SPA 1 — Lagodekhi

Protection status: 88.32% of territory is covered by Lagodekhi Protected Areas. SPA 1 is same as IBA (GEO24).

SPA 1

Species of concern

Caucasian Grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi) and Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). These two species are breeding and occur throughout the year in Lagodekhi. There is one of the biggest breeding populations of Caucasian Grouse (Gavashelishvili and Javakhishvili 2010). 1-2 pairs of Bearded Vulture breed in Lagodekhi. Both species 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

Lagodekhi SPA is located in the eastern part of Georgia, on the slopes of Greater Caucasus Mountains, at an altitude of 500 – 3000 meters. Major habitats are mountain deciduous forests with dominating species: Beech (Fagus orientalis), Hornbeam (Carpinus caucasica), Chestnut (Castanea sativa), Georgian Oak (Quercus iberica), Lime (Tilia begoniifolia), and Caucasian Oak (Quercus macranthera). At about 2000 meters above the sea level the forest line ends with Litwinow’s birch (Betula litwinowii) and Sorb (Sorbus caucasigena) forests. Over 2000 meters above the sea level there are Rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum) and Juniper (Juniperus hemisphaerica) subalpine scrublands mostly on the northern and northwestern slopes. Subalpine and alpine meadows, with Monkshood (Aconitum nasutum), Bellflower (Campanula lactiflora), Sosnowskyi Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi), Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla caucasica), Mat-grass (Nardus stricta), and Meadow Fescue (Festuca varia) grow on the southern and southeastern slopes (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.

Bearded Vulture

Method: Nest count & assessment of breeding success

Period: April – June

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

Description: First field expedition should take place every April. During the expedition, bearded vulture nests should be discovered and nestlings should be counted. Date, GPS location of the nest and number of nestlings should be recorded.  The second expedition should take place every June for assessing the breeding success. The number of chicks should be counted in the same nests discovered during the first expedition.

Birds recorded in the area 128

Photos and maps