email a friend
printable version
close| Location | Iceland, Rangárvallasýsla |
| Central coordinates | 20o 30.00' West 63o 40.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i |
| Area | 800 ha |
| Altitude | 10 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The lake is important for staging waterbirds. Breeding birds include Gavia stellata, Cygnus cygnus, Anas acuta and several other duck species, Limosa limosa and Numenius phaeopus.
Site description A shallow freshwater lake, pools and extensive marshes/mires of sedge (Carex, Eriophorum), 14 km south of the town of Hella in southern Iceland. Grazing in the marshes is considerable.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | passage | - | 1,000 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | passage | - | 200 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | passage | - | 900 individuals | - | B1i | Near Threatened |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| hunting | - |
Management considerations Drainage is a major threat to this wetland, and has severely affected the lake. Excessive horse-grazing is also a threat. The effects on birds of disturbance caused by shooting are not known. The area is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register.
Protection status National None International None
Contribute Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.
Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Skúmsstadavatn. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
|
|