NL001
Wadden Sea


IBA Justification

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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 73–104 birds C6
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC winter (2011–2015) 68 birds B3
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 269–361 birds B1i, C2
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus LC winter (2011–2015) 208 birds B2
Brent Goose Branta bernicla LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 84,852–97,566 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 177,278–197,072 birds A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis LC winter (2011–2015) 57,633 birds B3
Greylag Goose Anser anser LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 29,502–32,877 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Bean Goose Anser fabalis LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 7,101–10,392 birds B1i, C3
Common Eider Somateria mollissima NT breeding (2011–2015) 3,207–3,236 pairs B2
Common Eider Somateria mollissima NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 95,324–110,904 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca VU non-breeding (2011–2015) 61–163 birds A1, C1
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator LC winter (2011–2015) 336 birds B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 119,367–165,851 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Common Pochard Aythya ferina VU non-breeding (2011–2015) 1,280 birds A1, C1
Greater Scaup Aythya marila LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 36,440–86,439 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila LC winter (2011–2015) 7,684 birds B2
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 2,268–3,229 birds B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 88,714–118,975 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC winter (2011–2015) 56,572 birds B3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 21,145–30,172 birds B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 20,098–26,089 birds B1i, C3
Common Loon Gavia immer LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 2 birds C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC breeding (2011–2015) 776–881 pairs A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 2,545–3,210 birds A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC breeding (2011–2015) 3–4 pairs C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 70–122 birds C6
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus NT breeding (2011–2015) 2,068–2,771 pairs B2
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 135,609–144,263 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus NT winter (2011–2015) 130,227 birds B2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC breeding (2011–2015) 1,265–1,430 pairs A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 18,670–30,438 birds A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola VU non-breeding (2011–2015) 56,008–60,186 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 41,701–53,001 birds A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria LC winter (2011–2015) 17,406 birds B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 9,430–13,148 birds B1i, C3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula LC breeding (2011–2015) 41–45 pairs B3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 21–28 birds C6
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus NT winter (2011–2015) 19,825 birds B2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 119,918–131,481 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata NT winter (2011–2015) 108,557 birds B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 145,309–180,739 birds A4i, B1i, C3, C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 3,096 birds B1i, B2, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 3,869–4,808 birds B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 146,438–267,552 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea VU non-breeding (2011–2015) 4,059–6,892 birds B1i, C3
Sanderling Calidris alba LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 18,590–26,238 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina NT non-breeding (2011–2015) 343,450–373,679 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 2,893–4,238 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 6,673 birds B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC breeding (2011–2015) 755–1,081 pairs B3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 31,644 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC winter (2011–2015) 8,162 birds B2
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LC breeding (2011–2015) 31,390–37,118 pairs A4i, B1i, B3, C3
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 156,585–212,781 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Mew Gull Larus canus LC breeding (2011–2015) 779–905 pairs B3
Mew Gull Larus canus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 58,313–82,306 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus LC breeding (2011–2015) 18,191–18,545 pairs A4i, B1i, B3, C3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) min 16,974 birds A4i, B1i, C3
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus LC breeding (2011–2015) 9,712–12,297 pairs A4i, B1i, B2, C3
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 46,954–59,346 birds A4i, B1i, C3
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus LC breeding (2011–2015) 21–25 pairs B3
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC breeding (2011–2015) 121–146 pairs B1i, C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC non-breeding (2011–2015) min 373 birds B1i, C2, C6
Black Tern Chlidonias niger LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 3,730–6,000 birds C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC breeding (2011–2015) 2,135–2,346 pairs C2
Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 2,443 birds C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea LC breeding (2011–2015) 820–880 pairs C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis LC breeding (2011–2015) 6,065–11,987 pairs A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus LC breeding (2011–2015) 10–14 pairs C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus LC breeding (2011–2015) 42–48 pairs C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 4–6 birds C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC breeding (2011–2015) 1 pairs C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC non-breeding (2011–2015) 81–94 birds C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a non-breeding (2011–2015) 1,416,247–1,599,042 birds A4iii, C4

IBA Conservation

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.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2018 not assessed high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no unset medium

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Energy production and mining happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Transportation and service corridors likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (>4 years) whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Pollution happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

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 Some limited conservation initiatives are in place medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1981 Waddenzee I Natural Monument (-) 40
1986 Waddensea Area UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) 86
1989 Schiermonnikoog Nationaal Park (II) 2
1993 Waddenzee II Natural Monument (-) 29
2002 Duinen van Texel Nationaal Park (II) <1
2009 Waddenzee Natuurbeschermingswet (IV) 100

Habitats

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

Land use

Land use % of IBA
tourism/recreation 100
fisheries/aquaculture 90
nature conservation and research 85
military 18
urban/industrial/transport 11


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadden Sea (Netherlands). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadden-sea-iba-netherlands on 05/12/2024.