Data Zone
Country/territory: Tunisia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 40 hectares (0.40 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2009 | not assessed | not assessed | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Metbassta is a small shallow wetland near Kairouan in the immediate vicinity of Kelbia (site TN020), to whose catchment it belongs. It is essentially fresh and may, like Oued Sed (site TN018), be fed by freshwater springs, as well as by the Oued Marguellil and the Oued Nebhana. It may dry out completely in summer.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. It is also a wintering site for Casmerodius albus, Plegadis falcinellus, Phoenicopterus ruber, Anser anser, Tadorna tadorna, Anas penelope, A. clypeata, A. crecca, A. strepera, Aythya ferina and Fulica atra. The plains around the lake are used as a roosting site by Grus grus. Numenius tenuirostris was recorded here in November 1992. In addition, eight species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome (A01) have been recorded (see Table 2).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Metbassta (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/metbassta-iba-tunisia on 23/12/2024.