On 6th September
Phil Roberts and I counted shorebirds at the Dammam / Al Khobar Wader Roost
south site as part of the World Shorebirds day. The tide was a very low high
tide and the time was the middle of the day when the temperatures were 42
degrees Celsius, so we were not expecting to see a great number of waders. We
were pleasantly surprised by the final numbers which were collated by Phil and are
shown below. World Shorebirds Day is an effort to raise awareness of the importance of
regular bird monitoring as the core element of bird protection and habitat
conservation. About half of the world’s shorebird populations are in decline,
and the rate of habitat loss is worse than ever before. Saving birds without
knowing the actual number of individuals of a bird species living in the world
is impossible & population figures should not be guesses.
If proper monitoring is conducted then population figures and trends can be
worked out for the species monitored. This program aims to give a picture of
the power of field work, to help non-counters to improve their counting skills,
and to increase the number of counters worldwide. Healthy populations of shorebirds mean healthy wetlands, something that
thousands of human lives depend on. Action on a global scale needs to be
organized to encourage people to be connected with shorebirds, their
spectacular life and their habitats. With this in mind Gyorgy
Szimuly a Hungarian bird conservationist thought of World Shorebirds Day to be
held every year on the 6th of September or the closest weekend to the 6th of
September (preferably on Saturday). The main aims are:
·
To raise public awareness about the need to protect shorebirds and their
habitats throughout their life cycles
·
To raise public awareness about the need for ongoing shorebird research
·
To connect people with shorebirds through important shorebird sites around
the world
·
To get shorebird enthusiasts to introduce shorebirds to more birdwatchers
·
To raise awareness about the need for increased funding for shorebird
research, monitoring and conservation.
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| Dunlin |
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| Greater Sand Plover |
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| Little Stint |
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| Sanderling |
