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close| Location | Jordan, Irbid,Mafraq |
| Central coordinates | 36o 2.71' East 32o 29.71' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2 |
| Area | 29,200 ha |
| Altitude | 600 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Breeding species include Charadrius leschenaultii. Wintering species include Grus grus and probably Eudromias morinellus.
Site description Agricultural plains between Irbid and Mafraq, with dry and irrigated cultivation of cereals.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | passage | 1993 | uncommon [units unknown] | - | B2 | Vulnerable |
| Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius | passage | 1993 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, B2 | Critically Endangered |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | major | |
| Grassland | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major |
| rangeland/pastureland | minor |
| urban/industrial/transport | minor |
Other biodiversity Flora: Verbascum transjordanicum (endemic), Biarum eximum (rare) and Narcissus tazetta (experiencing collecting pressure).
Management considerations There may be one or more Grazing Reserves in the area. The area was formerly semi-natural grassland, but little or none is likely to survive now. Expansion and intensification of agriculture, and over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation, are likely to be major problems. The levels of grazing and built development may be very heavy, and abandonment of traditional management may be occurring locally. The site is not well characterized at the moment, and is very little known ornithologically. The lack of surveys to identify the extent of remaining semi-natural grassland, and the composition of the bird community, hinders evaluation of conservation priorities.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mafraq - Irbid plain. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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