• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2014 baseline):

This very large site in the southwestern desert consists of a / two seasonal watercourses: Wadi Al W’eir and Sh'eeb Abu-Talha. Wadi Al-W'eir (also known as Sh’eeb Al-W’eir) is a relatively large wadi close to the strategic oil pipeline. It has a rocky desert habitat, featuring relatively good plant cover. In the upper part of the wadi, there is a fenced area created by the Ministry of Agriculture as a protected area for gazelles. There are many archaeological features, including an ancient road (from the Abbasid era) extending from Wadi Al W’eir to the Iraqi-Saudi Arabian border. An unpaved road extends beside the ancient road. Sh'eeb Abu-Talha brings seasonal rainwater from the southern and western areas of the desert to the Euphrates River. Sh'eeb Abu-Talh is relatively well vegetated. Sh’eeb Abu-Talha likely received its name from a unique tree species that grows nowhere else in Iraq except here, which is called “Talh”, so Abu-Talha means “father or land of the Talh” tree. A few patches of water were found in the depressions of this site during the winter 2010 survey. 2014 updates. The geology of the area is limestone and marls with rocky ground and sandy soil. The habitats vary from desert shrubs and desert herbaceous vegetation to salt pioneer swards vegetation to marsh reed beds. The non-vegetated area covers approximately 70%.

2014 updates. Additional Important Bird Observations: Despite the fact that a high number of bird species were not observed during the 2010 surveys, the site seems to provide good habitat because of the watercourses and relatively rich plant cover. In addition to those mentioned in the table, and according to the reports of locals, large numbers of raptors are present, indicating the general health of this area. The flat, non-rocky parts (with scattered desert vegetation) provide good habitat for the Vulnerable Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii. According to the reports by locals and hunters, Sh’eeb Abu-Talha (including part of Sheeb Al-Mhari) provides suitable habitat for a variety of mammal and reptile species. include Honey Badger Mellivora capensis, Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Near Threatened), and Grey Wolf Canis lupus. According to the locals, Indian Crested Porcupine Hystrix indicaoccurs in considerable numbers, especially in Wadi Al-W’eir.Gazelles used to be found in the lower parts of this area until the last couple of decades but it is not clear whether this population still exists. Reptiles observed were: Desert Monitor Varanus griseusand Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia. Both are large lizards that are often targeted by hunters and U. aegyptiais on the CITES Appendix II because of potential declines due to hunting for food and trade. According to the Flora of Iraq, 30 trees of the very rare Acacia gerrardisubspecies negevensis(synonym iraqensis) were recorded in 1947 in Wadi Abu Talha (called Wadi Al-Mhari in the Flora of Iraq), but only one tree was found there in the 1960s-1970s (Townsend and Guest 1974). This tree was not observed during the KBA survey, possibly because the survey team did not visit the exact locality. Rhazya strictais also mentioned in the Flora of Iraq surveys (and in older botanical reports), and is a plant found in Iraq only in the southern desert and mostly in Najaf province. It is recorded at different locations along the ancient “Darb Zubaida” road between Najaf and Shbicha, which is part of this site.

In total 90 plant species were found. Two habitat types were observed:
1- Desert- Desert shrubs(N: 31° 41’ 02” E: 44° 02’ 44”) dominated by Tamarix aucherana, Zizphus nummularia, Capparis spinosa, Lycium barbarum, Nitraria retusa, and Prosopis farcta;
2- Desert- Herbaceous vegetation (N: 31° 04’ 35” E: 44° 01’ 19”) dominated byAchillea fragrantissima, Artemisiaherba alba, Peganum harmala, Citrullus colocynthis, Alhagi graecorum, Astragalus spinosus, Zygophyllum fabago, and Zilla spinosa;
The ecological condition was between slightly disturbed (ecological scale of 2) and moderately disturbed (ecological scale of 3). The geology of the area is limestone and marls with rocky ground and sandy soil. The area is generally flat with exposure in all directions but with some small hills. The non-vegetated area covers 70%.
According to the Flora of Iraq, 30 trees of the very rare Acacia gerrardi subspecies negevensis (synonym iraqensis) were recorded in 1947 in Wadi Abu Talha (called Wadi Al-Mhari in the Flora of Iraq), but only one tree was found there in the 1960s-1970s (Townsend and Guest 1974). This tree was not observed during the KBA survey, possibly because the survey team did not visit the exact locality. Rhazya stricta is also mentioned in the Flora of Iraq surveys (and in older botanical reports), and is a plant found in Iraq only in the southern desert and mostly in Najaf province. It is recorded at different locations along the ancient “Darb Zubaida” road between Najaf and Shbicha, which is part of this site.

2014 updates. The primary threats, which were rated ‘high’, were over-exploitation mainly due to the hunting of birds and heavy grazing by livestock and camels. Human intrusion from both of these activities is a related threat as well as the movement of cars and related traffic along the unpaved road. The impacts of sand mining in a small area on the northern part of this site, and pollution due to war remains and garbage were considered ‘medium’ threats. The local government plans to develop a road between Najaf and Shbicha cities, which will pass through the site and great increase traffic in the area.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadi Al-W’eir & Sh'eeb Abu-Talha (Iraq). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadi-al-w’eir-&-sheeb-abu-talha-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.