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close| Location | Norway, Finnmark |
| Central coordinates | 24o 40.00' East 70o 10.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B3 |
| Area | 2,000 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 50m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information Valdakmyra is an important staging ground for almost the entire Norwegian breeding population of Anser erythropus, both in spring (May-June) and autumn (July-September), the species having declined dramatically in Fennoscandia since the 1940s. The huge flocks of staging Calidris canutus in late May are a spectacular sight, foraging on the sandbanks exposed at low tide before continuing their migration to Greenland and northern Canada. Some of these birds are the same as those staging at Sørkjosen (IBA 017) in Troms. Wildfowl and other waders, both breeding in the area or on migration, are also numerous in spring, e.g. Limosa lapponica (up to several hundred on passage). Good numbers of Somateria mollissima (10,000) and Melanitta nigra (3,000) gather to moult offshore after the breeding season. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-2 pairs breed elsewhere but forage in the area in spring and summer).
Site description An area of huge mudflats, grassy shorelines, saltmarshes, mires and birch Betula forest, close to Stabbursneset headland. Heathland dominates on the islands. There is some traditional egg-collecting by local inhabitants, and harvesting of cloudberries Rubus chamaemorus on the islands. Goose hunting takes place, mainly of Anser fabalis. The area includes `Stabbursneset', a site (the former NO010) in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus | non-breeding | 1996 | 50-70 individuals | good | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Common Eider Somateria mollissima | resident | 1998 | 2,500-5,000 breeding pairs | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Common Merganser Mergus merganser | passage | 1998 | 3,000-4,000 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | passage | 1998 | 1,000-4,000 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus | breeding | 1998 | 300 breeding pairs | good | B3 | Least Concern |
| Red Knot Calidris canutus | passage | 1989 | 25,000-60,000 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Ruff Philomachus pugnax | breeding | 1998 | 200 breeding pairs | good | B3 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | passage | 1989 | - | unknown | A4iii |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stabbursneset | Nature Reserve | 1,620 | protected area contained by site | 1,620 | |
| Stabbursneset | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 1,620 | protected area contained by site | 1,620 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters | - |
| Shrubland | Heathland | - |
| Wetlands (inland) | Raised bogs | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| hunting | - |
| other | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Management considerations Stabbursnes Nature Reserve consists of 14 km2 of water/mudflats and c.2.2 km2 of land. All human traffic is prohibited at Valdakmyra (part of the Nature Reserve, c.3.5-4.0 km2) between 1 May and 30 June. The staging Anser erythropus have been monitored regularly since 1971, and yearly since 1990 by NOF and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.
Protection status National Partial International Partial1,620 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Stabbursneset, 1,620 ha). 1,620 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Stabbursneset, 1,620 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Inner part of Porsanger fjord. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
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