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ES252
Medina and Puerto Real lagoons
Location Spain, Andalucía
Central coordinates 6o 3.00' West  36o 37.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C6
Area 4,900 ha
Altitude 20 - 117m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information An important site for wintering and non-breeding wildfowl and also for dispersing Aquila adalberti.

Site description A complex of lagoons with fluctuating water-levels. Some become dry in summer. There are several areas of dense Tamarix, Juncus, Typha and Phragmites-dominated vegetation. The marshland is surrounded by scrub, grassland and cereal cultivation.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris non-breeding  1990  110 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala non-breeding  1997  104 individuals  good  B1i, C2  Endangered 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus non-breeding  1992  800 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti non-breeding  1994  7 individuals  good  A1, C1  Vulnerable 
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio resident  1992  10 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata resident  1996  3 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Common Coot Fulica atra winter  1992  25,000 individuals  medium  B1i, C3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Complejo endorreico de Puerto Real Natural Reserve 104 protected area contained by site 104  
COMPLEJO ENDORREICO DE PUERTO REAL - ES0000030 Birds Directive 863 protected area contained by site 863  
LAGUNA DE LAS CANTERAS Y EL TEJON - ES6120014 Birds Directive 200 protected area contained by site 200  
Laguna de Medina Natural Reserve 121 protected area contained by site 121  
LAGUNA DE MEDINA - ES0000027 Birds Directive 355 protected area contained by site 355  
Lagunas de Cádiz (Laguna de Medina y Laguna Salada) Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 158 protected area overlaps with site 0  
Lagunas de las Canteras y El Tejón Natural Reserve 4 protected area contained by site 4  
SALADO DE SAN PEDRO - ES6120027 Habitats Directive 31 protected area overlaps with site 12  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland Scrub  5%
Grassland Dry siliceous grassland  25%
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation  15%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  55%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 55%
tourism/recreation 5%
not utilised 10%

Management considerations The main threat is sedimentation as a result of agricultural intensification. The presence of Oxyura jamaicensis is a threat to O. leucocephala population.

Protection status National Low International Low104 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Complejo endorreico de Puerto Real, 104 ha). 121 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Laguna de Medina, 121 ha). 4 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Lagunas de las Canteras y El Tejón, 4 ha). 121 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Laguna de Medina, 121 ha). 300 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Lagunas de Puerto Real: Taraje, Comisario y San Anto, 300 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Medina and Puerto Real lagoons. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife