43,000 waders before breakfast!
Ecology Matters staff have recently returned from survey work at Barr al Hikman, Oman. This large area of coastal mudflats is internationally important for waterbirds and counts carried out on this visit confirm it’s continuing importance. On one coastal section 43,000 birds were counted at early morning roosts.

As well as working on developing a rapid survey methodology for this extensive site, ringing studies were carried out and catching techniques developed in preparation for a more substantial survey proposed for 2008.

Assessment work by Ecology Matters elsewhere in Arabia shows a serious loss of coastal habitat, mainly to tourism development and a soon to be published report will quantify this, and re-iterates the importance of the Oman site. We are pleased that Barr al Hikman is protected by the Omani authorities and we continue to work closely with them on this project.

The visit was a combined effort from Ecology Matters, The West Asian Shorebird Survey, the Dutch Wader research organisation WIWO and Natural Research Ltd.