Islands of Croatia - habitats and birds

Islands of Croatia - habitats and birds are presented here by ornithologically significant areas, arranged according to their geographical position.

Area of West Istra

Area description: shallow sea with many bays is suitable for seabirds that feed on fish. The parts of the coast with precipitous cliffs and islets, as in National Park Brijuni, are the breeding area of Shags. This is the only part of Croatian littoral, where Kingfishers breed on eroded earthen steeps above the sea.

Types of habitats on the land, that makes only 1% of the total area, are holm oak macchia and forest, sub Mediterranean thermophilic forests and pubescent oak shrub, Mediterranean dry grasslands and other habitats, mostly mosaic arable fields

West Istra

Birds:

Shag, Sandwich Tern, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Common Tern, Kingfisher

Islands of Kvarner

Area description: the area includes large North Adriatic islands (Cres, Krk and Rab) and smaller islands in their vicinity. The numerous cliffs are the nesting area of the last population of Griffon Vultures in Croatia. Many other species are breeding here as well, such as Shags, Peregrine Falcons, Eagle Owls and other birds of pray. For these species, the vast open and mixed habitats (as are, for instance, the rocky meadows) are very important. This area has also spacious forests and shrubs of several Mediterranean types. This is a significant wintering area of Sandwich Tern. There are three ornithological reservations on the Island of Cres, and one on the Island of Krk. Nature Protection Research and Education Center " Eco Center Caput Insulae" operates in Beli on Cres, with protection of Griffon Vultures as one of their main goals.

Types of habitats on the land, that makes 29% of the total area, Mediterranean dry grasslands, Mediterranean shrub, pubescent oak forest and shrub, holm oak macchia and forest, newly planted conifers and other habitats

position of the Kvarner area Kvarner Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus Stone Curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus

Birds:

Shag, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Stone Curlew, Sandwich Tern, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Honey Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Common Tern, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Kingfisher, Short-toed Lark, Woodlark, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Gray Shrike, Ortolan.

Island of Pag and northwest Dalmatia

Area description: this is the most extensive area of low marshy and sandy coastline and shoals, wide shallow bays, lagoons and protected straits in Croatian littoral. The area also includes two large salt pans (one on the Island of Pag and the other by the town of Nin on the coast), wetlands (ornithological reservations on Pag - Velo Blato, Malo Blato and Kolansko Blato), and few river mouths, of which the largest would be the one of the Zrmanja River. Therefore, this is one of the most important Croatian wintering and stopover areas for waders, divers, Sandwich terns, sea ducks and grebes, and at present probably the only Croatian breeding site of Kentish Plover. Vast xeric grasslands of the area are the most important nesting site of Stone Curlew in Croatia.

Types of habitats on the land, that makes 50% of the total area, xeric grasslands, mosaic of xeric grasslands and shrub, Mediterranean shrub, marshlands and mosaic arable land and olive groves

position of the Island of Pag and northwest Dalmatia Island of Pag - ornithological reservation Kolansko Blato Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica

Birds:

Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Glossy Ibis, Montagu's Harrier, Black-winged Stilt, Stone Curlew, Grey Plover, Kentish Plover, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Sandwich Tern, Short-toed Lark, Shag, Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco Herron, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Partridge, Common Crane, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Gull, Common Tern, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Kingfisher, Calandra Lark, Woodlark, Tawny Pipit, Olive-tree Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike.

Islands in the area of Zadar, northern part

Area description: This part of the Zadar Archipelago comprises, among others, the islands of Premuda, Silba, Olib, Skarda, Ist and Molat. Being rich with shallow seas and numerous islets, this is a favourable breeding area for seabirds that feed on fish. In the center of this territory, on the reefs of the Island of Silba, is the most important nesting area of Shag in Croatia. Little Tern colonies are to be found on several islets here, hence it is this species' biggest Croatian maritime breeding site.

Types of habitats are coniferous forests, holm oak macchia and forest, Mediterranean dry grasslands in mosaic with shrub and other habitats, mostly mosaic arable fields, orchards and olive groves

Birds:

Besides the Shag, Red-throated Diver, and Little Tern, we will find here the following species: Peregrine Falcon, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike and Stock Dove.

National Park Kornati and Nature Park Telascica

Area description: The archipelago of numerous islands, islets and reefs, bays and shallow seas, rich with high and precipitous cliffs, favourable for breeding of Shags, birds of pray and Swifts, is a completely protected area - National Park Kornati. A large salt lake adorns the other protected area in this territory, the Nature Park Telascica. The forest habitats of the area - aleppo pine forests and macchia - are spreading in Telascica, while the Kornati Islands are mostly covered with xeric grasslands.

Types of habitats here are Mediterranean dry grasslands, mosaic of dry grasslands and Mediterranean shrub, olive groves, rocky, forest and other

position of Kornati National Park and Telascica Nature Park

Birds:

Shag, Peregrine Falcon, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Common Tern, Eagle Owl, Woodlark, Nightjar, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike.

Islands of the Central Dalmatia and Peljesac Peninsula

Area description: This area comprises the large Dalmatian islands: Brac, Hvar, Korcula and Solta, and the west side of the Peljesac Peninsula, as well as the islets between the Island of Korcula and the Peljesac Peninsula. All types of Mediterranean open and forest habitats are present here. Rocky habitats with cliffs prevail on Peljesac. The most important population of Nightjar in Croatia is found here.

Types of habitats are coniferous forests, holm oak macchia, Mediterranean shrub, Mediterranean dry grasslands, vineyards, olive groves and other - arable fields and rural landscape

position of the islands of the Central Dalmatia and Peljesac Peninsula Central Dalmatian island

Birds:

Audouin's Gull, Nightjar, Shag, Short-toed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Partridge, Eagle Owl, Woodlark, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike.

National Park Mljet

Area description: in addition to the northwest part of the Island of Mljet, the islets in its vicinity also belong to this area. The Island of Mljet is the greenest Croatian island - meaning that it has most of its forests preserved, unlike the other Croatian islands. This is the second most important nesting place of Audouin's Gull (in particular on the Island of Glavat and on the Island of Ovrata). This is a national park.

Types of habitats are coniferous forests, holm oak macchia, Mediterranean shrub and other

position of National Park Mljet Mljet Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii Audouin's Gull - Larus audouinii

Birds:

Shag, Audouin's Gull, Rock Partridge, Nightjar, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike.

Lastovo Archipelago

Area description: this area includes Lastovo and some desolated islets around it. These small, low and mainly bare islets represent the most significant nesting site of Audouin's Gull in Croatia. The islet of Zaklopatica shelters the only authenticated nesting site of Levantine Shearwater (also known as Yelkouan Shearwater). Lastovo, mostly covered with allepo pine forest, is a favourite night roost of migratory birds on they way over the Adriatic Sea. This is a nature park.

Types of habitats are Mediterranean dry grasslands, coniferous forests, holm oak macchia, Mediterranean shrub and other

position of the Island of Lastovo

Birds:

Cory's Shearwater, Levantine (Yelkouan) Shearwater, Audouin's Gull, Shag, Honey Buzzard, Nightjar, Red-backed Shrike.

Pelagic Islands - the home of the Eleonora's Falcon in Croatia

Area description: Island of Vis and the smaller islands around it, as well as islands of Bisevo, St. Andrija, Brusnik, Jabuka and Palagruza, are the only nesting area of Eleonora's Falcon in Croatia, while the almost entire national breeding population of Cory's Shearwater also dwells here. For these two species the most important is the Island of St. Andrija with the nearby islet of Kamnik. They are nesting on cliffs and rocks rising sheer from the sea.

Types of habitats are Mediterranean dry grasslands, coniferous forests, holm oak macchia, Mediterranean shrub, olive groves, vineyards and other

position of Pelagic Islands The Island of St. Andrija Cory's Shearwater - Calonectris diomedea Eleonora's Falcon - Falco eleonorae

Birds:

Cory's Shearwater, Eleonora's Falcon, Levantine (Yelkouan) Shearwater, Peregrine Falcon,Nightjar, Red-backed Shrike.

Palagruza - Lastovo - Peljesac migration path

Area description: this area is included because it is on the migration corridor for Honey Buzzards (more than 700 birds) and Cranes (more than 1000 birds) passing over the Adriatic Sea from Gargano Peninsula (Italy) to the Croatian islands of Palagruza, Lastovo, Peljesac and Rilic. Migrating birds rarely land in this area, except to rest for the night and during unfavourable weather.

Source of data and photos: State Institute for Nature Protection, other photos by Robert Crnkovic, Dare Sere, Ivica Lolic, Zeljko Kelemen, Val Tours

VAL TOURS birding(at)val-tours.hr Trg hrvatskih velikana bb 23210 Biograd n/m Croatia tel: +385 23 386 479 fax: +385 23 386 478 ID CODE HR-AB-23-13060100423