The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2017 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
---|---|---|---|---|
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis | LC | non-breeding (2010–2015) | 210–310 individuals | B3a |
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | LC | non-breeding (2010–2015) | 1,000–2,000 individuals | B3a |
Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii | LC | passage (2010–2015) | 850–2,000 individuals | B3a |
Charadrius mongolus | NR | winter (2010–2015) | 1,700–4,000 individuals | A4, B3a |
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris | EN | winter (2010–2015) | 60–88 individuals | B3a |
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola | LC | winter (2010–2015) | 350–450 individuals | B2a |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2017. The most recent assessment (2017) is shown below.
IBA conservation status | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
2017 | near favourable | high | very low |
Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
yes | population | poor |
State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis | 210 / 170 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | 1,500 / 250 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
Charadrius mongolus | 1,700 / 800 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | 150 / 800 (individuals) | 19 | not assessed | ||
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 900 / 1,000 (individuals) | 90 | near favourable | ||
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris | 58 / 50 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola | 400 / 500 (individuals) | 80 | near favourable | ||
A4iii Species group - waterbirds | 2,750 / 2,800 (individuals) | 99 | favourable |
State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
Forest | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
Marine Coastal/Supratidal | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
Marine Intertidal | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
Biological resource use | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
Transportation and service corridors | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | low |
Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
Little/none of site covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
---|---|---|
Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
Desert | minor (<10) | Hot |
Forest | minor (<10) | Subtropical & tropical mangrove |
Marine Neritic | minor (<10) |
Land use | % of IBA |
---|---|
fisheries/aquaculture | major (>10) |
tourism/recreation | minor (<10) |
rangeland/pastureland | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khor Al Beidah (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khor-al-beidah-iba-united-arab-emirates on 03/02/2025.