The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2000 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 |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus |
NT |
non-breeding (1988–1992) |
19,180 individuals |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola |
VU |
non-breeding (1988–1992) |
3,069 individuals |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata |
NT |
non-breeding (1988–1991) |
6,854 individuals |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata |
NT |
winter (1988–1992) |
5,578 individuals |
A4i, B1i, B2, C3 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina |
NT |
non-breeding (1988–1992) |
29,120 individuals |
A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina |
NT |
winter (1988–1992) |
6,254 individuals |
B2 |
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons |
LC |
breeding (1987–1991) |
25 breeding pairs |
B2, C6 |
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea |
LC |
breeding (1987–1991) |
60 breeding pairs |
C6 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds |
n/a |
non-breeding (1992) |
50,000-99,999 individuals |
A4iii, C4 |
| Year |
Protected Area |
Designation (management category) |
% coverage of IBA |
| 1981 |
Waddenzee I |
Natural Monument (-) |
100
|
| 1984 |
Waddenzee (Wadden Sea) |
Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (-) |
100
|
| 1986 |
Waddensea Area
|
UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) |
7 |
| 2009 |
Waddenzee
|
Natuurbeschermingswet (IV) |
100
|
| Habitat |
% of IBA |
Habitat detail |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal |
major (>10) |
|
| Marine Intertidal |
major (>10) |
|
| Land use |
% of IBA |
| hunting |
100 |
| nature conservation and research |
100 |
| tourism/recreation |
10 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rottumeroog (Netherlands). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rottumeroog-iba-netherlands on 05/01/2025.
