Birds of Ghaleh-Now Wetland, Southeastern Tehran: A Comparison of Avian Biodiversity between the 1970s and 2010s

Ghaleh-Now wetland, although small in size, is one of the most significant wetlands to the south of the Alborz Mountains, in the vicinity of the capital city of Tehran. A thorough study of the avifauna was carried out at this site during 65 field visits in two periods in the 1970s and 2010s, respectively. The results have revealed that Ghaleh-Now supports no fewer than 196 species of birds, of which 95 percent are migratory birds. This high ratio of migratory species underlines the importance of this wetland as a stop-over site for migrating birds. The difference between the number of species recorded (species richness) in each of the two study periods was not statistically significant (t-Test). However, because of fluctuations in water level, the number of wader species in autumn was lower in the 2010s than in the 1970s. We highlight the importance of such wetlands as vital staging areas for migratory birds and make some suggestions for conservation measures.