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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding (1990–2006)	100–120 pairs	C1, C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	54–68 pairs	C2, C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	28–44 pairs	C6
Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	120–140 pairs	C6
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	380–440 pairs	C2, C6
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	160–230 pairs	C2, C6
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	90–100 pairs	C2, C6
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	40–60 pairs	C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	420–560 pairs	C2, C6
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	90–120 pairs	C2
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	winter (1990–2006)	240 birds	C2
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	passage (1990–2006)	700–800 birds	C2
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo	LC	passage (1990–2006)	1,600–3,000 birds	C3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	passage (1990–2006)	340–420 birds	C1
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	90–100 pairs	C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	20–30 pairs	C6
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	breeding (1990–2006)	170–180 pairs	C1, C6

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Grassland	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor
Shrubland	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor
Wetlands (inland)	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
2000	Pădurea Stârmina	Rezervatie naturala (IV)	<1
2000	Pădurea Bunget	Rezervatie naturala (IV)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	90	Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation
Grassland	5
Shrubland	5

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	70
agriculture	5

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Blahniţa (Romania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/blahniţa-iba-romania on 23/12/2024.