Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
A very large tidal inlet with sandy islands, in the south-east corner of Qatar.
Breeding species include
Pandion haliaetus and
Sterna caspia (1 pair, October 1981). In winter, large concentrations of
Phoenicopterus ruber are reported to occur, and significant numbers of other waterbirds may also occur, including
Phalacrocorax carbo,
P. nigrogularis, waders and gulls
Larus and terns
Sterna.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: unidentified whales recorded, possibly Balaenoptera edeni (K). The area may be an important feeding ground for dolphins. Reptiles: the site may be an important feeding ground for sea-turtles (globally threatened).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Commercial fishing was banned in 1993. The southern shores are now controlled by Saudi Arabia. There is some recreational disturbance by campers and four-wheel drive vehicles, but otherwise there are no obvious threats apart from major oil pollution.
Information compiled by M. I. Evans.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khor al-Udeid (Qatar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khor-al-udeid-iba-qatar on 23/11/2024.
