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close| Location | Iraq, Maysan |
| Central coordinates | 47o 20.00' East 31o 56.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, A4i, B1i, B2, B3 |
| Area | 42,500 ha |
| Altitude | 20 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information According to Savage (1968), these wetlands are particularly important for Anser anser, Anser erythropus and Tadorna ferruginea. Anhinga rufa is resident, and the reference by Ticehurst et al. (1921-1922) to a 'colony' of Marmaronetta angustirostris near Amara, and to Turdoides altirostris being common in reedbeds there, presumably refers to this site. The most recent surveys were in January 1968 and January 1979. The entire area was listed as a wetland of international importance by Carp (1980).
Site description A complex of large haurs with extensive marshes on the plains to the east of the River Tigris, north of Haur Om Am Nyaj. The three main haurs, Haur Jazrah in the west, Haur Chubaisah in the centre and Haur Sanaf in the east, lie close together and merge into one another at high water levels. They are bordered on the south by the Musharra Canal. Haur Sanaf (between Amara and Al Halfaya) is about 20 km long and consists mainly of open water with a few reeds and extensive fringing grasslands. Haur Chubaisah includes the Bani Lam Marshes described by Savage (1968).
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus | winter | 1965 | common [units unknown] | - | A1, B2 | Vulnerable |
| Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris | breeding | 1997 | - | poor | A1, A4i, B1i, B2 | Vulnerable |
| Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax | winter | 1979 | 800 individuals | poor | B1i | Least Concern |
| African Darter Anhinga rufa | resident | 1985 | unknown [units unknown] | - | B1i, B2 | Least Concern |
| Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris | winter | 1917 | - | poor | A1, A4i, B1i, B2 | Critically Endangered |
| Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris | resident | 1985 | common [units unknown] | - | A2, B3 | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| unknown | - |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations No conservation measures are known to have been taken. There has been no information on the site since 1979, but it does not seem likely that it has escaped some of the degradation suffered by other marshes in southern Iraq (see site 039). No conservation measures are known to have been proposed.
References Georg and Vielliard (1970), Savage (1968), Scott (1993), Ticehurst et al. (1921-1922).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Haur Chubaisah area. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013
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