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Bordered on three sides by the Gulf Sea and on one side by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, a tiny desert country, may at first glance seem a poor choice for birdwatchers - but think again! Originally Qatar was a location for desert birds - the now extinct Arabic ostrich was once common here, while the country’s Bedouin population relaxed by trapping, training and hunting with falcons. The birds were used to hunt the Houbara, a large brown bird the size of a hero. The Houbara is now rare in this region. However, huge changes to the environment have now taken place, changes caused by the huge wealth generated by the tiny kingdom. Qatar may only have a native population of just 200,000, but the huge wealth generated by its oil and gas reserves mean it is now the richest country in the world - and it is getting richer. This wealth has had its effect on the environment. A combination of run off water, huge areas of effluent and the deliberate greening of Qatar’s cities have lead to visitors such as House Sparrows coming in from abroad. You’ll also see the successful descendants of escaped cage birds, such as the Parakeets which are rapidly colonising the country. According to some naturalists, these birds are having a negative effect on the original desert species that inhabit Qatar. One species which does still seem to be thriving, though, is the Socotra Cormorant, and the site of thousands of cormorants flying along the desert coast is one you will never forget. For more information, including articles by writers more expert and knowledgable than me, please see the links below... |
Khor Al Udeid
It has been agreed that no construction is to take place in Khor Al Udeid. As a result, the area attracts wildlife, particularly migratory birds in abundance.Jean Rasbridge
jeanmrasbridge@googlemail.com
Number of bird species: 255
A Birdwatcher's Guide to Qatar
by Oldfield Colour & b/w illustrations, maps, 111pp 1994 PaperbackCommon Birds of Qatar
by Frances Gillespie illustrated by Hans & Jens EriksonISBN: 9789948157472
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Common Birds of Qatar
By Hanne Eriksen, Jens Eriksen and Frances Gillespie | Published by the Authors & Distributed by NHBS | Softcover | 2011 | 248 pages, 400 col photos, dist mapsSee Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 9789948157472
Buy this book from NHBS.com
BirdLife
WebsiteMost of Qatar, with its flat desert and scanty vegetation, supports only a sparse and restricted avifauna. Of 255 species recorded in the country, about 23 breed, 78 are winter visitors and 104 are more-or-less regular migrants; the rest are vagrant or are rarely recorded...
Friends of the Environment Centre
WebsiteIn Arabic only
Qatar Bird Club
Website...the page on the Natural History Group that deals with the Qatar Bird Club. It gives notices of meetings and lists the newsletters published...
Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG)
WebsiteThe Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) was founded in November 1978 to 'bring together people with an interest in the natural history of Qatar and the Gulf', and the inaugural meeting was held in the grounds of the National Museum. This past year we celebrated the Group's 30th anniversary...
This section sponsored by: 
Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Qatar Birding
Mailing ListTo post to list:qatarbirding@yahoogroups.com
List contact:qatarbirding-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:qatarbirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Qatarbirding is a discussion group related to wild birds in the State of Qatar, their observation, study, and conservation. Qatarbirding is not intended for discussions about captive birds, falconry, or the hunting of birds...
Qatar Biodiversity
WebsiteThe government has placed increased emphasis on the conservation of biologicalresources. The marine and terrestrial eco-systems of Qatar includes several importantspecies of flora and fauna of bio-diversity value, a few of which are believed to bethreatened and endangered...
Qatar Birds
WebsiteJust as Qatar’s birdlife has changed drastically over the last few decades, with the overflow of water from industry and the greening of Doha drawing in new species and threatening old ones, so has Qatar’s interest in that bird life...
Qatar Wildlife
Website...Away from Doha, the main sites of interest are, moving from north to south, through the peninsula, Al Ruwais and Ras Rakan at the northerly tip of the country where stronger tidal currents bring rich fish life and a productive reef system. The coastline from here around to the magnificent fort at Zubara, has a number of small abandoned villages and is a quiet coastal region where one can find an interesting combination of shorebirds and, in spring and autumn, passage migrants...
The Greening of Qatar - Benefits for Wildlife
WebsiteSome species that have previously been reported as scarce are now present in large, and seemingly ever increasing, numbers. These are birds which have been resident in other parts of the Middle East and whose range has now extended to include Qatar. The white-cheeked bulbul is a case in point. Previously common in locations to the north and east of Qatar it is believed that a few birds that were deliberately introduced into Qatar successfully bred and established what was, at the time of the 1986 checklist, a very small breeding population in Doha. Today they are to be found twittering musically wherever there are bushes and trees and their breeding status is no longer questioned!
The greening of wide patches of Qatar
WebsiteThe greening of wide patches of Qatar in recent years has created a welcoming environment for migratory birds and a permanent home for many other species. Irrigation systems have helped create large gardens and parks, games fields and golf courses, transforming what was once a hostile environment for many species of wildlife into safe havens...
Photographer - Dileep Anthikad
GalleryPhotography facilitated me to see the world around me from a different angle and portrays it in a natural and unique way...
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This site was last updated on Monday, 29th April 2013.