Conservation News

Index of articles about bird conservation in the broad sense, these include pieces about:

– Species of conservation concern (declining and/or endangered species, range-restricted species,…). The articles can be about a success story, a worrying observation,…etc.; and

– Threats to birds and other wildlife (illegal hunting, illegal bird trade, bird electrocution,…). These articles have been written from the point of view of raising the awareness of the involved people (e.g. hunters) than about the problem per se. Generally, these are written mainly in Arabic and/or French (In the majority of them, an English version is included below in the same page).

Rethinking the Turtle Dove taxonomy and conservation

/ Bird Taxonomy, Conservation News
European Turtle Dove/Tourterelle des bois (Streptopelia turtur), Ghardaia, Algeria (Djamel HADJ AISSA).

New study suggests no subspecies-level differentiation between Turtle Dove populations on either sides of the Strait of Gibraltar. It concluded that the species should be treated as a single conservation management unit. The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory bird species with a deep cultural heritage across the Mediterranean region and beyond. However, […]

Rethinking the Turtle Dove taxonomy and conservation Read More »

New hopes for the Egyptian Vulture in Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco, Conservation News
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Middle Atlas, Morocco, May 2024 (Mohamed Radi / GREPOM).

Field surveys conducted in 2024 have confirmed the presence of at least 10 breeding pairs of Egyptian Vulture in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Lire l’article en Français dans le site-web de GREPOM/BirdLife Maroc. Context and history The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is globally classified as “Endangered” and has experienced a severe decline in Morocco,

New hopes for the Egyptian Vulture in Morocco Read More »

First North African Ostrich nest in the wild in Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco, Conservation News
Nest of the North African Ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus), Mhamid region, south-east Morocco, March 2024 (Mohammed Znari).

North African Ostrich (or Red-necked Ostrich) nests in the wild in Morocco for the first time in decades. L’Autruche à cou rouge niche dans la nature au Maroc pour la première fois depuis des décennies. — In Morocco, the wild population of the North African Ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus) experienced a significant decline in the

First North African Ostrich nest in the wild in Morocco Read More »

Northern Bald Ibis breeds in Switzerland for the first time in 400 years

/ Bird Behaviour, Conservation News
Northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) sitting on its nest built on the windowsill of a Harley-Davidson dealer in an industrial area near Zurich airport, June 2023 (Martin Meier).

First breeding of the Northern Bald Ibis in Switzerland in 400 years. A pair have chosen to nest in a very strange place: a windowsill of a Harley-Davidson dealer. The only remaining wild colonies of the Northern Bald Ibis are located in the Souss-Massa National Park and Tamri cliffs, south-west Morocco. Two reintroduction projects are

Northern Bald Ibis breeds in Switzerland for the first time in 400 years Read More »

Conservation of Double-spurred Francolin in Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco, Conservation News
Double-spurred Francolin / Francolin à double éperon (Pternistis bicalcaratus), Central Plateau, Morocco, 31 December 2021 (Abdeljebbar Qninba).

A report on recent efforts to conserve the Double-spurred Francolin in Morocco through its reintroduction to its former historic range. Double-spurred Francolin (Pternistis bicalcaratus) occurs in two disjoint areas. The largest population is distributed mainly in West Africa eastwards to Cameroon and south-western tip of Chad in Central Africa. The second population, which is much

Conservation of Double-spurred Francolin in Morocco Read More »

Griffon Vulture breeds at Jbel Moussa, Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco, Conservation News
Griffon Vultures mating at Jbel Moussa, northern Morocco, January 2021 (Jbel Moussa Vulture Rehabilitation Centre).

Griffon Vulture started breeding again in Morocco following a very successful reintroduction trial at Jbel Moussa by the Moroccan Department of Forestry in cooperation with GREPOM. Watching Griffon Vultures mating and starting breeding for the first time ever at Jbel Moussa is a real joy. And that’s for several reasons, the most important of which

Griffon Vulture breeds at Jbel Moussa, Morocco Read More »

Algerian Nuthatch habitat threatened by a controversial project

/ Birds of Algeria, Conservation News
Algerian Nuthatch (Sitta ledanti), Bouafroun Forest, Djimla, Algeria, July 2019 (Walid Soukkou).

A project to create a “recreational forest” in the Bouafroun Forest in Djimla could jeopardise the habitat of the Algerian Nuthatch and other wildlife according to Algerian environmental activists. The project named “Bouafoune Forest for Entertainment and Recreation, Jijel” is developed by a private investor under the name “Bouafroune Services & Commerce Ltd”.  It was

Algerian Nuthatch habitat threatened by a controversial project Read More »