Important Bird Areas in Europe – The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ■ FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus. (PHOTO: NIGEL J. DENNIS/NHPA) OVERVIEW species. Phalacrocorax pygmeus (005, 006, 010) and Pelecanus crispus (006) occur as non-breeding birds or in winter. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia occupies 25,715 km2 The majority of IBAs are mountainous areas or river gorges. with a population of 2,066,000 people. New data on Important They hold important populations of species with an unfavourable Bird Areas (IBAs) are not available and therefore the 10 IBAs conservation status in Europe (meeting the B2/B3 criteria), included here (Table 1, Map 1) are identical to those in the previous particularly breeding raptors, including Gyps fulvus, Neophron pan-European inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989). The IBAs percnopterus and Aquila chrysaetos. In 1989 hunting, poisoning and occupy 1,907 km2, or 7% of the country’s surface area. trapping were recorded as common threats across the mountain Four globally threatened or near-threatened species (Collar IBAs. Three IBAs (005, 006, 010) are lakes of particular importance et al. 1994) occur. Aquila heliaca (003 possible breeder, 004) and for wintering waterbirds, with one (site 005) holding more than Falco naumanni (007 and 008) meet the A1 criterion as breeding 20,000 waterbirds in winter. Map 1. Location, area and YUGOSLAVIA criteria category of Important Bird Areas in the Former Yugoslav Republic of BULGARIA Macedonia. ALBANIA 1 2 4 3 Highest category of criteria met by IBA 7 8 A (7 IBAs) B (3 IBAs) 10 5 9 Area of IBA (ha) 50,000 20,000 to 49,999 GREECE 8,000 to 19,999 6 0 50 100 2,500 to 7,999 km 431 Important Bird Areas in Europe – The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Table 1. Summary of Important Bird Areas in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 10 IBAs covering 1,907 km2 IBA 1989 code code International name National name Area (ha) Criteria (see p. 11) 001 YU048 Sara mountains [parts of] Sar planina [parts of] 12,000 B2 002 YU049 Korab mountain and Radika gorge Planina Korab i klisura Radike 50,000 B2 003 YU050 Babuna gorge, Topolka gorge, and Crn Kamen Klisura reke Babune i Topolke i Crn Kamen 2,500 A1 004 YU051 River Bregalnica Reka Bregalnica 10,000 A1, B2 005 YU055 Lake Ohrid Ohridsko jezero 25,100 A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i 006 YU056 Lake Prespa Prespansko jezero 40,000 A1 007 YU052 River Crna gorge Klisura Crna reka 40,000 A1, B2 008 YU053 Demir kapija gorge Demir kapija 8,000 A1, B2 009 YU054 Kozuf i Bosava mountains (Kozuf mountain and Bosava region) Kozuf i Bosava mountains (Kozuf mountain and Bosava region) 20,000 B2 010 YU057 Lake Dojran Dojransko jezero 4,200 A1 ■ SITE ACCOUNTS ■ Birds Sara mountains [parts of] B2 001 Admin region Macedonia Kosovo Species Season Year Pop min Pop max Acc Criteria Coordinates 42°00’N 21°00’E Gyps fulvus Griffon Vulture B 1989 — 10 — B2 Altitude — Area 12,000 ha Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle B 1989 6 7 — B2 Bubo bubo Eagle Owl B 1989 — 10 — B2 ■ Site description Other breeding species include Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Aquila High mountainous region (includes the peaks of Titov Vrh, Popova clanga/A. pomarina (1 pair), Hieraaetus pennatus (possibly 1–2 pairs), Šapka, and Kobilica), with river gorges, cliffs and rocky hillsides, Falco biarmicus (1 pair), F. peregrinus (2–3 pairs), Bonasa bonasia, alpine pastures, and woodland (coniferous and deciduous). Land-uses Caprimulgus europaeus, Alcedo atthis, Dryocopus martius, and possibly include cattle-grazing and forestry. The area extends into Kosovo (the Dendrocopos leucotos, Dendrocopos medius and Picoides tridactylus. given area of 12,000 ha includes the part in Kosovo). ■ Protection status Habitats Forest and woodland (broadleaved deciduous forest; native coniferous forest), National Partial International None Grassland (alpine/subalpine/boreal grassland), Wetland (river/stream), Rocky areas IBA covered by National Park (Mavrovo). (scree/boulders; inland cliff) Land-use Agriculture, Forestry ■ Conservation issues Threats Unsustainable exploitation (U) ■ Birds Some illegal hunting and trapping of wildlife takes place. Species Season Year Pop min Pop max Acc Criteria Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle B 1989 3 4 — B2 Bubo bubo Eagle Owl B 1989 3 5 — B2 Babuna gorge, Topolka gorge, A1 003 Other breeding species include Pernis apivorus (1–2 pairs), Falco and Crn Kamen peregrinus (1 pair), Bonasa bonasia, Alectoris graeca, Dryocopus Admin region — martius, Saxicola rubetra, Lanius collurio and Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Coordinates 41°40’N 21°45’E (50–100 pairs), and possibly include Tetrao urogallus, Strix uralensis, Altitude — Area 2,500 ha Aegolius funereus, Dendrocopos leucotos, Picoides tridactylus and Pyrrhocorax graculus. Gypaetus barbatus (1) and Gyps fulvus (15–20) also occur. ■ Site description The gorges of the Topolka, Vardar and Babuna rivers with cliffs, ■ Protection status riverine vegetation, and scrub-covered hillsides. Land-uses include National None International None hunting and cattle-grazing. Habitats Scrub (scrub), Wetland (river/stream), Rocky areas (inland cliff) ■ Conservation issues Land-use Agriculture, Hunting Threats Infrastructure (U), Intensified forest management (U), Unsustainable exploitation (U) There is uncontrolled hunting in the Macedonian part, and forestry ■ Birds practices and road building are adversely affecting the area. The area Species Season Year Pop min Pop max Acc Criteria is a proposed Regional Park. 1 Aquila heliaca Imperial Eagle B 1989 — — — A1 1. Possibly breeds. Other breeding species include Ciconia nigra (1 pair), Neophron B2 Korab mountain and Radika gorge 002 percnopterus (2–3 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Buteo rufinus Admin region — (2 pairs), Aquila chrysaetos (1 pair), Falco naumanni (a few pairs), Coordinates 41°45’N 21°15’E F. biarmicus (1 pair), F. peregrinus (1 pair), Alectoris graeca, Bubo Altitude — Area 50,000 ha bubo (1–2 pairs), Caprimulgus europaeus, Alcedo atthis and Coracias garrulus. Gypaetus barbatus and Gyps fulvus also occur. ■ Site description Cliffs, rocky gorges, mountains, woodland (deciduous and coniferous), ■ Protection status and alpine pastures. Land-uses include cattle-grazing and forestry. National None International None Habitats Forest and woodland (broadleaved deciduous forest; native coniferous forest), ■ Conservation issues Grassland (alpine/subalpine/boreal grassland), Rocky areas (scree/boulders; inland cliff) Land-use Agriculture, Forestry Threats Other (U), Unsustainable exploitation (U) 432 Important Bird Areas in Europe – The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia There is possibly illegal poisoning of wildlife (‘Other’ threat) and the With an age of 2–4 million years, this is one of the most ancient lakes eggs and young of birds of prey are regularly stolen by foreigners. in the world, harbouring many endemic species among its aquatic The area is a proposed Ornithological Reserve. fauna. River Bregalnica A1, B2 004 Lake Prespa A1 006 Admin region — Admin region — Coordinates 41°45’N 22°00’E Coordinates 40°49’N 21°00’E Altitude — Area 10,000 ha Altitude — Area 40,000 ha ■ Site description ■ Site description A river valley with damp woodland, steppe habitat, bare eroded land, A very large inland freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains and bushes and trees. There is a small area of cultivation and cattle-grazing extending into Albania (Albanian site 003) and Greece (Limni Megali in winter. The area is used for hunting. Prespa, Greek site 047). The area given is the entire area of the lake. Habitats Forest and woodland (alluvial/very wet forest), Scrub (scrub), Grassland Habitats Wetland (standing fresh water) (steppe/dry calcareous grassland) Land-use Unknown Land-use Agriculture, Hunting ■ Birds ■ Birds Species Season Year Pop min Pop max Acc Criteria Species Season Year Pop min Pop max Acc Criteria Phalacrocorax pygmeus W 1988 — 80 — A1 Pygmy Cormorant Aquila heliaca Imperial Eagle B 1989 2 3 — A1 Phalacrocorax pygmeus N 1989 — 200 — A1 Bubo bubo Eagle Owl B 1989 2 3 — B2 Pygmy Cormorant Other breeding species include Milvus migrans (1–2 pairs), Neophron Pelecanus crispus Dalmatian Pelican N 1989 — 58 — A1 percnopterus (2–3 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (1–2 pairs), Circus pygargus, No data are available for breeding birds. The International Waterfowl Aquila heliaca (2–3 pairs), A. chrysaetos (1 pair), Falco peregrinus Census counts (in the Macedonian sector) in winters 1987 and 1988 (1 pair), Caprimulgus europaeus, Alcedo atthis and Coracias garrulus; recorded (1988 data unless stated) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (40), Buteo rufinus, Falco cherrug and Tetrax tetrax possibly breed. Gyps Netta rufina (80; 150 in 1987), Aythya fuligula (8,000) and Fulica atra fulvus (18 birds) also occurs. (5,950). Additional reports of non-breeding birds include Podiceps cristatus (1,300), Pelecanus crispus (58), Anser anser (200) and Mergus ■ Protection status merganser (90). National None International None ■ Protection status ■ Conservation issues National None International None Threats Other (U) ■ Conservation issues There is possibly illegal poisoning of wildlife (‘Other’ threat). Threats Unknown Lake Ohrid A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i 005 Admin region — River Crna gorge A1, B2 007 Coordinates 41°07’N 20°45’E Admin region — Altitude 750–750 m Area 25,100 ha Coordinates 41°19’N 22°00’E Altitude — Area 40,000 ha ■ Site description A large inland freshwater lake in a mountain basin, part of which is ■ Site description in Albania (see Albanian site 002). A gorge