IBA Horná Orava
Horná Orava
Districts: Čadca, Dolný Kubín, Námestovo, Tvrdošín
Altitude: 600 m – 1725 m
Area: 661,62 km2
Description
It is a mosaic mountainous country built by flysch rocks of Outer Western Carpathians that reaches to a number of orographic units. A substantial part of forests is occupied by spruce monocultures. Rare are mixed mountain forests and in the remote locations can be found spruce woods with primeval forest character. Massif of Babia hora and Pilsko exceeds the upper limit of the forest. There are unique waterlogged spruce – pine forests with lot of different kinds of wetlands, wet meadows and bogs. In the agricultural landscape dominate grasslands, often used extensively. Large water body of Orava dam has preserved and mostly shallow shores.
Area protection
IBA Horná Orava was designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) on April 6, 2005. Other protected areas in the region of IBA Horná Orava: Protected Landscape Area Horná Orava
Importance
The area is important for several bird species of coniferous forests and mountain foothills to a mosaic landscape with a predominance of permanent grassland, with many wetlands and peatlands (Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix/Tetrao tetrix), Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and Corncrake (Crex crex)). Major migration routes of Western Carpathians cross the Orava Basin, while Orava dam is an important stop for many migrating waterfowl species and for species bound to water.
Qualifying species
| Species | Breeding population | Criterion | |
| Pop.min. | Pop.max. | ||
| Black Stork – Ciconia nigra | 32 | 56 | C6 |
| White Stork – Ciconia ciconia | 41 | 59 | C6 |
| Honey Buzzard – Pernis apivorus | 25 | 45 | C6 |
| Lesser Spotted Eagle – Aquila pomarina | 47 | 73 | C6 |
| Black Grouse – Tetrao tetrix | 65 | 75 | C6 |
| Capercaillie – Tetrao urogallus | 110 | 140 | C6 |
| Spotted Crake – Porzana porzana | 4 | 20 | C6 |
| Corncrake – Crex crex | 140 | 180 | C1 |
| Common Tern – Sterna hirundo | 25 | 45 | C6 |
| Eagle Owl – Bubo bubo | 13 | 21 | C6 |
| Pygmy Owl – Glaucidium passerinum | 150 | 300 | C6 |
| Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis | 20 | 40 | C6 |
| Three-toed Woodpecker – Picoides tridactylus | 20 | 180 | C6 |
Other important species
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia/Bonasa bonasia), Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix), Little Crake (Porzana parva), Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Ural Owl (Strix uralensis), Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus), European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)