Data Zone
Country/territory: Hungary
IBA criteria met: C1, C2, C3, C6 (2002)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 12,072 hectares (120.72 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
Situated south-west of Lake Balaton at the mouth of the Zala river. Originally part of the lake, the site has silted up and reverted to mire. In 1992 51 km2of adjacent agricultural lands were flooded, and open water and extensive reedbeds (Phragmites) and sedgebeds (Carex) are now the main habitat types. Human activities include construction works, angling, fishing and reed-harvesting (`Other' land-use, below).
Key biodiversity
This site is important for breeding herons (Ardeidae) and migratory wildfowl, especially geese. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-2 breeding pairs; 10-15 wintering birds), Crex crex (10-15 breeding pairs). Nationally important for breeding Phalacrocorax carbo (minimum 950 pairs).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Kis-Balaton (Hungary). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-kis-balaton-iba-hungary on 27/12/2024.