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NE014
Dilia de Lagané
Location Niger, Diffa
Central coordinates 12o 10.00' East  15o 10.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3
Area 100,000 ha
Altitude 300 - 380m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. What information there is dates from 1975 when Neotis nuba was found breeding in August (three nests with eggs). Ardeotis arabs was also recorded on numerous occasions and Circus macrourus was seen once. Of the Sahel biome species, Caprimulgus eximius has been reported only from this site. In addition, three Sahara–Sindian biome and one Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome species also occur (see Table 2).

Site description The Dilia or Dillia de Lagané is a linear depression stretching some 200 km north-west from Nguigmi, at the edge of the former extent of Lake Chad, to the southern end of the Termit Massif. The depression is probably a graben which historically carried water to Lake Chad during periods when the climate was wetter. The Dilia lies in a very sparsely populated area of low rainfall (annual average less than 200 mm for the period 1961–1990). Vegetation is sparse; much of the Dilia de Lagané lies in the northern Sahelian semi-desert grassland and shrubland zone, while the southern quarter falls within the Sahelian Acacia wooded grassland and deciduous woodland zone. Land-use is probably restricted to nomadic and/or transhumance livestock-rearing.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Fox Kestrel Falco alopex resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Near Threatened 
Nubian Bustard Neotis nuba resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Near Threatened 
African Collared-dove Streptopelia roseogrisea resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pharaoh Eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus resident  1999  unknown [units unknown]  -    Least Concern 
Golden Nightjar Caprimulgus eximius resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-breasted Barbet Trachyphonus margaritatus resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sahelian Woodpecker Dendropicos elachus resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Cricket Longtail Spiloptila clamans resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Fulvous Chatterer Turdoides fulva resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Chestnut-bellied Starling Lamprotornis pulcher resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black Scrub-robin Cercotrichas podobe resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Desert Sparrow Passer simplex resident  1999  -  -    Not Recognised 
Sudan Golden Sparrow Passer luteus resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland   46%
Desert   53%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
hunting -

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

Management considerations With the legal resumption of hunting in Niger in 1996 it is likely that bustards are being targeted; even before then foreign officials were reported to have visited the country for the express purpose of hunting bustards, among other target species.

Related state of the world's birds case studies

References Giraudoux et al. (1988).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Dilia de Lagané. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife