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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

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

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

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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.