Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large, richly vegetated delta of the Porvoo river, with few small meadows along the shores. At the heart of the site is a largish, shallow area of open water (Stenbölefjärden) bordered by belts of
Phragmites.
One of the most important breeding and staging areas for waterbirds in the country. Probably the best single congregatory area in spring in Finland for
Mergus merganser and
M. albellus. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Haliaeetus albicilla (max. 2 individuals, passage),
Crex crex (max. 3 pairs, breeding).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Human impact is considerable in most of the area, with many parts bordered by settlements, while boating and fishing disturbs avifauna in the interior of the site. Overgrowth of the wetland is also a threat. Hunting is permitted throughout the area, except the northernmost part (Ruskis) which remains a sanctuary for staging waterbirds in autumn. A large EU LIFE project has been started in the area. A birdwatching tower is situated at Ruskis, on the mouth of the Porvoo river. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
National Partial
International Partial446 ha of IBA covered by Protected Area on Private Lands (Ruskis, 226 ha, Stensböle, 85 ha, Stenbölefjärden, 273 ha). 235 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Ruskis, 235 ha). 764 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Porvoonjoen suisto-Stensböle).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Porvoonjoki Delta (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/porvoonjoki-delta-iba-finland on 23/12/2024.
