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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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger 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 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	20,618–31,774 birds	A4i, B1i, C2
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,133–1,252 birds	B1i, C3
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	winter (2011–2015)	603 birds	B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	3,890–4,801 birds	B1i, C3
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,371–1,809 birds	B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	28,795–46,270 birds	B1i, C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,196–1,927 birds	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	5,533–10,384 birds	B1i, C3
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	non-breeding (2011–2015)	73–92 birds	A1, C1, C6
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	VU	winter (2011–2015)	64 birds	B2
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	487–638 birds	B1i, C2, C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	85–118 birds	C6
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	36,716–41,715 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	winter (2011–2015)	27,558 birds	B2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	652–764 pairs	B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,156–1,380 birds	B1i, C2, C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	VU	non-breeding (2011–2015)	8,372–9,204 birds	B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	8,910–11,797 birds	B3, C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter (2011–2015)	3,698 birds	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	44–52 pairs	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	winter (2011–2015)	53 birds	B3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	43–47 pairs	C6
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	108–158 birds	C6
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter (2011–2015)	7,002 birds	B2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	21,319–24,393 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter (2011–2015)	13,737 birds	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	8,067–9,012 birds	B1i, C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2011–2015)	46 birds	B2
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	1,459–1,753 birds	B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	15,253–18,810 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	38,355–46,420 birds	B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	2,769–3,188 birds	B1i, C3
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	5,931–6,230 pairs	B3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	3,252 pairs	B1i, C3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	1,166–1,345 pairs	C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding (2011–2015)	23–35 pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	12–15 birds	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding (2011–2015)	207,678–228,518 birds	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 trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Pollution	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	likely in short term (<4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>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
-	Oosterschelde Buitendijks	Nature Reserve (-)	2
-	Inlagen Anna Friso	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
-	Schelphoek	Nature Conservation Law (-)	1
-	Thoolse Schorren en Slikken	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
-	Inlagen Noord-Beveland	Nature Reserve (-)	<1
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 (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Oosterschelde (Netherlands). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/oosterschelde-iba-netherlands on 23/12/2024.