Doha, October 10 (QNA) - The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has stressed the importance of protecting migratory birds, preserving their natural habitats and migration routes, and encouraging public participation in monitoring and documenting sightings to support biodiversity conservation efforts in the country.

In a statement marking World Migratory Bird Day, observed annually on Oct. 10, the ministry said that members of the public and birdwatching enthusiasts could help enrich its biodiversity database by recording migratory species and documenting sightings. Such contributions also support scientific studies on migration routes, changes in bird populations and distribution, and the habitats on which they depend.

The ministry said the autumn migration season sees a variety of bird species passing through Qatar from Europe, northern Asia, Siberia and Central Asia en route to wintering grounds in Africa and South Asia. Some species remain in Qatar during the winter.

Qatar's geographic location along the Afro-Eurasian migratory network and the Central Asian Flyway makes it an important stopover for migratory birds to rest and feed during their seasonal journeys, the ministry said.

Autumn migration begins gradually toward the end of summer and intensifies in September and October, when numerous bird species pass through Qatari airspace. These include warblers, flycatchers, wagtails and swallows, as well as waders, raptors, seabirds, ducks and other terrestrial and desert birds.

The early stages of the autumn migration season bring several species to Qatar, including the blue-cheeked bee-eater, locally known as saqraqaq; the golden oriole; and the European roller, locally known as khudairi. Other species stop in Qatar to rest and replenish their energy before continuing their journeys, while some remain for the winter.

The ministry said Qatar's diverse natural habitats provide important resting and feeding grounds for migratory birds, particularly Al Thakhira Nature Reserve. Its mangroves, mudflats and salt flats provide suitable habitats for numerous bird species, including the osprey.

Bin Ghanam Island and the surrounding coastal areas are also important gathering sites for flamingos and other coastal birds, while Qatar's northern shores provide resting places for birds after they cross the Gulf, the ministry said.

Salt flats and coastal mudflats provide important feeding grounds for waders, including sandpipers and plovers. These habitats are rich in worms, mollusks and crustaceans exposed by the movement of the tides, allowing the birds to replenish their energy before continuing their migrations.

The ministry also stressed the importance of complying with regulations governing bird hunting. The 2026 hunting season began on Sept. 1 and runs through Feb. 15, 2027, under Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2026, which specifies the hunting season for permitted bird species and the authorized methods and equipment.

The decision permits the hunting of 10 species: the houbara bustard; the Eurasian stone-curlew; ducks, referred to locally as khudari; the blue rock thrush; the song thrush, locally known as rakhukh; the golden oriole, locally called saffara; the crested lark; the desert wheatear, locally known as mudqi; the mourning wheatear, locally called hutaibi; and the northern wheatear, locally known as mukhadram.

Hunting any other wild animal, bird or reptile not listed in the decision is prohibited.

The ministry emphasized that hunters must comply with the permitted species, dates and methods, and refrain from using bird-call devices or any other unauthorized equipment. It also urged the public to protect bird gathering and resting sites and avoid activities that could disturb the birds or damage their natural habitats.

The ministry called on members of the public and birdwatching enthusiasts to help protect migratory species and preserve the natural environments on which they depend during their annual journeys.

It urged people to avoid disturbing the birds or approaching their gathering sites and nests, and encouraged them to monitor species and document sightings to support biodiversity conservation and the sustainability of Qatar's ecosystems. (QNA