Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
Part of a limestone and sand desert plateau c.30 km west-south-west of Haditha and c.200 km west-north-west of Baghdad. The area contains large, deep wadis surrounded by shallow depressions which are wet from November to March and carry a rich vegetation of
Haloxylon,
Artemisia and
Astragalus. At least three water wells have been drilled, and since c.1960 part of the area has been farmed (dates, orchards, etc.) and there is some livestock grazing by nomads. Annual rainfall is 100-200 mm, mainly in December-February.
See box for key species. Other breeding species (known or assumed) include
Cursorius cursor,
Pterocles alchata,
Eremophila bilopha,
Pycnonotus leucotis and
Oenanthe isabellina.
Grus virgo (12 birds) has occurred on spring passage, and the area may lie on a main migration route for it.
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: there is a rich reptile fauna.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No conservation measures are known to have been taken. The site is unprotected and in the early 1980s was apparently not threatened. 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: Augla, Wadi Hauran (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/augla-wadi-hauran-iba-iraq on 23/12/2024.
