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close| Location | Iceland, Árnessýsla |
| Central coordinates | 20o 25.00' West 64o 10.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i |
| Area | 1,400 ha |
| Altitude | 40 - 80m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information Hrosshagavík is important for staging waterbirds in spring and autumn. A wide variety of waterbirds breed in the area.
Site description A large area of rivers, streams, lakes, pools and extensive riparian marshes/mires of sedge (Carex, Eriophorum), c.18 km south of the Geysir hot-spring area. Tunguey is an island. Pond-weed Potamogeton is common in pools, and Salix bushes are common on land in the drier areas.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | passage | 1990 | 1,300 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | passage | - | 150-300 individuals | medium | B1i | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pollengi og Tungueyjar | Nature Reserve | 652 | protected area contained by site | 684 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 95% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Management considerations Predation by introduced American mink Mustela vison poses a problem, and hunting causes disturbance to birds. The Tungufljót river, which flows into Hrosshagavík, has changed from a glacial to a freshwater river, after its glacial tributary, the Farid, was dammed in the highlands. Sediment deposition in Hrosshagavík and Pollengi has thus probably been sharply reduced, with unknown ecological consequences. Most of the IBA is protected, but important parts of the area, such as the northern parts of Pollengi and Hrosshagavík, are not protected.
Protection status National Partial International None684 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Pollengi og Tunguey, 684 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pollengi-Hrosshagavík. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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