Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The Steinfeld is an extensive plain south of Vienna. Until recently it was the largest area of primary dry grassland in central Europe. Today, 20 km
2of grassland remain, mainly within a military area. The remainder of the IBA is arable land and
Pinus nigra plantations. There are also several large gravel-pits and two small airfields.
The area is important for breeding species associated with grassland and arable agriculture. The IBA contains Austria's most important population of
Burhinus oedicnemus and the largest population of
Caprimulgus europaeus.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are from the conversion of grasslands to arable land and gravel-pits, road building and urbanization in ecologically sensitive areas and recreational use and refuse dumps in former gravel-pits. An action plan for of
Burhinus oedicnemus exist.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Steinfeld (Austria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/steinfeld-iba-austria on 23/11/2024.
