PL076
Starzawa ponds


Site description (2000 baseline):

Site location and context
A pond complex with adjacent wet meadows, riverine forests and arable land, situated between the Wisznia river (the San tributary) and the Bucowski Canal near to the Polish-Ukrainian border. Most of the pond area is overgrown with submerged pondweed Potamogeton, floating water-lilies Nymphaea and fringing belts of reed Phragmites. The ponds are intensively used for fish-farming.



Key biodiversity
An important area for waterbirds migrating along the Wis³a (Vistula), San and Dniestr rivers, with up to 10,000-40,000 staging here in autumn, mainly Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya ferina, Fulica atra, Vanellus vanellus and Larus ridibundus. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (3-4 pairs), Haliaeetus albicilla (one non-breeding bird), Crex crex.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats include reed-cutting during the breeding season (`Other').



Protected areas
National None International None




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Starzawa ponds. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/starzawa-ponds-iba-poland on 10/12/2023.