Khaberni - The skies of the Kingdom annually witness the crossing of more than 10 million migratory birds, a scene that reflects the strategic importance of the Kingdom as a vital bridge that connects three continents, and affirms its pivotal role in preserving global biodiversity, according to environmental experts.
The concerned authorities confirmed that Jordan is a main part of the Great Rift Valley migration route, including the Jordan Valley which is crossed by more than 400 types of migratory birds. Meanwhile, the kingdom's nature reserves and wetlands provide safe havens for these birds during their seasonal migration.
They pointed out that these efforts are part of Jordan’s commitment to international agreements for the protection of migratory birds, alongside enhancing bird-watching tourism as a unique eco-tourism product, highlighting the kingdom's role as a hub for biodiversity and an active partner in maintaining global ecological balance.
Tariq Qunair, Director of Projects and Specialist in Nature Conservation at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, mentioned that Jordan is a key part of the Jordan Valley corridor which serves as a link between three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe, clarifying that the kingdom annually records the passage of more than 300 types of migratory birds from a total of 442 species detected in the country.
Qunair added that what is known as the "bottleneck", the narrow passageways between continents where large numbers of birds gather, makes Jordan a strategic point for the passage of falcons and eagles and birds of prey, in addition to hundreds of species of songbirds and waterbirds.
Qunair affirmed that the wetlands in Jordan serve as a primary refuge for migratory birds, indicating that the kingdom includes two reserves listed on the "Ramsar" international list of wetlands of global importance, namely the Azraq Water Reserve, the first Arab Ramsar site since 1977, and the Fifa Nature Reserve, the lowest Ramsar site in the world.
He explained that these sites play a vital role in sustaining the birds' journey, adding that the Society was successful in rehabilitating the Azraq oasis with funding from the Global Environmental Facility, which helped restore about 10% of its original size as a refuge for migratory birds, registering more than 350 bird species, equivalent to 70% of the total species in Jordan. Prominent among them are herons, ducks, Egyptian vultures, and many birds of prey and songbirds.
Director of the Aqaba Bird Observatory and climate change specialist at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Engineer Firas Rahahleh, mentioned that the observatory is among the most prominent global models. He noted that Aqaba city provides spaces and a safe environment through its bird observatory representing a living model of balance between rapid urban and economic growth and the conservation of biodiversity, particularly migratory birds which play a pivotal role in stabilizing ecosystems and ensuring outdoor nature safety, pointing out that the kingdom's skies annually witness the crossing of more than 10 million migratory birds, reflecting the strategic importance of the kingdom as a vital bridge connecting three continents, and confirming its pivotal role in preserving global environmental diversity.
Rahahleh clarified that Aqaba Bird Observatory is a leading model in implementing smart environmental solutions, a result of institutional cooperation between the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, which manages the observatory, and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, a clear embodiment of Jordan's commitment to protecting nature and birds based on international agreements ratified by the kingdom.
He continued, saying: The observatory aims to create attractive environments for migratory birds to be safe rest points and serve as a practical model in biodiversity protection. At the same time, employing this environmental value as a specialized tourism product within the concept of bird-watching tourism.
He explained that the Aqaba Bird Observatory monitors, documents, and follows all types of birds that cross its airspace or rest in its environments during migration journeys, using internationally recognized scientific methodologies that ensure monitoring and classification accuracy, besides photographing different species to build a comprehensive database that contributes to supporting local, regional, and international efforts aimed at enhancing biodiversity protection, and at the same time, promoting Aqaba and Jordan as a distinctive destination for bird-watching tourism.
Rahahleh further noted that to date, more than 270 species of birds have been documented at the Aqaba Bird Observatory, equivalent to about 61% of the total bird species recorded in Jordan. These species include 13% resident birds and 87% migratory birds, among them about 9% are classified as endangered or close to extinction at the local and global levels.
In this regard, he mentioned examples including the White Stork (Abu Saad), which ancestors used its migration as an indicator of the beginning of the autumn season and the onset of rain, making them happy upon its arrival and hence named it (Abu Saad), and among migrants is the Honey Buzzard, one of the raptors that feeds on wild beehives but recently became an added value to our environments by eliminating invasive bee species, which have been increasingly spreading in some areas.
Among the migratory birds is also the Spoonbill duck, known for its ability to filter water to feed on the microorganisms contained within it, thus contributing to cleaning water bodies from plant and animal plankton but faces significant hunting challenges. Likewise, the Flamingo bird serves the same environmental service as the Spoonbill duck and is a big attraction for youth and adults to watch and enjoy its presence at the Aqaba Bird Observatory, along with dozens of species, each carrying its own story in serving the environment and humanity, and likewise, its challenge in this universe, according to Rahahleh.
He pointed out that the observatory implements three main programs which are: the Protection of Environments and Species Program, focusing on sustaining natural and artificial habitats through continuous monitoring and biodiversity tracking; the Environmental Awareness Program, targeting various societal segments, especially school students, to enhance affiliation with the protection approach through field visits and educational experiences in bird observation and understanding their impact on humans and the environment; and the Ecotourism Program, focusing on developing bird-watching tourism, where the observatory now stands as one of the most prominent global destinations for this type of sustainable tourism that combines knowledge, environment, and local development.
He mentioned that the Arab region in West Asia is a pivotal part of the global bird migration range, being located within the second most significant bird migration route in the world. Therefore, the Aqaba Bird Observatory, along with other monitoring observatories in the Arab world, acts as a leading scientific reference gaining importance through the establishment of an Arab network for exchanging information and data related to bird monitoring programs, enhancing regional knowledge, and supporting shared protection efforts.
He said: Migratory birds face multiple threats during their long journeys, and the loss of habitats and safe environments for rest is one of the most serious threats, often leading to the death of some birds or disruption of their migration routes. From here emerges the importance of the diverse environments provided by the Aqaba Bird Observatory, from aquatic, plant, and tree areas, forming vital rest stops enabling birds to regain their energy and continue their migration, in addition to their contribution to the continuation of environmental services provided by these species, which brings direct and indirect environmental and economic benefits to humans.
He affirmed that the Aqaba Bird Observatory is based on a pioneering idea aimed at enhancing sustainability indicators in Jordan, and contributes to achieving many goals of the three pillars for the vision of economic modernization, in harmony with the Royal Vision of Aqaba as a special economic area, representing a practical example of nature-based solutions through reuse of treated water to provide safe and attractive environments for wildlife in a country among the world's most water-scarce.
He added: the observatory is also a product of creative cooperation with the Aqaba Water Company, Ayla Oasis Development Company, and Aqaba Development Company, where this cooperation has contributed to enhancing and expanding the environments attractive to birds within Aqaba city. Internationally, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature has a wide network of regional and global partnerships, being the main national partner of "BirdLife International" in Jordan, which is the global umbrella fo
