Surveys of Wild Vertebrates in the Kharga and Dakhla Oasis and Their Impact on the New Reclamation Areas in Egypt

Abstract

Kharga and Dakhla Oases were carried out during 2014-2018, inclusive. Thirty-five common species were recorded. There was one reptile, the Horned Viper. There were twenty-two birds representing twelve orders: eight are common resident species, and the rest are migrants. There were twelve mammals, including two carnivores, eight rodents and two bats. Regular surveys of vertebrates are needed to evaluate the effect of human activities in the new reclamation areas, and to update different lists of reptiles, birds and mammals. Some adverse effects of rats and various birds (House Sparrow, Palm Dove) as well as of Fruit Bats were recorded, because they eat seeds and fruits during the harvest season.

Survey of Bird Species at Petroleum Worker Camps at Marsa Matrouh Governorate, Western Desert of Egypt

“…The numbers of bird species recorded in this study were 16 species, theses in line with Mohallal and Ahmed (2018) who reported 22 bird species at Kharga and Dakhla Oases in the New Valley Governorate in the south of the western desert of Egypt. In contrast, it is less than the recorded (83 bird species) by White et al, (2013) at Bahariya Oasis, Western desert, Egypt.…”

Diversity and abundance of migratory waterbird communities in natural and artificial agricultural wastewater habitats of New Valley Governorate, Egypt

“…Diversity and abundance of migratory waterbird communities in natural and artificial agricultural wastewater habitats of New Valley Governorate, Egypt orders were abundant in species, others, such as Suliformes and Coraciiformes, had a limited representation, each consisting of only one species. Several research studies conducted on bird surveys in the New Valley region support the current results (Goodman et al, 1986;Churcher et al, 2008;Ibrahim, 2011;Mohallal & Ahmed, 2018). Numerous researchers found that the artificial wetlands are effective and important habitats for waterbirds throughout different seasons, including wintering and migrating (Paracuellos & Telleria 2004;Rendon et al, 2008;Sebastián-González et al, 2010;Pérez-García et al, 2014;Pandiyan & Nagarajan 2014).…”

“…This study is aimed at filling knowledge gaps by monitoring the spatial shifts of habitat use by water birds in a wetland complex, in the New Valley region that is located on the southern part of the Western Desert of Egypt. This area, comprising those oases like Dakhla and Kharga, depends mainly on agriculture that gives rise to significant drainage of water and sewage from the groundwater (Mohallal & Ahmed 2018;Elbeih & Zaghloul 2021;Darwish 2020). Also, this research involves extensive field surveys and analysis to show how the artificial wetlands are supporting waterbird populations and ascertaining their possible role in conservation efforts, in the face of environmental challenges.…”