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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 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
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	winter (2011)	4 birds	A1
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis	VU	winter (2013)	9 birds	A1
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus	VU	winter (2011)	14 birds	A1
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding (2005–2010)	700 pairs	A1, A4i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (2007–2010)	135–2,780 birds	A1, A4i
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	100 pairs	A3
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (2005–2013)	250,000 birds	A4i
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	winter (2011)	44 birds	A1
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	breeding (2005–2010)	present	A3
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus	LC	resident (2005–2010)	400 pairs	A3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2005–2010)	20,000-49,999 birds	A4i
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor	LC	resident (2005–2010)	40 pairs	A3
Pallid Scops-owl Otus brucei	LC	breeding (2005)	1 pairs	A3
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes	LC	resident (2005–2010)	50 pairs	A3
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura	LC	breeding (2005)	1 pairs	A3
Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis	EN	breeding (2005–2010)	500 pairs	A1, A2, A3
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis	LC	resident (2005–2010)	50 pairs	A3
Iraq Babbler Argya altirostris	LC	resident (2005–2010)	300 pairs	A2, A3
Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	200 pairs	A3
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	1,000 pairs	A3, A4ii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2005–2010)	500,000-999,999 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	likely in long term (>4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Energy production and mining	likely in long term (>4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%)	No management planning has taken place	Not assessed	very low

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	100

Land use	% of IBA
unknown	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dalmaj Marsh (Iraq). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dalmaj-marsh-iba-iraq on 23/12/2024.