WATCHING - SPECIAL INTEREST TOURISM
is possible to watch 347 different species of bird
in Cyprus. However, only 46 of these are native of Cyprus,
and 7 of these are the endemic sub-species (that is only found
in Cyprus). 119 out of the 347 birds that can be observed
on the island are of winter-migrant breeder type, and 90 of
these migrate to Cyprus regularly every winter-time. 29 of
these winter-migrants migrate to the island less regularly
than others. Together with the native Cypriot birds 27 of
them migrate to Cyprus for breeding purposes.
from these, there are 220 other species of birds that use
Cyprus as transit while migrating to other lands. 200 of these
220 species regularly pass as transit from Cyprus during their
migration season. These are mostly the birds breeding in Europe,
and migrating to Middle East and Africa. There are also birds
that occasionally come to Cyprus by mistake, when they lose
their groups, or their ways. There have so far 51 of this
latter type recorded.
is on a north-south migration route and there are many birds
in transit, some in vast flocks, some in small clusters. These
migrating birds may only rest for a few days to a week. March
to May is the period of north-ward migration and August to
October the southward.
Vulture Kizil Akbaba (T); Gyps fulvus (L)
Status Winter visitor; resident breeder.
Hirundelle Kir Kirlangici (T); Hirundo rustica (L)
Status Migrant breeder.
Golden Oriole Sari Asma / Incir Kusu (T); Oriolus oriolus
Status Winter visitor, passage migrant.
Pochard Elmabas Ordek / Bozdalagan (T); Aythya ferina (L)
Status Migrant breeder.
Cyprus Pied Wheatear Kibris Kuyrukkakani (T)
Status Migrant breeder (Endemic); the most distinctive and
interesting species of all the endemic birds in Cyprus
institutionalised attempts at the protection of the birds
in Northern Cyprus started in 1989, with the foundation of
the North Cyprus Society for the Protection of Birds, NCSPB
(or KUSKOR). The association works in close co-operation with
other environmentalist association, especially the local North
Cyprus- Greenpeace Movement for the protection of the natural
beauties, the wild animals, and the endemic birds of Cyprus.
stages public educational programmes throughout the year in
village coffee shops, hunting clubs, sports clubs, and schools.
These programmes, consisting mainly of introduction of birds
and their environment, last year (1994) alone presented to
more than 800 people in over 40 villages, which pleased both
the people who listened to the casual chats and the NCSPB.
The results achieved out of these programmes were important
because most of the listeners were hunters.