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

Site description (2000 baseline)
The wooded basin of the upper and middle Bzyb river and its tributaries, all typical fast-flowing mountain rivers with many rapids. The valley lies between the Great Caucasus in the north, the Bzyb range in the south and the Gagra range in the west, towards which the valley widens. There are steep, in places precipitous, slopes on the left bank; the right bank is highly fractured by tributaries of the Bzyb. The forest is mainly of Fagus, Abies, Carpinus, Quercus, Alnus, with Rhododendron, etc. There is a long and continuing tradition of bee-keeping at this site (`Other' land-use).

Key biodiversity
The following refers to Pskhu-Gumista, i.e. sites 002 and 003 combined. The avifauna includes at least two of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane biome. A total of 142 species has been recorded at this site, including 86 passerines and at least 24 raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus (non-breeding visitor), Falco naumanni (occurs on passage). Among breeding raptors are Gypaetus barbatus (2-3 pairs) and Aquila chrysaetos (up to 2 pairs), while Pernis apivorus, Neophron percnopterus, Circaetus gallicus (very rare), Circus cyaneus, C. pygargus, Aquila pomarina, Hieraaetus pennatus, Pandion haliaetus and Falco vespertinus pass through on migration. Other breeding species include six woodpeckers, Phylloscopus nitidus and Certhia brachydactyla.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pskhu (Georgia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pskhu-iba-georgia on 22/11/2024.