Quantity of Spring Migration of Migratory Soaring Birds Over the Eastern Desert of Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The Gulf of Suez is an important flyway for migratory soaring birds because it is situated between the Eurasian and African landmasses that connect breeding grounds in Eurasia with wintering zones in Africa. During four weeks of spring migration, the magnitude and timing of the spring migration of 15 species of medium and large-sized raptors, White Storks “Ciconia ciconia”, Black Storks “Ciconia nigra”, White Pelicans “Pelicanus onocrotalus”, Common Cranes “Grus grus” and Great cormorant “Phalacrocorax carbo” were studied near Ras Shukeir city, Eastern desert, Egypt. Observations were carried out on the ground by three vantage points between the Gulf of Suez and Gharib mountain. In total 3121 raptors of 15 species were counted in addition to 8380 White Storks, 2250 White Pelicans and 604 Common Cranes passed during the study time. The most common species were Northern Steppe Buzzard “Buteo buteo vulpinus”, Black Kite “Milvus migrans” and Steppe Eagle “Aquila nipalensis” and recorded 17.21% of all raptors.

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