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close| Location | Oman, Al Wusta |
| Central coordinates | 57o 21.00' East 18o 56.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B2, B3 |
| Area | 100 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 10m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. The site is rich in duck and roosting seabirds and shorebirds in winter and during migration. Up to c.600 duck occur in winter (the highest number in central Oman), including Aythya nyroca (see box), as well as good numbers of gulls and terns: Larus cachinnans/L. argentatus (140, January), Sterna nilotica (50, November), S. caspia (80, January), S. bergii (300, May) and S. sandvicensis (350, January). At least 121 species have been recorded, though the site is rather underwatched due to its remoteness.
Site description A major lagoon (900 × 600 m) on the Sahil al Jazir coastal plain, land-locked and predominantly freshwater, and surrounded by flat, sandy terrain including dunes. Aquatic vegetation includes Potamogeton and Ruppia; salt-tolerant dwarf shrubs and woody-based herbs are abundant around the site, becoming sparse away from the water. Human population density is low. Nomadic pastoralism is widely practised, and fishing is important in the coastal people's economy.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | passage | 1993 | 15 individuals | good | B1i, B2 | Near Threatened |
| Saunders's Tern Sterna saundersi | breeding | 1993 | 30 breeding pairs | medium | B3 | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | major | |
| Coastline | major | |
| Sea | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| rangeland/pastureland | major |
| fisheries/aquaculture | major |
Other biodiversity Mammals: Gazella gazella (V) is regularly seen. Flora: the terrestrial vegetation shows a high degree of endemism.
Management considerations The area is part of the proposed North Jazir National Nature Reserve (15,000 ha) which is part of the proposed natural World Heritage Site (see also sites 019 and 023).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Khor Dirif. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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