|
Location |
Lebanon, Mount Lebanon |
| Central coordinates | 35o 45.91′ East 34o 3.10′ North |
| IBA criteria | A4iv, B1iv |
| Area | 3,787 ha |
| Altitude | 1,100 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2008 |
Summary The site is a mountain which extends westwards from the main Mount Lebanon chain along the edge of the Nahr Ibrahim, just to the west of Jabal Aalmat on the opposite side of the river. It is an important bottleneck for soaring birds, migrating passerines, and breeding birds such as Blue tit. Jabal Moussa represents a mosaic of Mediterranean habitats with mixtures of oak, pine, and wild fruit trees.
Site description Jabal Moussa is situated on the western side of the Mount Lebanon range of mountains on the western side of Lebanon. The site is a mountain which extends westwards from the main Mount Lebanon chain along the southern edge of the Nahr Ibrahim (Adonis River), just to the west of Jabal Aalmat on the opposite side of the river.
Key Biodiversity This site is most important for soaring migratory birds, with extrapolated numbers exceeding the 20 000 threshold. White Storks are the most common in spring while birds of prey dominate autumn passage. Breeding birds locally include many of the common species which would be expected in this kind of habitat such as Chukar, Black Redstart, Rock Nuthatch, Great Tit and Eurasian Jay. The presence of 2 Blue Tits in all four seasons indicates that this species is a resident breeder here, which makes Jabal Moussa one of the most southerly sites for the species in Lebanon.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4iv Species group – soaring birds/cranes | passage | 2008 | 20,000-49,999 individuals | poor | A4iv, |
