Preliminary observations of raptor 
migration along the Al Hada 
escarpment near Taif, Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia 
Geoff and Hilary Welch 
Introduction 
Each autumn, large numbers of birds of prey migrate from their breeding 
grounds in eastern Europe and Russia to wintering areas in Arabia and 
eastern and southern Africa. As a result of their migration strategy, the 
broad-winged species - eagles, buzzards and vultures - tend to cross the 
Red Sea at its narrowest points, at Suez in the north and the Bab-el- 
Mandeb straits in the south. What is not known at present are the routes 
used by these birds to reach these concentration points. For birds crossing 
at Bab-el-Mandeb, there are three possible strategies, and there is evidence 
that all are employed: 
• a broadfront movement throughout the Arabian peninsula 
• a more concentrated movement following the Asir mountains 
• by following the Hadraumat in Oman and southern Yemen 
having entered Arabia via the Strait of Hormuz. 
Non-systematic observations made by the staff of the National Wildlife 
Research Center at Taif in 1988 and 1990 (P Symens and X Eichacker in 
litt) suggested that there was a significant passage of raptors along the 
Asir mountains and that the Al Hada escarpment might be a suitable 
vantage point for monitoring the movement. Our preliminary study was 
therefore organised to assess the suitability of the site and to make 
systematic counts of the birds passing to assess the relative importance 
of the area. 
The observation site 
The chosen count site was the NWRC house at the northern end of the Al 
Hada escarpment (21°22'N, 40°15'E). From here, it was possible to have 
a clear view of the Makkah valley to the west and of the foothills of the 
escarpment to the north and, to a lesser extent, the east. Being at the start 
of the escarpment, it was felt likely that birds would be naturally focused 
towards the count site. 
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