https://arab.news/9x732
- Hundreds of great white pelicans are among a wealth of bird species that will rest and feed at the reserve before continuing their long journey south for the winter
- It attracts more than 290 species, including the heron, a common migratory presence in the region, the eastern imperial eagle, and the houbara
RIYADH: During the migratory season this year, field teams from the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve have spotted more than 300 great white pelicans at one of five sites within the reserve recognized as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas.
These five locations are particularly significant because they lie along the migratory route and so they serve as havens where birds can rest and feed during their long journeys south. As a result, the reserve is considered one of the region’s key nature attractions featuring large migratory birds, which account for about 88 percent of its total recorded species. It attracts more than 290 species, including the heron, a common migratory presence in the region, the eastern imperial eagle, and the houbara.
Environmentalists at the reserve are busy implementing ecological programs and monitoring its key migratory sites to ensure the sustainability of these species.
The reserve is home to 26 species of birds that are listed internationally as endangered, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and the teams of experts working there are contributing to conservation efforts and the protection of biodiversity to help ensure a balanced ecosystem.
The royal reserve covers an area of 130,700 sq. km that takes in parts of Northern Borders region, Jouf, Tabuk and Hail. It is one of the first stops in the Kingdom for birds arriving from Asia and Europe in the fall, and the last before they head north in the spring.