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close| Location | Estonia, Saare County |
| Central coordinates | 21o 54.00' East 58o 21.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2, C3, C6 |
| Area | 18,214 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 9m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2003 |
Ornithological information Vilsandi archipelago is an important breeding, staging and wintering area for waterbirds, especially wildfowl, and notably Polysticta stelleri in winter. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Larus canus (400 pairs), Sterna caspia (3-4 pairs).
Site description A large complex of shallow (<5 m) bays on the western coast of Saaremaa island, with many small islets and some lakes. Vegetation includes reedbeds, coastal meadows, and forest. The main land-uses are nature-conservation projects and research, and grazing of cattle and sheep.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greylag Goose Anser anser | passage | 1990-1999 | 600-2,000 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Greylag Goose Anser anser | breeding | 1996 | 100-150 breeding pairs | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis | passage | 1991-1999 | 5,300-7,600 individuals | good | A4i, B1i, C2 | Least Concern |
| Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis | breeding | 1995-1998 | 33 breeding pairs | good | C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Mute Swan Cygnus olor | passage | 1990-1999 | 3,500 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | passage | 1990-1999 | 3,100 individuals | medium | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri | winter | 1996-2000 | 1,500-2,500 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C3 | Vulnerable |
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | passage | 1990-1999 | 3,000 individuals | unknown | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Common Crane Grus grus | passage | 1990-1999 | 900 individuals | medium | B1i, C2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vilsandi - EE0040496 | Birds Directive | 18,234 | protected area contains site | 18,214 | |
| Vilsandi National Park | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 24,100 | protected area contains site | 18,214 |
|
| Vilsandi rahvuspark | National Park | 23,760 | protected area contains site | 18,214 |
|
| West Estonian Archipelago | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | 1,560,000 | protected area contains site | 18,214 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland | 12% |
| Grassland | 3% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 5% | |
| Sea | 67% | |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 4% | |
| Shrubland | 9% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100% |
| agriculture | 5% |
| forestry | 10% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 65% |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Management considerations Tourism poses a major threat. Research includes large-scale complex monitoring of birds and the environment.
Protection status National High International High18,230 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Vilsandi, 23,756 ha). 18,230 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Vilsandi National Park, 24,100 ha). 18,230 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (West Estonian Archipelago, 1,560,000 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Vilsandi archipelago. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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