Materials and Methods 
The Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert lie between the arctic and 
temperate breeding grounds of Palearctic birds and their tropical African 
wintering grounds. On migration, except for stops at some oases, most birds 
probably fly non-stop over the entire desert and their fat reserves appear 
to be sufficient for the 900-1300 mile journey which is estimated to take 
30-40 hours southward and 50-60 hours northward (Moreau and DoIp, 1970). 
Likewise the Mediterranean is unhospitable as a landing place or feeding 
ground for terrestrial migrants except on a few islands. A narrow coastal 
fringe of the desert in northern Egypt, however, in addition to the Nile 
River Delta and Valley, provide enough cover and suitable habitat to permit 
resting and in some cases probably minimal feeding for some migrants. For 
those passing south i.t is the first landfall after crossing the 
Mediterranean, while during the spring it constitutes the first greenery 
after a long flight over the desert, as well as the last land before a long 
trip over the open sea. The fringe is attractive to migrants at both 
seasons and for many years large numbers of birds have been captured at 
certain favored sites for market. The PMS took advantage of this existing 
commercial situation to obtain large numbers of migrants. All of the major 
capture points (from west to east: Mersa Matruh, Burg El Arab, Bahig, 
Ikingi Mariut, and Port Said) for birds that had blood and tick samples 
collected or were banded, were in this pseudo-Mediterranean coastal belt or 
maritime plain. 
Although this narrow belt receives only about four inches of rain, all 
of it during the winter, this, and the moisture-laden, on-shore breezes that 
blow all year, are sufficient to transform the coastal fringe of the desert 
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