THE DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY (RAPTORS) IN THE MESOPOTAMIAN MARSHES OF SOUTHERN IRAQ WITH NOTES ON THEIR CONSERVATION STATUS

Omar Al-Sheikhly,Ahmad Al-Azawi

doi:10.26842/binhm.7.2019.15.4.0381

Omar Al-Sheikhly, Ahmad Al-Azawi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2019.15.4.0381

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Abstract

Birds of prey (Raptors) are top predator avian species that many migrate annually through Mesopotamian marshes in southern Iraq toward their wintering grounds in Arabia and Africa, while others are breeding residents; however, information on their current status is scarce. From January 2016 to April 2019, a total of 20 field expeditions were conducted in the geographical zone of the Mesopotamian marshes, wetlands of international importance. The survey covered the Central Marshes, Al-Hammar and Hawizeh Marsh. One of the objectives of the field surveys is to list the raptors species that wintering and/or migrating through the Mesopotamian marshes and to understand their current spatial and temporal distribution. In the present study, a total of 32 species of diurnal raptors are recorded through intensive field observations, reviewing literature records, and personal communications of unpublished data. Moreover, eight species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Red List are recorded which highlight the ecological importance of the Mesopotamian marshes as a major stopover site for globally threatened raptors. Besides species persecution, observed threats such as habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution were severely influencing birds of prey communities in the Mesopotamian marshes which warrant further conservation actions.

Highlights

Iraq is geographically situated within three major flyways (East Asia/East Africa Flyway, Central Asia Flyway, and Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway); the Mesopotamian marshes (Ahwar) of southern Iraq became an important staging/stopover sites for migratory birds of prey (Boere and Stroud, 2006; Hahn et al, 2009; Al-Sheikhly et al, 2017)
Systematic List of Species The following species were recorded within the geographical zone of the Mesopotamian marshes and mentioned in the literatures and/or have been observed during April 2016-April 2019 field surveys
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758) (LC) Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant in the Mesopotamian marshes; it was recorded by Ticehurst et al (1922), Moor and Boswell (1956), and Scott and Carp (1982)

Summary

Introduction

Iraq is geographically situated within three major flyways (East Asia/East Africa Flyway, Central Asia Flyway, and Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway); the Mesopotamian marshes (Ahwar) of southern Iraq became an important staging/stopover sites for migratory birds of prey (Boere and Stroud, 2006; Hahn et al, 2009; Al-Sheikhly et al, 2017). The Mesopotamian marshes of southern Iraq were prioritized as a wetland of international importance among other 33 wetlands known or thought to have been of some concern for migratory birds in Iraq (Scott and Carp, 1982; Scott, 1993). The diurnal birds of prey (Raptors) in the Mesopotamian marshes. A total of 38 diurnal raptor species (owls are excluded) were recorded in Iraq (Salim et al, 2012). According to current taxonomic checklist of avian species in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia, a total of 42 taxa of birds of prey occur in Iraq (Blair et al, 2018)

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