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RO042
Defileul Inferior al Mureşului
Location Romania, Arad,Hunedoara,Timis
Central coordinates 21o 58.84' East  45o 59.10' North
IBA criteria C1, C6
Area 123,983 ha
Altitude 121 - 598m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Romanian Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This is an important passage site for waterbirds and raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (10-11 passage birds), Anser erythropus (passage), Haliaeetus albicilla (2-11 wintering birds), Aquila heliaca (passage) and Crex crex (passage). A total of 189 species have been recorded.

Site description The site includes a lake, deciduous forest and both wet and dry grassland. At the end of the lake is a 1-2 ha area of reed Phragmites and Salix scrub. The shores of the lake are dominated by grassland and Prunus spinosa scrub.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Stork Ciconia nigra breeding  1990-2006  8-10 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1990-2006  80-110 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1990-2006  8-12 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina breeding  1990-2006  60-70 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus breeding  1990-2006  3-4 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  1990-2006  150-180 breeding pairs  good  C1, C6  Least Concern 
Ural Owl Strix uralensis breeding  1990-2006  155-160 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  1990-2006  600-800 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis breeding  1990-2006  30-50 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius breeding  1990-2006  2,200-2,300 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius breeding  1990-2006  150-170 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus breeding  1990-2006  250-280 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor breeding  1990-2006  300-350 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea breeding  1990-2006  1,800-1,900 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria breeding  1990-2006  100-110 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Defileul MureÅului - ROSCI0064 Habitats Directive 32,003 protected area overlaps with site 22,591  
Defileul MureÅului Inferior - Dealurile Lipovei - ROSPA0029 Birds Directive 55,653 protected area overlaps with site 52,835  
Mlastinile Murani Nature Reserve 200 protected area contained by site 200  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland  40%
Shrubland   5%
Grassland Humid grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  40%
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  15%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 10%
fisheries/aquaculture 10%
forestry 30%
hunting 50%

Management considerations The main threats are posed by high hunting pressure, angling, wood cutting, and drying of the surrounding marsh as a result of dredging and canalization. A proposal has existed for many years for the whole area to be declared a reserve.

Protection status 200 ha of IBA covered by Nature/Ornithological Reserve (Mlastinile Murani, 200 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Defileul Inferior al Mureşului. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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