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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2016 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

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

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	13,849–17,952 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	20,618–31,774 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,133–1,252 individuals	B1i, C3
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	winter (2011–2015)	603 individuals	B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	3,890–4,801 individuals	B1i, C3
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,371–1,809 individuals	B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	28,795–46,270 individuals	B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,196–1,927 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	5,533–10,384 individuals	B1i, C3
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	non-breeding (2011–2015)	73–92 individuals	A1, C1, C6
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	winter (2011–2015)	64 individuals	B2
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	487–638 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	85–118 individuals	C6
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	36,716–41,715 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	winter (2011–2015)	27,558 individuals	B2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	652–764 breeding pairs	B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,156–1,380 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	VU	non-breeding (2011–2015)	8,372–9,204 individuals	B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	8,910–11,797 individuals	B3, C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter (2011–2015)	3,698 individuals	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	44–52 breeding pairs	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	winter (2011–2015)	53 individuals	B3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	43–47 breeding pairs	C6
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	108–158 individuals	C6
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter (2011–2015)	7,002 individuals	B2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	21,319–24,393 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter (2011–2015)	13,737 individuals	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	8,067–9,012 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2011–2015)	46 individuals	B2
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,459–1,753 individuals	B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	15,253–18,810 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	38,355–46,420 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	2,769–3,188 individuals	B1i, C3
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	5,931–6,230 breeding pairs	B3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	3,252 breeding pairs	B1i, C3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	1,166–1,345 breeding pairs	C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	23–35 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	12–15 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding (2011–2015)	207,678–228,518 individuals	A4iii, C4

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2016. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Transportation and service corridors	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Pollution	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	likely in short term (within 4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Inlagen Anna Friso	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
-	Schelphoek	Nature Conservation Law (-)	1
-	Thoolse Schorren en Slikken	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
-	Inlagen Noord-Beveland	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
-	Oosterschelde Buitendijks	Nature Reserve (-)	2
1990	Oosterschelde-binnendijks	Natural Monument (-)	1
1990	Oosterschelde-buitendijks	Natural Monument (-)	59
2002	Oosterschelde	Nationaal Park (II)	100
2010	Oosterschelde	Natuurbeschermingswet (IV)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)

Land use	% of IBA
water management	100
fisheries/aquaculture	80
tourism/recreation	80
nature conservation and research	65
urban/industrial/transport	21

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Oosterschelde (Netherlands). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/oosterschelde-iba-netherlands on 16/01/2025.