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close| Location | Portugal, Alentejo |
| Central coordinates | 7o 0.00' West 38o 59.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i, B2, B3, C1, C2, C6 |
| Area | 9,575 ha |
| Altitude | 190 - 341m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2002 |
Ornithological information An important area for steppic species, specially for the conservation of Otis tarda in Portugal, as well as one of the most important wintering sites for Grus grus.
Site description Open plains used for cultivation of cereals (mostly wheat) in rotation with melon, sunflower and tomato. Pastoral woodland and fallow areas are grazed by sheep and cattle. Low level of human activity.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus | breeding | 2002 | 15-20 breeding pairs | good | B3, C6 | Least Concern |
| Great Bustard Otis tarda | resident | 2002 | 50-60 individuals | good | A1, C1, C6 | Vulnerable |
| Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax | resident | 2002 | 120-150 individuals | good | A1, B2, C1, C6 | Near Threatened |
| Common Crane Grus grus | winter | 2002 | 800-1,000 unknown | good | A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus | breeding | 1996 | 20-30 breeding pairs | medium | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caia - PTCON0030 | Habitats Directive | 31,115 | protected area overlaps with site | 5,117 | |
| Campo Maior - PTZPE0043 | Birds Directive | 9,579 | is identical to site | 9,575 | |
| S. Mamede - PTCON0007 | Habitats Directive | 116,114 | protected area overlaps with site | 4,396 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved evergreen woodland | 30% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 70% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 30% |
| agriculture | 70% |
Management considerations The non-intensive cultivation of cereals maintains favourable habitat for steppic bird species, but the advent of irrigated crops in the IBA and the construction of a large dam nearby, to provide water for further irrigation, are strong indicators that further agricultural intensification will take place in the future. Birds are disturbed by the increasing road-traffic and by irrigation structures operating in the vicinity.
Protection status National: Spetial protection area Campo Maior, 9575 ha overlaps with IBAInternational : SPA Campo Maior and Candidature SIC Caia
References Pinto & Hellmich (1996)
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Campo Maior. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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