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IR100
Rud-i-Gaz and Rud-i-Hara deltas
Location Iran, Islamic Republic of, Sistan and Baluchestan
Central coordinates 56o 50.00' East  26o 40.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3
Area 15,000 ha
Altitude 0 - 50m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See box for key species. An extremely important wintering area for shorebirds, notably Haematopus ostralegus, Limosa lapponica, Numenius arquata and Tringa totanus, along with smaller numbers of Platalea leucorodia and Dromas ardeola. The site may also be important for breeding herons and egrets including Ardea goliath and Ardeola grayii. The adjacent sandy plains and thorn woodland support a typical Baluchi avifauna including Dendrocopos assimilis and Calandrella raytal.

Site description The site covers c.40 km of shore on the Straits of Hormoz, 120 km south-east of Bandar Abbas: an extensive complex of tidal creeks, mudflats, mangrove swamps, sandbanks and low muddy offshore islands and sandbars at the mouths of the Rud-i-Gaz (26°30'N 57°00'E) and the Rud-i-Hara (26°50'N 56°40'E). The rivers flow only after erratic rainfall in the interior (usually in winter). Extensive stands of mangrove Avicennia marina occur at the mouths of the rivers, along tidal creeks and as a broad fringe along the landward side of coastal sandbars. The adjacent arid plain supports a sparse woodland of Acacia, Prosopis, Ziziphus and Tamarix with large areas of bare sandy flats. Land ownership is public. The area is remote, with only a few tiny fishing villages nearby.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath winter  1977  2 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus winter  1977  68 individuals  good  A1  Vulnerable 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla winter  1977  6 individuals  good  A1  Least Concern 
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus winter  1970-1977  2,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Crab Plover Dromas ardeola winter  1977  120 individuals  good  B3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica winter  1970-1977  11,500 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata winter  1970-1977  5,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Near Threatened 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus winter  1970-1977  2,000 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Sind Woodpecker Dendrocopos assimilis resident  1977  frequent [units unknown]  -  B3  Least Concern 
Small Whitethroat Sylvia minula winter  1977  common [units unknown]  -  B3  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1970-1977  20,000 individuals  good  A4iii   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Deltas of Rud-e-Gaz and Rud-e-Hara Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 15,000 is identical to site 15,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Desert   major
Sea   minor
Coastline   major
Forest   major

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research 100%
fisheries/aquaculture minor

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

Management considerations There is no legal protection, though the area was designated a Ramsar Site in 1975. No threats are known.

References Carp (1980), Ramsar Convention Bureau (1993), Scott (1975b, 1976a,c), Summers et al. (1987).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rud-i-Gaz and Rud-i-Hara deltas. 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