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close| Location | France, Aquitaine |
| Central coordinates | 1o 3.00' West 43o 2.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4iv, B1iv, C5, C6 |
| Area | 5,500 ha |
| Altitude | 530 - 1,440m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The site is a major migratory bottleneck, where more than 20,000 raptors regularly pass (including Pernis apivorus 18,000; Milvus migrans 13,000; Milvus milvus 4,600) and 15,000 Grus grus.
Site description A large mountain area encompassing mixed forests of Fagus and Picea, heathland, cliffs, screes and rivers.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Kite Milvus milvus | breeding | 1991 | 1-10 breeding pairs | - | C6 | Near Threatened |
| A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes | passage | 1991 | 50,600 individuals | - | A4iv, B1iv, C5 |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORET D'IRATY - FR7200753 | Habitats Directive | 2,500 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,191 | |
| Haute Cize : Pic d'Herrozate et forêt d'Orion - FR7212015 | Birds Directive | 6,388 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Haute Soule : Forêt d'Iraty, Orgambidexka et Pic des Escaliers. - FR7212005 | Birds Directive | 5,583 | protected area contains site | 5,500 | |
| LA NIVE - FR7200786 | Habitats Directive | 11,010 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| LE SAISON (COURS D'EAU) - FR7200790 | Habitats Directive | 2,200 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| MASSIF DES ARBAILLES - FR7200752 | Habitats Directive | 13,000 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| MONTAGNES DE LA HAUTE SOULE - FR7200750 | Habitats Directive | 14,750 | protected area overlaps with site | 594 | |
| MONTAGNES DE SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT - FR7200754 | Habitats Directive | 12,567 | protected area overlaps with site | 305 | |
| MONTAGNES DU PIC DES ESCALIERS - FR7200751 | Habitats Directive | 8,600 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,114 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Mixed woodland | - |
| Shrubland | Heathland | - |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | - |
| Rocky areas | Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| forestry | 80% |
| hunting | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Management considerations Hunting pressure is high. The construction of small houses is also a threat.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Haute Soule : Forêt d'Irraty, Organbidexka et Pic des Escaliers. 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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