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White Stork Migration in Egypt

Mindy Baha El Din

Important Bird Area Advocate of BirdLife International, has written a brief overview of stork migration through Egypt for this website, including also notes on research and conservation needs for White Storks in Egypt. Mindy and Sherif Baha El Din will be acting as national coordinators for Egypt at the 6th International White Stork census 2004/05.

Received: 01.07.1999
For further information please contact Mindy Baha El Din

Abstract
Egypt has international importance for White Stork migration. Most of the world population passes through the area in the spring and autumn. The following is an overview of what is known about White Stork migration in Egypt and the gaps for which further research and conservation is needed.

The first systematic survey of bird migration in southern Sinai was conducted from 14 August and 14 October 1998. Agris Celmins conducted the migration survey on behalf of the project providing support to Ras Mohammed National Park, a joint initiative of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the European Union (EU).

It was found that Ras Mohammed in South Sinai is a major bottleneck for migrating White Storks in the autumn. A total of 275,743 individuals were counted during the survey. Celmins estimated that for conservation purposes that 390,000 to 470,000 occur in the area. A high percentage of these land along the coast to rest and spend the night, departing the following day. Celmens estimated the total number of landing and roosting storks for conservation purposes at 190,000 to 230,000. Due to its importance for migrating soaring birds, Ras Mohammed was listed as an "BirdLife International Important Bird Area (IBA)".

The most interesting finding was that while birds congregate at Ras Mohammed, the majority of storks did not cross the Gulf of Suez in this area and moved further north. Only about 87,700 storks or 30% were observed crossing at Ras Mohammed. Celmins made several visits to the coastal plain between Ras Mohammed and El Tor and counted 10,152 storks, but none of which were observed crossing.

White Storks counts were also conducted on the other side of the Gulf of Suez during the same season, which have yet to be published, and support Celmin's findings. Large numbers of White Storks were seen coming in from the sea at Gabel Zeit, a mountain ridge on the Gulf of Suez Eastern Desert coast, and is thought to be a major bottleneck. Birds fly low as they come in from the sea. These birds sometimes land and roost in the area, but primarily move southwest towards the mountains.

Based on the above findings, it assumed that storks cross in the Sinai at the mountain ridge along the coast north of El Tor. Surveys conducted confirm that storks do not migrate through Suez in the autumn. The author made a two day visit to the mountain ridge at the end of the stork migration season in 1998 and saw 240 White Storks moving in a westerly direction over the ridge at the Abu Radeis Rest House.

Large numbers of White Storks were seen coming in from the sea north of Safaga on the Eastern Desert coast. It is thought these were Ras Mohammed birds. Storks were also reported arriving at Hurghada.

Gaps in Our Present Knowledge and Survey Requirements
The main crossing point for White Storks in South Sinai in the autumn needs to be confirmed. Surveys are needed during peak stork migration (mid August to the end of September) of the area between Ras Mohammed and Abu Radeis.

There also needs to be more surveys of the area between Hurghada and Safaga (& further south) in the autumn to gather more information about birds utilizing this route. The route of the White Storks from Israel through the Sinai still needs to be identified along with important roosting and staging sites.

Surveys are also needed in the Eastern Desert and Upper Egypt of White Stork migration. Special concern should be given to identifying important roosting, feeding and staging sites for storks. Storks are reported to congregate and feed in the fields of Upper Egypt. Lake Nasser could be an important staging area for storks based on observations and needs to be quantified.

Spring Migration
Information from spring surveys in 1999 have yet to be assessed and published. The BirdLife International Important Bird Area in Egypt Directory (Sherif Baha El Din in press), identifies three main bottlenecks for White Storks and other soaring birds in the spring: Suez, Ain Sukhna and Gabel Zeit, the later site seems to be the main crossing point for White Storks crossing the Gulf of Suez into the Sinai. All three sites have been listed as "Important Bird Areas (IBAs). The storks passing through Suez cross central North Sinai to Israel. White Storks during Hamzeens (sand storms) are known to be blown north to the Mediterranean Sea, then follow the North Sinai coast.

Gaps in Our Present Knowledge and Survey Requirements
There is little or no information about White Stork movements through Upper Egypt and the Eastern Desert before reaching Gabel Zeit.

There is little or no information about White Stork migration through the Sinai in the spring. Small numbers are seen at Ras Mohammed. Birds are thought to cross into Sinai somewhere along the coast between Ras Mohammed and El Tor, and possibly the mountain ridge between El Tor and Abu Radeis. Most are assumed to be low flying as they come in from the sea. Given its presumed importance for migrating soaring birds, the El Qa plain was listed as an "BirdLife International Important Bird Area (IBA)".

The route used by the White Storks through the Sinai to Israel is not known.

Key Threats
Wind farms are planned to be built along the Eastern Desert Gulf of Suez coast. Some of these if built in sensitive area, such as Gabel Zeit could pose a hazard to migrating storks.

Hunting and persecution of storks exists along its entire migration route through Egypt. There was a report of large numbers of White Storks dying at a spring in the Eastern Desert in 1998, possibly due to poisoning. Stork hunting is a tradition in Upper Egypt, but there have been no studies to ascertain the status of this practice.

Research Priorities
- Study migration in the autumn of the coastal plain of South Sinai between Ras Mohammed and Abu Radeis, and further north to Suez.
- Study migration in the spring of the coastal plain of South Sinai between Ras Mohammed and Abu Radeis.
- Surveys of the Eastern Desert coast from Hurghada south to Quseir to locate the arrival point for birds crossing at Ras Mohammed in the autumn.
- Study migration through Upper Egypt in the spring and autumn, with particular attention given to stork hunting.
- Surveys of Lake Nasser to determine the numbers of storks utilizing this wetland during migration.

Conservation Priorities
- While the Government of Egypt is signatory of the Bonn Convention and recently ratified the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, more needs to be done to implement the provisions of these agreements in Egypt. In particular, more consideration should be given to the impacts of development on migratory birds and developments found to have detrimental impacts should be relocated or redesigned.
- Corridors along the Gulf of Suez South Sinai coast that are important crossing points for migratory birds need to be protected.
- Consideration should be given to declaring Gabel Zeit a Protected Area.
- More efforts are needed to protect the White Stork in Egypt, in particular to curb hunting.