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NL002
Texel: Schorren and Zeeburg
Location Netherlands, Noord-Holland
Central coordinates 4o 54.00' East  53o 8.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 1,600 ha
Altitude 0 - 10m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Vogelbescherming Nederland



Ornithological information De Schorren is an important high-water roost for waders and ducks feeding in the Wadden Sea. The saltmarsh holds important breeding colonies of Platalea leucorodia, Sterna paradisaea and S. sandvicensis (until 1992). In spring Branta bernicla feeding inland are concentrated at Zeeburg to alleviate agricultural damage elsewhere on the island. Average seasonal peak number of waterbirds during 1992-1996 was over 20,000.

Site description The site comprises a saltmarsh (De Schorren), adjacent intertidal mudflats (contiguous to site 001), cord-grass Spartina swards, and inland farmland managed for Branta bernicla (Zeeburg) on the north-eastern side of Texel, the Wadden Sea island. The saltmarsh is protected against erosion by 30 longitudinal levees. This site, together with site 003, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL002) in the previous international IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Brent Goose Branta bernicla non-breeding  1991  8,013 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia breeding  1991  55 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia non-breeding  1991  84 individuals  good  B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica winter  1990  430 individuals  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica passage  1990  11,043 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata winter  1991  2,002 individuals  good  B2  Near Threatened 
Red Knot Calidris canutus winter  1991  1,283 individuals  good  B2  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis breeding  1991  386 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea breeding  1992  77 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds unknown  -  20,000 individuals  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
De Schorren Nature Conservation Law 6,711 protected area contained by site 1,256  
Schorren van de Eendracht Natural Monument 970 protected area contained by site 970  
Waddenzee (Wadden Sea) Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 249,998 protected area overlaps with site 1,256  
Waddenzee - NL1000001 Habitats Directive 259,214 protected area overlaps with site 1,378  
Waddenzee - NL9801001 Birds Directive 272,027 protected area overlaps with site 1,379  
Waddenzee I Natural Monument 125,000 protected area overlaps with site 286  
Zeeburg Nature Reserve 111 protected area contained by site 111  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Coastline Mud flats & sand flats  72%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Highly improved re-seeded landscapes  22%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 20%
fisheries/aquaculture 70%
water management 20%
nature conservation and research 85%
tourism/recreation 90%

Management considerations The main threats are shellfish fisheries (see site 001) and disturbance of birds on the mudflats by anglers, worm-diggers, military training flights to and from the Vliehors (004), and by small aircraft. The saltmarsh and mudflats are included in the SPA- and Ramsar-designated Wadden Sea. The saltmarsh and the inland farmland are managed as Nature Reserves and closed to the public, although the area can be overlooked from the dyke. Although the mudflats are legally protected as a Natural Monument they are not closed to shellfish fisheries and only partly closed to recreational activities.

Protection status National Partial International Partial970 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Schorren van de Eendracht, 970 ha). 286 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Waddenzee I, 125,000 ha). 1,256 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (De Schorren, 1,256 ha). 111 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Zeeburg, 111 ha). 1,256 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]). 1,256 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Texel: Schorren and Zeeburg. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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