Mahmoud Bakr looks at what migratory birds can expect while passing through Egypt As the cold weather takes hold of Europe, thousands of birds head to Africa, stopping in Egypt to rest. It is estimated that over 500 species of birds either live or fly through Egypt every year; they include quails, herons and ducks. And over 24 protectorates have been established for their benefit. For the last few years, however, migratory birds have been treated as foreign nationals -- with a combination of hospitality and caution. None have been quarantined or sent back yet, but some have had their blood tested, while others have been tagged with electronic devices designed to monitor their future movement. Since bird flu, aka. avian influenza, hit Hong Kong in 1997 and the Netherlands in 2003, the world has been watching migratory birds for signs of the deadly infection. Egypt is one of the countries at risk as some of the migratory birds that fly through it, especially wild ducks, can carry the bird flu virus. And so the need for precaution is obvious. "The Egyptian authorities are closely monitoring the movement of birds," says Maged George, minister of state for environmental affairs. For the last two years, indeed, government experts have been taking blood samples of migratory birds at several locations in Sinai, Fayoum and Aswan. Experts took blood samples from 1,150 birds in 2003 and 1,100 in 2004, using kits provided by NAMRU (US Naval Medical Research Unit number three). So far, none have shown signs of exposure to bird flu, but officials are not letting down their guard. Blood tests aside, much is being done to protect the birds. Hunting, although not illegal yet, has been curbed through a battery of safeguards. "During the migratory season, the Ministry of Environment coordinates a monitoring and protection campaign with various governorates and law enforcement agencies," says Mohamed Ibrahim, the man in charge of natural preserves in Egypt. "The season of hunting," he notes, "runs from mid-November to late April, but hunters have to follow certain procedures concerning the use of rifles and nets." Birds fleeing south from Europe, he goes on to say, take one of three routes: through northern Sinai, through Libya and Tunisia, or through Mauritania and Morocco. "These routes pass central and southern Africa, where the birds take refuge for the winter months. The birds tend to take transit rests near lakes and swamps. In the case of Egypt, flocks gravitate towards Fayoum, Siwa, and Farafra on their way south." The Ministry of Environment makes a special effort to protect these birds from hunters. Hunting is still allowed, but neither by all methods, in all areas nor all the time. Hunting activities are regulated by several international agreements, such as AEWA (the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds) and the Bonn Convention. According to these agreements, indeed, no hunting is allowed within protectorates. Instead, bird watching is encouraged as the more conservation-friendly option.
