Data Zone
Country/territory: Saudi Arabia
Subnational region(s): Makkah
IBA Justification: A4i, B1i, B2 (1994)
Area: 300 hectares (3.00 km2)
| Conservation status of the Important Bird Area (IBA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | low | very low |
Site description (1994 baseline)
A stream of treated sewage effluent, flowing 20-30 km south-west from Makkah into the largely flat sandy desert of the Tihamah. The flow is rather erratic, being strongest for the first 12-15 km, after which satellite pools tend to be ephemeral. The water is often densely lined with Calotropis, Phragmites and grasses.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. A wide range of ducks and waders uses the site in winter. Other migrants include small numbers of Grus grus and G. virgo. Pterocles lichtensteinii and P. exustus can be very common in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: See Gasperetti (1989).
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr Stephen F. Newton, with comments by P. Symens.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Makkah waste-water stream (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/makkah-waste-water-stream-iba-saudi-arabia on 23/01/2025.