The camp had previously been occupied by around 7,000 people, but was 
nearly empty. It was about five years old, and the company had planted 
trees and bushes around the factory and the camp. The camp employees 
had also grown gardens with lawns and flowers by importing fertile 
earth from the banks of the Euphrates. Because of this, the camp and the 
plant seemed to attract migratory birds. It was less good for breeding 
birds. The plant itself seemed to attract migratory raptors, possibly 
because the heat produced by the installations created thermal 
updraughts. 
Climate 
During September, October and November, the sun shone each day from 
7 o'clock in the morning to 7 o'clock in the evening. The temperature was 
up to 50PC during the first half of September, and cooler, like a Danish 
summer, until the beginrung of December, when clouds began to appear. 
No rain fell during my stay. Winds were mostly from the south or east, 
occasionally from the west and rarely from the north, and were moderate. 
Systematic List 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia 
On 11 November, at 1 pm, 25 White Storks headed southeast over the camp, and 
on 26 November, at 1 1 am I saw a flock of 36 over the plant. In both cases, the birds 
were clearly following the Euphrates. 
Btizzard Buteo spp 
I noted 107 observations of buzzards between 14 September and 30 November. 
Of these, I recorded about 24 as Long-legged Buzzards Buteo rufinus (seven 
during September, six during October, and 1 1 during November). The remaining 
83 I noted as Steppe Buzzards Buteo buteo uulpinus (12 during September, 33 
during October, and 38 during Noveml)er). 
Black Kite Milvus migrans 
I saw Black Kites daily. From the middle of October, I noticed 10 to 15 Black Kites 
migrating daily. 
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 
On 19 September, I found a dead Kestrel at the factory. The dead bird had no 
head, and one of the wings was badly damaged. I saw Kestrels on various 
occasions, hunting and sitting on poles at the plant, in the camp and along the 
road from Baghdad to Babylon. 
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 
From 9 September to 26 November, I observed one to three very noisy small 
falcons within the plant area, where they flew around resting on chimneys, 
towers or railings. They behaved as if they were a breeding pair with one 
juvenile. 
Quail Coturnix coturnix 
On 21 September, I was told that a dead 'chicken' had been found on the ground 
at the factory. I saw the bird and identified it as a Quail. On 8 October, I flushed 
a Quail at the plant's outdoor storage area. 
7 
