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close| Location | Saudi Arabia, Makkah |
| Central coordinates | 39o 39.00' East 21o 12.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A4i, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 300 ha |
| Altitude | 80 - 180m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. A wide range of ducks and waders uses the site in winter. Other migrants include small numbers of Grus grus and G. virgo. Pterocles lichtensteinii and P. exustus can be very common in the area.
Site description A stream of treated sewage effluent, flowing 20-30 km south-west from Makkah into the largely flat sandy desert of the Tihamah. The flow is rather erratic, being strongest for the first 12-15 km, after which satellite pools tend to be ephemeral. The water is often densely lined with Calotropis, Phragmites and grasses.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus | passage | 1993 | 600 individuals | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs | resident | 1993 | uncommon [units unknown] | - | B2 | Near Threatened |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | winter | 1993 | 980 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola | passage | 1993 | 540 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (aquatic) | major | |
| Shrubland | minor | |
| Savanna | minor | |
| Desert | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| hunting | minor |
| water management | major |
Other biodiversity See Gasperetti (1989).
Management considerations Not proposed as a protected area and not threatened, although waterfowl may be shot where the site runs close to the Makkah bypass. 'No hunting' signs could be placed on the adjacent roadside.
References Felemban and Al-Banna (1993), Gasperetti (1989).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Makkah waste-water stream. 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
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