Data Zone
Country/territory: Azerbaijan
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3 (2005)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 15,000 hectares (150.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2008 | poor | high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2005 baseline)
Delta of the Kura, the largest river in the Transcaucasus, with reedbeds, flooded areas, bushes and shallows. Kura River splits on two main distributaries at the delta - Boyuk Kur and Kichik Kur. Site has magnificent food sources and protective conditions for waterbirds. It is one of main fishing district in the country. Land-uses include hunting, fishing, grazing and fish-ponds. To the south there are oil fields.
Key biodiversity
One of the two most important sites for wintering Pelecanus in Azerbaijan. Site also hold one of the biggest winter population of Red-Crested Pochard. This site is characterized by high numbers of waders during winter and migration seasons. Other breeding Ciconiiformes include Botaurus stellaris, Ixobrychus minutus, Egretta alba, Ardea cinerea, A. purpurea and Platalea leucorodia, and there are many thousands of other passage and winter visitors.
Non-bird biodiversity: There are about 70 species of fish at this place (most of them have big importance for fishing industry). The most important are: Huso huso, Acipenser guldenstadti, A. stellatus, Salmo trutta caspius etc.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kura Delta (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kura-delta-iba-azerbaijan on 23/12/2024.