The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) joins in the global celebration of the World Migratory Bird Day which is held each year on October 12. This year's theme is “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!”.
This event aims to shed light on the impact of plastic pollution on migratory birds, raise awareness of issues affecting migratory birds and their habitats and highlight the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
500 species of bird recorded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including 277 species of migratory birds, 223 species of endemic birds, and 19 species of rare birds which are found nowhere else in the world except in the Arabian Peninsula, such as the Asir magpie whose numbers are only 100 breeding pairs. MEWA is currently working on the preparation of a national program to preserve such endangered species.
The most prominent issues that pose a great threat to birds in the Kingdom and the world are damaging breeding colonies and feeding areas, hunting, and land and water pollution. Plastic litter represents a threat for birds as they feed on grain-like pieces of plastic as well as plastic pellets as they resemble fish eggs.
The Kingdom is one of the most important flyways for millions of birds migrating from Asia and Europe to Africa. About 277 migratory birds crossed Saudi Arabia, of which about 31 species are classified in the Red List of Threatened Species.
Aside from their importance in maintainning the ecological balance, migratory birds are significant indicator of ecosystems health around the world. They offer practical solutions to some issues, such as control of insect and rodent, the disposal of dead animals and transporting seeds and pollen.
Since 2006, the World Migratory Bird Day has been celebrated to raise awareness of the dangers migratory birds exposed to, such as human activities, poaching, irrational use of land and pollution.