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The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter	1977-1992	2,080-3,500 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter	1977-1992	80-3,720 individuals	A4i, B1i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter	1970-1977	15,000-20,000 individuals	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter	1977-1992	110-10,050 individuals	A4i, B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding	1977	4 breeding pairs	B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter	1970-1977	10 individuals	B1i
Garganey Spatula querquedula	LC	passage	1977	12,500 individuals	A4i, B1i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter	1970-1977	16,980 individuals	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter	1977-1992	9,050-10,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter	1970-1977	9,050 individuals	A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter	1977-1992	4,800-9,500 individuals	A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter	1970-1977	237,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter	1970-1977	348,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter	1977-1992	1,650-8,260 individuals	A4i, B1i
White Stork Ciconia ciconia	LC	winter	1970-1977	1,340 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus	LC	winter	1972-1977	8 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding	1977	6 breeding pairs	B2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding	1977	100 breeding pairs	B1i
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea	LC	winter	1970-1977	670 individuals	B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	breeding	1977	100 breeding pairs	B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	winter	1987-1992	350 individuals	B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter	1977	75 individuals	A1, A4i
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	NT	winter	1970-1977	1,820 individuals	A4i, B1i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter	1977-1992	172-883 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident	1977	60 breeding pairs	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	winter	1970-1977	800 individuals	A4i, B1i
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus	LC	winter	1970-1977	320 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter	1970-1977	950 individuals	B1i
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	winter	1970-1977	2,120 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter	1970-1977	750 individuals	B1i
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter	1970-1977	1,260 individuals	B1i
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei	LC	breeding	1977	400-800 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei	LC	winter	1970-1977	5,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	winter	1970-1977	12,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans	LC	winter	1977	3,000 individuals	B1i
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding	1977	150-250 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	winter	1977	270 individuals	B1i
Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica	LC	breeding	1977	100-200 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i
Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica	LC	winter	1970-1977	1,820 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter	1977	9 individuals	B2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	winter	1977	10-19 individuals	A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	1970-1977	500,000-999,999 individuals	A4iii

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1994) may differ.

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1973	Semeskandeh	Protected Area	-
1975	Shadegan	Wildlife Refuge	70
1975	Shadegan Marshes & mudflats of Khor-al Amaya & Khor Musa	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	94

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		major (>10)
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine		minor (<10)
Artificial/Terrestrial		minor (<10)
Desert		minor (<10)
Marine Neritic		minor (<10)
Shrubland		minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	70
agriculture	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shadegan-marshes-and-tidal-mudflats-of-khor-al-amaya-and-khor-musa-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 22/11/2024.