• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2000 baseline)
The western end of a mesotrophic, shallow, natural freshwater lake, shared with Greece (site 047). It is linked to the north with the much larger Lake Megali Prespa and is fed by seasonal streams. The main surface of the Albanian part of the lake is covered by reedbeds and surrounded by rocky scrub. In winter it freezes almost completely. The area is used for many purposes including grazing by large numbers of cattle.

Key biodiversity
The lake supports very important breeding populations of Pelecanus crispus and Phalacrocorax pygmeus although the breeding sites are in the Greek section of the lake, the birds also forage within the Albanian section. In winter the Albanian part of the lake is important for Phalacrocorax pygmeus, but in general for wintering waterbirds the area is less important as it is covered by ice for several months. Little data are available on breeding birds but Chlidonias hybridus (30-50 pairs) and Ixobrychus minutus (2-20 pairs) are known to breed.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Mikri Prespa (Albania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-mikri-prespa-iba-albania on 24/11/2024.