email a friend
printable version
close| Location | Greenland (to Denmark), Qeqertarsuaq |
| Central coordinates | 52o 15.00' West 69o 42.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, B1i |
| Area | 22,400 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 200m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information Large numbers of moulting Somateria spectabilis have been present in the recent past (30,000 individuals in the 1960s).
Site description Sullorsuaq is a broad, U-shaped valley with glacial melt-water channels present in its lower reaches. Raised flats of tundra and dwarf-shrub heath vegetation occur, with large areas of freshwater marsh at lower altitudes. Aqajarua is a shallow, soft-bottomed, offshore marine area.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | non-breeding | 1995 | 1,500 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| King Eider Somateria spectabilis | non-breeding | 1994 | 300-500 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqajarua (Mudderbugten) and Sullorsuaq (Kvandalen) | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 22,350 | protected area overlaps with site | 22,400 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Heathland | 5% |
| Grassland | Tundra | 20% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Sand dunes and beaches; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | 40% |
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 50% |
| hunting | 100% |
Management considerations The importance of Aqajarua as a moulting ground for Somateria spectabilis has been greatly reduced, probably due to disturbance from hunting and clam-dredging activities.
Protection status National None International PartialIBA overlaps with Ramsar Site (Aqajarua-Sullorsuaq).
Related state of the world's birds case studies
- Soda extraction plant at Lake Natron, Tanzania, threatens East Africa's Lesser Flamingos
- Cost-benefit analysis demonstrates that mining of soda ash at Lake Natron is not economically viable
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: Aqajarua-Sullorsuaq (Mudderbugten and Kvandalen). 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
|
|