Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Three small, flat, sandy, coralline islands, the largest of which is Siyal El Kabir. Coral reefs and shallow waters surround the islands.
See Box for key species. Five bird species have been found breeding:
Pandion haliaetus,
Larus leucophthalmus,
Larus hemprichii,
Sterna caspia and
Sterna repressa.
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: Eretmochelys imbricata (CR) and Chelonia mydas (EN) breed in significant numbers on Siyal El Kabir island. Dermochelys coriacea (EN) might also breed locally.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The islands are part of the Elba National Park, which was declared by Prime Ministerial Decree 450/1986, adjusted by Prime Ministerial Decree 1186/1986 and Prime Ministerial Decree 642/1995. Local fishermen collect turtle eggs, and probably do the same with bird eggs.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Siyal islands (Egypt). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/siyal-islands-iba-egypt on 23/11/2024.
