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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2023 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 Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	resident (2016–2019)	1,248 birds	A1, B1b, C1
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	resident (2016–2019)	45 birds	B1a, B1b, C1, C6
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	- (2016–2019)	700–2,100 birds	B3a, C3
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur	VU	breeding (2016–2019)	10–20 pairs	A1, C1
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	- (2016–2019)	632 birds	C6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	100–237 birds	B2a, B3a, C2, C6
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	- (2016–2019)	181 birds	C6
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	- (2016–2019)	95 birds	C6
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	11 pairs	C6
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	9 pairs	C6
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	resident (2016–2019)	501–507 birds	C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	- (2016–2019)	457–680 birds	B3a, C6
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	resident (2016–2019)	147 females	A4, B1a, B1b, B3a, C1, C2, C6
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	resident (2016–2019)	639 birds	B2a, B3a, C2, C6
Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	13–22 pairs	C6
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	- (2016–2019)	42–101 birds	C6
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	breeding (2016)	45–130 pairs	C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	non-breeding (2016–2019)	600–930 birds	C6
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	resident (2016–2019)	70–130 pairs	C6
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	resident (2016–2019)	4,143 birds	B1a, C1
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	resident (2016–2019)	75–190 birds	B1a, C1
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2016–2019)	960–3,423 birds	B1a, B3a, C1, C3
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage (2016–2019)	2,168–2,618 birds	C6
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea	VU	breeding (2016–2019)	734 birds	B1a, C1
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus	LC	non-breeding (2016–2019)	1,331–2,249 birds	B3a, C3
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola	LC	unknown (2016–2019)	486–750 birds	C6
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	159 pairs	B1b, B3a, C2, C6
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus	LC	non-breeding (2016–2019)	15–143 birds	C6
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	68–150 pairs	C6
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	5 pairs	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	5–80 pairs	C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	resident (2016–2019)	30 birds	C6
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	breeding (2016–2019)	8 pairs	C6

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2023. The most recent assessment (2019) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	-	moderate (70–90%)	moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (<4 years)	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
2019	Ulcinj salina	Nature Park (-)	100
2019	Ulcinj salina	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (-)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	99
Artificial/Terrestrial	1	Arable land
Shrubland	1

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ulcinj saltpans (Montenegro). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ulcinj-saltpans-iba-montenegro on 22/12/2024.