Data Zone
Country/territory: United Arab Emirates
IBA Criteria met: B3a (2017)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 500 ha
Protection status:
| Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
| 2017 | low | favourable | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring please click here | |||
Site description
An artificial inland wetland formed from accidental release of treated water that attracted waterfowl. The site has developed into a year-round bird refuge.
Key biodiversity
An important area for breeding Greater Flamingo, Kentish Plover and Black-winged Stilt, with high numbers all year round; other breeders include Avocet, Coot, Grey-headed Swamphen, Little Grebe and Grey Francolin. It is the only inland wetland in the Arabian Peninsula that has witnessed successive successful breeding of Greater Flamingo (from 2011 to 2017). In winter, there are high numbers of Greater Flamingo, large groups of ducks, mainly Shoveler and Teal; Greater Spotted Eagle, Ferruginous Duck and Avocet are also present. The site has one of the region's biggest winter roosts of Marsh Harrier and it is not uncommon to see nearing 50 birds at the roost.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Al Wathba. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 28/11/2020.
