The Sultanate of Oman is strategically located along the African-Eurasian migratory flyway, a critical route for shorebirds, and serves as a vital stopover for numerous species. The country’s diverse geography—featuring mountains, deserts, wetlands, and expansive coastlines stretching from the far north to the far south—makes it a sanctuary for a wide variety of birds. These species either spend part of their lifecycle in Oman’s suitable habitats or traverse its skies during their annual seasonal journeys. Massive flocks of migratory birds pass through Sultanate Oman, with some migrating in winter to escape extreme cold in search of warmth and food, while others travel in summer to find optimal habitats for breeding and nesting. Three primary global migration routes intersect in the Sultanate of Oman:
1. Europe to Africa
2. Europe to Asia
3. West Asia to East Asia
Bird migration, though inherently risky due to predation and harsh natural conditions, is a widespread phenomenon. Most migratory activity occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, where birds navigate routes shaped by natural barriers such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Caribbean.
1. Environmental changes
2. Search for food
3. Climate change
In the 1960s, large populations of wild duck species were documented in North Al-Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman primarily during autumn. Today, the Sultanate of Oman hosts 15 migratory duck species and 115 breeding species, many of which nest regularly in the country. Winter visitors, known as “visiting birds,” include the Iraqi Goose, Red-breasted Flycatcher, White-breasted Blackbird, and others originating from India, Iran, and Arctic regions. Migratory birds often spend entire seasons in the Sultanate of Oman, underscoring the nation’s ecological significance.
There is a type of migration known as internal migration, which refers to the movement of birds within the Sultanate of Oman’s borders. This short-distance migration is relatively limited and often occurs seasonally within the same region, as many breeding birds have established semi-permanent habitats.
It is worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman celebrates World Migratory Bird Day annually in May, a global initiative launched in 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). The nation actively raises public awareness about threats to migratory birds, including habitat destruction, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, and climate change. These efforts emphasize the importance of preserving migratory birds as a cornerstone of the Sultanate of Oman’s ecological balance and global biodiversity.