Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 10,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | Threat (pressure) | Condition (state) | Action (response) |
| 2013 | low | not assessed | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (baseline)
Gasr Muhaiwir lies c.80 km east-north-east of Rutbah in Wadi Hauran, the main wadi crossing the western desert of Iraq to the Euphrates. The stony desert carries only a sparse herb growth, and only in the wadi where there are temporary pools and springs is there more abundant vegetation. Summers are extremely hot, while winter temperatures can fall below freezing. There is archaeological evidence in the area of its use by man since Neolithic times.
Key biodiversity
The site's main interest lies in the attraction it holds for spring and autumn migrants crossing a huge area of desert, and large numbers of a wide variety of passerines and other species occur. The desert avifauna includes Cursorius cursor, Ammomanes deserti, Alaemon alaudipes, and Pterocles senegalensis and Eremophila bilopha may also breed.
Non-bird biodiversity: No information available to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Pavel Ctyroky.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gasr Muhaiwir, Wadi Hauran. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/8032 on 28/05/2023.
