Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | NT | resident (1993) | frequent | A1, B1i, B2 |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | NT | winter (1990–1991) | 36–69 birds | A1, B1i, B2 |
| Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | LC | winter (1990–1991) | 278–366 birds | B1i |
| Little Egret Egretta garzetta | LC | winter (1990–1991) | 319–340 birds | B1i |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | LC | winter (1990–1991) | 185–276 birds | B1i |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | VU | winter (1990–1991) | 18–24 birds | A1, B2 |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | VU | winter (1993) | uncommon | B2 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Not assessed | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Al-Ha’ir Wetland | محمية (VI) | 20 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | major (>10) | |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | major (>10) | |
| Desert | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 20 |
| agriculture | major (>10) |
| water management | major (>10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al-Ha'ir (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-hair-iba-saudi-arabia on 23/12/2024.