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A Kingdom of Birds: Birding in Saudi Arabia

with Gregory Askew

 

السلام عليكم!

As-salaam 'alaikum!

 
 
 

"The Desert is Not Deserted"


 

The Saudi I Know and Love


 

At the Crossroads of Three Biogeographical Realms and Three Major Flyways

  • Palearctic residents in the north with migrants throughout on passage

  • Afrotropical residents and summer breeders in the southwest

  • Indomalayan residents, winter visitors, and vagrants in the east

  • Three major flyways pass through Saudi: Black Sea-Mediterranean flyway, Asian-East African flyway, Central Asian flyway

  • Over 500 species recorded to date

 

The Endemics and Near-endemics of the Arabian Peninsula


14 species endemic to the Arabian Peninsula

  • Asir Magpie, an endangered corvid found only in Saudi Arabia

Easiest place for near-endemics and regional specialties

  • Hypocolius, Arabian Dunn's Lark, Rufous-capped Lark, and Arabian Golden Sparrow

Regionally endemic seabirds

  • White-eyed Gull and Socotra Cormorant

 

Birding Hotspots in Saudi Arabia

 

Why I Love Saudi Birding

1. Saudi birds are cool!


2. Saudi's one of the most under-birded countries on the planet!

  • 4,556 completed eBird checklists to Tarrant County's 69,100

  • 283 eBirders to Tarrant's 4,417


3. Contributing to knowledge about Saudi birdlife





4. Sharing my love with others


5. Learning Saudi Arabic

 

شكرا!

Shukran!





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