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close| Location | Armenia, Syunik |
| Central coordinates | 45o 46.73' East 39o 41.05' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2 |
| Area | 5,923 ha |
| Altitude | 2,028 - 2,871m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2002 |
Ornithological information At present, it is the only IBA known to support a small breeding colony of Globally Threatened Lesser Kestrel in Armenia. However, it is also noted for the presence of orher IUCN listed species, Cinereous Vulture, Corncrake, Roller – many of national or international conservation importance.
Site description Gorayk IBA is located in the south of Armenia in Syunik Province. It occupies Syunik plateau and includes part of Spandarian reservoir built on Vorotan River. The area is predominantly agricultural with livestock grazing and pasture use making the basis of most agricultural activity.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | breeding | 1995-2006 | 10-20 breeding pairs | good | A1, B2 | Least Concern |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | breeding | 1995 | 1-2 breeding pairs | medium | A1 | Endangered |
| Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus | breeding | 1995 | 5-6 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos | breeding | 1995 | 2-3 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
Local conservation groups The local conservation group below is working to support conservation at this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| TV tower crew | 2007 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas | minor |
| Rocky areas | minor | |
| Grassland | Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | major |
| Artificial landscapes (aquatic) | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | minor |
| hunting | minor |
| rangeland/pastureland | major |
| energy production and mining | minor |
| fisheries/aquaculture | minor |
| Notes: Small percentage of aquaculture is present in IBA. | |
Other biodiversity Gorayk IBA forms part of the Caucasus Hotspot. Ecosystems here provide key habitats for animal species such as wolf, fox, stone marten, badger and hare. Some species of amphibians, reptiles and rodents also inhabit the area.
Conservation response Development of the IBA Caretaker Network in the Caucasus
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gorayk. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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