The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2022 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Species |
Red List |
Season (year/s of estimate) |
Size |
IBA criteria |
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus |
LC |
passage (1997–1998) |
200–300 birds |
A4i, B1i, C2 |
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis |
LC |
passage (1999–2001) |
3,900–6,000 birds |
A4i, B1i, C2 |
Greylag Goose Anser anser |
LC |
non-breeding (2002) |
270 birds |
B1i, C3 |
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis |
VU |
passage (2010–2012) |
8,369–68,686 birds |
A1, A4, B3a, C1, C3 |
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis |
VU |
winter (2016–2021) |
7,537–25,075 birds |
A1, B3a, C1, C3 |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
NT |
passage (2010–2012) |
342–2,172 birds |
B1a, C1 |
Common Eider Somateria mollissima |
NT |
non-breeding (2011) |
min 9,002 birds |
B1a, B3a, C1, C3 |
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca |
VU |
passage (2006–2012) |
2,021–4,174 birds |
A1, A4, B3a, C1, C3 |
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca |
VU |
winter (2021) |
min 2,866 birds |
A1, C1 |
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca |
VU |
non-breeding (2011) |
min 2,113 birds |
A1, C1 |
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra |
LC |
passage (2006–2012) |
4,699–235,149 birds |
A4, B2a, B3a, C3 |
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra |
LC |
non-breeding (2011) |
min 92,023 birds |
A4, B2a, B3a, C3 |
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula |
LC |
passage (1991–2001) |
4,500–19,500 birds |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
Smew Mergellus albellus |
LC |
winter (1994–2000) |
360 birds |
B1i, C2 |
Greater Scaup Aythya marila |
LC |
passage (1986) |
20,000 birds |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata |
LC |
passage (2000–2001) |
400–1,300 birds |
B1i, C3 |
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata |
LC |
passage (1998) |
1,300 birds |
A4i, B1i, C2 |
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo |
LC |
passage (2000–2003) |
3,300–5,000 birds |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo |
LC |
breeding (2002) |
2,500 pairs |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta |
LC |
breeding (2001) |
17 pairs |
C6 |
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus |
LC |
passage (2011) |
min 1,025 birds |
B3a, C2 |
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia |
LC |
breeding (2002) |
50 pairs |
A4i, B1i, C2, C6 |
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle |
LC |
winter (1993) |
3,900 birds |
B1ii, C3 |
Razorbill Alca torda |
LC |
winter (1993) |
300 birds |
B1ii, C3 |
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla |
LC |
breeding (2003) |
6 pairs |
A1, C1, C6 |
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes |
n/a |
passage (1998–2001) |
8,890–22,100 birds |
B1iv, C5 |
A4iii Species group - waterbirds |
n/a |
winter (1993) |
500,000-999,999 birds |
A4iii, C4 |
A4iii Species group - waterbirds |
n/a |
passage (-) |
20,000-49,999 birds |
A4iii, C4 |
Year |
Protected Area |
Designation (management category) |
% coverage of IBA |
- |
Irbe strait |
Baltic Sea Protected Area (Helcom) (UA) |
89 |
1937 |
Abruka saare I suurkivi
|
Kaitstav looduse üksikobjekt (III) |
-
|
1937 |
Vahase saare I hiidrahn
|
Kaitstav looduse üksikobjekt (III) |
-
|
1937 |
Abruka metsavahi rändrahn
|
Kaitstav looduse üksikobjekt (III) |
-
|
1937 |
Vahase saare II hiidrahn
|
Kaitstav looduse üksikobjekt (III) |
-
|
1937 |
Abruka saare II suurkivi
|
Kaitstav looduse üksikobjekt (III) |
-
|
1956 |
Ohessaare maastikukaitseala |
Landscape Protection Area (-) |
<1 |
1959 |
Mõntu park
|
Maastikukaitseala piiranguvöönd (V) |
<1 |
1959 |
Mõntu park |
Landscape Protection Area (-) |
<1 |
1970 |
Sauemäe kivi; Saumäe kivi
|
Kaitstav looduse üksikobjekt (III) |
-
|
1971 |
Vesitükimaa laiud |
Nature Reserve (-) |
<1 |
1973 |
Kaugatoma-Lõo maastikukaitseala |
Landscape Protection Area (-) |
<1 |
1990 |
West Estonian Archipelago
|
UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) |
91 |
1997 |
Viieristi LKA, Valdesheimi skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
1997 |
Viieristi LKA, Jõesoo skv.
|
Looduskaitseala looduslik sihtkaitsevöönd (Ib) |
<1 |
1997 |
Viieristi LKA, Koltsi pv.
|
Looduskaitseala piiranguvöönd (VI) |
<1 |
1997 |
Viieristi LKA, Riiu soo skv.
|
Looduskaitseala looduslik sihtkaitsevöönd (Ib) |
<1 |
1997 |
Viieristi LKA, Lausma skv.
|
Looduskaitseala looduslik sihtkaitsevöönd (Ib) |
<1 |
1997 |
Viieristi LKA, Kaavi skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2005 |
Allirahu LKA, Allirahu pv.
|
Looduskaitseala piiranguvöönd (VI) |
<1 |
2005 |
Allirahu LKA, Tompamaa skv.
|
Looduskaitseala looduslik sihtkaitsevöönd (Ib) |
<1 |
2005 |
Allirahu LKA, Allirahu skv.
|
Looduskaitseala looduslik sihtkaitsevöönd (Ib) |
<1 |
2005 |
Kerju püsielupaik |
Species Protection Site (-) |
<1 |
2006 |
Ohessaare MKA, Ohessaare pv.
|
Maastikukaitseala piiranguvöönd (V) |
<1 |
2006 |
Laidunina hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Kura kurgu hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
90 |
2007 |
Abruka hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Abruka LKA, Salumetsa skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2007 |
Vesitükimaa hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Kaunispe hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Siplase LKA, Mõisaküla skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2007 |
Abruka LKA, Surnuaiametsa pv.
|
Looduskaitseala piiranguvöönd (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Siplase LKA, Siplase skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2007 |
Abruka LKA, Väikesaarte skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2007 |
Lindmetsa MKA, Kaunispe-Ranna skv.
|
Maastikukaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2007 |
Lindmetsa hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Rahuste LKA, Rahuste skv.
|
Looduskaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2007 |
Ranna hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Jaandi hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Siplase LKA, Luitemetsa pv.
|
Looduskaitseala piiranguvöönd (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Tehumardi nõmme hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2007 |
Ranna hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Kaugatoma-Lõu hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Kura kurgu hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
87 |
2007 |
Vesitükimaa hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Abruka hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Jaandi hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Lindmetsa maastikukaitseala |
Landscape Protection Area (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Lindmetsa hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2007 |
Kaunispe hoiuala |
Limited Management Zone (-) |
<1 |
2009 |
Kaugatoma-Lõu MKA, Kaugatoma-Lõu skv.
|
Maastikukaitseala hooldatav sihtkaitsevöönd (IV) |
<1 |
2010 |
Stebeli püsielupaik |
Species Protection Site (-) |
<1 |
2010 |
Tammuna püsielupaik |
Species Protection Site (-) |
<1 |
2011 |
Torgu püsielupaik |
Species Protection Site (-) |
<1 |
2017 |
Laidunina hoiuala
|
Hoiuala (VI) |
<1 |
2017 |
Kaugatoma-Lõu MKA, Kaugatoma pv.
|
Limited management zone of protected landscape (V) |
<1 |
2017 |
Kaugatoma-Lõu MKA, Lõu pv.
|
Limited management zone of protected landscape (V) |
<1 |