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close| Location | Netherlands, Groningen |
| Central coordinates | 6o 35.00' East 53o 33.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C3, C4, C6 |
| Area | 311 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 9m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information An important high-tide roost for waterbirds that feed in the Wadden Sea.
Site description A small, uninhabited barrier island in the Wadden Sea (entirely enclosed by site 001), between Rottumeroog and the Eems/Dollard estuary. The site includes the Zuiderduintjes, a isolated dune area, 2 km south of the main island. The island, which was located at the present position of Rottumerplaat 350 years ago, is being reduced by erosion. Habitats include sandflats and mudflats, shifting and fixed sand-dunes, saltmarshes, and cord-grass Spartina swards. The island is closed to the public; hunting taking place to reduce rabbit numbers. The site (all the mudflats south of the island) has been entirely closed to cockle Cardium and mussel Mytilus fishing since 1993. This site, together with site 011, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL009) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | non-breeding | 1992 | 19,180 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola | non-breeding | 1992 | 3,069 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | non-breeding | 1991 | 6,854 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C3 | Near Threatened |
| Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | winter | 1992 | 5,578 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, B2, C3 | Near Threatened |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | non-breeding | 1992 | 29,120 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | winter | 1992 | 6,254 individuals | good | B2 | Least Concern |
| Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea | breeding | 1991 | 60 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Tern Sterna albifrons | breeding | 1991 | 25 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | non-breeding | 1992 | - | unknown | A4iii, C4 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waddenzee (Wadden Sea) | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 249,998 | protected area contains site | 311 | |
| Waddenzee - NL1000001 | Habitats Directive | 259,214 | protected area contains site | 311 | |
| Waddenzee - NL9801001 | Birds Directive | 272,027 | protected area contains site | 311 | |
| Waddenzee I | Natural Monument | 125,000 | protected area contains site | 311 |
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) |
|---|---|
| hunting | 100% |
| nature conservation and research | 100% |
| tourism/recreation | 10% |
Management considerations Gas extraction in the Wadden Sea (resulting in subsidence) is a threat.
Protection status National High International High311 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Waddenzee I, 125,000 ha). 311 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]). 311 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: Rottumeroog. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
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