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SA020
Jiddah south corniche and port
Location Saudi Arabia, Makkah
Central coordinates 39o 9.20' East  21o 22.60' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2
Area 900 ha
Altitude 0 - 5m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Saudi Wildlife Commission (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See box for key species. This is the richest area of the central Red Sea coast for wintering waterbirds, and has a high density of migrating and wintering waders due to the presence of sewage outlets from Jiddah. In 1990 dozens of nests of Phoenicopterus ruber were present as were large numbers of displaying birds, although the colony disappeared after the site was flooded by spring tides.

Site description The site comprises the coastal lagoons just north of Jiddah port (21°30'N 39°10'E) and along the South Corniche road (21°23'N 39°07'E), south of the military area. It contains extensive sandy and muddy intertidal flats and shallow lagoons with sandy islands/peninsulas. All the surrounding area has been landfilled and urbanized, and the whole landward side of the site is bordered by roads.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia winter  1992  255-277 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath winter  1992  1 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis winter  1992  294-440 individuals  medium  B1i  Least Concern 
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres winter  1992  381-412 individuals  medium  B1i  Least Concern 
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus winter  1992  11 individuals  good  B2  Near Threatened 
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei winter  1992  2,230-5,475 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica winter  1992  104-137 individuals  medium  B1i  Least Concern 
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia winter  1992  79-137 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Sea   minor
Coastline   major

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
water management major
tourism/recreation major

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

Management considerations The South Corniche is a busy recreational site at weekends, though the port area is relatively well protected from disturbance due to its proximity to the heavily guarded port. The mudflats at the port show signs of severe eutrophication, and in 1992 the South Corniche area was hit by an oil spill. The entire site is threatened by expanding urbanization and industrial development. Part of the site is proposed as a Natural Reserve in the NCWCD System Plan for Protected Areas.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Jiddah south corniche and port. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife