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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2002 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter (1990–1999)	2,714 birds	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter (1990–1999)	1,462 birds	A4i, B1i, B2, C2
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	winter (1990–1999)	289 birds	C2
Bean Goose Anser fabalis	LC	winter (1990–1999)	25,195 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	winter (1990–1999)	57,696 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	26 pairs	A1, C1
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	9 pairs	C6
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	passage (1990–1999)	850 birds	B1i, C2, C6
White Stork Ciconia ciconia	LC	breeding (1994)	67 pairs	B2, C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (1980–1989)	4 pairs	C6
Black Tern Chlidonias niger	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	36 pairs	C6
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	passage (1990)	12 birds	C6
Osprey Pandion haliaetus	LC	passage (1990)	5 birds	C6
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	5 pairs	C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	28 pairs	C6
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus	LC	winter (1990)	50 birds	C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (1990)	5 birds	C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	1 pairs	C6
Red Kite Milvus milvus	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	39 pairs	C6
Black Kite Milvus migrans	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	6 pairs	C6
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	22 pairs	C6
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Leiopicus medius	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	80 pairs	C6
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	297 pairs	C6
Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	53 pairs	C6
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra	LC	breeding (1990–1999)	523 pairs	B3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1990–1999)	87,356 birds	A4iii, C4

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1974	Langendorfer Berg	Landschaftschutzgebiet (V)	<1
1974	In der Elbmarsch	Landschaftschutzgebiet (V)	<1
1979	Flusslandschaft Elbe	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA)	100
1980	Lauen	Naturschutzgebiet (IV)	-
1990	Elbdeichvorland	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1990	Elbhang Vierwald	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1990	Krainke von Quelle bis Mündung in die Sude	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1990	Rögnitzwiesen bei Neu Lübtheen	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1995	Lauenburger Elbvorland	Naturschutzgebiet (IV)	<1
2015	Biosphärenreservat Flusslandschaft Elbe Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
2015	Biosphärenreservat Flusslandschaft Elbe Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	-	Arable land
Forest	-	Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Alluvial and very wet forest
Grassland	-	Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands
Wetlands (inland)	-	Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
forestry	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Elbe lowlands between Schnackenburg and Lauenburg (Germany). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/elbe-lowlands-between-schnackenburg-and-lauenburg-iba-germany on 22/12/2024.