Data Zone
Country/territory: Iran, Islamic Republic of
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 20,000 hectares (200.00 km2)
Site description (1994 baseline)
Semi-desertic steppe and irrigated arable land subject to winter flooding on the plain of the Karkheh river c.30 km west-north-west of Ahwaz. The site includes Hamidieh lake, an oxbow lake of c.3 ha with extensive Phragmites and Typha.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. The flood-plain wetlands are an important wintering area for herons and egrets, Anser anser, Tadorna tadorna, surface-feeding ducks, Himantopus himantopus and Recurvirostra avosetta. Marmaronetta angustirostris breeds at Hamidieh lake, and small numbers have been recorded on the flood-plain wetlands in winter. Small numbers of Grus grus winter (100). Turdoides altirostris is resident in the reeds; Hypocolius ampelinus is a fairly common summer visitor to the scrub around the lake, and Passer moabiticus is probably resident. Other notable breeding species are Pterocles alchata, Ceryle rudis, Acrocephalus stentoreus and Rhodopechys obsoleta.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hamidieh (Omidiyeh) plains (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hamidieh-(omidiyeh)-plains-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 22/12/2024.