The masters of the skies
The masters of the skies
On the GroundOf the 310 bird species recorded at least once in the Sečovlje Salina in the period 1870-2024, 281 species were recorded in the period 2003-2024. Of the total number of species recorded, 88 species are on the list of Annex I birds of the Birds Directive, 17 of which are so-called qualifying species for which SPAs are designated. 29 species are on the Red List of breeding birds.
A total of 72 species of nesting birds have been recorded in the area of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. Of the total number of breeding species, 10 are of national importance. These are species that account for 10% or more of the total national population in the area of the Sečovlje Saline Landscape Park (KPSS). Eight species of breeders are important target species for the KPSS, namely: Tadorna tadorna, Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta, Charadrius alexandrinus, Tringa totanus, Sternula albifrons, Sterna hirundo and Cisticola juncidis.
Among the flying species that occur in the area of the Sečovlje salt pans during the breeding season (July and August), there are many that do not have suitable habitats here, nest elsewhere and molt here as juveniles, stay here for more suitable foraging habitats, or their nesting sites are geographically much higher and therefore do not have the opportunity to breed.
Among all the species that occur in the Sečovlje Saltpans during the breeding season, special mention should be made of the Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii, the Black-headed Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus and the Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis. All three species occur in large numbers in the Sečovlje Saltpans. The most abundant of all is certainly the Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis, which fulfils several IBA and SPA criteria.
The spring migration in the Sečovlje Saltpans takes place mainly between March and May, while the autumn migration takes place from August to October.
253 species were recorded during the overflight. Many species stop in the area of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park both on the flyover and on the wintering grounds. 134 species occur regularly on the flyover.
Although the first overwintering birds arrive in Sečovlje Salina as early as November and leave in March, some also in April, the term overwintering refers to birds that stay here for a longer period during the winter months (December, January). Winter visitors include those species that, due to weather and other influences, fly to us in winter, but their wintering grounds are usually elsewhere. In the period 1983-2009, 143 species were observed overwintering. 70 species regularly overwinter in the area of the Sečovlje salt pans, 30 species do not overwinter every year and 53 species are winter guests.
According to the Winter Ornithological Atlas of Slovenia (ZOAS), the Sečovlje Salt Pans, with 123 species observed in winter, are the most important wintering site for birds in Slovenia.
In the period 2003-2021, 141 different bird species wintered in the KPSS area. The number of overwintering species has been decreasing in recent years due to mild winters.