Author : Dave Robinson, Adrian Chapman
ISBN# : 1 873544 37 5
104 pages, softback

The Southern Gulf is seasonal home to a wide variety of migratory birds, in addition to its indigenous species. During spring and autumn, birds pass through the region in inestimable numbers, some staying longer to become winter or summer visitors, or even residents. This colourful, entertaining and informative book is designed to appeal to the layman as well as the more serious bird-watcher. It covers nearly two hundred bird species, and is illustrated from the authors' own collection of photographs, one of the finest and most comprehensive on the subject ever amassed in the region.

INTRODUCTORY TOUR

Bright green parties of parakeets dashing across the city skyline, wheeling white sea-birds far out over the azure blue Gulf waters, the flicker of black and white wings by a desert track - that's about the extent of most people's knowledge of the birds in the Gulf. It may come as a pleasant surprise to learn that around 370 or so different species of birds have been seen in the UAE and neighbouring states. Of these, about 60 are known or thought to breed here, the remainder visit during seasonal movements or pass through on migration. In short there is an amazingly varied and ever-changing bird population to see, and this book sets out to introduce them to you.

Our aim is to help you put a 'name' to that familiar - or unfamiliar - bird. With more than a little luck we have photographed not only the commoner species but a few of the more exotic varieties as well and hope that through our photographs, which illustrate the book, we have managed to capture enough of the beauty of these fascinating creatures.

Interest in natural history is a relatively recent phenomenon here and most of the current information has been gathered by a handful of enthusiasts over the past gathered by a handful of enthusiasts over the past 40 years. For those with more than a cursory interest in the subject there are many exciting discoveries yet to be made and anyone who has a mind to, can contribute to the sparse knowledge of the region.

We have divided the book into chapters according to habitat. Habitats are surprisingly varied within the region; our bird-watching tour moves from the islands, through the gardens and deserts, to the mountain peaks. Being highly mobile creatures, birds can be found in a variety of habitats, particularly during migration periods. However, most birds have specialised in exploiting a particular habitat along with a specific supply and amazingly wherever these conditions exist they usually manage to find them.

We hope you enjoy the book as much as we have enjoyed compiling it. We look forward to seeing you out in the field, binoculars in hand, discovering new species, noting range extensions, finding breeding sites or just being enthralled by the beauty of these creatures and the region.