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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
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

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
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

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

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

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 05/12/2024.