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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key 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 breeding pairs | B3 |
| Pale Sparrow Carpospiza brachydactyla | LC | breeding (1993) | unknown | 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 (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | major (>10) | |
| Grassland | minor (<10) | |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) | |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major (>10) |
| hunting | major (>10) |
| rangeland/pastureland | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ras al-Ayn (Syria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ras-al-ayn-iba-syria on 25/01/2025.