by Faisal Al Lamki, A. Spalton, B. Meyburg and M. McGrady
As part of our Anglo-Omani Society funded work on Steppe eagles in Oman we have trained biologists at the Office for Conservation of the Environment to make counts of eagles using the Raysut dumpsite in the winter. They were able to conduct counts during January-April of 2019, recording the numbers and the reduction of those numbers as birds left for summering grounds. They were also able to determine the age composition of the eagle population using the dump site. Surveys are an important tool for monitoring populations. Look back at previous postings to see more about the migration. We will start counting again in October, when some eagles should start arriving from summering areas, mostly in central Asia, especially Kazakhstan.
Of course it would be useful for regular counts to be made at dumpsites that are known to be regularly used by scavenging birds, like Raysut, Al Multaquaa, Tahwa, Masirah and the Al Safa chicken farm near Thumrayt. Counts at other rubbish dumps (e.g. Ibra) might reveal new sites used by many birds.
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| Numbers of Steppe eagles counted at Raysut dumpsite, January-April 2019 |
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| Age composition of Steppe eagles at the Raysut dumpsite, Jan-April 2019. |
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| OCE biologist, Mohammed Hubais, counting eagles at Raysut |
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