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NL005
Griend
Location Netherlands, Friesland
Central coordinates 5o 15.00' East  53o 15.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 100 ha
Altitude 0 - 2m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Vogelbescherming Nederland



Ornithological information The area is important as a breeding site for terns Sterna, and as a high-tide roost for tens of thousands of waders which feed on the surrounding mudflats.

Site description A small, crescent-shaped island in the western part of the Wadden Sea (site 001 encloses the entire site) with beaches, intertidal mudflats and sandflats, and raised saltmarshes. The island was reinforced by building a 2.5 km long dyke on the northern side in 1987 with sand supplementation in 1988 to enlarge the breeding area for terns Sterna.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus non-breeding  1991  13,600 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola non-breeding  1989  2,042 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica winter  1991  159 individuals  good  B2  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica passage  1992  19,012 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata non-breeding  1991  6,238 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Near Threatened 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata winter  1993  4,067 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Near Threatened 
Red Knot Calidris canutus winter  1991  31,833 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Red Knot Calidris canutus passage  1991  23,194 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Dunlin Calidris alpina non-breeding  1989  30,118 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis breeding  1991  7,360 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  1991  1,600 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea breeding  1991  528 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds non-breeding  1991  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  1991-1992  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1991  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Griend Nature Reserve with Management Subsidy 100 protected area contained by site 100  
Griend Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 23 protected area contained by site 23  
Waddenzee (Wadden Sea) Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 249,998 protected area contains site 100  
Waddenzee - NL1000001 Habitats Directive 259,214 protected area contains site 100  
Waddenzee - NL9801001 Birds Directive 272,027 protected area contains site 100  
Waddenzee I Natural Monument 125,000 protected area contains site 100  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Coastline Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Sand dunes & beaches  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture 50%
nature conservation and research 100%

Management considerations The main threat is the mechanical cockle Cardium fisheries on the surrounding mudflats (see Wadden Sea, site 001). The island (leased to Natuurmonumenten) is closed to the public, with wardens/research teams present during the breeding season. The site has been designated twice under the Ramsar Convention: in 1980 (23 ha), and in 1984 as part of the Wadden Sea. The role of the island as the main breeding site for terns Sterna in the Dutch Wadden Sea has been safeguarded by the recent dyke construction.

Protection status National High International High100 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Waddenzee I, 125,000 ha). 100 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Griend, 100 ha). 100 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]). 100 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: Griend. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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