Globally important proportions of six raptor populations migrate past Galala Bird Observatory, Egypt, in spring Paper

Monitoring raptors along migration corridors can be used to assess changes in population size, migration phenology and reproductive output. Along the East African-Eurasian flyway, several migratory bottlenecks exist where a large number of migratory soaring birds congregate during migration. Based on extensive monitoring experience in the region and using evidence from satellite-tracked Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus, we established a new observatory at the well-known spring migration bottleneck along the northern Red Sea coast near Galala, Egypt. In March 2022, we explored nine localities around the newly built city of Galala to evaluate for which species long-term migration monitoring would be valuable in this area. We found that locations on top of the Galala plateau offered consistently better observation conditions over a broad range of meteorological conditions than a previous location along the coast. Within six weeks we observed >1200 Egyptian Vultures, >300 000 Steppe Buzzards Buteo buteo vulpinus, and >10 000 Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis and Lesser Spotted Eagles Clanga pomarina. Long-term raptor monitoring at three points to the east, north, and west of the city of Galala would require 2–4 observers at each point from mid-February until late April. Together, these observation points would allow the monitoring of globally significant proportions of the eastern Europe and western and central Asia populations of Lesser Spotted Eagle (25–37%), Steppe Eagle (23–32%), White Stork Ciconia ciconia (10%), Steppe Buzzard (6–11%), Egyptian Vulture (3–10%), Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus (3–6%), Black Stork Ciconia nigra (3–5%) and Black Kite Milvus migrans (2–4%).
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Globally important proportions of six raptor populations migrate past Galala Bird Observatory, Egypt, in spring Paper