Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A4i, B1i, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 43,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
These marshes lie along the c.165 km of the Shatt Al Arab waterway from 31°00'N 47°25'E to 29°55'N 48°30'E, mainly between Qurnah and Basrah (c.65 km), and include Haur Al Shaibah (15 km north of Basrah), Qarmat Ali, Khamisiyah and Shafi. Shafi wetland (30°53'N 47°31'E) is a small reed-marsh near the town of Shafi on the Basrah to Amara road, 30 km from Basrah.
Key biodiversity
According to Savage (1968), the marshes are important for wintering Anser anser and dabbling ducks, mainly Anas platyrhynchos and A. crecca, and breeding Marmaronetta angustirostris. The muddy shores of the Shatt Al Arab are an important feeding area for passage and wintering shorebirds. The area was most recently surveyed in 1968, 1975 and 1979; all visits were in January, and were brief and incomplete; notable winter visitors included Ciconia ciconia (105), Milvus migrans (305) and Vanellus leucurus (50).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Information compiled by Dr D. A. Scott and D. J. Brooks, reviewed by Dr Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh and Dr Hanna Y. Siman.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shatt Al Arab marshes (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shatt-al-arab-marshes-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.