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close| Location | Austria, Niederösterreich |
| Central coordinates | 16o 50.00' East 48o 26.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2, C6 |
| Area | 15,457 ha |
| Altitude | 140 - 170m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2009 |
Ornithological information The site is important for breeding woodland and wetland species. Species of global conservation concern that does not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (8 wintering birds).
Site description This site lies on the border with Slovakia and is the largest lowland river system in Austria. Annual floods inundate large parts of the lowland area. The majority of the IBA consists of alluvial/very wet forest, dominated by Fraxinus and Quercus, oxbows and wetlands. Wet meadows occupy about 10 km2Human activities include forestry, hunting and angling.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garganey Anas querquedula | breeding | 1997-2005 | 10-20 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Least Concern |
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | 1994 | 6-8 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| White Stork Ciconia ciconia | breeding | 1996 | 95 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax | breeding | 1989 | 3-4 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Saker Falcon Falco cherrug | breeding | 1994 | 1-2 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Endangered |
| Red Kite Milvus milvus | breeding | 1997-2005 | 2-7 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Near Threatened |
| Black Kite Milvus migrans | breeding | 1994 | 15-18 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla | resident | 1997-2005 | 2-3 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | breeding | 1994 | 11-15 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | non-breeding | 1997-2005 | 2-3 breeding pairs | good | A1, B2, C6 | Vulnerable |
| Corncrake Crex crex | breeding | 1997-2005 | 20-38 males only | good | A1, B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | breeding | 2002-2005 | 15-43 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | breeding | 1994 | 20-25 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angerner und Dürnkruter Marchschlingen | Nature Reserve | 81 | protected area overlaps with site | 81 |
|
| Donau-March-Thaya-Auen | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 36,090 | protected area contains site | 12,000 |
|
| Kleiner Breitensee | Nature Reserve | 44 | protected area overlaps with site | 44 |
|
| March--Thaya--Auen | Birds Directive | 13,009 | protected area contains site | 12,000 | |
| Rabensburger Thaya - Auen | Nature Reserve | 385 | protected area overlaps with site | 385 |
|
| Salzsteppe Baumgarten a.d. March | Nature Reserve | 11 | protected area overlaps with site | 11 | |
| Untere Marchauen | Nature Reserve | 1,166 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,166 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest | 80% |
| Grassland | Humid grasslands | 10% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | 5% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 5% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 80% |
| agriculture | 15% |
| not utilised | 5% |
Management considerations The planed Donau-Oder-Kanal could have a dramatic impact on the ecosystem. Plans for a new bridge and road are a serious threat to the northern part of the IBA. Hunting, particularly of wildfowl, occurs.
Protection status National Partial International High1,687 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserves (Rabensburger Thaya-Auen, 385 ha; Angerner und Dürnkruter Marchschlingen, 81 ha; Salzsteppe Baumgarten a.d. March, 11 ha; Untere Marchauen, 1,166 ha; Kleiner Breitensee, 44 ha). 12,000 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Donau-March-Auen, 38,500 ha). 12,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (March-Thaya-Auen, 13,009 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: March/Thaya riverine forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013
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