Kythera and Surrounding Islands: Prasonisi-Dragonera-Antidragonera-Avgo-Capello-Koufo and Fidonisi (GR3000013)

It is protected under the Birds Directive, covering an area of 5,372.95 hectares [ha]. This site comprises north and eastern part of Kythera Island and seven rocky islets which are located off the island of Kythera and belong to the Prefecture of Attiki. Prasonisi is the smallest islet, and Avgo the biggest. All the islets are uninhabited. Human interference is not intense; it is confined to grazing by a small number of goats. On the islets of the site, as it happens on small islands in general, there are distinct vegetation zones: 1) a littoral zone, inhabited by true halophytes (Limonium sp., Lotus cytisoides, Frankenia hirsuta etc.), 2) a sublittoral zone, which is not washed by sea-water but is influenced by the salt spray and is inhabited by halophytes, as well as phrygana species, 3) an interior zone, characterised by phrygana species, such as Euphorbia dendroides (found in impressive formations on Dragonera and Antidragonera), Coridothymus capitatus, Teucrium divaricatum, Teucrium polium etc. The interior zone is missing from Prassonisi because of its small size. There is an extended sublittoral zone with ""islet specialist"" plant species, such as Brassica cretica ssp. aegea, Allium commutatum and Anthemis scopulorum. Falco eleonorae population values are based on LIFE – Nature ""Protection actions for the Eleonora's Falcon- Falco eleonorae in Greece"" (LIFE03 NAT/GR/000091). This is an important site for breeding seabirds and species associated with coastal cliffs. The site is a migratory bottleneck, where many hundreds of raptors regularly pass in autumn. Species of concern include: Calonectris diomedea, Puffinus yelkouan, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Falco eleonorae, Falco peregrinus, Larus audouinii and Emberiza caesia. According to the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, there are 32 protected species, as follows: Levant Sparrowhawk- Accipiter brevipes, Skylark - Alauda arvensis, Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis, Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris, Swift - Apus apus, Gray Heron - Ardea cinerea, Buzzard - Buteo buteo, Short-toed Lark- Calandrella brachydactyla, Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus, Short-toed Eagle - Circaetus gallicus, Pallid Harrier-Circus macrourus, Quail - Coturnix coturnix, Corncrake - Crex crex, Delichon urbicum (urbica), Eleonora's Falcon- Falco eleonorae, Peregrine - Falco peregrinus, Collared Flycatcher- Ficedula albicollis, Red-breasted Flycatcher- Ficedula parva, Olive-tree Warbler- Hippolais olivetorum, Swallow - Hirundo rustica, Wryneck - Jynx torquilla, Red-backed Shrike- Lanius collurio Lesser Grey Shrike- Lanius minor, Woodlark - Lullula arborea, Bee-eater- Merops apiaster, Honey Buzzard- Pernis apivorus, Shag (Mediterranean subspecies) - Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii, Great Crested - Podiceps cristatus, Black-necked Grebe- Podiceps nigricollis, Sand Martin - Riparia riparia, Turtle Dove- Streptopelia turtur, Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba