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GR010
Lake Mitrikou (Ismarida)
Location Greece, East Macedonia and Thrace
Central coordinates 25o 17.00' East  40o 58.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 6,500 ha
Altitude 0 - 54m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Hellenic Ornithological Society



Ornithological information The area is important for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds, and breeding species associated with reedbeds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Branta ruficollis (0-3 wintering individuals), Oxyura leucocephala (wintering), Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering), Aquila heliaca (passage), Falco naumanni (passage), Larus audouinii. The site holds 20,000 waterbirds in winter, on a regular basis (including Tadorna tadorna 2,500; Anas penelope 6,000; Anas crecca 3,500; Anas platyrhynchos 10,000; Recurvirostra avosetta 2,500; Larus ridibundus 3,000).

Site description A coastal wetland complex. It consists of the freshwater Lake Mitrikou, surrounded by extensive reedbeds (Phragmites), coastal lagoons and saltmarsh.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus winter  1997  20 individuals  -  A1, C1  Vulnerable 
Mute Swan Cygnus olor winter  1996  500-1,400 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea resident  -  uncommon [units unknown]  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna winter  1996  800-2,500 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope winter  1996  1,500-6,000 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca resident  -  common [units unknown]  -  B2, C6  Near Threatened 
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis winter  -  1,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus passage  1996  1,500-5,500 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus passage  1996  50-2,500 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia resident  -  110 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  -  20-50 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides breeding  -  80 breeding pairs  -  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Egret Casmerodius albus winter  -  280 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus passage  1996  abundant [units unknown]  -  A1, C1  Vulnerable 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus winter  1996  50-600 individuals  -  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus resident  1996  frequent [units unknown]  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus winter  1997  110-350 individuals  -  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo winter  1996  700-2,500 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus breeding  -  common [units unknown]  -  C6  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta winter  1996  700-2,500 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C6  Least Concern 
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus breeding  1993  4 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris passage  1997  1 individuals  -  A1, C1  Critically Endangered 
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola breeding  -  20-100 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus breeding  -  600 breeding pairs  -  B3, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Little Gull Larus minutus passage  -  1,200 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida breeding  -  30-110 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster breeding  -  abundant [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds unknown  -  20,000 individuals  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Alyki Dimou Aigeirou Wildlife Refuge 363 protected area contained by site 363  
Elos Dimou Aigeirou Wildlife Refuge 253 protected area contained by site 253  
Karatza Dimou Aigeirou Wildlife Refuge 208 protected area contained by site 208  
Lake Vistonis, Porto Lagos, Lake Ismaris and adjoining lagoons Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 24,396 protected area contains site 6,500  
LIMNES KAI LIMNOTHALASSES TIS THRAKIS - EVRYTERI PERIOCHI KAI PARAKTIA ZONI - GR1130009 Habitats Directive 29,456 protected area contains site 6,734  
LIMNES VISTONIS, ISMARIS - LIMNOTHALASSES PORTO LAGOS, ALYKI PTELEA, XIROLIMNI, KARATZA - GR1130010 Birds Directive 18,217 protected area overlaps with site 5,640  
Mavromatio-Limni Mitrikou Wildlife Refuge 1,865 protected area overlaps with site 1,082  
POTAMOS FILIOURIS - GR1130006 Habitats Directive 2,058 protected area overlaps with site 10  
Ptelea Dimou Aigeirou Wildlife Refuge 316 protected area contained by site 316  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing brackish and salt water; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  10%
Coastline Lagoons; Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Sand dunes & beaches; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 10%
fisheries/aquaculture 85%
tourism/recreation 5%
water management 85%

Management considerations Chemical and sewerage pollution, water abstraction, hunting, the expansion of agricultural land and infrastructure developments are the main threats. The area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International PartialPart of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Mavromatiou-Limni Mitrikou/Imerou-Mavromatiou, 1,900 ha). Part of IBA covered by Protected Area. Part of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Lake Vistonis, Porto Lagos, Lake Ismaris and adjoining lagoons, 24,396 ha). 4,900 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Limnes Vistonis-Ismaris-Limnothalasses Porto Lagos, Alyki, Ptelea, Xirolimni, Karatza, 14,647 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lake Mitrikou (Ismarida). Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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