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close| Location | Saudi Arabia, Tabuk |
| Central coordinates | 36o 40.60' East 28o 21.90' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B2 |
| Area | 150 ha |
| Altitude | 750 - 800m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Breeding birds of the sewage lagoons include Ixobrychus minutus (possible), Rallus aquaticus, Porzana parva, P. pusilla (possible), Charadrius dubius, Acrocephalus stentoreus and Rhodopechys obsoleta (10-15 pairs). The importance of the reservoir is not yet known as it has been visited only twice, in March and April 1990, when birds present included grebes, c.1,000 ducks, c.700 Fulica atra, waders and c.400 Chlidonias leucopterus.
Site description Sewage settling lagoons within the airbase which support large reedbeds Phragmites, though these are subject to cutting and burning. The lagoons are bordered partly by sand and scrub desert, partly by areas with irrigated trees (mainly Eucalyptus), shrubs and grass. About 10 km from the base and c.5 km from Military City is a reservoir of c.100 ha in an area of desert bordered by military training grounds. The Tabuk area, surrounded on three sides by mountains, was formerly desert but is now intensively cultivated.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | breeding | 1993 | 4-9 breeding pairs | good | B1i, B2 | Near Threatened |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 35% | |
| Desert | 60% | |
| Artificial landscapes (aquatic) | 5% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| military | major |
| Notes: Other: Military | |
| rangeland/pastureland | minor |
| water management | minor |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations The area is not protected, but is within a military zone and as such receives some unintended protection from disturbance and hunting. It seems likely that the sewage system will eventually be upgraded, and the lagoons may well then disappear. Part of the site is included in the NCWCD System Plan for Protected Areas.
References Stagg (1989).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: King Faisal Airbase, Tabuk. 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
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