JO007
Khirbat al Samra (sewage works)


Site description (1994 baseline):

Site location and context
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.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats are few-shooting is insignificant at present, but could rapidly become a problem if the high number of birds present becomes well known. The area is very busy, and numbers of birds are probably much lower than the maximum possible if parts of the site were managed specifically to attract birds. Wildlife-friendly management regimes have been planned and proposed to the operators by a consultant in the late 1980s.

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.