Large flocks of eagles, falcons crossing Kuwait

The bird watch team of Kuwait Environment Protection Society reported that large flocks of both eagles and falcons have been seen in the country, during the season of the annual migration from north and east Asia. Some 2,000 eagles of different sizes were spotted in different parts of the country in morning hours in groups of 100-200 birds, and the number drops by noon, member Rashid Al-Hajji told KUNA. Noting the birds take a very specific and calculated route with sun position as point of reference, Al-Hajji said the birds land in Kuwait for rest rather than food, though drinking water is also an objective. When the birds land in Kuwait, they are in the middle of their journey, he said. Kuwait is an important stop for migrating birds, he remarked, and bird watchers have spotted 39 types of predatory birds of different sizes out of a total of 397 birds known to migrate through Kuwait. This is a huge number in view of the country's small size, which makes it a prime destination for bird watchers from around the world. Though the birds face many hazards throughout the journey, the bird watcher stressed they are particularly hunted and shot in Kuwait. There is even more care by the authorities to try and counter this violation this year, he added. The bird watchers, he said, document their observations and present monthly and annual reports to specialized international bodies. "Last year, bird watchers spotted some 4,000 birds in a single day around this time of year," he said.