Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information An important site for staging migrants such as waders and passerines, and for wintering waterbirds, of which more than 20,000 occur regularly, mainly ducks. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (two pairs), Crex crex (five pairs).

Site description A large unregulated stretch of the Wis³a (Vistula) river, from Go³¹b village to P³ock town (226 km long), with numerous sand islands. Some islands are bare, others have a herb layer, and high islands have scrub of willow Salix and poplar Populus. There are sand-dunes. The riverbanks and flood terrace are used mainly for intensive collection of willow Salix stems (for planting on riverbanks, dunes, etc., and as material for crafts), and intensive cattle-grazing on meadows and pastures. The river is used by boat traffic.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Dolina Dolnej Pilicy - PLH140016	Habitats Directive	31,822	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dolina Pilicy - PLB140003	Birds Directive	35,356	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dolina Srodkowej Wisty - PLB140004	Birds Directive	30,778	protected area overlaps with site	25,238
Kampinoska Dolina Wisty - PLH140029	Habitats Directive	20,659	protected area overlaps with site	12,089
Kêpa Wykowska	Nature Reserve	248	protected area contained by site	248
Ke/py Kazun/skie	Nature Reserve	544	protected area contained by site	544
Kepa Antoninska	Nature Reserve	475	protected area contained by site	475
Kepa Rakowska	Nature Reserve	120	protected area contained by site	120
L/awice Kiel/pin/skie	Nature Reserve	803	protected area contained by site	803
Lachy Brzeskie	Nature Reserve	476	protected area contained by site	476
Lawice Troszynskie	Nature Reserve	114	protected area contained by site	114
Ostoja Kozienicka - PLB140013	Birds Directive	68,301	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Puszcza Kampinoska - PLC140001	Birds Directive	37,640	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Ruska Kêpa	Nature Reserve	15	protected area contained by site	15
Unknown	Protected Landscape Area	220,000	protected area contains site	19,000
Wikliny Wis/lane	Nature Reserve	340	protected area contained by site	340
Wyspy Biaóobrzeskie	Nature Reserve	140	protected area contained by site	140
Wyspy S/widerskie	Nature Reserve	572	protected area contained by site	572
Wyspy Zakrzewskie	Nature Reserve	310	protected area contained by site	310
Wyspy Zawadowskie	Nature Reserve	530	protected area contained by site	530
Zakole Zakroczymskie	Nature Reserve	528	protected area contained by site	528

Habitats

Land use

Management considerations Threats are posed by intensive cattle-grazing on the islands, sand-mining of the riverbed, flooding (natural), felling of riverside trees, unsustainable duck hunting, fish poaching, and disturbance to nesting birds by willow collectors. The greatest threats are potential: there are plans for dredging and canalization of the river, to create a narrow channel without islands, oxbow lakes or meanders, as well as plans for the building of water-storage reservoirs at P³ock, Wyszogród, and near Warszawa.

Protection status National High International None5,215 ha of IBA covered by 14 Nature Reserves (Kêpa Antoniñska; Kêpa Rakowska; Kêpa Wykowska; Kêpy Kazuñskie; £achy Brzeskie; £awice Kie³piñskie; £awice Troszyñskie; Ruska Kêpa; Wikliny Wiœlane; Wyspy Bia³obrzeskie; Wyspy Œwiderskie; Wyspy Zakrzewskie; Wyspy Zawadowskie; Zakole Zakroczymskie; combined area of 5,215 ha). 19,000 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape Areas (names not available, total area 220,000 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Middle Vistula River Valley. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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