SPA 4 — Vashlovani

Protection status: 51.71 % of territory is covered by Vashlovani Protected Areas. 100% of territory is covered by IBA (GEO11). 26.93% of IBA (GEO11) is represented by SPA 4.

Species of concern

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax), Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) and Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). There are breeding: 1 pair of Saker Falcon; 1 pair of Lanner Falcon; 5-7 pairs of Eastern Imperial Eagle; 15-20 pairs of Griffon Vulture; 10-15 pairs of Black Vulture; 5-7 pairs of Egyptian Vulture. Ruddy Shelduck and Stone Curlew are breeding in Vashlovani, but number of breeding birds are not defined. This area is also used by Ruddy Shelduck, Little Bustard and Black-bellied Sandgrouse during migration. Nine species are included in the red list of Georgia: Saker Falcon as Critically Endangered (CR), Black Vulture – Endangered (EN), Lanner Falcon, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Ruddy shelduck, Little Bustard and Stone Curlew – Vulnerable (VU). Most of them are also included in the IUCN red list: Saker Falcon and Egyptian Vulture as Endangered (EN); Eastern Imperial Eagle – Vulnerable (VU); Black Vulture and Little Bustard – Near Threatened (NT).

Description of site

SPA Vashlovani is located in the most southeastern part of Georgia near the Azerbaijan border at an altitude 300-600 meters. The relief is presented mostly by dry erosive ravines and open valleys. The climate is mostly dry and continental. There are fragments of arid light forests, semi-deserts and steppe plants. Main species are: Mastic tree (Pistacia mutica), two species of Juniper (Juniperus foetidissima; Juniperus polycarpos), Wormwood (Artemisia lerchiana) and Perennial grass (Botriochlora ischaemum), Jerusalem thorn (Paliurus spina-christi). In groves of River Iori and Alazani we found fragmented riparian forests, where dominant species are: Poplar (Populus canescens; Populus nigra), Oak (Quercus longipes), White Willow (Salix alba) (Kvachakidze, 2010). See the bird list below for Avifauna.

Monitoring

Large Raptors

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.

Table1

Falcons

Method: Direct count of nesting pairs.

Period: April- May

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

Description: The most falcon Species breed on the ledges of the cliffs or in the cavities of rocks. Lesser kestrel might also nest in old building and in electricity pylons. Usually nests are well concealed. Therefore, counting chicks is challenging. So, the best periods for field expeditions to monitor saker and lanner falcons are second half of April and for lesser kestrel – second half of May. During the expedition falcon nests should be discovered and breeding pairs should be counted. Date of the field expedition, GPS location of the occupied nests (or colony in case of lesser kestrel) and number of breeding pairs should be recorded.

Stone Curlew

Method: Playback count

Period: April- May

Needed Equipment: 4 wheel drive car; player with loud speaker and GPS.

Description: Counting should be performed during dusk or night on predetermined transect from slowly moving vehicle (Map 1). During driving, stone curlews call should be played on player. Stone curlew responds to a call if it’s in the range of 500 meters. GPS coordinates of each response should be recorded. The best time for playback count is during the incubation period, which might varies from April to late May in Chachuna. In order to get the best results, counts should take place at least two times – first in late April and second in mid-May.

Ruddy Shelduck, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Little Bustard

Method: Direct count

Period: Spring-Autumn

Needed Equipment: 4-wheel drive car; 20X60 magnification spotting scope with tripod; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: Counts should be taken place in spring, in autumn and in winter. The entire territory should be covered by vehicle. For good visibility fields, should be scanned from elevated places using binoculars and scope. Already discovered birds should be directly counted using spotting scope. Little bustard counts should be coordinated between Chachuna and Vashlovani SPAs.

Turtle Dove

Method: Direct count

Period: May

Needed Equipment: 4-wheel drive car; 8X or 10X magnification binoculars; GPS.

Description: Counts should be taken place in the first half of May. All territory should be covered by vehicle. After every 150-200 meters, you should stop and listen to turtle dove call. GPS coordinates of each call should be recorded.

Transect 1

Start: 41.212034°/46.335877°

End: 41.103101°/46.442566°

Transect 2

Starr: 41.206977°/46.358144°

End: 41.063942°/46.484809°

Transect 3

Start: 41.124321°/46.499322°

End: 41.118182°/46.581050°

Birds recorded in the area 192

Photos and maps