Protection status: 38.10% of territory is covered by IBA (GEO16). 43.47% of IBA (GEO16) is represented by SPA 14.
Species of concern
Caucasian Grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi), Caspian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius). There is one of the largest breeding populations of Caucasian Grouse and Caspian Snowcock of the Lesser Caucasus. Both of them (Caucasian Grouse and Caspian Snowcock) are included on the red list of Georgia as Vulnerable (VU). Caucasian Grouse is also classified on the IUCN red list as Near Threatened (NT).
Description of the site
Shavsheti SPA is located in the southwestern part of Georgia at an altitude of 1000 – 3000 meters. Mixed forests with Abies (Abies nordmanniana), Pine (Pinus Sosnowskyi), Caucasian spruce (Picea orientalis), Oak (Quercus hartwissiana), Beech (Fagus orientalis), Nornbeam (Carpinus caucasica), Chestnut (Castanea sativa), Lime (Tilia begoniifolia), Birch (Betula medwedewii), Cherry Laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis), Rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum), Georgian Snow Rose (Rhododendron caucasicum), Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron luteum), Colchic Holly (Ilex colchica), Caucasian Whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostraphylos). Sonnenstrahl inula (Inula magnifica), (Pyrethrum macrophylos), Mat-grass (Nardus stricta), Cranesbill (Geranium gymnocaulon) are common plant species on subalpine and alpine meadows (Kvachakidze 2010). See the bird list below for Avifauna
Monitoring
Caucasian Black Grouse
Method: Lekking male count
Period: May
Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting scope; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.
Description: Field expedition should take place every May. During the expedition grouse leks should be discovered, GPS locations of the leks should be recorded and lekking males should be counted. Counts should be repeated at least once more during the season. Leks should be given unique names, mapped using coordinates collected on the field and number of males attending the lek should be recorded, date and weather conditions should be recorded as well. Results should be recorded in the database.
Caspian Snowcock
Method: Calling male count
Period: May
Needed Equipment: 20X60 magnification spotting scope; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.
Description: This is a species, which lives in the mountains on bare stony ground. The counting unit is this territorial pair. Calling males are counted in May on several visits to the study area between 07:00 and 09:00 am. Number of calling males, date and weather conditions are recorded. Count data should be recorded in the database. See Map 1 for counting points.
Counting point 1: 41.504134°/42.322568°
Counting point 2: 41.487756°/42.331943°
Birds recorded in the area 129
| Scientific name | English name | Status in Georgia | IUCN | Red List of Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milvus migrans | Black Kite | M | LC | |
| Circaetus gallicus | Short-toed Snake-Eagle | M | LC | |
| Accipiter brevipes | Levent Sparrowhawk | M | LC | VU |
| Accipiter nisus | Eurasian Sparrowhawk | YR-R | LC | |
| Accipiter gentilis | Northern Goshawk | YR-R | LC | |
| Buteo buteo | Common Buzzard | YR-R | LC | |
| Buteo lagopus | Rough-legged Buzzard | M | LC | |
| Buteo rufinus | Long-legged Buzzard | M | LC | VU |
| Pernis apivorus | European Honey-Buzzard | M | LC | |
| Hieraaetus pennatus | Booted Eagle | BB | LC | |
| Aquila heliaca | Imperial Eagle | M | VU | VU |
| Clanga clanga | Greater Spotted Eagle | MWV | VU | VU |
| Clanga pomarina | Lesser Spotted Eagle | M | LC | |
| Aquila nipalensis | Steppe Eagle | M | EN | |
| Aquila chrysaetos | Golden Eagle | YR-R | LC | VU |
| Neophron percnopterus | Egyptian Vulture | YR-V | EN | VU |
| Gypaetus barbatus | Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) | YR-V | NT | VU |
| Aegypius monachus | Cinereous Vulture (Eurasian Black Vulture) | YR-V | NT | EN |
| Gyps fulvus | Eurasian Griffon Vulture | YR-V | LC | VU |
| Circus aeroginosus | Western Marsh Harrier | M | LC | |
| Circus cyaneus | Hen (or Northern) Harrier | M | LC | |
| Circus macrourus | Pallid Harrier | M | NT | |
| Circus pygargus | Montagu's Harrier | M | LC | |
| Falco cherrug | Saker Falcon | M | EN | CR |
| Falco peregrinus | Peregrine Falcon | YR-R | LC | |
| Falco subbuteo | Eurasian Hobby | BB | LC | |
| Falco columbarius | Merlin | M | LC | |
| Falco vespertinus | Red-footed Falcon | M | NT | EN |
| Falco naumanni | Lesser Kestrel | M | LC | CR |
| Falco tinnunculus | Common Kestrel | YR-R | LC | |
| Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi | Caucasian Grouse | YR-R | NT | VU |
| Tetraogallus caspius | Caspian Snowcock | YR-R | LC | VU |
| Coturnix coturnix | Common Quail | BB | LC | |
| Grus grus | Common Crane | M | LC | EN |
| Anthropoides virgo | Demoiselle Crane | M | ||
| Crex crex | Corn crake | BB | LC | |
| Scolopax rusticola | Eurasian Woodcock | M | LC | |
| Columba palumbus | Common Wood-Pigeon | BB | LC | |
| Cuculus canorus | Common Cuckoo | BB | LC | |
| Bubo bubo | Eurasian Eagle Owl | YR-R | LC | |
| Asio otus | Northern Long-eared Owl | YR-R | LC | |
| Asio flammeus | Short-eared Owl | M | LC | |
| Otus scops | Eurasian Scops-Owl | BB | LC | |
| Athene noctua | Little Owl | YR-R | LC | |
| Strix aluco | Tawny Owl | YR-R | LC | |
| Caprimulgus europaeus | European Nightjar | BB | LC | |
| Apus apus | Common Swift | BB | LC | |
| Tachymarptis melba | Alpine Swift | BB | LC | |
| Merops apiaster | European Bee-eater | M | LC | |
| Dryocopus martius | Black Woodpecker | YR-R | LC | |
| Picus viridis | Eurasian Green Woodpecker | YR-R | LC | |
| Dendrocopos major | Greater Spotted Woodpecker | YR-R | LC | |
| Leiopicus medius | Middle Spotted Woodpecker | YR-R | LC | |
| Dryobates minor | Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | YR-R | LC | |
| Jynx torquilla | Eurasian Wryneck | BB | LC | |
| Eremophila alpestris | Horned (or Shore) Lark | YR-R | LC | |
| Lullula arborea | Wood Lark | BB | LC | |
| Alauda arvensis | Eurasian Skylark | BB | LC | |
| Hirundo rustica | Barn Swallow | BB | LC | |
| Hirundo rupestris | Eurasian Crag-martin | BB | LC | |
| Delichon urbicum | Northern Hause-Martin | BB | LC | |
| Anthus trivialis | Tree Pipit | BB | LC | |
| Anthus pratensis | Meadow Pipit | BB | NT | |
| Anthus cervinus | Red-Throated Pipit | M | LC | |
| Anthus spinoletta | Water Pipit | BB | LC | |
| Motacilla alba | White Wagtail | BB | LC | |
| Motacilla cinerea | Grey Wagtail | BB | LC | |
| Motacilla flava | Yellow Wagtail | BB | LC | |
| Motacilla citreola | Citrine Wagtail | M | LC | |
| Lanius collurio | Red-backed Shrike | BB | LC | |
| Prunella modularis | Hedge Accentor (Dunnock) | YR-R | LC | |
| Prunella collaris | Alpine Accentor | YR-R | LC | |
| Sylvia curruca | Lesser Whitethroat | BB | LC | |
| Sylvia atricapilla | Blackcap | BB | LC | |
| Phylloscopus collybita | Common Chiffchaff | BB | LC | |
| Phylloscopus sindianus | Mountain Chiffchaff | BB | LC | |
| Phylloscopus trochiloides | Greenish Warbler | BB | LC | |
| Regulus regulus | Goldcrest | YR-R | LC | |
| Muscicapa striata | Spotted Flycatcher | BB | LC | |
| Ficedula albicollis | Collared Flycatcher | BB | LC | |
| Saxicola torquatus | Common Stonechat | BB | LC | |
| Saxicola rubetra | Whinchat | BB | LC | |
| Monticola solitarius | Blue Rock-Thrush | BB | LC | |
| Monticola saxatilis | Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush | BB | LC | |
| Oenanthe oenanthe | Northern Wheatear | BB | LC | |
| Phoenicurus ochruros | Black Redstart | BB | LC | |
| Phoenicurus phoenicurus | Common Redstart | BB | LC | |
| Erithacus rubecula | European Robin | BB | LC | |
| Turdus merula | Eurasian Blackbird | YR-R | LC | |
| Turdus torquatus | Ring Ouzel | YR-R | LC | |
| Turdus pilaris | Fieldfare | M | LC | |
| Turdus iliacus | Redwing | M | NT | |
| Turdus philomelos | Song Thrush | BB | LC | |
| Turdus viscivorus | Mistle Thrush | YR-R | LC | |
| Aegithalos caudatus | Long-tailed Tit | YR-R | LC | |
| Parus ater | Coal Tit | YR-R | LC | |
| Parus major | Great Tit | YR-R | LC | |
| Parus caeruleus | Blue Tit | YR-R | LC | |
| Sitta europaea | Wood Nuthatch | YR-R | LC | |
| Sitta neumayer | Rock Nuthatch | YR-R | LC | |
| Sitta krueperi | Küper's Nuthatch | YR-R | LC | |
| Tichodroma muraria | Wall-creeper | YR-R | LC | |
| Certhia familiaris | Eurasian Tree-creeper | YR-R | LC | |
| Troglodytes troglodytes | Winter Wren | YR-R | LC | |
| Cinclus cinclus | White-throated Dipper | YR-R | LC | |
| Miliaria calandra | Corn Bunting | BB | LC | |
| Emberiza cia | Rock Bunting | YR-R | LC | |
| Fringilla montifringilla | Brambling | M | LC | |
| Fringilla coelebs | Eurasian Chaffinch | YR-R | LC | |
| Carduelis carduelis | European Goldfinch | YR-R | LC | |
| Carduelis spinus | Eurasian Siskin | YR-R | LC | |
| Carduelis chloris | European Greenfinch | YR-R | LC | |
| Carduelis flavirostris | Twite | YR-R | LC | |
| Carduelis cannabina | Eurasian Linnet | YR-R | LC | |
| Pyrrhula pyrrhula | Eurasian Bullfinch | YR-R | LC | |
| Coccothraustes Coccothraustes | Hawfinch | YR-R | LC | |
| Serinus pusillus | Fire-fronted Serin (Red-fronted Serin) | YR-R | LC | |
| Serinus serinus | European Serin | YR-R | LC | |
| Carpodacus erythrinus | Common Rosefinch | BB | LC | |
| Loxia curvirostra | Red Crossbill (Common Crossbill) | YR-R | LC | |
| Passer montanus | Tree Sparrow | BB | LC | |
| Passer domesticus | Hause Sparrow | YR-R | LC | |
| Sturnus vulgaris | Common Starling | BB | LC | |
| Garrulus glandarius | Eurasian Jay | YR-R | LC | |
| Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | Red-billed Chough | YR-R | LC | |
| Pyrrhocorax graculus | Yellow-billed Chough | YR-R | LC | |
| Corvus corax | Common Raven | YR-R | LC | |
| Corvus corone | Hooded Crow | YR-R | LC | |
| Corvus monedula | Eurasian Jackdaw | YR-R | LC |
Photos and maps
Abbreviations
Seasonal status at a site
- YR-R
- Year-round resident; breeder, present throughout the year
- YR-V
- Year-round visitor; non-breeder, present throughout the year
- BB
- Breeding bird; breeder, absent during the non-breeding period
- SV
- Summer visitor; non-breeder, present in spring and summer
- WV
- Winter visitor; non-breeder, present in late autumn, winter and early spring
- M
- Migrant; bird of passage, present mainly in autumn and spring
- Cas
- Casual (vagrant) species
- ND
- No data
IUCN Red List
- CR
- Critically Endangered
- EN
- Endangered
- VU
- Vulnerable
- NT
- Near Threatened
- LC
- Least Concern
Other
- SPA
- Special Protection Area for birds
- IBA
- Important Bird and Biodiversity Area
- RLG
- Red List of Georgia
- Annex 1
- Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), Annex I