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PT039
Mondego Estuary
Location Portugal, Centro
Central coordinates 8o 50.00' West  40o 8.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, C3, C6
Area 1,518 ha
Altitude 0 - 16m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves



Ornithological information During the winter and migrations the estuary has a great value for waterbirds, notably for Recurvirostra avosetta with more than 700 individuals.this site has two breeding couples of Circus aeruginosus, the number of this species rises during the winter.Very records of Pandion haliaetus confirm the importance of this site as wintering and passage migratory place.Also ardea purpurea is here during breeding season

Site description This site is in the mouth of River Mondego. River Mondego is divided in two arms surrounding alluvion island( Ilha de Murraceira).The two arms are joined again about 1 Km of the mouth, in front of Figueira da Foz. South arm has intertidal areas, salt marshes and reedbeds. Ilha Murraceira and south area of south arm has salt marshes and aquaculture. The area between south arm and River Pranto holds salt marshes, reedbeds and rice-fields

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus winter  2002  140 unknown  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea passage  2002  frequent [units unknown]  -  C6  Least Concern 
Osprey Pandion haliaetus winter  2001  frequent [units unknown]  -  C6  Least Concern 
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus resident  2000  2 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus breeding  1999  39-274 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta winter  2000  505-977 unknown  unknown  A4i, B1i, C3, C6  Least Concern 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons breeding  2002  4 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica winter  2002  frequent [units unknown]  -  C6  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing brackish and salt water  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
other -
Notes: salinicutura
fisheries/aquaculture -
tourism/recreation -
water management -
agriculture -
hunting -

Management considerations Excessive flux of nutrients from agriculture of Baixo Mondego Valley cause filling-in. There is a gradual transformation of actives salt marshes(salinas) in aquaculture or abandoned salt marshes what reduce the feeding and nesting habitat for waders.Hunting of waders and flamingos has been registered.

Protection status National:NoneInternational:None

References Múrias(1997)Múrias et al.(1997)Rosa et al. (2001c)Lopes et al.(2002)Catry (2002)

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mondego Estuary. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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