Data Zone
Country/territory: Jordan
IBA criteria met: A4i, B1i, B1iv, B2 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 500 hectares (5.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
A large area of open, man-made pools in a broad depression close to Wadi Dhulayl (a tributary of the Zarqa river), surrounded by rather bare limestone desert. Amman's main sewage works; pools range from sludge to 'fresh' water, with rocky shores. There is very little natural vegetation. The water is used to irrigate olive groves.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. A man-made wetland, but extremely attractive to migrant birds in autumn as the only permanent waterbody in a vast surrounding area, now that Azraq oasis is all but dry. The site’s main importance is in the large number of Ciconia ciconia which regularly rest and roost during autumn passage (see box). Breeding species include Himantopus himantopus (possibly), Vanellus spinosus (min. 14 pairs), Sylvia conspicillata, and possibly Charadrius dubius, Charadrius alexandrinus, Motacilla citreola and Rhodopechys obsoleta. Other passage migrants include Anas querquedula (230, September), Calidris minuta (500, August), Tringa ochropus (110, July), Chlidonias leucopterus (150, August) and Emberiza caesia.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Ian J. Andrews.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khirbat al Samra (sewage works) (Jordan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khirbat-al-samra-(sewage-works)-iba-jordan on 25/12/2024.