The ‘Walk Through KAUST’ series aim to raise the community awareness and curiosity about the richness and the diversity of the campus environment.

This booklet is brought to you as part of the KAUST Office of Enrichment Programs, where science, technology, innovation, creativity and culture come together for the benefit and education of our whole community and the Kingdom through three annual programs – the Spring Enrichment Program, the Fall Enrichment Program and the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP). ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "KAUST, An Oasis for Birds" booklet is the result of a collaboration between Brian James and Marios Mantzourogiannis, KAUST community members, and Marie-Laure Boulot, manager of the Office of Enrichment Programs, with the assistance of Yao Wu, WEP designer, Faustine Verger and Sydney Turnbull, WEP event producers.

The Health Safety and Environment – HSE Department monitors the bird life of KAUST as part of its biodiversity program, and is the custodial of KAUST birds official records. This work includes maintaining records of the birds seen at KAUST, reports on the latest sightings and the organization of regular guided bird walks around KAUST. For more information, please visit the HSE website at hse.kaust.edu.sa.

All photographs, images and texts are copyright protected.For copy and use permissions, email contactwep@kaust.edu.sa

enrichment.kaust.edu.sa

Foreword

Did you know that more than 240 different species of birds have been recorded here at KAUST? One hundred and fifty species can be commonly spotted either as residents or as regular migrants while new, rarer species continue to visit us throughout the year.

This booklet features more than 50 photographs and showcases 45 species. Produced by passionate bird-watcher Brian James and talented bird-photographer Marios Mantzourogiannis, this work is an invitation to discover more about birding at KAUST.

Whether you are an admirer of nature or photography, we are sure that you will find something to love in this booklet. Birds are part of the rich biodiversity that we are proud to have here at KAUST. We encourage you to continue to respect their natural habitats.

We wish you a pleasant journey in the company of the birds of KAUST.

Prof. James CalvinVice President for Academic Affairs - KAUST

KAUST AS BIRDS' HABITAT

Community Parks

Safaa Golf – Green space

Safaa Golf – Lakes

South Beach

Mangroves

[1]

[2]

[8]

[7]

[6]

[9]

[3] [4]

[5]

Since its construction, KAUST has become an important stop over for migrant birds and has quickly attracted a good number of resident species.

With its location on the shores of the Red Sea and its variety of terrain and flora, our campus is an ideal home for many kinds of birds.

More than 240 spec ies have been recorded since 2009, including 150 regular visitors or residents. Every year, new birds are being sighted and recorded.

The key b i rd ing areas inc lude the community parks at the King Abdullah Monument [1] and on the Island [2]; the Mangroves in the Island [3] and Gardens [4 & 5]; the Safaa Golf Lakes [6 & 7]; the Golf Green Space [8] and the South Beach [9].

The open wooded parks around KAUST are ideal places for a number of species. The trees provide vantage points from which birds, such as shrikes, can hunt insects. The grassy areas are ideal for wagtails, pipits and a number of wader species. The regular watering brings insects and nutrients to the surfaces while the wooded areas are frequented by nesting Rupell’s Weavers, sunbirds and Black Scrub Robbins who settle here. Unfortunately, invasive species such as mynas, crows, sparrows and egrets have made these parks their home too.

Community Parks

Eurasian Reed Warbler

Crested Lark

Spur-winged Lapwing

Galerida cristata

Acrocephalus sci rpaceus

Vanel lus sp inosus

Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus ga lbu la

Yellow Wagtail African Silverbill

White Wagtail Spotted Flycatcher

Motaci l la f lava Lonchura cantans

Motac i l la a lba Musc icapa s t r i a ta

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster

South BeachTerek Sandpiper

Caspian Tern

The South Beach is home to a wide variety of water birds including both waders and terns. The best viewing spot is from the beach car park, but the area near the tent is also a good lookout spot. The most suitable time to view birds is in the morning while the sun is still behind you, which is best for photos. Ideally, the tide will rise and the birds will move towards you as you watch.

You can also take the water taxi from the Yacht Club to the South Beach, which passes sand banks just offshore where many birds often gather.

Xenus c inerus

Hydroprogne caspiaWhimbrelNumenius phaeopus

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Osprey

Striated Heron

Greater Sand Plover

Pandio haliaeetus

Butorides striata

Charadrius leschenaultii

Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis

Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii

Safaa Golf - Lakes

Black-necked Grebe

Gull-billed Tern

Gadwall

There are two bodies of water located on the golf course. The first, located in the end of the practice area, is a popular spot for various herons and other large water birds. The lake is full of fish, which the birds happily take advantage of. Ducks, waders, terns and kingfishers are also regularly seen. The second body of water alongside the 4th Hole has a small area of reeds growing near the green. Spotted Crakes and Corncrakes can be seen during peek migration periods, but are usually hard to observe. Stunningly colorful bee-eaters frequent the lake for a drink right before dusk.

Gelochelidonon nilotica

Anas Strepera Podiceps nigricol l is

Gelochelidonon niloticaGull-billed Tern

Pied Kingfisher

Little Grebe Spotted Crake

Gull - billed Tern - Gelochelidonon nilotica

Cery le rudisBlack-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Tachybaptus ruficollis Porzana porzana

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Golf Course - Green Space

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus

The golf course, with its wooded areas and open grassed fairways, is an oasis for many migrant species and home to several local birds. During migration periods, many birds stop for short ‘layovers’ at KAUST. The insects, grasses and flowers provide food; the patches of cover enable tired birds to rest before moving on, and the lakes supply drinking water. During the evenings, the floodlights are on, allowing for longer feeding times. The variety of birds at the golf course changes constantly and it is here that most of KAUST’s rare visitors can be seen.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Black Scrub Robin Cercotrichas podobe

Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla 

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola

Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops

Mangroves[left] Common Redshank Tringa totanus

[right] Crab Plover Dromas ardeola

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Several areas of the mangroves are great sites for bird watching. In addition to the mangroves, the accompanying mudflats are an excellent place for viewing birds. Many of the species found at South Beach also frequent this area. However, there are several birds that stay exclusively in the mangrove area, including Little Bitterns, and both Mangrove and Clamorous Reed Warblers. Early morning is the best time to visit because the birds are most active at this time. Listen carefully for their calls and try to find them!

Crab Plover - Dromas ardeolaCrab Plover Dromas ardeola

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola Maurus

Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpes

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria  interpes

Clamorous Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreous

The biggest challenge in bird photography is getting close to your subject or capturing the action. But when achieved, the results are very much rewarding.

CLOSE-UPS & ACTION

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Sooty GullLarus hemprichii

Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster