IR064
Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa


IBA Justification

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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

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

IBA Conservation

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.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
1994 not assessed high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Human intrusions and disturbance past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1973 Semeskandeh Protected Area (V) -
1975 Shadegan Wildlife Refuge (IV) 70

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
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)

Land use

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


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 23/12/2024.