In winter 2010, Nature Iraq counted 46,000 Marbled Teal
in the marshes, around twice the previous estimate of
the entire
global population. In total, Nature Iraq has undertaken
six winter and six summer surveys of the Southern Marshes
since
2005 – the most comprehensive survey of any wetland
in the Middle East. The surveys have shown that no species
of breeding bird has become extinct in the marshes, and
that many are increasing as the marshes respond to re-flooding.
Next to the Marbled Teal the marshes are also very important
for other AEWA species such as the migrant Black-tailed
Godwits Limosa limosa and breeding Ferruginous
Ducks Aythya nyroca.

The Iraqi Marshlands are the largest wetland ecosystem
in the Middle East and were almost destroyed by the former
regime
in the 1990’s. As from 2003 they had been partially
re-flooded and were able to recover to a remarkable extent.
The regeneration of Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshlands
recently have become part of a film documentary called
the Miracle in the marshes of Iraq which has been shown
under
the BBC2’s Natural World series. A short film of
the documentary can be seen here.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2011/01/miracle-in-the-marshes-of-iraq/