Evaluation of Importance of Teksar Mountain of Armenia for Bird and Butterfly Protection

Bird Data Collection

For the current assessment of Teksar Mountain we used the data, which was collected in the period of 2003-2022 in frames of the National Bird Monitoring Scheme, developed by BirdLinks Armenia NGO. It includes (1) unstandardized observations (so called opportunistic data) and (2) standardized counts (data, collected according to standard methodology).

Unstandardized observations (opportunistic data) are usually provided by birdwatchers and contain minimum data requirements: precise identification of species, observation date, geographic coordinates, name of nearest locality (human settlement, mountain, historical site, etc.), breeding code, name of observer and his contacts. It is desirable to mention whether all observations have been recorded or the list represents only a selection of species. Every comment is useful (time, observation duration, number of people in the group, etc.). Since it’s not always possible to record precise geographical coordinates on the spot, information may be provided according to the 10x10 km square code.

Standardized counts (counts conducted within a certain time), are led both by specialists and birdwatchers, having proper skills [14]. Counts are implemented during a fixed period of 1 or 2 hours, when an observer passes the route in slow motion. It is desirable to make such counts at the time of the day, when birds are most active (as a rule, early in the morning). The best season for bird count is the period between 10th of May and 10th of June, nevertheless, data, collected in March-April and July-August are used as well (for some species, e.g., Bearded Vulture or Eagle Owl, the best period of count of breeding pairs is January-February). With this method, there are more requirements to data: precise identification of species, number of observed or acoustically recorded individuals, observation date, geographical location: 10x10 km square code, coordinates of a beginning of the route, start and end times of the count, name of nearest locality (human settlement, mountain, historical site, etc.), breeding code, name and contacts of observer/s. Collected data are entered into standardized protocols and when the field work is over are inputted into the Database of National Bird Monitoring owned by BirdLinks Armenia NGO.

Both types of data have been collected using the volunteer force – over 300 persons provided the data about this specific area.

Butterfly Data Collection

For the current assessment of Teksar Mountain we used the data, which was collected in the period of 2003-2022 in frames of the National Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, developed by BirdLinks Armenia NGO. Similar to the bird data, it includes (1) unstandardized observations and (2) standardized counts.

Unstandardized observations (opportunistic data) are usually provided by wildlife lovers and contain minimum data requirements: precise identification of species, observation date, geographic coordinates, name of nearest locality (human settlement, mountain, historical site, etc.), name of observer and his contacts. It is desirable to mention whether all observations have been recorded or the list represents only a selection of species. Since it’s not always possible to record precise geographical coordinates on the spot, information may be provided according to the 10x10 km square code.

Standardized counts (counts conducted within a certain time), are led both by specialists and wildlife lovers, having proper skills. The Standardized Transect Counts are better known as Pollard Walks [15]. Routes of transects were laid out to sample representative habitat and ran for 100 m parallel to the slopes. The width of routes was 5 meters. The walks have been implemented during 11:00-13:00 in sunny weather, with the wind speed less than 3 by Boffort Scale. Collected data are entered into standardized protocols and when the field work is over are inputted into the Database of National Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, owned by BirdLinks Armenia NGO [16, 17, 18, 19, 20].

Both types of data have been collected using the volunteer force – over 20 persons in total.

Geographical Data Collection

This includes the boundaries of the candidate Emerald Sites, Key Biodiversity Areas (hereinafter KBAs), and Specially Protected Natural Areas (hereinafter SPNAs).

The spatial data on KBAs was provided by WWF Armenia, the data on candidate Emerald Sites, SPNAs, and Public Hunting Lands was provided by the Ministry of Environment of RA.

Threat Data Collection

For collection of the data on existing and possible threats we have checked the land ownership, types and scale of various human activities, and conducted interviews of some target groups.

The data on land ownership was collected through the National Cadaster and Department of Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environment.

The data on human activities was collected through the National Statistical Agency and by visiting the sites.

The data on direct threats was collected through the semi-structured interviews of the local farmers and hunters. Additional information on the direct threats was accumulated in this period through social media, specifically the Armenian Ornithological Society (formerly Birding Association of Armenia) group.

Data Processing

The first part of the data processing includes preparation of the area’s account, listing the general description of the site, description of characteristics of avifauna and butterfly fauna and the priority species of global and national concern, features of land use and current threats, as well as existing and necessary conservation measures.

The second part of the processing includes evaluation of the features of the area versus criteria of the area as IBA and as PBA, and analysis of the area’s overlap with the public hunting lands, with the areas on national and global conservation concern, namely: SPNAs, candidate Emerald Sites, and by KBAs. This part of processing was implemented using ArcGIS 10.0 (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.).

General Description

The site is represented by a rather separated mountain which branches off from the Vardenis Mountain Ridge and has an elevation range from 1,700 m to 2,750 m above sea level (Figures 1 & 2) and makes about 12,196 ha. About 83% area of site belongs to the community and about 17% of it is allocated to Yeghegis State Sanctuary. At the same time, 11% of the area is allocated as a public hunting land (Table 1). The southern slopes of the mountain is covered by calcareous grasslands, which at the lower part are represented by semi-desert like formations and shrublands, while with the increase of elevation, those formations are being replaced with the tragacanth mountain steppes. With further increase of elevation, the landscape changes towards grassy mountain steppe, then to meadows, and then to sub-alpine carpets. The northern slope of the ridge has much more rigorous terrain, rich with rocks, cliffs, and screes, and being cut by several deep canyons. The lower part of the northern slope is covered by the scarce juniper woodlands, while the numerous gorges are hosting remains of deciduous woodlands formed by oak, hornbeam, wild plum, hawthorn, and other trees. At the bottom of the northern slope, there is a Yeghegis river, surrounded by riparian woodlands and shrublands.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Bird Fauna

There are 131 species of birds recorded in the area (Table 2), among which 101 are breeding and 30 occur during migration or found in breeding season having this site as part of their foraging range. Among the mentioned species, the area is important for breeding populations of high mountain species, such as Caspian Snowcock Tetraogallus caspius (B1b), Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris (B1b), Crimson- winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus (B1b), Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria (B1b) and White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis (B1b). Soaring migrants, like storks, cranes, and raptors, sometimes make congregations in the lower edge of the area, however, the site doesn’t or just occasionally might reach the threshold of criteria B3c. The site represents an important breeding and foraging range for such raptors, as Egyptian Vulture (A1), Bearded Vulture (B1a), Short-toed Snake Eagle (B1b), Levant Sparrowhawk (B1b), Golden Eagle (B1b), and Eagle Owl (B1b).

Butterfly Fauna

There are 153 species of butterflies recorded in the area (Table 3). Among the mentioned species, the area is important for such globally threatened species as Parnassius apollo, Maculinea arion, and Maculinea rebeli, and nationally threatened ones, such as Papilio alexanor, Colias aurorina, Brenthis ino, Tomares romanovi, Polyommatus huberti, P. erewanensis, P. surakovi, P. ninae. Also, the area is critically important for the regional endemics, such as Satyrus effendi and Callophris danchenkoi.

Threats

Significant portion of the area is used as a pastureland for nomadic grazing by surrounding communities. Smaller portion is allocated for haymaking, which faces obstacles of the difficult terrain. Also, the part of the area is included in the public hunting lands (Figure 2), with the lack of control over the hunting, which is increasing the risk of poaching in the area. Such poaching was reported, both: on game birds out of official hunting season and on raptors taken as trophy. At the lower elevation, the area’s natural grasslands suffer from the intensive pasture use that causes overgrazing with all the consequences: from a change of plant community to the soil erosion, which is particularly dangerous at this steep area. Another threat comes from human induced fires: the local people often burn Astracantha spp. and Onobrychis cornuta bushes, either for quick fire for cooking or just for fun. Such a habit can provoke large-scale fires in the area. The next threat comes from the small Hydro Power Plants, which have significantly fragmented the river Yeghegis, and enormously decreased the volume of the water in the river. Such practice affects humidity of the value and makes the ecosystems even more vulnerable to the climatic changes. Eventually, the area was a subject of investigations for the potential mining of color metals. Such project, if accepted, can damage entire habitats and ecosystems, resulting in extermination of the whole populations of the plant and animal species.

Existing and Proposed Conservation Measures

The area is recognized as KBA and is partly included into the Yeghegis State Sanctuary, which however doesn’t have neither administration nor a management plan.

The area can be assessed as the Important Bird Area according to the criteria A1, B1a, B1b. Also, the area can be assessed as Prime Butterfly Area, as it hosts a number of globally threatened and nationally threatened species, as well as the regional endemics. In frames of the international programs, it is important to conduct a full assessment of the area as an Emerald Site. Then, the integrated management plan for the area could be developed, which should take into account the priorities of Yeghegis State Sanctuary from one side and the interests of local communities from another. Specifically, such plan should consider the careful impact assessment of all the new infrastructure and especially mining projects, as well as should set up strict protection of the nesting sites of sensitive bird species and the host areas of the patchy distributed butterfly species. Also, the plan should consider sustainable grazing schemes. At the same time, the plan can consider development of wildlife tourism in the area (birdwatching, butterfly-watching, mammal watching, flower-watching etc.), which can create a new value for the wildlife. Such development should be aligned with the education program aimed at local people.

Most of the area is located at the community lands. The rest of the area is used for horticulture and livestock husbandry. Intensive grazing, uncontrolled mowing, and non- coordinated habitat transformation under orchards – are the major threats here. Also, some poaching was reported, both: on game birds out of official hunting season and on raptors taken as trophy.