Data Zone
Country/territory: Tunisia
IBA criteria met: A4i (2010)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,000 hectares (10.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2009 | very poor | not assessed | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Like Sidi Khelifa (site TN016), situated some 30 km north along the coast, Sebkhet Halk el Menzel is partly coastal lagoon, partly saline depression, but is also linked to the inland sites of Kelbia (site TN020) and Oued Sed (TN018). In very wet years, Kelbia flows out to the sea, via Oued Sed, and reaches the sea through Halk el Menzel. It is likely that the freshwater springs round Oued Sed contribute to provision of water for Halk el Menzel in the summer, and there may be some reverse flood of seawater through the dune cordon, since Halk el Menzel retains some water in most summers. The surrounding vegetation is halophytic and includes Arthrocnemum, Salicornia and Atriplex species.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The site’s location, on the coast along a major north–south flyway, with water available for most of the year, means that, in addition to overwintering species (such as Platalea leucorodia, a variety of ducks including Tadorna tadorna, Anas acuta and A. clypeata, and waders), the site attracts many passing migrants, including waders such as Limosa limosa, Numenius arquata, N. phaeopus and terns. In winters, when other roosting sites are dry, Grus grus may use the site as a roost. Breeding birds include Sterna albifrons and, possibly, the occasional S. hirundo, as well as Charadrius alexandrinus and some T. tadorna.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sebkhet Halk el Menzel (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sebkhet-halk-el-menzel-iba-tunisia on 23/12/2024.