Saudi Aramco Abqaiq and Saudi Aramco Environmental Protection
Department, especially Abdullah Alsuhaibany, have helped clean up and create a
fenced off area for birds at Abqaiq called Abqaiq Wetlands. This area was
previously very good for birds in the late 1980’s but has had little effort in
recording species there in recent years as it had become a dumping ground for
waste. Phil Roberts and I went there on Sunday 1 May to undertake a survey of
the birds present and were very impressed by the site. A lot of work has been
done and the area is fenced with a locked gate to restrict access and protect
the area. There are a number of wet areas including small lakes some with
phragmites reeds and small areas of Tamarisks. Surrounding two sides is an
extensive woodland belt, again with restricted access that has many mature
trees and is an excellent habitat for birds. Two bird hides have been built by
Saudi Aramco Abqaiq, one overlooking a large lake and the other overlooking the
entire site. The idea is to eventually open part of the location of the people
of Abqaiq at certain times as an educational aid to helping encourage
environmental awareness, especially among the children of the area. This
location is and will continue to be attractive to birds and Saudi Aramco and
Abdullah Alsuhaibany and his colleagues should be thoroughly commended for
their effort with this project. In the next post I will show some details of
what we saw in our time there. I thank Abdullah Alsuhaibany and Chris Boland
for getting me access to the location and for passing on the key to the gate to
me.
