GR140 Ornithological Importance The area hosts one of the largest Yelkouan Shearwater colonies in the Northern Aegean. The birds use waters adjacent to the colony for rafting and feeding. Large numbers of rafting birds (up to 465 individuals) have been recorded gathering within species
related IBA
Puffinus yelkouan
GR140
the marine IBA during the evening, while foraging flocks are smaller. This suggests that the foraging range of birds breeding in the site greatly exceeds the area of the marine IBA. Further telemetry surveys are required to establish their foraging areas.
year
season
min
max
unit
accuracy
2007-12
B
150
250
P
good
criteria A1, B3, C1, C6
Other Species of Interest Colonies of the Cory’s Shearwater (25-80 pairs), Mediterranean Shag (34 pairs) and Yellowlegged Gull (60 pairs) also occur in the IBA. Cory’s Shearwaters use the marine area around Antipsara for rafting and foraging. The Mediterranean Shags breed along the coast of Antipsara and Psara and
use the adjacent coastal waters for foraging and resting. During the post-breeding season only part of the Mediterranean Shag breeding population remains in the area, while the rest disperse to other nearby sites.
Uses, Threats, Management
The main threats identified on the islets where seabirds breed are disturbance caused by human presence and predation by rats and Yellow-legged Gulls. Intense marine traffic between Psara and Chios places the IBA at a continuous risk of marine pollution. Overfishing and seabird bycatch are also
suspected to have negative effects on the local populations of seabirds, as well as on regional populations of shearwaters in the Northern and Central Aegean Sea which use the marine area around Psara and Antipsara.
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