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close| Location | Austria, Niederösterreich |
| Central coordinates | 16o 14.00' East 47o 50.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, C6 |
| Area | 13,300 ha |
| Altitude | 210 - 355m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2009 |
Ornithological information The area is important for breeding species associated with grassland and arable agriculture. The IBA contains Austria's most important population of Burhinus oedicnemus and the largest population of Caprimulgus europaeus.
Site description The Steinfeld is an extensive plain south of Vienna. Until recently it was the largest area of primary dry grassland in central Europe. Today, 20 km2of grassland remain, mainly within a military area. The remainder of the IBA is arable land and Pinus nigra plantations. There are also several large gravel-pits and two small airfields.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus | breeding | 1997-2005 | 5-10 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus | breeding | 1997-2005 | 80 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris | breeding | 1997-2005 | 25 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 15% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Forestry plantations; Other urban and industrial areas | 85% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| urban/industrial/transport | 15% |
| military | 10% |
| forestry | 20% |
| agriculture | 55% |
Management considerations The main threats are from the conversion of grasslands to arable land and gravel-pits, road building and urbanization in ecologically sensitive areas and recreational use and refuse dumps in former gravel-pits. An action plan for of Burhinus oedicnemus exist.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Steinfeld. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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