Bahraini chronicles over 17k migratory birds

Manama : A Bahraini man has documented over 17,000 migratory birds of 170 species in 10 years of bird ringing.

A bird lover, Col. Abdulla Al Kaabi, has been bird ringing since 2006. Ringing involves catching the bird, putting metal rings with an identification number on them, so when the birds migrate to another continent the bird experts there can identify the ring number and know the bird’s history. 

It is an important activity which helps experts identify if any bird species are endangered and take conservation measures whenever necessary. Migratory birds are now in Bahrain as they prepare to cross continents, the Kingdom is an important stopover for birds. 

The love for birds is what brought Col. Kaabi to bird ringing. 

He became the first person in the Middle East to get a licence for bird ringing when he got the bird ringing permit from British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). “I started bird watching in 1983. I used to spot the migratory birds and take notes. I took courses and read extensively on the subject. In 2006, I started bird ringing. I went to the United Kingdom and got my licence as well.” he said. 

“I have a unique identification number on my rings, this was given to me by the centre in the UK. So when a bird watcher or a bird ringer in any part of the world sees this ring on a bird they will know that it has been in Bahrain.Without bird ringing, we would not know anything about the migratory birds, where they came from, where they go and what their history is.” he explained.

According to Col. Kaabi, catching the birds is not an easy task. “We have to put our net and then we have to wait, and after we catch it, we analyse what kind of bird it is. I check its gender, size, weight and age etc. Then I record it.” he remarked.

“When I went to the UK to get the licence they were surprised because they never seen anyone from the Middle East showing interest in bird ringing, so they were also a tad hesitant. Later, they decided that I was trustworthy and gave me the licence. I became the first person in the Middle East to get it,” he said. 

“In the Middle East, bird ringing is not common and there is no proper centre for bird ringers to report to which makes it difficult for us. This is why I report to the centre in the UK, they are very organised and helpful.” he added.

Col. Kaabi noted that some species of birds have disappeared from Bahrain. 

“A lot has been changed since the first time I started bird watching. The number of birds coming here has gradually declined over the years. Some of the species have completely disappeared from Bahrain,” he informed.