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SD006
Um Badr lake
Location Sudan, Northern Kordofan
Central coordinates 27o 50.00' East  14o 15.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3
Area 2,000 ha
Altitude 600 m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. The site lies on the border between the Sahara–Sindian (A02) and the Sahel (A03) biomes. In addition, one species characteristic of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) has been recorded (see Table 2). It is also important as a staging-post for migrant waterbirds and passerines.

Site description Um Badr Lake lies in sparsely vegetated country on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert, between the towns of El Obeid and El Fasher. The lake lies in a basin of rocky hills and high dunes of reddish sands. The lake basin is sparsely vegetated with Acacia arabica, A. albida, A. seyal, A. tortilis and Balanites aegyptica, while A. mellifera, Leptadenia pyrotechnica and grasses Aristida spp. predominate in the surrounding hills and dunes. Following rains, when it is c.6 km long by 2 km wide, the lake overflows from the northern end of the basin into Wadi El Milk. During drier periods the lake shrinks and becomes divided in two. Average annual rainfall is c.200 mm. The IBA includes the lake and the basin of rocky hills in which it sits.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
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 
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Collared-dove Streptopelia roseogrisea resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sennar Penduline-tit Anthoscopus punctifrons 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  present [units unknown]  -  A3  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 
Blackstart Cercomela melanura resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sudan Golden Sparrow Passer luteus resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Cinnamon Weaver Ploceus badius resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Rocky areas   60%
Desert   39%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

Management considerations Large herds of domestic camels as well as sheep, goats and cattle water at the lake; overgrazing may, therefore, pose a threat.

References Mackenzie (1955).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Um Badr lake. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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