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close| Location | Iran, Islamic Republic of, Sistan and Baluchestan |
| Central coordinates | 60o 20.00' East 25o 20.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B1i, B3 |
| Area | 33,500 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 50m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. The site has little importance for breeding waterbirds, although Burhinus recurvirostris is resident. A small flock of Pelecanus crispus winters, along with reasonable numbers of shorebirds and large numbers of gulls and terns, notably Larus genei, L. cachinnans/L. argentatus and Sterna sandvicensis. Other wintering waterfowl include many Podiceps cristatus. The dunes, open thorn woodland and rocky hills around the bay support a typical Baluchi avifauna including Francolinus pondicerianus, Athene brama, Calandrella raytal, Hirundo obsoleta and Oenanthe alboniger.
Site description Chahbahar Bay, on the coast of south-east Iranian Baluchistan, is an almost circular bay c.22 km across and 18 km from north to south, with an entrance 14 km wide between rocky headlands. The shore is a sand beach backed by a broad belt of low dunes. There is a large creek with extensive intertidal mudflats near the small fishing village of Konarak on the west side of the bay (Khor Konarak, 25°20'N 60°20'E). The much larger harbour town of Chahbahar is situated in the lee of the rocky headland at the east side. The sand beaches and tidal mudflats lack vegetation other than algae. The coastal dunes support typical vegetation, while the inland plain supports an open woodland of Acacia, Prosopis, Ziziphus and Tamarix, with large areas of bare sandflats. Land ownership is public.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | winter | 1977 | 48 individuals | good | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris | resident | 1977 | 2 breeding pairs | medium | B3 | Least Concern |
| Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans | winter | 1977 | 3,500 individuals | good | B1i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | major | |
| Sea | minor | |
| Coastline | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| urban/industrial/transport | minor |
| fisheries/aquaculture | major |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations There is no legal protection. The principal threat is pollution from the busy harbour town of Chahbahar.
References Scott (1975b).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Chahbahar Bay and Khor Konarak. 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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