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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	73-104 individuals	C6
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2011-2015	68 individuals	B3
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	269-361 individuals	B1i, C2
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter	2011-2015	208 individuals	B2
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	84,852-97,566 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	177,278-197,072 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	winter	2011-2015	57,633 individuals	B3
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	29,502-32,877 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Bean Goose Anser fabalis	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	7,101-10,392 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Eider Somateria mollissima	NT	breeding	2011-2015	3,207-3,236 breeding pairs	B2
Common Eider Somateria mollissima	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	95,324-110,904 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca	VU	non-breeding	2011-2015	61-163 individuals	A1, C1
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	winter	2011-2015	336 individuals	B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	119,367-165,851 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,280 individuals	A1, C1
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	36,440-86,439 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	winter	2011-2015	7,684 individuals	B2
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,268-3,229 individuals	B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	88,714-118,975 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter	2011-2015	56,572 individuals	B3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	21,145-30,172 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	20,098-26,089 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Loon Gavia immer	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2 individuals	C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding	2011-2015	776-881 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,545-3,210 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	breeding	2011-2015	3-4 breeding pairs	C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	70-122 individuals	C6
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	breeding	2011-2015	2,068-2,771 breeding pairs	B2
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	135,609-144,263 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	winter	2011-2015	130,227 individuals	B2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding	2011-2015	1,265-1,430 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	18,670-30,438 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	VU	non-breeding	2011-2015	56,008-60,186 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	41,701-53,001 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter	2011-2015	17,406 individuals	B3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	9,430-13,148 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	LC	breeding	2011-2015	41-45 breeding pairs	B3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	21-28 individuals	C6
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter	2011-2015	19,825 individuals	B2
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	119,918-131,481 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter	2011-2015	108,557 individuals	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	145,309-180,739 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3, C6
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	3,096 individuals	B1i, B2, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	3,869-4,808 individuals	B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	146,438-267,552 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea	VU	non-breeding	2011-2015	4,059-6,892 individuals	B1i, C3
Sanderling Calidris alba	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	18,590-26,238 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	non-breeding	2011-2015	343,450-373,679 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,893-4,238 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	6,673 individuals	B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	755-1,081 breeding pairs	B3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	31,644 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter	2011-2015	8,162 individuals	B2
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	31,390-37,118 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C3
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	156,585-212,781 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Mew Gull Larus canus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	779-905 breeding pairs	B3
Mew Gull Larus canus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	58,313-82,306 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	18,191-18,545 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C3
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	min 16,974 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	9,712-12,297 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B2, C3
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	46,954-59,346 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	21-25 breeding pairs	B3
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding	2011-2015	121-146 breeding pairs	B1i, C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	min 373 individuals	B1i, C2, C6
Black Tern Chlidonias niger	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	3,730-6,000 individuals	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2011-2015	2,135-2,346 breeding pairs	C2
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	2,443 individuals	C6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	LC	breeding	2011-2015	820-880 breeding pairs	C6
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis	LC	breeding	2011-2015	6,065-11,987 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	10-14 breeding pairs	C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	42-48 breeding pairs	C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	4-6 individuals	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	breeding	2011-2015	1 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	non-breeding	2011-2015	81-94 individuals	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding	2011-2015	1,416,247-1,599,042 individuals	A4iii, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2016) may differ.

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
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Pollution	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>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

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1981	Waddenzee I	Natural Monument	40
1984	Wadden Sea	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	100
1986	Waddensea Area	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	86
1989	Waddenzee	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
1989	Schiermonnikoog	Nationaal Park	2
1993	Waddenzee II	Natural Monument	29
1996	Waddenzee	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	97
2002	Duinen van Texel	Nationaal Park	<1
2007	Eems-Dollard	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	2
2009	Waddenzee	Natuurbeschermingswet	100
2009	The Wadden Sea	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	93

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Marine Neritic		major (>10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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

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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 22/11/2024.