• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Arabian Wildlife Raydah Escarpment ESCARPMENT The Unique Cloud Forest of Saudi Arabia erms such as cloud forests usually evoke images of far-off places at high altitude, such as the Andes of T South America or the land of 'Gorillas in the Mist' in central Africa. A similar ecological counterpart is the escarpment juniper forest of the Asir Mountains in south­ west Saudi Arabia. Many readers may remember surprising images of beautiful forested areas in Michael McKinnon's TV series'Arabia - Sand, Sea, Sky'. Within the Kingdom, the NCWCD Raydah Reserve near Abha is probably the best example of the juniper forest that once covered much high altitude (above1800 m) ground. Raydah is unique as it encompasses a complete ecological cross-section through various vegetation zones, since it falls steeply from the rim of the escarpment at 2750 m to the floor of Wadi Jaw, 4 km away ilt 1250 m. The contrilst in climate can be tremendous: cool, dilmp, cloudy and very temperilte at the top, to hot, oppressive tropical conditions ill the bottom. Extensive tree coverage is naturally of limited occurrence in Arabia, a peninsula dominated by extremely arid deserts. Although we can find open acacia woodland in many wadis, the junipers at Raydah form a forest with trees reaching 1S-20m. Juniper fores t is most lush at the top of the escarpment on north or west facing slopes, with the trees draped in Usnea, a grey-green lichen. As one descends, a wider variety of trees occurs, wi th olive, Nuxia, pistachio and acacia all common in places. The forest peters out at The Faydnh about 1700 m in a zone of orange flowered buddleia and escarpmell f. tree a loes. Scrub and open grassland dominate the more open, south facing slopes. mountains in south-west Saudi Arabia, Yemen and parts of The forest is a very important place for birds and other Oman. The remainder of the resident avifauna is dominated less conspicuous wildlife, ranging from mammals to by tropical African species and it is the co-existence of these molluscs. To date, Ju st over 100 birds species have been two groups that explains why NCWCD gives high priority recorded in the Reserve but, given that about 500 have been to the study and conservation of Raydah's birds. recorded in the Kingdom, diversity of species per se is not Amongst the many things we need to know are the what attracts ornithologists. The uniqueness of Raydah is particular habitats these birds prefer, what they eat, how that it is just about the only place in Arabia where virtually long tl1ey live, how far they move, their breeding rates and all our endemic terrestrial birds occur together. As a group, seasonal abundance. In addition to the resident birds, a the world-wide distribution of these birds spans only the variety of migrants use the Reserve at different times of th e Volume 2, Number 3 19 Raydah Escarpment Arabian Wildlife example, around the terraced farm in the centre of the Reserve are good places to see open-area species. The African Rock Bunting is a typical breeding species at the top; though often unobtrusive, it has a short, powerful song. The two serins, Arabian'· ilnd Yemen', are inconspicuous, dull-coloured, seed-eating finches. The latter typically occurs on steep open slopes, whilst the former prefers open woodland and scrub. The Arabian Waxbill', bright and d elicately marked and with a blood red eye-stripe, is the smallest member of the finch family to occur at Raydah and is most common in grassy and scrub areas. Two iridescent jewels in the avifauna are the nectar-drinking Pa lestine Sunbird, w hich regularly inhabits scrub area s a t mid altitudes, and the Shining Sunbird which is prevalent nearer the wadi. Other, insectivorous, birds of hig her, more open Bruce's Green year: a small number of African species arrives in spring to areas include the South Arabian Wheatear'·, the Little Rock Pisco/) . breed in south-west A rabia, with many mo re passin g Thrush and the felix race of Stonechat. through in spring and autumn en route between Eurasian Larger non-passerine birds in the forest include the breeding areas and th eir wintering Meas in Africa. Another Arabian Wood pecker: this s pecies is na turally insectiv­ small group is the winter visitors and European species orous, though on occas io ns it will sap-s uck. It seldom s uch as Song Thrus h, Black Redsta rt, Blackca p and occurs in junipers but is more frequen tly seen in acacias Chiffchaff which can be common in the junipers. where it digs most of its roosting and nesting holes. Three Food and habitat are often good ways of dividing bird less common dove species breed in the Reserve; il ll are communities into smaller units. Although not numerous, largely fru g ivorous, thri vin g on juniper berries and olive severed species of birds of prey are present in the forest and fruits. The Olive Pigeon, il large dark grey bird with bright associated mountain cl iffs. The two largest breeding species yellow legs and bill is probil bly resid ent il lthough it WilS are the Short-toed Ea g le and the Long-legged Buzzard only discovered in Arabia about ten years ago Both the (often the distinctive black form): both ea t mostly snakes Dusky Turtle Dove (dark g rey-brown, but its inner wing and li zards, which they catch basking in more open areas. feathers have beautiful, rich red-brow n edgings), most Smaller rapto rs include Ba rbary Falcon, Kestrel, both easily detected by its low-pitched 'cooing', and the Bruce's Green Pigeon, an exquisitely coloured African dove, are breeding visitors to the mountain forests and wadis of south-west Arabia. RAYDAH Warblers Clnd flycatchers are generally insectivores: the ESCARPMENT Ye men Warble r'· is a dull, g rey-brown bird with very skulking habits, though it ca n often be seen in junipers, The Uniqlle Cloud Forest of Saudi Arabia climbing up the trunks, probing and pecking at the bark for insects in the same manner as a tree-creepe r. It can be loca ted by its very harsh, piercing rattling-laughing call. hunting small birds or rodents in open a reas, and the The Brown Woodland Warbler is one of the most vocal Shikra, an Africa n sparow hawk which ca tches small birds birds in the fores t and will s ing at any time o f the d ay, by pursuit through and over the forest. sounding somewhere in between CI Willow Warbler a nd The two endemic Arabian partridges, whose diet mostly Chiffchaff. Plumage is green-brown with a vivid yellowish comprises grass seeds, ilre often conspicu ous birds, wing panel. The African Paradise Flycatcher is, without perching on prominent, rocky knolls and calling loudly. The doubt, the most impressive bird of the forest Again, it is sli ghtly smaller Philby's Rock Partridge', with a grey cap, is often highly vocal and, once the call is known, pClirs or most frequent at tbe top of the escarpment, whereas the groups can be located easily, usuCilly beneCit h the canopy lilrger Arabian Red -legged Partridge*, with more bold black al ong drainage lines and s tream valleys. The typica l a nd w hite head and faci al milrkings, usua lly occurs at plumage is a chestnut brown body with Cln iridescent blue­ middle or lower illtitudes. black h ea d and brig ht blu e eye ring . Males have Most medium and small sized birds are either insecti­ spectacularly long brown or wl1ite tails and streamers. They vores or 'vege tilria ns' (e.g. granivores, frugivors o r appear very acrobatic during aerial purs uits to catch necta rivores). Different s pecies occur in the more open butterflies and mo ths. Two of the most abundant forest areas, natural or miln-made, and the forest itself. Areas frugivores are the Yemen Linnet ,. and Yemen Thrush*. The illong the paved road at the top of the escarpment or, for linnets are perhaps the first eye-ca tching species that you 20 Volume 2, Number 3 Arabian Wildlife Raydah Escarpment are l.ikel y to encounter at Raydah, flitting above the canopy, singing, displaying and pursuing neighbours between March and July. They are recognizable by their trilling song and prominent white wing patches against a chestnut, grey and black plumage. The thrush is a little harder to pick up and, despite general brown-black plumage, it has distinctive yellow-orange bill and legs and an orange underwing only seen in flight. They ilre normally seen in juniper trees with good berry crops. Some fores t species a re more g ene ralist feeders, ilpparently using both fruit a nd insects, depending on their seasonal availability. These include the warbler-like White­ breasted White-eye and the widespread Yell ow-vented Bulbul. A final m ention s hould be made of o ne o ther endemic speci es that occurs at Raydah: The Asir Magpie', a scarce resident in the forest, superfici all y like th e European or North American races but with a startlingly different call. Some of the most interesting birds a t Raydah are entirely nocturnal: half an hour's listening around dusk can usually reveal three or four species that are seldom recorded during daytime. The Reserve supports two ni ght jar and three owl species. The Plain Nig htjar leas a long drawn-out churring AfrlClln ca ll typical of many nig htjars, w hereas the Mountain ! Pllradlse Nightjar hilS an evociltive, whis tling call ' Wee-oo-wee­ ~ flyclltcher.

Load more

  3

Copy Link