GR128
Falkonera, Velopoula and Karavia islets 23° 37’ 58.672” E, 36° 53’ 1.860” N Area: 18 km 2 Region: Attiki • Prefecture: Attiki
C6 Seaward Extension
Site Description The IBA contains marine areas surrounding the remote and uninhabited rocky islets of Falkonera and Velopoula in the Myrtoan Sea, located between the Peloponnese and the Cyclades. Steep coastal cliffs of sedimentary origin with fallen rocks and shrubs provide suitable nesting sites for seabirds. The islets are surrounded by deep sea waters, reaching a maximum depth of almost 1,000 m. The boundary of the marine IBA includes a 0.5 n.m. marine extension around Velopoula and Falkonera islets. Available data on the marine distribution of seabirds in the area
are limited therefore the boundary of the IBA may be extended in the future when more information, particularly on shearwaters, is collected.
Ornithological Importance A small and isolated breeding population of the Mediterranean Shag is dispersed along the rocky coast of the islets (min. 15 pairs). species
related IBA
year
season
min
max
unit
accuracy
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
GR128
2005
R
15
0
P
good
criteria C6
Other Species of Interest Cory’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters have been recorded foraging at sea in the wider marine area surrounding the islands of the Western Cyclades. These waters may also be important for migrating Yelkouan Shearwaters, as they are located between the migratory bottleneck of the Makronisos Strait (GR252) and Elafonisos Strait (GR129).
100
However, research in the area has been hindered by the remoteness of the site. Further surveys are necessary in order to assess the importance of the surrounding marine areas for Yelkouan Shearwater migration and the presence of shearwater breeding colonies on the islets.