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PL039
Pisz forest
Location Poland, podlaskie,warminsko-mazurskie
Central coordinates 21o 29.00' East  53o 39.00' North
IBA criteria C1, C6
Area 171,300 ha
Altitude 175 - 200m
Year of IBA assessment 2010

Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków



Ornithological information Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (rare on passage), Crex crex (frequent breeder).

Site description Pisz forest lies on the border between the Great Mazury lake region and the Mazury lowlands, and the Pisa and Krutynia rivers flow through this area. The largest lake in Poland˜Œniardwy (1,097 km2)˜is located in the north-western part of the site, and there are also a dozen other lakes. Many tree species reach the limit of their range here. There are coniferous forests of pine Pinus with some smaller areas of spruce Picea and broadleaved dry-ground forest of lime Tilia and hornbeam Carpinus. Around the lakes in wet areas there are alder Alnus forests and different kinds of mire.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
White Stork Ciconia ciconia breeding  2004-2009  250-300 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris breeding  2009  40-60 males only  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Osprey Pandion haliaetus breeding  2004-2005  4-5 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  2009  90-100 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Black Kite Milvus migrans breeding  2004-2009  12-14 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla breeding  2009  31-33 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina breeding  2009  80-90 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  2009  700-800 males only  poor  C1, C6  Least Concern 
Little Crake Porzana parva breeding  2004-2009  30-50 males only  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana breeding  2004-2009  40-60 males only  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus breeding  2009  450-550 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus breeding  2004-2009  60-80 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  2004-2009  150-200 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius breeding  2009  600-700 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio breeding  2004-2009  2,500-3,000 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea breeding  2004-2005  3,000-3,500 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Czaplisko-L/awny Lasek NR (Bird Reserve) Nature Reserve 8 protected area contained by site 8  
Dolina Pisy - PLH200023 Habitats Directive 3,223 protected area overlaps with site 471  
Jezioro Lisiny NR (Peatbog Reserve) Nature Reserve 16 protected area contained by site 16  
Jezioro Nidzkie (Landscape Reserve) Nature Reserve 2,935 protected area contained by site 2,935  
Jezioro Pogubie Wielkie NR (Bird Reserve) Nature Reserve 692 protected area contained by site 692  
Jezioro Warnoóty Nature Reserve 373 protected area contained by site 373  
Królewska Sosna Nature Reserve 104 protected area contained by site 104  
Krutynia Nature Reserve 273 protected area contained by site 273  
Mazurska Ostoja Zótwia Baranowo - PLH280055 Habitats Directive 4,305 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Mazurski Park Krajobrazowy Landscape Park 53,655 protected area overlaps with site 53,265  
Mokradta Kolnenskie i Kurpiowskie - PLH200020 Habitats Directive 1,447 protected area overlaps with site 173  
Ostoja Piska - PLH280048 Habitats Directive 57,827 protected area contained by site 57,827  
Ostoja Poligon Orzysz - PLB280014 Birds Directive 21,208 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Pierwos Nature Reserve 605 protected area contained by site 605  
Pilaki Nature Reserve 52 unknown 52  
Pupy Nature Reserve 58 protected area contained by site 58  
Puszcza Piska - PLB280008 Birds Directive 172,802 protected area contains site 171,300  
Strzalowo Nature Reserve 14 protected area contained by site 14  
Zakret Nature Reserve 106 unknown 106  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  67%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  15%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Forestry plantations; Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Other urban and industrial areas; Ruderal land; Urban parks and gardens  18%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 18%
fisheries/aquaculture 13%
forestry 67%
nature conservation and research 45%
hunting -

Management considerations Afforestation with non-native tree species is a threat, and recreation/tourism disturbs birds.

Protection status National Partial International None5,078 ha of IBA covered by 10 Nature Reserves (Czaplisko-£awny Lasek [Bird Reserve]; Jezioro Lisiny [Peatbog Reserve]; Jezioro Nidzkie [Landscape Reserve]; Jezioro Pogubie Wielkie [Bird Reserve]; Jezioro Warno³ty; Krutynia; Królewska Sosna; Pierwos; Pupy; Strza³owo; total area 5,078 ha). 53,265 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Park (Mazurski, 53,655 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pisz forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

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