Jens Eriksen - Birds of the Middle East

This book is dedicated to BirdLife International and OSME

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Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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This electronic edition published in 2022 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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First published in the United Kingdom 2022

Copyright AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Jens Eriksen and Richard Porter 2022

AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Jens Eriksen and Richard Porter have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Authors of this work.

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ISBN: 978-1-4729-8675-7 (PB)
ISBN: 978-1-4729-8676-4 (eBook)
ISBN: 978-1-4729-9307-6 (ePDF)

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CONTENTS

Birds are all around us. They are present on every continent, utilise almost every habitat on the planet, and most people around the world will encounter them on a daily basis. Birds can survive the freezing temperatures of the Antarctic, cross the highest of mountain ranges and the widest of seas, and endure the oppressive heat of the great deserts. But, as with so much of the wildlife and natural resources of our planet, birds are facing an uncertain future. To ensure their continued survival we need more people to appreciate the wonders of the avian world.

Over 800 different bird species make the Middle East their home for at least some part of the year. There are species that both breed and winter in various parts of the region, and others are just visitors during the winter months. The region connects the landmasses of Europe and Asia in the north to Africa in the south, and each year tens of millions of birds, large and small, pass through the region on their incredible migratory journeys. A small number of species are found only in this region and nowhere else on the planet. The more that people, both those that live in the region and those that visit, know about the birds around them the more likely they are to want to protect them and safeguard their futures.

This wonderful photographic guide makes a significant contribution to inspiring current and future generations to admire, understand and appreciate the wonderful birds of the Middle East. The high-quality photographs are provided by AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan and Jens Eriksen, who are lifelong advocates for the birds of the region. The photos, along with the concise species accounts, will enable the species most likely to be encountered to be identified and named with a high degree of certainty. However, as well as being able to name the species that you may encounter, knowing where to look for them is key. The section Good Birdwatching Sites in the Region is a valuable description of many of the Middle Easts top locations. A visit to any one of these sites will be an experience not to be forgotten.

This book provides a fantastic introduction to the birds of the region that will hopefully stimulate a lifelong interest in the avifauna of the Middle East and beyond.

Dr Rob Sheldon,