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close| Location | Lithuania, Kaunas |
| Central coordinates | 24o 8.00' East 54o 51.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, B3, C1, C6 |
| Area | 6,323 ha |
| Altitude | 40 - 70m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2004 |
Ornithological information There are important numbers of breeding Botaurus stellaris and Alcedo atthis. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-2 pairs) and Crex crex (a few calling males). Other notable breeding species include Aythya ferina (min. 20 pairs) and Dendrocopos medius (min. 6 pairs).
Site description This site covers the upper part of a reservoir used for generating hydroelectric power, and includes some islands as well as surrounding forests, swamps and meadows.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Pochard Aythya ferina | breeding | 1999 | 50 breeding pairs | unknown | B3 | Least Concern |
| Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris | breeding | 1998 | 15 breeding pairs | unknown | B2 | Least Concern |
| Black Kite Milvus migrans | breeding | 2001 | 9 breeding pairs | - | C6 | Least Concern |
| White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla | winter | 2001 | 10 individuals | - | C1 | Least Concern |
| Little Crake Porzana parva | breeding | 2001 | 5 breeding pairs | - | C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | breeding | 1997 | 15-20 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | breeding | 2001 | 20-25 breeding pairs | - | C6 | Least Concern |
| Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius | breeding | 1999 | 8 breeding pairs | unknown | B3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kauno marios | Regional Park | 10,173 | protected area overlaps with site | 6,000 | |
| Kauno marios - LTKAU0007 | Habitats Directive | 6,465 | protected area contains site | 6,323 | |
| Kauno marios - LTKAUB008 | Birds Directive | 5,775 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,867 | |
| Ornithological Reserve of the Kaunas municipality | Ornithological Reserve | 0 | protected area overlaps with site | 323 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Treeline ecotone | 16% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Urban parks and gardens | 2% |
| Grassland | 1% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 82% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | major |
| forestry | minor |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| water management | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Management considerations Due to hydropower generation, the water-levels of the reservoir fluctuate between day and night by as much as 0.5 m, although by less in summer. A serious impact on birds is predicted, although this has not yet been investigated.
Protection status National High International None10,173 ha of IBA covered by Regional Park (Kauno Marios, 10,173 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kauno Marios water reservoir & eastern coastal zone. 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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