Diversity of Avian Fauna of Al-Dalmaj Wetlands and the surrounding terrestrial areas, Iraq

Abstract

Dalmaj area, or Hor Ad-Dalmaj wetlands, is considered as one of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Iraq and the Middle East region due to various ecological values and richness in species and habitat diversity. Dalmaj area includes wide spectrum of habitats that ranges of wetlands: Open-water lake, reed-beds marsh, marsh margins, mudflats, and the open lake; in addition to the terrestrial habitats that include the arid lands, shrub-lands, and the desert and semi-desert areas. This wide range of habitats in Dalmaj and the surrounding areas have enriched the avifauna and bird diversity. Based on the results of intensive field surveys that extended over more than a decade (in addition to some observations back to 30 years made by MS) important observations were made on the numbers of the species and their counts in addition to their distribution within the study area where considerable numbers of resident and migrant bird species were observed. This includes 261 of the resident and migrant bird species (breeding and non-breeding) have been recorded in Dalmaj wetlands and the surrounding areas. Such a level of richness in bird diversity, that exceeds 60% of the Iraqi bird checklist, illustrates the necessity of taking the required measures to protect the biodiversity in general and the birds and their habitats in particular in this important hotspot on the national, regional, and global levels. The process of watching the birds and their habitats in Dalmaj along more than a decade have included long-term capacity-building activities that ended in creating solid, capable national team. The team of the Iraqi Organization for Conservation of nature (IOCN) has contributed in quite extensive surveys in Dalmaj area during the field work. The results of the 30-years surveys presented by this paper represent the most comprehensive work on the avifauna of Dalmaj area and in Iraq as well. The team is confident that this work would contribute positively to the conservation effort in Dalmaj area.