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SO010
Hobyo
Location Somalia, Mudug
Central coordinates 48o 37.00' East  5o 46.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 250,000 ha
Altitude 50 - 200m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The site incorporates the type-locality of Spizocorys obbiensis. Although, to date, only a relatively small number of Somali–Masai biome species has been recorded, these include some, such as Mirafra collaris, which occur at few other IBAs in Somalia; and the list is undoubtedly incomplete.

Site description The site lies to the north of the coastal town of Hobyo (Obbia), a little way inland from the Indian Ocean, and consists principally of semi-desert grassland and shrubland. It also includes some areas of coastal dunes which are fixed, vegetated and mostly 20–60 m high.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Vulturine Guineafowl Acryllium vulturinum resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Heuglin's Bustard Neotis heuglinii resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forbes-Watson's Swift Apus berliozi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Somali Bee-eater Merops revoilii resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Somali Fiscal Lanius somalicus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Somali Lark Mirafra somalica resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Collared Lark Mirafra collaris resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Obbia Lark Spizocorys obbiensis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Data Deficient 
Somali Wheatear Oenanthe phillipsi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-headed Buffalo-weaver Dinemellia dinemelli resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
other -
Notes: Firewood collection.

Other biodiversity Mammals of conservation concern that occur, or which used to do so, include Panthera leo (VU), Acinonyx jubatus (VU), Hyaena hyaena (LR/nt), Oryx beisa (LR/cd), Ammodorcas clarkei (VU), Madoqua piacentinii (VU), Gazella soemmerringii (VU) and G. spekei (VU). The area is also important for a number of the plants endemic to the coastal strip.

Management considerations The site has been proposed as a Wildlife Reserve. The area is subject to heavy seasonal grazing by domestic stock. Fuelwood-cutting is also a threat to woody vegetation.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hobyo. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

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