AZ053
Sahil settlement - Shelf factory


Site description (2005 baseline):

Site location and context
This is extensive offshore stripe of 10m depth. The most interesting feature of relief of this territory are 5 big artificial dams with some bushes of reed directional to the sea which create very good wind protection in winter time for water birds. These dams were made by Factory of Deepwater Drilling Oil Platforms which is locates here.



Key biodiversity
This is one of very important site for wintering and migration along the sea coast birds. It could accumulate 100 000 or more birds in winter and migration seasons. Following species can have important numbers: Anas platyrhynchos, Netta rufina, Aythya ferina, Aythya fuligula, Fulica atra etc. There are some rare birds like Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Pelecanus crispus and National Red Data species Cygnus olor.Site almost have no suitable habitats for breeding birds.



Habitat and land use
There is one of biggest factories in Azerbaijan for production and maintenance of deepwater oil drilling platforms. Site is one of most popular place of hunting in winter season.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threat is high disturbance for birds by the reason of strong hunting. It could be scores of hunters in separate days at this site.The second problem is possibility of oil pollutions from surrounding oil platforms.



Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
1. As a part of monitoring project was studied in 1996-1997 years by Azerbaijan Ornithological Society2. As a part of winter and autumn migration monitoring project of British Petroleum was studied in 2002-20053. As a part of student studies project regularly monitored in November 2004 - March 2005



Protected areas
National None International None




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sahil settlement - Shelf factory (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sahil-settlement--shelf-factory-iba-azerbaijan on 22/11/2024.