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close| Location | Finland, Itä-Suomen lääni |
| Central coordinates | 30o 38.00' East 62o 12.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2, C1, C6 |
| Area | 745 ha |
| Altitude | 70 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information One of the few known regular breeding sites in Finland for Emberiza aureola (3-7 pairs). Tringa stagnatilis has bred twice during the 1985-1995 period. Also a nationally important spring staging area for Anser fabalis (400-600 birds), Tringa erythropus (100-500 birds), T. nebularia (100-500 birds) and Calcarius lapponicus (1,000-5,000 birds). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Circus macrourus (max. 3 birds, passage), Aquila clanga (max. 1 bird, passage), Gallinago media (1-5 birds, passage).
Site description A diverse, fertile, open valley surrounded by large areas of woodland situated around the settlement of Värtsilä. The area includes two small, shallow, eutrophic lakes, Sääperi and Uudenkylänlampi, surrounded by farmland, mostly cereals, and also by wild meadows. The Jänisjoki river flows across the area, into Lake Ladoga in Russia.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corncrake Crex crex | breeding | 1996 | 10-25 breeding pairs | good | A1, B2, C1, C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Gull Larus minutus | breeding | 1991 | 40 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Värtsilän laakso (SPA) - FI0700025 | Birds Directive | 522 | protected area overlaps with site | 465 | |
| Värtsilän laakson luontokokonaisuus - FI0700004 | Habitats Directive | 212 | protected area overlaps with site | 183 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Mixed woodland | - |
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater | 40% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 55% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 30% |
| hunting | 40% |
| unknown | 25% |
Management considerations A few hundred people live in the valley and impact on the area. Disturbance is greatest in autumn when wildfowling starts. There have been attempts to manage the scrub on the shores of Sääperi lake specifically for improving the breeding habitat for Emberiza aureola, but without success. Overgrowth of the wetland is a threat. A birdwatching tower is situated on the shore of Sääperi lake. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
Protection status National None International Partial498 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Värtsilän laakson luontokokonaisuus).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Värtsilä valley. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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