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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2016

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population at site	IBA criteria triggered
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	13,849-17,952 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	20,618-31,774 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,133-1,252 individuals	B1i, C3
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	winter	2011-2015	603 individuals	B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	3,890-4,801 individuals	B1i, C3
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,371-1,809 individuals	B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	28,795-46,270 individuals	B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,196-1,927 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	5,533-10,384 individuals	B1i, C3
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	non-breeding	2011-2015	73-92 individuals	A1, C1, C6
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	winter	2011-2015	64 individuals	B2
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	487-638 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	85-118 individuals	C6
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	36,716-41,715 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	winter	2011-2015	27,558 individuals	B2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding	2011-2015	652-764 breeding pairs	B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,156-1,380 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	8,372-9,204 individuals	B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	8,910-11,797 individuals	B3, C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter	2011-2015	3,698 individuals	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	breeding	2011-2015	44-52 breeding pairs	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	winter	2011-2015	53 individuals	B3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	43-47 breeding pairs	C6
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	108-158 individuals	C6
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter	2011-2015	7,002 individuals	B2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	21,319-24,393 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter	2011-2015	13,737 individuals	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	8,067-9,012 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	2011-2015	46 individuals	B2
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,459-1,753 individuals	B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	15,253-18,810 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	38,355-46,420 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,769-3,188 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	5,931-6,230 breeding pairs	B3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	3,252 breeding pairs	B1i, C3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2011-2015	1,166-1,345 breeding pairs	C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding	2011-2015	23-35 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	12-15 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding	2011-2015	207,678-228,518 individuals	A4iii, C4

Note: The current IUCN Red List category may differ from the category that was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment.

For more information about the IBA criteria, please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - shifting agriculture	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	marine and freshwater aquaculture - industrial aquaculture	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - unintentional effects (species is not the target)	likely in short term (within 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	excess energy - light pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Transportation and service corridors	utility & service lines	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high

Conservation actions taken at the site (response)
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)
Voordelta	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	92,300	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Voordelta	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	90,000	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Thoolse Schorren en Slikken	Nature Reserve	149	protected area contained by site	149
Schelphoek	Nature Conservation Law	73	protected area contained by site	224
Oosterschelde-buitendijks	Natural Monument	22,000	protected area contained by site	22,000
Oosterschelde-binnendijks	Natural Monument	340	protected area contained by site	340
Oosterschelde Buitendijks	Nature Reserve	752	protected area contained by site	752
Oosterschelde	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	38,000	is identical to site	36,160
Oosterschelde	Nationaal Park	37,989	protected area contains site	0
Oosterschelde	Natuurbeschermingswet	36,976	is identical to site	0
Oosterschelde	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	36,976	is identical to site	35,495
Oosterschelde	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	36,976	is identical to site	36,880
Inlagen Noord-Beveland	Nature Reserve	45	protected area contained by site	45
Inlagen Anna Friso	Nature Reserve	10	protected area contained by site	10

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

For further information about the IUCN habitat classification, please click here.

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

For further information about the land-use classification, please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Oosterschelde. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/1206 on 30/05/2023.