Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
Arid hills (including a portion of the Himreen Hills) and steppe as well as some sandy areas are the main features of this site. Agricultural fields bordering the sites to the southwest contain many hectares of irrigated fields of corn, wheat and barley
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 56 bird species were seen. In addition to Egyptian Vulture, Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii (Vulnerable) was recorded but did not meet the A1 criterion. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus and European Roller Coracias garrulus (both Near Threatened) were observed on passage. Six Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species were breeding but did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. The endemic race of the Hooded Crow Corvus cornix capellanus also occurred.
Other Important Fauna: Important species seen during the surveys include Goitered Gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (Vulnerable), which were reported grazing on the grassy steppe near Al-Sder, but not in numbers that would meet Vulnerability criteria. Also a Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Near Threatened) killed by locals was examined by the team during the survey.
Two habitat types were observed, desert shrub and herbaceous vegetation-steppe.
The Al-Sder area, a steppe with some sand dune located in the southeastern part of the site has been a traditional spot for the hunting of Houbara (Macqueen's) Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii and trapping of Saker Falcon Falco cherrug during winter migration.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
High threats include farming and grazing by large herds of fat–tailed sheep (Al-Awasi). A very high threat comes from hunting. Several large local hunting companies are based to the southeast of the area and focus on taking hunters to hunt Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii and trap Saker falcon Falco cherrug (Al-Skeikhly, 2011). The Albu Ajeel Oil Field, one of the region’s main fields, is located to the northeast, causing heavy pollution in the western part of the site, and was considered a medium threat.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ajeel Himreen Hills (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ajeel-himreen-hills-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.
