Site description (2000 baseline)
An extensive coastal region in the southern Baltic Sea, comprising islands and vast stretches of shallow water (less than 1 m in depth). The shores support reedbeds (Phragmites) and saltmarsh, with a hinterland comprising forest, meadows and small-holdings.
Key biodiversity
The site holds more than 20,000 passage waterbirds on a regular basis, and is also a major migratory bottleneck site, where up to 25,000 Grus grus regularly pass during the autumn.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Westrügen - Hiddensee - Zingst. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/westrügen--hiddensee--zingst-iba-germany on 19/03/2024.