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The site was identified as important in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus	LC	breeding	1990-2006	20-24 breeding pairs	C6
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus	NT	passage	1990-2006	60-70 individuals	C1, C6
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	breeding	1990-2006	10-20 breeding pairs	C1
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus	VU	breeding	1990-2006	24-40 breeding pairs	C1, C6
Merlin Falco columbarius	LC	winter	1990-2006	12-15 individuals	C6
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug	EN	passage	1990-2006	1-2 individuals	C1
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra	LC	breeding	1990-2006	1,200-1,400 breeding pairs	C6
Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria	LC	breeding	1990-2006	20-30 breeding pairs	C6
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris	LC	breeding	1990-2006	1,000-1,200 breeding pairs	C6

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name	Common name	Reference population	Actual population	Units	% of population remaining	Result
Falco vespertinus	Red-footed Falcon	12	10	breeding pairs	84	near favourable
Falco cherrug	Saker Falcon	2	0	breeding pairs	0	very unfavourable

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Habitat detail	Reference area (ha)	Actual area (ha)	Habitat quantity (% remaining)	Habitat quality (carrying capacity)	Result
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land	0	0	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	favourable
Grassland	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland	0	0	very poor (< 40%)	very poor (< 40%)	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Very little or no conservation action taking place	low

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Stepa Saraiu - Horea	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	4,127	protected area overlaps with site	3,908
Dunărea Veche - Brațul Măcin	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	19,012	protected area is adjacent to site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land	-
Grassland	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Stepa Saraiu - Horea. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/stepa-saraiu--horea-iba-romania on 25/09/2023.