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NL013
Balgzand
Location Netherlands, Noord-Holland
Central coordinates 4o 46.00' East  52o 55.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 6,000 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Vogelbescherming Nederland



Ornithological information The site is an important high-tide roost for tens of thousands of waterbirds, and huge numbers of Chlidonias niger roost here at night in late summer, after feeding during the day on the IJsselmeer (034). It holds important breeding numbers of Recurvirostra avosetta and Sterna hirundo; the small areas of saltmarsh are the only available breeding sites for these species in this part of the Wadden Sea.

Site description An extensive area of intertidal mudflats and sandflats in the western part of the Wadden Sea, between the harbour area of Den Helder and the Amsteldiep gully (site 001 is contiguous with this site). Along the dyke are some small saltmarshes, partly extended in the late 1980s to compensate for habitat loss due to dyke reinforcement. Stock farming is restricted to dyke slopes and (occasionally) saltmarsh. The site has been entirely closed to cockle Cardium and mussel Mytilus fishing since 1993.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna non-breeding  1991  5,201 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Pintail Anas acuta non-breeding  1991  871 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia non-breeding  1991  144 individuals  good  B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus non-breeding  1991  31,037 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta breeding  1991  384 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta non-breeding  1991  1,215 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica winter  1991  1,027 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata non-breeding  1991  13,348 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Near Threatened 
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus non-breeding  1991  1,177 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus non-breeding  1991  2,652 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres non-breeding  1991  832 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Red Knot Calidris canutus winter  1991  32,560 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Dunlin Calidris alpina non-breeding  1991  34,995 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding  1991  1,035 breeding pairs  good  C2, C6  Least Concern 
Black Tern Chlidonias niger passage  1991  90,367 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  1991  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds non-breeding  1991  -  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 6,000  
Waddenzee - NL1000001 Habitats Directive 259,214 protected area contains site 6,000  
Waddenzee - NL9801001 Birds Directive 272,027 protected area contains site 6,000  
Waddenzee I Natural Monument 125,000 protected area contains site 6,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Coastline Mud flats & sand flats; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 5%
fisheries/aquaculture 5%
nature conservation and research 100%
tourism/recreation 10%

Management considerations Disturbance by the public, planes and helicopters (air-force base near Den Helder) and the (illegal) taking of eggs are problems. The saltmarshes are managed as a nature reserve (but not owned) by Noordhollands Landschap.

Protection status National High International High6,000 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Waddenzee I, 125,000 ha). 6,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Waddenzee, `250,000 ha' [official, incorrect figure]). 6,000 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: Balgzand. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife