By Nader Habib It might be easier to find a needle in a hay-stack than find a website that gives information on bird migration. Then there is the Bird Life website which represents a global partnership of conservation organisations focussed on the protection of birds, their habitats and global bio-diversity by working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. Hence the website is considered a leading authority on issues and problems affecting bird life. To navigate the website you may look for bird species, either by selecting a species or by choosing a family (listed in taxonomic order), or entering free text for a genus, species or common name. Although this kind of search is very useful for researchers and bird lovers, the layman may be daunted by the fact that there are no pictures or illustrations provided. The importance of studying birds, and in turn the website, is that bird status is an environmental indicator. In general, places that are rich in bird species are also rich for other forms of bio-diversity, and for if there is deterioration in the environment, it will affect the movements of birds migration. Click on Egypt and the database will offer information about a list of places that are used for bird watching. Click the name of one of these places and you will find information about the many different birds species that live there. Select a bird and a new window opens and gives full data on the bird's kind, its family and species. For more, visit www.birdlife.org
