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LT003
The northern part of the Curonian Lagoon
Location Lithuania, Klaipeda
Central coordinates 20o 54.00' East  55o 56.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, C1, C2, C3
Area 1,476 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2004

Lietuvos Ornitologu Draugija (Affiliate)



Ornithological information An important area for staging and wintering waterbirds, supporting more than 20,000 birds in total, especially ducks and swans. The site is very important for wintering Mergus albellus and M. merganser.

Site description The coastline and adjacent brackish water area (up to 2 km offshore) of a shallow marine bay. The area is used for shipping and industrial fishing.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons -  -  6,000-9,000 individuals  -  C3  Least Concern 
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus passage  1999  800 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus passage  1999  700 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Northern Pintail Anas acuta passage  1999  1,900 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Common Pochard Aythya ferina passage  1999  4,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Common Pochard Aythya ferina -  -  3,500-4,500 individuals  -  C3  Least Concern 
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula -  -  4,000-10,000 individuals  -  C3  Least Concern 
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula passage  1999  3,000-3,500 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula -  -  2,000-3,500 individuals  -  C3  Least Concern 
Smew Mergellus albellus winter  1999  300-1,400 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Smew Mergellus albellus -  -  400-1,000 individuals  -  C2  Least Concern 
Common Merganser Mergus merganser winter  1999  3,000-28,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Common Merganser Mergus merganser passage  1999  1,800-4,500 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Common Merganser Mergus merganser -  -  10,000-15,000 individuals  -  C3  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo passage  1999  2,800 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla winter  1999  20-30 individuals  good  A1  Least Concern 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla -  -  20-30 individuals  -  C1  Least Concern 
Little Gull Larus minutus passage  1999  1,500 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Little Gull Larus minutus -  -  1,500-2,000 individuals  -  C2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1999  20,000 individuals  unknown  A4iii   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Kurðiu marios - LTSIU0012 Habitats Directive 31,642 protected area contains site 1,476  
Kursiu nerijos nacionalinis parkas - LTKLAB001 Birds Directive 23,859 protected area overlaps with site 138  
Luzijos ir Tyru pelkes - LTKLA0005 Habitats Directive 2,684 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Tyru pelke - LTKLAB002 Birds Directive 2,235 protected area is adjacent to site 0  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Coastline Lagoons  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture major
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport major

Protection status National None International None

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: The northern part of the Curonian Lagoon. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

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