Afghan Arabia Wild
by John M. Regan
Updated Monday, 1 November 2021
Wounded Warrior Project
Devoted to the Wildlife of Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia
WILDLIFE OF AFGHANISTAN WILDLIFE OF SAUDI ARABIA EDITOR BIO
No matter where you go it always pays to take a closer look. What looked like thick globs of algae as I walked past this stream in Afghanistan turned out to be an amazing conglomeration of insects.
I've not yet identified the species but they are probably larvae. Whatever they are - they made my day!
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Please check out my book folks. I wrote this for young children but with parents, grandparents and teachers in mind. Loaded with close up photographs it gives you and your family a chance to discover a wildlife adventure in your own backyard. During this stay at home environment that we are in this book will direct you to the excitement hiding right under your feet on your own property. It is available on amazon in ebook form or hard copy. I recommend the 8.5 inch by 12 inch hard copy for maximum enjoyment of the photographs. Everyone I have shared this book with simply loves it. Covering all kinds of wildlife from rabbits to salamanders and slugs, and even "fun with fungi" I guarantee you will love this very unique book. As a bonus I can provide a picture loaded power point presentation ideal for a young audience.
(Warning: All photographs on this site are protected by copyright)
Some day I pray that this gorgeous country will be at peace and the whole world can see its beauty: AFGHANISTAN'S BEAUTIFUL GREEN ZONE!
reganjm@northwestwildlifeonline.com
The Greater Flamingo
A very special thanks to Tim currently working in Saudi Arabia for sending the beautiful pictures of Greater Flamingos he spotted along the Saudi coast. I never managed to get out there but Tim did and was amazed at the incredible numbers of these birds that he found. You can see more of Tim's photos on his Instagram account @talltraveler1. Thanks again, Tim!
Saudi Arabia is naturally associated with its desert landscape. Hardly surprising since most of the Saudi terrain is desert. But this country is bordered to the east and west by an extensive sea coast and the entire Arabian peninsula itself is actually surrounded by water. One of the fascinating inhabitants of the Arabian coast is the Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus. The Greater Flamingo is not only the largest of the 6 flamingo species in the world it is also the most widespread of its kind ranging in habitats that stretch from the West Indies to Florida. It loves warm watery regions and thrives on mud flats, hence its fondness for parts of the Saudi Arabian coast. And it is not called the “Greater” Flamingo without justification. It is the largest flamingo in the world, growing up to 50 inches tall and sporting a 5 foot wingspan. This is one impressive avian. Like all flamingos it is a filter feeder and utilizes its uniquely shaped beak and tongue to pull in water where small crustaceans, insects, and similar small species along with a variety of non animal treats are then separated out for food. They still require freshwater, however, and so must fly away from saltwater periodically to quench their thirst. For a much more thorough description from habitat to anatomy of any flamingo I highly recommend the website, "Flamingos-World" highlighted below.
References:
Flamingos-world.com
NationalGeographic.com
Arkive.org:
