SY001
Ras al-Ayn


IBA Justification

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
See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis LC resident (1993) present B3
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus LC resident (1993) common B2
Great Bustard Otis tarda EN winter (1993) common A1
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris LC passage (1993) present B2
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus LC breeding (1968) 10–12 pairs B3
Pale Sparrow Carpospiza brachydactyla LC breeding (1993) unknown B3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2014 not assessed high very low
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
Human intrusions and disturbance likely in short term (<4 years) most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Agricultural expansion and intensification likely in short term (<4 years) most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place very low

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial major (>10)
Grassland minor (<10)
Shrubland minor (<10)
Wetlands (inland) minor (<10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture major (>10)
hunting major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland minor (<10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ras al-Ayn (Syria). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ras-al-ayn-iba-syria on 22/12/2024.