Data Zone
Country/territory: Austria
IBA criteria met: B2 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,754 hectares (47.54 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
There are about 1,400 fish-ponds with a total surface of about 1,700 ha. The IBA consists of six discrete areas isolated from each other. Larger ponds often have extensive stands of reed Phragmites and other aquatic vegetation. Wet grassland, hay-meadows and Picea forests surround the ponds. The main human activity is fish-farming with some agriculture.
Key biodiversity
The site is important for breeding species associated with reedbeds and open water. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (5-10 breeding pairs).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fish-ponds in the Waldviertel (Austria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fish-ponds-in-the-waldviertel-iba-austria on 27/12/2024.