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BIRDING SITES: CHOROKHI RIVER MOUTH AND BLACK SEA COAST
Situated in the most South-Eastern part of the Black Sea coast and isolated from the main part of Kolkheti Lowland and Turkish wetlands, the site has great concentrations of waterbirds, birds of prey, passerines and representatives of some other bird groups. The Chorokhi River mouth and its surroundings has the very high diversity of birds of Georgia with 286 reported species.
Besides that, the Chorokhi River mouth has a rich bird species composition, including the species of some International Agreements and species with National conservation status (“Red List and Red Data Book of Endangered Species of Georgia”, 6 June 2003).
This site is of especially high ornithological importance. It is a well-known bottleneck site for migratory birds with 300,000 and in some years more individuals of birds of prey during autumn transmigration seasons and 100,000 individuals in spring, 2,000-10,000 wintering grebes, mostly Great Crested grebe Podiceps cristatus, 1,000-7,000 duck of various species, numerous divers, egretts, herons, Great Cormorans, waders, other birds, including White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus, Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Common Crane Grus grus.
At least of 150,000 (in some years more) Common Buzzards Buteo buteo and 120,000-200,000 individuals of Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus have been recorded here during autumn passages. The numbers of some bird species, migrating across site is especially high. These species are: European Bea-eater Merops apiaster 50,000 – 100,000, Common Swift Apus apus 200,000-500,000 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, up to 500,000, Northern House-Martin Delichon urbica up to 1,000,000, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 250,000, some other Passerines.
From 30 to 100 migrating and solitary wintering individuals of Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga have been recorded here. It is a nationally important breeding place for Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus (at least 11 pairs in 1995, 7 pairs in 1999 and 2001, 4 pairs in 2004). During winter time the Chorokhi River mouth, adjacent wetlands at Kakhaberi Lowland and coastal sea waters regularly supports more than 20,000 waterbirds (especially grebes, cormorants, egretts, herons, ducks, waders, pelicans, gulls, tern, etc) with a maximum of 24,463+ individuals counted in December 1998 and 21,077+ individuals counted in February 2004.
More than 1% of the individuals in the biogeographic population of the following waterbird species occur more-or-less regularly within the site: Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (9,164 individuals in winter 1998, Important Bird Areas in Europe, vol.2 ), Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Scuacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, Little Tern Sterna albifrons, some wader species.
The site is one of most important wetland in the South-Eastern Black Sea region. As a hot spot
for biodiversity it demonstrates rare, unique and representative examples of wetland habitats.
This site holds significant numbers of globally threatened or near-threatened bird species. |
