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close| Location | Syria, Al Hasakah |
| Central coordinates | 41o 13.00' East 36o 23.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2 |
| Area | 80,000 ha |
| Altitude | 430 - 550m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Other breeding species include Alectoris chukar and Pterocles alchata, and small numbers of Anser albifrons and ducks are present in winter. Passage migrants include Tachybaptus ruficollis, and large numbers of Streptopelia turtur.
Site description A mesotrophic, spring-fed, natural lake (its area is variously quoted as being from 50 ha to c.800 ha) together with the surrounding 'clay' desert, c.50 km east of Al-Hasakah and between the small settlements of Khatuniyah and Al-Hul (6 km from the international border). The mean depth of the lake is or was 8 m, and the vegetation includes Tamarix. The lake is used for fishing, hunting and recreation, and the surrounding area for grazing.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saker Falcon Falco cherrug | non-breeding | 1993 | unknown [units unknown] | - | B2 | Endangered |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | major | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 1% | |
| Grassland | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 1% |
| hunting | 1% |
| tourism/recreation | 1% |
| rangeland/pastureland | major |
Other biodiversity Mammals: Canis lupus (V), Gazella subgutturosa (rare).
Management considerations Despite the lack of recent ornithological information and the conversion to cultivation of very large areas of steppeland and wetlands in the Jazirah region, these wetlands are known to still exist. No site protection measures are known to have been taken. The governorate authorities have banned or restricted the hunting of Alectoris chukar and Pterocles alchata; however, some uncontrolled hunting is said to still occur. There is over-fishing, and the surrounding area is heavily grazed by feral donkeys. Tilapia fish have been introduced. The site was proposed as a Project Aqua conservation site by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in the late 1960s.
References Luther and Rzóska (1971).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Buhayrat al-Khatuniyah. 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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