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close| Location | Saudi Arabia, Ar Riyad |
| Central coordinates | 46o 49.50' East 24o 23.20' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 2,500 ha |
| Altitude | 480 - 600m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Other breeding species include Ixobrychus minutus, Ardeola ralloides, Ardea purpurea and Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Other wintering species include Ciconia nigra, Aquila clanga (20) and Circus aeruginosus (17). Over 220 species have been recorded.
Site description An artificial, permanently flowing river of treated effluent run-off, running for 50 km along Wadi Hanifah, 25 km south of Riyadh. The river flows mostly between rocky cliffs, incorporating many pools fringed with reeds and Tamarix. In several places wide lagoons are formed between sand-dunes, and there are some adjacent small and medium-sized pivot-irrigation farms.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | resident | 1993 | frequent [units unknown] | - | A1, B1i, B2 | Near Threatened |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | winter | 1990-1991 | 36-69 individuals | medium | A1, B1i, B2 | Near Threatened |
| Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | winter | 1990-1991 | 278-366 individuals | medium | B1i | Least Concern |
| Little Egret Egretta garzetta | winter | 1990-1991 | 319-340 individuals | medium | B1i | Least Concern |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga | winter | 1990-1991 | 18-24 individuals | medium | A1, B2 | Vulnerable |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | winter | 1993 | uncommon [units unknown] | - | B2 | Vulnerable |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | winter | 1990-1991 | 185-276 individuals | medium | B1i | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Hair Wetland | Protected Area | 500 | protected area contained by site | 500 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (aquatic) | major | |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | major | |
| Desert | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 20% |
| agriculture | major |
| water management | major |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations Part of the river is an established NCWCD protected area, patrolled by NCWCD rangers on behalf of the Riyadh Development Authority since 1988. Agricultural development in the area often changes the natural water flow, and plans exist to use the effluent for other purposes which would cut the water supply to the wadi by over 80%.
References Stagg (1987).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Al-Ha'ir. 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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