BIAD Radhia

The main objective of this study is to determine the ornithological value of two wetlands in the central Algerian Sahara, namely the artificial water body of Kef Doukhane and Lake El-Goléa, both located in the wilaya of Ghardaïa, and to deduce their ecological importance in the maintenance of this migratory aquatic avifauna and its diversity during its presence on these two sites. To this end, fortnightly one-day outings were organised at these two water bodies, during two consecutive wintering seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) at Lake El-Goléa and during two annual cycles (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) at the artificial wetland of Kef Doukhane.

This inventory shows an ornithological wealth of around fifty-six bird species belonging to eighteen families and eleven orders in Kef Doukhane. Twenty-seven of these species have different protection statuses under Algerian and international law. On the other hand, at the level of Lake El-Goléa, a diversity of forty-one species belonging to thirteen families and nine orders has been recorded. Eighteen of these have special protection status.

The Anatidae and Scolopacidae with twelve species each are however the most represented families in these two sites. The Phoenicopteridae family, although represented by only one species, the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, has the highest number of birds, especially at Lake El-Goléa, where it is known to nest occasionally. In the wetland of Kef Doukhane it is the Anatidae family that is the most represented. It is worth noting the particular presence of a near-threatened species, the Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (Anatidae) and two vulnerable species, the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris (Anatidae) and the Greater Scaup Aythya ferina (Anatidae) in these two water bodies.

In general, these waterbirds are distributed over the two water bodies in quite different ways: Insectivores are often observed on the banks and in the shallow areas of these wetlands. Herbivores, polyphagous and piscivorous birds are concentrated in the deeper and central areas of these wetlands.

The main objective of this study is to determine the ornithological value of two wetlands in the central Algerian Sahara, namely the artificial water body of Kef Doukhane and Lake El-Goléa, both located in the wilaya of Ghardaïa, and to deduce their ecological importance in the maintenance of this migratory aquatic avifauna and its diversity during its presence on these two sites. To this end, fortnightly one-day outings were organised at these two water bodies, during two consecutive wintering seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) at Lake El-Goléa and during two annual cycles (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) at the artificial wetland of Kef Doukhane.

This inventory shows an ornithological wealth of around fifty-six bird species belonging to eighteen families and eleven orders in Kef Doukhane. Twenty-seven of these species have different protection statuses under Algerian and international law. On the other hand, at the level of Lake El-Goléa, a diversity of forty-one species belonging to thirteen families and nine orders has been recorded. Eighteen of these have special protection status.

The Anatidae and Scolopacidae with twelve species each are however the most represented families in these two sites. The Phoenicopteridae family, although represented by only one species, the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, has the highest number of birds, especially at Lake El-Goléa, where it is known to nest occasionally. In the wetland of Kef Doukhane it is the Anatidae family that is the most represented. It is worth noting the particular presence of a near-threatened species, the Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (Anatidae) and two vulnerable species, the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris (Anatidae) and the Greater Scaup Aythya ferina (Anatidae) in these two water bodies.

In general, these waterbirds are distributed over the two water bodies in quite different ways: Insectivores are often observed on the banks and in the shallow areas of these wetlands. Herbivores, polyphagous and piscivorous birds are concentrated in the deeper and central areas of these wetlands.