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close| Location | Spain, Islas Canarias |
| Central coordinates | 14o 10.00' West 28o 23.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, B2, B3, C1, C6 |
| Area | 700 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 292m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The site is one of the most important sites on the island for breeding Saxicola dacotiae, raptors and steppic species, and is also important as a stop-over site for migrating passerines.
Site description The gully of Ajuí is located in the west of Fuerteventura, and holds running water, scrub, grassland, agricultural land and small copses of Tamarix. Betancuria is a mountainous area, semi-desertic with sparse vegetation. Human activities include goat-grazing.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara | resident | 1995 | 10 breeding pairs | medium | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | resident | 1994 | 1-2 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Endangered |
| Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus | resident | 1995 | 6 breeding pairs | medium | C6 | Least Concern |
| Plain Swift Apus unicolor | resident | 1995 | common [units unknown] | - | A2, B3 | Least Concern |
| Fuerteventura Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae | resident | 1995 | 10 breeding pairs | poor | A1, A2, B2, C1, C6 | Near Threatened |
| Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotii | resident | 1995 | common [units unknown] | - | A2 | Least Concern |
| Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus | resident | 1995 | common [units unknown] | - | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betancuria | Rural Park | 16,544 | protected area contains site | 700 |
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| Betancuria - ES0000097 | Birds Directive | 16,672 | protected area overlaps with site | 650 | |
| Betancuria - ES7010062 | Habitats Directive | 3,329 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Vega de Ro Palmas - ES7010024 | Habitats Directive | 366 | protected area overlaps with site | 124 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | - | |
| Desert | Semidesert | - |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | - |
| Rocky areas | Inland cliffs | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Ruderal land | 26% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 26% |
| tourism/recreation | 26% |
| water management | - |
Management considerations The construction of water infrastructure, dredging and canalization, electric powerlines, disturbance to birds by tourists, and illegal hunting are the main threats to the site. Overgrazing is also a problem, and introduced rats Rattus, feral cats Felis catus, and dogs pose a threat to breeding birds. A portion of the site is a game refuge.
Protection status National High International High700 ha of IBA covered by Rural Park (Betancuria, 16,544 ha). 700 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Betancuria, 15,538 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gully of Ajuí-Betancuria. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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