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close| Location | Iceland, Gullbringusýsla |
| Central coordinates | 22o 42.00' West 64o 4.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, A4iii, B1i, B3 |
| Area | 1,330 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 5m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The area supports important numbers of coastal waterbirds outside the breeding season, including staging waders on passage (max. 4,000 in May). Thousands of large gulls winter in the area (Larus argentatus, L. glaucoides, L. hyperboreus and L. marinus). Numbers of breeding species are also notable, including Somateria mollissima (over 1,000 pairs) and Sterna paradisaea (a few thousand pairs).
Site description A wildlife-rich coastal area with rocky shores, beaches and estuarine intertidal flats on Rosmhvalanes, west and north of Keflavík airport. The area extends from Hvalnes to the village of Gardur. There are also some dry grasslands by the coast.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | winter | 1989 | 101 individuals | - | B3 | Least Concern |
| Common Eider Somateria mollissima | winter | - | 40,000 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | passage | 1990 | 900 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | winter | - | 400-1,200 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Sanderling Calidris alba | passage | 1990 | 1,176 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima | winter | 1989 | 1,000 individuals | medium | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | - | - | unknown | A4iii |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater | - |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | 70% |
| Coastline | Sea cliffs and rocky shores; Shingle & stony beaches; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Management considerations Birds are disturbed by people (tourists, etc.) in some parts of the area. The IBA is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Stafnes-Gardur. 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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