Data Zone
Country/territory: Estonia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6 (2003)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 12,960 hectares (129.60 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
A complex of shallow sea (<2 m) and small islets, with vast reedbeds and coastal meadows on the south-western coast of Estonia. The main economic activities are fishing (intensive), grazing and hunting.
Key biodiversity
The area is an important staging site (in spring) for migrating Cygnus columbianus and Branta leucopsis. The avifauna is diverse, with 185 species recorded, of which 65 have been recorded breeding. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (min. 5 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Limosa limosa (min. 10 pairs).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Luitemaa (Estonia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/luitemaa-iba-estonia on 23/12/2024.