Survey of Khor Al-Zubair and Umm Qasr Mudflat Birds: Effect of Tidal Cycle and Seasonal Variations on Their Assemblages and Abundance, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Ornithological surveys were conducted at tidal mudflats that nationally represents one of the marine key biodiversity (KBA) areas at Khor Al-Zubair (KBZ) and Umm Qasr south-east of Basrah City, Iraq. On the basis of hourly counting for 7h monitoring period at day time and covering an area of 7.5 km2 of the intertidal zone, a 7 surveys were conducted from March 2019 until January 2020. A total of 7658 individual birds belongs to 54 species have been recorded. The highest numbers of birds per a day were recorded in Autumn and Winter 4869, 1999 respectively, which coincided with the migration seasons. The lowest numbers were recorded during the Summer season just where only 61 birds have been observed. The birds assemblages and their abundance during the high tide times and during the low tide times were compared statistically and the results weren’t different (t < 0.05). Additional observations of different surveys targeted different sites of the KAZ mudflat over the period 2005-2020 have resulted in a final list consists of 102 bird species, a result reflecting the importance of this habitat to various migratory and resident birds.