Salalah: The Office for Environmental Conservation at the Environment Authority (EA) in Dhofar Governorate has completed the annual field survey for the enumeration of steppe eagle in the Wilayat of Thamrait.
The steppe eagle is a migratory bird of prey which is threatened with extinction according to the Foundation for Environmental Conservation (FEC).
Dr Had bin Musalam al Hakmani, Director of Environmental Affairs Department in Salalah, said that the survey results showed that the highest number of steppe eagles was registered on January 25 this year near Al Safaa Farm where 550 steppe eagles were spotted.
The survey team conducted 84 field visits between October 1, 2021 and March 22, 2022 at two sites near Al Safaa Farm and Habkait landfill. The highest number of steppe eagles at Habkait landfill was 142 and was registered on February 8.
The official pointed out that the steppe eagle usually visits the south of the Arabian Peninsula during winter and its numbers began to decline in the two sites coinciding with the beginning of the summer migration season which usually begins at the end of March when the plains eagle leaves the Arabian Peninsula and returns to the nesting areas in central Asia. — ONA