Birdwatching in Egypt

For many, some of their most intimate encounters with birds might’ve been over a meal of stuffed pigeon or roast duck. But other than these popular Egyptian delicacies, there seems to be a growing admiration for preserving and observing the birds themselves rather than eating them. Situated at the juncture of three continents — Asia, Africa and Europe — Egypt has a remarkably unique geographical location that makes it an essential layover for many migrating birds on their way south from Europe during the autumn months or on their way back up north during the spring time. For bird lovers and watchers, this is great news. There are almost 500 different species of birds that have been identified in Egypt. 

For birdwatching, the winter season is particularly fruitful because many migrating birds have already pre-defined routes they follow based on their access to hot air thermals. As thermals do not develop over water, most birds migrating south from Europe will find that the Sinai Peninsula offers them the only land crossing between the continents over which their access to hot air thermals is uninterrupted. As most migrating birds prefer to avoid the water for this reason, over the winter, Egypt becomes home to a multitude of birds and is particularly so for wintering water birds as the northern Delta lakes act as a major refuge for many species of ducks and waders wintering in the Mediterranean.

Birdwatching is an activity that can be enjoyed across many locations in Egypt, even the country’s bustling capital, Cairo, proves to be extremely interesting in that regard. You will find some of the most creative and resourceful birds in Cairo making homes in unusual places like air-conditioning vents. One of Cairo’s avid birdwatchers is plastic surgeon turned amateur ornithologist Dr Raeaf El Kollali who has recorded ample accounts of these ingenious birds’ adaptation to life in the big city. He has observed birds recycling objects found floating on the Nile and describes how they make use of them in their nests, to protect their chicks or simply to use as ‘boats’ to stand on while catching fish. He has also observed that some of Cairo’s bird species like kites, kestrels, Alexandrine and rose-ringed parakeets have escaped captivity and multiplied in the capital living in the wilderness of the rooftops of the city enjoying Cairo’s skyline as their permanent home side by side with the more transient migratory species. One of Dr Kollali’s key tips for birdwatchers everywhere is this: “You must use your ears. You will not be able to properly birdwatch without carefully listening.” You can find Dr Kollali on the Facebook group Birding Egypt where he shares his photographs and is a very active member. 

This admiration for birds is by no means a recent phenomenon in Egypt. One of the most revered birds by Ancient Egyptians was the Sacred African Ibis which was associated with the Ancient Egyptian God Thoth. Though the Ibis can no longer be found in Egypt, it is still alive and well and can be found elsewhere on the African continent and Central Asia. 

So not only is Egypt rich in cultural heritage and history, it also has a vast natural fauna that, too, is just as rich and worth exploring. Birdwatching is a great way to meet fellow nature lovers and foster a sense of community. For those who enjoy virtual communities, the Birding Egypt Facebook group is a great way to get your feet wet. The group is home to over 13 thousand members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/492816887397863/

For us Maadi locals who can be a little reluctant to step out of our local environment especially during the cooler winter months, eco-experience and education group Dayma is organising a super local birdwatching event next week in Maadi on Friday 13 January. You can register on their website www.dayma.org or via their Instagram page @daymajourneys . If you would like to take it a step further,  the oasis region of Fayoum south-west of Cairo is worth a visit. Other favorite spots for birdwatchers include the Red Sea Coast and the southern city of Aswan. 

For books on the topic, perhaps you can check out Georgina Cole’s photography book ‘Kestrels’. The book is a rare insight into the lives of Egyptian kestrel pairs, their annual cycle of breeding, incubating eggs, and raising their young. Taken over a five-year period of observing these precious birds from her balcony using a super-zoom lens to avoid any disturbance to the birds, Georgina now works with her local Rotary club in El Gouna to spread awareness to protect these red birds and their habitat. To see her work, you can visit her page @georginainegypt on Instagram.