Kuwait key stop for migratory birds: Important habitats identified

Arab Times

12-04-2025

KUWAIT CITY, April 12: Kuwait continues to serve as one of the most significant bird migration routes, offering essential rest and feeding areas for migratory birds. Key locations such as the Jahra Nature Reserve, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Nature Reserve in Kabd, Abraq Al-Houbari, and the farms of Wafra, Sulaibiya, and Abdali are crucial habitats that attract a wide variety of species.
Talal Al-Muwaizri, a member of the bird monitoring and protection team at the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), highlighted the natural phenomenon of bird migration in a recent statement. He explained that bird migration is an adaptive process that demonstrates birds' ability to adjust to changing environments.
According to Al-Muwaizri, spring migration begins from mid-February and lasts until late May, a period when birds are at their most colorful and vibrant. Each year, birds migrate from the colder northern regions to the warmer southern regions in search of more moderate climates and longer days. This migration spans all continents, with birds fleeing the cold and seeking better conditions.
"In our region, birds migrate from Europe and Central Asia, passing through Kuwait and the Middle East before reaching their final destinations in Africa and India," said Al-Muwaizri. This migration is known as the "autumn migration," which typically begins in mid-August and continues until mid-October. During this time, birds settle in Africa and India for the winter.
Al-Muwaizri also emphasized that birds rely on various routes for their autumn migration, such as coasts, rivers, or even navigating by following the stars at night. As temperatures rise, food becomes more plentiful, and daylight increases in the spring, birds start their return journey. This migration is known as the "spring migration," as birds make their way back to Europe and Central Asia to breed and raise their young in safer, more resource-rich environments.
Among the birds that arrive in Kuwait during the spring migration, the hoopoe is one of the first to appear, signaling the arrival of spring and the end of winter. Al-Muwaizri noted that the hoopoe's arrival marks the start of a gradual influx of other migratory species. These include small birds like the za'ara, yikiki, crucifix, mardam, hammer, hamira ras, sweida ras, hamroush, shola, baghl as-saman, bint al-sabbagh, qalliba, humimij, and others such as eagles, gulls, fri, and wild pigeons of the turtledove family.
Additionally, Al-Muwaizri mentioned the arrival of small birds of prey, specifically the shrike species, in successive waves. The first to arrive are the qahfi, Arabian pigeon, and the left-handed shrikes. Following them are the more visually striking species, such as the Husseini (masked shrike) or polar shrike. The last birds to arrive, towards the end of April and May, are the Hasawi pigeon and the cage pomegranate and chatbi family, signaling the close of the spring migration season.
Kuwait's role in providing safe passages and habitats for these migratory birds emphasizes its importance as a key stopover on their long journeys between continents. The country continues to play an essential role in supporting wildlife conservation efforts through its protected natural reserves and dedicated environmental work.