SPA 12 — Meskheti

Protection status: 80.89 % of territory is covered by IBA (GEO08). 40.43 % of IBA (GEO08) is represented by SPA 12.

Species of concern

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), migrating raptors. 2-3 pairs of Bearded Vulture; 12-15 pairs of Griffon Vulture; 3-5 pairs of Egyptian Vulture; 3-5 pairs of Golden Eagle breed and Black Vulture is year-round visitor at the SPA (Galvez et al. 2005).  An area is used by over 3000 migratory raptors during autumn and spring migration. All species (except Black Vulture) are included on the red list of Georgia as Vulnerable (VU) and black vulture – as Endangered (EN). Two of them are also included on the IUCN red list: Egyptian Vulture as Endangered (EN) and Black Vulture – Near Threatened (NT).

Description of the site

Meskheti SPA is located in the southern part of Georgia at an altitude of 1200 – 2000 meters, lying on Tertiary sediments and volcanic bedrock. The site includes the gorges of the Mtkvari (Kura) and Paravani Rivers in southern Georgia. There are fragments of Pine (Pinus Sosnowskyi) forests and subalpine meadows with perennial grass (Botriochlora ischaemum), Feather grass (Stipa pulcherrima), Bellflower (Campanula hohenackeri), Bluegrass (Festuca valesiaca), Dwarf Sedge (Carex humilis) (Kvachakidze 2010). See the bird list below for Avifauna.

Monitoring

Method: Nest count & assessment of breeding success

Period: April- July

Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting scope; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: At least two field expeditions are required to count nesting pairs and to assess breeding success. During the first expedition, nests should be discovered and nestlings should be counted. Date of the field expedition, GPS location of the nest and number of nestlings should be recorded. During the second expedition, the breeding success should be assessed, by counting number of chicks in the same nests, which were discovered during the first expedition. Species, expedition dates and nesting habitat description see in table 1. During the expedition visitor Black Vultures and Griffon Vultures can be also counted.

Table1

Soaring birds

Method: Migrating birds count

September – October

Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting scope; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: Migrating raptors should be counted at “bottleneck” sites along their migration routes. During two months (September-October), number and species of counted migrating birds should be recorded daily. Date and weather conditions should be recorded as well. Count data should be entered in the database at the end of the day. Observing point see below (Map 1).

coordinates: 41.402219°/43.293557°

Birds recorded in the area 228

Photos and maps