IR012
South Caspian shore, from Astara to Gomishan


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year[s] of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula LC winter (1970–1977) 813 birds B1i
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina LC winter (1970–1977) 2,385 birds B1i
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula LC winter (1970–1977) 39,900 birds A4i, B1i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata LC winter (1970–1977) 4,350 birds A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera LC winter (1970–1977) 3,250 birds A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC winter (1970–1977) 12,900 birds A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos LC winter (1970–1977) 170,000 birds A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca LC winter (1970–1977) 171,000 birds A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus LC winter (1970–1977) 8,875 birds A4i, B1i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis LC winter (1970–1977) 760 birds A4i, B1i
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata LC winter (1977) 2 birds A4i, B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus NT winter (1970–1977) 83 birds A1, A4i, B1i
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC winter (1970–1977) 3,500 birds A4i, B1i
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC passage (1977) 340 birds B1i
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus LC passage (1977) 310 birds B1i
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT passage (1977) 275 birds B1i
Sanderling Calidris alba LC passage (1977) 2,070 birds A4i, B1i
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus LC winter (1970–1977) 700 birds B1i
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LC winter (1970–1977) 7,600 birds A4i, B1i
Mew Gull Larus canus LC winter (1970–1977) 960 birds B1i
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC passage (1977) 1,100 birds A4i, B1i
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla LC resident (1977) common A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (1970–1977) 100,000-499,999 birds A4iii

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1975 Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge (IV) 2
2002 Bojagh National Park (II) 1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) major (>10) Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens & peatlands; Permanent freshwater lakes; Permanent freshwater marshes & pools; Permanent rivers, streams & creeks; Permanent saline, brackish & alkaline lakes; Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes & pools

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture major (>10)
tourism/recreation major (>10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: South Caspian shore, from Astara to Gomishan (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/south-caspian-shore-from-astara-to-gomishan-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 05/12/2024.