MUSCAT: A field study conducted by the Environment Conservation Office at the Environment Authority has confirmed an increase in the number of Peregrine Falcons on an island located north of the Sultanate of Oman. In 2024, 32 black falcons were monitored, compared to 21 in 2023.
The study, carried out by a research team, focused on monitoring the Peregrine Falcon (Falco concolor), an endangered species and its nesting sites on one of the northern islands. The survey was conducted in two phases: from August 13 to 20 and from September 22 to October 3, 2024.
Taimur bin Abdullah al Said, Director of Environmental Affairs at the Environment Conservation Office, explained that the primary aim of the survey was to update data on the condition of the Peregrine Falcon and its nesting sites, as well as to train human resources and prepare a detailed report on the findings. Additionally, the team plans to publish the results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
The Peregrine Falcon is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List due to its declining numbers worldwide. This medium-sized falcon breeds in the Middle East and northeastern Africa and migrates to the southeastern coast of Africa and Madagascar for the winter. The islands in Muscat and Al Batinah South Governorates are recognised as key breeding sites for this species.
The study team also tracked the migration of a young falcon from Oman to Madagascar using satellite tracking devices. The young falcon’s journey, which began on October 3, 2024, saw it travel 9,200 kilometres through Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Mozambique, before reaching Madagascar on December 14, 2024. The migration took approximately 50 days and efforts will be made to track the falcon’s return to Oman in the summer months. — ONA
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