An Overview of Bird Migration Studies in Egypt

ABSTRACT Ibrahim W.A.L. 2011. An overview of bird migration studies in Egypt. Ring 33, 1-2: 55-75. This is an overview of ornithological studies carried out in Egypt since the beginning of XX th century till the present time made on the basis of several more or less general publications. Geographical location and climate descriptions give the background information about the area. The literature overview stresses especially problems connected with the migration of passerines, but wider avifaunistic background is discussed as well. Special attention is paid to the passerines’ strategy of migration through the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert, its direction and timing, as well as to the factors affecting passerines migration and bird ringing in Egypt. In conclusion, it is stressed that the studies on bird migration were done sporadically, from time to time and from one place to another, and there is a dramatic lack of permanent ringing / bird migration study field stations, despite the fact that some suitable and promising localities have been found, in which the studies have been carried out since 2001 by the SE European Bird Migration Network in cooperation with some protected areas managements.