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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 IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (1977–1992)	740–8,245 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	winter (1970–1977)	154 individuals	A4i, B1i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus	VU	winter (1972)	90 individuals	A1
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter (1977–1992)	5,700–10,700 individuals	A4i, B1i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	passage (1977)	4,200 individuals	A4i, B1i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	winter (1977–1992)	2,130–13,400 individuals	A4i, B1i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding (1970)	100 breeding pairs	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (1987–1992)	1,500–5,000 individuals	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1977–1992)	3,500–14,400 individuals	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (1977–1992)	2,000–8,300 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1977–1992)	4,800–14,300 individuals	A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter (1977–1992)	13,500–127,500 individuals	A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (1977–1992)	14,550–104,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (1977–1992)	48,800–58,800 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter (1977–1992)	50,000–73,430 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (1970–1977)	29,300 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	winter (1977–1992)	750–3,427 individuals	A4i, B1i
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	non-breeding (1974)	30 individuals	A1
White Stork Ciconia ciconia	LC	winter (1970–1977)	550 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	445 individuals	B1i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	winter (1977–1992)	111–340 individuals	B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter (1987–1992)	3–67 individuals	A1
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	non-breeding (1977)	300 individuals	A4i, B1i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	passage (1977)	1,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter (1977–1992)	500–777 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	passage (1977)	350 individuals	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident (1977)	35 breeding pairs	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	winter (1977–1992)	220–450 individuals	B1i
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	passage (1977)	1,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (1970–1977)	4,500 individuals	A4i, B1i
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	passage (1977)	6,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	800 individuals	B1i
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei	LC	winter (1977–1992)	750–2,500 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter (1977)	6 individuals	B2
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (1977)	15 individuals	A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1977–1992)	100,000-499,999 individuals	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (1994) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1995	Bakhtegan	Wildlife Refuge (IV)	55
1995	Bakhtegan	National Park (II)	42

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	42
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	2
Artificial/Terrestrial	major (>10)
Grassland	major (>10)
Forest	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	97
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
agriculture	minor (<10)
hunting	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-bakhtegan-lake-tashk-and-kamjan-marshes-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 24/01/2025.