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close| Location | Tunisia, Nabeul |
| Central coordinates | 10o 30.00' East 36o 42.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i |
| Area | 600 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 10m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box for key species. The area holds a wide variety of waterbirds. Breeding birds include Marmaronetta angustirostris, as well as Himantopus himantopus and Glareola pratincola. During the passage season, there are good numbers of herons, Plegadis falcinellus and several thousand waders of many species including several hundred Tringa stagnatilis, together with Charadrius hiaticula, Pluvialis apricaria, Vanellus vanellus, Limosa limosa and Numenius arquata. There is a major roost of gulls and terns (Laridae), and wintering birds include Phoenicopterus ruber and several ducks.
Site description The site is on the coast at the base of the Cap Bon peninsula, between the town of Soliman and the sea, at the mouth of the Oued el Melah. Habitats includes flood-plain (much reclaimed for agriculture), saltmarsh, springs, former saltpans and an inlet of the sea. The vegetation is mainly halophytic, with Arthrocnemum and Salicornia species dominating. It is the first wetland on the North African coast for birds migrating from the north in autumn.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris | winter | - | 50-220 individuals | - | A1, A4i | Vulnerable |
| Slender-billed Gull Larus genei | winter | - | 500-1,600 individuals | - | A4i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats; Saltpans | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations The area is situated within 30 km of the capital, and there is much building of housing and industrial facilities. The area has no protected status and some habitat conservation measures are urgently required. Hunting and human disturbance from nearby tourist hotels are minor in comparison to the building activity.
References Gaultier (1986, 1987b, 1988a), Hughes et al. (1997), Meininger et al. (1994).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Soliman. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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