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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
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	winter (1991)	100 birds	A1, A4i, B2
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (1991)	10 birds	B2
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter (1991)	20 birds	B1i, B2
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis	LC	winter (1991)	500 birds	A4i
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	passage (1991)	350 birds	A4i, B1i
Black Stork Ciconia nigra	LC	passage (1991)	200 birds	B1i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis	LC	resident (1991)	300 pairs	B1i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis	LC	winter (1991)	2,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	passage (1991)	2,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	passage (1991)	300 birds	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident (1991)	250 pairs	A4i, B1i
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter (1991)	1,000 birds	B1i
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	passage (1991)	30 birds	A1, B2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	winter (1991)	5 birds	B2
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina	LC	passage (1991)	10,000 birds	B2
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	breeding (1991)	10–15 pairs	A1, B2
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	passage (1991)	30 birds	A1, B2
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes	n/a	passage (1991)	12,500 birds	A4iv, B1iv

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1969	Bitronot Ruhama Kurkar	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1976	Lahav Darom	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	75
Shrubland	20
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	5
Grassland	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	major (>10)
hunting	minor (<10)
urban/industrial/transport	minor (<10)
water management	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Judean foothills (Israel). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/judean-foothills-iba-israel on 23/12/2024.