Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
A predominantly freshwater coastal lagoon (c.1.1 km long) in the built-up municipal area of Salalah, fed by seepage from a tributary wadi; the sand barrier is occasionally breached by wadi floods. There are extensive stands of
Phragmites,
Juncus and sedges. Freshwater inflow has been controlled as part of measures to reduce flood damage in the town.
See box for key species. Other notable species in winter and on migration are
Philomachus pugnax (400, October) and
Tringa stagnatilis (48, November). A wide variety of waterbirds occur, including interesting numbers of unusual species such as
Nettapus coromandelianus (14, April),
Hydrophasianus chirurgus (20, February) and
Pluvialis fulva (106, November). At least 148 species have been recorded.
Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: at least three species on the Salalah coastal plain are endemic or near-endemic to Oman, and some may be present at this site.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area is property of the Diwan of Royal Court and is maintained as a bird sanctuary by the Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment of the Diwan of Royal Court. It is fenced (apart from the ocean-facing barrier beach side) and guarded, and public access is restricted by permit. Two guards patrol the site, and two hides have been constructed. More hides and a visitor information display centre are planned.
Data-sheet compiled by Simon Albrecht; summary bird data supplied by Oman Bird Records Committee (per Jens Eriksen).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Salalah Bird Sanctuary (Oman). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/salalah-bird-sanctuary-iba-oman on 24/12/2024.
