Seasonal changes in abundance of bird species on an ArabianAcaciaplain

Ten minute fixed-radius counts at 120 points recorded 26 bird species over two seasons on Madam Plain, an alluvialAcaciaplain in the United Arab Emirates. Habitat data were also collected at these points. Apart from seasonal changes, little difference between sites was found in terms of numbers of birds or species. No relationships between birds and habitat, or between bird species, could be determined. Density estimates of numbers of birds were 187 per km2in winter (19 species) and 157 per km2(15 species) in spring. The most abundant species wereEremopterix nigriceps, Turdoides squamicepsandLanius excubitor. The large numbers of migrants recorded indicate that the Plain is important, both as a stopover site and also as a corridor for birds on passage.