Riyadh, 28 Muharram 1448 AH, corresponding to July 13, 2026 AD (SPA) - The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority announced a new environmental achievement that enhances its status as one of the most prominent national destinations for biodiversity conservation, by documenting the first confirmed sighting of nine rare migratory bird species within the reserve, a scientific record that represents a qualitative addition to the avian records of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. The official spokesperson for the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority, Abdulaziz Al-Furaih, revealed that these species were documented through a comprehensive field survey that lasted a full year, carried out by a joint research team comprising specialists from the Authority and King Saud University, which relied on a precise scientific methodology represented by the "regular point count method." The study included monitoring birds belonging to five orders and eight taxonomic families, ranging from terrestrial and water birds to others straying from their usual migration routes. The study results were published in the internationally peer-reviewed journal "Check List," one of the leading scientific periodicals specializing in documenting biodiversity and ornithology data, which plays a pivotal role in monitoring rare and vagrant species and updating geographical maps of migration routes. The publication of these results serves as a reference scientific documentation of bird diversity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and confirms the quality of joint scientific efforts within the reserve. The newly documented list includes: the Saker Falcon, Long-eared Owl, Rosy Starling, Yellow-throated Sparrow, Black-headed Bunting, Slender-billed Gull, Eurasian Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, in addition to the Greater Flamingo, indicating an environmental diversity reflecting the reserve's ability to attract rare species traveling long distances across the Arabian Peninsula. The field study recorded these results through the reserve's topographical diversity, which extends over an area exceeding 28,000 square kilometers and includes valleys rich in vegetation, water bodies, and artificial lakes behind dams, which have become vital habitats for migratory birds and have contributed to enhancing the efficiency of ecosystems after improvement due to protection measures and the prevention of overgrazing and illegal hunting. This discovery follows a series of scientific achievements by the reserve in recent years, culminating in its inclusion in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List, enhancing its status as a national and global platform for environmental research and monitoring, and affirming its role in supporting wildlife conservation and ecosystem sustainability. The Authority continues to implement monitoring programs and scientific studies in partnership with academic and research institutions, aiming to document wildlife species, monitor their migration patterns and distribution, and develop accurate scientific databases that support knowledge-based environmental decision-making and contribute to the sustainability of natural resources for future generations. // End // 16:20 T M 0119

Riyadh, 28 Muharram 1448 AH, corresponding to July 13, 2026 AD (SPA) - The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority announced a new environmental achievement that enhances its status as one of the most prominent national destinations for biodiversity conservation, by documenting the first confirmed sighting of nine rare migratory bird species within the reserve, a scientific record that represents a qualitative addition to the avian records of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. The official spokesperson for the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority, Abdulaziz Al-Furaih, revealed that these species were documented through a comprehensive field survey that lasted a full year, carried out by a joint research team comprising specialists from the Authority and King Saud University, which relied on a precise scientific methodology represented by the "regular point count method." The study included monitoring birds belonging to five orders and eight taxonomic families, ranging from terrestrial and water birds to others straying from their usual migration routes. The study results were published in the internationally peer-reviewed journal "Check List," one of the leading scientific periodicals specializing in documenting biodiversity and ornithology data, which plays a pivotal role in monitoring rare and vagrant species and updating geographical maps of migration routes. The publication of these results serves as a reference scientific documentation of bird diversity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and confirms the quality of joint scientific efforts within the reserve. The newly documented list includes: the Saker Falcon, Long-eared Owl, Rosy Starling, Yellow-throated Sparrow, Black-headed Bunting, Slender-billed Gull, Eurasian Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, in addition to the Greater Flamingo, indicating an environmental diversity reflecting the reserve's ability to attract rare species traveling long distances across the Arabian Peninsula. The field study recorded these results through the reserve's topographical diversity, which extends over an area exceeding 28,000 square kilometers and includes valleys rich in vegetation, water bodies, and artificial lakes behind dams, which have become vital habitats for migratory birds and have contributed to enhancing the efficiency of ecosystems after improvement due to protection measures and the prevention of overgrazing and illegal hunting. This discovery follows a series of scientific achievements by the reserve in recent years, culminating in its inclusion in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List, enhancing its status as a national and global platform for environmental research and monitoring, and affirming its role in supporting wildlife conservation and ecosystem sustainability. The Authority continues to implement monitoring programs and scientific studies in partnership with academic and research institutions, aiming to document wildlife species, monitor their migration patterns and distribution, and develop accurate scientific databases that support knowledge-based environmental decision-making and contribute to the sustainability of natural resources for future generations. // End // 16:20 T M 0119