Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
öland is a long, narrow island close to the south-east coast of mainland Sweden. These three distinct sites are located on the low-lying east coast of öland along a major migration route for birds moving to/from north-east Scandinavia and north-west Russia. The main habitat consists of grazed coastal meadows with marshy areas and scrub. The shores comprise sand beaches or low chalk cliffs and the shallow offshore waters contain many sandbanks. Apart from grazing, arable farming is the only significant land-use.
The coastal meadows support a rich breeding bird fauna, and are used by thousands of wildfowl and waders as a stop-over site whilst on passage. The passerine migration is also of great importance.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The number of grazing animals (mainly cows) is decreasing, and as a result vegetation succession is causing the grasslands to become less important for birds. The local government supports grazing in selected areas of high importance. All coastal meadows were mapped during the 1988 and 1998 breeding seasons, with preliminary results showing decreases in numbers of
Limosa limosa,
Tringa totanus and other breeding waders. Migrating birds are counted during the autumn.
National Low
International Partial 310 ha of IBA covered by Bird Sanctuary (Sodviken, 310 ha). 130 ha of IBA covered by Bird Santuary (Stora Oren, 130 ha). 8,460 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (öland, eastern coastal areas, 8,460 ha). IBA overlaps with Special Protection Area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Coastal area (including seaside meadows) of Eastern Öland (Sweden). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/coastal-area-(including-seaside-meadows)-of-eastern-öland-iba-sweden on 23/11/2024.
