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PL131
Tatra mountains
Location Poland, malopolskie
Central coordinates 19o 55.00' East  49o 15.00' North
IBA criteria C6
Area 21,240 ha
Altitude 844 - 2,499m
Year of IBA assessment 2010

Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków



Ornithological information Breeding species include Crex crex (of global conservation concern but not meeting IBA criteria) and two of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted to the European high-mountain biome when breeding (Prunella collaris in especially good numbers). A total of 200 species have been recorded.

Site description Tatra National Park covers the whole of the Polish part of the Tatras range (Western Tatras), the youngest and highest mountains in Poland (up to 2,499 m). At lower altitudes there is heavily modified subalpine spruce Picea forest, followed by upper subalpine forest, then the mountain pine Pinus mugo zone, followed by alpine pastures and rock towers at the highest elevations. There is a great variety of land-forms with many mountain lakes (High Tatras) and karst features (Western Tatras; e.g. caves). The site is contiguous with the `Tatry' IBA across the border in Slovakia.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia breeding  2008-2009  650-1,300 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix breeding  2007  25-30 males only  good  C6  Least Concern 
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus breeding  2004-2007  30-35 males only  good  C6  Least Concern 
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus breeding  2007-2009  1-2 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum breeding  2004-2009  20-30 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus breeding  2004-2009  25-50 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus breeding  2005-2007  40-50 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria breeding  2006-2007  5-8 breeding pairs  medium    Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris breeding  2004-2009  150-300 breeding pairs  poor    Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Polana Biaty Potok - PLH120026 Habitats Directive 53 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Tatra Biosphere Reserve UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 17,906 protected area contained by site 21,164  
Tatry - PLC120001 Birds Directive 21,018 is identical to site 20,535  
Tatrzanski PN National Park 21,164 protected area contains site 21,240  
Various Nature Reserve 10,500 protected area contained by site 10,500  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Treeline ecotone  71%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland  5%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  24%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Ruderal land  1%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 15%
tourism/recreation 10%
nature conservation and research 70%
forestry 5%

Management considerations Threats include air and water pollution (air-borne deposits from industry upwind), tourism/recreation, transportation, infrastructure development up to the Park border, and a proposal to hold the Winter Olympic Games here.

Protection status National High International High21,164 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Tatrzañski, 21,164 ha). Over 50% of IBA covered by Nature Reserves (details unavailable; most or all are contiguous). 21,164 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Tatra, 21,164 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Tatra mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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