SPA 6 — Jandari

Protection status: SPA 6 is same as IBA (GEO27).

Species of concern

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus), Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Pochard (Aythya ferina), Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). There is one of the biggest breeding populations of Pygmy Cormorant in Georgia (100-150 pairs) (Paposhvili N. 2013). 1-2 pairs of Eastern Imperial Eagle are breeding in SPA. Lake Jandari is used by over 20 000 water birds for wintering. Large numbers of waterbirds use site during spring and autumn migration. (Paposhvili 2013). 500-700 Pochards; 200-300 Ruddy Shelducks; 10000-15000 Mallards; 800-1500 Teals and a small number of Ferruginous Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Goldeneyes and Smews; 80-100 Dalmatian Pelicans; 200-500 Cormorant have been recorded wintering on Lake Jandari (Paposhvili N. 2013). Some species are included on the red list of Georgia, Dalmatian Pelican as Endangered (EN); Eastern Imperial Eagle and Ruddy Shelduck – Vulnerable (VU).  Dalmatian Pelican, Pochard and Eastern Imperial Eagle are also included on the IUCN red list as Vulnerable (VU).

Description of the site

Jandari SPA is located in the Southeastern part of Georgia, at an altitude of 300 – 400 meters. Georgian-Azerbaijan border splits Lake Jandari in half. Reeds (Phragmites australis) and fragments of riparian forest with Poplar (Populus canescens), White Willow (Salix alba), and Salt Cedar (tamarix ramosissima) grow on the shore of the lake.  Hills with semi-arid and steppe vegetation are surrounding Lake Jandari. Garland thorn (Paliurus spina-christi), Wormwood (Artemisia lerchiana) and Perennial grass (Botriochlora ischaemum) are dominant plant species (Kvachakidze 2010). See the bird list below for Avifauna.

Monitoring

Eastern Imperial Eagle

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 are discovered and nestlings are counted. You should try to find Eastern Imperial Eagle nest on high trees or electricity pylons.  Date, GPS location of the nest and number of nestlings are recorded. During the second expedition the breeding success is assessed – number of chicks are counted on the same nests were checked during the first expedition. Expedition dates and nesting habitat description see in table 1.

Table1

Pygmy Cormorant

Method: Count of breeding pairs

Period: June

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

Description: Pygmy cormorants live in pairs or in colonies. For breeding they choose lake and river banks with dense vegetation.  Field expedition should take place at the beginning of June during incubation. Colonies and separated nest should be discovered and unique names should be given to each nesting place. Date, number of total and among them occupied nests and GPS locations for each nesting place should be recorded.

Water Birds

Method: Direct count

Period: September – May

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

Description: Water Birds should be directly counted with 2 weeks interval from December to May on Jandari Lake. Date, weather conditions, Species and number of birds should be recorded. Count data should be recorded in the database.  Counting point position and coordinates see on the Map 1.

Coordinates: 41.441614°/ 45.228263°

Birds recorded in the area 257

Photos and maps