Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The site contains the estuary of the Sperchios river, an area of extensive saltmarshes and reedbeds (
Phragmites). Along the river is a mosaic of riverine forest, wet grassland and freshwater marsh.
This is an important area for species characteristic of riverine forest, reedbed and open water. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Phalacrocorax pygmeus (passage, wintering),
Aquila clanga (wintering),
Falco naumanni (breeding). The site regularly holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter (including
Anas crecca 4,250;
Recurvirostra avosetta 1,310).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are from agricultural expansion, drainage and infrastructure developments. Part of the riverine forest within the SPA has been cleared as a result of European Union funded flood-control work. The area is a candidate SAC.
National Low
International Partial1,225 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Ekvoles Sperchiou, 1,225 ha). 3,800 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Ygrotopos Ekvolon (Delta) Sperchiou, 3,966 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Spercheios valley and delta and Maliakos gulf (Greece). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/spercheios-valley-and-delta-and-maliakos-gulf-iba-greece on 23/11/2024.
