email a friend
printable version
close| Location | Iceland, Árnessýsla |
| Central coordinates | 21o 15.00' West 63o 57.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B2 |
| Area | 7,400 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 19m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information Many other species of waterbird also breed, and it is one of the most important inland wintering sites for ducks in Iceland.
Site description An extensive area of coastal flood-plain and shallow freshwater marshes by the ölfusá river, c.35 km south-east of Reykjavík. The area extends over ölfusforir, Kaldadarnesengjar, Flóagafl and the outlet of the ölfusá river, and includes a vegetated lava-flow. The area is dominated by sedge Carex. Land-uses include angling in rivers and some tourist traffic.
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 |
| Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago | passage | - | 10,000 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa | breeding | 1995 | 200 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Near Threatened |
| Dunlin Calidris alpina | breeding | - | 1,000 breeding pairs | - | B1i | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown I | Nature Reserve | 300 | protected area contained by site | 300 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 10% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Coastline | Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| hunting | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Management considerations Hunting disturbs birds and is a problem in some places, particularly in winter when the wildfowl are concentrated at ice-free areas. Horses also cause disturbance and their grazing is a threat in parts of the area. Water-borne pollution from nearby urbanized and industrial areas is a problem, and introduced American mink Mustela vison also pose a threat. The area is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register. Part of the area, on the west bank of the ölfusá river, has been declared a bird reserve.
Protection status National Partial International NoneAbout 3,000 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (name not known, c.3,000 ha).
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: Ósasvædi Ölfusár. 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
|
|