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close| Location | Spain, País Vasco |
| Central coordinates | 2o 41.00' West 43o 22.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, C2, C6 |
| Area | 4,000 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 50m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information This is an important site for passage and wintering waders and Platalea leucorodia and resident seabirds.
Site description A deep estuary with some remnant brackish marshes, extensive mudflats and sandbanks. There is a small rocky islet at the mouth of the estuary and a large coastal cliff in the west of the area.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus | breeding | 1996 | 200 breeding pairs | poor | C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia | passage | 1996 | 120 individuals | medium | B1i, C2 | Least Concern |
| Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | resident | 1996 | 7-8 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astondoko Dunak / Dunas de Astondo - ES2130004 | Habitats Directive | 5 | protected area contained by site | 5 | |
| Gaztelugatxeko Doniene / San Juan de Gaztelugatxe - ES2130005 | Habitats Directive | 158 | protected area contained by site | 158 | |
| Ria de Mundaka-Guernika | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 945 | protected area contained by site | 945 |
|
| Urdaibai | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | 21,992 | protected area contains site | 4,000 |
|
| Urdaibaiko Artadi Kantauriarrak / Encinares Cantábricos de Urdaibai - ES2130008 | Habitats Directive | 1,583 | protected area overlaps with site | 52 | |
| Urdaibaiko Ibai Sarea / Red fluvial de Urdaibai - ES2130006 | Habitats Directive | 1,328 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Urdaibaiko Itsasadarra / Ra de Urdaibai - ES0000144 | Birds Directive | 3,242 | protected area contained by site | 3,242 | |
| Urdaibaiko Itsasertzak eta Padurak / Zonas litorales y Marismas de Urdaibai - ES2130007 | Habitats Directive | 1,010 | protected area contained by site | 1,010 |
Local conservation groups The local conservation group below is working to support conservation at this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| Fundación Urdaibai (entidad privada, no gubernamental) | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Coastline | Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters | 90% |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | 10% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 10% |
| nature conservation and research | 90% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 25% |
Management considerations The main threats include disturbance from tourists and intense shellfish gathering and trawling. The bottom of the estuary has been damaged by dredging. There is a management plan for the Biosphere Reserve. Hunting is forbidden.
Protection status National None International Partial945 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Ría de Mundaka-Guernika, 945 ha). 1,020 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Urdaibai, 23,000 ha). 1,020 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Urdaibai, 23,000 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Urdaibai - Matxitxako. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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