Petersen, I.K., Nielsen, R.D. & Clausen, P. 2016. Vurdering af IBA'er (Important Bird Areas) i relation til fuglebeskyttelsesområder - med særligt henblik på marine arter og områder. Aarhus Universitet, DCE – Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 98 s. - Teknisk rapport fra DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi nr. 202. http://dce2.au.dk/pub/TR202.pdf
In this report DCE, Aarhus University evaluate the ornithological contents of 22 Important Marine Bird Areas (IBA’s), published in the report ”Status og Trends for Internationally Important Bird Areas in Denmark” by the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF). The report was part of an international project in which BirdLife International classified important bird areas globally.
In May 2016 The Danish Agency for Water and Nature Management (SVANA) commissioned DCE to conduct the above mentioned evaluation for IBA’s, with focus on non-breeding marine birds in the areas away from the shallow, coastal areas. The aim of the evaluation was to facilitate SVANA’s considerations of potential additional Danish designations of protected areas in relation to the EU Birds Directive. The report was delivered in a draft version to SVANA in August 2016. With reference to an on-going process between the EU Commission and Danish authorities SVANA requested the report published later. That process has now been finalized.
In Denmark a total of 113 EU Birds Directive areas have been designated. Of these, 111 were designated in 1983. In 2003 one large new Birds Directive Area was designated in Aalborg Bugt, and two near by areas (Læsø and Anholt) were enlarged. In 2004 a large Birds Directive area was designated in the southern Danish North Sea, southwest of Blåvand and bordering the German EEZ. The majority of Danish Birds Directive Areas covers marine areas, utilized by marine birds in the non-breeding periods for both moulting, migratory and wintering purposes.
In this report DCE evaluates whether the 22 marine areas contain bird concentrations of national or international importance. DCE was requested by SVANA to give particular emphasis to IBA areas not already designated as EU Birds Directive Areas by Denmark, and to consider whether marine areas away from IBA’s and Birds Directive Areas could qualify for designation of new Birds Directive Areas.
This report exclusively covers marine birds during the non-breeding period and away from the very shallow areas. This involves Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Fulmar, Gannet, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Little Gull, Kittiwake, Great Skua, Black Guillemot, Common Guillemot, Razorbill and Little Auk. Species confined to very shallow areas, such as Red-breasted Merganser and Common Goldeneye are not considered in this report.
