IBA Dunajské luhy

Dunajské luhy

Districts: Bratislava I, Bratislava II, Bratislava IV, Bratislava V, Dunajská Streda, Komárno, Nové Zámky, Senec
Altitude: 107 m – 156 m
Area: 188,45 km²

Description

The territory is a part of the inland delta of the Danube in Central Europe. It presents a unique mosaic of aquatic, wetland and forest ecosystems. There are places where grassland habitats (Bodíky, Veľký Lél, Iža) and habitats with xerophilous vegetation (Ostrov Kopáč, Ostrovné lúčky) have been maintained. Alluvial forests have been converted to areas with monocultures of cultivated poplars. But the fragments of original alluvial forests still can be found in area below Bratislava and between Šamorín and Komárno. Large reservoir Hrušovská zdrž with a man-made bird island is a very important area for wintering of waterfowl. The upper parts of reservoir have been significantly overgrown by reed.

Area protection

IBA Dunajské luhy was designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) on October 24, 2008.

Other protected areas in the region of IBA Dunajské luhy: Protected Landscape Area Dunajské luhy

Importance

The area is an important nesting site for alluvial forest bird species, as well as water birds and other bird species which are ecologically associated to water habitats. The largest Slovak colonies of Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus/Larus melanocephalus) nest on the islands of Hrušovská zdrž. The largest national population of White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) nests in the system of distributaries of the alluvial forests. Seeping canals are important for nesting of Anseriformes. Aquatic ecosystems (especially Hrušovská zdrž reservoir, the main stream of the Danube and the branch system) are important refuges for nonbreeding aquatic species of birds in spring and summer. The Danube is the most important area for wintering of waterfowl in Slovakia and belongs to major international migration corridors.

Qualifying species

Species	Breeding population		Nonbreeding season (ind.)		Criterion
	Pop.min.	Pop.max.	Migrating	Wintering
Great Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo				1450	C4
Pygmy Cormorant – Phalacrocorax pygmeus				120	C1
Little Bittern – Ixobrychus minutus	12	34			C6
Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos				19700	C4
Pochard – Aythya ferina				16000	C4
Pochard – Aythya ferina				9000	C3
Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula				28000	C4
Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula			10000	28000	C3
Common Goldeneye – Bucephala clangula				9000	C4
Smew – Mergellus albellus				600	C4
Smew – Mergellus albellus				600	C3
Black Kite – Milvus migrans	5	6			C6
White-tailed Eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla	1	4			C1
Coot – Fulica atra				3140	C4
Mediterranean Gull – Larus melanocephalus	30	70			C6
Black-headed Gull – Larus ridibundus				940	C4
Common Gull – Larus canus				670	C4
Common Tern – Sterna hirundo	110	240			C6
Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis	20	45			C6

Other important species

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Garganey (Anas querquedula), Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Sand Martin (Riparia riparia), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)