SPA 5 — David Garedji

Protection status: 55.73 % of territory is covered by IBA (GEO11).  5.35% of IBA (GEO11) is represented by SPA 5.

Species of concern

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea). 1 pair of Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), 1-2 pairs of Eastern Imperial Eagle; 2-3 pairs of Griffon Vulture; 5-7 pairs of Egyptian Vulture; 15-20 pairs of Ruddy Shelduck breed in SPA 5. On the red list of Georgia Saker Falcon is included as Critically Endangered (CR), and all other species – as Vulnerable (VU). Three of them are included on the IUCN red list. Saker Falcon and Egyptian Vulture are Endangered (EN) and Eastern Imperial Eagle – Vulnerable (VU).

Description of site

David Gareji SPA is located in the southeastern part of Georgia at an altitude 600 – 900 meters. Habitats of David Gareji are mostly arid and semi-arid with following dominant  species: Weber (Artemisia lerchiana), Desert madwort (Alyssum desertorum), Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus), Redsteam filaree (Erodium cicutarium), broadleaf cottonrose (Filago pyramidata), Rock rose (Helianthemum salicifolium), Peppergrass (Lepidium vesicarium), Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), Bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa) (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

Saker Falcon

Method: Direct count of nesting pairs.

Period: Second half of April

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. Usually nests are well concealed. Therefore, counting chicks is challenging. So, the best periods for field expeditions to monitor saker falcon is second half of April. 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 and number of breeding pairs should be recorded.

Ruddy Shelduck

Method: Direct coun

Period: May – January

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

Description: At least two counts should be performed annually. First field expedition should take place in the first half of May to count breeding pairs and ducklings. After ruddy shelducks hatch, parents with their duckling appear at the lakes. For this time they are well visible and are much easier to count. Second field expedition should take place in January to count wintering birds. In both cases Ruddy shelducks should be directly counted in Jikurebi, Sakhare and Kapatadze lakes (map1).

Coordinates

Counting point 1: 41.580037° / 45.315282°

Counting point 2: 41.574305° / 45.320222°

Counting point 3: 41.569923° / 45.339388°

Birds recorded in the area 227

Photos and maps