Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Riparian marshes, pools and lakes, c.10 km east and south-east of Saudárkrókur town. The site includes the Austari-Héradsvötn delta and lakes in that area, from Gardsvatn to Borgarey, as well as lakes in Hegranes and their neighbouring marshes, ásvatn, Svanavatn, Hendilkotsvatn, Hólmavatn and Urridavatn. Marshes are dominated by sedge
Carex. Land-uses include grazing and fishing.
The site supports a diverse community of breeding waterbirds, and hundreds of migrating
Branta leucopsis stage here in spring.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Predation by the introduced American mink
Mustela vison is a threat, as may be grazing. The area is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Austara Eylendid (Iceland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/austara-eylendid-iba-iceland on 26/12/2024.
