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Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Two freshwater lakes, 15 km east of the village of Montepulciano. The lakes are surrounded by extensive reedbeds, cultivated land and small broadleaved woodlands, and there are also some small artificial ponds called Vasche di Dolciano. Lake water-levels fluctuate greatly during the year.
An important area for breeding
Ixobrychus minutus, wintering
Phalacrocorax carbo, and for a mixed heronry at Lago di Chiusi. Herons and cormorants roost at Vasche di Dolciano. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aythya nyroca (1-2 pairs breed, max. 4 in winter).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are: the lack of management of the fluctuating water-levels (`Other' threat, above); water pollution from surrounding cultivated areas; disturbance of birds by hunting in the surroundings; burning of vegetation. Some or all of the site is covered by a management plan. There is a LIPU reserve covering part of Lake Montepucliano. A LIFE-supported project at Lake Montepulciano for conservation of
Aythya nyroca and
Botaurus stellaris.
National Partial
International None300 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Reserve (Lago di Montepulciano, 300 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lakes Montepulciano and Chiusi (Italy). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lakes-montepulciano-and-chiusi-iba-italy on 23/11/2024.
