Private farmland, formerly well irrigated, on sparsely vegetated desert plateau (altitude 235 m) at northern end of the Ad-Dibdibbah gravel plain which extends southwards into Saudi Arabia; well sheltered by 10 m high windbreaks of Tamarix, and annually planted with a variety of vegetable and grain crops. There is a small area of sparsely irrigated scrub/bushland.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. An attractive area for migrants, relatively well watched; 168 species have been recorded.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Excessive and indiscriminate bird hunting and the cessation of irrigation during and ever since the 1990–1991 Iraq conflict are critical problems.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Prof. C. W. T. Pilcher.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Al-Abraq Al-Khabari. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 08/02/2023.
