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Bird Migration

Index of articles about bird migration, wintering and dispersion in Northwest Africa and adjacent areas.

Griffon Vulture ‘MA4’ died after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar

Griffon Vultures MA4 and MA5 were wing-tagged at Jbel Moussa, northern Morocco, on 24 May 2015

MA4, the young Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) was wing-tagged at Jbel Moussa last May by Rachid El Khamlichi with the help of José Antonio Sarrión Salado who was present there that day (photo above). After it’s wing-tagging, MA4 stayed 3 days locally at Jbel Moussa roosting with other vultures. On 14 August 2015, Javier Rivas …

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Sat-tracked White Stork found dead in fishing lines near Tangier, Morocco

From left to right: Mohamed Amezian, Ahmed El Ketami (who saved the transmitter) & Rachid El Khamlichi

A satellite-tracked White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) found dead near Asilah, Tangier region, northern Morocco. The good news is that the satellite transmitter was found in good condition. This is the story of how the White Stork ‘C666’ died and how its transmitter was found. On 26 November 2013, Brigitta Keeves from the office of Prof. …

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Regular wintering of Dutch-ringed Spoonbills in northern Morocco

Two Eurasian Spoonbills colour-ringed in The Netherlands wintering together at Oued Martil, northern Morocco, 1 November 2013.

Two Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) have connected The Netherlands with their wintering areas in northern Morocco during several years. These Spoonbills were ringed at two different Dutch islands and observed regularly wintering in the wetlands of northern Morocco during the autumns of 2011 and 2013 and again in 2015 and 2016. Spoonbill 1 This bird …

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Rüppell’s Vultures at Aousserd: are they breeding in the region?

Rüppell’s Vultures (Gyps rueppelli), Aousserd, Western Sahara, southern Morocco, 1 Aug. 2011 (Michel Aymerich).

Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli) breeds throughout the Sahel region from southwestern Mauritania and Guinea eastwards to Ethiopia and Tanzania. It is considered non-migratory, although foraging involves moving considerable distances (up to 150-200 km). Since mid-1990s, increasing numbers of Rüppell’s Vultures have been recorded in the western Mediterranean region especially in Andalusia, southern Spain (Gutiérrez 2003), …

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Spanish Short-toed Eagles summering in Northwest Africa

Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) by Michele Panuccio

After leaving their Sahelian wintering grounds, immature Spanish Short-toed Snake Eagles spend the summer in northern Africa instead of going back to their natal areas. The importance of the breeding and wintering areas of a bird population for understanding demography and for determining conservation strategies is well recognised. However, the other areas where birds spend …

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Wintering of Penduline Tits (Remiz pendulinus) in Morocco

Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) ringed at Smir marshes, northern Morocco, 13 November 2006 (Ian Thompson).

The Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) was until recently considered to be an accidental winter visitor to Morocco. Regular wintering was suspected in the north-west of the country but had been poorly documented. The ringing data collected in the Smir marshes during the period 2004–2008 indicate that Eurasian Penduline Tits regularly winter in Morocco. During …

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