Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
An area of semi-desertic plains, arable land, grassland, temporary inundation and small permanent marshes c.40 km east-north-east of Baghdad. The marshes are fed mainly from the Baquba area to the north and are surrounded by
Phragmites and
Typha beds. The area is grazed, and adjacent plains are dominated by
Alhaja and
Acacia. The local human population is very sparse, and the environment is unusually intact.
The site is important for wintering waterfowl, and 8,800 ducks and geese and
Fulica atra were recorded in January 1975. Other breeding species include
Glareola pratincola (14 pairs).
Charadrius asiaticus occurs on passage (max. 300). Data shown in box, from Carp (1975a, 1975b) and Scott and Carp (1982), may include some winter counts from the Baghdad area.
Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: the general area is very important for harbouring wild relatives of important cereal crop species.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No conservation measures are known to have been taken. The site is threatened by drainage of the wetlands to the north from which it obtains its water. Hunting pressure was heavy in 1975, both through shooting from cars and from netting. No conservation measures are known to have been proposed.
Data-sheet compiled by Dr Hanna Y. Siman.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Attariya Plains (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/attariya-plains-iba-iraq on 23/12/2024.
