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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
Common Eider Somateria mollissima	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	96 birds	C1
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca	VU	non-breeding (2011–2015)	65–124 birds	A1, C1
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	41,369–57,800 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	VU	non-breeding (2011–2015)	2,517–3,642 birds	B1i, C3
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	4,465–5,125 birds	C6
Sanderling Calidris alba	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	4,552–5,305 birds	B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	non-breeding (2011–2015)	20,097–43,273 birds	B1i, C3
Mew Gull Larus canus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	30,740 birds	B1i, C3
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	24,706–39,800 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus	LC	non-breeding (2011–2015)	4,185–4,983 birds	B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding (2011–2015)	74,506–81,925 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 (2017) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Common Eider Somateria mollissima	96 / 26,200 (birds)	1	very poor
Melanitta nigra	41,369 / 51,900 (birds)	80	moderate
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	291 / 520 (birds)	56	poor
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	3,153 / 3,300 (birds)	96	good
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	75 / 120 (birds)	63	poor
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	2,517 / 3,200 (birds)	79	moderate
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	5 / 20 (pairs)	25	very poor
Charadrius alexandrinus	0 / 30 (pairs)	0	very poor
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	1,302 / 640 (birds)	100	good
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	4,465 / 1,800 (birds)	100	good
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	243 / 160 (birds)	100	good
Red Knot Calidris canutus	6,890 / 560 (birds)	100	good
Sanderling Calidris alba	4,552 / 2,000 (birds)	100	good
Dunlin Calidris alpina	20,097 / 7,400 (birds)	100	good
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	17 / 20 (pairs)	85	moderate

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	Unknown	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Noordzeekustzone II - NL2008004	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (-)	98
1989	Schiermonnikoog	Nationaal Park (II)	1
2002	Duinen van Texel	Nationaal Park (II)	<1
2009	Noordzeekustzone	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (UA)	98
2010	Noordzeekustzone	Natuurbeschermingswet (IV)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Neritic	100

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	100
tourism/recreation	20
urban/industrial/transport	20

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadden Coast (Netherlands). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadden-coast-iba-netherlands on 23/12/2024.