The Black-winged Stilt and the Spur-winged Lapwing are not the only species that will benefit from this pioneering project. Through the work that will be done for the restoration and management of the site other Annex I species that nest or have nested at the site will also benefit, as well as Annex I species which use the lake especially during migration periods (spring and autumn) and during winter. Finally a great number of regularly occurring non-Annex I species will also benefit.

Currently a further four Birds Directive Annex I species have nested at the site (Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus) and a further 58 species belonging to Annex I of the Birds Directive have been recorded using the site during migration or winter. Finally, the site is used during migration, winter or for breeding by 36 regularly occurring non-Annex I species a great number of which we expect will benefit.

In total 190 species have been recorded at the site. A list of the characteristic bird species of Oroklini Lake for every season can be found here.

Information on the four ANNEX I species that breed or have bred in Oroklini is given below.

• Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus

Stone Curlew is a species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC3) and is considered vulnerable at European level according to IUCN. The species nests occasionally at Oroklini lake but does not meet criteria for the lake, there are between 200-1000 nesting pairs in Cyprus (Birds in Europe 2004, BirdLife International).

• Little Tern Sterna albifrons

Little Tern is a species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC3) and is considered Declining at European level according to IUCN. The species has nested occasionally at Oroklini Lake but does not meet any criteria for the site. There is potential to enhance nesting habitat for this species through habitat creation and control of disturbance and predation. There are around 5 pairs nesting annually in Cyprus.

• Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus             

Kentish Plover is a species of species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC3) and is considered Declining at European level according to IUCN. The species has nested once in Oroklini in 2007 but does not meet any criteria for the site. It is likely to benefit from control of disturbance and access to the site. There are between 90-150 nesting pairs in Cyprus (Birds in Europe 2004, BirdLife International).

• Common Tern Sterna hirundo  

Common Tern is a species considered Secure in Europe. There is potential for this species to benefit from control of disturbance at the site and habitat creation.    

The importance of the LIFE Oroklini project extends to the fact that Mediterranean seasonal wetlands, such as Oroklini Lake, are important stopover sites for birds crossing the Mediterranean from Africa or preparing to cross the Mediterranean on their way to Africa. Their value is especially important as they might be the first sites which waterbirds meet in spring where they can rest and refuel after a gruelling migration over the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea and similarly the last sites they meet in autumn before the big migration. Enhancing and managing those sites (stepping stones) so that they achieve Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) in the southernmost sites of the EU directly benefits hundreds of thousands of migrants that are on their way to or from other EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the EU.

The 58 species of Annex I are listed below:

Botaurus stellaris, Ixobrychus minutus, Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta, Casmerodius albus (Egretta alba), Ardea purpurea, Ardeola ralloides, Ciconia ciconia, Ciconia nigra, Platalea leucorodia, Plegadis falcinellus, Phoenicopterus rubber, Tadorna ferruginea, Aythya nyroca, Pandion haliaetus, Milvus migrans, Pernis apivorus, Circus aeruginosus, Circus cyaneus, Circus marcourus, Circus pygargus, Buteo rufinus, Falco naumanni, Falco columbarius, Grus grus, Porzana porzana, Porzana pusilla, Porzana parva, Recurvirostra avosetta, Pluvialis apricaria, Philomachus pugnax, Gallinago media, Tringa glareola, Larus melanocephalus, Larus genei, Larus minutus, Sterna sandvicensis, Chlidonias hybridus, Chlidonias niger, Caprimulgus europaeus, Coracias garrulus, Alcedo atthis, Calandrella brachydactyla, Lullula arborea, Anthus campestris, Oenanthe cypriaca, Luscinia svecica, Acrocephalus melanopogon, Sylvia melanothorax, Sylvia ruepelli, Sylvia nisoria, Ficedula semitorquata, Ficedula albicollis, Lanius collurio, Lanius minor, Lanius nubicus, Emberiza hortulana, Emberiza caesia.

The 36 species of regularly occurring non-Annex I species are:

Phalacrocorax carbo, Tadorna tadorna, Anas strepera, Anas penelope, Anas platyrhynhos, Anas clypeata, Anas acuta, Anas querquendula, Anas crecca, Netta rufina, Aythya ferina, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Bubulcus ibis, Ardea cinerea, Rallus aquaticus, Gallinula chloropus, Fulica atra, Vanellus vanellus, Charadrius hiaticula, Charadrius dubius, Lymnocryptes minimus, Gallinago gallinago, Limosa limosa, Tringa erythropus, Tringa totanus, Tringa stagnatilis, Tringa nebularia, Tringa ochropus, Actitis hypoleucos, Calidris minuta, Calidris temminckii, Calidris alpina, Calidris ferruginea, Larus canus, Larus ridibundus, Larus cachinnans.