DE223
Rhine flats Sasbach - Wittenweier


IBA Justification

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
Gadwall Mareca strepera LC passage (1990–2000) 1,000–1,530 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris LC winter (1989–1996) 1 birds A4i, B1i
Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus LC breeding (1994) 2 pairs A4i, B1i
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC winter (1996) 600–1,800 birds B1i, C3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding (1990–2000) 53 pairs C6
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus LC breeding (1990–2000) 6–10 pairs C6
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus LC breeding (1994) 2 pairs C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla LC winter (1989–1996) 1 birds C6
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis LC breeding (1990–2000) 27 pairs C6
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Leiopicus medius LC breeding (1990–2000) 110 pairs B3, C6
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio LC breeding (1996) 416 pairs C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (1993–1996) min 20,000 birds A4iii, C4

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Rhine flats: Sasbach -- Wittenweier Landscape Protected Area (-) -
- Rhine flats: Sasbach -- Wittenweier Nature Reserve (-) -
1955 Rheinwald Taubergießen Landschaftschutzgebiet (V) 2
1955 Rheinwald Taubergießen Landschaftschutzgebiet (V) <1
1979 Taubergießen Naturschutzgebiet (IV) 35
1997 Rheinniederung Wyhl-Weisweil Landscape Protection Area (V) 3
1998 Rheinniederung Wyhl-Weisweil Naturschutzgebiet (IV) 28
1998 Rheinniederung Wyhl-Weisweil Landschaftschutzgebiet (V) 3

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves
Forest - Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Alluvial and very wet forest
Grassland - Dry siliceous grassland; Mesophile grasslands
Wetlands (inland) - Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rhine flats Sasbach - Wittenweier (Germany). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rhine-flats-sasbach--wittenweier-iba-germany on 23/12/2024.