Kutambil island (8283)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Kutambil island

Central coordinates: Latitude: 17.8917, Longitude: 41.6950

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 100

Area of KBA (km²): 0.39413

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: An island lying 5 km off the coast of south-west Saudi Arabia, midway between Shuqaiq and al-Birk. It is dominated by a mound of volcanic clinker rising to 100 m; a few trees (up to 3 m high) grow on its slopes, and there is a good growth of salt-tolerant bushes along its base on the south and south-east side abutting a flat and sandy area. Offshore are rich coral reefs. There is a small 7-m-high rock outcrop 200 m to the south.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. An important breeding area for Platalea leucorodia (of the Red Sea subspecies P. l. archeri); however the site has only once been surveyed in the breeding season, in 1982. Other breeding species included Egretta gularis (9 pairs), Butorides striatus (2 pairs) and Pandion haliaetus (1 pair). Small numbers of wintering waterfowl include Pelecanus rufescens (9), Sula leucogaster (30), gulls Larus (200) and terns Sterna (200). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Delineation rationale: 2009-10-12 (BL Secretariat): Coordinates shifted to centre of polygon.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Neritic	5
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	48
Desert	48

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: About 50% of the eggs or young of Platalea leucorodia were almost certainly taken by visiting people in 1982. Hundreds or even thousands of feral pigeons Columba livia have been recorded in winter, and may compete with breeding seabirds for nest-sites in summer.

Additional information