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close| Location | Kuwait, Al Kuwayt |
| Central coordinates | 47o 42.40' East 29o 21.22' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B1iv, B2 |
| Area | 250 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 10m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. A wet and green area attracting a very wide variety of migrants and winterers, and providing an important refuge from hunting: 220 species have been recorded. An important raptor migration bottleneck, with a maximum daily passage total of 410 (17 species), and estimated spring/autumn totals of 2,000–3,000, including Buteo buteo (85, September), Aquila clanga (10, March and October), Aquila nipalensis (343, March and October) and Circus aeruginosus (5, September and October).
Site description The only significant area of non-marine wetland in the country, man-made by effluent (sewage plus a variety of pollutants) coming from Al-Jahra town and flowing across sandy sabkhah to the sea, forming stagnant, open, shallow pools and extensive beds of Phragmites. There are scattered halophytes on the sabkhah, and some old plantations of Tamarix in poor condition. The site has great value as a potential field study centre for all educational levels up to university research, and if properly zoned could also provide for recreation. Part of the site is a designated camping area.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | passage | 1993 | 28 individuals | good | A1, B2 | Least Concern |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | passage | 1993 | 14 individuals | good | A1, B2 | Vulnerable |
| A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes | passage | 1993 | 2,000-3,000 individuals | poor | B1iv |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahra pool | Nature Reserve | 250 | is identical to site | 250 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 55% | |
| Desert | 25% | |
| Artificial landscapes (aquatic) | 20% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100% |
| Notes: Wildlife conservation/research | |
| tourism/recreation | major |
| Notes: Recreation | |
| hunting | minor |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations Within the reserve, 70 ha are robustly fenced and signs state that this is for protection of birds. An official management plan exists but has not yet been fully re-implemented. Two full-time guards have been employed since February 1993 which should reduce trespassing. Military patrols expel shooters for security reasons and thus provide some unintentional protection. Destruction of vegetation by campers was common before mid-1990; shrubs were used for firewood and vehicles damaged the desert crust. This may recur as confidence grows that the site is safe from unexploded ordnance.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Al-Jahra Pool Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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