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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2002 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 (1996–2001)	1–6 pairs	A1, C1, C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	winter (1999–2001)	10–24 birds	C6
Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus	LC	breeding (1999–2001)	20–24 pairs	C6
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	breeding (1995–2001)	7–21 pairs	C6
Black Kite Milvus migrans	LC	breeding (1999–2001)	15–16 pairs	C6

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1984	Riserva naturale Palude Brabbia	Riserva naturale regionale/provinciale (IV)	19
1984	Riserva naturale Lago di Biandronno	Riserva naturale regionale/provinciale (IV)	5

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	83	Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs
Forest	10	Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Alluvial and very wet forest
Artificial/Terrestrial	3	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Forestry plantations
Grassland	2	Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands
Shrubland	2	Scrub

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	52
water management	50
nature conservation and research	48
tourism/recreation	30
urban/industrial/transport	5
agriculture	3

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Brabbia peatland, Lake Varese and Lake Biandronno (Italy). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/brabbia-peatland-lake-varese-and-lake-biandronno-iba-italy on 31/12/2024.