Ratqa

Altitude: 
20 - 75m
Conservation Status: 
None
Access: 
Open Area
General Site Description: 

An area of semi-desert near the Iraq border, just west of the Basra Road (Highway 80).

Ornithological interest: 

In most winters Macqueens Bustard, Spotted, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Stone Curlew are present if there have been favourable winter rains. Sadly, most are killed by the growing numbers of shooters in this area and as a result, numbers are declining.
Over the years, Common Crane, Merlin, Thick-billed and Bimaculated Lark, Caspian Plovers and more recently Sociable Lapwings which were sadly killed.

Other Biodiversity: 

Unkown

Conservation issues: 

Popular area for winter desert camps and much indiscriminate shooting during migration as it is out of the "public" eye.