Indian House Crows in Aqaba (Fares Khoury, March 2004)
In the previous year over 1000 were shot in a (much critisized) campaign and consequently a massive decline in crows at Aqaba was noted with up to 5 per day, but recent visits showed a rapid increase in numbers. The local authorities will probably not repeat the camaign in the same way (i.e. using shotguns) in order not to kill dark migrant raptors by mistake.
Aqaba sewage works (Fares Khoury, March 2004)
The pools at the sewage plant at Aqaba are to be partly maintained even after the development of a new, modern plant. The construction of the new plant started recently, and action was taken to move the local authorities to maintain several pools at the old site, which attracts large numbers of migrants every spring and autumn. The Jordanian Society for Sustained Development (JSSD) and the local authority (ASEZA) reached an agreement to maintain the sewage/water sources feeding several pools and to develop a management plan for conservation, ecotourism, education and research. This site may be announced as a bird sanctuary as soon as 2004. The etsablishment will be carried out by JSSD in cooperation with the Hashemite University and other societies in Jordan. After establishment, the site is to be managed by locals, which will receive the appropriate training during the establishment phase. For further information please contact Khalid Nassar (jssd@go.com.jo) or Dr. Fares Khoury (avijordan2000@yahoo.com).
HELP CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF OSME (Dawn Balmer, June 2003)
This year the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) will celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Summer Meeting in July. OSME was formed in April 1978 as a successor to the Ornithological Society of Turkey and was expanded in 2001 to cover the Caucasus and central Asia.
To celebrate 25 years of OSME, an exciting programme of speakers has been arranged. We are delighted that Adnan Budieri (Head of Birdlife’s Middle East Division) will talk about the latest issues in the region and Chris Bowden and David Murdoch will bring us up to date with the Bald Ibis discovery in Syria.
Geoff Welch, past Chairman of OSME, will talk about the highlights of the first 25 years of OSME whilst Richard Porter, co-founder of OSME, will talk on ‘Turkish Nostalgia: tales from the 60s’. Middle East enthusiast, Ian Wallace, will entertain us with ‘Jordan in the 60s’ and Tim Loseby will use his superb photographs to illustrate the birds of Turkmenistan.
OSME will have their usual books, t-shirts etc for sale and Wildsounds will be bringing a wide range of books and sound guides. If you would like to order in advance please contact Wildsounds by email osmeagm@wildsounds.com or Tel: 01263 741100. Lunch will be provided for a small charge.
The Summer Meeting will be held on Saturday 19th July at The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), 68-71 Newman Street, London, W1T 3AH. Doors will open at 1030hrs and all birdwatchers are welcome. For further information contact Dawn Balmer (dawn.balmer@bto.org or Tel: 01842 766734) or look at the OSME website (www.osme.org).
BIRD RINGING IN JORDAN (Fares Khoury, June 2002)
The spring season has ended with almost 5000 birds of 70 different species ringed at Al-Dhleil Station near the Hashemite University. A Barred Warbler ringed there in April was recovered in the Ukraine on 9th May. Most numerous at this station were Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warblers, Nightingale, Semi-collared Flycatchers and Redstarts. Rarities and specialties included Desert Finch, Hoopoe, Rufous Bush Robin, Olive-tree, Eastern Bonelli's, Upcher's, Menetries and Marsh Warblers and Red-breasted Flycatcher, while over 40 Scops Owls and two Levant Sparrowhawks were ringed as well. The ringing scheme in Jordan is to be managed and expanded in cooperation with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. Experienced ringers/volunteers are needed to help next autumn, in the period from 15 September to early November 2002. For further information please contact Dr. Fares Khoury, Jordan Ornithological Centre, Hashemite University, Jordan. Email: avijordan2000@yahoo.com
PALESTINE (Imad Atrash, November 2001)
The Palestine Wildlife Society is working in Palestine -
birdwatching, ringing and surveying. The society is currently ringing birds
in Jericho, and will soon start in Gaza/wetland area also.
Anyone interested in working and helping in Palestine is most welcome.
The society offers accommodation at the site.
Imad Atrash (Executive Director), e-mail: wildlife@palnet.com
For further information, please visit www.wildlife-pal.org
JORDANIAN BIRD RINGING SCHEME (Fares Khoury, September 2001)
On 1st September 2001, the Jordanian ringing scheme using Jordanian rings officially started. The inscription on the rings is always Jordan & Zarqa, with larger rings also having HU or H-Univ according to size.
A permanent ringing station has now been established on a farm near the Hashemite University, north-east of Amman. Relatively good numbers of passerines, mainly migrants, are being caught with a daily mean of about 40 birds over the first week. The diversity is also good, and there have been rarities, such as two Marsh Warblers. Good numbers of Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Thrush Nightingale, Cretzschmar’s Bunting and Masked Shrike have been ringed, along with many other passerines, as well as four Hoopoe and one Wryneck in the first week.
Volunteers are needed to help us during March and from late April to mid May 2002. Volunteers (1-2 at a time) should stay at least 2 weeks at the station. They should have good experience in ringing in more than one country. Accommodation is free.
For further details, please contact:
Dr. Fares Khoury
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Hashemite University
P. O. Box 150459
Zarqa 13115
Jordan
E-mail: avijordan2000@yahoo.com.
GAMEBIRD SURVEYS IN JORDAN (Laith El-Moghrabi, 2000)
The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is undertaking extensive surveys to estimate the current distribution and numbers of gamebird species in the country.
The Research and Survey Section at RSCN requires voluntary workers with experience of Middle Eastern bird species. Volunteers must be prepared to spend up to three to four weeks in Jordan and will have the opportunity to visit different habitats and archeological sites, and observe typical and rare birds.
For further information, please contact Mr. Laith El-Moghrabi, Field
Coordinator, Research and Survey Section, Royal Society for the
Conservation of Nature.
P.O.Box 6354, Amman 11183, Jordan,
Tel: 00962-6-5337931/2,
Fax:00962-6-5347411,
E-mail: research@rscn.org.jo.
BIRD RINGING IN JORDAN (Fares Khoury, September 2000)
The first ringing activities in Jordan started in September 2000 in the Jordan Valley, preliminary using Palestinian rings, and are to be continued for scientific purposes. It is hoped that a Jordanian scheme and station will be established and Jordanian rings are to be used soon. The first bird captured and ringed was a Wryneck! For further information on ringing in Jordan please contact Dr. Fares Khoury, Jordan Ornithological Centre, Hashemite University, Zerqa, Jordan.
AQABA AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT (Fares Khoury, June 2000)
Aqaba sewage works will stay after all, but with some modernisation of the treatment techniques, but some open pools and reed beds will probably stay. On the other hand a new airport terminal is being planned north of the Aqaba airport. The development will include over 10 sq. km area of Wadi Araba. Also a large wind farm is being planned at the site. The terminal will serve tourists coming to Eilat and Aqaba. The area includes important and unique habitats, one of the last refuges for Dorcas Gazelle in Jordan, where nearly extinct. The area is important for migratory raptors and White Storks, breeding birds probably include several species of sandgrouse, larks, Arabian Warbler and others. The site lies on the southern part of the Wadi Araba IBA.
NEW BIODIVERSITY WEBSITE (Dr Zuhair Amr, March 2000)
This new website, prepared by Dr Zuhair S. Amr (Jordan University of Science and Technology), publishes databases of invertebrates (Protozoa, Porifera, Cnidaria, Annelida, marine nematodes, molluscs, Echinodermata and arthropods) and vertebrates (freshwater and marine fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) known to have been recorded in Jordan.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR AQABA SEWAGE WORKS (Fares Khoury, September 1999)
News that the sewage works in Aqaba could soon be closed represents a major blow to migrating bird populations that are now dependant on the site for refuelling during spring and autumn migration. It has also developed into a prime site for visiting birdwatchers. It has been reported that the new international airport being planned on the Israel/Jordan border is to be located on the site currently occupied by the sewage works. A new sewage plant may be located in the Wadi Yutum mountain area to the east of Aqaba.
UPDATE MAY 2000 - the manager of the sewage works assured me that the sewage works were not to be closed. Instead, they are to be expanded. However, the methods used, and hence the habitats available, may change significantly. IJA.
VERREAUX'S EAGLE FOUND DEAD (Fares Khoury, July 1999)
It is sad to report that an adult Verreaux's Eagle was found dead in Wadi Rum this summer. It is assumed to be one of the resident pair that successfully reared one young again earlier in the year. Let's hope that its niche is soon filled by another bird, and that the sight of these fine eagles over Wadi Rum will continue to amaze visitors.
NEWS FROM AZRAQ (Tim Melling, June 1999)
Although the oasis all but dried up in the early 1990s, 150 million cubic metres of water per year are being pumped back into the marsh. This isn't sufficient to restore it to its former glory but it means that there is enough habitat to continue attracting wetland birds.
RSCN have created an excellent system of open pools within the reedbed with a boardwalk and a hide to facilitate birdwatching. They have also just built a visitor centre, the roof of which provides a great vantage point to view the reserve.
Most of the former breeding species have returned albeit in smaller numbers and the reserve still attracts many passage wetland birds. Large numbers of sparrows, hirundines and wagtails seasonally roost in the reedbed which in turn attract a variety of raptors.
The entire reserve is approximately 3 km diameter which contains considerable areas of dry marsh and dune scrub. The reserve security fence keeps the area mercifully free from grazing, so there is much cover for migrants in contrast to the surrounding desert.
The reserve hours are 08.00 until c.18.00, and visits should preferably be booked in advance. Visits outside these hours may also be possible. The reserves division of RSCN can be e-mailed on reserves@rscn.org.jo and the reserves manager is Khalid Nasser. There is an entrance charge of 3 JD.
NEW AMMOPERDIX PARTRIDGE IN THE BASALT DESERT? (June 1999)
![['Selma Partridge' by Mike Evans]](selma3_small.jpg)
Recent fieldwork in the Basalt Desert near As Safawi has lead to the discovery of an oddly-plumaged Ammoperdix partridge. The birds inhabit the broad, vegetated wadis between the boulder fields, and show a number of features which suggest they may be an undescribed race of the See-see Ammoperdix griseogularis rather than the Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi found in the Rift Margins. Further work is clearly necessary before a definitive statement can be made.
See also:
Link to Selma partridge sketch
Link to Selma partridge photos
Link to New Selma photo (Mike Evans)
Link to New Selma photo (Mike Evans) - close-up
Link to Location map
JORDAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE (June 1999)
In spring 1999, a procedure to assess records of rare birds in Jordan was set in place. In line with an increasing number of other countries, a rarities committee has been established to assess sightings of species that (in general) have occurred less than 10 times in Jordan.
See main article for full details
1960s JORDAN INFORMATION ARCHIVED (June 1999)
Ian Wallace has recently completed the task of collating many of the original files from the International Jordan Expeditions of 1963, 1965 and 1966. These trips provide the foundation of our knowledge of Jordan's birds and were written up in three Sandgrouse papers in 1983-84. These archives bring together the basic data, along with some recent re-interpretations. The files will ultimately by housed in the OSME archives.
