0
Ujście Wisły Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 1,748 protected area overlaps with site 642
Ujscie Wisly Baltic Sea Protected Area (HELCOM) 1,751 protected area overlaps with site 0
Środkowożuławski Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu 3,024 protected area overlaps with site 0
Ostoja w Ujściu Wisły Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 884 protected area overlaps with site 446
Mewia Łacha Rezerwat Przyrody 155 protected area overlaps with site 150
Mewia Lacha (acha) Nature Reserve 150 unknown 150

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland, Mixed woodland, Alluvial and very wet forest -
Shrubland Scrub -
Grassland Steppes and dry calcareous grassland, Humid grasslands -
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Marine Intertidal -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

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


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Vistula river mouth. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vistula-river-mouth-iba-poland on 05/10/2023.