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close| Location | Russia (European), Astrakhan region |
| Central coordinates | 48o 30.00' East 46o 0.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 1,059,800 ha |
| Altitude | |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Ornithological information Immense numbers of waterbirds breed in the delta, including 56,800_pairs of herons (Ardeidae), cormorants Phalacrocorax, Plegadis falcinellus and Platalea leucorodia alone, although this total has decreased in recent years. During migration, a total of 7_million waterbirds pass through the area in spring, and 5--10_million in the autumn. The number of waterfowl overwintering in the delta depends on the severity of the weather, but can include important numbers of Cygnus cygnus.
Site description Located in the southern part of Astrakhan region.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides | breeding | 1988 | 1,315-4,050 breeding pairs | good | A4i, B1i, B2 | Least Concern |
| Great Egret Casmerodius albus | breeding | 1988 | 4,640-5,250 breeding pairs | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | breeding | 1996 | 175 breeding pairs | good | A1, A4i, B1i, B2 | Vulnerable |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrakhanskiy Zapovednik | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | 97,816 | protected area contained by site | 66,816 |
|
| Astrakhansky | Zapovednik | 66,816 | protected area contained by site | 66,816 |
|
| Astrakhansky (Buffer Zone) | Buffer Zone - Zapovednik | 18,010 | protected area contained by site | 18,010 |
|
| Volga Delta | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 800,000 | protected area contained by site | 800,000 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | - |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | 10% |
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest | 5% |
| Grassland | Humid grasslands | 20% |
| Coastline | Lagoons; Mud flats & sand flats; Sand dunes & beaches; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 10% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 75% |
| forestry | 10% |
| hunting | 95% |
| nature conservation and research | 5% |
| tourism/recreation | 20% |
Conservation response The site is included in the list of Ramsar Sites for Russia (confirmed by the government in 1995). Also part of the area is covered by the Astrakhan Biosphere Reserve. Many scientific and monitoring projects are ongoing here. In 1983 small areas were covered also by Nature Monuments: "Staroigolkinski" (6 ha), "Khazovski" (6 ha) and "Gandurinski" (5 ha).
Acknowledgements The identification of IBAs and information collected between 1980 and 2009 provided by the IBA network of the Russian Bird Conservation Union (RBCU).
References G.M.Rusanov, V.G.Krivenko, N.N.Moshonkin, I.E.Kamennova.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Volga Delta. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
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