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close| Location | Iran, Islamic Republic of, Gilan |
| Central coordinates | 48o 50.00' East 38o 20.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 949 ha |
| Altitude | |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. A pair of Haliaeetus albicilla bred in the area in the 1970s, and may still do so. The wetlands support small numbers of waterfowl in winter, for example Egretta garzetta (120), while the adjacent beach occasionally holds substantial numbers of shorebirds for short periods during migration. Situated on the west coast of the Caspian, at a point where the coastal plain is almost at its narrowest, the site lies in a bird migration corridor, and is thus an excellent locality for observing migration. Large numbers of herons and egrets have been observed migrating south over the site and adjacent Caspian Sea in autumn (including 1,320 in a single day in September), while a wide variety of migrant landbirds occur in the woodlands and marshes. At least 167 species have been recorded in the reserve.
Site description A small area of swampy woodland and freshwater marshes adjacent to the Caspian beach c.10 km south of Astara. The site is bordered to the west by the main coast road from Astara to Bandar Anzali. The narrow coastal plain comprises a series of old beach ridges, with swampy woodland dominated by Alnus, permanent pools with extensive stands of Juncus in the depressions, and scrub on high ground. Land ownership is public.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides | passage | 1977 | 360 individuals | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | passage | 1977 | 340 individuals | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | passage | 1977 | 520 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | 1970-1977 | 146 individuals | good | A1, B2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavandavil | Wildlife Refuge | 949 | is identical to site | 949 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | major | |
| Wetlands (inland) | major | |
| Shrubland | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100% |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations The entire area was designated a Wildlife Refuge in about 1975. No conservation measures are known to have been proposed. Since the 1970s, the area has become threatened by major sea-level rise and land-use changes in recent years.
References Scott (1976a).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lavandavil Wildlife Refuge. 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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