Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fund... more Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fundamental stopover for waterfowls during their migration. Actualised data show that this site harbours about 60 species of wintering and /or migrating waterbirds, and 26 nesting species, due to a high level of habitat diversity. About two thirds of wintering and /or migrating species of
Les régions sahariennes et présahariennes du Maroc sont rarement concernées par les études d'... more Les régions sahariennes et présahariennes du Maroc sont rarement concernées par les études d'inventaire de leurs faunes scorpioniques. Des investigations dans la région d'Oued Eddahab Lagouira, en décembre 2012, nous ont permis d'inventorier deux espèces de scorpions appartenant à la famille des Buthidae, Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826) et Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953. En préambule à ces nouvelles stations, un inventaire complet des dernières espèces de scorpions décrites ou découvertes au Maroc saharien depuis 1999 est proposé. Abstract : New observations about scorpions of Saharan regions of Morocco Saharan and pre-Saharan regions of Morocco are rarely involved in the studies of their inventories scorpion fauna. Investigations in the Oued Eddahab Lagouira region on December 2012, allowed us to inventory two species of scorpions belonging to the Buthidae family, Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826) and Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953. As a preamble to thes...
Until the end of the 20th century there were only limited numbers of autumn-winter breeding recor... more Until the end of the 20th century there were only limited numbers of autumn-winter breeding records of the Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor. Here, we compile several autumn-winter breeding observations obtained mainly by amateur birders (citizen scientists) and we show that this phenomenon is more common when local conditions (especially rainfall) are favourable. These observations are from several parts of the species’ range, as far apart as Socotra Island (Yemen), Oman, and the Canary Islands (Spain), although the majority are from the region of Oued Ad-Deheb, S Morocco.
Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fund... more Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fundamental stopover for waterfowls during their migration. Actualised data show that this site harbours about 60 species of wintering and /or migrating waterbirds, and 26 nesting species, due to a high level of habitat diversity. About two thirds of wintering and /or migrating species of
ABSTRACT The complex of wetlands of Smir (marshes, lagoon and reservoir) constitutes the most sig... more ABSTRACT The complex of wetlands of Smir (marshes, lagoon and reservoir) constitutes the most significant wetland habitats on the East coast of the Tangier Peninsula. In spite of its reduced size, this complex of wetlands has a considerable importance as a site of migration, wintering, but also of breeding for the water birds. The recent management of the Smir area had modified the structure of the habitats of these wetlands; which modifications have affected in particular the breeding water bird species. The results presented here are the fruit of a more or less regular monitoring carried out during springs 2006 and 2007; this monitoring was based on the statement of any sign of breeding (songs, courtship display, transport of nest materials, nests, chicks…). Our statements allowed us to confirm the breeding status of several species known to breed here since the 1970s and 1980s (Water Rail), but also of other species which were regarded as extinct from the area (Purple Heron and Greet Reed Warbler). The study also had added, for the first time, six new species to the list of the breeding birds of Smir (and the area in general). They are: the Great Crested Grebe, the Red-crested Pochard, the Red-knobbed Coot, the Little Ringed Plover, the Savi's Warbler, and the Kingfisher. The conservation status of some species (e. g. Red-crested Pochard and Purple Heron) is unfavourable, both in Morocco and in Europe; these newly discovered breeding populations at Smir, in spite of their small sizes, probably have a great bio-geographic importance especially for the continuity of the breeding ranges of the considered species between the European populations and the Moroccan ones. Unfortunately, the future of this unique and important wetland of the area, on which those birds depends, is unclear because of the acceleration of the urbanisation and the increasing development of the tourist and road projects in the area, such as for example, the project of a big real-estate group which is currently underway and which is likely to cause the final disappearance of this wetland.
Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fund... more Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fundamental stopover for waterfowls during their migration. Actualised data show that this site harbours about 60 species of wintering and /or migrating waterbirds, and 26 nesting species, due to a high level of habitat diversity. About two thirds of wintering and /or migrating species of
Les régions sahariennes et présahariennes du Maroc sont rarement concernées par les études d'... more Les régions sahariennes et présahariennes du Maroc sont rarement concernées par les études d'inventaire de leurs faunes scorpioniques. Des investigations dans la région d'Oued Eddahab Lagouira, en décembre 2012, nous ont permis d'inventorier deux espèces de scorpions appartenant à la famille des Buthidae, Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826) et Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953. En préambule à ces nouvelles stations, un inventaire complet des dernières espèces de scorpions décrites ou découvertes au Maroc saharien depuis 1999 est proposé. Abstract : New observations about scorpions of Saharan regions of Morocco Saharan and pre-Saharan regions of Morocco are rarely involved in the studies of their inventories scorpion fauna. Investigations in the Oued Eddahab Lagouira region on December 2012, allowed us to inventory two species of scorpions belonging to the Buthidae family, Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826) and Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953. As a preamble to thes...
Until the end of the 20th century there were only limited numbers of autumn-winter breeding recor... more Until the end of the 20th century there were only limited numbers of autumn-winter breeding records of the Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor. Here, we compile several autumn-winter breeding observations obtained mainly by amateur birders (citizen scientists) and we show that this phenomenon is more common when local conditions (especially rainfall) are favourable. These observations are from several parts of the species’ range, as far apart as Socotra Island (Yemen), Oman, and the Canary Islands (Spain), although the majority are from the region of Oued Ad-Deheb, S Morocco.
Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fund... more Given their location in the extreme north-east of the Tangier Peninsula, Smir wetlands are a fundamental stopover for waterfowls during their migration. Actualised data show that this site harbours about 60 species of wintering and /or migrating waterbirds, and 26 nesting species, due to a high level of habitat diversity. About two thirds of wintering and /or migrating species of
ABSTRACT The complex of wetlands of Smir (marshes, lagoon and reservoir) constitutes the most sig... more ABSTRACT The complex of wetlands of Smir (marshes, lagoon and reservoir) constitutes the most significant wetland habitats on the East coast of the Tangier Peninsula. In spite of its reduced size, this complex of wetlands has a considerable importance as a site of migration, wintering, but also of breeding for the water birds. The recent management of the Smir area had modified the structure of the habitats of these wetlands; which modifications have affected in particular the breeding water bird species. The results presented here are the fruit of a more or less regular monitoring carried out during springs 2006 and 2007; this monitoring was based on the statement of any sign of breeding (songs, courtship display, transport of nest materials, nests, chicks…). Our statements allowed us to confirm the breeding status of several species known to breed here since the 1970s and 1980s (Water Rail), but also of other species which were regarded as extinct from the area (Purple Heron and Greet Reed Warbler). The study also had added, for the first time, six new species to the list of the breeding birds of Smir (and the area in general). They are: the Great Crested Grebe, the Red-crested Pochard, the Red-knobbed Coot, the Little Ringed Plover, the Savi's Warbler, and the Kingfisher. The conservation status of some species (e. g. Red-crested Pochard and Purple Heron) is unfavourable, both in Morocco and in Europe; these newly discovered breeding populations at Smir, in spite of their small sizes, probably have a great bio-geographic importance especially for the continuity of the breeding ranges of the considered species between the European populations and the Moroccan ones. Unfortunately, the future of this unique and important wetland of the area, on which those birds depends, is unclear because of the acceleration of the urbanisation and the increasing development of the tourist and road projects in the area, such as for example, the project of a big real-estate group which is currently underway and which is likely to cause the final disappearance of this wetland.
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