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HU031
Bihar Plain
Location Hungary, Békés,Hajdú-Bihar
Central coordinates 21o 26.00' East  47o 6.00' North
IBA criteria C1, C2, C6
Area 50,887 ha
Altitude 86 - 131m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society



Ornithological information An important area for birds of lowland dry grassland. The site is part of a wider network of grassland fragments and includes areas that hold important local populations of Otis tarda. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (8 wintering birds), Aquila heliaca (1-5 birds on passage).

Site description A poorly-drained flood-plain situated between alluvial fans, and overlain by meadow and saline soils. The site is made up of four subsites: Nagy-Kerek-tiszta at Püspökladány, Gatály at Szerep, ásvány at Bihardancsháza, and the largest site, which lies between Váncsod and Csökmõ. The area is dominated by saline grasslands, which form a mosaic with extensive arable lands. Human activities include cattle- and sheep-grazing, goose and arable farming.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus breeding  2001  50-65 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Near Threatened 
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus passage  2001  200 individuals  unknown  C2  Near Threatened 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla winter  2001  15 individuals  unknown  C1  Least Concern 
Great Bustard Otis tarda breeding  2001  80-110 individuals  unknown  C1, C6  Vulnerable 
Common Crane Grus grus passage  2001  5,000-8,000 individuals  unknown  C2  Least Concern 
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus breeding  2001  35-50 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor breeding  2001  80-130 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Berekböszörménykörmösdpusztai legelõk - HUHN20103 Habitats Directive 1,371 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Bihar - HUHN10003 Birds Directive 71,610 protected area overlaps with site 44,621  
Bihari -Sík Landscape Protected Area 17,095 protected area contained by site 17,095  
Bihari legelo Nature Conservation Area 771 protected area contained by site 711  
Bihari-legelõ - HUHN20101 Habitats Directive 2,644 protected area overlaps with site 2,221  
Csökmõi gyepek - HUHN20105 Habitats Directive 607 protected area contained by site 607  
Darvasi Csiff-puszta - HUHN20070 Habitats Directive 472 protected area overlaps with site 157  
Dél-ásványi gyepek - HUHN20098 Habitats Directive 1,483 protected area overlaps with site 945  
Dévaványa környéki gyepek - HUKM20014 Habitats Directive 14,027 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Gatály - HUHN20100 Habitats Directive 714 protected area overlaps with site 475  
Kaba-földesi gyepek - HUHN20093 Habitats Directive 5,080 protected area overlaps with site 890  
Közép-Bihar - HUHN20013 Habitats Directive 12,045 protected area contained by site 12,045  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  50%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Forestry plantations; Highly improved re-seeded landscapes  50%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 95%

Management considerations Due to poor soil conditions the majority of the area is regarded as less favoured for agriculture purposes. Protection measures for Otis tarda are in place through MME, although extensive land-reclamation works, including the installation of irrigation systems, have destroyed areas of O. tarda habitat.

Protection status National Partial International None711 ha of IBA covered by Nature Conservation Area (Bihari legelõ, 711 ha). 17,095 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Protected Area (Bihari-sík, 17,095 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Bihar Plain. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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