The Species Diversity of the Birds ‎of Anzali International Wetland

Anzali International Wetland is one of the most important bird sites in Iran and the region, but so far no comprehensive study has been conducted to determine the diversity and status of its birds. In this study, all parts of the wetland were monitored monthly from January 2014 to December 2015 with the aim of identifying and surveying the status of the birds in the wetland. A total of 243 bird species including 112 waterbirds and 131 terrestrial species were identified. The highest number of species was recorded in April and the lowest number in June, and more than 70% of the birds in the wetland were passage and wintering migrants. The highest number of birds was counted in January (134,167 individuals) and the lowest number in May (6,979 individuals). Twenty-six percent of the birds were globally threatened, near-threatened and nationally protected in Iran, and nine species of were named: Sociable Lapwing in the critically endangered, White-headed Duck, Saker Falcon and Steppe Eagle in the endangered, and Common Pochard, Horned Grebe, Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and European Turtle Dove in the vulnerable category. Breeding of Ferruginous Duck, Savi’s Warbler, Little Crake and Little Tern was recorded for the first time in this wetland and more than one percent of the global population of Whiskered Tern, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Whooper Swan, Pygmy Cormorant, Great cormorant and Dalmatian Pelican occur in this wetland. This study shows that Anzali wetland, despite being included in the Ramsar Convention’s Montreux Record of listed sites experiencing change in ecological character, is still one of the most important sites for birds, especially waterbirds, and still satisfies all the waterbird-related criteria of the Ramsar Convention. Therefore, maintaining the quality and extent of the wetland and its valuable habitats is essential.