Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola | LC | passage (1993) | 300 birds | B1i |
| Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos | EN | resident (1991–1995) | 15 pairs | A1, B2 |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | VU | winter (1993) | present | B2 |
| Menetries's Warbler Curruca mystacea | LC | winter (1993) | abundant | B3 |
| White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis | LC | passage (1993) | uncommon | B3 |
| Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii | LC | passage (1993) | present | B3 |
| Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe chrysopygia | LC | winter (1993) | uncommon | B3 |
| Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus | LC | winter (1993) | uncommon | B3 |
| Pale Sparrow Carpospiza brachydactyla | LC | passage (1993) | 25 birds | B3 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | not assessed | low | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| No known threats | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Not assessed | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Mahazat as-Sayd | محمية ذات طبيعة خاصة (Ia) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | major (>10) | |
| Savanna | minor (<10) | |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mahazat as-Sayd (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mahazat-as-sayd-iba-saudi-arabia on 23/12/2024.