ASIR — The Asir magpie research project is the first joint in-Kingdom initiative between the Saudi Wildlife Authority, Smithsonian Institution and Saudi Aramco, to protect 'Asir magpie' from extinction. The project commenced with a 12-month research study to estimate magpie population size, density, habitat use and distribution, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Tuesday. Work started with the capture and immediate release of 12 Asir magpies. The basic measurements taken of the 12 captured birds are the first known scientific notes on the bird. Each of the 12 magpies were tagged with a state-of-the-art tracking system — the first step toward understanding where the Asir magpie lives and where it goes. Through tracking the Asir magpie's movements, the researchers will better understand and mitigate factors impacting their dwindling population. According to Smithsonian ornithologist Evan Buechley, the trackers will deliver three sets of key information: "First, the trackers will let us know whether the Asir magpie migrates seasonally from lower to higher ground. Second, how and when their offspring disperses from the family home. Third, we can find out what habitats they like to use." Based on what the 12-month initial study finds, the research team aspires to tailor a conservation plan to ensure a long-term viable population. Partnering with the Saudi Wildlife Authority and the Smithsonian Institution to protect the highly-endangered Asir magpie is just one part of Saudi Aramco's larger effort to preserve biodiversity and their habitats in the Kingdom and abroad. The world recognizes the magpie's home, the Asir Mountains, as a unique and globally important area for biodiversity conservation. Saudi Arabia is a key country on one of the world's largest migratory flight-paths, where birds from Europe, Asia, and Africa congregate in large numbers. Reversing the decline of the Asir magpie is helping preserve the balance and integrity of both the Kingdom and the planet's natural ecosystem.
