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The site was identified as important in 2010 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix	LC	breeding	2008	107 males	C6
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	passage	2007-2010	300 individuals	C2
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	passage	2007-2010	50,000 individuals	C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	passage	2007-2010	25,000 individuals	C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	passage	2007-2010	10,000 individuals	C3
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	breeding	2006	700 males	C1, C6
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	LC	breeding	1991-1997	300-1,500 males	C6
Little Crake Zapornia parva	LC	breeding	1991-1997	27-80 males	C6
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	passage	2009	1,900 individuals	C2
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding	2009	600 breeding pairs	C6
Black Stork Ciconia nigra	LC	breeding	1989-1994	24-26 breeding pairs	C6
White Stork Ciconia ciconia	LC	breeding	2009	300-400 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding	1991-2000	27-120 males	C2, C6
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	breeding	2008-2009	10 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	breeding	2007-2010	50 breeding pairs	C1
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	breeding	2007-2010	200 breeding pairs	C1
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage	2007-2010	20,000 individuals	C2
Great Snipe Gallinago media	NT	breeding	1991-1997	400-480 males	C1, C2, C6
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding	1991-2000	1-150 breeding pairs	C6
Black Tern Chlidonias niger	LC	breeding	1991-1997	200-700 breeding pairs	C2, C6
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	breeding	2008-2009	4 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo	LC	breeding	2005-2009	34-35 breeding pairs	C6
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina	LC	breeding	2005-2009	34-35 breeding pairs	C6
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	breeding	2005-2009	21-23 breeding pairs	C1, C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding	1991-1997	170-296 breeding pairs	C6
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus	LC	breeding	1997	97 breeding pairs	C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	breeding	2005-2009	12-13 breeding pairs	C6
Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus	LC	breeding	1990-1997	70-80 breeding pairs	C6
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos	LC	breeding	2005-2009	100 breeding pairs	C6
Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola	VU	breeding	2009	2,528 males	C1, C6
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica	LC	breeding	2006	100 breeding pairs	C6
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva	LC	breeding	1991-1997	250-350 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2007-2010	100,000 individuals	C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2010) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2010. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1958	Czapliniec Bełda	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1982	Dolina Biebrzy	Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu	14
1982	Pojezierze Rajgrodzkie	Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu	4
1993	Biebrzański Park Narodowy	Park Narodowy	43
1995	Biebrzanski National Park (Biebrzanski Park Narodowy)	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	43
1995	Szelągówka	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
2001	Dolina Biebrzy	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	77
2004	Ostoja Biebrzańska	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers and streams, Raised bogs, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	31
Grassland	Humid grasslands	27
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland, Mixed woodland, Alluvial and very wet forest	26
Artificial/Terrestrial	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes, Other urban and industrial areas, Ruderal land	15
Other		1

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	47
not utilised	43
forestry	28
agriculture	26
hunting	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Biebrza river valley (Poland). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/biebrza-river-valley-iba-poland on 22/11/2024.