The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature’s Aqaba Bird Observatory has documented more than 270 species of birds that land at the observatory to rest during the north-south migration journey, at a time when more than 7.5 million birds meet in their annual migration season between the continents.

The observatory is considered one of the most significant rest areas for migratory birds, and is a tourist destination for bird watchers interested in global ecotourism, according to Al-Ghad News.

The observatory’s director, Firas Rahahleh, said that 57 percent of the birds registered in the observatory are species registered in the Kingdom; some were added to the national database after being registered for the first time in the observatory.

Rahahleh pointed out that Aqaba has warm weather in the winter, which increases the chances of birds being present at the observatory. This, he added, enhances visitors’ bird-watching experience during the migration seasons during spring and autumn.

The government, represented by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and in partnership with the Royal Society, develops, qualifies and promotes the observatory as a tourism site for bird watchers, further contributing to increased economic growth through ecotourism in Aqaba, a growing trend in the governorate.

In spring, the observatory reported spotting the black-crowned sparrow-lark for the first time in Aqaba, and the second nationwide, according to the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.

Rahahleh had called on the public to help the bird hide from predators by releasing it in forests or grassy lands in the event that they spot the bird. 

Source: Jordan News