Birding sites Jordan

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Ajloun
Location: The reserve lies within the Mediterranean Biogegraphical zone.Size: 1,300 hectares

Habitat: It is totally covered by one vegetation type that is the Ever Green Oak Forest. . It is a mountainous area penetrated by some wadis without any source of permanent water. It is mainly covered with Quercus calliprinose, Pistacia palaestina, Arbutus andrachne and Cyclamen persicum.

Birds & wildlife: Migrant species include Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Sparrow Hawk, and Short-toad Eagle. Chuker, Wern, Rufous Nightingale, Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Blur Tit, Great Tit, and Cretzschmar's Bunting can be found in the reserve. Other wildlife aspects include the Roe Deer and Stone Martin.

Visiting & access: Forest serves as a safe release site for the locally extinct roe deer. The rich greenery of Ajloun has made it a popular spot for picnickers and hikers. Visitor services, however, are few at present, but a project is going to be launched to develop trails for observing wildlife and a camp to enjoy the beauty of the special area.

Azraq wetland
Location: It lies within the Saharo-Arabian Biogeographical zone.Size: 1, 200 hectares
Habitat: It is represented by the Hammada vegetation type in most of the area and a small part of the Qa vegetation type in the eastern part of the reserve. The reserve is a silt dune area with some area of open water, marshes and part of a depression. Major species in the area are Tamarix passerinoides, Nitraria retusa, Phragmites australis and Halopeplis amplexicalis.

Birds & wildlife: A large number of migrant and wintering wildfowl and waders use the Oasis. Purple Heron, Water rail, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish plover, Marbled Teal, Black winged Stilt, Avocet, Little Tern, Namaqua Dove, and Desert wheatear can be seen irregularly wintering in the Oasis. Other species can be seen in wintering or passing through the Oasis such as, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Bittern, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Greater flamingo, Ruddy Shelduck, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, and a lot of waders.
Visiting & access: Unique wetland trails for bird watching, a visitor center, and fascinating archeology. Facilities include a lodge and bungalows in the nearby village. For booking, please contact them at tel./ fax 00962 05 3835017 or click here to open your e-mail editor...

Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East
Richard Porter,Steen Christensen & Per Schiermacker
Illustrated by A Birch,J Gale,M Langman & B Small

" The bottom line is:this is the best field guide published so far on birds of the Middle East."....Josef Kren, Wilson Bulletin

" A real tour de force and should remain the standard work for the region for a long time to come."..Gordon Hamlett, Birdwatching

"An indispensable and thoroughly recommended aid for birdwatchers in the Middle East and beyond." ...Andrew Grieve, Birdwatch.
Click here for ordering details.....

Dana Nature Reserve
Location: It lies within three different biogeographical zones they are from east to west : Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian and Sudanian.Size: 32,500 Hectares

Habitat: It has five different vegetation types are present in the area, the Juniper forest, Mediterranean Non-forest, Steppe, Acacia and Rocky Sudanian and Sand Dune vegetation. It is a mountainous highly steep area that is covered with forest in its eastern part, bare lands in the middle and tropical arbor vegetation in the west. The most important species are Juniperous phoenica, Cupressus sempervirens, Quercus calliprinose, Pistacia atlantica, Ziziphus spina-christi, Acacia radiana and Acacia tortilis.

Birds & wildlife: 190 species occurred in the reserve including breeding raptors like Griffon Vulture, Short-toad Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, and Barbary Falcon. Hume's Tawny Owl also occurred. Other species like Isabelline and Hooded Wheatear, Dunn's, Bar-tailed and Short-tailed Larks, woodlark, Arabian, Upcher's, and Orphean Warbler can be seen in different parts of the reserve. Other mammals include wild cats, Caracals, Porcupine, hyena, jackals, and Arabian ibex.

Visiting & access: With its spectacular mountain scenery, different length and view hiking trails, bird watching, archaeology, a campsite, a beautiful guesthouse and an under establishment lodge that are all in harmony with the surrounding area.
For booking, please contact Dana at Tel. 00962 03 2270497/8, fax 00962 03 2270499, or e-mail here....

Mujib Nature
Location: It lies within two biogeographical zones, the Irano-Turanian in the eastern parts and the Sudanian in the western parts and along the Dead Sea.Size: 21,800 hectares

Habitat: Four different vegetation types are to be found in the site, they are : the Steppe, Tropical, Saline and Water vegetation types. The site is comprised of high steep mountains descending toward the Dead Sea in the west and "North and South " toward the major wadies in the area where permanent water from precipitation and spring still occur. Major plants in the area are: Artemisia sieberi, Moring perigrina, Salvia dominica, Nerium oleander and Rhus tripartita.

Birds & wildlife: Breeding Bonelli's Eagle, Barbay Falcon, Eagle Owl, Hume's Tawny Owl, Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird, White-breasted Kingfisher, Morning, Hooded, and White crowned Black wheatears also occurred in addition to the unique Black morph Morning Wheatear, and Trumpeter Finch are breeding birds that can be seen in Mujib Reserve. Two colonies of Lesser Kestrel found in the Reserve, Stone Curlew, Pallid swift, Alpine Swift, Rock Thrush, and Ortolan Bunting are migrant birds that can be seen in migration season. Other wildlife aspects include Nubian Ibex, Hyenas, Caracals, and the common red fox.

Visiting & access: River- filled canyons, various guided adventure hikes, swimming against water flow, special activities for experts, bird watching, and a wilderness campsite. Open from 1st of April till 30th of October. For booking, please contact Ecotourism Section at tel. 00962 6 5334610, fax 00962 6 5347411

or e-mail here...

Shumari
Location: South of Azraq.Size: 2,200 hectares
Habitat: It lies within the Saharo-Arabian biogeographical zone and is represented by the hammada vegetation type. It is a flat gravelly area penetrated by a medium sized wadi that floods in wintertime. The area is mostly dominated by Atriplex halimus, Retama raetam and Haloxylon salicornicum.

Birds & wildlife: Breeding birds include Thick billed lark (rare), Temminck's Horned Lark, Hoopoe Lark, Creamed-coloured-Courser, Desert Wheatear, Red-rumped Wheatear (rare), Desert finch and formally Houbara Bustard. Winter visitors include Imperial Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Cranes, and finches Wheatear. In migration season; Lesser Kestrel, Levant Sparrow Hawk, Steppe Buzzard, Red-breasted Flycatcher (autumn), and Cyprus Wheatear can be seen. Other wildlife includes a breeding stock of Arabian Oryx, Ostriches, Gazelles, and Onagers.
Visiting & access: Breeding centre for the Arabian Oryx and other endangered desert animals. There is a visitor center, Oryx safari, observation tour, picnic site, and animal enclosures. For booking, please contact them at tel./ fax 00962 05 3835017
or click here to e-mail

Wadi Rum Protected Area
Location: It lies within the Sudanian Biogeographical zone.Size: 56,000 hectares

Habitat: It has three different vegetation types are to be found in the area, Hammada, Sand Dune and Acacia & Rocky Sudanian vegetation types. The area has the steepest mountains in the country where vertical slopes are found. Those mountains are surrounded by wadis of sand dunes in the east and gravel in the west. Important flora in the area contains: Haloxylon salicornicum, Anabasis articulata, Juniperous phoenica and Ficus pseudo-sycomorus.

Birds & wildlife: Breeding pair of Verreaux's Eagle. Other raptors like Lesser-Spotted Eagle, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, and Red-footed Falcon can be seen during their passage in spring and autumn. Other species like Hoopoe Lark, Temminck's Horned Lark, Tawny Pipit, Thrush Nightingale, Blue Throat, Red-tailed Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Savi's Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, and Cretzschmar's Bunting also occurred.

Visiting & access: Spectacular wadi that is also called the moon wadi. RSCN is only responsible for the conservation role there, while the local community operates the tourism facilities there, such as desert 4x4 WD tours, camping, bird watching, and climbing. For booking, please contact the rest house at: Tel/ fax 00962 03 2018867. Bird watching here is a special treat. With its remarkable variety of habitats, Jordan is becoming more and more popular with bird watchers. Its geographical location makes it possible to see birds from three continents.

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